EMHTC -Chapter 139 What a touching, sacred, grand, beautiful, and pure love!

The man with the good feng shui in his house was indeed a decent person in a socially acceptable sense, but it didn’t change the fact that Princess Xiangyang had no desire to marry him.

Princess Xiangyang shot a glance at Xu Yanmiao: My father is so stubborn… what should I do?

Xu Yanmiao subtly mouthed the words, Retreat first.

Princess Xiangyang solemnly nodded, took a silent deep breath, then turned to the old emperor.
“Father!”

The old emperor crossed his arms. “What is it?”

Princess Xiangyang: “Father, marriage is a serious matter. How can it be treated lightly? Let me go back and think about it! No matter how good he is, I can’t be impulsive!”

The old emperor raised an eyebrow indifferently. “Impulsive? Don’t worry. I will have the Jinyiwei investigate him thoroughly, tracing back three generations.”

Princess Xiangyang choked on her words and tried to resist. “But what if he’s a hypocrite?”

The old emperor replied coolly, “If he can keep up the act for a lifetime, then he’s a true gentleman. Judge by actions, not by intentions.”

Then, with a serious expression, he added, “Just focus on preparing for your wedding in the palace. Now that you’re about to get married, you should avoid going outside too often. And stop using Xu Yanmiao as a shield—those words do more harm than good. Also…”

Before he could finish, Princess Xiangyang turned and bolted.

Whatever else he was about to say—she didn’t want to hear it!

The old emperor watched his daughter flee in defeat, and the stern expression on his face instantly melted into a smirk.

Xu Yanmiao, meanwhile, was still lowering his head, trying to think of an excuse to leave, completely missing the exchange. Otherwise, he would have realized—Gao Xiang didn’t need to be so nervous. Her father was just toying with her.

Xu Yanmiao hadn’t even come up with an excuse before the old emperor impatiently shoved a task at him and sent him away.

Princess Xiangyang looked at him curiously. “What task?”

Xu Yanmiao’s expression was strange. “He wants me to perform a memorial ceremony for the late prime minister of the previous dynasty.”

Princess Xiangyang: “…My father really can’t let go of that prime minister.”

Xu Yanmiao coughed and changed the subject. “Let’s talk about you not wanting to find a prince consort.”

Princess Xiangyang shot him a sideways glance.

This Xiao Baize is always bold in his heart, but on the surface, he’s the picture of caution and restraint.

However, she had to be careful now—since she needed his help, teasing him was out of the question.

She clicked her tongue and said, “My father found someone—perfect, or at least perfect on the surface—and he really likes him. Yao Hai, tell me, if I find someone to beat that guy up every time he shows his face, won’t he eventually beg my father not to marry me to him?”

Xu Yanmiao still wasn’t used to being addressed by his courtesy name.

—Most of his colleagues called him Xu Lang. Those ranked lower than him addressed him formally as Attendant Xu. Although he had a courtesy name, it was rarely used.

But Gao Xiang refused to call him Xu Lang. Using his full name—Xu Yanmiao—was fine before he had a courtesy name, but after receiving one, addressing him that way among peers was essentially the same as yelling at him. So, she had no choice but to use his courtesy name instead.

Xu Yanmiao replied, “What if he’s the type who remains steadfast and unyielding?”

Princess Xiangyang: “So what? Just because he won’t give in to pressure doesn’t mean he likes getting beaten up. Who would want to stay in this situation?”

【Let me check… Hmm, doesn’t seem like he enjoys being mistreated.】

Princess Xiangyang’s eyes widened.

There are actually people who enjoy being beaten?!

What kind of person would even like that?!

Xu Yanmiao thought for a moment before adding, “Besides, this is just one of His Majesty’s preferred candidates. If this one refuses, there are plenty more options. The real concern is that next time, he might not even tell you—he could just issue an imperial decree, and you wouldn’t be able to refuse.”

