Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

In the South Study, Jia Lian knelt silently.

Princess Zhaoyang had already been summoned away by the Empress Dowager before entering the palace. But this didn't have much of an impact, because Jia Lian had always felt that he should come alone.

Princess Zhaoyang felt that with her around, it would be easier to persuade Emperor Ningkang, and Jia Lian couldn't refuse her.

Emperor Ningkang had indeed known about his affair with Princess Zhaoyang all along. When he first proposed to marry the princess to him, Emperor Ningkang fell silent and pretended not to hear.

Jia Lian naturally knew that Emperor Ningkang was expressing his dissatisfaction, so he obediently knelt down.

After a long silence, Emperor Ningkang asked emotionlessly, "What did you just say?"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you betroth the Princess to me..."

With a "thud," Emperor Ningkang slammed the memorial onto his desk.

Emperor Ningkang said in a sinister tone, "If I remember correctly, the Empress Dowager intended to arrange your marriage with Zhaoyang, but you, Jia Lian, valued your reputation and would rather lose your official position and title than comply."

"What, you've finally seen the light and are now begging me for help? Do you think my daughter is someone you can just throw away or marry whenever you want? Or do you think I'm good-natured and wouldn't dare kill you?"

The emperor's cold question would have terrified any other official, if not made them wet themselves, at least causing them to break out in a cold sweat.

But Jia Lian did not. He still sincerely said, "Your Majesty, I am guilty. When I first met the Princess, I did not know that she was such an outstanding woman. That is why I was unwilling to abandon my wife who had shared my hardships. People thought that I was a sycophant who had climbed the social ladder and was ungrateful."

Two years ago, I was ordered to escort the princess beyond the Great Wall, but we encountered a plot by the third prince of the Oirat Mongols to rebel. I witnessed Her Highness the Princess remain fearless in the face of danger, willingly putting herself in peril for the sake of our nation's dignity, leading only a few dozen guards to draw away the main force of the rebels, thus buying precious time for our reinforcements.

Such a remarkable and capable woman has deeply attracted my attention.

Afterwards, I escorted the princess all the way back to Han territory. It was from that time that I forged a deep friendship with Her Highness the princess, and we became confidants to each other.

However, I am well aware of the princess's noble status, and if this matter were to be spread, it would certainly damage the princess's reputation. Therefore, after weighing the pros and cons, I have dared to come and humbly request Your Majesty's permission.

"If Your Majesty will show mercy and grant my request, I am willing to acknowledge my past foolishness and accept any punishment Your Majesty may impose."

"You certainly know how to talk. What do you mean by worrying about damaging the princess's reputation? If Zhaoyang weren't already pregnant and you didn't know you couldn't hide it anymore, I'm afraid you, Jia Lian, might not have come to see me today."

I must say, you're quite the charmer, you've completely won over my daughter!

Emperor Ningkang's anger grew more and more intense as he spoke. He stepped out from behind his dragon throne and walked step by step to Jia Lian, who was prepared to be kicked by the dragon at any moment.

He bowed his head even lower, saying, "Your humble servant is guilty."

At this point, further explanations are useless, because they simply don't make sense. Making excuses is a recipe for disaster; the only right solution is to honestly admit your mistake.

Emperor Ningkang stood in front of Jia Lian, looking at the boy who, even kneeling on the ground, still appeared tall and well-proportioned, without the slightest hint of obesity. He really had the urge to kick him.

This guy has completely bewitched his intelligent daughter, making her completely at his mercy!

Emperor Ningkang naturally already knew about the affair between Princess Zhaoyang and Jia Lian, since the other party seemed to have no intention of hiding it from him.

He could even tell that the reason these two had succeeded was mostly because his daughter had been more proactive. After all, when Zhaoyang agreed to the marriage alliance to share his burdens as the emperor's father, her only request was that Jia Lian serve as her envoy.

Emperor Ningkang knew perfectly well that no man in the world could resist the advances of such an outstanding princess! Even if that person was Jia Lian.

Fortunately, Jia Lian did not try to shift the blame onto Zhao Yang when faced with his pressure, which shows he still has a conscience.

