The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: The Imperial Concubine? She’s Unworthy!

Yangxin Hall.

A few ministers exited, exchanging glances, and shook their heads.

Emperor Chu looked at the lone remaining Song Zhiyuan and said, ”Do you think they will use the late Emperor to oppose the opening of the trade market?”

Song Zhiyuan replied, ”If the tea-horse trade market is to be opened to benefit the country and the people, I believe the late Emperor would have agreed. If they want to resist, let them. The Emperor is the Emperor; what you decide is what matters.”

These words were quite shameless indeed.

But Emperor Chu relished hearing them.

With no other ministers around, Emperor Chu lounged without formality on the dragon chair, rubbing his large ring: ”But they will still say I’m unfilial, that I go against the late Emperor’s wishes.”

Song Zhiyuan: ”The late Emperor closed the trade market while in office, but it wasn’t a decree set before his passing. There’s no talk of going against it.”

Emperor Chu chuckled aloud.

”As long as the Emperor’s achievements are great enough, the world’s murmurs will naturally be silenced, let alone just the civil and military officials.”

”I want to be a wise ruler, want to create a century of prosperity, to ensure the eternal stability of the Chu dynasty, expand the territory; for this grand vision, Prime Minister Song, no matter how difficult the path ahead, I must proceed,” Emperor Chu said, looking down at Song Zhiyuan.

Song Zhiyuan raised his head, lifted his robe, and knelt: ”I vow to follow the Emperor to the death.”

”Rise,” said Emperor Chu. ”The weather is nice, accompany me for a walk in the Imperial Garden.”

”Yes.”

It was early summer, the Imperial Garden’s flowers were in full bloom, and butterflies fluttered gracefully.

Song Zhiyuan followed one step behind Emperor Chu, walking slowly.

”I heard your madam’s birthday was attended by all the eldest princes?” Emperor Chu stood with his back to him in front of a cluster of peonies, observing the diligent little bees gathering nectar.

Song Zhiyuan respectfully replied, ”The Eldest Prince, Second Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince all came, indeed giving madam quite a fright.”

”The Song Prime Minister’s Mansion is now also a popular place in the capital,” Emperor Chu hinted. ”Not only my princes but other matchmakers are also nearly wearing out your doorstep.”

”The princes aside, it’s my fourth brother and second daughter who are of marriageable age, and my mother even sought me out. She’s very concerned with my fourth brother’s marriage prospects, same for my second daughter, so these official matchmakers come often.”

Emperor Chu: ”Your daughter comes of age this year, right?”

”Her birthday is in November, so she comes of age this winter.” Song Zhiyuan looked at Emperor Chu and smiled, ”If the Emperor has any promising talents, perhaps you could bestow upon my daughter a marriage?”

”Talents? Are there any more promising than my princes?”

Song Zhiyuan’s heart jumped, and he knelt down: ”Emperor, please don’t tease me. My daughter is willful, arrogant, unbefitting to pair with a prince.”

”Get up, how can you speak of your daughter that way, she’s your own after all.” Emperor Chu was speechless.

Song Zhiyuan said, ”It’s precisely because she’s my own that I understand her unsuited nature for a Royal Wife. I’m afraid she’ll offend others, and I’d have to clean up the mess.”

”You make the Imperial Family sound like a dragon’s lair or tiger’s den.” Emperor Chu snorted, ”Find someone suitable yourself, and when the time comes, I can grant the marriage.”

”Thank you for the Emperor’s immense grace.” Song Zhiyuan offered a deep bow of gratitude.

Turning a corner, an Imperial Concubine led by a Palace Maid approached, and upon seeing Emperor Chu, she was momentarily surprised, hastily kneeling to pay respects: ”This concubine greets the Emperor.”

Emperor Chu looked at her and said, ”Rise with no need for ceremony,” then turned to Song Zhiyuan: ”That’s all for today, you may leave the palace.” Then to the Imperial Concubine: ”Luo Changzai, accompany me for a walk.”

”As you command, Your Majesty.”

Song Zhiyuan bowed and watched as the people ahead walked away, then wiped the slight sweat from his back and turned to leave.