Princess Xiangyang clicked her tongue in frustration.

Why can’t I just cut my way out of this mess with blood and violence?

—Who wouldn’t go crazy when being pressured to marry?

Xu Yanmiao tapped his aching head. “I have some cases where young pregnancies led to both mother and child dying. Maybe you could use that to delay for a few years?”

Princess Xiangyang paused for a moment, then guiltily averted her gaze. “I already told my father I don’t want children.”

So that excuse was off the table.

Xu Yanmiao tapped his head again. “Then say you prefer someone talented and scholarly. Have him write a poem or an essay—let the words reflect his character. Then you can say his values… don’t align with yours. If you want to emphasize it, say that after observing His Majesty and the Empress’s deep bond, you yearn for a relationship built on mutual understanding and affection, not one where you can’t even have a decent conversation.”

Princess Xiangyang’s gaze continued to drift. “I already told my father I like warriors. As for not being able to talk, I brought that up too, and he just said I can get along with anyone.”

Great. Those options were blocked too.

Xu Yanmiao: Stare—

Princess Xiangyang chuckled awkwardly and lowered her head. “Who would’ve thought you’d come up with the same ideas I did?”

Xu Yanmiao sighed. “Then the only real solution is to deal with His Majesty directly. Otherwise, even if you get rid of this candidate, there’ll always be another. There’s no shortage of people in this world.”

Princess Xiangyang’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “Then what should I do? Xu Yaohai, you’re well-traveled and knowledgeable…”

“Let me think. This isn’t something that can be rushed. For now, tell His Majesty you want to meet the candidate privately to assess his character. Drag it out as long as you can—sooner or later, an opportunity will arise.”

“Alright.” Princess Xiangyang brightened up again. “The late prime minister’s grave is in his hometown, but about thirty to forty miles outside the capital, the people built a cenotaph for him. There’s a small temple nearby too. If you need to leave the city, we can hire a donkey cart—walking would be too tiring.”

Xu Yanmiao gave her a thumbs-up.

The late prime minister had been a good official who truly cared for the people. Even though more than thirty years had passed since the founding of the new dynasty, incense still burned at his cenotaph.

Xu Yanmiao set down the offering box and carefully arranged the food inside: flatbreads, mung bean porridge, red bean porridge, chive turnovers, dumplings, and a bowl of plain noodle soup.

The old emperor had personally instructed him to bring these specific foods. He also told Xu Yanmiao to say a few words at the grave.

After bowing in respect, Xu Yanmiao opened his mouth three or four times but couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Princess Xiangyang made a gesture. “I’ll go look around elsewhere.”

Once she was gone, Xu Yanmiao took a deep breath and mentally prepared himself several times before finally reciting the words that had been swirling in his mind.

“Prime Minister Wang, my emperor specifically sent me to deliver a message to you.”

“He said—”

“These flatbreads, porridge, and dumplings are all cheap foods. If only he had been able to eat these regularly back then, instead of ending up as a beggar on the streets, maybe he wouldn’t have joined the rebellion.”

“This bowl of plain noodle soup only costs three copper coins.”

“But back then, even on weekends, a pound of flour alone cost three hundred coins—let alone the price of a bowl of noodle soup.”

“Now, the country is prosperous and at peace. The people are living good lives. Afraid you wouldn’t believe it, His Majesty specifically sent these everyday foods as proof. Plain noodle soup is no longer a luxury that the poor can only afford on special occasions. As long as they’re a little diligent, they can have a bowl every few days.”

“So, do you regret it? Back then, you feigned surrender to destroy me.”

On a stormy night, a gaunt, yellow-faced man stumbled into his home.

He hadn’t even waited for the final imperial exam before rushing back, utterly dejected. His frail little sister stood on a small stool, feeding the livestock through a window. The moment she saw him, she cried out in delight, “Brother!”

But the first thing the yellow-faced man said was, “Quick, help me take off my shoes!”

