Xiao Yi lowered his eyes and followed the eunuch into the imperial study.
Your son greets Imperial Father. He knelt and bowed, but there was a long delay before any response came from behind the dragon desk. The only sound in the entire imperial study was the flipping of documents.
Xiao Yi kept his head bowed, holding his bowing posture without moving or speaking. The atmosphere remained at a standstill.
As time ticked by, even the head eunuch standing to the side began to sweat from his forehead.
Xiao Yi's posture remained as motionless as a mountain.
Only then did the Emperor's voice slowly sound out. You certainly have more nerve than your imperial brother, the Crown Prince.
If it were the Crown Prince, he definitely would not have been as composed.
The Emperor said, Rise.
Xiao Yi slowly stood up before replying, Although you are the sovereign of Great Liang, you are also the father of both my imperial brother and me. We are flesh and blood, father and son, which is why your son dares to be bold.
The Emperor raised an eyebrow slightly, leaning forward to stare at Xiao Yi. That mouth of yours, you must have inherited it from your mother consort.
Xiao Yi curled his lips into a smile, standing there with perfect etiquette and propriety. But no one knew a son's true nature better than his own father.
His current docility was nothing but a disguise.
Do not put on an act in front of me. You should know why I summoned you.
Xiao Yi's eyes flickered, but he remained silent for a moment.
The Emperor continued, I heard that you have taken a liking to the second daughter of Prime Minister Cui's family.
As he asked, his gaze did not fall on Xiao Yi. Instead, he kept his eyes on the memorial in his hands, as if he were asking about something utterly trivial.
Indeed. Xiao Yi's unhidden admission made the Emperor lift his eyes to look at him.
You are simply bolder and more unruly than your imperial brother.
Xiao Yi swept up his robes and knelt down.
The Emperor rose from the dragon throne and slowly walked down the imperial steps. Over the years, whether in the imperial court or elsewhere, I have turned a blind eye to your actions. Now that you hold substantial power, do you truly want to marry a woman who has severed ties with her family?
Have you thought clearly about the consequences? If you do this, you will be at a complete disadvantage in the court. Didn't your mother consort say that your uncle intends to betroth his daughter to you? Wouldn't marrying a daughter of the Zhou family be better than marrying Cui Yunfeng?
The Emperor bent down, staring fixedly at Xiao Yi, and Xiao Yi slowly raised his eyes to meet his gaze.
The Emperor gave a faint smile. Yi'er, are you willing to accept this?
Was he willing?
Xiao Yi remained silent, and after a long while, a smile broke across his face. Imperial Father overstates the matter. Currently, Imperial Father is in the prime of his life, so those matters are not for your son to consider. Your son believes in Imperial Father's profound love for his children and that you will surely protect your son's safety. Thus, your son can simply follow his heart.
Follow your heart. The Emperor's smile deepened. What a fine follow your heart.
He stood up straight, looking down at Xiao Yi. I will ask you one last time. Do you truly want to take a woman who has forsaken her family, possessing neither power nor influence, as your primary wife?
Yes, Xiao Yi answered without the slightest hesitation.
A sharp light flashed in the Emperor's eyes. Are you not afraid that I might kill her?
Xiao Yi looked up, boundless coldness suddenly radiating from the depths of his eyes. Could it be that Imperial Father wishes for your son to marry the daughter of the Zhou family?
Father and son locked eyes. The imperial study was unusually quiet, filled only with an oppressive silence.
A moment later, the Emperor withdrew his gaze and turned to walk back up the imperial steps. Were you threatening me just now? If I kill her, you will marry the Zhou family daughter and rebel, is that it?
Your son would not dare. Xiao Yi immediately lowered his head. Just now, Imperial Father was feeling pity for your son and explaining the pros and cons. Your son assumed that Imperial Father's preferred candidate for my primary wife was the daughter of the Zhou family.
The Emperor chuckled and sat back in the dragon throne, gazing at his son below.
Consort Liang and her son were no more foolish than the Empress in the central palace. How could he not know that those words were merely a probe, a test of his purpose and his ambition?
