Chapter 80
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May 15th, a day suitable for ancestor worship.
Before dawn, Jiang Juan was shaken awake.
While His Highness was being crowned the crown prince, Jiang Juan had to suffer. He sat up dazed, still groggy. After washing up, Lan Ting brought in a set of clothes and helped him get dressed.
“Come over here.”
Xue Fangli glanced at him and spoke calmly. Jiang Juan responded with an “Oh,” but instead of moving towards him, he burrowed into Xue Fangli’s embrace, nuzzling for a while before weakly asking, “Why do we have to get up so early for ancestor worship? Don’t the ancestors sleep?”
“Of course they do.”
Jiang Juan’s long hair was scattered over his shoulders, making a mess as he nuzzled. Xue Fangli reached out to smooth it down, lazily saying, “Isn’t the ancestor in Prince Li Residence complaining right now?”
Jiang Juan: “…”
His Highness was mocking him again. Jiang Juan stopped nuzzling and was about to comb his hair when Xue Fangli pulled him back, examined him for a moment, and smiled, “This outfit suits you.”
Not only had the Imperial Tailor made new clothes for Xue Fangli, but Jiang Juan also received a set.
—A red robe, vibrant but not gaudy, with a loose fit that trailed on the ground, and an intricate gold-threaded bluebird embroidered on the back.
Jiang Juan didn’t think it suited him, just that it was heavy. He nudged Xue Fangli’s hand away, “Move, I need to comb my hair.”
Xue Fangli’s tone was languid, “I’ll comb it for you.”
Jiang Juan instinctively asked, “Can you do it?”
“…”
Xue Fangli tightened his grip around Jiang Juan’s waist, his smile dangerous. He slowly said, “Did you forget what I told you? If you can’t speak properly, don’t speak at all.”
Jiang Juan’s eyelashes fluttered, and he quickly licked his lips, immediately correcting himself with utmost sincerity, “Your Highness, you’re very capable.”
The youth’s lips were pale, but his tongue was a striking red. As he lightly licked his lips, they became shiny with moisture, and he tilted his head, saying “very capable.”
Xue Fangli lowered his head as if to kiss him, but then seemed to remember something and instead lifted his hand, roughly rubbing Jiang Juan’s lips. His voice was hoarse with warning, “Don’t provoke me today.”
Jiang Juan glanced at him, “…I wasn’t. Hurry up and comb my hair.”
Lan Ting quickly handed over a wooden comb. Jiang Juan sat still as Xue Fangli combed through his waterfall-like hair, then took a red ribbon to tie it up.
“Done.”
Xue Fangli’s tone was indifferent, but the next moment, he glanced at the mirror and froze.
The youth sat in front of the mirror, his hair jet black, his skin fair, and the red robe trailing on the ground. He was slender but carried off the intricate and intense outfit. His lips, red and soft from the rubbing, made it seem as if he was wearing wedding clothes, about to get married.
Xue Fangli stared at him for a long time. Jiang Juan curiously reached back, grabbing his sleeve and asking, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
Xue Fangli lowered his eyes, “It’s a pity…”
Jiang Juan: “What’s a pity?”
“The wedding was too rushed; I haven’t seen you in wedding clothes.”
Jiang Juan blinked, “It’s fine.”
Xue Fangli, however, said thoughtfully, “We should have another wedding ceremony someday.”
Jiang Juan: “???”
It sounded like a lot of trouble. Jiang Juan shook his head vigorously, “Your Highness, if you want to see me in wedding clothes, I’ll wear them for you. There’s no need for another ceremony, right?”
“Of course there is.”
Xue Fangli leaned down, lifting Jiang Juan’s chin, raising his face, “Our marriage was too hasty and unfair to you. After this, I will arrange a proper wedding for us.”
Jiang Juan: “…”
No, he really didn’t need that and didn’t feel wronged.
Jiang Juan still thought it was too troublesome and kept shaking his head, but Xue Fangli ignored him. He scooped Jiang Juan up and walked out slowly, his red lips parting with a satisfied tone, “Marrying you twice sounds nice.”
Jiang Juan hesitated.
The book didn’t say he’d have to marry twice.
Wouldn’t that count as a second marriage?
Ancestor worship was a significant event, not only attended by Emperor Hongxing himself but also by civil and military officials.
At the beginning of the year, Emperor Hongxing had already conducted ancestor worship. This time, it was clear to many ministers what it implied.
—The emperor was going to name a crown prince.
The person Emperor Hongxing favored was obvious, and it made the ministers anxious, with some even furious.
With a loud crash, a glass cup shattered. Imperial Consort Mei, who had just recovered from sixty strokes of the cane, had been resting for days but still couldn’t contain her temper.
