Chapter 150 (1/2)
Chapter 150: Desires for Men
It would be better if Nan Xun had stayed silent. His response rekindled the emperor's ire. The emperor threw Nan Xun a glare and scoffed. ”You are unrepentant! Stay on your knees until you understand your mistakes.” He turned to the eunuch and, before the eunuch could open his mouth, said, ”Back to my palace.”
The eunuch looked at Nan Xun, then at the emperor. He let out a resigned sigh before ordering a few servants to prepare a sedan chair. They left for the emperor's palace. Nan Xun was left alone in the rain.
Nan Xun did not intend to change his mind. He didn't think he had done anything wrong. Every time he thought of the way Jun Huang's eyes darkened, his heart sank. If he was unable to convince the emperor to take back the order, he and Jun Huang would…
He stopped himself from going down that train of thoughts. He didn't dare to even think about how he would react if one day Jun Huang was no longer with him.
Nan Xun took a deep breath and straightened up, paying no mind to the merciless rain. His clothes were completely drenched. He could feel rain dripping down his hair.
Wan'er watched Nan Xun from afar. The maid standing next to her let out a sigh. ”I heard that Prince Nan has been kneeling there the whole day. He refuses to accept the marriage. No one knows the reason. Shangguan Yue is one of the most beautiful woman in Northern Qi. Many have tried and failed to win her heart. And yet Prince Nan turned her away.”
”Who knows for whom is he keeping his heart for?” Wan'er said with a frown. The dangling ornament on her head waved and chimed gently in the wind. Her emerald green dress was wetted by the rain, but she didn't seem to care. Her eyes had lost their usual vibrancy. She was showing a maturity that was beyond her age.
The maid didn't understand what Wan'er meant. Was Nan Xun in love with someone from a more humble background? Was it why Nan Xun was willing to throw everything away and refused to marry Shangguan Yue?
Her speculation led her to the conclusion that Nan Xun was a man who was loyal to his lover. Someone like him deserved to be happy.
Wan'er didn't know what her maid was thinking. She was troubled enough on her own. ”Where is Royal Father?”
”Royal Father has returned to his chamber a while ago. Does the princess want to visit him?”
Wan'er paused. She felt like there was a need for her to talk to the emperor. Before she could take more than a couple steps, the maid continued to say, ”However, I heard that Sir Shangguan has requested an audience with the emperor. He's most likely here for Prince Nan Xun as well. It may not be a good time for the princess to visit.”
Wan'er stopped in her track. Sir Shangguan will take care of the matter, she thought. If it's me doing the talking, Royal Father may start doubting my motivation.
Wan'er waved a hand and said, ”If so, I'm not going to barge in. Let us return to the palace.”
The maid caught up with her and tilted the umbrella toward Wan'er's direction, keeping Wan'er wet at the cost of getting drenched herself.
”Sir Shangguan requested an audience with you, Your Majesty,” the eunuch said. The emperor was resting on the divan. He opened his eyes and motioned at the eunuch to let Sir Shangguan in.
On his way in, Sir Shangguan idly wondered if the emperor knew about the rumor. He wanted to ask the eunuch, but as the emperor's confidante, the eunuch would not be honest with him. He would be attracting the emperor's suspicion for nothing.
Sir Shangguan bowed at the emperor respectfully. The emperor let out a long sigh. ”The official must have come for the marriage between Yue'er and Nan Xun.”
”Indeed,” said Sir Shangguan.
The emperor sighed again and rubbed at his forehead tiredly. ”That boy isn't usually this stubborn. For some reason, he refuses to accept the marriage no matter what I said. I don't know what he is thinking.”
Sir Shangguan's eyes darkened. He looked up at the emperor and hesitantly opened his mouth. The emperor frowned and said, ”The official may be honest with me.”
”Has the emperor not heard the rumors?” asked Sir Shangguan. He immediately lowered his head, worried that he would anger the emperor.
His words were vague. The emperor didn't know what he was referring to. The frown between the emperor's eyebrows deepened. ”What rumors? The official can be upfront with me. I'll like to know what people have been talking about.”
Sir Shangguan's stomach dropped. He knew what he was going to say would make the emperor mad, but he had to think of his daughter's happiness. He tightened his jaw and said, ”People are saying that… Prince Nan… is into men.”
Sir Shangguan bowed down until his head touched the floor and didn't dare to look up. His robe was dirtied by the mud brought in from the outside, but he failed to take notice.
The emperor stilled. He never expected this boy he had seen growing up would be into men.