“This…” Xiao Yuanwu said, “You’ve gone too far with your words, little sister.”
Xiao Yuanwu’s face immediately turned sour upon hearing her words. He looked at his younger sister and spoke.
“Did I say anything wrong?” Xiao Chuo wasn’t intimidated by her imperial brother. She raised her head and stared directly at him as she replied, “Princess Changning kept Qin Yan at her side for three years, purely out of selfishness. If she had truly cared, and the two had loved each other, then fine. But you both know what Qin Yan endured during those three years in the Princess’s residence. To call him her Prince Consort is more like calling him her slave.”
“For three years, Qin Yan’s devotion meant nothing to Princess Changning. She never cherished him. Now that Ji Yuanyi has returned, she kicked him aside without hesitation. This proves she never loved him. Qin Yan finally managed to break away, and yet you still want to drag him back and keep him as a backup plan for Changning? How can you treat him like this?”
“If Changning truly doesn’t love Qin Yan and never looks back for the rest of her life, do you intend to imprison him for the rest of his days? Isn’t that far too cruel and unfair to him?”
Xiao Chuo plainly exposed the intentions of Xiao Yuanwu and the Empress. They thought they were doing this for their daughter’s sake, but what about Qin Yan? Even if Xiao Wanyu had other paths to take, did that mean Qin Yan deserved to be toyed with forever?
“Enough!” Xiao Yuanwu snapped. “Qin Yan is just a commoner. His background was unknown, nothing more than a vagabond. If it weren’t for me and Changning, he would’ve died long ago. Even if I want him to serve Changning for life, he should accept it with gratitude. That would be his great honor.”
Having been struck where it hurt, Xiao Yuanwu threw reason aside and invoked his imperial authority. As Emperor, he insisted he could do as he pleased with Qin Yan.
“My lady, don’t be so agitated. We’re not unreasonable people. If Changning truly doesn’t change her mind, we will let go eventually,” the Empress quickly interjected, trying to mediate the conflict.
“That’s right, little sister, the Empress is right. We’re not that stubborn. How about this: give it another year or so. If Changning still shows no regret and truly has no intention of getting back together with Qin Yan, I’ll grant you and Qin Yan the marriage. How about that?” Xiao Yuanwu tried to ease the tension.
A year or so should be enough for Changning to realize her true feelings. If she regretted it, reconciliation could follow. If not, he could bestow marriage between Changning and Ji Yuanyi, and that would be acceptable. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“No!” Xiao Chuo refused firmly. “Imperial Brother, I will not compromise on this matter. I will not let you treat Qin Yan like this. I ask you to bestow marriage upon me and Qin Yan.”
Her words were sharp and unwavering, carrying an undeniable conviction.
“You…” Xiao Yuanwu’s face darkened. “Little sister, then let me make it clear to you—I cannot grant this marriage.”
“Hmph!” Xiao Chuo snorted coldly. She stared him down and said, “Imperial Brother, this isn’t your decision to make.”
“What do you mean by that?” Seeing Xiao Chuo’s confident and determined gaze, Xiao Yuanwu suddenly sensed something was wrong. He quickly questioned her intentions.
“Have you forgotten the imperial edict our father bestowed upon me?” Xiao Chuo said. “The Late Emperor’s edict is here, Imperial Brother. Do you dare defy even our father’s will?”
As she spoke, Princess Jinyang Xiao Chuo pulled out an imperial decree from her sleeve and held it in her hand, showing it to Xiao Yuanwu and the Empress.
The moment they saw the decree, both Xiao Yuanwu and the Empress froze. Their expressions turned grim. It seemed they had indeed forgotten about the edict the Late Emperor had given Xiao Chuo.
This decree had been granted by their father—the Late Emperor—to Xiao Chuo when she was thirteen years old. Even at that young age, she had already shown stunning beauty that captivated many foreign princes who wished to marry her.
However, Xiao Chuo was unwilling to marry any of them. During the Mid-Autumn banquet when she was thirteen, she performed a dance for the Late Emperor. Her performance amazed the entire court, as if a celestial maiden had descended.
Delighted beyond words, the Late Emperor had wanted to reward her with treasures, but Xiao Chuo declined them all and instead asked for a single imperial decree. New chapters come out on novelping(.)com first.
The decree allowed Princess Jinyang Xiao Chuo the right to choose her own Prince Consort. Only a man she truly wished to marry could become her husband. No one—not even the Emperor—could force her into marriage.
The Late Emperor did not reject her request. In front of the entire court and foreign envoys, he personally wrote the edict, granting Xiao Chuo the right to freely choose her spouse.
This was precisely why Xiao Chuo remained unmarried at twenty-three. With such an imperial decree in hand, even Xiao Yuanwu, now Emperor, had no power to force her into marriage.
Now, as Xiao Chuo presented that decree, both Xiao Yuanwu and the Empress were chilled to the bone.
If Xiao Chuo invoked that decree, even the Emperor would have no grounds to refuse.
This was the Late Emperor’s will—supreme and unchallengeable. If Xiao Yuanwu denied it, he would be rejecting the Late Emperor himself. The consequences of that would be more than he could bear.
He wouldn’t just be scorned by the world but also condemned by the officials at court. More critically, even the vassal lords would use this to criticize and oppose him. Clearly, Xiao Yuanwu couldn’t afford to dismiss the authority of this decree.
“Imperial Brother, you were present when Father gave me this decree. I don’t think I need to remind you of its content, do I?” Xiao Chuo said as she looked at their pale expressions, completely unfazed.
“Of course I remember,” Xiao Yuanwu said helplessly. “But do you really plan to use the Late Emperor’s decree to pressure me?”
“Imperial Brother, I can give up everything else. But Qin Yan—I must have him. No matter what you think, I will marry Qin Yan. This is not about forcing you—this is me pleading with you.”
“Your younger sister Xiao Chuo begs you to bestow this marriage upon me!” Holding the decree in both hands, Xiao Chuo pleaded again, her gaze resolute, without the slightest hesitation.