Chapter 314: Prince An’s Background
"Mother, what is the background of Prince An? That He Yanxin is really arrogant!" An Chuxue asked.
Today, she truly witnessed what it means to be overbearing and domineering. Just guessing a lantern riddle on the street could get her inexplicably blocked, and if she ignored her, she wasn’t happy. Simply insane!
Su Yaogeng thought about what happened at today’s palace banquet and shared with them. He Qi was a valiant general during the late Emperor’s time, highly valued by him. Once, when South City was invaded by foreign tribes, thanks to He Qi’s efforts to turn the tide and drive back the enemies, he protected the peace of South City and secured the southern borders. The late Emperor then ennobled him as a hereditary Prince An.
The military power of the entire Nanyao Country is primarily controlled by five people. The Imperial Guard in the capital city directly obeys the Emperor’s orders; the military force at the western border is in the hands of Duke Wei, Han Si Que; the Northern Land is controlled by Su Xingqiao; the eastern part is in the hands of General Han, whose eldest son is currently stationed in the east, while the Southern Land is under Prince An, He Qi.
The deployment of border forces, especially in the Northern and Southern Lands, is substantial. The Northern Land borders Dong Qin and several smaller countries. Although the two major countries maintain relative stability, many smaller countries are often restless due to livelihood needs, making the Northern Land exceptionally crucial.
The Southern Land is coastal, with many foreign tribes entrenched there, frequently suffering raids, and is rather unstable. Only after He Qi took charge of the Southern Land did it gradually calm down. However, after years of operation in the Southern Land, He Qi has seemingly become the local ’emperor’.
Su Xingqiao is a prince; Duke Wei and General Han are from established noble families with deep roots, and their families have long resided in the capital. They would not easily make any moves or dare to recklessly expand their power.
But He Qi is different. His three sons all perished on the battlefield, and his wife passed away from overwhelming grief, leaving only him and a young daughter, He Yanxin.
With nothing to hold him back or keep him in check, He Qi has seemingly become a self-reliant power, making others wary. But Brother is kind-hearted, considering his contributions to Nanyao Country and his only daughter left, he has shown him extra leniency.
Unfortunately, Brother’s benevolence might not earn him He Qi’s gratitude but rather his increasing recklessness and arrogance.
Take today’s banquet incident, for example. Everyone knows Su Yu’s marriage is his own decision, not to be interfered with by others. Over the years, no one dared to propose marriage for Su Yu. Yet, he shamelessly pleaded with Brother, tears streaming, claiming he only has one daughter left and wishes for her to have a good match. He implored Brother to consider the late Emperor and the fact that his entire He Family only has this one descendant left, to fulfill this marriage proposal.
It’s simply absurd! Even if he rarely returns to the capital from the Southern Land, he should know that Su Yu is not someone others can manipulate at will. It’s laughable. Even if he invoked the late Emperor, what does it have to do with Su Yu? Is it that his daughter can only marry Su Yu and no one else? He has made the entire court witness the scene, putting Brother in an awkward situation. The moment Brother refuses, he starts complaining as if Nanyao Country owes him a great favor!
The He Family indeed has made contributions to Nanyao Country, but Brother remembers this and never shortchanged them. How has it become a bargaining chip to threaten the Emperor? To the point of clamoring in court for Brother to issue an imperial decree for marriage!