Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1562: Chapter 1562: Seeking Marriage to Princess Diao Yao_1

Bai Ruozhu was stunned, how had her second brother become so decisive? If he had been so decisive earlier, their mother wouldn’t have had such worries.

A helpless look flashed in Bai Zepei’s eyes as he spoke, ”I do not wish for my wife to be too scheming, yet I also don’t want her to be brainless, needing me to worry about everything. Si Yihuan should be just right.”

”Then congratulations to second brother,” Bai Ruozhu said with a beaming smile. Second brother has always been accurate in judging people. Since he had made his decision, Bai Ruozhu didn’t need to worry too much.

Bai Zepei felt a trace of disappointment, but quickly suppressed the slight displeasure in his heart, as he had now come to take a more detached view.

He had always been a rational person and should have come to terms with it by now.

The next day, Bai Zepei reported back to the Emperor, saying that his family had interacted with Si Yihuan and all felt that she was dignified, virtuous, smart, and generous; he had chosen Si Yihuan.

Tang Yin burst into laughter upon hearing this, ”Excellent, the Prime Minister must be very pleased. However, we still need to wait before issuing the decree. It’s good that you have made up your mind.”

”You have taken the trouble, Your Majesty,” Bai Zepei said, bowing.

In the meantime, rumors about Princess Diao Bin in the Capital were becoming more rampant, claiming she was an ominous person, abandoned by the heavens, which was why her hair had turned white. Otherwise, how could a young woman suddenly have white hair?

The Emperor showed no reaction to this at all, as if he truly knew nothing about it.

On the third day, during the morning court session, Prince Saihan brought the Turkic Country’s envoys and several key accompanying ministers to request an audience, saying he wanted to discuss a marriage alliance with Tang Yin.

Tang Yin massaged his temple and had no choice but to allow them into the Main Hall.

After a brief salute, Prince Saihan started speaking, ”Prince Saihan was unaware of Princess Diao Bin’s illness. Now, seeing her condition, it is indeed inconvenient for her to accompany me to the Turkic Country for the marriage alliance, hence I wish to marry another princess from Danliang.”

Tang Yin was pleased and said with a smile, ”Prince Saihan is understanding and reasonable, and that comforts me. The daughter of Xue Xue, the Duke, is outstanding in talent and beauty. I intend to title her Princess Heshuo and have her represent Danliang in forming a century-long alliance with the Turkic Country.”

Jiang Yichun, standing below, was startled. He hadn’t been aware that Xue Xue was going to marry for peace. Wasn’t she the legitimate daughter of Gai Yalai’s husband’s main wife?

Prince Saihan, standing at the side, however, started laughing, ”There’s no need for that. I’ve heard that the Former Emperor of Danliang has another daughter, who has already been found and brought back to the Palace, named Diao Yao. Let her marry me instead.”

Tang Yin’s pupils contracted slightly—secrets seemed increasingly difficult to keep in the Palace.

There was a stir in the court. Other than Jiang Yichun, who was in the know, it was the first time the other ministers heard that there was a princess named Diao Yao.

Jiang Yichun looked toward Saihan, thinking that Li Yi seemed to know too much. Indeed, having operated in Danliang for many years, even after his identity had been exposed, he still had such an extensive network of information.

”Prince Saihan is indeed well-informed, though not quite accurate,” Tang Yin quickly put on a smiling face. ”A few days ago, my uncle Tang Gui’s son and daughter returned to the Capital. Diao Yao is my cousin. The Empress Dowager, sympathizing with their loss of parents at a young age, kept them at Cining Palace for companionship. Diao Yao has led a life of turmoil and had only recently returned to the Palace; the Empress Dowager wishes to keep her a little longer. Please don’t make it difficult for me, Prince Saihan.”

”If this is about a marriage alliance, and I have personally come here, how is it that the first choice is unacceptable, and now the second choice is also unacceptable? Who is the one lacking sincerity?” Prince Saihan coldly snorted.