Xue Chaohua, seeing this, worriedly said, “Mother, please calm down and take care of your health.”
“Calm down?” Imperial Consort Mei gritted her teeth, “He caused me to lose the Phoenix Seal and get sixty strokes, yet he’s becoming the crown prince. How can I calm down and take care of myself?”
Xue Chaohua, with a bitter face, said, “Mother, I told you not to provoke Fifth Brother. He’s fearless, but you insisted on provoking him…”
It was better if he didn’t speak. Imperial Consort Mei got even angrier and scolded, “Don’t provoke him? You only know how to keep the peace. Now he’s becoming the crown prince, and you’re still telling me not to provoke him. How did I end up with such a coward for a son!”
Xue Chaohua, feeling humiliated, remained silent, especially since it wasn’t just him and Imperial Consort Mei in the room. His maternal grandfather, Deputy Prime Minister Li, had come early to visit his recuperating daughter.
“Fifth Brother is not someone you can confront head-on…”
“You—!”
Imperial Consort Mei’s anger flared up again, but Deputy Prime Minister Li wasn’t there to listen to their quarrels. He frowned and interrupted, “Enough.”
“Eldest Prince is right. His Highness is not someone to confront directly,” Li Xiang said. “Besides, why are you in such a hurry? The emperor hasn’t officially named the crown prince yet. Whether His Highness becomes the crown prince or not still depends on the ancestors’ will.”
Imperial Consort Mei was stunned, “Father, you mean…”
Li Xiang smiled mysteriously, not directly answering, but hinted, “Moreover, His Highness’s Royal Consort has a questionable background.”
“His birth mother died in childbirth, and he was sent to the countryside, raised by his maternal grandfather. A proper crown prince consort who can’t read or write and has no manners? Not to mention, I heard from Minister Jiang that his son hasn’t even returned home since the marriage.”
Li Xiang continued, “When the late emperor passed away, he entrusted the emperor to Bai Xuechao. The emperor respects and feels indebted to Bai Xuechao. Mentioning others might not work, but mentioning Bai Xuechao will make the emperor reconsider.”
“Bai Xuechao valued propriety and manners above all. The emperor may favor His Highness, but that doesn’t mean His Highness’s Royal Consort is above criticism.”
Imperial Consort Mei’s eyes lit up, “Father, you’re right.”
Xue Chaohua hesitated, “But Fifth Brother dotes on his Royal Consort. If we target the weak spot, won’t he…”
Imperial Consort Mei coldly said, “If we don’t act now, he’ll become the crown prince today. He never respects you as his elder brother and constantly humiliates you. Do you think you’ll have a good life then?”
Xue Chaohua, recalling past events, hardened his resolve. He said to Li Xiang, “Grandfather, please handle this.”
At dawn, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
“With the spirits appeased, we now invite His Majesty to perform the ancestral rites—!”
The Minister of Rites announced loudly as Emperor Hongxing emerged, followed by Xue Fangli and Jiang Juan. The ministers respectfully bowed, “Long live the emperor—!”
Emperor Hongxing smiled, “Rise.”
He stepped onto the altar, holding incense, while Chief Steward Wang lit it beside him. Emperor Hongxing spoke slowly, “Today, besides honoring the ancestors, I also have an important announcement.”
“I——will appoint Fangli as the crown prince!”
Although there had been some speculation, when Emperor Hongxing said it himself, the ministers couldn’t help but feel shaken. They looked at Xue Fangli on the altar, their expressions varied, but none dared to speak up.
Seeing this, Emperor Hongxing nodded in satisfaction and prepared to bow to the heavens and his ancestors.
However, just as he lifted his robe, the incense in his hand, already lit, inexplicably went out!
Emperor Hongxing frowned. Chief Steward Wang noticed immediately and hurried to relight it, but the flame flickered and went out again.
“Your Majesty…”
Chief Steward Wang’s lips turned pale, sensing something was wrong.
Emperor Hongxing’s expression was also not good. He said in a deep voice, “Bring more incense.”
Chief Steward Wang nodded and quickly brought out more incense. The unusual event on the altar naturally drew attention from those below. Emperor Hongxing’s expression remained unchanged until Chief Steward Wang handed him the new incense and relit it. With a “puff” sound, the spark flickered a few times and went out again.
“Your Majesty…”
In the silence, someone spoke up. It was the Assistant Minister of Justice, Lord Li. He exchanged a glance with Li Xiang, gritted his teeth, and stepped forward, saying, “The incense going out repeatedly is an ominous sign!”
Jiang Juan: “…”
He knew today wouldn’t go smoothly.
He just wanted to finish early and go back to catch up on sleep.
Jiang Juan sighed. Xue Fangli turned his head, asking with his eyes what was wrong. Jiang Juan shook his head and, out of boredom, grabbed Xue Fangli’s hand and started playing with it.
