Emperor Yongchang looked at him with a smile, a rare trace of tenderness appearing in his eyes. “Get up. I know your filial heart.”
He helped Xiao Yunting to his feet. After a moment, he sighed and said with a bitter smile, “The truth is, I never really knew how to be a good father.”
Xiao Yunting looked at him in surprise. “Grandfather…”
“Because I wasn’t favored by the Late Emperor either.” Emperor Yongchang raised a hand to stop him and lowered his eyes. “Among the Late Emperor’s seven sons, I was the least favored. When I was young, I hardly ever saw him. And when I did, it was only during ancestral rites, from a great distance.”
“When I came of age, I was sent directly to my fief.”
When people grew old, sometimes their desire to confide in others became stronger.
Especially after seeing Furong, who looked so much like the late Noble Consort Xiao Liu.
Reason told Emperor Yongchang that there could not be two completely identical people in the world.
If someone appeared who perfectly matched your desires and expectations, then it was certainly a trap.
Furong’s appearance was a trap.
The trap had not ensnared him, but it had dampened his mood and stirred up memories of the past.
After a while, he continued: “Back then, Zhangzhou was poor. Winters were damp and bitterly cold. The chill seeped into your bones. There was nothing there. Little by little, I built Zhangzhou up. I made the best use of every resource available.”
There was no pride in his voice.
Instead, he suddenly asked: “Do you truly like that girl from the Qi family so much?”
To be fair, Emperor Yongchang did not particularly like Qi Yuan.
It wasn’t that he knew her deeply, but he certainly had an impression of her. Qi Yuan’s tongue was simply too sharp.
Still, whether he liked her or not wasn’t important. He wasn’t the one who would be living with her, Xiao Yunting was.
Back then, the Late Emperor had not liked Liu Wangfei either.
Yet when he and Liu Wangfei lived together in their fief, hadn’t they supported each other and lived quite happily?
Perhaps that wasn’t the best example. But seeing Furong tonight had indeed stirred many emotions in Emperor Yongchang.
When he noticed Xiao Yunting silently handing him a cup of tea, he accepted it and took a sip.
Xiao Yunting pursed his lips before answering softly, “Yes. I have made up my mind. Other than her, I will marry no one.”
“Nonsense!” Emperor Yongchang’s eyebrows shot up as he rebuked him sharply. “Is that something you should be saying? A marriage is arranged by one’s parents and matchmakers. Even ordinary people’s marriages are decided by their elders. Let alone yours! How can such a matter be treated lightly?”
At the side, Eunuch Xia immediately broke out in a cold sweat for Xiao Yunting. The young man was being far too honest.
At a time like this, he should not be saying things like ‘I’ll marry no one but her.’
He should have followed the emperor’s mood and said a few pleasing words.
Once the marriage was settled, he could say whatever he liked.
Why be so stubborn?
Yet Xiao Yunting stood with solemn expression, lips pressed together, and did not retract a single word.
Emperor Yongchang stared at him for a long time, appearing extremely angry.
The atmosphere in the hall became icy.
Everyone present felt uneasy.
Afraid the emperor might lose his temper and embarrass the Imperial Grandson before so many servants, Eunuch Xia quickly signaled his apprentice, who immediately ushered everyone out.
Soon only Emperor Yongchang and Xiao Yunting remained in the hall.
Emperor Yongchang spoke again. “Do you really like her that much? Even knowing that I might be angry, you still insist?”
Without hesitation, Xiao Yunting answered, “Yes.”
Before the emperor could continue, he lifted his head and met Emperor Yongchang’s gaze directly. “Grandfather, you and Liu Wangfei once shared mutual respect and genuine affection. In your opinion, were you happier with my grandmother, or with Liu Wangfei?”
Emperor Yongchang slowly let out a long breath.
Then he said quietly: “Get up. Go investigate your maternal grandfather’s case. When you return, I will issue an imperial decree and grant your wish.”
Xiao Yunting was overjoyed.
He had expected Emperor Yongchang to fly into a rage.
Instead, the emperor had agreed so readily.
For a moment he was speechless. He could only kowtow several times in succession.
Emperor Yongchang waved a hand. “You are right. A person’s life is not long. With your status, you already possess wealth, honor, and privilege. Who could possibly be more noble than you? So when it comes to marriage, having something that truly satisfies your heart is already rare enough.”
He looked at Xiao Yunting with undisguised affection. “And I want you to be happy.”
Emperor Yongchang had always loved Xiao Yunting.
But this was the first time he had spoken those feelings so plainly.
Xiao Yunting’s throat tightened with emotion.
The emperor, however, did not wish to dwell on it. “Enough, enough. Go visit your grandmother and your royal father. Then go see your royal mother. Set out as soon as possible and handle the matter properly.”
Xiao Yunting quickly acknowledged the order.
Eunuch Xia stepped forward quietly and tucked the blanket around Emperor Yongchang. “Your Majesty, dawn is still a long way off. Why not rest for a while? You still have morning court tomorrow.”
Because of the commotion caused by Princess Mingcheng and Prince Yongrong, no one had slept well.
Emperor Yongchang waved his hand. “I won’t sleep. I want to take a walk to Fengzao Palace.”
Eunuch Xia’s heart immediately sank.
Fengzao Palace, That was Noble Consort Xiao Liu’s palace.
Ever since her death, it had remained largely abandoned.
Although servants still cleaned it regularly, a place with people living in it and a place without life were entirely different.
Moreover, Emperor Yongchang had never before suddenly felt the urge to go there.
Why this time…?
Eunuch Xia felt worried, but he also knew such matters were beyond someone of his station.
So he simply obeyed.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He quietly accompanied the emperor to Fengzao Palace.
Inside Fengzao Palace, a portrait of Noble Consort Xiao Liu stood prominently in the center.
Originally, Emperor Yongchang had intended to bury her with the honors of an Imperial Noble Consort and place this portrait in her tomb as a burial object.
However, at the time, the civil officials had fiercely opposed the idea.
The Liu family’s reputation had been abysmal. Even though he was the emperor, he could not always act entirely as he pleased. In the end, the matter was dropped.
The portrait remained in Fengzao Palace.
Now, standing before it again, Emperor Yongchang was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of changing times.
It felt as though nothing had changed. And yet everything had changed.
He sighed softly and looked up at the woman in the painting. “You can rest assured. I understand everything. No matter how much someone resembles you, they are not you. I will never allow anyone to take your place.”
A gentle breeze swept through the hall. The candlelight on the altar flickered slightly.
The portrait swayed faintly in the wind, as though responding to Emperor Yongchang’s declaration.
Eunuch Xia’s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he shivered.
His Majesty’s feelings for Noble Consort Xiao Liu truly were extraordinary. Fortunately, Noble Consort Xiao Liu had died young. Otherwise, how could the Crown Prince have dared stir up trouble the way he did today?
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