freenovelworld Chapter 346 Taking a concubine first?
Chapter 346 Taking a concubine first?
Duanmu Chen naturally heard the news that Duanmu Chuze wanted to get married as soon as possible, and he was furious.
But he knew his own position; Duanmu Chuze was his elder, and he couldn't openly steal his fiancée. Yet, he had fallen for Mu Xinnuan. Should he just stand by and do nothing?
Duanmu Chen knew that his father did not want him to offend his fourth uncle, after all, he held the military power of hundreds of thousands of troops.
However, he was unwilling to give up so easily. How did Mu Xin Nuan treat Fourth Uncle? Was she coerced, or did she genuinely like him?
The thought of how frequently his fourth uncle had visited the Mu residence since returning to the capital made Duanmu Chen feel uncomfortable. For the first time, he felt a slight aversion to his so-called eldest grandson status!
If it weren't for my identity and the taboos I had to act, would I have let Duanmu Chuze have his way?
Duanmu Chen grew angrier the more he thought about it, but he knew that getting angry was useless. He summoned a trusted confidant and whispered to him for nearly half an hour before a smile returned to his face.
That evening, while the Emperor was reviewing memorials in his study, the Empress personally brought him some stewed dishes.
Seeing that the emperor was so old yet still diligent in his duties, I couldn't bear it.
"Your Majesty, it's getting late. Why don't we leave these matters for tomorrow?" The Empress wanted to suggest that the Crown Prince help, but fearing that the Emperor might become suspicious, she changed her mind and said that they would be done tomorrow.
The Emperor shook his head. "Some things cannot be delayed."
"Your Majesty, please rest for a while and have some bird's nest porridge."
The Emperor put down his pen, pinched the space between his eyebrows, and then got up and went to the Eight Immortals table to sit opposite the Empress, where they slowly began to eat their porridge.
"Your Majesty, I heard that the Fourth Prince has come to you to request an imperial decree?"
The Emperor nodded. "He's going to his fiefdom and wants to get married sooner than planned. I didn't want to, but what the boy said made some sense. All his other brothers are married, but he's the only one who isn't. If he goes to Yan, he won't even have anyone to care for him. No wonder he feels wronged and is so eager to get married."
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, Mu Xin Nuan is certainly a good person, but unfortunately she is still young. A few days ago, I heard that the second young master of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion was going to take up his post, and Madam Jin was worried about this illegitimate son and was afraid that he would not be able to take good care of her. So she asked someone to persuade the Mu family couple, and that's how Mu Xin Yao was able to marry into the family at the age of thirteen."
"Yes, I have heard about this matter as well."
“Your Majesty, the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion only has two daughters. If the illegitimate daughter marries early, it’s fine. But the problem is that Mu Xin Nuan is the eldest legitimate daughter. If she also marries early, I’m afraid that firstly, the Mu family will not be happy, and secondly, the reputation of the Mu family outside will not be good.”
The Emperor was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
The Empress smiled. "Your Majesty, the Mu family has been a scholarly family for generations, and their family traditions have always been quite strict. If both daughters were to marry young, it's inevitable that people would say something. Mu Xinyao is somewhat better off, firstly because she is a concubine's daughter, and secondly because the Lady of Dingyuan Marquis asked someone to make a request. So this matter is not a big deal. But the eldest legitimate daughter's status is much higher than Mu Xinyao's. Moreover, she received an honor bestowed by me."
Upon hearing this, the emperor nodded without saying anything and continued to slowly eat his porridge.
The Empress said nothing more, knowing that the Emperor had taken her words to heart.
"What the Empress said makes sense, but what about the fourth prince?"
The Empress seemed to have anticipated the Emperor's concerns.
"The fourth prince is a prince, so it's impossible for him to have only one principal wife. Since he complains about being alone, that's quite rare! Why don't we let the Emperor decide and choose a few decent concubines for him? Of course, if you're worried about upsetting the fourth prince, the Emperor can have someone ask him what he thinks first, see which family's daughter he's taken a fancy to, and then bestow marriages upon them."
The Emperor nodded. "What you said makes sense. Given the Fourth Prince's status, he can't possibly spend his entire life with just one woman. But what about the choice of a concubine?"
In fact, the Emperor thought the same way, but he was unsure about the best choice for a concubine.
"Your Majesty, please don't be anxious! At worst, we can send the second and third princes to their fiefdoms first, and postpone the fourth prince's departure for a while under the pretext of his marriage. After all, he is the youngest, and no one can say anything about it. As for the candidates, I will have someone inquire and see which families have suitable girls."
"Alright! Then I'll trouble you, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, what are you saying? I am happy to help your son choose a wife."
The Empress smiled and sighed softly, "I am getting old. If I could see that the Fourth Prince is also married and has someone he can take care of, then I would have nothing to worry about."
The Emperor frowned. "What nonsense are you spouting now? Alright, it's getting late, you should go back and rest."
"Alright, Your Majesty, don't overwork yourself."
"Yes, I understand. I will stay in the Imperial Study tonight. I will go to sleep when I get tired."
"Yes, the concubine is retiring."
The Empress left the Imperial Study, her face, which had held a hint of a smile, now turning cold again. She glanced up at the magnificent palace, a symbol of power and status! Even her concern for her son could no longer be so pure!
Remembering how the Crown Princess had previously approached her about the Fourth Prince's marriage, and how even Duanmu Chen had come to see her later, she had to admit she leaned towards Duanmu Chen's perspective. How could Mu Xin Nuan's status compare to that of Mu Xin Yao?
There's nothing wrong with Mu Xinyao getting married at ten! But Mu Xinnuan is different! Shouldn't she have her coming-of-age ceremony at her parents' home?
It seems that Duanmu Chen has a longer-term vision than his mother in some matters!
But what about the choice of a concubine? The Empress frowned again as she thought about this.
As Duanmu Chuze's mother, she knew him better than anyone else!
If it's something he likes, he'll find a way to get it no matter how big the obstacles are! Just like this Mu Xin Nuan, who is clearly just the daughter of a vice minister of the Ministry of Works, yet he managed to elevate Mu Chang An's status in just a few years!
While Mu Chang'an certainly had his own abilities, it wouldn't have been so easy without Duanmu Chuze's intervention.
The Empress felt uneasy when she thought about how Duanmu Chuze had actually managed to persuade the Emperor to grant Mu Chang'an the title of Marquis of Zhongyong.
For royal men, valuing a woman too much may not be a good thing!