Chapter 532: A Year’s Promise
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At this point, Shen Zhuo understood that the Empress Dowager was determined for him to get married.
“Since Grandmother is so kind, it’s not good for me to dampen your spirits. May I ask which girl you’re talking about?”
Empress Dowager Deng laughed.
“It’s a little girl from the Deng family. Her name is Deng Tingxue.”
“According to seniority, she should call me Grandaunt. You have to call her Cousin.”
“This girl is about the same age as you. She is beautiful and knew when to advance and when to retreat. She would definitely be a virtuous wife in the future.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you marrying her. ”
What else did Shen Zhuo not understand?
Empress Dowager Deng wanted to push a daughter from the Deng family to the position of the Crown Princess. When he inherited the throne in the future, Deng Tingxue would be the Empress Dowager.
In this way, the Deng family’s status in the royal family could be further stabilized.
Shen Zhuo said, “The Deng family’s girl is definitely very good. I appreciate your kindness, but to be honest, I was already engaged to someone ten years
ago.”
Empress Dowager Deng’s expression changed. “There’s actually such a thing? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Who is the other party?”
Shen Zhuo said, “I once went out to study and was lucky to be under a great teacher. That teacher taught me and wanted me to propose marriage. He wanted to betroth his daughter to me.”
Empress Dowager Deng hurriedly asked, “You agreed?”
Shen Zhuo lowered his eyes and lied without changing his expression.
“I agreed.”
Empress Dowager Deng was furious. She raised her hand and patted the soft cushion.
“You’re confused ! ”
“The other party was just the daughter of a villager, but you are the precious crown prince. ”
“The difference in status between the two of you is like heaven and earth.” “How could you marry such an unpresentable countryside woman?
Are you trying to anger me to death!” Shen Zhuo hurriedly comforted her.
“Grandmother, don’t be angry.”
“At that time, I was just a little prince that no one cared about.”
“I had grown up in a temple and had never seen my father and grandmother. I thought that I would never be able to return to the palace.”
“At that time, my teacher taught me carefully and treated me like family. I felt the warmth of home from him and couldn’t help but agree to my teacher’s marriage proposal.”
“This matter was my fault, but I do not regret it.” “Grandmother, you can punish me however you want. I have no objections!”
With that, he knelt down and bent down to kowtow.
Empress Dowager Deng could not be angry anymore.
Back then, they were the ones who sent Shen Zhuo, who was not even a year old, to the temple. They all thought that it was impossible for this child to grow up safely. They only treated him as a child the royal family never had.
In the end, they had let Shen Zhuo down. They owed him.
Queen Mother Deng let out a long sigh.
“Although I want to facilitate your marriage with Tingxue, I’m unwilling to be such an evil person.”
“Forget it, go back first. Bring that girl over for me to see later. The rest can be discussed at length in the future.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Grandmother. I’ll take my leave.” After Shen Zhuo left the Biquan Palace, he went to the Fengyi Palace.
He told Empress Wen about Empress Dowager Deng’s intention to marry the eldest daughter of the Deng family to him.
Empress Wen’s expression was indifferent and she did not react much to this.
“The Deng family’s appetite is too big.”
Not only did the Deng family have an Empress Dowager, but they also wanted another crown princess consort. At this rate, the Deng family would probably become the number one relative of Dayan.
Shen Zhuo said, “I felt that this was inappropriate, so I found a reason to reject it.”
Empress Wen said, “The best way to resolve this matter is to help you settle the marriage. Do you have anyone you like? If not, I’ll help you choose one from the many daughters of the aristocratic families.”
She also wanted to select a girl from the Wen family, but there were only two girls in the Wen family’s direct line of descent. One was ten years old, and the other was eight years old. They were still children.
Neither was suitable.
As for the daughters of concubines and collateral relatives, they were naturally not worthy of the position of the Crown Princess. Empress Wen could not even be bothered to mention them.
Facing his mother, who had raised him, Shen Zhuo did not hide his true thoughts.
“The person I like is Niaoniao.”
Empress Wen frowned. “You know that it’s impossible between you and her.”
Shen Zhuo lowered his head and fell silent.
Empress Wen advised earnestly.
“Although you’re already the Crown Prince, there are still many voices opposing you in the court.”
“This means that your status was not firm.”
“If you could choose a marriage that is helpful to you, it would be equivalent to having an additional power of your own in the court.”
This will be very helpful to your future path. Do you understand?”
Shen Zhuo naturally understood.
But he was still indignant.
“Mother, can you give me a little more time? A year will do. If Niaoniao still won’t marry me after a year, I’ll listen to your arrangements.”
Empress Wen did not think that a year would change anything, but looking at Shen Zhuo, she knew that he would not change his mind.
Forget it, she would give him one last chance to be willful.
“You said it yourself. You only have a year. You can’t go back on your word.”
Shen Zhuo smiled. “Thank you, Mother.”
Yu Niaoniao and Xiao Juan rode the carriage home.
In order to appease Yu Niaoniao, Xiao Juan took the initiative to ask.
“Shall we eat out tonight? What do you want to eat?” Yu Niaoniao said without thinking, “Qian Shanxue.”
She could go and see if her recipe had come in handy. Xiao Juan agreed without changing his expression.
“Okay.”
The carriage stopped at Qian Shanxue’s door and the waiter led the two of them into the private room.
Soon, Gongsun Yuan came over.
He was still dressed in blue and bowed elegantly.
“Greetings, Duke Lang and the Princess Consort.”
Yu Niaoniao asked, “How’s the research on the new dishes here?”
Gongsun Yuan said, “Thanks to you, I’ve already developed several new dishes. The customers’ response is very good.”
Yu Niaoniao was filled with anticipation. “Then what are we waiting for? Serve those new dishes.”
“Alright, I’ll arrange it now.”
Not long after, the food was served.
Yu Niaoniao turned her anger into appetite and picked up her bowl and chopsticks to eat.
Xiao Juan advised, “Slow down. No one is snatching it from you.” Yu Niaoniao chewed the braised hoof tendon hard, looking murderous.
“To think that I used to call him Brother Junzhi. I didn’t expect him to be such a despicable person. I’m blind. I’m so angry!”
Because she ate too quickly, she choked. Xiao Juan hurriedly patted her back. “Are you feeling better?” Yu Niaoniao gradually caught her breath.
She picked up the teacup in front of Xiao Juan and took a sip of tea.
Xiao Juan was about to say that it was his cup. He had already drunk it, but seeing that she had already drunk it, he could only shut up silently. Yu Niaoniao put down her cup. “Ah Juan, fortunately, you’re the one I married.”
If Shen Zhuo had agreed to the marriage proposal back then, she would definitely have been angered to death after the marriage. Fortunately, that big idiot rejected her back then.
Yu Niaoniao raised her cup again.
“Thank you for not marrying me!”
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