Chapter 346: Fourth Brother Didn’t Come Again
The crowd was amused by its appearance and couldn’t help but laugh.
Only Youyou approached; Su Yu and the elusive Lan Ling had yet to appear.
Yao Xiang Pavilion held spare clothes for An Chuxue, which Han Jing first changed into. She did not wish for Su Yaogeng to know of today’s events to prevent her worry, so she took An Chuxue along, planning to stay at Baihua Garden for the night, just as Su Yu suggested, and would return tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in the palace, at the Emperor’s birthday banquet, Prince An brought up the proposal of marriage between Su Yu and He Yanxin with the Emperor once again.
"Emperor, last time you said Prince Yu wasn’t present, so it was inconvenient to decree. Now that Prince Yu is here, surely you can grant the old minister’s request?" Despite knowing Su Yu’s reputation was unfavorable and his beauty somewhat calamitous—far from his ideal son-in-law—He Qi couldn’t resist his daughter’s wishes and thus braved his old face to petition the Emperor.
Yet who knew despite his repeated appeals to the Emperor, the Emperor had been evasive. With Su Yu now here, He Qi wondered how the Emperor would continue to feign ignorance!
Emperor...
The Emperor’s mood was indeed sour today. Since returning from the autumn hunt, his health had been deteriorating each day, yet a power of work still awaited his judgement. He had summoned several generals from the border back to keep them under his eye, but no decision had been made.
The Emperor was troubled!
Aged and burdened by unsolved matters, he was mentally exhausted, yet now faced with another predicament!
Could he truly manage Su Yu’s marriage affairs?
The Emperor turned to Su Yu: "Yun Peng, Prince An has a daughter of marriageable age, who greatly admires you. Given your age, isn’t it time you settled down?"
His words merely intended to sound polite, as he awaited Su Yu’s refusal, for He Qi had pestered him many times, and he couldn’t entirely ignore it.
Unexpectedly, Su Yu replied, "Brother is right; I should indeed settle down."
The Emperor was stunned, while Prince An was delighted.
He affirmed that his daughter was attractive enough that Su Yu could hardly dislike her!
Perhaps he had secretly been interested in her!
Was the Emperor now confused? Could Yun Peng truly have taken a liking to He Qi’s daughter?
Putting aside the fact that the match was not ideal, why had he focused on someone from outside when Hanjing City held so many noble ladies?
It wasn’t overthinking; it truly seemed unsuitable. Despite knowing Su Yu lacked ambition for power, the Crown Prince wouldn’t see it that way. His flaw wasn’t grave, merely a narrow mind. Once enthroned, he’d likely purge dissent, ushering Nanyao Country into tumultuous times.
Reflecting on this, the Emperor felt even more unsettled; Old Four had yet to appear. After finally returning this year, would he not even attend his birthday banquet?
If he passed the throne to the Crown Prince, Old Four and his followers might not escape alive; leaving aside such matters, Yun Peng would surely protect Old Four, but those loyal at the border might not escape disaster, even the people at Zheng’er Mansion, which he likely wouldn’t be spared. But if he passed the throne to Old Four...