These words caused an uproar in the room.
Chu Huaishan was so furious he glared with knitted brows, wishing he could slap him to death!
Well, three is still too few? He really shouldn't have listened to Yan'er back then and let her marry this heartless man!
Yan Zheng didn't dare look at his father-in-law, fixing his gaze firmly on the emperor at the head of the room.
The emperor was stunned for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed heartily: "Well done, Chief Councillor! I thought you were some celestial being indifferent to women, but it turns out you're just a mortal after all! Haha, good! Since you've spoken up, go ahead, how many do you want?"
Yan Zheng took a deep breath: "At least ten."
"Ten? Your appetite is too big, aren't you afraid your body can't handle it?" The emperor widened his eyes, never expecting the usually cold and aloof man to be so audacious at heart. But that was fine; he had been worried he wouldn't want any. So, with a grand wave of his hand, he declared, "Attendants! Have the Ministry of Revenue bring the register of noble daughters from the capital. I shall personally select them for the Chief Councillor!"
Yin Shun assented and hurried off. Yan Zheng turned his head to look at Grand Tutor Rong and the others: "Grand Tutor, Minister Xu, this Chief Councillor has an agreement with the County Princess. Your beloved daughters, upon entering my household, can only be concubines. Knowing this, are you still willing?"
Grand Tutor Rong and Minister Xu exchanged a glance, their expressions somewhat grim.
They hadn't been very willing to agree to this marriage in the first place, as it was only for the position of concubine. They had reluctantly consented only because the other party was the Chief Councillor and the Emperor had spoken.
But now, this Yan Zheng was going too far, actually wanting to take ten at once!
Where did that leave their daughters?
Grand Tutor Rong, dearly loving his daughter, stepped forward first with a bow: "Your Majesty, if the Chief Councillor is to widely gather beauties, then he certainly does not need my unworthy youngest daughter. This old minister begs Your Majesty to rescind the decree and bestow others upon the Chief Councillor!"
Minister Xu also followed suit: "Your Majesty, your servant also begs Your Majesty to rescind the decree!"
The emperor's brows furrowed. He was beginning to understand why Yan Zheng had made such an exorbitant demand.
He snorted coldly and glanced to the other side: "Marchioness of Baoxing, what is your opinion? Are you also unwilling for your daughter to marry over as a concubine?"
That Marchioness of Baoxing was in no position to compare with the Grand Tutor and the Minister, not to mention the Marquis of Baoxing had already passed away. So, she fell to her knees with a thud: "Your Majesty! This subject's wife is willing! For my daughter to enter the Chief Councillor's household is a blessing earned over three lifetimes! Not to mention being a concubine, even having no status at all would be fine!"
Her attitude slightly appeased the emperor's anger. But then, Yan Zheng lifted his eyes and glanced at her with a faint, mocking smile: "So eager to enter the Yan household? Why doesn't the Marchioness of Baoxing come along as well?"
The imperial study fell silent for a moment. The Marchioness of Baoxing stared in terror, her eyes wide.
The emperor shouted sternly: "Yan the Third! You speak more and more outrageously!"
Grand Tutor Rong also said gravely: "Chief Councillor, since ancient times, the principles of heaven and human relations have never allowed taking a mother and daughter together. You are truly going too far!"
Chu Huaishan, who had been furious moments ago, now sensed something and remained silent.
Yan Zheng, neither haughty nor humble, spoke calmly: "Who said I am the one taking them?"
Everyone fell silent, and then they saw him raise a hand towards the outside of the imperial study: "Come in and thank the Emperor for his grace."
Thus, under the watchful eyes of all, an old lame man and Meng Yang walked in together.
"This commoner thanks Your Majesty for your great grace!"
Everyone was stunned. The emperor asked in astonishment: "What is the meaning of this?"
Yan Zheng remained silent. The old lame man said: "Replying to Your Majesty, just now the Marchioness of Baoxing said she was willing to send her daughter into the Yan household. But the mansion already has a mistress. The Chief Councillor has said that any new women entering would be wives for us commoners. Everyone in the mansion knows this."