So he ultimately refrained from kicking her, and instead asked calmly, "Let me ask you this: what do you intend to do with Wang Shi in your household?"

"I dare not hide it from Your Majesty. Lady Wang has been married to me for many years and has always silently served my elders and managed the family business. She even single-handedly organized my father's funeral."

I cannot bear to abandon her like this. I have already pleaded with the Princess, and she has been very magnanimous, granting permission for Lady Wang to remain in the household as a concubine.

Emperor Ningkang frowned, but ultimately said nothing more.

Although he appeared to be furious just now, it was merely a warning to Jia Lian not to forget the proper hierarchy between ruler and subject.

If he were truly angry, how could he have remained silent and indifferent to their affairs for so long?

In truth, Emperor Ningkang also bears some responsibility for how things have turned out this way. After all, if he hadn't agreed to Princess Zhaoyang's request, Jia Lian and his wife probably wouldn't have had the chance to embark on this ill-fated relationship.

Of course, if someone else had been chosen as the envoy, the rebellion of the Oirat prince might not have been resolved peacefully.

Zhaoyang may never have the chance to return to Han territory.

Although Emperor Ningkang had several daughters, Princess Zhaoyang was undoubtedly the most outstanding and the one who brought him the most peace of mind. It was impossible for him to be completely indifferent to her.

"Zhaoyang is young and naive, infatuated with love, and willing to make sacrifices for you. You, Jia Lian, must remember this."

You should know that Zhaoyang is easy to fool, but I am not. As for the Empress Dowager, you should know that she has no children of her own and has treated Zhaoyang as her own daughter all these years. If you dare to treat her badly in the future, I believe that even without my intervention, the Empress Dowager will definitely not let you off the hook.

You should take care of yourself.

"Your Majesty, I understand. Thank you for your kindness."

Hearing that Jia Lian had already begun to express his gratitude, clearly tacitly agreeing, Emperor Ningkang gave Jia Lian a displeased look.

Fortunately, it wasn't the first time he'd met Jia Lian, so he didn't take it too seriously and just yelled, "Get up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, hehe."

Jia Lian responded with a laugh, stood up and looked at Emperor Ningkang in a fawning manner, his previous solemn demeanor of facing death completely gone.

This change in attitude displeased Emperor Ningkang, who scolded, "You're too attached to your children and your heroism! A real man should prioritize his country and his family, how can he be preoccupied with matters of love and affection all day long?"

Little did people know that countless heroes and great men throughout history have been defeated by women!

"How can I entrust you with important responsibilities in your current state?"

Jia Lian was surprised that Emperor Ningkang would say such a thing. The gist of his words was that a man should prioritize his career and what kind of business is it to spend all day talking about love? He was very worried about his boss doing this.

If any other emperor had said this, Jia Lian would probably have just chuckled to himself. But he knew that Emperor Ningkang was likely serious, because this emperor before him seemed genuinely uninterested in women!

Putting everything else aside, Yuan Chun, such a gentle and virtuous beauty, was placed by his birth mother, the Dowager Consort, for seven or eight years, yet he never even glanced at her.

Even after she was made a concubine, she seemed indifferent to him...

He then replied with a smile, "What Your Majesty says makes sense, but I do not entirely agree with it."

"Oh?" Emperor Ningkang raised an eyebrow.

It's important to understand that he, as the supreme ruler, rarely lectured. Once he uttered a word, who would dare disobey?

Not to mention, no one dared to contradict him.

"I believe that a woman's deep affection does not necessarily mean a hero's lack of courage."

Compared to that statement, I believe in another one more.

After leaving his desk, Emperor Ningkang did not return. He stood in the same hall as Jia Lian, listening with great interest to Jia Lian's sophistry.

This scene deeply moved Dai Quan, who was smiling to the side, and he felt a pang of envy and jealousy.

It should be understood that even the princes had to strictly adhere to the etiquette between ruler and subject in front of Emperor Ningkang, behaving with utmost propriety. When had they ever dared to speak so freely and openly with Emperor Ningkang face to face?

Not to mention him, a eunuch. Although everyone compared him to the emperor, he was ultimately just a servant, and he never dared to overstep his bounds in front of Emperor Ningkang.

