Did she not know it was unfeasible? But her son liked her; what could she do? She could not exactly dig his heart out.
However, if he could not get what he wanted, she feared many people's hearts would be dug out.
"It is also my fault," she said. "When the late Lady Cui was still alive, I jokingly arranged a marriage pact with her. Later, I mentioned it in front of Yi'er. Who would have thought that he would take it to heart at such a young age? I have tried bitterly to persuade him otherwise, but there is nothing I can do."
"That is easy to handle," the Emperor sneered. "I will just kill him, and the problem will be solved."
Consort Liang's expression froze, her pupils shrinking slightly. Her face turned deathly pale. This time, it was no act; she was truly terrified from the bottom of her heart.
The Emperor's attitude was absolute.
Especially upon hearing that his son was so uncontrollably in love with that girl from the Cui family.
His son, his Xiao family's empire—was it doomed to fall into the hands of the Cui family?
Marrying a daughter of the Cui family meant that no matter which son took the throne in the future, the future crown prince would have the blood of the Cui and Tang families flowing in his veins. How could he possibly agree to that?
"Consort Liang, you are a smart woman. Do you know why I am dissatisfied with the Empress? Why I have turned a blind eye and allowed you and Yi'er to overstep your bounds time and time again?"
Consort Liang shrank back, trembling. "I dare not say."
"Speak. I pardon you of any offense."
Consort Liang raised her eyes and stole a glance at the Emperor before replying, "Because the Crown Prince is indecisive. He is too soft-hearted toward the Cui family and is held back by the Crown Princess."
The Emperor nodded. "This is a great taboo for a monarch. If he ascends the throne, the maternal relatives will interfere in politics, and our Great Liang will face the danger of a dynastic change. Therefore, the Crown Princess is only the Crown Princess. She will never become the Empress."
Consort Liang's heart jolted, and she stared sharply at the Emperor.
"So, you wouldn't want Yi'er to become a widower shortly after getting married, would you?"
Consort Liang's heart sank straight down, her hands and feet turning ice-cold.
Therefore, the Emperor's word was gold. Although the marriage pact could not be annulled, the Emperor never intended to let Tang Qingwan live.
Naturally, he would not easily agree to Yi'er's marriage either.
But whenever Consort Liang thought of her son, her heart ached for him. So, no matter what, she had to make this marriage happen.
As she was deep in thought, the Emperor spoke again. "Or perhaps, it is not about childhood sweethearts and uncontrollable love at all. Rather, it is that you and your son are jealous of the Crown Prince and covet the prime minister's power."
Consort Liang immediately explained, her face pale, "Your Majesty, please see clearly. Even if you gave me immense courage, I would never dare. Yi'er is close to you; he would certainly never do such a thing."
"Furthermore, Your Majesty should know what kind of person Prime Minister Cui is. He is also entirely against this. He has even placed his daughter under house arrest, intending to betroth her to a minor official surnamed Zhou in the court."
"Oh?" The Emperor seemed quite surprised. "He actually is unwilling? He looks down on my son?"
"Every word I say is true. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can send someone to investigate. You will know upon checking. The Second Miss Cui was also forced into a corner, and she even came to the palace today to see me."
The Emperor's expression softened. "What did she say?"
Consort Liang replied, "She said she is willing to cut all ties with the Cui family for Yi'er."
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, as if scrutinizing the truth in Consort Liang's words. "You are saying that to marry Yi'er, she wants to sever her father-daughter relationship with Prime Minister Cui?"
"Exactly," Consort Liang nodded, stealing a glance at the Emperor's expression, rapidly analyzing the situation in her mind so she could adapt on the spot.
Consort Liang was certain that the Emperor would be very happy to embarrass Prime Minister Cui and watch him suffer a setback.
"There is actually another reason why I am doing this."
The Emperor lowered his eyes. "Let me hear it."
"Firstly, although the Second Miss Cui is cutting ties with her family, Prime Minister Cui has deep affection for her mother and will certainly not be able to completely ignore his daughter. Yet, the Second Miss Cui's heart belongs entirely to Yi'er. Does this not make her a handy chess piece in Your Majesty's hands?"
Prime Minister Cui valued his family above all else. What could be more useful than using his daughter to keep him in check?
"Your Majesty may not know, but the Second Miss Cui is not a particularly clever person, and her love for Yi'er runs deep. She is not like the Crown Princess. When the time comes, Yi'er will have the final say in everything."
The Emperor remained silent for a long time. After quite a while, he finally asked, "And the second reason?"
Consort Liang gritted her teeth. For her son's happiness, she had to risk it all. "Secondly, it concerns my own maiden family."
"My brother is a great general under Your Majesty, and he has long harbored the intention of arranging a marriage with Yi'er. However, I know what Your Majesty dislikes the most, so naturally, I would not agree. But my sister-in-law is difficult to deal with; she is greedy for wealth and status. I do not wish to be estranged from my relatives."
Compared to Cui Yunfeng, who was severing ties with the Cui family, the Emperor would be far more displeased with a marriage alliance with the Zhou family.
The Zhou family was already a considerable faction in the court. If left to grow stronger, they were highly likely to become the next major threat.