His little sister ran over immediately, using all her strength. She pressed her whole body down and then leaned back hard, pulling with all her might, much like the boat trackers along the Yangtze River hauling a vessel ashore.

With a loud pop, the shoe came off.

“Hiss—” The yellow-faced man sucked in a breath.

No wonder he had needed help removing his shoes—inside, they were soaked with blood. The soles of his feet were raw and mangled. But before taking off his shoes, he had been walking with such numbness that he hadn’t even felt the pain.

“I walked three to four hundred miles home to save money. My skin’s thick—I’ll be fine.”

As soon as he finished explaining, the grief of his failure surged back, threatening to drown his heart. Unable to hold it in any longer, he wailed, “Little sister! Mother! I didn’t pass!”

From inside the house, the sound of blankets being lifted was followed by something toppling over. A moment later, his mother hurried out and sat beside him. Her large, fan-like hand gently patted his back. “It’s alright, it’s alright. If you didn’t pass, we’ll try again. Didn’t you say there’s another exam in three years?”

A pungent smell of urine filled the air. The yellow-faced man sniffed carefully and realized it came from inside the house, mixed with the musty stench of old, damp corners. Looking down, he noticed faint water stains on his mother’s pant leg, and that she was wearing only socks, no shoes. It hit him instantly—she must have knocked over the chamber pot while getting out of bed.

If he saw the mess, he’d use it as an excuse to beat his mother. Maybe in the past, he would have held back a little. But now that he had failed the exam and wouldn’t become an official, there was nothing left to restrain him.

“Mother, you have to leave!” The yellow-faced man was frantic. “Take Little Sister and go, quickly!”

“Leave? Why are you suddenly talking about leaving?”

Seeing that his mother still hadn’t understood, the yellow-faced man grew even more anxious. “That man will beat you!”

But instead of running away or breaking into tears like she usually did, his mother smiled slightly.

Even his little sister grinned, looking completely unafraid.

The yellow-faced man glanced between them, utterly bewildered. Why were they reacting like this?

Then, he heard his sister cheerfully announce, “Brother! Father got beaten to death!”

His eyes widened. “What?!”

His little sister giggled. “After Father died, that night at dinner, Mother even gave me a braised egg!”

“Good riddance!” The yellow-faced man laughed. “She should’ve given you two! You can have mine, too!”

But he still worried. “How did he die? Did he cause trouble for someone?”

His father’s death was the best thing that could’ve happened, but would it bring trouble to their family?

His mother finally spoke, still smiling. “I just learned that gambling is actually illegal. They arrested him and gave him a hundred lashes. He was old, so he died right then and there.”

“What? Gambling is illegal?” The yellow-faced man was surprised—and a little delighted.

He had struggled just to read books; how could he have known the laws?

His little sister, her voice bright and clear like a silver bell, happily recounted, “That day, several officials barged in and took Father away. Mother and I were terrified! I peeked out the window and saw them strip Father’s pants off and start beating him. Mother drew water from the well and handed it to the officials, asking what was going on. She even offered them some coins—money that Father had planned to use to buy Fenjiu from Xinghua Village! But the officials didn’t take it. Instead, one of them gave me a piece of candy!”

At this, the yellow-faced man grew suspicious.

He had guessed that the people who beat his father were government enforcers. But how could enforcers refuse a bribe?

Unless… they couldn’t take it.

The yellow-faced man asked quickly, “Did they say anything else besides giving you the candy?”

“Um… something about how amazing my brother is! They said you even know a high-ranking official in the capital. Someone sent a rider all the way here to inform the county magistrate about Father’s gambling, and told him to…”

Her voice changed slightly as she mimicked the official’s words:

“Uphold the law with integrity.”