”How dare you! Even common families know that a melon forced off its vine is not sweet, Prince Saihan of the Turkic Country, aren’t you being too overbearing?” Liang Jing, who had already returned from the court after competing in a drinking bout with Saihan, said loudly.

”Since Prince Saihan is sincere, he should not make things difficult again and again,” the Prime Minister said loudly.

Saihan glared back, ”When have I ever made things difficult? I asked to marry a princess, and you try to fob me off with some mess of a non-royal duke’s daughter; who is the one lacking sincerity here!”

Standing in the distance, Duke Xue’s face darkened a few shades, but having no real power, he could only grit his teeth and shut his mouth.

In the end, it was the Minister of Rites who came out as the peacemaker and temporarily persuaded Prince Saihan, suggesting that they discuss the matter later.

After the court adjourned, Tang Yin strode away with his sleeves fluttering. Many hadn’t seen the emperor lose his temper like this in a long time, and they began to wonder if the identity of the lord’s daughter sent to the Western Regions had caught up to that of Princess Diao Bin.

Once Tang Yin left the Main Hall, he called for Lu and said in a deep voice, ”Clean out Cining Palace, and the nearby palaces as well. Imprison and interrogate anyone suspicious immediately.”

”Yes.” Lu bowed and then disappeared into the darkness.

Bai Ruozhu quickly heard the rumors at the Female Physicians Institution as well. It was truly that the people in the palace loved to gossip; what they discussed was not the Turkic prince’s demand to marry Diao Yao, but that no one knew that Tang Gui, the prince sent as a hostage to the Western Regions, had a son and daughter, and that they were already in the palace.

”I heard that King Su married a holy maiden from a holy temple in the Western Regions; that makes Miss Diao Yao’s status very noble. Probably for this reason, the Turkic prince has set his sights on her,” several female physicians discussed below.

Bai Ruozhu felt her heart pounding as she listened. Although she wasn’t present at the court, she guessed that Li Yi had already learned of Diao Yao’s real identity. But Diao Yao’s birth could be considered a scandal of the royal family; Tang Yin would definitely not acknowledge Diao Yao as his real sister, and Diao Yao must remain the daughter of Tang Gui.

Li Yi knowing such a secret meant he had many informants in the palace, or rather, he had an ally in the palace with many spies. Whether the former or the latter, it was nothing good.

With that thought, Bai Ruozhu hurriedly assigned some tasks to the female doctors and then rushed to Cining Palace.

Inside Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager looked worried. Seeing Bai Ruozhu, she quickly pulled her aside and asked, ”Ruozhu, what should we do? Diao Bin just escaped a marriage, and now they’ve picked out Diao Yao? Hearing the news, Diao Bin cried, blaming herself for Diao Yao’s plight and wanted to tell the Turkic prince she was willing to marry into the Turkic Country. It took a lot of effort for Hao Mu to persuade her to go back to rest.”

Bai Ruozhu felt cold sweat pour down as she listened. Patting the Empress Dowager’s hand, she said reassuringly, ”Empress Dowager, don’t panic. We must not lose our composure, regardless. Since the matter isn’t settled yet, there’s still a chance for things to change.”

Like finding a mainstay, the Empress Dowager also calmed down, ”You’re right; let’s think of a good plan.”

But Bai Ruozhu’s heart was far from as light as the words from her mouth. Clearly, Li Yi was not interested in just any female from the nobility; he was determined to marry a princess or a miss of high ranking.

”Empress Dowager, Consort Le seeks to have Physician Chief Bai look over there. Prince Xi has been crying non-stop all day, and no one knows why,” the nanny said in a hurry as she came in.

The Empress Dowager was startled, ”Why would he suddenly cry non-stop? Let’s hurry to have a look.”

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Today, Mouka experienced severe pain in her right lung, constantly coughing up phlegm. After a whole day of hospital visits, blood tests, and X-rays, she finally felt better in the evening after taking painkillers. Otherwise, even moving her right arm hurt, and coughing was unbearable. She clenched her teeth and wrote a Chapter today, and tomorrow she’ll try her best to update more.