Fate Trading System – Chapter 204.1

Plan A

Guiding Stars 20

Bestowed Marriage

Generally, women of the Da Yue Kingdom can marry at the age of 15. They can take concubines or wives. Some, more precocious, have attendants in their chambers at thirteen or fourteen, engaging in the joys of marital relations.

Su Xin, at eighteen and still without anyone by her side, is already considered a greatly aged, single youth.

“Since you have returned from the border, you should give serious thought to your own marriage. I wonder if you, Chen-er, have anyone you fancy? If so, and he is not yet married, Zhen can take charge and make you a pair.”

The Emperor had not yet tried her hand at being a matchmaker, bringing others together. She was, in fact, not very concerned about her own daughter’s marital affairs.

After all, a woman should prioritize her career; men are secondary. As long as one has money and power, what kind of man cannot be embraced? Many will be compliant.

However, it cannot be too laborious. It is always good to have someone by your side.

“Your subject-child does have someone in mind, but there is no need for Mother Emperor to bestow marriage. Your subject-child wishes to handle this personally.”

“So troublesome?”

Su Xin smiled enigmatically. If the Emperor were to issue an edict for a bestowed marriage, then the matter would certainly be settled; no one would dare resist. However, if that were the case, wouldn’t a lot of the fun be lost? Things cannot be allowed to proceed that way.

“Very well, as long as you know what you’re doing. Liking someone is one thing, but do not focus your thoughts elsewhere too much.”

“Your subject-child understands. No matter how much I like someone, it is merely a pillow-side trinket. Your subject-child is aware of propriety.”

The words that came out of Su Xin’s mouth were utterly scoundrel-like, but she did not truly think that way inside. She was simply speaking in a way that pleased the Emperor.

A child who is most like oneself, capable, and obedient will become the most favored child in a parent’s heart.

This Emperor did not have great abilities, but at least she could use some tactics to stabilize everyone. Her personality was not overly suspicious, and she would not easily believe the words of others. However, she was softer and more amenable towards those close to her.

This seemed to be a very mild-mannered Emperor. Although she had many children, there were not many concubines in the Emperor’s harem. Except for her treatment of the Emperor Consort, she could be said to bestow her favor equally, without bias or favoritism. Even if she disliked the Emperor Consort, she had never thought of placing the Emperor Consort in any kind of predicament. She still gave him the power to control the harem, only not showing the Emperor Consort a pleasant face. Consequently, she also didn’t have much affection for the children born of the Emperor Consort.

But hidden beneath these appearances was the Emperor’s more indifferent and ruthless inner self—more specifically, the Emperor’s attitude toward love.

Born into the imperial family, the Emperor did not believe in love between men and women at all. She regarded men as tools for relief, for paving the way, and for easing tensions. It was not that she did not respect people, but in her view, love was something that certainly did not exist. She even considered it a very foolish thing. She gave care to each concubine, but absolutely no love.

Naturally, such an Emperor did not like to see her own children as infatuated fools. That would be too ironic.

Su Xin had deliberately spoken that way. It might sound cruel to others, but in the Emperor’s ears, it was considered perfectly normal.

“It is good that you are mindful. If that person is too disrespectful, then just abandon him. There are many handsome men in this capital. If you wish, Zhen can send people to bring you portraits.”

“Many thanks, Mother Emperor.”

Su Xin did not refuse, because that would seem too ungrateful. The Emperor sending them was the Emperor’s business; whether she looked at them or not was up to her.

Su Xin was preparing to continue flirting with a man on Wangjiang Tower [望江楼 | Wàngjiāng Lóu | Riverview Tower] when she heard some news.

At that time, Qin Minran was sitting opposite her, a veil covering his face, still maintaining his poise.

“Master, Second Lord is getting married.”

A person dressed as a guard came to report, Although he lowered his voice. it wasn’t to a whispher, it was still low enough that Qin Minran across from them, could hear it clear as a bell.

Qin Minran’s hand, holding a teacup, paused. His expression beneath the veil was somewhat stiff.

He pricked up his ears, listening to the news, with an expression he could not conceal in his eyes.

This acting was simply full of flaws.

“Oh? She is quite impatient. Do you know which family’s young lady?”

