RWNEFE -Chapter 416 Emperor Renxiao Bestows a Marriage on Zhou Ruyuan and Bai Qingling

When the two of them arrived, there were already people inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Several senior officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel were present.

“Father Emperor!”

“Your Majesty!”

Emperor Renxiao turned around. Against the backdrop of his ink-black hair, his complexion looked strangely flushed.

“You two are the only ones missing,” the emperor said with a smile.

Shen Lanxi said, “Your Majesty, I came as fast as I could after receiving the summons.”

Zhou Ruyuan also wanted to explain, but the emperor waved his hand, unconcerned. “I specifically told them to summon you a little later.”

Shen Lanxi said, “Your Majesty is wise. You must have made arrangements.”

The emperor nodded with a smile. Lanxi truly pleased him.

“The Fifth Prince has passed away. I am deeply grieved. But the court is in turbulent times; we cannot neglect the countless people of Great Zhou just because one prince has been lost!”

“Your Majesty’s benevolence is a blessing to all under Heaven!”

The ministers all echoed in agreement.

Emperor Renxiao’s expression turned solemn. “I have made the following arrangements. Receive the decree.”

Everyone in the hall knelt to listen.

“The Fifth Prince was my beloved son. When he learned of my illness, he came to attend upon me, which greatly comforted me. By rights, after his death he should be buried in his fief. However, Xihuazhou is far from the capital, and I cannot bear to have my Fifth Son jolted along such a long journey. Therefore, I order the Third Prince to lead several of the elder princes to bring the Fifth Prince back to the capital.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes darkened, and his fists clenched tightly.

“As for the troops escorting the Fifth Prince, Shen Lanxi and officials from the Ministry of War shall go to receive them. For the time being, those soldiers will be incorporated into the Imperial Guards, and later reassigned.”

“I have already sent word to Xihuazhou. The Fifth Prince’s family will soon arrive in the capital. Ruyuan, you will make arrangements for them.”

Zhou Ruyuan accepted the decree.

Afterward, Emperor Renxiao dismissed the others and kept Zhou Ruyuan behind.

Since he had not given him the task of receiving the troops, he naturally needed to offer some reassurance.

“Ruyuan, I kept you back because I have an important matter to entrust to you.”

A trace of mockery flickered in Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes. What could be more important than taking control of two hundred thousand troops? Did his father still think he was as easy to fool as before?

“Xihuazhou is barren land—it could not possibly support two hundred thousand soldiers. I want you to secretly investigate where Zhou Yunhao’s army actually came from.” As he spoke, the emperor’s face grew dark and sinister.

If he discovered further conspirators behind it, he would seize the opportunity to uproot them all and wipe them out.

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes flickered. It was indeed not a bad assignment—but compared with the tangible power of two hundred thousand troops, it was still a small matter.

“Father Emperor, your son will certainly complete the task.”

Remembering what Consort Shu had said the previous day, a chill flashed in Emperor Renxiao’s eyes.

“Ruyuan, I hear you’ve been seeing the daughter of the Vice Minister of War quite often recently?”

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes widened slightly. “Father Emperor, I’ve only happened to encounter the Vice Minister’s daughter a few times. We’re not close.”

The emperor sighed. “I thought you had finally chosen a principal wife. I didn’t expect it was only coincidence.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s heart sank. He said respectfully, “While Father Emperor was unwell, how could I have the mind to think of such matters?”

In a caring tone, the emperor said, “Among all my sons, you have the fewest heirs in your household. Even now you don’t have a legitimate son. I have neglected you.”

Zhou Ruyuan hurriedly replied, “It is your son who has caused Father Emperor concern.”

Like an old father finally yielding to his son, Emperor Renxiao said meaningfully, “I previously opposed your being with that woman because her status did not match yours.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s heart stirred uneasily. A bad premonition rose in him.

“My son, after falling ill several times, I have thought things through. Since you and that woman are devoted to one another, I am willing to bestow a marriage between you.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s face changed drastically. His father clearly knew Bai Qingling’s status—yet he still intended to grant this marriage. Was this truly for his sake?

“My son, you pleaded for that woman many times before. I could see that you cared for her deeply. Now that I have come to understand, I will no longer force you otherwise.”

Hearing this, Zhou Ruyuan felt as if he had lifted a stone only to smash his own foot. At last he understood what it meant to suffer in silence, like eating bitter herbs without being able to complain.

He could only blame himself for his earlier foolishness.

“Father Emperor, Bai Qingling and I—”

Before he could finish, the emperor raised a hand to stop him.

“I have already had people investigate. Bai Qingling has long accompanied you in the army, advising and planning. If she were not a woman, she would already hold a high military rank.”

Zhou Ruyuan pressed his lips tightly. After all, he had repeatedly pleaded on Bai Qingling’s behalf in front of the emperor.

If he now refused to marry her, the emperor would surely think him heartless and faithless.

“Now that Shen Lanxi has set a precedent, I will appoint Bai Qingling as your deputy general. In this way, she can be considered worthy of you.”

On the surface, Emperor Renxiao appeared to be thinking entirely of his son, but Zhou Ruyuan could not voice his bitterness.

Earlier, when Bai Qingling had brought back the hermit from the thatched hut, he had already promised to take her into his residence as a concubine.

Now the emperor had personally decreed a marriage. Zhou Ruyuan felt his body grow heavy, his heart sinking again and again.

“My son has finally had his wish fulfilled. Why do you not look happy?” the emperor asked with a smile.

How could Zhou Ruyuan dare to say that he already had another candidate in mind for his principal wife?

How could he dare to say that his feelings for Bai Qingling were no longer as deep as before?

How could he say any of it?

Even if he had once entertained such thoughts, he could no longer voice them now.

“Your son is happy.”

The emperor smiled. “Go back and make preparations. The child you and Bai Qingling had—I have already sent him to your mother.”

“She has lost her child, and both her health and spirits are poor. Having a child with her at such a time should help her recover more quickly.”

Holding the imperial decree, Zhou Ruyuan left the palace in a daze.

The wedding date had been arranged so urgently—was it meant to silence him?

Two hundred thousand troops, exchanged for a single imperial decree and a principal wife… Zhou Ruyuan felt bitterness in his heart deeper than swallowing gall.

No one knew who spread the news, but as soon as Zhou Ruyuan returned to his residence, word of his impending marriage spread throughout the capital.

Several versions of the story emerged. The most widely believed was that Zhou Ruyuan had used military merit to request Bai Qingling’s hand in marriage.

Shen Lanxi had not expected to hear such gossip before setting out.

“My lady, Miss Yuantang went crying into the Shen residence. She’s probably gone to see the Princess Consort.”

Shen Lanxi said coolly, “And what does she want from Mother? To have Mother persuade the emperor to retract the decree and make her the principal wife instead?”

“I really don’t know what the Prince of Zhennan was thinking—how could he use military merit to marry such a woman? Military merit is so hard to earn.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes shone like stars, her tone calm and steady, as if she already grasped the whole situation.

“He was probably set up by his good father.”