“The capital…”

The yellow-faced man was dumbfounded. “But I don’t know any officials in the capital…”

His mother, seeing his confusion, was also puzzled. “Wasn’t it someone you knew? He even had the officials give me money, saying that if I could get a divorce, I should. If not, I should take Er Yatou and find you while that man was still bedridden. I thought it was money you borrowed from a friend.”

“Oh, right. The official also said that the one who helped us is surnamed Xu.”

“Xu—”

The yellow-faced man suddenly turned his head toward the capital.

That surname was uncommon. If it was this surname and someone kindhearted, there was only one possibility.

“It was him…”

The official who, despite his tardiness, had still let him into the exam hall. He remembered his name…

“Xu… Yan… Miao…”

“Xu… Yao… Hai…”

“Thud—”

With a heavy sound, the yellow-faced man knelt, facing the capital, as gratitude surged through his heart.

“Thank you… truly, thank you…”

【This should be enough, right?】

After offering prayers at the late Prime Minister’s grave, Xu Yanmiao went to find Princess Xiangyang. On the way, he briefly checked in on the yellow-faced man’s family and was relieved to find that the local authorities had properly handled the case after receiving his letter.

He had only given vague instructions, unaware that the violent gambler who had abused his family and tried to sell his daughter had been discreetly beaten to death by the county magistrate—eager to curry favor with a superior.

“Xu Yao Hai—”

The Princess of Xiangyang was calling him.

Xu Yanmiao looked up and waved. “Over here!”

The Princess of Xiangyang smiled and ran over, holding a large bouquet of freshly picked rapeseed flowers.

Her complexion was rosy, and she wore simple, practical blue men’s attire. As she ran, she looked both beautiful and full of energy. Her bright, glimmering eyes shone like two autumn pools under the sunlight.

A group of scholars, seemingly out on an excursion, watched from a distance, their hearts pounding. One of them even began considering what day he should have his relatives bring a wedding gift to her family.

This made Xu Yanmiao’s presence extremely irritating in the scholar’s eyes.

The young page beside the scholar glanced at his master’s expression and suddenly lit up with excitement.

His master had never taken a liking to anyone for years, causing his mother endless worry. She had tried introducing both men and women to him, but nothing worked. So, was it that his standards were simply this high?

“Master, should we ask which family’s lady she belongs to and send a matchmaker to propose?”

The scholar hesitated, staring silently at Xu Yanmiao.

The page immediately understood—his master didn’t want to steal someone else’s love interest. But in his opinion, as long as they weren’t married yet, there was still a chance to swoop in!

So, he smiled slyly and chirped, “Master, that young gentleman is also quite good-looking. Maybe he’s her elder brother. If you don’t ask now, they might leave soon.”

But would someone address their own brother by his full name?

The scholar shook his head. “Let’s go.”

The page looked like he wanted to say something but held back, watching his master walk away while glancing back every few steps.

【Wait a minute?!】

【Lin Zhi fell in love with Gao Xiang at first sight?!】

【Lin Zhi? Who… oh, that guy who ranked 85th in the third division? The one the old emperor favors?!】

The Princess of Xiangyang turned to Xu Yanmiao in horror.

Wait—how did this Lin guy suddenly pop up?!

【Oh no—if the old emperor finds out, he’ll definitely see it as a perfect match! Whether or not I like him, he’ll think, ‘The young man is devoted, so he’ll treat my daughter well,’ and immediately issue a marriage decree…】

Ugh! You don’t need to remind me!

The Princess of Xiangyang, now panicked, blurted out, “Xu Yanmiao, my father is pushing me to get married—what should I do?!”

—She was so anxious that she even forgot to use polite honorifics.

Luckily, Xu Yanmiao wasn’t sensitive to such details.

Xu Yanmiao thought for a moment. “Actually, I’ve come up with an idea that might work. But I’m not sure if it will.”

The Princess of Xiangyang eagerly pressed him, “What idea?!”

Lowering his voice as if wary of nearby imperial guards, Xu Yanmiao whispered, “Although your father is a bit stubborn, he genuinely wants the best for you.”