“Second Lord’s attendant has requested it of Her Majesty. Her Majesty has agreed. The Imperial Observatory] is currently selecting a date. It will be announced soon.”

“Which family’s young master?”

“It seems to be the third young master of the Prime Minister’s family…”

Before the guard could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the sound of a teacup shattering.

Qin Minran bit his lip, his fingers trembling. He almost could not control his loss of composure, but he still managed to restrain himself, his voice somewhat shaky.

“I apologize. I just lost my grip, and the cup slipped from my hand and fell to the ground.”

Qin Minran bent down. Ordinarily, he would never clean up himself, but now he did not want the person opposite him to see the expression on his face. It was too embarrassing. She must be able to see the redness around his eyes. Qin Minran told himself to endure, but he really couldn’t suppress the emotions that were about to burst forth from his heart.

Was what the guard said true?

He naturally knew that the person in front of him was the Great Princess. Therefore, “Second Lord” in the guard’s words was undoubtedly his beloved, Second Princess Yue Xinglan. Moreover, it was precisely because they knew each other’s identities that the guard did not hesitate to directly mention the young master of the Prime Minister’s family.

To be able to form a marriage alliance with the Prime Minister’s family, one must be a person of high status and power.

Qin Minran felt hateful, but now he had no way to go to that person and loudly question her. He thought of the Prime Minister’s third young master—the one who, along with him and another man, was called one of the Three Perfections of the Capital.

They were of equally outstanding birth, appearance, and possessed skills they could be proud of, and were pursued by some of the noble ladies of the capital.

That person was going to marry him? They had already had intimate relations, but that person was still going to marry someone else?

The Prime Minister’s young master certainly could not be a concubine to anyone. Even if that person was the current Second Princess, it must be as the main husband. Although Qin Minran was somewhat unconventional, he still knew what respect and inferiority were. He also knew to think of his mother, and knew that those whose official positions were higher than his mother’s could not be offended.

The Prime Minister’s official position was higher than his mother’s. No matter how much his mother pampered him, she would not be able to fight for him, and would definitely not agree to him becoming a secondary consort. Moreover, his mother had initially disagreed with his association with the Second Princess. Their relationship seemed to be over.

After Qin Minran understood these things, he began to feel afraid and panicked. Because he was absent-minded, when he bent down to pick up the teacup, he accidentally cut himself on the teacup shards.

Qin Minran foolishly dropped the shard in his hand again, staring at his wound, not even crying out in pain, somewhat dazed.

Su Xin, seeing this, merely gave the reporting guard a look, signaling him to leave first.

Yue Xinglan was truly impatient, actually so eager to marry before her. Afraid that she whould marry whom? Or perhaps is wasn’t her idea.

Perhaps it wasn’t Yue Xinglan’s idea, but Virtuous Noble Consort’s.

The Virtuous Noble Consort had always favored the Prime Minister’s third son. They had a familial connection, and in terms of power, the Prime Minister’s influence was undoubtedly greater. Therefore, upon hearing the news that the Emperor was going to bestow marriage on the Great Princess, Virtuous Noble Consort was so eager to make her move first.

To first secure the person she favored, lest the Emperor, wanting to pave the way for Su Xin, give the most advantageous role to Su Xin. Then where would they go to cry?

Su Xin just found it amusing. The Emperor must also have seen through the Virtuous Noble Consort’s intentions, but the Emperor had never intended to tie the Prime Minister and Su Xin together.

The children of the other concubines had not yet grown up. This battle had not yet begun. It was still maintained in a balance where no one made any major moves. You develop your power, and I develop mine, but it’s all in secret. No one had made any major overt moves, after all, no one wants to reveal their hand too early.

The Emperor’s health was still very good, in her prime, eating well and perfectly capable of creating a few more children. There was still some time before she fell ill.

Su Xin remembered, in the original host’s memory, the Emperor began to fall ill when the original host was 21. But when the original host was 20, and Yue Xingyao was 14, she had already taken control of the Emperor and replaced her. However, due to some unspeakable reasons, she kept dragging it out.

After all, how could this usurpation of the throne be so easy? Even if the Emperor was replaced, so what? Even if the Emperor could be imitated perfectly, so what? At that time, Yue Xingyao was still too young, and had taken action without considering many things clearly.

