After Cheng Yuanjing finished speaking, the attic was so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard. The Emperor's face darkened. After a while, he frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I have been missing for fourteen years. If I suddenly say that I've been found, even with Your Majesty's testimony, I'm afraid that many people won't believe me. If I am alone with no ties, others will think that this is a scam. Even if some of the old officials believe it, seeing that I'm twenty years old and haven't married, I'm afraid they won't be at ease. It's better to announce my return to the throne and the marriage decree together. With the Crown Princess, the people outside will be at ease. "
Starting a family and establishing a career has always been an inseparable whole. Even for surrendered captives, as long as they haven't been married for many years, the authorities won't be at ease. Only after marrying, having children, and having a family can one truly take root and gain the trust of the imperial court.
Although Cheng Yuanjing wasn't a naturalized person, the position of Crown Prince wasn't a joke. After being missing for fourteen years, who would be at ease if someone suddenly appeared and said that he was the Crown Prince? If the Emperor didn't know about this behind the scenes, he probably wouldn't have accepted it so easily.
Marrying and starting a family is indeed a magic weapon to calm people and ease conflicts. Besides, Cheng Yuanjing had been missing for many years. The imperial court had argued many times over the succession. After Cheng Yuanjing returned to the throne, it was indeed necessary to quickly have a son to calm the people.
The Emperor originally planned to wait for the announcement that he had found the Crown Prince before issuing an edict to select a concubine for the Crown Prince in a month or two. If Cheng Yuanjing had someone he liked, as long as it was suitable, the Emperor could accommodate his eldest son. However, no matter what, the future Crown Princess must have a clean background and a noble family. Her father and brother must be high-ranking officials in the imperial court, which would be beneficial to the stability of the country.
The Cheng Family obviously wasn't qualified.
The Cheng Family had made contributions over the years, so the Emperor would certainly reward them. However, this didn't include making the Cheng Family's daughter the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess was related to the foundation of the country. She was a role model for all women. The Emperor had already thought about it many times. How could he decide it so carelessly?
The Emperor calmed himself down and asked, "Is this what the Cheng Family said? How dare they demand repayment? "
"No, I'm not that easy to manipulate." Cheng Yuanjing had already stood up and stood below the Emperor. He said, "Marquis Yichun had been careful all his life. Even before his death, he kept the secret firmly. How could he have the guts to do this? The other members of the Cheng Family know nothing about it either. There's no way they can ask for repayment. "
After Cheng Yuanjing finished speaking, he paused and continued as if nothing had happened, "I'm the one who's asking for repayment."
The Emperor's frown deepened. "What?"
"Last night, a child accidentally fell into the moat. The eldest daughter of the Cheng Family jumped into the ice cave to save the child. I was the one who saved her." Cheng Yuanjing said, "In that case, I can be considered to have saved her life, so letting her be the Crown Prince Consort is just the right way to repay a drop of water with a gushing spring."
The Emperor understood at first, but then he was furious. No wonder Cheng Yuanjing didn't come last night. It turned out that he jumped into the moat to save the child. Many of the signs today could also be confirmed. However, what the hell was all the gratitude he had shown her after that?
The Emperor said, "The choice of your Crown Princess is of great importance. There's no need to rush. When you return to the palace, I'll make an edict to choose a consort for you. When the time comes, there will be many noble ladies. You can take your time to choose. "
"I know. I've been in the capital all these years. I know all the ladies in the city. " Cheng Yuanjing said, "It just so happens that I've already chosen. There's no need to make a big fuss to save the people and money. Your Majesty can make an edict together."
The Emperor's anger grew stronger and stronger. Dissatisfaction gradually appeared on his face. The Emperor restrained himself and said, "After all, you and she are uncle and nephew. After the announcement, how will the world be convinced?"
"That's all fake." Cheng Yuanjing said neither hurriedly nor slowly, "Besides, if you grant me a marriage with her, won't it prove that I'm not a member of the Cheng Family?"
"You!" The Emperor was furious. "An uncle marrying a niece. Do you think this reputation is good?"
"She's not. Why not?"
The Emperor was so angry that he couldn't sit still anymore. He stood up from his chair and scolded, "Ridiculous!"
The Emperor could see that although Cheng Yuanjing had no contact with the Cheng Family, he had been relying on the Cheng Family all these years. After a while, he had taken a fancy to their eldest daughter. However, there were so many women in the world. Why should he ruin his reputation and even block his future path for a woman?
