Chapter 684: Breaking Kinship

In Fengyi Palace, Gu Jiu Ling lowered her head and looked at the portrait that Jiu Yue had brought back, and couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

The son of the Assistant Minister of Works was indeed ordinary, not very tall, and even a little plump.

In his studies he had Wu Wu Jian Shu, and without his father's status as Assistant Minister of Works, such a child would be impossible to pick out among the crowd.

It was only that his age matched Princess Fuqing's, and his birth chart also aligned well with hers.

If not for that, it could never have reached Jiu Yue's hands.

Originally, Jiu Yue obtained portraits of age‑appropriate noble men from the Marriage Bureau, and Lord Li was just added in to make up the numbers.

To become Princess Fuqing's Prince Consort, his status was not high; who would have thought that the least likely candidate was directly chosen by Princess Fuqing herself?

She even asked Jiu Yue to find out whether Lord Li would be willing.

If he refused, Princess Fuqing would not force him.

"That's too humble," Gu Jiu Ling couldn't help but say softly.

Jiu Yue noticed Gu Jiu Ling's doubt, stepped forward and reported: "I was a bit surprised when I heard this; Princess Fuqing not only has top‑notch looks and character, and as a princess she should at least be matched with a Heir Apparent from a noble or marquis household."

"Now she has chosen such a person; he doesn't look that great, and when the princess selected him, I was also quite surprised."

"However, Consort Rou said that if he becomes Her Highness the Princess's Prince Consort, he cannot hold an important post, for fear it would affect the noble families."

"Choosing him is truly thinking of others, without considering himself at all."

Gu Jiu Ling hesitated, placed the portrait box on the table, and looked at Jiu Yue: "Are you sure this portrait was personally selected by Princess Fuqing?"

"In reply to the master, this truly was personally chosen by Her Highness the Princess; Consort Rou was not entirely satisfied, and it was the Princess herself who requested that Lord Li become the Prince Consort."

Gu Jiu Ling was at a loss for words; she knew that Princess Fuqing acted without regard for romantic considerations, completely abandoning her own marriage prospects, selecting only a man she could control as Prince Consort, hoping for lifelong stability.

The woman was exceedingly obedient, so obedient it was heartbreaking.

Gu Jiu Ling sighed heavily and said: "Very well, go ask the lady of Marquis Ning An's manor to act as an envoy to the Li family, inquire whether Lord Li is willing to this marriage arrangement; if he is, request the Emperor to grant the marriage."

"After all, this is the Princess's major marriage matter; the final decision will not be ours."

"One man's honey is another's arsenic; perhaps the Heir Apparent Gu Jiu Ling has in mind is exceptionally talented and handsome, but in Princess Fuqing's eyes he is not a suitable match, so let the mother and daughter decide."

Jiu Yue replied, turned, and left Fengyi Palace to deliver a message to Marquis Ning An's manor.

Earlier, the young lady of Marquis Ning An's manor had just been summoned by Gu Jiu Ling; now that she has received Gu Jiu Ling's orders, how could she be unwilling?

Without a word, regardless of timing, she quickly dressed appropriately and led a few attendants toward the Li residence.

The Li family, upon receiving the news, were instantly overjoyed.

Lord Li, Li Zhao, felt as if he were dreaming.

According to Southern Qi customs, age‑appropriate men and women submit their birth charts and marriage status to the Marriage Bureau.

It is overseen by the Marriage Bureau, which actively makes connections. Xiushu Chong

When the Li family initially submitted their son's birth chart, only a few months had passed, and they did not expect such extraordinary fortune to arrive.

Although the Li family also held positions in Jing Cheng, they lacked any foundation; if they could connect with the Princess's household, their son's status would naturally be incomparable.

Li Zhao seemed like a stunned goose; he had never seen Princess Fuqing's appearance, and someone of his rank never even gets a chance to appear before the sovereign, let alone before the Princess.

Now that he has been chosen as that woman's Prince Consort, he is filled with many emotions.

Li Zhao's friends, upon hearing the Li family's news, came to congratulate.

When the lady of Marquis Ning An saw that the Li family was willing, she was naturally delighted.

But as night fell, she dared not enter the palace at that hour to disturb the Empress.

She planned to have her husband deliver the document the next day, enter the palace, and inform the Empress of these matters.

The Empress established a princely residence for Princess Fuqing outside the palace, showing extra regard for her.

If I see this matter through, wouldn't that be another merit?

Later, I could speak up in front of the Empress.

The Li family saw off the lady of Marquis Ning An, each with an unmistakable joyous expression.

Lord Li even personally called his son over and spoke with him alone for half an hour, urging him to be extremely cautious before the Princess, for being a Prince Consort is not an easy role.

Li Zhao was dragged by his friends to Bright Moon Pavilion, where they asked him to spend money on a banquet.

This grand celebration had already spread throughout Jing Cheng.

You know my best friend came from Hangzhou; although his family was modestly well‑off there, now that he's in Shangqing he has no relatives, his path is marked with a golden light, and he lives with the Li family as a guest.

To some extent he also receives support from the Li family, and the two have reached a point where they can talk about anything.

Li Chao is treating, and naturally is reluctant to invite his poor friend.

The group settled in a private room at Bright Moon Pavilion; today was Li Zhao's big celebration, so Li Zhao gave extra thanks, and the Jiangzhe Bright Moon Pavilion's best private room was booked for a thousand, letting everyone sit inside.

In a short time, after three rounds of wine, the atmosphere became extremely lively; everyone joked, raising toasts to the Princess and the father, but only Jiang Chen, a friend of Li Zhao, looked displeased, clutching his coat and showing a hint of jealousy, his eyes even tinged with a fresh red.

Both came from Hangcheng; Li Zhao's father also traveled, passed the imperial examinations and became a jinshi, then gradually rose to a respectable position, though his achievements were modest. Meanwhile his father in Hangcheng was a merchant, merely a local trader. Though Li Zhao's talent surpassed Li Chao's, he repeatedly failed exams and relied on Li Chao's support to survive. He always felt like a dog at Li Chao's side. Now he only dreams of passing the highest imperial exam to escape this awkward situation, never expecting that Li Zhao would leap to become Prince Consort; this makes his heart boil, wondering why the gap between people is so vast.

At that moment, words of congratulations echoed around, most celebrating Li Chao's meteoric rise, a leap to the heavens, when suddenly a cold voice from Jiangcheng said: "Fine. At the time I thought being a Prince Consort might not be a good thing."

As soon as those words fell, the people around were stunned, wondering how he could say that, as if tearing down a stage.