If history is altered, then everything will be different, and now history has begun to deviate from its course. Yue Xingyao’s attitude has undergone a great transformation compared to before.

Then Yue Xingyao should no longer make the exact same actions as in her previous life, meaning that the Emperor might not be replaced. Then whether the Emperor will fall ill is unknown, and the subsequent events are even more unpredictable.

The reason Su Xin chose this Young Master Qin is not only because this is a man who already has a relationship with her Second Sister.

According to Fourteen’s detection, Qin Minran’s belly should already contain Yue Xinglan’s child. It’s currently imperceptible, but in about seven or eight days, there should be signs of pregnancy.

Firstly, in order not to ruin a good young man. Su Xin cannot be responsible for any man, will definitely not sleep with them, and will even less let them conceive her child. There is no need to make a pure and innocent young man marry and then live a life of celibacy; that would not be fair to that young man. Su Xin is not a good person, nor does she have much of a conscience, but she does not want to wrong a man, nor does she want to cause herself trouble.

Secondly, the orthodox bloodline of the imperial family must be continued. Qin Minran carrying a child is just right, saving Su Xin from having to think of other methods. Taking a princess’s child is not very feasible, after all, the difference between men and women is there. Her other younger sisters are still young and have not grown up. If she waits to take their children, who knows how many years she would have to wait.

If she were childless for so many years, she would inevitably be questioned by outsiders. Su Xin could also adopt a child, but wouldn’t that be essentially the same as Yue Xingyao ascending to the throne? Su Xin definitely wants to be Emperor, and this throne must also be passed down. Su Xin does not want her adopted children, or those she fosters, to fight amongst themselves for power. That would be another messy account.

Thirdly, Qin Minran’s mother is a Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs (roughly based on the Tang dynasty system, but very chaotic; readers, please do not mind). A civil official with a wide network of connections, responsible for revising laws and other matters. Su Xin will need her later.

“Young Master, your hand… may need to be treated.”

Su Xin called out, trying to awaken Qin Minran, whose mind was currently drifting.

Qin Minran’s injury was on his finger. There was a relatively deep cut on the fingertip, and blood was flowing from the finger to the palm. The speed was not very fast, and the quantity was not particularly large, but it looked a little frightening.

The originally delicate and pain-averse Qin Minran now seemed to have no sensation, staring blankly, not saying a word, with a vacant expression.

Su Xin called out several times, finally getting Qin Minran to focus his gaze on her face.

“Ah?”

Dazed and foolish-looking, he still didn’t seem to have reacted.

“This, ah… I’ll go apply medicine myself. I won’t chat with you today, young lady. I’ll return home first.”

Qin Minran stood up, as if drifting, his legs somewhat weak.

Su Xin nodded, and didn’t say anything more to provoke Qin Minran. Although this was a silly-sweet, his blackened combat power was off the charts, extremely terrifying.

Qin Minran was a ‘celebrity’ in the original host’s memory. In the original host’s first life, to the memory of 25 years old.

It’s not that outstanding, high-quality parents can necessarily raise excellent children. Genetics is a rather magical thing. Just like Qin Minran only inherited his father’s good looks, but not his mother’s brains.

In the original trajectory, without anyone’s interference, after much hardship, Qin Minran and Yue Xinglan still got together. Qin Minran married Yue Xinglan as her main husband.

They had a period of loving life together. Qin Minran was the most envied man in the capital at that time, because his wife treated him so well. There were also many people who gossiped about Qin Minran behind his back, saying that he was jealous and unwilling to let his wife take others.

Qin Minran’s thinking was influenced by his mother’s thinking. His mother was very devoted. It was because of this devotion that Qin Minran’s mother, Qin Yanru [秦燕如 | Qín Yànrú], doted on her son so much.

Qin Minran felt that if two people were to be together, they should only have each other. Even if the other party died, they should remain loyal, otherwise this love would be too ridiculous.

But Yue Xinglan was the dignified Second Princess, a strong contender for the throne. How could she only marry one? Even if Yue Xinglan did not compete for that position, it was impossible for her to only marry Qin Minran alone.

Qin Minran cried and made a fuss. But he was also very good at acting spoiled. Yue Xinglan was initially willing to coax him, but later it was impossible to always coax him. People’s patience is limited, after all, and Yue Xinglan was not some infatuated seed.