The Emperor originally planned to let Cheng Yuanjing leave the capital. After disappearing for a period of time, he would return as Li Seung-kyung. To the outside world, he would say that the Emperor had secretly sent out people to search for the Crown Prince for many years and that Cheng Yuanjing had naturally died forever.
A person's appearance couldn't lie. When Li Seung-kyung returned and saw his appearance, people would definitely be able to guess what had happened. However, there were some things that could be tacitly understood but didn't need to be announced to the world. After all, the people couldn't see the Crown Prince and didn't know the Cheng Family's ninth son. Since that was the case, there was no harm in finding an explanation that would save everyone's face.
The Emperor would compensate the Cheng Family in the future. However, this was bound to be a long time in the future. On the surface, the Crown Prince must have no involvement with the Cheng Family. Once Cheng Yuanjing married the Cheng Family's eldest daughter, he would be bound to the Cheng Family forever. No matter how powerful the Emperor was, he couldn't stop everyone's mouth. Slowly, people would find that the Crown Prince and the Cheng Family's Ninth Uncle were exactly the same.
At that time, the Emperor's so-called saying of going through hardships to find the lost Crown Prince among the people would no longer hold water.
Naturally, this was something the Emperor didn't want to see. The Emperor took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and sat down again. After being the Emperor for twenty years, his forbearance was his forte. The Emperor's voice didn't reveal his emotions. He asked, "If you insist on marrying the Cheng Family's daughter, then what about your identity? You also know that this kind of thing can't be hidden from the public. There will always be people who will find out that you are Cheng Yuanjing. "
Cheng Yuanjing lowered his eyebrows and slowly said, "If I can't hide it, then I won't hide it."
The Emperor frowned. "What did you say?"
"Everyone in the court knows that I am Cheng Yuanjing. Since that's the case, why should I deceive myself and others and let everyone play along with me? Your Majesty once saw Cheng Yuanjing at Xiangji Temple. Therefore, it's not impossible for you to find out that Cheng Yuanjing is the missing Crown Prince. If I directly return as Cheng Yuanjing, isn't it more convincing than rearranging a set of traces? "
The Emperor and Cheng Yuanjing had always known each other. The so-called disappearance of the Crown Prince had always been a smokescreen. But now that the Yang Family had not fallen, they definitely couldn't admit that the past fourteen years had been an act.
The best way was to artificially create a coincidence. The Emperor accidentally met a person at Xiangji Temple. There was a connection between father and son. The Emperor was suspicious. After sending people to investigate, he found that the young man was his lost son.
This was the reason Cheng Yuanjing and the Emperor recognized each other on the surface. In the future, the Yang Family and the court officials could only find out this much if they turned over the investigation. After that, there were some differences between the Emperor and Cheng Yuanjing.
The Emperor felt that the dignified Crown Prince who had grown up in the capital and stayed under the noses of Yang Fucheng and Empress Dowager Yang was too provocative. Therefore, the Emperor wanted to abandon the identity of "Cheng Yuanjing" and give the Crown Prince a show from the common people. The Yang Family would definitely be able to find out that the Crown Prince was Cheng Yuanjing, but the Emperor's words were like gold. Even if the civil and military officials knew the truth, they still had to play along with the Emperor's act.
This way, everyone would be able to smooth things over.
But Cheng Yuanjing didn't think this way. He had already given up his identity once. If he gave up his experience growing up in the capital, his career as a Jinshi, and returned to the Eastern Palace as a Crown Prince who grew up among the common people and had no talents. Who in the world would accept him? Only a few people knew the truth. The common people who lived outside the capital were his foundation.
The father and son's positions were not exactly the same.
The Emperor had ascended the throne as the unfavored Kang Wang. Over the years, he was used to smoothing things over and was used to worrying about the face of the Yang Family. If Empress Dowager Yang and Yang Fucheng knew that the person they had been searching for many years had been living in the capital and had become a Jinshi under their noses, this would definitely be a slap to the Yang Family's face. It would be a great provocation to Empress Dowager Yang. The Emperor didn't want to create more problems, so he wanted to wrong Cheng Yuanjing and give face to the Yang Family.
But from Cheng Yuanjing's perspective, giving face to the Yang Family was showing weakness to the Yang Family. If he showed weakness before the battle even began, what right did he have to challenge them?
Cheng Yuanjing had never agreed with the Emperor's plan, but he originally didn't have to go against the Emperor. Compared to face that he couldn't see or touch, of course, practical benefits were more worth it. He could have gone along with the Emperor. The Emperor knew that he owed him and would definitely make it up to him in the future.
