The most dissolute couple in the capital

Li Zhao frowned slightly and pressed, "How did Uncle suddenly fall into the water? Where are the people with him?"

The Empress Dowager sighed and recounted the whole story that Zhao An had just told her.

After listening, Li Zhao smiled slightly: "This Miss Cui is quite courageous."

Li Han stood to the side, nodded slightly, and said with his usual gentle smile, "It is indeed rare to be able to remain calm and composed in such a situation, to call for help before providing assistance."

He paused, seemingly considering his words.

The emperor picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced at the two children before speaking:

"Now that you're all here, I'd like to hear your opinions."

Li Zhao and Li Han were both startled and exchanged a glance.

The Emperor set down his teacup, his tone calm: "Your grandmother just said that this Miss Cui saved Prince Liang's life and she wants to arrange a marriage between them. What do you two think?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Li Zhao spoke first, his voice clear and cold like the clash of jade: "Your subject believes that Miss Cui should be married as the principal wife."

The emperor raised an eyebrow: "Tell me your reasons."

Li Zhao straightened up and said clearly, "Firstly, Miss Cui saved my uncle's life. There is no greater way to repay kindness than with the deepest gratitude. My uncle is the Emperor's younger brother, a man of immense wealth and status. The fact that the royal family treats him with the respect due to a principal consort, rather than with ordinary rewards, is precisely to tell the world that the royal family values ​​loyalty, righteousness, and gratitude. Such generous treatment of a life-saving benefactor demonstrates the benevolent spirit of our royal family in benefiting all people."

She paused, then continued, "Secondly, according to Eunuch Zhao, Miss Cui called for help before going into the water. It wasn't an impulsive act, but rather a result of being forced by circumstances. This shows that she remains calm in the face of adversity, possesses quick wit, courage, and decisiveness. I think my uncle is impulsive and lacks someone like her who can keep him in check."

"Thirdly," Li Zhao's voice rose slightly, "Although it is only a branch of the Cui family, it is a prestigious family with a thousand-year history and deep roots, and it will not disgrace the royal family. Marrying her as the principal wife in a proper ceremony will not only uphold the dignity of the royal family, but also silence any gossip. If this matter is handled generously and with dignity, it will not only preserve Miss Cui's dignity, but also uphold the reputation of Father Emperor for loving his younger brother and treating the virtuous with respect."

The Empress Dowager raised her hand, took a sip of tea, and did not speak.

The emperor remained expressionless, shifting his gaze to the silent Li Han: "Second Prince, what about you?"

Li Han stepped forward, bowed slightly to the Empress Dowager, and then spoke:

"What Your Majesty says makes sense. However, I believe this matter needs to be viewed from another perspective."

He spoke at a measured pace:

"Miss Cui comes from a collateral branch of the family. Her father is only a sixth-rank secretary. Among the aristocratic families in Chang'an, her family is not particularly outstanding. Although the Imperial Uncle is a prince, he is still of imperial blood. The position of the principal wife is a matter of the royal family's dignity and should be taken very seriously."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, before continuing, "Furthermore... Miss Cui is an unmarried young woman. Her jumping into the icy pond in public and coming into physical contact with the Imperial Uncle has already spread throughout the flower-viewing banquet. I am not criticizing Miss Cui; saving someone is indeed a righteous act. However, to outsiders, such intimate contact between an unmarried woman and a man outside the marriage is somewhat tainted on her reputation."

Li Han lowered his head slightly, adopting a respectful posture: "In my opinion, it would be an immense favor to betroth her as a concubine. This would repay the debt of saving her life and also uphold the royal family's rules for choosing a wife. If Miss Cui proves to be virtuous and outstanding in the future, it would not be too late to promote her further. This would be the best of both worlds."

After speaking, he took a half step back and placed his hands neatly at his sides.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Li Zhao turned to look at Li Han, his lips twitching slightly in a half-smile.

"Second brother's words are indeed impeccable." Li Zhao's tone sounded like a compliment, but upon closer inspection, it carried a hint of coldness. "There's just one thing I don't understand—Miss Cui risked her life to save my uncle, yet in your eyes, she's 'tainted in her reputation'? So, according to you, what should she have done back then?"

Li Han's expression remained unchanged as he said gently, "Your Majesty, you misunderstand. I had no such intention; I was merely stating the facts. Men and women should not be intimate, hence the distinction. While Miss Cui's act of saving someone was undoubtedly righteous, the deed is done. Rather than letting her suffer the pain of gossip and slander in her position as the primary consort, it is better to settle for a secondary position as a concubine, which would be a better way to protect her."

"Preserve?" Li Zhao repeated the two words softly, his tone still steady. "Second brother, you usually study Mencius. Have you only remembered the teachings of the sages and forgotten the expedient means of 'when your sister-in-law is drowning, lend her a helping hand'? To stand by and watch someone die is the act of a wolf. This is the tone set by the Second Sage."

Li Han was about to speak when Li Zhao slightly raised his hand, stopping him. He then turned to look at the emperor, his eyes displaying a gentle, warm smile.

"As for your concerns about family background, Second Brother..." She paused, her tone gentle as if she were having a casual conversation, "Father often taught me that the Secretariat is a prestigious place that stores all the classics of the world. Although Lord Cui holds a modest official rank, he is a true 'scholar who can converse with learned scholars.' Besides, Second Brother, have you forgotten? This world ultimately belongs to our Li family."

She walked to the emperor's throne and personally poured her father a cup of warm tea, her voice becoming even gentler:

"In terms of social standing, which mansion in the world has a screen wall that is higher than the palace wall? If we only give her the position of a concubine because her family is not powerful, it will make the royal family look like a powerful family that 'fawns on the powerful and bullies the weak' in the eyes of outsiders. Not only will it be a loss of gratitude, but it will also make people look down on the magnanimity of our royal family."

She glanced at Li Han and smiled, "Besides, second brother, have you forgotten something? Uncle fell into the water by accident, and there was no one else around. Miss Cui was forced to go into the water to save him. If we're talking about reputation, it's the servants around Uncle who should be criticized for their poor performance, not a girl who risked her life to save someone."

As Li Han listened to these gentle words, a thin layer of sweat seeped out from her back.

His smile remained unchanged; he simply bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty is right."

But his fingers curled slightly inside his sleeve.

The emperor took in the two men's behavior without comment, but simply picked up his teacup and took another sip.

The Empress Dowager did not rush to express her opinion, but simply lowered her head and twirled her prayer beads, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Alright," the emperor said in a calm tone, "I know about this matter. You may go and see Prince Liang first."

Li Zhao and Li Han responded in unison, bowed, and withdrew.

The palace doors closed before the Empress Dowager spoke: "These two children..."

The emperor did not respond, but instead slowly stroked the rim of the teacup with his fingertips, his gaze deep and lost in thought.

After a long while, he finally said, "There's no rush regarding the arranged marriage. Let's see how the Cui family reacts first."

The Empress Dowager nodded and said nothing more.