Chapter 231: Childish!

Another day of Early Court came to an end.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Cheng Sitao bowed with his hands clasped.

"Your Majesty summoned me here — is there some important matter?"

Cheng Chengxuan rose and walked over to his side.

"It's only the two of us brothers here, Big Brother needn't stand on such ceremony."

Cheng Sitao shook his head.

"Propriety cannot be discarded."

Cheng Chengxuan paced back and forth a few times in front of him.

"Big Brother, do you think I look any different today?"

Cheng Sitao blinked in slight confusion: "???"

What's that supposed to mean? Asking me to come here and play spot-the-difference?

He swept his gaze up and down, his eyes landing on the feet that kept pacing back and forth.

"These shoes…"

Before he could finish, Cheng Chengxuan nodded, a hint of pride showing in his tone.

"Right, right? Big Brother noticed too, didn't you?"

"Miss An made these shoes for me — aren't they good-looking?"

As soon as he finished, the second half of Cheng Sitao's sentence came out.

"They don't quite match Your Majesty's outfit today, do they?"

Cheng Chengxuan: "…"

The Imperial Study fell silent for a few seconds. Cheng Sitao thought it over, then steeled himself and began to offer praise.

"Still, they really are quite well made — for a first attempt, turning out like this is already very impressive."

So keeping me behind alone after Early Court was just to show off the new shoes Miss An made him?

Childish!

"I think so too."

Cheng Chengxuan nodded in hearty agreement.

At that moment, the newly appointed Eunuch Chief Wen Mao came in to report from outside.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Grand Tutor Sun and Prime Minister Meng request an audience."

Cheng Sitao: "Then shall I withdraw first?"

Cheng Chengxuan shook his head.

"No need. For the two of you to come together, there must be some important matter to discuss — Big Brother, stay and listen as well."

Soon, Grand Tutor Sun and Prime Minister Meng walked in.

"This Old Minister greets Your Majesty."

"Please rise quickly — the two of you have come in such haste, is there some urgent matter?"

Grand Tutor Sun and Prime Minister Meng exchanged a glance.

In the end, it was Prime Minister Meng who spoke first.

"In reply to Your Majesty, Your Majesty has been on the Throne for over a month now, and the various affairs of court have largely been settled. Should it not be time to consider filling the harem and continuing the imperial line?"

Grand Tutor Sun at his side nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, Your Majesty — the harem cannot go a single day without a mistress!"

The fingers Cheng Chengxuan had resting on the desk tapped the surface, and he turned to look at Cheng Sitao on the other side.

"On this matter, what does Big Brother think?"

Cheng Sitao grumbled inwardly.

If I'd known it was about this, I would have left just now.

He glanced at the two elders beside him, then at Cheng Chengxuan, and finally rubbed his nose.

"I'll, uh, watch from the sidelines?"

It's not something I can manage, and besides, it's none of my business — what could I possibly say?

If I were to voice agreement, that would be far too unfair to Miss An.

Besides, the Cheng Family has always been one man, one wife. If he dared speak in favor of a three-palace, six-courts arrangement, not to mention A Qin making a fuss with him, Grandmother herself could take up her cane and beat him to death.

If he disagreed, he'd offend the two Ancestors standing before him.

Tsk, what a bother!

Would've been so much better to have slipped away earlier.

Hearing this, Grand Tutor Sun and Prime Minister Meng both turned their heads to look over.

What did you just say, kid?

"Haha."

Hearing this, Cheng Chengxuan actually laughed.

"It was indeed My oversight. Someone come — seats for the three lords!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After giving thanks, the three men sat down.

Grand Tutor Sun continued.

"This Old Minister knows that when the Cheng Family was in dire straits, Miss An lent her aid, and that Your Majesty and Miss An are mutually devoted."

"It's just that Miss An's status really is a bit low."

Hearing this, Cheng Sitao felt a sudden sense of foreboding in his heart, and desperately shot them looks, coughing heavily several times.

"Cough, cough!"

Stop talking, please stop talking.

But the two Imperial Officials were, after all, advanced in years, and couldn't read his expression.

Grand Tutor Sun continued speaking on his own accord.

"This Old Minister's words are not meant to look down on Miss An, but people living in this world will always encounter those who pay respect to birth before paying respect to the person."

