Chapter 16: Fulfillment of Desire

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Seeing that Zhao Yu was sincere in his words and truly intended to marry them as princesses, not to deceive them, Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu were overjoyed!

Marrying a prince and becoming a princess was, for women of humble origins, no less than ascending to heaven in a single step.

This meant that from then on, they would enjoy boundless wealth and honor, and their families could finally break free from the shackles of poverty and rise with dignity.

It also meant they would utterly escape the fate of serving others, becoming noble figures who governed the prince’s household and embodied maternal grace.

In short, if they agreed to this marriage with the Empress Dowager, they would truly become phoenixes perched on the highest branch.

Wang Yisu stole a glance at the Empress Dowager, while Zheng Xiansu still pretended calmness.

Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng felt nothing about this matter. They were not Zhang Chun and had no idea how profoundly today’s events would affect them.

The Empress Dowager never imagined that Zhao Yu had come to her not to discuss how to deal with Liu Qingjing or how to counter the possible retaliation brewing between Liu Qingjing and the New Party, but to… get married?!

To be honest, the Empress Dowager was deeply disappointed.

She had fully expected that, after this incident, Zhao Yu would abandon his former attitude of ignoring all worldly affairs and indulging only in personal comfort, and instead begin to devote himself to the Zhao Song dynasty and to her as his stepmother.

Instead, Zhao Yu had turned his thoughts toward romantic entanglements.

“In the end, he’s utterly unfit for great responsibilities!”

Yet the Empress Dowager reconsidered: under the Zhao Song imperial clan’s management system, a leisurely prince could do very little—indeed, he wielded even less power than women in the inner palace, for at least those women could influence the emperor and participate in Zhao Song politics.

Moreover, Zhao Yu was already sixteen, fully grown, and long past due to marry and produce heirs for the Zhao lineage.

She then remembered that Zhao Yu had saved her.

The Empress Dowager set aside her disappointment and said, “Marriage is good—it will give you someone to manage your princely household and free you from worries.”

Then, the Empress Dowager volunteered, “Since Prince Shen and Prince Duan married, I have been keeping an eye out for a suitable match for you. The only daughter of Guo Cheng, Commander of Xiongzhou, Commander of Jingyuan Road’s Military Forces, and Commander of the Eleventh Division—Guo Ting—comes from a family of deep lineage, possesses virtue and grace, and has a dignified appearance. I intend to betroth her to you. What do you think?”

Zheng Xiansu clenched her sleeve tightly, striving to maintain outward composure, yet her trembling fingertips betrayed her inner tension and unease.

Wang Yisu watched Zhao Yu with worried eyes, fearing he might suddenly change his mind and choose Guo Ting instead.

Zhao Yu did not let Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu’s fears come true—he bluntly refused, “Your Majesty has gone to great trouble selecting a bride for me; I am deeply grateful. Yet I already have someone I love. I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant me this marriage.”

Hearing Zhao Yu say the words they longed to hear, Zheng Xiansu lifted her head slightly, her eyes filled with gratitude and deep affection; Wang Yisu exhaled deeply, a faint smile of joy and anticipation appearing on her face!

The Empress Dowager frowned deeply.

In this era, marriage was governed by parental decree.

Imperial marriage took this principle to its extreme, weaving in numerous political considerations.

One of the duties of a royal member was to use marriage to consolidate imperial power, balance factions, and forge alliances.

Specifically, imperial princes’ brides were often chosen based on the power of court ministers’ families or the stability of border regions.

Take, for example, the Guo Ting the Empress Dowager wished Zhao Yu to marry.

She was from the Guo military clan of the northwest De Shun Army, a descendant of the famed Tang general Guo Ziyi.

At the founding of the Zhao Song dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin had specifically sought out Guo Ziyi’s descendants to serve in office.

The family had not disappointed Zhao Kuangyin’s trust: generation after generation served as generals, loyal and patriotic, achieving great victories in foreign wars.

Guo Ting’s father, Guo Cheng, had recently led troops to defend Pingxiacheng and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Xia Army, earning fame along the western frontier.

If Zhao Yu married Guo Ting, the Guo military clan would become even more tightly bound to the Zhao clan.

Yet Zhao Yu did not wish to marry Guo Ting—he wished to marry someone else.