"In comparison, I believe more in the saying, 'A heartless man is not necessarily a hero, and a man who loves his child is no less a man!'"

I believe that a man should prioritize loyalty and righteousness in his conduct. If so-called heroes are those who abandon their wives and children, then even if they become heroes, it is all in vain.

I firmly believe that a person who doesn't even love his wife and children, his family, how could he possibly love his country and genuinely support his ruler?

"A heartless man is not necessarily a hero, and a loving father is no less a man..."

Emperor Ningkang murmured a sentence, then looked at Jia Lian and said, "I often hear some fresh things coming out of your mouth."

Emperor Ningkang suddenly realized that Jia Lian's views might not be so bad after all.

As emperor, he had seen far too many ministers who swore loyalty to him. He didn't believe the vast majority of them.

He preferred to indirectly verify a subject's loyalty and ability by observing their daily performance.

Clearly, in his eyes, Jia Lian had always been relatively loyal to the emperor and the country.

He also knew that Jia Lian was capable, far more capable than the vast majority of ministers in the court. Moreover, Jia Lian was someone he had personally promoted; he certainly wanted to use someone like that.

The way monarchs view issues differs from others. Often, right and wrong are not of great significance to monarchs. Emperor Ningkang simply felt that if Jia Lian truly valued "loyalty" and his "family," it was a good thing.

At least, it won't make him feel like he can't control the situation.

Such thoughts flashed through his mind, but Emperor Ningkang continued, "However, he is still the same as before, full of fallacies."

Since you say that a man should prioritize loyalty and righteousness in his life, let me ask you: it has been said since ancient times that loyalty and righteousness cannot coexist. If you were in this situation, what would you do between loyalty and righteousness?

Emperor Ningkang's eyes turned mocking.

His question could be considered "malicious." Loyalty and righteousness are mutually exclusive; facing the emperor, it's essentially a multiple-choice question.

But Jia Lian just said that a man should prioritize loyalty and righteousness in his life. If he changes his mind now, wouldn't he be going back on his word and spitting in someone's face?

Jia Lian remained completely calm and laughed self-deprecatingly, "Perhaps I am a bit greedy. I think that under normal circumstances, being affectionate and righteous and being loyal to the emperor and loving the country are not in conflict. Perhaps I will never have to make such a choice in my life."

Moreover, His Majesty is a benevolent and wise ruler, and he would surely be willing to uphold the honor of his subjects, and would not easily make his subjects make such a choice...

"You're quite the slippery one."

Emperor Ningkang gave a noncommittal reply, and then the two seemed to have said all they needed to say. Emperor Ningkang then silently walked back to his desk and said, "Judging from the Empress Dowager's summons of Zhaoyang just now, it seems that the Empress Dowager knows about your affairs."

Do everything according to the Empress Dowager's requirements.

I only have one piece of advice for you: do not let my princess suffer any mistreatment in your household.

"I obey your decree."

"Go down."

"Yes."

"return!"

Jia Lian turned around and looked at Emperor Ningkang with a puzzled expression.

Emperor Ningkang seemed to be deep in thought for a while, then picked up a jade tablet from the table and threw it at him.

"This jade piece was something I often wore when I was a prince. There are two of them. This is one of them, so I'm giving it to you."

"I thank you, Your Majesty."

……

People say that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, making it difficult to eat or sleep, but for Jia Lian, it doesn't seem to be the case.

He discovered that, given the right approach, even emperors could be quite easy to appease.

It seems that those ministers in history who were clearly loyal but failed to gain the emperor's favor were simply those who did not know the right way.

Thinking about it this way, Jia Lian felt that he might be no different from An Lushan and his ilk.

Well, actually, as long as one doesn't harbor malicious intentions or do things that harm the country and its people, being like An Lushan isn't necessarily a bad thing.

only……

Jia Lian pulled out the jade plaque that Emperor Ningkang had just bestowed upon him from his sleeve.

The material itself doesn't seem particularly special, but the large, conspicuous "昌" character in the center is quite eye-catching.

Jia Lian knew that before Emperor Ningkang ascended the throne, his title was "Prince Chang".

