Chapter 3.2 (1/2)

Chapter Three (Part 2 of 2)

That afternoon Pei Jin discussed his intentions to marry Yan Shi Ning with the emperor.

The emperor was always indifferent toward his ninth son. He thought Pei Jin’s request wasn’t unreasonable and gave his consent.

Early the next morning Pei Jin visited the Yan Manor to ask for Yan Jing’s blessing for him to marry Yan Shi Ning.

Only a day ago Yan Jing returned to Yan Manor shaking his head in a worrisome way, his oldest daughter’s plan to find a husband at the banquet failed.

Yan Jing was happily surprised to have ninth gentle prince visit the Yan Manor and ask to marry his oldest daughter. Yan Jing knew his oldest daughter must be married off, but he never expected she would have a husband from high in the sky.

Yan Jing’s ears were sweetened by ninth gentle prince’s praises and admiration confession toward his oldest daughter.

Princess Kang Hua thought ninth gentle prince had mistaken Yan Shi Ning for Yan Shi Ting.

In contrast after Yan Shi Ning heard mouthy boy’s proposal, she spat out tea from her mouth.

Yan Shi Ning widened her eyes and looked in disbelief at her father who sat opposite her in the courtyard.

‘Shi Ning, ninth gentle prince has a weak status in the imperial court but he is still a prince,’ Yan Jing said. ‘I’ve assessed him for many years, he is a good man. Unlike his brothers, he doesn’t want the throne. If you marry him then you’ll live a peaceful life.’

Yan Jing sighed. He didn’t want to be involved in the princes’ battle for the throne. But his association with Princess Kang Hua forced him to be involved. He knew there were two consequences for supporting a prince for a throne, either staying alive if the prince he supported became emperor or killed if lost the throne. Although the crown prince was powerful, he couldn’t underestimate seventh prince’s power in the imperial court either.

Yan Jing was overjoyed to let his oldest daughter marry ninth gentle prince. Whether the crown prince or seventh prince became emperor, his oldest daughter would be alive and safe.

Yan Shi Ning supressed her fear and composed herself. She heard her father’s words and understood his intention. But she didn’t say anything. She lowered her head and assessed the situation in her heart. She heard rumors of seventh prince and the crown prince battling for the throne. The emperor had fifteen sons and three daughters. But only four of his sons and one of his daughters were alive, the others were dead.

The four princes included seventh prince, Pei Zhang. Pei Zhang’s birth mother was Consort Mu. Ninth prince, Pei Jin and his birth mother was a palace maid. Tenth prince, Pei Lam was the crown prince. Pei Lam’s birth mother was the empress. Thirteenth prince, Pei Khan was three years old and his mother was an unfavored consort.

It was known that Pei Jin had no intention to become emperor and he wanted to be a carefree prince. While Pei Zhang had a black heart. Pei Zhang’s relatives on his mother’s side were as powerful as the empress’ family and his desire to be emperor was infamous.

In the last few years, Pei Zhang and Pei Lam’s support from court officials were split.

Of course Princess Kang Hua supported the empress’ son and wanted Yan Shi Ting to marry Pei Lam.

‘Six years ago, ninth gentle prince had a betrothal with a court official’s daughter,’ Yan Jing said. ‘But the court official’s daughter died before the wedding. He was heartbroken and he remained loyal to her even after her death.’

Yan Jing’s regret of betraying Dung Thi was reflected on his face.

Yan Shi Ning’s mouth tightened. What heartbroken? What loyalty? Six years ago mouthy boy visited her in Xuan Qing. In front of everyone else, mouthy boy acted heartbroken. Behind their backs, he loved to bully and threaten her! Thoughts about the past pained her heart.