Refusing Marriage
“Imperial Brother!” The Sixth Prince raised her voice, interrupting his words, her heart tightening, managing only to squeeze out a faint smile.
“Imperial Brother, your words are incorrect. Saying this makes it appear as if I am ruining the young lady’s reputation.” The Sixth Prince withdrew her gaze, looking down at her feet, “Father Emperor, with your clear insight, I merely got acquainted with Lord Zhou through a martial arts match. Despite his leg ailment, his agility impressed me, which is why I grew closer to him. As for Miss Zhou, we are merely nodding acquaintances.”
“But I heard that this morning, Imperial Brother left from the Zhou residence’s gate,” the Crown Prince said.
“Last night, I went to challenge Brother Zhou to a match. I got so engrossed that I missed the closing time of the palace gates, which is why I stayed at the Zhou residence.” The Sixth Prince spoke while turning her head to meet the Crown Prince’s gaze, “I never expected Imperial Brother to pay such close attention to me. If it weren’t for you bringing it up, I wouldn’t have remembered where I came from this morning.”
The Crown Prince let out two dry laughs.
Scholar Huang, who had not spoken all along, finally opened his mouth, frowned, and said: “Your Majesty, after all, the Sixth Prince is an imperial descendant, the matter of bestowing marriage still needs careful consideration.”
“That is natural, the real decision to bestow marriage still needs to be made by Father Emperor, I merely suggested it in passing as they seem close, to help ease Father Emperor’s burden,” the Crown Prince smiled kindly, “Moreover, I have some thoughts, not sure if they are appropriate.”
“Speak.” The Emperor, who had not spoken, raised his arm.
With permission granted, the Crown Prince continued: “In those years, the matter of the General Who Charges, somewhat wronged the Zhou family, the Sixth Brother is a prince, if the marriage is indeed bestowed, then the Zhou family girl would be in the position of the principal wife, which would be a great favor to the Zhou family, and would also comfort the loyal and courageous General Zhou.”
“Father Emperor…” The Sixth Prince stood up upon hearing this but was interrupted by the Emperor’s raised hand, swallowing her words, her face turning red with frustration.
The Emperor’s gaze swept over the people below. Scholar Huang and Minister Song did not dare make a sound from beginning to end, and now they lowered their heads, pretending not to be present. The Crown Prince’s expression remained calm, with even a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
“I think what Qi’er said makes sense. Indeed, I have wronged the Zhou family in many ways. However, the matter of bestowing marriage concerns the imperial family’s honor and cannot be taken lightly.”
“It is getting late; everyone is dismissed.” The Emperor waved his hand.
Although the Sixth Prince was anxious, the long-faced eunuch beside her had already stepped forward to invite her out. She had no choice but to retreat from the Ganlu Hall, standing in the cold wind, frowning as she watched the Crown Prince walk down the steps triumphantly with his hands behind his back.
“What should I do now?” She was anxious in her heart, swung her sleeves, and quickly leaped down. A black-clad guard followed her and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness, where are we going?”
“It has been a long time since we visited the Noble Consort. Let us go to the Qiushui Hall,” the Sixth Prince said anxiously.
Meanwhile, in the Ganlu Hall, the cold air that was swept into the hall due to the open door blew onto the desk. The Emperor’s face turned pale, and he suddenly leaned on the round chair, bending over and coughing. He coughed until the pale face regained some color, but it was not a healthy redness.
“Oh dear, Your Majesty, bring hot water quickly!” The long-faced eunuch beside him hurriedly supported the Emperor while scolding the surrounding palace servants.
“Your Majesty, shall we summon the Imperial Physician?” the long-faced eunuch asked worriedly.
The Emperor coughed violently a few more times, shook his head, and said weakly and angrily, “What use are they? A bunch of good-for-nothings! To this day, they still haven’t even figured out the cause of the illness!”
The long-faced eunuch dared not say more and could only take the tea with a bitter expression and hand it to the Emperor. However, the Emperor threw it to the ground, shattering it.
