Xiao Changtai knelt and remained silent with his head bowed.

The Empress Dowager gently shook her head: “Enough. I’m not insisting on breaking up relationships. Seeing you like this, I worry that marrying a good family’s daughter to you would only cause her grief.”

“Grandson has failed to live up to Grandmother’s earnest wishes,” Xiao Changtai said remorsefully.

“Rise. The Empress Dowager called you all here just for a regular family discussion,” Emperor Youning spoke. “Men should marry when of age, as should women. You’re all grown now. While I’ve never rushed your marriages, I won’t allow the imperial sons to all remain aloof from marriage.”

After Emperor Youning finished speaking, all the princes lowered their heads.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager said: “Since you’re all unwilling to speak, don’t blame me and His Majesty for arranging your marriages as we see fit.”

“Empress Dowager, grandson does not wish to remarry at present,” Xiao Changqin stated.

The Empress Dowager looked at him and heaved a deep sigh: “When do you plan to remarry? You are a Prince Imperial.”

“Five years. Grandson doesn’t wish to remarry within five years. After five years, I’ll submit to Empress Dowager’s arrangements,” Xiao Changqin replied.

“Preposterous!” the Empress Dowager berated. “Besides being a husband, you are also a son, and an imperial prince – a Prince Imperial! Behaving like this, where does this leave your mother? As a proper man, have you considered your responsibilities!”

“Please calm your anger, Empress Dowager. Mother still has Ninth Brother,” Xiao Changqin fell to his knees with a thud. “If Empress Dowager feels grandson is unworthy of being a prince, I beg His Majesty to strip my title. As Empress Dowager said, it would be unfair for a good family’s daughter to marry someone like me.”

“You—”

“Fifth Son!” As the Empress Dowager was too angry to speak, Emperor Youning spoke with a stern face, “Kneel outside the hall.”

Xiao Changqin silently knelt at the entrance of Yong’an Palace. After making an example of him, Emperor Youning asked the other princes: “What about you all?”

Xiao Changying also wanted to say he was too young and didn’t want to marry, but this would undoubtedly make things worse, not only resulting in harsher punishment for his elder brother but also implicating their mother. He opened his mouth but ultimately remained silent.

After all, he would have to marry eventually. Besides that person, what difference did it make who he married?

As the others remained silent, the Empress Dowager said: “In that case, His Majesty will arrange your marriages. You may all leave.”

The Empress Dowager was displeased. Xiao Changying still spoke up: “Grandmother, before arranging grandson’s marriage, could you inform me which young lady it will be? Grandson has some things to discuss with her before the betrothal.”

He had someone in his heart and didn’t want to hide it. He needed to tell her beforehand. If she was still willing to marry him, she shouldn’t bring this up to argue with him later – he didn’t want domestic discord. If she was unwilling, then he was unwilling to marry.

Xiao Changying’s attitude slightly softened the Empress Dowager’s expression: “You will all be informed, to avoid creating resentful couples.”

As the princes left Yong’an Palace, news of Xiao Changqin being punished to kneel reached the Eastern Palace.

Tian Yuan didn’t hide this from Shen Xihe, so she naturally knew that Xiao Changqin was punished for refusing to marry and defying the Empress Dowager.

“Why does the Empress Dowager insist on arranging marriages for all the princes?” Shen Xihe looked at Xiao Huayong puzzled.

She was playing chess with Xiao Huayong – properly this time. Having heard Tian Yuan’s words, she felt the Empress Dowager’s forceful attitude differed from her usual amiable demeanor.

“I merely mentioned to Grandmother that my brothers are all of marriageable age. Shared joy is better than solitary pleasure,” Xiao Huayong placed a piece and admitted frankly.

Unlike previous dynasties, princes in this dynasty didn’t need to be married to participate in politics and hold power. Upon establishing their princely households, they would be assigned various attendants including guards, totaling over a hundred people. They could handle official duties at fourteen, and as long as they performed well, they could cultivate their retainers and advisors.

Men typically married between sixteen and eighteen, generally around their coming-of-age ceremony. Those who remained unmarried after coming of age were extremely rare.

“Why does Your Highness want them all to marry?” Shen Xihe recalled the spring feast when he had her help choose primary wives for his brothers. He seemed somewhat fixated on this.

“To prevent people from having designs on you,” Xiao Huayong didn’t conceal his motives.

Shen Xihe was briefly startled, then understood it was about Xiao Changying – he must know about it. She found it somewhat amusing: “Your Highness if I could be won over so easily, Your Highness wouldn’t need to go to such lengths.”

“Your indifference is one thing; their improper thoughts are another,” Xiao Huayong simply didn’t want others coveting his woman.

“Your Highness, this matter can’t be rushed. With time, such feelings will naturally fade,” Shen Xihe felt it unnecessary. Whether someone pined for another had little to do with marriage – only letting go could bring true peace.

“Once married, others will keep an eye on them,” Xiao Huayong paused, then continued seriously, “Marrying early helps divide power bases, and prevents some from using the position of primary consort as bait.”

Xiao Huayong’s implications made her wonder – was there a prince playing multiple sides, using the position of primary consort to string along possibly more than two power factions?

Since it aided his legitimate business, Shen Xihe didn’t say more.

They had just finished a game of chess, with Shen Xihe winning by three pieces – she knew Xiao Huayong had deliberately let her win, though not obviously, and she didn’t bother pointing it out – when Tian Yuan came to report that County Lady Liyang had also knelt before Yong’an Palace to plead for Xiao Changqin.

County Lady Liyang was Gu Qingshu.

“If Fifth Brother doesn’t see this woman’s true nature soon, he’ll eventually suffer greatly,” Xiao Huayong remarked with a sneer.

Shen Xihe raised her eyebrows. Because of Gu Qingzhi, held no ill feelings toward Gu Qingshu, but Xiao Huayong seemed to have some prejudice against her – he rarely commented on young ladies.

“Do you know how I made Fifth Brother let Xue Kui go?” Seeing Shen Xihe’s confusion, Xiao Huayong asked.

Originally Shen Xihe didn’t know; she had thought Xiao Huayong had secretly protected Xue Kui, preventing Xiao Changqin from succeeding. But now that he mentioned Gu Qingshu first, then brought this up, it must be related to her: “Your Highness discovered Lady Gu’s whereabouts and used this to force Prince Xin to back down.”

Prince Xin was forced to confess to prevent future troubles – it was a risky move. If His Majesty sought accountability, punishment would surely be severe, otherwise, Prince Xin wouldn’t have waited until now to let Gu Qingshu appear openly.

As for why Prince Xin compromised before confessing, naturally, it was because the person wasn’t in his hands, and he couldn’t let His Majesty know he was forced to confess. Additionally, being exposed and confessing were two different matters – if Xiao Huayong were to expose him, Xiao Changqin wouldn’t escape unscathed.

“Youyou speak correctly,” Xiao Huayong nodded. “However, Fifth Brother hid the person quite cleverly. She happened to run into my people herself, rather than me tracking her down through Fifth Brother.”

When Gu Qingshu ran down from the mountain, she showed no concern about falling into others’ hands and what that might mean for Xiao Changqin. Or perhaps she was confident Xiao Changqin could save her, and she could use this opportunity to live in the open.