The Empress had summoned the womenfolk of this subject's family, and among the womenfolk, there were unmarried girls. Shouldn't she send away an irrelevant man?
What did this mean?
Qin Yining thought as she walked: A man who could appear in the Empress's palace in front of the Emperor must be someone close to the Emperor and Empress. It was very likely that he was a relative of the Empress.
"This subject's daughter from the Qin Clan pays respect to the Emperor and the Empress." Qin Yining's thoughts flashed through her mind as she gracefully bowed.
She had been learning from Mama Zhan for so many days, so she had already formed a habit of etiquette. Not only was her etiquette standard, but her bearing was also very pleasing to the eye.
The Empress's slender eyebrows rose, and her peach blossom eyes were filled with curiosity. She stretched out her right hand, which was wearing a three-cun long golden armor, and raised it slightly, "You may rise."
"Thank you, Niangniang." Qin Yining stood up, but her head was still lowered.
The Empress smiled and said, "Emperor, look at how good Dowager Qin is at taking care of people. How long has it been? She's already taken care of a girl who grew up in the mountains. Chenqie likes her just from looking at her. This girl's appearance is really beautiful. It's always been said that Family Qin produces beauties. Looking at her now, isn't it true? "
The Emperor smiled and nodded, "Yurou is right. Zhen sees that this girl has a bit of Qin Meng's character when he was young. What's your name? How old are you? Raise your head and answer zhen. "
Upon hearing this, Qin Yining answered with a "yes." She raised her head, but her long eyelashes were still lowered. She didn't look directly at the Empress's face as she replied, "Replying to the Emperor, this subject's name is Yining. I'm fourteen years old."
The Emperor and Empress sized up Qin Yining.
The girl in front of him was tall and slender. Her facial features were exquisite. Her skin was fair and tender, and her hair was inky black. She was so beautiful that she seemed to have walked out of a painting. She stood in front of him seriously, looking very steady. However, she was still young, and there was a pure and childish air about her. She was really an extremely likable little girl.
"I watched Qin Meng grow up to be like this. More than 20 years ago, I was still thinking that if Qin Meng was a girl, what kind of beauty would she be? I didn't expect to see such a girl today. Hahaha!"
The Emperor slapped his thigh and laughed loudly.
The Empress squinted her peach blossom eyes at Qin Yining.
Old Madam and the Sun Clan were so nervous that their palms were sweating. The Emperor's words could be interpreted as a joke to Qin Meng, but it could also be interpreted as another layer of meaning.
This man was almost seventy years old. Wasn't it enough that he had an extremely charming Empress? Could it be that he had taken a fancy to a fourteen-year-old girl like Qin Yining?
If Qin Yining entered the palace, he would probably be chewed up by the Empress in less than two days.
Old Madam hurriedly said with a smile, "Yes, I didn't expect that so many years would pass in a flash. Your Majesty is in the prime of your life. You are diligent and love the people. My son is also loyal to you. I am very grateful for the monarch and minister relationship between you and my son. Your Majesty's kindness to my son."
The Emperor was a little moved by Old Madam's words. He was old, and in recent years, he often fell into some memories. Old Madam Qin's words made him not only recall twenty years ago, when he was still in the prime of his life. At that time, the imperial court was not as chaotic as it was now.
Thinking of this, the Emperor's smile was a little warm.
Seeing that Old Madam Qin was so eloquent, the Empress chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, Grand Preceptor Qin is loyal to the country. Your Majesty should reward Grand Preceptor Qin. A fourteen-year-old girl can also talk about marriage. I want to be a matchmaker for Miss Qin. Your Majesty, please see if it is suitable. "
The Emperor patted the back of the Empress's hand with his big hand, "Which family's son is the Empress talking about? First of all, Family Qin's girl is so beautiful. If she is not good enough for him, I will not allow it. "
The Empress smiled and stretched out her hand to the side, "Jun 'er, come here."
"Aunt." A clear and melodious voice came from the side. It was the eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy who had been standing by the side.
The Empress smiled and said, "Your Majesty, this time you can't say that I don't choose the right person. My nephew is nineteen years old. He is also a talented person. He is also a relative. It can be said that the marriage between him and Grand Preceptor Qin is well-matched."
The Emperor nodded with a smile and looked at Cao Chengjun.
Cao Chengjun's eyes fell on Qin Yining beside him in a daze. He murmured, "When I saw the figure, I knew it was a beauty …"
Qin Yining frowned and took two steps back.
Cao Chengjun chased after him and said with a smile, "You are called Yining, right? My aunt is right. We are a talented man and a beautiful woman. We are a match made in heaven. Since it is like this, let's get married immediately. When I go home later, I will dismiss all my concubines. "As he said this, he grabbed Qin Yining's hand.
If it was in normal times, if someone dared to treat her like this, Qin Yining would definitely break the lecher's wrist.
He dared to flirt with the daughter of a court official in front of the Emperor just because he was the Demon Empress' nephew!
But Qin Yining's mind turned at lightning speed, and he made up his mind.
She stepped back in a panic and looked at Cao Chengjun in horror, "You, what are you doing?"
Big drops of tears gushed out in an instant. She cried like a pear blossom in the rain. She turned around and hid behind Old Madam, "Grandmother, I am scared. I don't want to marry a man. Why don't you let me become a nun? "
The little girl was calm and elegant just now, but she was scared to cry like this by the lecher. She hid behind Old Madam and didn't dare to come out. She looked like a frightened little rabbit.
