Free Web NovelChapter 1139: Chapter 975: Agreed
After saying it many times, the Emperor believed it himself. He thought it was because of his old age, so he became even more obsessed with the Lifespan Extension Pill.
"What did the Emperor say? Is there any news from the people he sent?" Five days without any news was not a good sign for Gu Chengyu.
"They say news has indeed arrived, and they are on their way to the Daoist master’s sect!"
Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but sigh; perhaps at the brink of life and death, nobody can cross that hurdle!
Everyone wants to live. The closer one is to death, the more they cling to the pleasures of the world.
Especially as an Emperor, holding the entire nation in his hands, controlling the lives and deaths of all his subjects—what a supreme power this is? ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Reluctant to part with the wealth and glory of the world, reluctant to let go of the vast empire before him, too much reluctance drove the Emperor to extremes.
The vast land and earthly riches are all reasons for the Emperor’s attachment to this world.
The winter sun had already risen, the snow suddenly stopped, and the silver-white landscape stretched into the vast horizon.
"What’s the rush to come back? It’s been snowing for days, the roads are hard to travel." The Eldest Princess touched the rosewood Buddha beads in her hand and looked at Princess Rong Jia sitting opposite her.
Since arriving at the manor yesterday, Rong Jia had been silent. Seeing her daughter like this, the Eldest Princess also felt uncomfortable.
But this is the fate of women; when they reach the age, they must marry.
"Ying, most things in life don’t go as one wishes. Even an Emperor can’t have everything his way. You’re just temporarily stuck; once you’re married, you’ll understand that everything before was fleeting. Supporting your husband and raising children, that’s life."
The Eldest Princess’s eyes filled with tears, her gaze earnest, with hope and a touch of caution as she looked at the Princess Rong Jia.
This visit to the hot spring manor is for a potential match.
Left Imperial Censor Deng Chenghong is a Standard Second Rank official, and the Deng family is a prominent and noble family from Xia Guan Prefecture. Their ancestors produced several first and second-rank officials, which could be considered the backbone of the court’s integrity.
Deng Chenghong’s son is quite young, only nineteen, and plans to take the Advanced Scholar exam next year. It’s said that his scholarship is excellent and he’s very likely to succeed.
Compared to certain prodigies, he also counts as a talented young man.
The Duke Qin Mansion is a prominent family in the Capital, and with her noble status, how could Ying marry into families of other nobles? Deng Xuan is a very suitable match.
The child wouldn’t bring disgrace to Ying; as long as he stays grounded, with the support of both families, where would he worry about not having a bright future?
A person cannot choose their birth; Gu Chengyu, despite his extraordinary abilities, was born into a humble background.
Even if Gu Chengyu exhausted himself and put in tremendous effort, he couldn’t compare to those noble sons. They, enjoying their ancestral blessings, can easily reach the position that Gu Chengyu holds today.
Lu Chen, her most esteemed eldest son from Zanyuan Marquis Mansion, which one of them entered the officialdom as Standard Fourth Rank?
And how much effort did Gu Chengyu have to put in to become Fourth Rank? That’s the reason she disagrees.
"I see that Mrs. Zhai is also a reasonable person. Besides, with your prestigious status, would Mrs. Zhai dare to bully you? Deng Xuan is diligent, ambitious, and good-looking, raised under my watch. Trust me, you won’t go wrong."
The Eldest Princess stepped forward to hold her daughter’s hand, staring at Princess Rong Jia intently, fearing that her daughter might start making trouble again.
Princess Rong Jia glanced at her mother, seeing the worry in her mother’s eyes, she slowly closed her eyes.
The carriage fell into silence, and Nanny Chang, sitting beside the silent princess, had a worried expression as well.
The Eldest Princess’s face gradually turned solemn, and she slowly let go of Princess Rong Jia’s hand.
Unspoken disappointment and helplessness surged, along with a trace of resentment towards her daughter.
Haven’t I been lenient enough with her? Knowing she was unwilling to marry, I forcibly delayed the matter for two years. Now she’s almost becoming an old maid, yet she still behaves so childishly.
If it weren’t for Deng Xuan’s focus on his scholarly pursuits, such good conditions would have settled the marriage long ago.
The Eldest Princess looked at her daughter with frustration, feeling almost unable to contain her disappointment, she sat back to her original position and stopped speaking. She decided firmly that this time she must finalize her daughter’s marriage.
"If mother believes the Deng family is good, then so be it!"
After a moment, the cold and resolute voice of Princess Rong Jia suddenly echoed inside the carriage, leaving everyone inside the carriage momentarily stunned.
The Eldest Princess’s previously gloomy face immediately broke into a delighted smile, "It’s best if you understand now. Trust your mother, and one day you will thank her. How could a mother ever harm you? It’s all for your own good!"
Touched to tears, the Eldest Princess finally breathed a sigh of relief. These two years had truly exhausted her, and her heart was filled with extreme discontent towards Gu Chengyu.
They had never met, yet why did her daughter become so infatuated? It was simply inconceivable.
Princess Rong Jia looked at the delighted expression on the Eldest Princess’s face, feeling a lump in her throat.
"Mother, last time I arranged with Uncle Third that I would go up the mountain to see him. I plan to visit Bao En Temple today for incense, and take the opportunity to visit Uncle Third, and stay overnight at the temple."
She lowered her eyes, leaned in, and laid her head on the Eldest Princess’s lap.
The Eldest Princess stroked her daughter’s smooth hair, naturally pleased that her daughter had come to understand, so she didn’t object to this matter.
It had been a long time since they had been so close; such rare intimacy from her daughter left no room for refusal.
"Then stay for one night today and return tomorrow morning. Your grandmother has been feeling unwell these days, accompany her more at the palace."
A muffled voice came from her knees, "Whatever mother says!"
Nanny Chang opened her mouth to speak but was halted by the Eldest Princess’s gaze. She understood her daughter’s temperament.
To avoid her daughter having lingering thoughts and to prevent her from using the visit to Bao En Temple as an excuse to do something inappropriate, she decided to send the second-class maid and Nanny Chang to accompany her closely.
Hearing her mother’s consent, Princess Rong Jia also felt a sense of relief.
These days, with the mountains covered in heavy snow, paths to Bao En Temple were finally cleared, and carriages began arriving at the mountain base one after another.
Quite a few pilgrims had gathered at the foot of the mountain by now. Although the weather was freezing, with thick snow, making movement extremely difficult, Bao En Temple was never short of visitors.
Because to the west of the temple lay a sea of flowers, a plum grove.
A luxurious carriage didn’t stop at the mountain’s base but took another route, continuing its journey uphill.
The path on that side was relatively flat, devoid of steps, allowing carriages to pass. However, not all carriages could use that road.
Arriving at the temple, the carriage stopped in the southwest corner of a yard. A young girl wearing a peacock-blue woven brocade cloak was helped down by a maid-like woman from the carriage.
"Princess, I just inquired at the temple. Master Liao Wu is currently in the meditation room listening to the abbot’s preaching."
The second-class maid Ziyuan, seeing her princess had arrived, stepped forward to report to Princess Rong Jia.
"When will it end? Did you inform my Uncle Third that I’ve arrived at the temple?"
