The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 700 - 700 329 Granting Marriage (Two Tael)

Chapter 700: 329 Granting Marriage (Two Tael) Chapter 700: 329 Granting Marriage (Two Tael) Empress Dowager Jing shook her head weakly: “Alright, I’m fine now, it’s time for me to go back. Your Majesty should not always bring me into the palace, it’s against the decorum. Since I’ve become a nun, I will spend my whole life in the nunnery, accompanying the old Buddha under the lamp.”

The Emperor said: “Regardless of where my mother wishes to pray, it is the same. I will build a nunnery for you in the Imperial Palace, so you can practice Buddhism there. This will also make it convenient for me to take care of you.”

Empress Dowager Jing’s face changed slightly, she grabbed the Emperor’s hand and said seriously: “This must not be done!”

The Emperor patted Empress Dowager Jing’s hand: “I have already made up my mind. Before moving into the nunnery, you shall peacefully reside in the Huaqing Palace. No one can harm you, not even that person in the Renshou Palace!”

“Honghong!” Empress Dowager Jing, in her anxiety, actually called him by his real name.

That was indeed a massive breach of taboo. In the Imperial Palace, the only one who had the privilege to call him by his name was Empress Dowager Zhuang.

Of course, the Emperor did not mind these things. He and Empress Dowager Jing shared a deep mother-son relationship. In his heart, Empress Dowager Jing was no different from his real mother. Regardless of the rules, he was Empress Dowager Jing’s son, and she definitely had the right to call him by his real name, Honghong.

He held Empress Dowager Jing’s hand and solemnly said: “I should have brought you back long ago. My repeated forbearance only resulted in the intensified harmful acts of the Renshou Palace. Now, they even dare to openly frame you. Since it is unsafe for you outside the palace, it is better to move back openly! Even if it costs my life, I will definitely protect you!”

The next day at the morning court session, the Emperor announced two big events. One was the marriage between Prince Zhuang Yuheng and the Marquis Residence’s daughter, Gu Jinyu. The other was to bring Empress Dowager Jing back to the palace and build a separate nunnery for her in the Imperial Palace.

Both of these events were earth-shattering. Gu Jinyu was apparently unworthy of Zhuang Yuheng, and Empress Dowager Jing’s return to the palace was clearly against etiquette. The court was thrown into immediate uproar.

Grand Tutor Zhuang was furious. He never expected that the Emperor would arrange a marriage between Zhuang Yuheng and Gu Jinyu. Even without thinking, he could guess that it was the old fellow Gu Chao who had been petitioning the Emperor for favor.

Gu Chao had some nerve to take this matter to the Emperor!

Grand Tutor Zhuang was embarrassed beyond belief!

In the eyes of the old Marquis, shouldn’t Grand Tutor Zhuang be embarrassed? After all, Prince Zhuang was the one who did something wrong, not Gu Jinyu. Gu Jinyu was just an innocent victim.

The old Marquis was stubborn and old-fashioned in certain ways, yet he was far more enlightened and insightful on this issue than ordinary people.

If it were someone else whose daughter had been debauched and lost her reputation, they would desperately hope that the man could accept their daughter even as a concubine.

But not the old Marquis.

He who is upright does not fear a crooked shadow. He had done nothing wrong and was not afraid!

The victim should seek justice, and the perpetrator should pay the price!

Grand Tutor Zhuang stepped forward, holding his ceremonial tablet in front of him, speaking in a serious tone: “Your Majesty, this is absolutely inappropriate! Please reconsider your decision!”

The Emperor sat on the Dragon Throne, his gaze said sternly: “Is Grand Tutor Zhuang referring to the decision of assigning the marriage for your grandson, or the decision to refurbish the nunnery for Empress Dowager Jing, which do you consider inappropriate?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang glanced at the place where Empress Dowager Zhuang was sitting behind the curtain, then he mustered the courage to ask: “May I ask if Your Majesty consulted with the Empress Dowager beforehand?”

The Emperor gave a faint smile, mocking: “Even for minor matters like arranging a marriage or refurbishing a nunnery, I must report to the Empress Dowager and get her consent… I wonder when did the Zhan Country’s rule change its surname to Zhuang?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang’s expression changed, holding his ceremonial tablet, he knelt down: “Your Minister had no such intentions, please discern right and wrong, Your Majesty!”

The expressions of the ministers varied.

Although it was a blatant truth that half of Zhan Country was under the control of Empress Dowager Zhuang, everyone turned a blind eye and no one dared to state it plainly.

The Emperor seemed to have completely pulled down the last veil of the royal family.

What was he trying to do?

Was he planning to sever ties with Empress Dowager Zhuang completely?

Every civil and military official standing in the solemn and grand Jinluan Hall felt an ominous sign of a storm brewing.

However, the Emperor smiled casually, looking towards Empress Dowager Zhuang who was sitting slightly higher than him behind the curtain. His gaze saw through the beaded curtain and landed on the figure of the regal Empress Dowager: “So, without consulting the Empress Dowager, I don’t even have the right to arrange a marriage or refurbish a nunnery. Is this what the Empress Dowager also believes?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang ignored him and just sat there calmly.

The Emperor smiled and didn’t insist on her answering. He turned to Grand Tutor Zhuang, who was kneeling in the Grand Hall. His smile gradually hardened: “Why I decided to arrange the marriage between Zhuang Yuheng and Miss Gu, Grand Tutor Zhuang, you know it well. Or are you not bothered if I announce the backstory of this marriage arrangement to the public?”