Yue Xinglan quickly took a secondary consort. In order to consolidate her power, she also took several beautiful concubines to satisfy her desires as a woman. Qin Minran, finding that crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide were useless, angrily returned to his mother’s house.

Yue Xinglan’s mother was also worried, very worried, but she couldn’t bear to scold her beloved, pitifully crying son, whom she had pampered since childhood. She could only reason with him, saying, ‘Not all women in the world are like Mother, only liking your father alone. Having multiple wives and concubines is the norm in this world. Since you are the main husband, you should behave like one. Don’t be too jealous, and learn to serve your wife.’

Qin Minran couldn’t listen. His focus was that Yue Xinglan marrying others meant she no longer loved him.

Even though Qin Minran had already given birth to a three-year-old son, his personality was still like a child’s, very willful.

Yue Xinglan and the Virtuous Noble Consort were already dissatisfied with Qin Minran for only giving birth to one son as the main husband’s first child. Later, when Qin Minran’s belly remained still and he was still so troublesome, they became even more dissatisfied.

Qin Minran of course didn’t think there was anything wrong with him giving birth to one son, because he was a man, and also received very good care at home.

When love sheds its bright and beautiful exterior and reveals the part inside, patience will gradually fade.

People are always accustomed to showing their ugly side to those close to them, because there is no need to pretend. The whole person is very relaxed, and there is no need to deliberately be bright and beautiful, because everyone knows each other’s true appearance. But love is different; it must always maintain a beautiful side.

Qin Minran’s appearance gradually became less radiant than before. He didn’t put much thought into his appearance, and he was slowly getting older. But Yue Xinglan still had many choices.

Qin Minran once witnessed Yue Xinglan and a concubine engaging in wild relations [野战 | yězhàn | sexual relations outdoors]. Fury overwhelmed his reason. After Yue Xinglan left, he brutally took a horsewhip and whipped the concubine until he was on the verge of death, ultimately losing control and killing him.

Yue Xinglan slapped him and locked him up, not allowing anyone to see him.

Qin Minran was imprisoned for half a month, crying and making a fuss, almost going crazy. When he emerged from confinement, a servant told him that his three-year-old son had died from a high fever.

Qin Minran went mad.

The eldest son of the dignified Second Princess died just like that from a high fever, and not a single person notified him, the birth father.

Qin Minran was very selfish, had an almost twisted obsession with certain things, only cared about the people around him, sympathized with those living poorly, prioritized love above all else, and did not pay much attention to his own son.

But this did not mean that he didn’t love his son. As a father, how could he not love his child? After all, it was the crystallization of himself and his beloved, born after ten months of hard pregnancy.

Qin Minran returned home numbly, wailing loudly. Qin Yanru, furious and anxious, disregarded all decorum.

As the main husband, even if using private punishment was wrong, all he killed was a concubine. To put it bluntly, just a servant. Was it necessary to lock him up for half a month? And they didn’t even notify him when the child was in trouble.

This matter became too unsightly, and the imperial family’s face was completely lost. Yue Xinglan’s reputation was also ruined. The Virtuous Noble Consort was anxious and worried, but the Emperor didn’t care. At that time, the Emperor had already been switched. Yue Xingyao naturally hoped that things would get messier and messier, and that Yue Xinglan’s reputation would get worse and worse. The worse her reputation, the better it was for her; she certainly wouldn’t prevent this situation from developing.

But Yue Xinglan was already tired of dealing with Qin Minran and directly divorced him.

This could be said to be very disrespectful to Qin Yanru, but at that time, Yue Xinglan had already found her next partner. Even without Qin Yanru’s support, she could still develop very well.

That paper of divorce became the last straw that crushed Qin Minran. Qin Minran committed suicide.

But Qin Minran’s death became the last straw that drove Qin Yanru mad. Her most beloved son was dead, and her son’s child was also dead, and the culprit of all this was her son’s wife.

Qin Yanru was originally leading her faction to support Yue Xinglan. Upon Qin Minran’s death, she directly broke with Yue Xinglan and sided with Yue Xingyao, with only one request: to frantically retaliate against Yue Xinglan.

The Vice Minister was in charge of books, rituals, institutional evolution, etc. Qin Yanru, who had already become the Minister at that time, was the leader of this department.

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