HRPM – Chapter 10 The Imperial Marriage (2)

Xiao Che had a cold and reserved personality, while Xiao Yu was lively and outgoing—their temperaments were completely opposite.

“Ahem, Yu’er, is that how you speak to your elder brother?”

The Empress shot an unhappy glance at her younger son.

Everyone knew that taking a princess consort was Xiao Che’s sore spot, yet he deliberately brought it up, clearly trying to embarrass him.

The Empress naturally understood why her younger son was targeting his elder brother.

Wasn’t it all because of Prime Minister Yang’s daughter, Yang Ruoyao?

Ruoyao had been betrothed to Xiao Che since childhood.

But when she turned eighteen, a fortune teller predicted that Che’er had a “wife-dooming” fate. Naturally, Prime Minister Yang was unwilling to risk his daughter’s life.

Che’er, who had liked Ruoyao since childhood, also didn’t want her to take that risk, so he married daughters from other officials instead—

just to see whether the prediction was true.

Unfortunately, the results turned out exactly as the fortune teller had said.

The Emperor refused to believe it and continued arranging several more marriages for Che’er, but the outcome remained the same.

With all this delay, Ruoyao was now twenty years old—not young anymore.

Che’er, stubborn by nature, refused to break off the engagement with her.

Yet the daughter of a prime minister could not possibly become a nameless concubine.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu had gradually developed feelings for Ruoyao as well. Seeing his brother cling to her without letting go left a knot in his heart.

The Empress was deeply troubled. If this continued, what would happen if her two sons turned against each other?

Wouldn’t that only benefit the other princes?

After all, the Emperor was growing old—sooner or later, a crown prince would have to be appointed.

At such a critical moment, she absolutely could not let one woman ruin both her sons.

A sharp glint flashed in the Empress’s eyes as she said with a smile, “Who says your Third Brother has no princess consort? He’s about to take a new one.”

Seated among the noble ladies, Yang Ruoyao’s face instantly turned pale. A mist welled up in her eyes, as if tears might fall at any moment.

Xiao Yu felt a bitter pang in his heart.

She only liked Xiao Che—why had she never looked at him even once?

What did he lack compared to Xiao Che? At most, he wasn’t as cold and calculating.

Unable to hold back, Xiao Yu said sarcastically, “Which noble lady is so fortunate to become Third Brother’s princess consort this time? I just hope she doesn’t die again—that would truly be a tragedy. I’d like to mourn for her in advance.”

Xiao Che replied coldly, “Mother, you’ve seen it yourself—five ladies have already married me and all met untimely deaths. I don’t wish to harm any more. It’s better not to marry at all.”