MFURCC -Chapter 64 Arranged Marriage to the Crown Prince

Although Emperor Jin Yuan held the title of Son of Heaven, there were still many things beyond his control.

If it weren’t so, he could have simply issued an order to eliminate Prince Su, the thorn in his side.

Sure enough, some officials stepped forward, arguing that Fu Yunsheng did not deserve such a harsh punishment.

Fu Yunsheng was innocent in the matter between Feng Lunian and Fu Yunqi.

Jin Yuan Emperor closed his eyes briefly and sighed, then said, “On the western mountains, bandits are causing trouble. If you can pacify them, I will restore your official rank.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty! I will surely eliminate the bandits and not disappoint you.”

“Rise!” Jin Yuan Emperor said without looking at him again.

Seeing Prince Su and his men gave him a headache!

“Send someone!”

The emperor issued an edict to thoroughly inspect all taverns in the capital and close all brothels and courtesan houses.

“This matter is entrusted to you, Changyin.”

The emperor had few sons: aside from Crown Prince Su Changluan, there was only Third Prince Su Changyin, and the sixth prince Su Changzhao, who had just reached one month old. The rest were all princesses.

Currently, because the crown prince was under house arrest for the illicit salt incident, among the three sons, only Third Prince Su Changyin was capable of handling a major responsibility.

Su Changyin stepped forward.

“Your son obeys, as commanded!”

Jin Yuan Emperor stood up.

“May you keep yourselves virtuous and not become another Feng Lunian!”

The ministers kowtowed repeatedly: “We… will strictly follow Your Majesty’s holy will!”

Jin Yuan Emperor swept his sleeve and left. He no longer had the mood to handle other state affairs, instructing only the Grand Eunuch Liu Yi to bring the memorials to the imperial study.

Once the memorials were moved, the emperor looked at Liu Yi and sighed.

“I wanted to support Feng Lunian, but I didn’t expect him to be so useless! I truly misjudged him!”

Liu Yi bowed low and said, “It is not Your Majesty’s misjudgment. General Feng Lunian was indeed brave on the battlefield and loyal to Your Majesty. But who could have imagined that he was so reckless in private?”

Jin Yuan Emperor pinched his face and pressed his brows together.

“I know him well enough to sense that this matter is not as it appears. Surely someone has meddled behind the scenes.”

That “someone” pointed directly to Prince Su.

Liu Yi asked, “Does Your Majesty wish me to investigate?”

The emperor shook his head.

“If someone really planned this behind the scenes, the evidence has likely already been destroyed. No need to waste effort.”

“Then who does Your Majesty intend to have take over the Changsuijun?”

The emperor rotated the jade finger ring in his hand.

“What do you think of Ruan Liuzheng?”

Liu Yi smiled faintly. “Your Majesty is teasing your servant, isn’t it? You originally deemed General Ruan unsuitable to command the Changsuijun because she is female, which is why you planned to hand the tiger tally to Feng Lunian.”

“Yes. I thought she would marry eventually. If she continued to hold the Changsuijun tiger tally, who knows whose hands the army would fall into later?”

“This matter is not urgent. Your Majesty can consider it slowly. Besides, the Qiqiao Festival is approaching. You may relax for a few days and enjoy the festival.”

Hearing Qiqiao Festival reminded the emperor that the empress had already brought Ruan Liuzheng to the palace.

He looked at Liu Yi and asked, “What if I arrange a marriage between Ruan Liuzheng and the crown prince, making her the crown princess?”

This way, he would not have to worry about Ruan Liuzheng falling into Prince Su’s hands or those of another powerful clan.

In Emperor Jin Yuan’s eyes, Liuzheng was not an individual—she was more like a prized asset.

Whoever possessed her would inevitably gain influence and power.

The more he thought, the more feasible the idea seemed.

Liu Yi dared not respond.

“Your servant knows little of politics, but I am aware that the Empress seems not to favor General Ruan…”

The crown prince was the Empress’s only son; for Liuzheng to become crown princess, the Empress’s approval was required first.

The emperor was silent for a moment before speaking, “Inform the Empress that I will stay at her palace tonight.”

“Yes sir…”

Liu Yi bowed and left the imperial study.

However, he did not go straight to the Empress’s palace, but turned down a quiet corridor to a secluded palace.

At a corner, a tall figure stood like a pine tree in the clouds.

Liu Yi bowed and approached.

“Your Highness.”

Su Heng turned his head, glancing at the heavy clouds in the sky. “Eunuch Liu, is it about to rain?”

Liu Yi nodded. “It seems it will rain soon. I will have someone prepare an oilcloth umbrella for you.”

Su Heng waved his hand.

“No need. What did His Majesty say?”

“Your Majesty did not instruct me to continue investigating the commoner Feng Lunian, nor did he directly indicate that the Changsuijun tiger tally should be returned to General Ruan. But…”

“But what?”

“But Your Majesty seems to want to arrange for General Ruan to be married to the crown prince as crown princess.”

Su Heng’s eyes darkened, the coldness in them deeper than the storm clouds above.

“Why would His Majesty suddenly have such a thought?”

“Feng Lunian has fallen. Your Majesty, as you surmised, did consider returning the Changsuijun to General Ruan. But he does not entirely trust her, fearing that if she marries, the Changsuijun would fall into her future husband’s hands. Hence this plan.”

“If Liuzheng marries the crown prince, she will indeed become an asset to him.”