“Conduct another thorough search of my sleeping quarters. Do not miss an inch. Have the Imperial Medical Institute expedite their discussions. If there is no way to cure me in three days, they will all be beheaded!” the Emperor said through gritted teeth, slowly sitting up straight and leaning back against the chair to regain his composure.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The long-faced eunuch signaled to the palace servants to pass on the message and then flattered, “Perhaps the recent rapid weather changes are to blame. Your Majesty, why not return to your sleeping quarters to rest?”
The Emperor breathed heavily and, after a long pause, finally spoke: “Do you think the Crown Prince’s words are reasonable?”
The eunuch’s face stiffened, and he quickly lowered his head: “How dare I comment on such a significant matter? If Your Majesty says it is, then it is.”
The Emperor sneered, his eyes somewhat murky under his thick eyebrows. He pondered over the messy desk and then said, “This woman from the Zhou family, I remember her being somewhat special.”
“She is somewhat special, but now she has no power or influence behind her. Besides the Noble Consort, there’s only her brother Zhou Shaoqing who holds a position in the court. Back then, when Zhou Shaoqing was found, Your Majesty directly appointed him as the Shaoqing of the Court of Sacrificial Worship because of his father.”
The Shaoqing of the Court of Sacrificial Worship is merely a fifth-rank official, essentially an honorary title.
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The Emperor seemed somewhat satisfied and raised his head, saying, “Summon Zhou Shaoqing.”
The eunuch had not yet left the room when the Emperor added, “Bring that Miss Zhou along as well.”
Ci Ke was still feeling rare joy from last night’s events, but after hearing Zhou Hong’s urgent message, her heart hung in suspense as she followed Zhou Hong into the palace.
Zhou Hong also wore a face of confusion and bewilderment, constantly looking back at Ci Ke as they followed the eunuch leading them into the palace.
Ci Ke exchanged glances with him and secretly clenched the hem of her garment.
When the two entered the Ganlu Hall, the sky outside had already turned cloudy, making the heavens appear low and almost crushing the distant, continuous city walls.
The Emperor, after resting for a long time, had already concealed his sickly appearance. Sitting upright and solemn behind the desk, his gaze was like an eagle’s, terrifying yet revealing a hint of a smile.
“This humble daughter pays respects to Your Majesty.” Ci Ke slightly bowed, her eyelashes lowered, gazing only at the thin velvet peeking out from her embroidered shoes.
The Emperor’s gaze continuously assessed her, and he suddenly said, “As expected of Qiu’er’s close relative, now grown to be beautiful, somewhat resembling Qiu’er when she first entered the palace.”
His words were intended to draw the minister closer, but little did he know that Ci Ke’s face turned pale upon hearing them, growing even more repulsed.
Zhou Hong, standing nearby, quickly cupped his hands and offered a smile, “This Minister is fearful, not knowing why Your Majesty personally summoned this humble servant?”
“It is not a state affair, no need to be formal.” The Emperor lazily leaned back, placing his hand on his knee, “Just now I was chatting with a few princes about family matters, and it suddenly struck me that Yi’er has yet to marry. I heard that Yi’er often visits the Zhou family, so I thought to ask for Zhou Shaoqing’s opinion.”
Zhou Hong stared wide-eyed at the Emperor, then quickly bowed his head.
“His Highness the Sixth Prince appreciates this humble servant and often exchanges skills with this humble servant, which is an honor. This humble servant dares not have any opinions.” Though just brushed by the cold wind, as soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Hong was already covered in a thin layer of sweat.
The Emperor let out a few dry laughs, “Zhou Shaoqing, no need to be formal. I will speak directly. Now, the Zhou family is under your leadership. The eldest brother acts as the father, so this matter of bestowing a marriage must seek your opinion.”
Ci Ke’s heart suddenly sank.
Zhou Hong never expected it to be about arranging a marriage. The thin sweat quickly gathered into beads, rolling down his face.
He did not know that Ye Youqing had returned to the capital, but he knew that Ci Ke had waited for over two years for Ye Youqing. How could he dare to agree?
