ebookland Chapter 243 Each with their own agenda
Chapter 243 Each with their own agenda
Zhu Kui hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and sighed:
"I have served as an official for over thirty years, and I have never asked anything of Your Majesty or the Crown Prince. Today, I come to beg Your Majesty and the Crown Prince to grant my daughter's request..."
Wei Jianning immediately looked at him with delight.
"Lord Zhu, has your daughter also changed her mind? That's perfect, I've come to plead with my father to rescind his decree..."
"Your Highness said the exact opposite. My daughter not only has no regrets, but she also wants to get married within three days, or else... or else... or else she'll die right here in front of me!"
Zhu Kui clapped his hands and shook his head with a sigh.
“I only have one daughter. For the past eighteen years, I haven’t been able to take care of her and I feel guilty. I thought that now that she’s back, I could take good care of her. But who would have thought that she would insist on marrying the Crown Prince, saying that he is her savior and her destined husband…”
Zhu Kui's words left Wei Jianning completely bewildered.
"Lord Zhu, I've never met Miss Zhu before. How did I become her savior? Could she have mistaken me for someone else?"
Zhu Kui immediately shook his head.
"No, a few days ago on the street, didn't you rescue a woman and subdue a frightened horse?"
what?
Wei Jianning did indeed recall this incident, and he nodded.
"It's true."
"The woman you saved is my good-for-nothing daughter, Zhu Fangfei. She fell in love with Your Highness at first sight and threatened to kill herself at home, insisting on marrying into the Crown Prince's residence within three days. Although she didn't grow up by my side, I know her temperament. She says what she means and does what she says."
Upon hearing his words, Wei Jianning gasped. "Lord Zhu, this is not a reason for me to marry her. Please go back and tell Miss Zhu that she will not be happy marrying me..."
“I tried to persuade her, but she said that as long as she marries you and can see you a few times a day, she'll be willing even if you don't consummate the marriage or touch her. Do you think this child is possessed?”
This……
Wei Jianning immediately felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
“Lord Zhu, your daughter is young and has simple thoughts. She still needs your guidance as her father.”
Zhu Kui immediately clapped his hands and wailed.
"I gave her advice, and I tried to persuade her for three days with all my heart, I almost knelt down to her, but she was determined to marry you, or she would kill herself. Your Highness, I beg you, please marry her, but you must not touch her. Wait until her novelty wears off, then you can divorce her. To show my sincerity, I will prepare a large dowry for her. But before she wants to leave you, you must not mistreat her, you must make her happy every day."
Wei Jianning felt like he was hearing a foreign language when Zhu Kui made these demands.
He had always been arrogant and looked down on everyone in the court, including him, the crown prince. He never expected that the crown prince would humble himself and beg him for the sake of his daughter. This was truly... truly unexpected.
But he still couldn't agree. Even if it was a ceremony, he didn't want to give it to any woman other than Lan Zhi.
Just as he was about to refuse, Zhu Kui turned to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, please issue a decree that the Crown Prince and my daughter should marry within three days."
"Lord Zhu..."
Wei Jianning's voice turned cold.
"I did not agree to that. Not even within three days, let alone within three years."
"If Your Highness does not respond, this old minister will die on the spot."
"Lord Zhu, please don't frighten me."
"This old minister has never frightened anyone, nor has he ever begged anyone in all these years..."
Zhu Kui's eyes were sharp, and Wei Jianning frowned as he looked at him, suddenly puzzled by his behavior.
Would he really threaten to kill himself for his daughter?
Or did he have ulterior motives in marrying his daughter to him?
"Ning'er!"
After a long silence, the emperor finally spoke.
"Lord Zhu just said that you only need to marry Miss Zhu into the manor, and there is no need to have any sexual relations. It is just a ceremony. What is there for you to hesitate about? Besides, my imperial decree of marriage has already been issued, and Lan Zhi has agreed. Do you want me to issue another imperial decree?"
“Father, Lord Zhu’s suggestion is too absurd. I am afraid I cannot comply.”
"Then what if I insist that you obey?"
"If Lord Zhu threatens to kill himself, I will atone with my own death."
"it is good!"
The Emperor's face immediately darkened. "Someone, bring the Crown Princess here. We still need to hear her opinion on this matter."
"Father, Lan Zhi is six months pregnant. Don't torment her."
"But she agreed to this, and now you're suddenly going back on your word. I suspect that she's been instigating you to threaten suicide behind your back?"
"This has nothing to do with her."
"Then what are you afraid of if I summon her?"
"I don't want to bother her, and I don't want her to worry about this."
“This is not just your business, it’s the business of the entire Crown Prince’s residence. She is the mistress of the Crown Prince’s residence, and this matter must be approved by her.”
At this point, the Emperor waved his hand again.
"Someone, go and invite the Crown Princess..."
"No need to invite me anymore, I can accept, but Father Emperor has to agree to two conditions."
He knew that even if Lan Zhi came, she would persuade him to agree to the matter, and then blame him for making the decision on his own. Rather than that, he might as well agree directly and save her the trouble.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Kui immediately let out a long sigh of relief, and the Emperor nodded in agreement:
"Okay, just tell me what you need."
"I want to immediately restore him to the position of Crown Prince Regent, and I also want to take back the tiger tally that rightfully belongs to him."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Kui looked at him with disbelief. How could he not know that the Emperor had taken back the Crown Prince's tiger tally? He also didn't know that the Emperor had revoked the Crown Prince's status as regent?
If he had known this would happen, he should have found a way to get Consort Liang to the Emperor's side to find the Tiger Tally. The Tiger Tally is now in his hands.
Thinking of this, he was extremely annoyed, but unfortunately, it was all too late.
How could the father and son have kept this so secret?
But before he could figure it out, the Emperor had already nodded in agreement.
"Very well, on the day you marry Zhu Fangfei, I will return these things to him. The day after your marriage, you may enter the palace to govern for me."
Having received the Emperor's permission, Wei Jianning was still heavy-hearted, but at least he regained the identity that was rightfully his, so it wasn't a wasted trip!
April 28
Today is the day Zhu Fangfei is marrying Wei Jianning, but Wei Jianning is unwilling to change into his wedding attire to greet his bride. Lan Zhi can only try to persuade him with earnest words.
"My lord, I know this is putting you in a difficult position, and I am also very saddened, but they have set the date so tightly, we have no other choice. You should bring her into the manor first!"
Wei Jianning gazed at her intently, snatched the wedding dress from her hands and tossed it aside. He then pulled her into his arms, his chin gently brushing against her hair as he murmured something.
"My wife, I'm so sorry!"