Chapter 56: I Want to Marry Her (Two Chapters in One)

Lord Wen snorted coldly, "Even as the Commander-in-Chief, I cannot obtain them. Those are all fabricated false testimonies concocted by the Xue family. Xiao Henian is a tough nut to crack; they have failed to break him for so many years, so they resorted to this tactic.

"As long as Xiao Henian falls, the last barrier protecting the First Prince will be removed."

Madam Wen said indignantly, "The Xue family and the Xiao family are fighting their own battle; why must they drag my husband into it?"

Lord Wen glanced at her and continued, "Grand Preceptor Xue also said that if we successfully bring Xiao Henian down, he will appoint me as the Commander of the Tiger Guard Camp."

Hearing this, Madam Wen’s mood brightened again.

She had always thought her husband had reached the ceiling of his career at his current position, never imagining he could go a step further. Moreover, being the Commander of the Tiger Guard Camp—a position commanding heavy troops—meant many eyes would be watching him.

Lord Wen gave a helpless smile, his eyes filled with bitterness.

"What Grand Preceptor Xue did not say is that if we fail to bring Xiao Henian down, and if Xiao Henian manages to make a comeback, I will be the one they throw under the bus."

Madam Wen’s expression soured, and she said with grief and indignation, "I was wondering why the Xue family was so kind as to promote my husband. They were so diligent in matchmaking Shu'er and Shangguan Ruyu back then; it turns out they just wanted my husband to be a scapegoat!"

She took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "If Xiao Henian isn't brought down, won't my husband and this entire family be ruined?"

Lord Wen comforted her, "Do not be too pessimistic. The Xiao clan has been in seclusion for over a decade; the First Prince and Xiao Henian cannot compete with Imperial Noble Consort Xue and the Xue family.

"As long as Xiao Henian is sent to the Flying Eagle Guard's Imperial Prison, Xue Ji and Xue Cheng can kill him inside. Our chances of success are over ninety-nine percent."

A flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes. "If, by some chance, we fail in this gamble and the Xue family dares to push me forward, I, Wen Qian, am not someone to be trifled with. If they act without benevolence, I shall act without righteousness. They would never dream that I know about *that* matter..."

"What matter?"

Wen Qian shook his head, silently rotating the ring on his thumb.

After a long time, he raised his head and said in a low voice, "This matter concerns the survival of our clan; we must prepare for the worst possible outcome. If we truly fail and the Xue family pushes me forward, even if it means my death, I will find a way to protect you and our children and grandchildren."

Madam Wen burst into tears. "My husband!"

Wen Qian continued, "If our family falls, Shu'er's marriage to Shangguan Ruyu will also fall through. Let her become a concubine to Jiang Huizhao instead."

Madam Wen choked, her eyes widening like bull's eyes. "Jiang Huizhao? That rustic fellow is only a few years younger than you. Even if his ancestral graves sprout green smoke, he could never marry my daughter, let alone have her as a concubine!"

Wen Qian looked at her coldly.

Madam Wen's lips trembled, and she compromised, "Fine, I will listen to you." She then comforted herself, "My husband's chances of success are over ninety-nine percent; that day will never come."

Wen Qian turned his gaze toward the small window and added, "Mother was right; sometimes, giving others a sliver of life is the same as leaving a sliver of hope for oneself. Remember, always leave a way out, so that we may meet again in the future..."

***

Princess Yanghe's Manor.

In the Chaomu Pavilion, Shangguan Ruyu gazed out the window listlessly.

Princess Yanghe had gone to the palace to see the Empress Dowager, and Consort Shangguan had gone out to meet friends; there were things he wanted to say but could not.

He was anxious.

The young servant Songyan advised, "Second Master, your throat is not well. Please sit down and rest."

A maid brought in a bowl of medicinal soup. "Second Master, the medicine is ready."

Shangguan Ruyu sat at the table, finished the medicine, and took a sugar pill handed to him by the maid, popping it into his mouth.

A young maid, barely old enough to grow her hair long, ran in hurriedly to report, "Second Master, Her Highness the Princess has returned to the manor."

She had been ordered to guard near the second gate and, seeing the Princess return, rushed over to report.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ruyu rose and went to the Ningxiu Hall.

Princess Yanghe had just removed her palace makeup and washed her hands when she heard the maid report, "Second Master has arrived."

A smile appeared on her face.

With the tinkling sound of the bead curtains, Shangguan Ruyu walked in.

He sat beside his mother and said in a raspy voice, "Mother, I almost choked to death today."

Princess Yanghe was startled and took her son's hand to examine him closely.

"What happened? Why is your complexion so poor?"

Duanyan had followed him in and knelt to report how Shangguan Ruyu had been choked by a drunken date and then saved by Miss Feng using a strange method.

He did not dare say "thrust," but rather used the young master's phrasing: "striking the upper abdomen with a fist."

Princess Yanghe felt a wave of lingering fear and said coldly, "How are you serving your master? How could you let him swallow a whole date?"