“Your Majesty, this humble servant holds a lowly position, and my official rank is even less noteworthy. How dare I be connected to the imperial family? It would overwhelm this humble servant!” Zhou Hong hurriedly said.
He saw from the corner of his eye that Ci Ke’s palm was pale from her own pinching, so he quickly moved his body slightly to block the Emperor’s view.
The Emperor, however, smiled as he observed their reactions and shook his head, saying, “Now that General Zhou has sacrificed himself for the country, if he were alive, with his first-rank official position, how could he be considered lowly? It would indeed be a perfect match. Moreover, my bestowal of this marriage is to comfort General Zhou’s spirit in heaven, so there is no need to worry.”
“By the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s words, I am not only the Emperor but also Yi’er’s father. If Zhou Shaoqing has no objections, I will personally write an imperial decree to bestow marriage upon the two. What do you say?” the Emperor said.
If it were someone else, Zhou Hong could easily refuse, but the Emperor personally proposed the marriage. If he refused, it would be a direct affront to the Emperor’s dignity. If the Emperor became angry, the consequences would be unimaginable.
But he knew Ci Ke’s temperament. If truly forced, she might even resort to seeking death.
The main hall was quiet, and the sound of the wind howling outside, like a monster’s wail, made the atmosphere even more tense.
At this moment, a clear voice suddenly rang out: “This humble daughter does not wish to marry.”
The onlookers among the palace attendants immediately held their breath, no one daring to look at the Emperor’s expression. No one had expected that this young lady of the Zhou family would be so bold as to openly defy the Emperor.
A trace of anger flashed across the Emperor’s face. He pressed his hand against his face and looked directly at Ci Ke.
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“I was asking your elder brother,” the Emperor said.
“Replying to Your Majesty, even if my elder brother agrees, this humble daughter is still unwilling,” Ci Ke lowered her beautiful eyes, and others could only see her delicate, high nose and a few strands of hair falling on her forehead.
Beside her, Zhou Hong hastily tugged at Ci Ke’s sleeve to stop her from speaking further and looked up, saying, “Your Majesty, my younger sister is ignorant, please…”
The Emperor raised his hand to interrupt him. Straightening his robe, he stood up. His large frame approaching exuded an aura of suppression.
“How is it, is my imperial family unworthy?” The Emperor softened his tone, but it sounded even more terrifying.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone knew the Emperor was truly angered by the slight, and the hall became as stifling as a prison.
“It is this humble daughter who is unworthy,” Ci Ke replied.
“Then I say you are worthy.” The Emperor stopped three steps away from Ci Ke, hands behind his back, staring at her.
Ci Ke’s chin trembled, but her body remained straight and unmoving, standing proudly.
The Emperor stared at her, his facial muscles tightly drawn. After an unknown length of time, he suddenly spoke: “I have never seen such a bold woman like you, daring to openly challenge me.”
Zhou Hong, standing to the side, was drenched in sweat. It wasn’t until he saw the Emperor brush past Ci Ke that the palace attendants hurriedly followed, carrying robes, surging past Ci Ke in a dark mass.
“Disrespecting the Son of Heaven, today you shall kneel outside the hall!”
The Emperor’s voice was icy as he walked away, the sound of the wind grew louder, whipping up the papers on the table. Zhou Hong, in a fit of rage, grabbed Ci Ke: “Zhou Ci Ke, do you want to die!”
“What if His Majesty pursues this matter!” Zhou Hong, for the first time, yelled at Ci Ke, slamming his fist audibly.
“At most, it’s just a life. Punishment is punishment,” Ci Ke sneered.
Zhou Hong was both angry and afraid, feeling dizzy. His hand suddenly raised but remained suspended in mid-air, never coming down. Eventually, he fiercely slapped his own sleeve, watching as Ci Ke strode out the door and knelt on the cold stone bricks.
That day, the weather was particularly bad. Although it was already spring, it was colder than winter. The wind howled for a while, blowing a few tiny snowflakes that stung like needles upon hitting the skin.