Having finished, Meng Yang grinned at the Marchioness of Baoxing: "Don't worry, Madam. When the time comes, you'll marry Old Xu, and your daughter will marry me. You mother and daughter can both stay in the Chief Councillor's residence and won't have to be separated anymore!"
The Marchioness of Baoxing trembled all over. Seeing Old Xu's lame leg, she rolled her eyes back and nearly fainted.
"Your Majesty! This subject's wife will not marry! Neither I nor my daughter will marry!"
The emperor's face was as dark as water. He slapped the table with a smack: "Enough!"
His eyes blazing with fury, he spoke through gritted teeth, word by word: "Yan the Third, do you truly believe I dare not punish you?!"
Yan Zheng bowed: "I await Your Majesty's punishment."
"You!!" The emperor was seething with rage. Chu Huaishan, having secretly laughed his fill, hurriedly advised: "Your Majesty, the Chief Councillor is also young at heart. Please do not stoop to his level!"
Grand Tutor Rong and Minister Xu had also seen clearly now; the man had no intention of taking concubines at all.
They also quickly chimed in: "What Duke Chu says is absolutely right. We beg Your Majesty, in consideration of the Chief Councillor's hard work and great achievements, to forgive him this once!"
At that moment, a cold, aged voice came through: "If having merit allows one to defy imperial decrees, then who will ever hold the royal family in regard from now on?"
Everyone turned to see Empress Dowager Su leading Grandma Yan inside. She said coldly: "Emperor, I knew you couldn't handle this boy, so I specially sent someone out of the palace to fetch his grandmother into the palace. Grandma Yan, you tell the Emperor yourself."
Grandma Yan assented and shuffled forward unsteadily.
Yan Zheng looked up and glanced at her expressionlessly. The old lady felt a chill from head to toe, freezing her to the core.
But thinking she was doing this for the Yan family, she straightened her back and said: "Your Majesty! Since my eldest son, Yan Xu, passed away, the main branch of the Yan family has only these two children left. Zhao'er is young and not yet married. He (Yan Zheng) is married, but after a year of marriage, his wife has not produced an heir... This old woman fears the main branch will die out, fears that Third Lad will have no one to continue his line. I beg Your Majesty to make a decision!"
The emperor stroked his beard: "Hmm, what Grandma Yan says is reasonable. So, what do you suggest?"
"I beg Your Majesty to bestow upon Third Lad another wife of equal status! Your Majesty may not know, but since County Princess Changle entered the household, she has simply not tolerated any other women entering. If she continues to occupy the position of principal wife, this old woman fears that even if new women are added, they won't be able to bear children..."
Before she could finish, Chu Huaishan cut in: "Grandma Yan, are you implying that my daughter is petty, jealous, and uses underhanded means to harm the women in her husband's chambers?"
Grandma Yan trembled: "N-no, this old woman just wants to be prepared for any eventuality..."
Chu Huaishan was about to say more when Empress Dowager Su said: "Enough, Emperor. You have heard Grandma Yan's words. Speaking of which, the Great General died for the country; we have failed his family. Now that a request has been made, we should fulfill it."
The emperor nodded: "What the Empress Dowager says is reasonable. But the matter of candidates..."
He swept his gaze over Grand Tutor Rong and the others, who all pretended not to see.
Empress Dowager Su smiled: "Grandma Yan only asks for a grandson. Why must Your Majesty insist on status? In my view, why not select a few robust, fertile women from the palace to add to the Chief Councillor's household and increase his offspring?"
This meant she intended to stuff a few palace maids into Yan Zheng's chambers!
A cold glint gathered in the man's eyes. Just then, Chu Ruoyan arrived, supporting Empress Pei.
"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you..." The emperor stopped mid-sentence, but Empress Pei said joyfully, "Your Majesty, Mother Empress, I have come to bring you good news. Or rather, I should say, to congratulate the Chief Councillor and Grandma Yan."
Understanding dawned in Yan Zheng's heart, while Grandma Yan was dumbfounded.
Then, they saw Empress Pei take Chu Ruoyan's hand and say with a smile: "After examination by the Imperial Hospital... Changle... is with child!"
