“The Shen family can no longer be tolerated,” Emperor Youning rubbed his aching temples, his palm pressing heavily on the desk.
“Your Majesty, shall we summon the Imperial Physician…” Liu Sanzhi supported Emperor Youning’s arm, asking softly.
Just as he was about to wave it off, Emperor Youning felt another surge of blood rushing to his head, his vision momentarily darkening. This frightened Liu Sanzhi so much that he called loudly for the Imperial Physician without hesitation.
When Mingzheng Hall summoned physicians, the Imperial Medical Office wished they had wings to fly over. They dared not delay a moment. By the time Emperor Youning had just finished a cup of water to catch his breath, the Imperial Physician-in-Chief and two Deputy Imperial Physicians had rushed over.
Emperor Youning simply let them check his pulse. All three looked somewhat grave, but finally, the Imperial Physician-in-Chief chose his words carefully: “Your Majesty is diligent, but must take care of your health. Your Majesty endured harsh conditions in childhood, which weakened your constitution more than most; in your youth, you campaigned on battlefields, leaving many hidden injuries. More rest would be advisable.”
In truth, Emperor Youning had lacked proper nourishment in childhood, and his military campaigns in his youth had left chronic ailments. Now as he aged, he naturally couldn’t suppress the deficiencies from his youth. But how could an Imperial Physician dare say that His Majesty was getting old and needed care?
Emperor Youning wasn’t one to avoid reality. Though the Imperial Physician-in-Chief spoke diplomatically, he understood. He didn’t need the physicians to tell him – in recent years he’d noticed his energy wasn’t as abundant as before: “Prepare some medicinal soups for Our treatment.”
The three physicians sighed in relief and quickly acknowledged before withdrawing.
Emperor Youning lowered his eyes wearily: “Speaking of hidden injuries, how could We compare to the battle-hardened Shen Yueshan? Yet Shen Yueshan appears vigorous and strong, while We fear We won’t outlast him…”
With only Liu Sanzhi remaining in the room, he hurriedly said: “Your Majesty bears the burden of the entire realm. How could the Western Border King compare to Your Majesty’s exhaustive efforts for the state and society? The Western Border King may appear energetic, but who can say what happens behind closed doors?”
Knowing his confidant was trying to comfort him, Emperor Youning’s mood improved slightly. He leaned back on his dragon throne, gazing at the magnificent ceiling. Sandalwood incense curled through the silent great hall. After an unknown time, Emperor Youning said: “Tell Me, would it be good to arrange Huaiyang’s marriage to Changfeng?”
This idea had occurred to Emperor Youning long ago when it was purely out of an uncle’s protective care. As for now…
Liu Sanzhi silently considered for a while before bowing and saying: “Your Majesty’s sincere care for the County Princess, she will surely be grateful in her heart.”
Wang Changfeng was His Majesty’s man, Shen Yingruo was the Shen family’s person.
Previously, both sides could maintain a surface-level peace, but after Shen Xihe and her father and brother forcefully uprooted His Majesty’s cultivated forces on the Western Border, they were close to openly breaking faces, while underneath they were like fire and water.
Emperor Youning glanced at Liu Sanzhi, whose words revealed nothing, and didn’t continue this thread of conversation.
But he still had this intention conveyed, and soon Shen Yingruo received this news, just as she had prepared wedding gifts for her elder brother and handed them to servants to deliver to the escort agency for protected delivery.
When she came of age, Shen Yunan had sent her gifts too – though valuable, they lacked genuine care, but Shen Yingruo had been satisfied. For Shen Yunan’s wedding this time, Shen Yingruo had prepared gifts with great care, not to curry favor but for her peace of mind, regardless of whether Shen Yunan would be pleased.
“County Princess, news from the palace – His Majesty intends to arrange your marriage to Prince Xun,” Madam Tan said softly to Shen Yingruo.
“What’s this about?” Shen Yingruo frowned.
She had no spies in the palace, so for this to reach her ears meant His Majesty wanted her to know – giving her mental preparation, which was practically the same as being determined to issue the decree.
Previously, His Majesty had intended to betroth her to Wang Changfeng, but they had both declined. His Majesty had let it go then. To suddenly have such thoughts again, there must be some reason causing His Majesty to become suddenly forceful.
“This servant doesn’t know. Perhaps we should send word to Consort Su in the palace?” Madam Tan suggested.
Before leaving, Shen Xihe had instructed Shen Yingruo that if anything happened, she could seek Consort Su. Consort Su had originally been meant to marry the Crown Prince but was badly tormented by the Crown Princess without leaving evidence. After marrying His Majesty, she occasionally created troubles for the Crown Princess in the palace. Everyone thought they would fight to the death, never imagining that Consort Su was the Crown Princess’s person!
When hearing this news at the time, Madam Tan was scared pale, and both she and Shen Yingruo grew even more in awe of Shen Xihe.
Long ago, Shen Yingruo had recognized reality – there was a vast difference between her and Shen Xihe in terms of scheming ability.
But before leaving, Shen Xihe’s willingness to share such a big secret with her had made Shen Yingruo elated for a long time, though she knew Shen Xihe wasn’t afraid of her revealing this information.
“Have Elder Sister’s people ask about it,” Shen Yingruo also wanted to know why Emperor Youning suddenly changed his attitude, becoming so insistent on her marrying Wang Changfeng.
After Shen Xihe married into the Eastern Palace, she had invisibly expanded her network. With Xiao Huayong’s help, Jiuzhang was the first to know what Shen Yingruo wanted to investigate and had already transmitted the news to the Western Border.
Jiuzhang took the initiative to select what could be told to Shen Yingruo about the Western Border events, mainly that the Western Border had gained many benefits this time, while His Majesty had lost troops and generals and was helpless against the Western Border.
After reading this, Shen Yingruo held the letter in both hands, silent for a long time.
Madam Tan couldn’t help glancing at it, quickly reading through, then couldn’t help but feel heartache, gripping Shen Yingruo’s shoulders: “County Princess, that is the Emperor…”
The Emperor always put rulership first – even princes called him Sovereign Father before Father. First sovereign, then father – let alone Shen Yingruo who was only His Majesty’s niece, and a distant one at that.
These years His Majesty had indeed shown great affection for Shen Yingruo, and she was clever. Though Jiuzhang hadn’t specified the reason, Shen Yingruo could understand – His Majesty had no way to deal with the Shen family now, and seeing her elder sister’s forcefulness and meticulousness, he wasn’t planning to find a breakthrough there but had turned his attention to her instead.
Suddenly understanding His Majesty’s intentions, Shen Yingruo felt heavy-hearted and hurt, her eyes involuntarily stinging with tears. But she quickly came to terms with it: “I was too greedy.”
How could she hope for an emperor to truly love her as a younger relative? He simply hadn’t needed to use her before, but now her usefulness had arrived, hadn’t it?
“County Princess, your marriage isn’t something His Majesty can control,” Madam Tan said. “While the King is still here, His Majesty has no right to arrange your marriage arbitrarily.”
“Why do you think His Majesty let me know of this news?” Shen Yingruo’s lips twitched. “His Majesty wants me to know my place, to willingly accept this marriage. Now that Elder Sister isn’t in the palace, and Father is far in the Western Border, messages take time to travel back and forth. If I’m willing myself, Father and they won’t oppose it.”