By noon, the snow had not stopped; instead, it grew heavier. The ground couldn’t hold the snow, which melted into water upon contact, soaking the woman’s thin clothes and seeping into her knees.
When Ye Youqing heard the news, she was still sitting calmly inside. She was startled back to her senses by an arrow shot from afar by the Sixth Prince. The arrow, with a piece of paper attached, had embedded itself in a wooden cabinet, and it took her considerable effort to pull it out.
After seeing the contents, she fiercely tore the paper into pieces and threw them into the heating stove, then raised her hand to pull out the sleepy Shi Li from under the covers.
“If you want me to help you, first help me divert those hidden people,” she said with her eyes lowered.
Even so, by the time she arrived, it was already dusk. Snow had accumulated on the ground, leaving footprints with each step. Ye Youqing, disguised as the Sixth Prince’s guard, was secretly brought into the palace by her.
This was likely the last snowfall in Bianjing. The snow fell like pieces of cotton, and it didn’t take long for people walking in the snow to feel stiff. There were not many palace attendants along the way. When Ye Youqing, running fast with the Sixth Prince, arrived outside the Ganlu Hall, a pair of warm and soft hands pulled her.
Zhou Ziqiu, draped in a heavy fur coat, had a pale face, looking sickly but concealing her illness with red lips. Without speaking, she led Ye Youqing around the palace wall outside Ganlu Hall.
The Ganlu Hall suddenly appeared before their eyes. In front of the high steps of the hall knelt a person, covered in a thick white fur coat, almost blending with the snow.
The heavy snow kept falling, as if it wanted to drown her. The Ganlu Hall in front of her was already covered in silver, appearing even taller and making her seem even smaller.
Beside her, a man was jumping up and down, shivering from the cold. The man was speaking to her intensely, but Ci Ke remained motionless, looking like an ice sculpture from afar.
“I had already informed the palace attendants of Ganlu Hall, no one will report to the Emperor. Even if something happens, I will take responsibility for her. But for some reason, she just won’t listen. She has been kneeling for several hours, and if this continues, something bad might happen,” Zhou Ziqiu anxiously pulled at Ye Youqing.
“I can’t persuade her to leave, I need you to help,” Zhou Ziqiu said, his breath forming misty clouds.
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Ye Youqing said no more, nodded, then lifted her leg and ran towards Ci Ke, pulling aside Zhou Hong who was in the way. She took off her own gray fur coat and draped it over Ci Ke’s shoulders.
“You…” Zhou Hong was stunned in place.
Ye Youqing had no time to pay attention to others. She only took Ci Ke’s hands, which were already like ice blocks, into her palms to warm them. Lowering her head, she breathed warm air onto them. Seeing that she couldn’t warm them up, she placed those hands inside her coat.
Her chest felt a piercing cold, making her shiver.
The woman was awakened from her stupor by her actions, stiffly turning her head to look at her. The tip of her nose and the rims of her eyes, already red from the cold, became even redder. Her eyelashes and hair tips were frosted with ice crystals, exquisite and translucent.
She moved with difficulty, so Ye Youqing hurriedly helped pat off the snow from her body, bent down to lift her from the ground. Her knees were already immobile, and she slumped into Ye Youqing’s embrace. Ye Youqing had to lower her head to rub her knees, whispering, “Does it hurt?”
Ci Ke nodded, softly sniffing.
“Why kneel for so long?” Ye Youqing asked gently while warming her legs in her embrace.
“If this matter spreads, people will know I am unwilling to marry into the imperial family. To grant another marriage would disgrace the imperial family,” Ci Ke’s words were fragmented, her body trembling like chaff.
Ye Youqing nodded, watching as Ci Ke’s body softened under her rubbing. Only then did she bend down to pick her up, grabbed the fur coat to cover her, and strode past Zhou Ziqiu and the Sixth Prince behind the palace wall, carrying her towards Qiushui Palace.
LP: You’re gonna die soon old man, very soon (≖_≖ )