【He just has a bit of a patriarchal mindset.】

The imperial guards nearby desperately wished they could cover their ears.

Since when did they have to stand around and listen to Xu Yanmiao badmouth the emperor?!

The Princess of Xiangyang nodded vigorously.

Yes, that was exactly how her father was.

Xu Yanmiao continued, “So I was thinking, what if we used reverse psychology? If your father believes that no matter who you marry, your life will be miserable, would he still push you into the fire pit?”

The Princess of Xiangyang nodded even faster. “But how do we…?” She hesitated, then awkwardly tried to mimic Xu Yanmiao’s way of speaking. “Use reverse psychology?”

At the same time, she thought to herself: What a weird term. I wonder if it’s some heavenly phrase or a dialect from some faraway tribe.

Xu Yanmiao coughed lightly.

【Forgive me, Your Majesty. Even though you gifted me a carriage before, I have to do this for my dear friend!】

“You should do this…”

As she listened, the Princess of Xiangyang’s expression grew stranger and stranger. But at the same time, she seemed intrigued.

The old emperor was basking in the sun in the imperial garden.

He was in a good mood and sighed to the head eunuch beside him, “I’m getting old. I never used to have the patience to lounge around all afternoon. My bones are going soft from all this lying down.”

The head eunuch, also advanced in age, sat on a small stool specially granted by the emperor and chuckled. “Your Majesty, old? Nonsense! You’re still broad-shouldered and strong. When you walk out, people must wonder which dock worker you are, thinking, ‘Good heavens, this man could haul an entire day’s worth of cargo!’”

The old emperor laughed heartily.

Indeed, he had the body of a seasoned warrior—broad shoulders, thick arms, and strong legs. Just looking at him was enough to make people wary.

“But I really am getting old—already in my sixties or seventies. I never used to worry about seasonal changes, but now I need medicine for it.”

He held out his hand, and a young eunuch quickly offered him a bowl of thick, black herbal soup. The old emperor gulped it down, wiped his mouth casually, and said, “Let’s go visit the Empress.”

I miss my dear wife.

Upon arriving at the Pepper Chamber Palace, he immediately noticed an ivory-white vase filled with fresh rapeseed flowers—the Empress Dou’s favorite. Clearly, they had been picked at the peak of their bloom.

“Gao Xian came to visit?”

Empress Dou smiled and nodded.

The old emperor grumbled, “That girl is so unfilial. She only ever brings gifts for her mother, never for her father.”

“Who said I forgot you?” The Princess of Xiangyang stepped out from a side hall and pulled a deep-fried stinky tofu snack from her pocket, holding it up to his nose. “Look! Freshly fried!”

The old emperor smirked. “At least you have some sense.”

As he took a bite, he heard his daughter say, “Father, I want to get married.”

“Pfft—!”

The tofu almost choked him. He had to down an entire cup of tea to recover before staring at his daughter in shock.

His daughter beamed at him.

Sunlight streamed through the tree branches and window lattices, illuminating her bright white teeth, making them gleam.

The old emperor was astonished. “Gao Xian, you’ve finally come around?”

The Princess of Xiangyang nodded. “I accidentally caught a glimpse of one of the suitors you picked for me…”

She actually hadn’t noticed anyone, but that didn’t stop her from making up a story.

“And he seemed… really good.”

The old emperor’s joy immediately soared.

Though he had enjoyed teasing his daughter by pretending to force her into marriage, he truly did want her to settle down.

In Gao Tiezhu’s simple worldview, it was unthinkable for a person not to start a family. Men must marry, women must marry—it was the natural order of things.

—Oh, except for Xu Yanmiao. Xiao Baize wasn’t human.

Princess Xiangyang lowered her head, playing with her fingers, as if shy like a young maiden.
“Father, being in love must be a beautiful thing, right?”

The old emperor instinctively froze, unsure of how to respond.