Consort Liang leaned against the Emperor. "I have considered everything, and it is all for Your Majesty's sake. Even my own maiden family is not as important in my heart as Your Majesty."
The Emperor scoffed. "According to you, apart from the Cui family and the Zhou family, my son cannot marry a daughter from any other family?"
"Of course not. It is just that I also feared displeasing Her Majesty the Empress. I have picked and chosen time and again for Yi'er's marriage."
"If the status is too low, I fear wronging Yi'er. If it is too high, I fear Your Majesty and the Empress would be displeased. After thinking it over, I still feel that marrying a primary wife from a high-status family but without any actual political backing is the most appropriate choice."
Consort Liang's eloquence had always been exceptional; she could make anything sound appealing.
And it played right into his hands.
This was true for both the Emperor and the Empress. Xiao Yi already had his maternal grandfather's family. If he were to marry into another prominent family, causing the balance of power in the court to tilt or become one-sided, it would be a harbinger of internal strife.
Furthermore, the Empress and the Crown Prince were even less willing to see Xiao Yi marry a noble lady from a powerful family and gain a major boost in the court.
Consort Liang had not wasted her breath. At the very least, laying out her first and second reasons did indeed make the Emperor fall silent and become tempted.
Although the Emperor did not say it, Consort Liang knew very well in her heart that he was also somewhat wary of her maiden family.
He would absolutely not allow them to grow even the slightest bit stronger.
Leaving the imperial study, Consort Liang let out a huge sigh of relief. She instructed the eunuch beside her, "Send someone to the estate of Prince An and tell him to enter the palace immediately. The Emperor summons him."
The young eunuch complied and was about to leave the palace when Consort Liang hurriedly called him back. "Have him come to my palace first. I have something to say to him."
An hour later, in Consort Liang's palace.
The mother and son had barely exchanged a few words before they began to argue.
"Mother, I am already making arrangements for this matter. Why did you take matters into your own hands?"
Consort Liang had been on edge for half the night, only to find her son unappreciative. Furious, she stiffened her neck and said, "I am your mother. If I do not intervene, am I supposed to just let you do those foolish things and get beaten half to death by your imperial father?"
No one knew better than her what kind of character her son had.
"I have been husband and wife with your father for over a decade. I understand him a hundred times better than you do. I have my own plans in mind."
She knew very well that the only things that could persuade the Emperor were interests and the political situation in the court. Her son acted too rigidly and straightforwardly, which would only lead to him suffering losses.
Consort Liang was the second person, aside from Cui Yunfeng, who left him completely helpless.
"So, this is your solution, Mother? Using Yunfeng to keep Prime Minister Cui in check?"
Consort Liang curled her lips, looking a bit sheepish. "How else was I supposed to put it? Say that you were kicking up a fuss and insisting on marrying her no matter what? Wouldn't that be actively courting death?"
Xiao Yi was exasperated. The current situation in the court is constantly changing, with hidden agendas everywhere. If these words reach the ears of the Cui family, are you trying to make me die alone?
Consort Liang was speechless.
She watched her son pacing back and forth in the hall, and only after a long while did she mutter, Well, what else could be done?
She was at her wit's end, anyway.
What is the use of fussing over this now? Regardless of what was said, as long as your royal father relents, that is all that matters. As for what happens later, we can deal with it when the time comes.
Just marry her first and bluff our way through for now.
Consort Liang had talked until her mouth was dry in the imperial study today. As for which words were true and which were false, even she herself did not know.
Talk is just talk. When the time actually comes, we simply will not admit to it. Since she will be married into our family, she will be one of our own. Naturally, as your mother, I will not let her be used or bullied.
Achieving the goal was the main priority now; the process was not important, nor did it matter what was said. Denying it later would suffice.
Consort Liang's sudden actions had completely disrupted all of Xiao Yi's plans.
Consort Liang said, Stop pacing around. Your royal father is summoning you.
Xiao Yi cast a glance at Consort Liang.
Consort Liang immediately wilted a little. Her original intention was just to help him, after all.
Xiao Yi swept up his robes and sat down below her. Tell me exactly what you and Imperial Father talked about, word for word.
Consort Liang picked and chose what to tell him, summarizing the conversation.
Before, when you tampered with Tang Qingwan's carriage, did you not also keep it completely watertight?
Xiao Yi fell silent.
Consort Liang said, Fine, I will not say it, I will not say it. It is getting late, and your royal father is still waiting for you. Hurry up and go.
On his way, Xiao Yi was still pondering how to deal with the Emperor, the Cui family, and Yun Feng.
As well as his mother's words: the Emperor had no intention of letting Tang Qingwan live.
What about Yun Feng? Relying solely on his mother's words to make his imperial father agree was clearly unlikely.
Xiao Yi stood before the imperial study. He raised his eyes to look at the plaque hanging high above, his eyes narrowing slightly.
His figure was tall and straight, and his half-raised peach blossom eyes gave off a sense of oppression, a profound depth that even the Crown Prince did not possess.
Your Highness, the Emperor has been waiting for a long time. Please go in quickly.