Had Zhao Yu not just saved the Empress Dowager, causing her to hold him in greater regard and tolerate him, she would have snapped, “Nonsense! Marriage is no affair to be decided by your whim!”

Now, after a moment’s hesitation, the Empress Dowager patiently asked, “Who is the woman you favor?”

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu’s hearts leapt to their throats, fearing failure at the final moment!

Sensing their tension, Zhao Yu spoke without delay, bowing deeply: “I wish to marry Zheng Yaban and Wang Yaban as my princesses. I beg Your Majesty to grant this union.”

“Zheng Yaban? Wang Yaban?”

The Empress Dowager was momentarily confused—who was Zhao Yu referring to?

Only when her peripheral vision caught Zheng Xiansu beside her, blushing furiously, nearly burying her face in her chest, did she suddenly understand.

“Prince Shen has good taste indeed. This girl has a delicate, intelligent appearance, her eyes radiating wit. She has served me for years, handling duties with great care, clever yet mindful of the bigger picture—among all the maids, she stands out. But her humble origins make her unsuitable for a political marriage.”

The Empress Dowager turned to Wang Yisu, equally flustered: “This girl is good too—like a lotus emerging from water, gentle and obedient, unambitious. But she too comes from humble origins, unsuitable for a political marriage…”

At that moment, the Empress Dowager suddenly realized: “Ah! Prince Shen doesn’t misunderstand political marriage—he simply doesn’t wish to ally with the Guo clan, but wants to ally with me!”

Previously, to demonstrate her impartiality, whenever Zhao Xu took concubines or Zhao Bi and Zhao Ji married, the Empress Dowager had forbidden her own Xiang clan from offering daughters for selection.

She had already declared this publicly—how could she now retract it?

Thus, for Zhao Yu to marry a Xiang clan woman and bind himself deeply to her was nearly impossible.

Moreover, to avoid criticism, whenever members of her faction sought to use precedent to gain office or petition for court rank, the Empress Dowager not only refused to help but actively blocked them, publicly declaring: “My clan has never used this precedent—why should private sentiment override public law?”

This had caused her relationship with the Xiang clan to deteriorate.

Thus, even if Zhao Yu married a Xiang clan woman, he could not truly bind himself to the Empress Dowager.

But if Zhao Yu married Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu—women nearly raised as her own daughters—he could perfectly circumvent her own rule and bind himself deeply to her.

Only now did the Empress Dowager realize: Zhao Yu was no fool—he was a political mastermind, or at least had a mastermind behind him.

Her disappointment in Zhao Yu vanished completely!!!

At this critical moment, the Empress Dowager feared nothing more than Zhao Yu being a liability—she feared him being a useless ally who would not help her, but drag her down.

As for her own image? First, Zhao Yu wished to marry her maids, not her clan members—this would not harm her reputation. Second, with Liu Qingjing on the verge of direct confrontation, how could she afford to care about such things?

Moreover, the Empress Dowager now very much wanted to prove to the world that she was not a lonely, helpless old woman—she had a filial son who honored her; anyone who dared to insult her must think twice.

In short, Zhao Yu had chosen the perfect moment and the perfect excuse.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager found Zhao Yu more likable than ever.

After a long pause, the Empress Dowager smiled warmly and confirmed with Zhao Yu: “You truly wish to marry these two maids of mine?”

Zhao Yu replied firmly: “I will marry no one but these two.”

The Empress Dowager laughed heartily.

Seeing Zhao Yu so resolute, Zheng Xiansu, her wish fulfilled, was filled with emotion and sweetness; her blush deepened, glowing like the radiant clouds at sunset.

Wang Yisu felt the same.

Seeing Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu’s shy demeanor, the Empress Dowager smiled and asked them: “You heard him—Prince Shen wishes to marry you as princesses. What do you say?”

Zheng Xiansu murmured shyly: “Your servant leaves it entirely to Your Majesty’s decision.”

Wang Yisu spoke in an even more timid tone: “Your servant follows Your Majesty and my elder sister.”

Behind the Empress Dowager, Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng stared in utter shock and confusion: “Aren’t they supposed to marry Zhao Ji? How could they marry Zhao Yu?”

…

(End of Chapter)