And now, he was actually using those very words to block him.
It is a pity you were not born of the Empress.
Xiao Yi's eyelashes trembled slightly as he replied, Being born as Imperial Father's son, your son considers it no pity at all.
As long as one was born a prince and possessed the bloodline of the Xiao family, one had the right to fight for the throne. Throughout history, how many sons of the central palace had actually managed to ascend to the imperial throne smoothly and logically?
Otherwise, where would the battles for succession come from?
The Emperor rubbed his forehead and waved his hand. Enough, you may rise.
Xiao Yi stood up and, at the Emperor's gesture, took a seat.
Imperial Father, Prime Minister Cui is not satisfied with your son, so your son wishes to request an imperial edict granting the marriage.
The Emperor asked, Then do you know why he is dissatisfied with you?
I know, Xiao Yi replied with complete honesty. But Yunfeng has separated from the Cui family, and your son can also swear an oath to absolutely never involve the Cui family in the slightest, nor utilize any of the Cui family's power.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes at him. For a woman? You are actually willing to go this far?
Xiao Yi met the Emperor's gaze directly. Yes. I hope Imperial Father will grant my request.
The Emperor remained silent for a moment before suddenly breaking into a smile. What if, for that imperial edict, you are required to pay a price? Can you accept that too?
Xiao Yi frowned slightly, his mind racing. This time, he was in no rush to speak.
The Emperor continued, I intend to promote the son of the Liu family, but the promotion documents were rejected by Prime Minister Cui. You are aware of this matter, aren't you?
I guessed as much.
These words made the Emperor raise an eyebrow. Did you guess, or did you hear it through the grapevine long ago?
Xiao Yi was far, far more intelligent than the Crown Prince.
I guessed it.
He simply knew, but it did not matter how he knew. For Xiao Yi to claim ignorance would be too far-fetched, yet he could not directly admit that he had hidden informants in the palace.
The Emperor was well aware of this in his heart, so he only asked once before changing the subject. Yi'er, you have always been a smart person. Can you guess what I want to do most at this moment?
Xiao Yi lifted his eyes, his gaze flickering. His thin lips were pressed tightly together, and his hands, hidden within his sleeves, were slightly clenched and covered in a thin layer of sweat.
There is no need to be nervous, the Emperor smiled. What I want to do, I can accomplish even without you. But since you have a request, I am merely giving you this opportunity.
After a long while, Xiao Yi finally spoke, his voice hoarse. What does Imperial Father want your son to do?
The Emperor said, Are the imperial guards not under your jurisdiction? I do not need you to do anything; I only need you to do absolutely nothing.
Xiao Yi remained silent. His handsome, slightly wicked face was cast in dark shadows, and his entire being exuded an aura of coldness. Imperial Father, in all these years, she is the only person your son has ever begged Imperial Father for.
The Emperor smiled. I know. The Crown Princess is the Crown Princess, and she is she.
Xiao Yi's heart sank straight down, the knuckles of his tightly clenched hands turning white.
The Emperor was in no hurry, looking at him with a mild gaze.
For the first time in over ten years, this son of his was afraid, nervous, and apprehensive.
Your son will take his leave first. After a long pause, Xiao Yi stood up and said.
The Emperor waved his hand. Go. I will wait for you to come and collect the imperial edict.
Xiao Yi said nothing. After bowing, he turned and left.
The imperial study fell quiet. The Emperor stared in the direction of the door, taking a long time to withdraw his gaze.
Eunuch Chen, do you still remember ten years ago, also in the imperial study, how stubborn and unwilling to admit defeat he looked when he knelt on the ground?
The head eunuch standing to the side immediately stepped forward to pour the Emperor a cup of tea, smiling. His Highness Prince An was still young that year.
The Emperor waved his hand. It has nothing to do with age. Even back then, I was utterly astonished that there could be someone so heartless and unfeeling. Even when I threatened him with his mother consort's life, I could not make him bow his head and admit defeat.
