Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 507 - 498: Timing

Chapter 507: Chapter 498: Timing

Shiyi also angrily told Empress Shan, "Feng Miaohua is truly despicable, she went so far as to hurt Yan’er, such a kind and gentle girl. As did my third elder sister, showing me, her brother, no respect. They clearly saw me introduce our sixth sister to Yan’er and told them that Yan’er is my childhood companion and that they should get along well with her, yet Feng Miaohua still dared to scald her with boiling water. Mother did not see, Yan’er was crying so pitifully, she must have been in extreme pain."

Empress Shan, with her Bodhisattva-like compassionate heart, was pained at the thought of the little girl being scalded and crying so agonizingly. She said, "The poor child, the eldest daughter of the Chus is so gentle and amiable, most pleasing little lady. Ms. Miao is really too much."

Li Cheng continued to apply the eye remedy, and said softly, "Mother, Ms. Chu’s hand was so badly scalded that it had two big, clear blisters. I could hardly bear to look at it a second time. Luckily, that maid was clever and blocked for Ms. Chu, otherwise Ms. Chu would have been even more pitiful."

Empress Shan instructed a eunuch behind her, "Eunuch Li, you go to the Yong’an Marquis Manor now. Pass on my message, saying that I know that Ms. Chu has been wronged. Tell her to take care and recover well. Gift her with two boxes of white medicine from the Li people’s tribute, two jade Ruyis, and two bolts of Zhuanghua satin."

Eunuch Li bowed and left.

Empress Shan then instructed to another eunuch, "Xiao Mingzi, you go the Wanqing Palace now and find Ms. Miao. Pass on my message emphasizing that as a woman, it is vital to be dignified, virtuous, and gentle, and must never behave disrespectfully or impulsively. Gift her a copper mirror and a copy of the ’Lessons for Women’."

Seeing Eunuch Ming bow and leave, Empress Shan then asked the Emperor, "Your Majesty, what do you think of my handling of Ms. Miao?"

The Emperor had dozens of grandchildren and grandchildren. He did not pay much attention to the less-favored Feng Miaohua. Especially since her actions and words were indeed improper, furthermore, the one who got scalded was from the Chu family who he felt a little guilt towards and needed to win favor from.

He nodded and said, "The Empress’s teaching is indeed appropriate, Ms. Miao was too indulged and spoiled by Princess Ronghe." Seeing that Shiyi was still frowning, he added jocosely, "It seems that Shiyi is still unsatisfied with Mother’s handling?"

Upon hearing this, Shiyi’s face blushed a little. He said, "The son believes that Mother’s discipline is indeed correct. Only... " he suddenly looked a bit shy, paused, and then gathered his courage and said, "Only, Yan’er is too good-natured and mild, and timid. I fear she will be bullied again in the future. We grew up together, and I can’t bear to see her wronged. I, I want... I want... "

Empress Shan quickly asked, "What does the Prince want?"

Shiyi gathered his courage again and said, "I want Yan’er to be my wife, so that nobody will ever dare to bully her again." He bowed and pleaded, "May the Emperor and Empress grant your permission."

Seeing little Shiyi, who was still so young, wanting to get a wife in such a serious manner, both the Emperor and Empress Shan were so surprised they started coughing. Empress Shan had choked on her saliva, while the Emperor was genuinely coughing.

Empress Shan exclaimed, "Prince, you’re only eight this year, how could you get married? Besides, your elder sister is Ms. Chu’s grandfather’s wife, and your cousin’s wife is Ms. Chu’s great-grandfather’s wife. There are two generations between you."

Shiyi said, "But Chen Shiying got married when he was just five, and many common people arrange marriages for their children when they are very young. As for the generation gap, although I am of the grandparent generation, I am young. It can’t be that I have to marry an old woman from the grandmother’s generation, right? I do not like old women."

Empress Shan realized that there is some truth to this. Just because Shiyi is considered of a higher generation, she should not find him a woman of a higher generation, for the options would be very limited and finding a good woman in this case would be tricky. That young lady from the Chus was notably good - beautiful, kind, gentle, and she grew up with him, they share deep affection. Empress Shan recalled how she was forcefully brought into the palace by the Emperor to give birth to children, living in a loveless marriage, which is an unfulfilling way to spend one’s life. She did not wish for her son to live like she had.

She smiled and said, "Why don’t you wait a bit more, Prince? When you are fourteen, I’ll arrange for your marriage then. This Ms. Chu is beautiful and gentle, and you two get along extremely well. I, too, like her very much."

Shiyi made a sound of discontent and said, "But, I don’t want to wait until I’m fourteen. All these years, Yan’er would suffer so much more."

It seemed like the Emperor only just snapped out of his surprise, and he chuckled, "That Chen Shiying really did set a bad precedent." He then teased the Empress, saying, "Empress, I believe that Shiyi also make sense. He and that young lady from the Chus shared a childhood together, they have been playmates since their youth. We could fix their marriage now, then wait till they turn fifteen to hold the wedding."

While Empress Shan was still stunned, Shiyi was overjoyed and knelt to kowtow three times to the Emperor, saying, "Your son thanks the father for his consent."

The Emperor was slightly startled, seeing Shiyi so serious. His own words, although did reveal a bit of willingness to let it happen, were mostly in jest.

Seeing the Emperor make no further comment after his kowtows, Shiyi asked nervously, "Father, aren’t you true to your word?"

The Emperor hesitated slightly, then said, "The Chus have shown great kindness to the Prince, and the Prince and the young lady from the Chu family are childhood friends. I see no reason why I should stop this marriage. However, the Prince is indeed too young for it right now." Seeing Shiyi’s face turn red with anxiety, he laughed and added, "Moreover, we need a good opportunity, a good reason, like winning a significant victory in quelling a rebellion, for example. Then I would bestow a favor unto the Chus..."

Upon hearing this, Shiyi was overjoyed. He kowtowed to the Emperor again and said happily, "Thank you, Father, for your consent." He thought to himself, my third grandfather and Daddy Chu are the best, they will certainly achieve a great victory.

The Emperor went back to his sleeping quarters in the Wanqing Palace. He instructed a close eunuch, "Go, call the crown prince."

The eunuch had just stepped outside the palace when he saw the Crown Prince approaching.

The Crown Prince was already aware of the two incidents that had taken place in the An Royal Mansion. He had intended to use the second public attack on Rong Zhao by the "Bird Fairy" as a pretext to make Rong Zhao become a nun, both for repentance in this life and accumulation of blessings for the next. It would also cast the least disgrace on the royal family.

Of course, the primary reason he could not speak of was to fulfill the Emperor’s earlier promise and grant Chu Guangche his freedom. Every time the Crown Prince thought of that low-profile, forbearing figure who was always concerned for him, he felt guilty and unsettled.

When the Emperor heard the Crown Prince’s advice, he said, "Rong Zhao colluding with the second elder brother to scheme against Chu Guangche was like signing her own death warrant. Her fate will inevitably lie in a nunnery, just not now. Although I broke my promise and wronged Chu Guangche, I will compensate the Chu family in another way. Remember, even if I am no longer around, you should wait till the right time before..."

Meanwhile, in the Yong’an Marquis Manor, the Chus had just sent away Eunuch Li, who had brought Empress Shan’s message. They heard that not only had the Empress sent an eunuch to chastise Feng Miaohua for her impropriety at the An Royal Mansion, but the Dowager Empress had also sent an eunuch to criticize Princess Ronghe for failing to properly educate her daughter and tarnishing the image of the imperial daughters in the An Royal Mansion. This time, the mother and daughter had certainly lost face in public. At the same time, they had thoroughly offended the couple of Duke An.