Xue Fangli glanced at him and let Jiang Juan play with his hand, never once giving Lord Li a look. It was Emperor Hongxing who, after listening, smiled and asked, “An ominous sign? What do you mean?”
Minister Li said, “In the past, there have never been such incidents during ancestor worship. Today, as soon as Your Majesty mentioned establishing a crown prince…”
Emperor Hongxing smiled, “Lord Li, are you saying—— that our ancestors are displeased with this crown prince and are showing their displeasure?”
“Your Majesty, that is not what I meant!”
Minister Li hurriedly said, “I just thought that perhaps His Royal Consort is not suitable.”
Jiang Juan: “?”
What did it have to do with him?
Jiang Juan didn’t understand and was very puzzled. Minister Li continued, “If His Highness becomes the crown prince, then His Royal Consort would be the crown prince consort, but His Royal Consort…”
“Your Majesty, throughout history, those who become crown prince consorts have always been of noble birth and virtuous conduct.”
Minister Li said, “His Royal Consort is indeed the third son of the Minister of Rites, but he grew up in the countryside, raised by his maternal grandfather. What could an old man living in the countryside possibly teach him? His Royal Consort, being with him day and night, has a personality that is unrestrained, absorbing all the rustic habits.”
“If I recall correctly, not long ago, after being brought back to the capital by Minister Jiang, His Royal Consort even pushed his brother into the lake.”
Minister Li earnestly said, “Your Majesty, in terms of birth, His Royal Consort is somewhat lacking. In terms of conduct, he seems… less than upright. With such a character, how can he be crown prince consort and gain the respect of the people?”
After hearing this, Xue Fangli sneered, “Lord Li…”
But Emperor Hongxing raised his hand to stop him from continuing and smiled, “Let me speak to him.”
Xue Fangli glanced at him but didn’t insist, though his look at Minister Li was full of mockery.
Emperor Hongxing repeated, “What could an old man living in the countryside possibly teach? Lord Li, have you forgotten that the person of highest virtue, Bai Xuechao, also retired to the mountains after resigning from office? By your logic, what could Bai Xuechao possibly know?”
After a pause, Emperor Hongxing asked him, “What is your opinion of Bai Xuechao?”
“Bai Xuechao is different.”
Already intending to mention Bai Xuechao, Minister Li hurriedly said, “Bai Xuechao is of high moral character, truly deserving of being called pure as ice and jade.”
Emperor Hongxing nodded and asked, “If His Highness’s consort cannot be the crown prince consort, Lord Li, can Bai Xuechao’s descendant be the crown prince consort
Jiang Juan: “???”
What was the emperor doing?
He was supposed to be rewarding him with the title of crown prince consort, making His Highness’s spouse noble by association. Why was he now talking about replacing the crown prince cpmsprt?
Jiang Juan was shocked and unhappy. Xue Fangli, seeing this, held Jiang Juan’s hand in return. Unable to act against Emperor Hongxing, Jiang Juan pinched Xue Fangli instead. Xue Fangli’s brow twitched, and Jiang Juan glared at him.
Don’t even think about remarrying.
Jiang Juan pursed his lips.
“Your Majesty, that is not what I meant.”
Minister Li smiled bitterly, “Your Majesty, you hold Bai Xuechao in high esteem and must be aware that in Bai Xuechao’s view, etiquette is essential. The more noble a person, the more they must understand and follow etiquette to discipline themselves.”
“But His Royal Consort… has no one to teach him these things.”
Minister Li continued, “If His Royal Consort had grown up in the Minister Residence, he would naturally know what can and cannot be done. But he didn’t. If His Royal Consort becomes the crown prince consort, acting without restraint, how would Bai Xuechao feel if he knew!”
Despite Minister Li’s lengthy speech, Emperor Hongxing did not get angry. He still asked, “Lord Li, do you think Bai Xuechao’s descendant could be crown prince consort?”
Minister Li was taken aback, “Naturally, they could. If it were Bai Xuechao’s descendant, their birth and conduct would undoubtedly be of the highest order.”
“I think so too.”
Emperor Hongxing nodded and slowly said, “What would Bai Xuechao think?”
Emperor Hongxing calmly said, “He arranged a marriage for his grandson, only for it to fall through due to unforeseen circumstances, and his grandson ended up marrying someone else.”
Emperor Hongxing smiled slightly, “Knowing this, Bai Xuechao must be tossing and turning, filled with anger.”
“Lord Li, how unfortunate.”
Emperor Hongxing shook his head, his tone seemingly regretful, yet his expression smug, “After being rejected, his grandson married into Prince Li Residence. Old Five’s Royal Consort is indeed Bai Xuechao’s descendant.”
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