Prime Minister Meng picked up where Grand Tutor Sun left off, continuing to speak.

"Exactly."

"If Your Majesty wishes to take Miss An as Empress, this Old Minister and Grand Tutor Sun have already discussed it. This Old Minister is willing to acknowledge Miss An as my granddaughter. This way, in the future, Miss An in the harem will not be looked down upon by other consorts of noble birth."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Cheng Sitao nearly coughed his lungs out.

My Grandfather, please stop talking!

Can't you see the Xiyue Emperor's face has changed?

Didn't you also eat quite a lot of the snacks Miss An bought?

Don't you know that those who eat must speak softly!

Being interrupted again, Prime Minister Meng got a bit angry, and turned his head to ask him irritably.

"Does the Marquis of Pingnan have something to say? Or perhaps, you also very much agree with what I and Old Sun just said?"

Cheng Sitao: "!!!"

Don't slander me!

He suddenly thought of an interesting meme from the Modern Era.

This time it really can be reported to the C—, ah no, reported to the Imperial presence.

"Oh?"

Cheng Chengxuan glanced at them with an unreadable look, then looked toward Cheng Sitao.

"Does Big Brother also think so?"

Cheng Sitao, who had been wandering in thought, suddenly came back to himself, and shook his head and waved his hands repeatedly.

"It's not me, I didn't, don't wild guess!"

"Cough!"

Realizing his earlier performance hadn't been very composed, he gave a light cough to cover his embarrassment.

"This minister's meaning is, everything is entirely at Your Majesty's discretion."

Grand Tutor Sun and Prime Minister Meng glared at him with a look of disappointment at his inability to measure up.

Truly can't be relied on at all!

"Enough."

Cheng Chengxuan interrupted them in a deep voice.

"I know that what the two Beloved Ministers have said, every word and every sentence, is all for my consideration. But according to what the two of you just said, what am I marrying? A status, a position, or the power of a family?"

The two exchanged a glance.

"We ministers have no such intention."

"Of course I know the two Beloved Ministers have no selfish motives."

As he spoke, a warm expression appeared on Cheng Chengxuan's face.

"But if I am to marry someone, it has nothing to do with status, nothing to do with family background, only because that person is her."

"As for the matter of filling the harem, the two Beloved Ministers have deep ties with the Cheng Family. Could it be that you don't know that taking no concubines is the Cheng Family's Ancestral Teachings?"

The two old men looked at each other in dismay.

"This…"

Cheng Chengxuan waved his hand.

"That's enough, the two of you may return first."

"Big Brother, stay a moment."

After the two old men left shaking their heads and sighing, the Imperial Study once again had only the two brothers remaining.

"Your Majesty may rest assured, regarding today's matter, this minister will not mention it to Miss An."

Cheng Chengxuan nodded. Thinking of the question to come, a faint blush rose to his face.

"I know Big Brother definitely won't say it. Having Big Brother stay is because I have something I wish to ask for guidance on."

Seeing his expression, Cheng Sitao was somewhat astonished.

"Ask for guidance, about what?"

……

Half an hour later, Cheng Sitao walked out of the Imperial Study in a daze.

Outside, Grand Tutor Sun and Prime Minister Meng saw him come out and crowded around him.

Prime Minister Meng glared at him.

"What's the matter with you, boy? Why didn't you urge His Majesty along with us earlier?"

Cheng Sitao sighed and earnestly advised.

"Grandfather, Grandpa Sun, the two of you should stop worrying about this matter. His Majesty has his own plans."

Don't get involved anymore. Originally Cheng Chengxuan was already unwilling to be this emperor; if you push him to the breaking point and he throws in the towel, what then?

"Aren't we doing this for the good of the realm as well?"

"Fine, fine, we're old now. The world belongs to the young these days. Worry about it yourselves!"

The two elders waved their hands and ambled off at a leisurely pace.

On the way back, the more Cheng Sitao mulled it over, the more uneasy he felt.

What if Shengxuan quits — wouldn't all this trouble land on him?

No, no!

Absolutely not!

Suddenly, a smile that could only be called eerie spread across his face.

Heh heh!

Son, you've reached the age where you ought to shoulder some burdens!