LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 25: future daughter-in-law
At this moment, Cao Qian, dressed casually, hurriedly entered through a side door, glanced at "the favored" Xie Yuchan, walked quickly to Prince Cui Yi, and whispered a few words in his ear.
Prince Cui Yi's eyes lit up, and he waved Cao Qian away, then pondered for a while and decided. "Father Emperor, Mother Consort Duan, Your Son has an unreasonable request."
Emperor Jianyuan, who had been communicating with the "future daughter-in-law," heard his son speak and turned his gaze to him: "What unreasonable request? Speak."
Prince Cui Yi stood up and bowed to the two elders: "Your Son wants to ask Mother Consort Duan for a person."
Lady Duan was surprised; Prince Cui Yi had never asked her for anything, especially not a person. Without prior notice, why would he suddenly make such a request?
Emperor Jianyuan was equally puzzled: "A person? Who? Which maid from Lady Duan's palace has caught your eye?"
Prince Cui Yi replied firmly: "Your Son wants Lady Nongyue."
Instantly, the entire Qingchun Palace fell silent. Everyone, from the emperor and empress to the princes and princesses, stopped eating and drinking, staring at him as if they had seen a ghost.
"This... Lady Nongyue has been with me for over ten years. If you take her away, who will manage Songya Palace?" Though surprised, Lady Duan still expressed her stance.
Emperor Jianyuan's face darkened, turning green and white: "This is absurd!"
Prince Cui Jie, standing beside, laughed: "Second Brother likes older women?"
Prince Cui Yi remained expressionless: "Older women have more experience. In a few months, Chengying will give birth, and there's no experienced woman in the palace to help. Asking Mother Consort Duan for a capable maid to assist makes perfect sense."
Prince Cui Jie shook his head with a smile: "Nothing wrong with that. Quite reasonable."
"You—" Emperor Jianyuan's beard nearly stood on end from anger. Fortunately, the Empress patted his back: "Your Majesty, don't get angry. Getting upset will harm your health. Besides, Prince Yingrong's request makes sense. It's inconvenient for Wufu Palace without an experienced woman. If Lady Duan is reluctant to part with Lady Nongyue, I can select a reliable maid from Yaohua Palace for Prince Yingrong."
Lady Duan wasn't pleased; this was clearly an attempt to plant a spy in Wufu Palace. She quickly changed her tone: "It's not that I'm reluctant, but I need time to find a suitable replacement. If Prince Yingrong values Lady Nongyue, it's her fortune. But other maids might not suit him. In a few days, I'll send her over."
This was the difference between stating the reason first and making the request first. Stating the reason first made the request seem justified, while stating the request first made the reason sound like an excuse. Following Cao Qian's advice—"If Miss Xie impresses the emperor, use the excuse of caring for your wife to ask for Lady Duan's capable maid, remember to state the request first"—Prince Cui Yi hadn't noticed anything wrong, but everyone else had already misinterpreted the situation.
Coupled with Prince Cui Jie's question, Prince Cui Yi had essentially earned the reputation of being infatuated with an old, faded maid.
Miss Xie Yuchan, who had been acting demurely, couldn't remain calm anymore. Seeing that Prince Cui Yi, supposedly her fiancé, ignored her and favored an old maid, it was a huge humiliation. Plus, Emperor Jianyuan seemed satisfied with her, and in her excitement, she lost control.
"Brother Yingrong, you—you're too much!"
Lady Duan gasped, but Prince Cui Yi smiled.
Xie Yuchan clenched her fists against her chest, both sorrowful and furious: "First, you took in a plain concubine, now you want a lowly maid. Am I not prettier and better than them? Why won't you look at me properly?!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress slammed the table in anger: "How dare you! In front of the emperor, who allowed you to shout? A commoner dares to call the prince by name. Today, I'll teach you the palace rules. Beat her!"
"Empress, please have mercy!" Lady Duan knelt down in fright, pleading loudly: "Empress, please forgive her. She's young and ignorant. It's my fault for not disciplining her. Please have mercy!"
Xie Yuchan thought that Emperor Jianyuan favored her and believed crying would win sympathy, but instead, she received a scolding from the Empress, and Lady Duan knelt down to beg for mercy. Seeing Emperor Jianyuan's displeased expression, she realized she had caused a disaster and quickly knelt down: "Your Majesty, Empress, please spare me. I know I was wrong. I only thought of Brother Yingrong and acted rashly. Please show mercy!"
Fortunately, Emperor Jianyuan wasn't a petty ruler. Although his impression of her had significantly diminished, he decided to be lenient: "Get up. Considering this is your first offense, I won't pursue it further. However, regarding the engagement, it was merely a joke by Empress Xiaolin. The Xie family took it seriously, but raising you all these years wasn't easy. But Yingrong is my beloved son, and if he doesn't wish to marry you, I won't force him."
Xie Yuchan's eyes filled with despair: "Your Majesty..."
"I know you're only fifteen. Returning to Xuanzhou and marrying another won't be too late. When you wed, I'll send generous gifts as an apology."
Lady Duan couldn't hold back anymore: "Your Majesty! Empress Xiaolin..."
Emperor Jianyuan waved his hand coldly: "Don't mention Empress Xiaolin again. My decision is final. Next year, if Changsun Chengying gives birth to a daughter, I'll choose a suitable bride for Yingrong from the capital's noble families. Xie Yuchan."
Xie Yuchan, tears streaming down her face, knelt before the throne: "Yes..."
"Leave."
The emperor's word was law. Xie Yuchan left Qingchun Palace in sorrow, while the princes, princesses, and nobles present admired the drama unfolding before them.
Prince Cui Yi showed a smug expression, deciding to reward Bai Lichan later.