GBP Chapter 233 Emperor Yuan's Compromise
Chapter 233 Emperor Yuan's Compromise
A moment later, he left the general's mansion with a smile. The discomfort he felt was easily soothed by her lighthearted words, and his attention was diverted, causing it to disappear completely.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Study was brightly lit. Yuan Huaijun leaned back in his chair, his expression indifferent. His phoenix eyes were slightly raised as he stared intently at the two imperial edicts on the table. One was the edict from the previous banquet that conferred the title of Empress on Xin Moyan, and the other was the newly drafted imperial edict of marriage bestowed upon him. Neither of them was stamped with the imperial seal.
Xin Moyan's image kept appearing in his mind. Her smiling face, her words and actions, every frown and smile attracted him. He didn't even know when it started, but Xin Moyan made him so obsessed. What about before? Was it because he was infatuated with A Lie that he didn't notice Yan'er's brilliance?
Xuan Yuan talked to him a lot tonight. Over the years, they had hardly had any opportunities to communicate, let alone, as Yuan Huaijun and Xuan Yuan, formally and openly face the truth. But this time, it was because of Yan'er...
He also knew that Xuan Yuan had no ill intentions towards Yuan Qi, and after his mother's heart-to-heart talk with him today, he seemed to have no choice but to compromise.
There is only one Xin Moyan in this world. He does not want to force Yan'er, and this morning in the Imperial Study, it was actually his deliberate act.
Ha~ The result was exactly what he expected; some people really got angry.
His mother advised him a lot, on behalf of Xuan Yuan. In the past few years, he had always been holding a grudge, wondering why his mother always treated Xuan Yuan better than herself.
Today, he has found answers to many of his questions.
Everyone knows that the Emperor and Empress were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love. But only he and his mother know that the Emperor's deepest concern is for Xuan Yuan's mother, Consort Xuan. On his deathbed, the Emperor was only worried about his beloved's son. He feared that even in the afterlife, Consort Xuan would blame him for not taking good care of Xuan Yuan, and he also feared that Xuan Yuan would be harmed by the Yelan Kingdom...
His mother was the person he respected and cared about most in his life. His mother did everything perfectly and was deeply loved by all the royal children. However, she could not get her husband's love. Perhaps in the past, before Consort Xuan appeared, his father and mother must have had some good times together!
However, the Empress Dowager and Consort Xuan were like sisters, and she never minded Consort Xuan's later appearance. In her memory, there was only a gentle woman dressed in black robes and a silver phoenix crown. Consort Xuan was really beautiful and kind, and was the woman she respected most besides the Empress Dowager.
But whether it was Consort Xuan or the Empress Dowager, these two women, who were the most extraordinary in their youth, were ultimately betrayed by the men they loved...
His mother said a lot today, and he remembered one sentence: "Most love in this world is easy to promise but hard to grow old together." His mother's life was like that. She did not want her only niece to be like her, spending the rest of her life in the red walls and green tiles of the inner palace.
The Empress Dowager's intention was not to let Yan'er marry a man she did not love, even if the man she married was her own son.
He also asked his mother why she had agreed to let Consort Xuan enter the palace and why she had shown such affection for Xuan Yuan.
The answer they received was that the person who had been in love with their father back then was Consort Xuan. However, due to a series of misunderstandings, their father married their mother, and Consort Xuan also found someone she loved, so she left for a distant place.
It wasn't until that year, when the Emperor reunited with Consort Xuan at the border, that he disregarded all obstacles, welcomed her into the palace, and made her a Consort.
The Empress Dowager and Consort Xuan were not only close friends, but the Empress Dowager was even saved from danger by Consort Xuan several times. Their friendship was already unbreakable and would not be affected by the Emperor. After Consort Xuan passed away early, the Empress Dowager treated Xuan Yuan as her own child.
He was also aware of what had happened over the years.
But Xuan Yuan is this person...
When he saw Xuanqing Palace tonight, he never expected that Xuanyuan would tear off the mask he had worn all these years for Yan'er.
He was even somewhat relieved that, apart from Yan'er, he and Xuan Yuan had never been on opposing sides; otherwise, with Xuan Yuan's current power, he would definitely be a major threat to Yuan Qi...
Xuan Yuan has been focusing his efforts on building up his power in Ye Lan these past few years, but he said he wouldn't take Yan'er to Ye Lan. Does he really not want to do that?
Yuan Huaijun stared at the imperial edict in deep thought for a long time. Yan'er was the treasure he cherished in his heart, and her position was irreplaceable by ordinary women. Now, he was asked to personally stamp the imperial seal and hand Yan'er over to that guy. He was truly reluctant and unwilling.
At this moment, Wang Si cautiously approached and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Yun has sent someone to invite you."
Yuan Huaijun's brow twitched, and the image of that purple figure suddenly appeared in his mind, a complex look flashing in his eyes.
"I understand."
Without further hesitation, he grabbed the imperial seal and stamped a bright red mark directly onto the imperial edict.
"Wang Si, prepare the carriage for Ziyun Palace."
Wang Si paused for a moment, then quickly stepped back and gave instructions to the sedan chair driver.
Inside the Purple Rhyme Palace, Qin Shuang, dressed in a light purple brocade palace gown, awaited the arrival of Emperor Yuan.
"Your Majesty, it's so late. His Majesty has probably retired for the night. You shouldn't wait any longer!"
Qin Shuang shook her head; she trusted her intuition that His Majesty would come.
"Your Majesty has arrived~"
Yuan Huaijun changed into a black and gold dragon-patterned casual outfit. He was tall and slender, just like when Qin Shuang first saw him three years ago when he ascended the throne. However, at that time, there was a bit more of the decisiveness, calmness and ruthlessness of a monarch between his brows.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Qin Shuang bowed and greeted the man before her.
"No need for formalities." He raised his hand, his voice flat, revealing no extra emotion.
"Consort Yun, it's so late, why haven't you rested yet?"
After saying that, he grabbed Qin Shuang's wrist and pulled her to his side.
With a gentle and understanding smile on her delicate face, Qin Shuang spoke softly and soothingly, “Your Majesty, I have been feeling much better these past few days. I thought Your Majesty might be troubled these days, so I sent someone to invite Your Majesty here for a chat.”
"Oh? My beloved consort knows I'm troubled?"
He pulled Qin Shuang onto his lap, and for those two years he held her like that, giving her many honors that others didn't have.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."
Qin Shuang's body stiffened, and her eyes gradually welled up with tears. She dared not imagine that this scene would happen again.
Although the gesture was intimate, Yuan Huaijun's eyes remained calm and indifferent. "My beloved consort has not yet answered my question."
"Your Majesty, I congratulate you on the establishment of the Empress."
"Hmm, are you happy that I've made Yan'er my empress?"
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, wise and mighty, and I am happy for Your Majesty."
"Ha~"
He stared into Qin Shuang's eyes, then suddenly sneered. Before she could react, he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.