Then he heard his daughter’s voice, full of yearning.

“To share hardships together, to grow old side by side, to never be apart even in life and death… Father, isn’t that wonderful?”

The old emperor felt something was off, but still hesitantly nodded.

“I suppose it is…”

Princess Xiangyang cupped her face, her eyes shining, as if unable to contain herself.

“Father! You don’t understand! Lin Lang is so handsome, so noble…”

“Wait, wait, who is Lin Lang?”

“Of course, he’s the perfect match you chose for me—Lord Lin, Lin Zhi! Father, he is so kind, so compassionate, so wise and mighty! He’s like a god! I want to cherish him, love him, follow him—I’m absolutely head over heels for him!”

The old emperor: “???”

What was all this? A god?

Princess Xiangyang gently tugged at her father’s stiff sleeve. “Father! Please grant us a marriage decree!”

Then, as if realizing something, she quickly corrected herself. “No, no, you can’t bestow a marriage! Love cannot be forced! If he doesn’t like me, he would suffer to death! But if I can’t be with him, I would suffer to death too!”

The old emperor: “…”

I’m about to suffer to death too!

What the hell is happening?

Was his daughter possessed?

“Father, do you think he already has someone he loves?”

Princess Xiangyang bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears. “Ahhhh~~~”

The old emperor shivered and instinctively wanted to push his chair three feet away. “What’s wrong?!”

Tears shimmered in Princess Xiangyang’s eyes. “Father, just thinking that he might already have a beloved, my heart aches! It feels like it’s being torn apart! I love him so much, it’s unbearable! Father, I want to drink! I want to drown my sorrows! I…”

“Wait, hold on! Don’t get drunk yet.” The old emperor, a straightforward warrior his whole life, had never encountered such a situation. His nerves were completely fried.

“So what if he has a beloved? You would be his wife, and his beloved could just be a concubine—”

“But his heart belongs to her! His beloved!” Princess Xiangyang said resolutely. “And their love must be so beautiful, so noble! How could I be so selfish as to desecrate their love? I am here to be part of a family, not to destroy one!”

The old emperor’s hand trembled, and two pieces of fried stinky tofu slipped out of the bag and fell to the ground.

Princess Xiangyang clutched her heart in a dramatic pose, looking sorrowful and full of longing, as if lost in her own world.

“If Lin Lang already has a beloved, I am willing to be an equal wife to her. As long as Lin Lang is happy, I don’t care if he treats me like a pet.”

“A man’s heart contains an entire world, while a woman can only occupy a small corner of it. But in a woman’s heart, there is only one man—he is her entire world.”

“Father~~~”

“I never knew love before, I didn’t understand how pure, how tragic, how noble it was! I even fought with you, refusing marriage—how wrong I was, how terribly wrong! But now that I have met Lin Lang, I finally understand your good intentions…”

Help! Help! Help!

How did things turn out like this?! Had he pressured his daughter too much?!

The old emperor turned his head, only to realize that his empress had left at some point. “?”

Then he noticed a glimpse of the Empress’s robes at the doorway.

A moment later, even that disappeared.

“!!!”

Empress! Take me with you!!!

“Father~~~”

That familiar drawn-out call made the battle-hardened emperor, who had never flinched even with swords at his throat, shudder.

“W-What is it?”

“Father!” His daughter gazed at him expectantly.

“I want to hear your love story with Mother—your noble, tragic, sacred, beautiful, and pure love story.”

The old emperor winced as if he had a toothache.

He suddenly recalled his fifth daughter from years ago… No, even Wanshou wasn’t like this!

Sacred and noble love?

Love my ass!!!

“You should go back first.”

“Father! How can that be? Love—”

“Guards!” The old emperor’s voice nearly cracked.

“Escort the princess back!”

There was no way he was marrying off his daughter now! What if this ‘love’ nonsense had already rotted her brain? If she married like this, she’d be completely exploited!