Duanyan kowtowed repeatedly like a pounding pestle. "This servant deserves death! This servant deserves death!"

Shangguan Ruyu pulled at his mother's sleeve. "Mother, do not blame them. It was my own carelessness."

Princess Yanghe held his face with heartache. "You are an adult now, getting married next year. How are you still acting like a green boy?"

"Yes, I will be careful."

Shangguan Ruyu's face flushed slightly. He pursed his thin lips and continued, "Mother, in order to save me, Miss Feng had physical contact with me in front of everyone. I am afraid this will affect her future marriage prospects. She has done me a great kindness; I cannot harm her. I... I want to..."

Princess Yanghe burst into laughter, her heart filled with joy.

This was the first time her son had shown interest in a girl; it was a good sign. Since her son liked her, he could simply take her as a concubine. It would also mean more grandchildren for her; this manor was far too quiet.

She teased, "You are the first girl who could make Yu'er blush. Hehe, I suspect that besides being skilled in medicine, that girl must be quite beautiful."

Red clouds drifted across Shangguan Ruyu's cheeks, and his eyes and brows were filled with smiles.

"She is different from ordinary girls. Not only is she skilled in medicine and beautiful, but she is also heroic, spirited, composed, and free-spirited. Even the celestial maidens in heaven cannot compare to her.

"I feel that, like Empress Shengde, Princess Changning, and you, Mother, she is a heroine—a woman of great character. Only when a woman is like this is she truly lovely and respectable. I am enamored with her."

Princess Yanghe laughed heartily. The people she respected most were her grandmother, Empress Shengde, and her paternal aunt, Princess Changning, and she held them as her models.

"Is she truly that good? Once you marry the Fourth Miss of the Wen family next year, you can take her as a noble concubine. She saved you and has earned my son's such admiration; her status cannot be too low."

Shangguan Ruyu shook his head. "Mother, I want to marry her as my wife. Let us cancel the engagement with the Wen girl; I feel nothing for her."

Initially, both the Empress Dowager and his mother had liked the Fourth Miss of the Wen family, calling her beautiful and gentle, and had insisted on arranging the betrothal.

He felt that if he had to marry, it wouldn't matter whom he married, so he had agreed. But today, he had finally met Miss Feng, who made his heart flutter, and he knew exactly what kind of woman he wanted to marry.

Yanghe shook her head in disagreement. "If you marry Miss Feng, what about the young Wen girl? That child has done nothing wrong; it is impossible to break the engagement. Furthermore, Miss Feng comes from a humble background, making a living through medicine. Making her a noble concubine is already showing her great respect."

"Mother, Miss Feng has the spirit of a man. I don't think she would enjoy being a concubine, and I cannot bear to make her one either..."

Yanghe was still unwilling. "Their families are not of equal status. No matter how good she is, she cannot be your primary wife. I do not agree, and neither will your father, the Empress Dowager, nor your grandfather.

"Be obedient. Marry the Wen girl as your primary wife and take Miss Feng as a noble concubine. Since you like her, just treat her well once she enters the household..."

Shangguan Ruyu said, "Mother, you do not know, but Miss Feng is the successor of Physician Feng. Physician Feng saved me the first time, and Miss Feng saved me the second time. This is a destiny ordained by Heaven; even Old Duke Ming said it was a remarkable coincidence."

Princess Yanghe froze. A figure surfaced in her mind, one she remembered clearly even after twenty years.

A determined gaze, tightly pressed thin lips, and a spine that remained straight even when leaning over...

She said, "Yu'er, the descendants of Midwife Feng would not be willing to be concubines."

Shangguan Ruyu replied, "Of course Miss Feng would not want to be a concubine."

Princess Yanghe's expression turned serious. "She is a descendant of Physician Feng; has she... entered a delivery room before?"

A nanny behind her stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Her Highness, this old servant has heard that Miss Feng is the successor of Physician Feng. She can treat many ailments and is skilled in the Yin Divine Needle technique.

"It was she who used the Yin Divine Needle to save the young master of the Second Master Wen, and she also saved a woman suffering from postpartum hemorrhage. Now she is treating Madam Wen's migraines; she must have entered a delivery room."

Princess Yanghe gave her son a disapproving look. This son had been unconventional since childhood, and now he even wanted to marry such a woman as his primary wife.

She said coldly, "Those who frequently enter delivery rooms carry impurities; it is inauspicious. Entering a household would drain that family's fortune. If you wish to compensate Miss Feng, do so in other ways, but she absolutely cannot enter my household—not even as a noble concubine."

Shangguan Ruyu became unhappy and let go of his mother's sleeve.

"I strongly dislike that way of thinking. We were all born in a delivery room; if that is an impure place, then we were all born with impurities. On the contrary, I believe the delivery room is a place of auspiciousness and sanctity. The Goddess Guanyin sends life there, and it is delivered by the midwife...