Cao Chengjun's heart jumped when he saw this. He quickly lowered his head.
The Emperor stared at Cao Chengjun and scolded, "Impudent, you still haven't stepped back!"
Cao Chengjun came back to his senses. He stepped back to his parents with a pale face.
The Empress's smile was a bit stiff, but her voice was more delicate, "Your Majesty, look at how well matched these two children are. They just met and they like something. Jun 'er must really like this child. That's why she lost her composure like this. "
Cao Chengjun didn't forget to nod and agree, "Yes, yes, such a beauty. My soul almost flew away when I saw her. I think after a few years, she will become a great beauty that can cause the downfall of a city!"
The Empress's face stiffened. She gritted her teeth and glared at her brother and sister-in-law.
Cao Chengjun immediately shut up.
The Emperor's face was also not good.
Even if he wanted to appoint a marriage, if he didn't pay attention and appointed an unharmonious marriage, then the Emperor was deceived. It couldn't be considered the Emperor's fault.
However, it was obvious that Cao Chengjun was a foppish lecher. He was only nineteen years old, but he already had a bunch of concubines at home. Moreover, he didn't know how to do things properly and his words were rude. He even dared to take liberties with Grand Preceptor Qin's daughter in front of the Emperor. The little girl was so scared that she cried and said she wanted to become a nun.
After such a disturbance, the Emperor couldn't issue any more edicts.
The Emperor's face was as calm as water.
Old Madam hugged Qin Yining and gently comforted him. Qin Yining still buried his face in Old Madam's shoulder and sobbed.
In the quiet hall, only the girl's suppressed sobs could be heard.
The Sun Clan was so nervous that sweat appeared on her forehead. Her thoughts were different from Old Madam's.
At this moment, she was in front of the Emperor and Empress. She was usually domineering in the residence like a tyrant. How could she be so scared to cry like this after being scolded by a few words?
If she cried like this in front of the Emperor and made the Emperor and Empress unhappy, then it would be troublesome!
The Sun Clan couldn't help but fiercely pinch Qin Yining's arm and scolded in a low voice, "Still crying?!"
Qin Yining's body trembled in pain. He knew that the Sun Clan would have this kind of reaction. In any case, the Sun Clan didn't dare to be impudent in front of the Emperor. Qin Yining simply sobbed even louder.
A proper meeting with the Emperor was ruined by Cao Chengjun taking liberties with a little girl.
The Emperor's good mood was completely ruined. He reprimanded Cao Chengjun and had everyone leave.
Once everyone left, the Emperor rebuked, "Yurou, can't your family handle such a small matter? You said that you would find a suitable person for me and that this marriage would definitely be successful. But what kind of thing did your family send over?! "
"You dare to be so impudent in front of me. It's obvious how impudent you are on a daily basis. Qin Meng only has one daughter. It would be strange if he agreed. I am a wise ruler, not a fatuous one. Do you want me to force them to marry? That little girl is so scared. If she really hangs herself and becomes a nun, then a group of people will misunderstand me! "
The Empress hurriedly patted the Emperor's chest and apologized, "Your Majesty, please calm down. This concubine was negligent. This concubine has been by Your Majesty's side for so many years and rarely sees the relatives at home. I only remember that Jun 'er was smart when he was young. I didn't expect him to become like this when he grew up. This concubine was negligent, but this concubine had no choice. This concubine wasn't at home and couldn't always attend to my parents.
It's rare for us to see each other every year … "She was originally apologizing to the Emperor, but as she spoke, she started sobbing. The Emperor's heart ached and his attention was diverted. He immediately hugged the Empress' 'darling' and 'sweetheart' and coaxed her.
On the other side, Cao Guojiu and his wife brought their son out of the palace and changed into their family's carriage. The three of them let out a long sigh of relief.
Cao Guojiu gave his youngest son a thumbs up and said in a low voice, "You're really quick-witted today!"
Cao Chengjun laughed in a low voice and said softly, "It's a pity. Although I was impulsive, what I said was the truth. She really is a beauty."
Cao Guojiu said, "Not to mention a beauty, even if she's a fairy, this marriage can't happen. Your grandfather may be muddle-headed, but your father isn't! I've already asked around in private. Do you know where today's matter came from? "
Cao Guojiu's wife and Cao Chengjun both looked at him questioningly.
Cao Guojiu lowered his voice even more, "It's because the Empress placed someone in the Eastern Palace and found that His Highness the Crown Prince drew a painting of a beauty facing each other day and night. It's obvious that she was moved. After asking around, she found out that the person the Crown Prince drew was the legitimate daughter of Grand Preceptor Qin …"
"No wonder." Cao Chengjun understood, "No wonder he suddenly called us into the palace!"
The Emperor only had one son, the Crown Prince. He was already old and had ruled the country for half of his life. Naturally, he was unwilling to hand over his power. The relationship between the Emperor and the Crown Prince had been maintained at a subtle distance for many years, but secretly, there were other signs.
If the Crown Prince and Grand Preceptor Qin's relationship went further, then it would be even harder to control in the future.
That was why the Emperor wanted to marry Grand Preceptor Qin's daughter into the Cao family to make it easier for him to control the country.
Cao Guojiu said, "The Empress is too naive. I think this country is doomed. Our family's roots aren't in the Dayan. We don't know what will happen in the future. How can we marry into the Family now? When the time comes, it will be even more difficult to explain."
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