If it wasn't for Cheng Yujin, Cheng Yuanjing wouldn't have come back this winter when he went out to "visit friends."
It was because he thought of her spending the holiday alone in the Marquis Household that he forced himself to come back. Cheng Yuanjing naturally wasn't "dead."
Every day he stayed in the capital was under a lot of pressure. The Lantern Festival was already the last day. After the Lantern Festival, he would have to leave the capital and change his appearance. But now, Cheng Yuanjing changed his mind.
He had already made plans. Only when he made the decision did he feel refreshed, as if invisible shackles had suddenly been unlocked. Cheng Yuanjing lowered his gaze slightly and didn't look directly at the Emperor. This was the rule of meeting the Emperor. Although Cheng Yuanjing and the Emperor were father and son, before this, they had to be monarch and subject.
Cheng Yuanjing said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to return as Cheng Yuanjing and marry the Cheng Family's eldest daughter to prove that I am not of the Cheng Family's blood."
The Emperor looked at Cheng Yuanjing and didn't speak for a long time. His premonition was indeed correct. None of these things went smoothly.
The Emperor asked in a low voice, "You've already made up your mind?"
"Yes."
"Do you know how much help you've given up by doing this and how much trouble you've brought to yourself?"
"I know." Cheng Yuanjing lowered his gaze. Under the shadow of his eyelashes, no one could see the expression in his eyes. Cheng Yuanjing seemed to have thought of something. The coldness on his body was slightly diluted, revealing a hint of softness. "My wife will live and die with me. In the future, we will enter the same tomb. Born in the same quilt, die in the same cave. For such a long time, if the person sleeping next to me is not the one I can truly give my life to, then what's the point? "
The Emperor had been suppressing his anger. Hearing these words, his expression suddenly froze.
Born in the same quilt, die in the same cave. When Madame Zhong was still alive, she had said something similar. Back then, he was just an unfavored Prince Kang. His fief couldn't even be considered vast. Madame Zhong was born and raised in the capital. Once she followed him to the vassal state, there was basically no chance for her to come back.
Her parents and relatives were all in the capital. Although leaving with the Emperor was a separation of life, it was no less than a separation of death. In this lifetime, she probably wouldn't have the chance to see her parents again. However, Madame Zhong accompanied him to leave his home, accompanied him to leave the gilded and jade-carved capital. From beginning to end, she didn't complain.
Back then, in the fief of the Prince Kang's manor, Madame Zhong planned their future with a face full of anticipation. When she planned what to do with this courtyard of the Prince Kang's manor, what to do with that pavilion, the Emperor also had some thoughts of a lifetime.
However, later on, Madame Zhong's blueprint didn't come to fruition. Even the courtyard she left for her eldest daughter would never be used.
Because they didn't have an eldest daughter.
She accompanied him through the lowest point, but died on the eve of the bitter end.
The Emperor should have reprimanded his eldest son for causing trouble. He should have followed his parents' orders to choose a suitable Crown Princess for him in all aspects. However, when he thought of his early wife, Madame Zhong, who had died early, the Emperor choked on his words.
The Emperor thought for a long time. In the end, he could only sigh. Forget it. In the end, the Emperor had wronged the mother and son. If the Empress was still Madame Zhong, Li Seung-kyung's position as the Crown Prince would be secure. Naturally, he could marry whoever he wanted.
In the end, the Emperor let out a long sigh. "Have you thought it through?"
Cheng Yuanjing lowered his head. His voice was firm. "Yes."
"You're already grown up. You have your own ideas about everything. It's not good for me to interfere in these matters. Well, since you insist, then do it yourself. "
Cheng Yuanjing knelt down and bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Emperor looked like he still wanted to say something. At this time, a eunuch stood outside the door and cautiously reminded him. "Your Majesty, the Empress is already upstairs asking."
The Emperor's expression instantly changed. He said in a clear voice, "I know. You may leave."
"Yes."
Although the Emperor said this, he had already stood up and was about to walk out. He took two steps and remembered that his eldest son was still here. He hesitated and stopped.
As early as when the eunuch came, Cheng Yuanjing had already stood up and stood aside. Sensing that the Emperor had stopped, Cheng Yuanjing didn't find it strange. He said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. This subject respectfully sends Your Majesty off."
The Emperor wanted to say something, but in the end, he couldn't say it. Cheng Yuanjing's every word was respectful and polite. However, since he entered the family, he had always referred to himself as a subject. He had never called him "father".
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