“Indeed… His Majesty asked me to inform the Empress that he will stay at her palace tonight… likely to discuss this matter with her.”

Su Heng nodded.

“Do you know how to speak to the Empress about this?”

“I do. The Empress harbors strong resentment toward General Ruan because of what she hears from Miss Tinglan. This matter cannot succeed without careful handling.”

“Good. Thank you for your efforts.”

“Serving Your Highness is not hardship. I was once a lowly eunuch, nearly dying from illness. If not for your intervention, my life would have ended in this deep palace long ago. How could I have my position today?”

He understood clearly that his rise was due to Prince Su’s backing.

And he knew exactly who his true master was.

Su Heng cast an approving glance at him.

“Go quickly, lest you arouse suspicion from the emperor.”

“Yes sir…”

Liu Yi left the palace promptly and headed to the Empress’s residence.

Empress Cihui had just delivered some snacks to the crown prince.

Due to the illicit salt incident, His Majesty forbade anyone from seeing the crown prince, not even her.

She was rather vexed.

At this moment, Liu Yi arrived.

“Please allow him in.”

The Empress adjusted her gown and sat properly.

Soon, Liu Yi entered, bowing deeply.

“Your servant greets the Empress, may you be blessed and at peace.”

“Rise. Why have you come to my palace?”

“His Majesty instructed me to inform Your Majesty that he will stay at your palace tonight.”

The Empress was surprised.

Since the crown prince’s incident, the emperor had never come to Kunning Palace to see her. Usually, he either stayed in Qianqing Palace or visited the Noble Consort. Why suddenly come today? Could it be to lift the crown prince’s house arrest early?

She could not hide her delight.

“I understand. Thank you for personally bringing the message.”

“It is my duty, Your Majesty.”

The Empress curved her lips slightly. With a glance from her phoenix-like eyes, a court maid slipped a pouch of silver into Liu Yi’s hand.

He did not refuse. He no longer lacked wealth, but this was a matter of etiquette.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said, showing a trace of genuine happiness.

Liu Yi quickly took his leave.

Head Court Maid Qiuxi smiled: “Your Majesty, didn’t I say? His Majesty’s heart still lies with you and the crown prince. The Noble Consort and Third Prince can never surpass you two.”

The Empress smiled but quickly frowned again.

“Yet news from the previous court says the emperor has sent Changyin to handle affairs.”

Third Prince Su Changyin had never undertaken any real duties. Today, the emperor entrusted him with a task, which made the Empress uneasy.

Qiuxi said, “Inspecting brothels is hardly a favorable task.”

The Empress curved her red lips.

“Indeed. Since the emperor is coming, instruct the palace to prepare more of his favorite dishes. Tonight, I will not only speak for the crown prince but also for Tinglan.”

She intended to get His Majesty to lift Tinglan’s house arrest so that she could participate in the Qiqiao Festival.

“Tinglan has suffered enough from this long house arrest. She should not miss the festival as well.”

Tinglan Shen’s mother passed away early. The Empress, knowing she was motherless and young, brought her to live in the palace for a long time.

The Empress, having not borne a princess herself, had long treated Shen Tinglan as her own daughter.

“This morning, a magpie flew over Kunning Palace. Your wish will surely be granted,” Qiuxi said.

Empress Cihui tugged at her lips, her long-suppressed mood finally clearing, a glimpse of sunlight shining through.

Yet outside, the sky grew increasingly dark.

Though it was daytime, it looked like dusk.

At General Zhaoyong’s residence, Pan Hong hurried into Tinglan Courtyard to report to Liuzheng.

“Madam, I met with General Fu. He said Feng Lunian has been demoted to commoner, flogged thirty times, and carried out of the palace. His legs are likely disabled.”

This was expected.

“The emperor has abandoned him.”

She did not feel particularly happy, only deeply reflective. For those in high positions, lives like theirs were worth nothing.

“However…” Pan Hong shifted, “General Fu was also demoted.”

“The emperor is taking it out on him.”

“Exactly. But he said that once he pacifies the western mountain bandits, His Majesty will restore his official position.”

“Hmm.” Liuzheng was not surprised.

Even the Son of Heaven feared public opinion.

Since this matter had nothing to do with Fu Yunsheng, even the emperor could not act too harshly.

“When will he depart for the western mountains?”

“After the Qiqiao Festival.”

“That does not interfere with our plans.”

“Yes! General Fu said he is willing to cooperate and awaits our orders.”

“Good. Go prepare then. I will step out briefly.”

That day at the Fu residence, Madam Yuan had invited her to the western outskirts to view the lotus flowers. She had not lied to the matron.

Appointments should not be changed suddenly.

Moreover, the more pressing the matter, the more naturally she must act.

“I take my leave.”

After Pan Hong withdrew, Liuzheng changed her clothes.

As soon as she was done, Nanny Jiang entered.

“Miss, it’s raining outside. Do you still wish to go see the lotus flowers with Madam Yuan?”

Liuzheng said, “Lotus flowers in the rain have their own charm. Since Sister Yuan did not send a message, she likely thinks the same. Everything as planned—tell the coachman to prepare the carriage.”

“Yes.”

Nanny Jiang obeyed, preparing the carriage and taking extra oil umbrellas just in case.

When the appointed time came, Liuzheng prepared to leave.

She was making an effort to abandon the habits she had when living as a boy, and had now somewhat adapted to skirts.

Today, however, the color of her outfit was rather delicate and tender.