"Look at Physician Feng. While she was alive, she entered delivery rooms almost every day and saved countless lives. Even the Emperor called her the 'Mother of a Thousand Infants.' Even though she has been gone for so long, people still miss her.

"Mother, two generations of the Feng family have saved me. I cannot let her become unable to marry because of this. Furthermore, Miss Feng is truly the woman I desire to marry. They say a single meeting can determine a bond for three lifetimes; that is exactly what happened to us."

He again hugged Princess Yanghe's arm and pleaded softly, "Mother, you are a woman of great character, bold and magnanimous. You won't hold such worldly prejudices, and you wouldn't want to see your son heartbroken, right?"

Princess Yanghe was naturally a free-spirited and bold person. Flattered by her son's words, she laughed again.

She lightly tapped his forehead. "Only that Miss Feng could get my son to plead so effectively. Fine, I agree to let Miss Feng enter the household. For the sake of Physician Feng, I will treat her with care.

"But she can only be a noble concubine; there is no room for negotiation. To be safe, I will personally visit the Qingfeng Temple to ask Daoist Taixu to cleanse the impurities from Miss Feng. If even Daoist Taixu cannot resolve it, then you must let it go..."

Just as they were speaking, the maid's voice came from outside again, "Consort Shangguan."

Shangguan Ruyu hurriedly rose from the daybed and stood by the chair.

Compared to his mother, he feared his stern father more.

Consort Shangguan entered the side room.

Princess Yanghe bowed with a smile. "Consort Shangguan."

Shangguan Ruyu bowed. "Father."

Consort Shangguan ignored his son and sat directly beside Princess Yanghe.

He looked up at his son, his gaze icy.

"I heard you did something 'extraordinary' again today; it has spread through every street and alley. A grown man nearly choking to death on a date—what else could you possibly do!"

Shangguan Ruyu swallowed hard and did not dare speak.

Princess Yanghe handed him a cup of tea and smiled. "Consort Shangguan, Yu'er narrowly escaped death; it gave me quite a fright."

Consort Shangguan looked at Yanghe, his gaze softening, and took a sip of the tea.

He said softly, "Yanghe pampers him too much. He is already an official, yet instead of reporting to the yamen, he spends his days wandering about, and he nearly choked to death on a date. He is less capable than a small child."

Princess Yanghe smiled. "Even the Empress Dowager praised Yu'er today, saying he is talented, kind, and righteous—a good boy. If he truly dislikes that post, he can simply change to another."

Consort Shangguan cupped his hands toward the palace. "My thanks to the Empress Dowager for her consideration."

He then said to Shangguan Ruyu, "Starting tomorrow, report to the yamen on time. Do not bring shame to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

Shangguan Ruyu hurriedly replied, "Yes, I will not dare to be negligent."

He then cast a pleading look at Princess Yanghe, signaling for his mother to intercede.

Princess Yanghe said, "Consort Shangguan, Miss Feng saved Yu'er in such a manner that her future marriage prospects may be difficult. Letting Yu'er take her as a noble concubine is also providing the young lady with a way forward."

Consort Shangguan shook his head in disapproval. "That girl saved Ruyu; making her a concubine would be looking down upon her."

Shangguan Ruyu quickly interjected, "Father, you don't realize—Miss Feng is the descendant of Physician Feng, and her given name is Feng Chuchen. Twenty years ago, Physician Feng saved me, and today, Miss Feng saved me again. This is a destiny set by Heaven, not a matter of looking down on her."

A flash of disbelief crossed Consort Shangguan's eyes. "The girl who saved you is a descendant of Physician Feng?"

Shangguan Ruyu nodded. "Yes."

Consort Shangguan's expression turned grim, and he barked, "Two generations of the Feng family saved you from peril, and you imbecile, you actually want her to be your concubine! That Physician Feng was a woman of immense pride; she would never allow her descendants to serve as concubines to anyone.

"As her descendant, Miss Feng would never agree to be your concubine. Cast that thought aside immediately!"

Seeing that his father was truly angry, Shangguan Ruyu hurriedly knelt. "I have disappointed you, Father. But the matter has already happened; we cannot let Miss Feng be unable to marry. Furthermore, I truly love her. I do not want her to be a concubine, but to marry her as my wife."

Princess Yanghe explained, "I did not know Miss Feng was Physician Feng's descendant. I thought since the engagement with the Wen girl was settled, I could simply let her be a noble concubine."

Shangguan Ruyu said haltingly, "Mother, Father, if I must marry, I only want to marry Miss Feng."

"No!"

Princess Yanghe and Consort Shangguan said in unison.

Princess Yanghe stated once more, "The Fourth Miss of the Wen family is a good girl; we cannot break the engagement without cause, or she will have no way to live. Furthermore, Miss Feng's background absolutely disqualifies her from being your primary wife."

Seeing her son's distress, she turned to consult Consort Shangguan. "Consort Shangguan, I am saying *if*—what if Miss Feng herself is willing to be Yu'er's concubine? Even a biological daughter might not necessarily inherit her mother's character, let alone a niece."