Little did he know why Emperor Ningkang had suddenly bestowed such a jade tablet upon him.

As he was deep in thought, he suddenly saw a palace maid hurrying towards him. Jia Lian vaguely remembered that she was one of Princess Zhaoyang's attendants.

So he hid the jade pendant back in his sleeve and stepped forward.

"My lord, the princess is waiting for you up ahead..."

Although Jia Lian noticed something unusual about the palace maid's expression, he didn't pay much attention. He walked forward a bit and sure enough, he saw Princess Zhaoyang, dressed in a simple and beautiful dress, standing far away on the white jade steps.

A gentle spring breeze caused the silk ribbons on her clothes to flutter. For some reason, Jia Lian suddenly sensed a deep loneliness emanating from her.

Their journey to the palace was swift and agile, quite different from his previous one.

Perhaps hearing Jia Lian's footsteps, Princess Zhaoyang turned around, staring blankly at him. Suddenly, a hint of grievance appeared on her face, which she quickly concealed, and she smiled, saying, "Second Brother is here..."

A sense of unease welled up in Jia Lian's heart. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed her hands, and asked, "What's wrong? His Majesty has already agreed to our marriage, so why do you seem unhappy?"

"Did Father agree to Erlang's request? Erlang is truly capable; he persuaded Father so quickly..."

Jia Lian's unease intensified; he could tell that Princess Zhaoyang was not being sincere.

"What happened? Tell me, don't make me worry, okay?"

Perhaps Jia Lian's words were too gentle, for Princess Zhaoyang finally couldn't hold back any longer. She threw herself into his arms and cried, "Empress Dowager, she just summoned me and said... said she wants to cancel our marriage and abort the child in my womb..."

Jia Lian was suddenly stunned. If he hadn't known Princess Zhaoyang's personality well, he would have almost thought she was deliberately teasing him.

Taking a deep breath, Jia Lian calmly asked, "Why is that? Didn't the Empress Dowager agree yesterday? Why did she suddenly go back on her word?"

Princess Zhaoyang shook her head in Jia Lian's arms, "This is not the Empress Dowager's intention. According to her, it is my imperial grandfather's intention."

This morning, after Grandmother and Grandfather discussed our affairs, Grandfather flew into a rage, and even Grandmother was unusually scolded.

My grandfather said, "If this matter gets out, it will make the imperial family a laughingstock throughout the world..."

Princess Zhaoyang, who was always elegant and confident and had not panicked even when she was in danger in the desert, now looked helpless and at a loss in Jia Lian's arms!

She had waited so long, overcome so many obstacles, and was finally about to be able to be with her beloved openly and legitimately.

Who knew that at this final moment, in the most unexpected turn of events, something unexpected would happen.

Moreover, judging from the Empress Dowager's reaction, the Emperor's grandfather's attitude is probably quite firm, leaving little room for negotiation.

If she hadn't pleaded so earnestly and agreed to only come to see Jia Lian once, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager would never have let her leave Weiyang Palace!

While gently patting Princess Zhaoyang's back to comfort her, Jia Lian's brows were already furrowed into a deep frown.

Before this, he had considered that the Empress Dowager would object, and he had considered that Emperor Ningkang would object, but he never expected that the Emperor Emeritus would object.

Or rather, in his eyes, the possibility of the retired emperor opposing him was no greater than that of the empress dowager and Emperor Ningkang.

After all, the retired emperor had long since retired and rarely concerned himself with state affairs, so it was highly unlikely that he would care about the emotional entanglements of his grandchildren.

Who knew that the most overlooked place would become the final obstacle?

Taking a deep breath, Jia Lian helped Princess Zhaoyang up and said with a smile, "We've overcome so many difficulties along the way, what's one more?"

The Emperor Emeritus has ruled the world for so long, when have we ever seen him intentionally make things difficult for us younger generation?

"Let's go, maybe if we plead with him earnestly, he'll soften and agree?"

Princess Zhaoyang's eyes were red. Born into the royal family, she knew the Emperor Emeritus's character better than Jia Lian.

Although she knew the chances were slim, there was no other way at the moment, so she could only nod and follow Jia Lian towards Chonghua Palace.