The Lucky Farm Girl

After his two sons had withdrawn, the Emperor set aside the memorial he had been holding. His expression was serene, yet his eyes were unfathomably deep.

"How old is Lao Liu?"

Always standing quietly to the side, almost as if invisible, Sun Chuanmao responded respectfully, "Your Majesty, Prince Jing turned eighteen years old at the beginning of the year."

"Eighteen? Indeed, it's time for him to marry." The Emperor mused softly, "Do you think Lao Liu truly decided to ask for that farmer's daughter's hand in marriage because of what Tongtong said?"

Sun Chuanmao immediately knelt with a thud, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. This servant wouldn't dare to speak recklessly."

"I absolve you of any guilt."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Sun Chuanmao stood up as instructed and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, this servant is puzzled. The Sixth Princess has always been distant from the other princes and princesses. Why would she tell Prince Jing about Ms. Yang?"

Sun Chuanmao had served the Emperor since childhood with utmost loyalty. Moreover, he was speaking the truth. The Emperor's lips curled up in a cold smile at the sight of Sun Chuanmao's hesitant demeanor, and said in a heavy tone, "What else is there? Speak all together."

"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant has inadvertently overheard that Prince Jing went to the Hanlin Academy several times recently to seek out Sir Yang regarding matters of book compilation."

"Which Sir Yang?"

"The very same graduate who achieved the highest honors in three successive imperial examinations, Yang Chengyou, whom Your Majesty appointed as the Hanlin Academy Compiler." Seeing the Emperor nod, Sun Chuanmao continued, "That Ms. Yang is the actual younger sister of Sir Yang, who is also the cousin of the Marquis Jinxiang, Anping County, conferred by Your Majesty."

Wise and sagacious, the Emperor often understood the crux of the matter without needing explicit explanation. Hence, a sharp edge glimmered in the depth of his profound gaze, "Lao Liu has quite the discerning eye."

"Sir Yang is composed and reserved, diligent in affairs of state, but he never discusses official matters with anyone outside of his Hanlin Academy colleagues. It is said that Sir Yang is also particularly protective and caring of his younger sister."

With half-closed eyes, the Emperor's expression was cold and solemn, unfathomable to onlookers.

With his head slightly bowed, Sun Chuanmao remained silent.

Meanwhile, after Long Xuanmo had left the Imperial Study Room, he saw Prince Jing waiting not far away, his dark eyes as deep and bottomless as black holes.

As Long Xuanmo strode past him, Prince Jing hastily followed, his face apologetic, "Third Imperial Older Brother, I did not mean to compete with you for Ms. Yang. There were truly compelling reasons. Please forgive me!"

Halted in his steps, Long Xuanmo turned slowly to look at Prince Jing, his lips slightly pursed, noncommittal.

"My mother came from humble origins, and she always taught me to be content and to behave. I never wished for anything more; I only hoped that my mother and I could live our lives peacefully. But even though my mother and I have been so cautious, some people still refuse to leave us be," Prince Jing said with a face full of bitterness and helplessness.

Watching Prince Jing quietly, Long Xuanmo's expression was indifferent, and he remained silent.

"I have always been intoxicated with poetry and painting, heedless of the world outside my window. How would I know anything about Ms. Yang? Just now, I was simply following someone else's orders," said Prince Jing.

Long Xuanmo remained silent.

"Whether Third Imperial Brother believes me or not, I have no intention of starting conflict with you over trifling matters," Prince Jing said. After speaking, he gave Long Xuanmo a bow and left.

Watching Prince Jing's retreating figure, Long Xuanmo's cold and aloof facial contours tightened, and his obsidian-like glossy eyes darkened, inscrutable.

He beckoned with his hand, and Mo Yun immediately stepped forward. Long Xuanmo said in a deep voice, "Have someone keep a close watch on Prince Jing."

Mo Yun respectfully acknowledged the order, then silently followed Prince Jing.

After giving it some thought, Long Xuanmo once again entered the Imperial Study Room. Upon receiving permission from the Emperor, he entered, knelt down, and firmly said, "Father Emperor, Momo and I are truly in love, and in this lifetime, I shall marry no one but her. I ask for your blessing!"

"I can agree to you marrying her, but she can only enter our residence as a concubine," the Emperor consented outwardly but was pondering on arranging the peasant girl's marriage with Prince Jing as soon as possible to extinguish Momo's hopes.

"Ah Jiu is the person I truly love, and I will take Ah Jiu as my Official Wife!" Long Xuanmo immediately made his intentions clear, "I have vowed to love only Ah Jiu for my entire life, and there shall be no other woman beyond her. Moreover, I will never allow her to suffer the slightest grievance!"

The Emperor erupted in rage, "Impudence! You are a prince of the current dynasty, yet you have set your sights on a peasant girl and declare she is the only one for your entire life. You are demeaning yourself and disregarding the dignity of the royal family!"

"Compared to Ah Jiu, status, position, and dignity are worthless to me!" Long Xuanmo fearlessly met the Emperor's gaze.

"Such worthless talk!" The furious Emperor retorted, "If you weren't a prince, how could you enjoy such extravagant wealth? If you weren't a prince, how could you have the power to command the wind and the rain? If you weren't a prince, how could that peasant girl cling to you so tenaciously?"

Long Xuanmo righteously rebutted, "Ah Jiu is indifferent by nature and has never cared about power or status. More importantly, from the very beginning, it was I who pursued Ah Jiu. In fact, because of my status, she has repeatedly sought to keep her distance from me."

"Merely a peasant girl, could it be that she thinks you're not worthy of her?"

"No. Ah Jiu comes from a simple and warm family, and she dislikes the scheming nature of the royal family the most. Were it not for my persistent sincerity that moved Ah Jiu, she would never have become entangled with me at all."

The Emperor was at an impasse of rage, but he also deeply knew Momo's stubborn and headstrong nature. Continuing this argument would only lead to an irreconcilable rift between father and son. Therefore, he changed tactics, "Momo, I am doing this for your good. You must understand, you will succeed the throne in the future. As an emperor, there will not be just one woman in your harem.

Furthermore, the harem is closely related to the court; the slightest carelessness could shake the foundation and even bring calamity to the empire. Do you understand?" The women of the harem were ties to the court officials.

"I do not understand! All I know is that without Ah Jiu by my side, I would only be a walking corpse, better dead than alive! If Father Emperor truly intends to pass the throne to me, as long as I am with Ah Jiu, who I love and cherish, I am confident and capable of managing the empire well. Otherwise, I would rather abandon everything!" Long Xuanmo declared resoundingly.

The Emperor was so angry he was left speechless. His face turned grim, and a fleeting murderous intent in his eyes vanished after a long while. He waved his hand, "You may leave." Seeing Long Xuanmo hesitated, he softened his voice, "I will consider this matter further."

Seeing the Emperor's complexion turning bad and breathing heavily, Long Xuanmo knew it was not wise to insist on a marriage edict. After all, if anything happened to the Emperor, it would be unfilial of him. He bowed and withdrew.

As soon as the door closed, the Emperor slammed the tea cup on his reading table to the ground in a fit of anger, "A despicable peasant girl not only sparked conflict between two princes of the current dynasty but also made Momo claim she is the only one he will marry, defying me. She deserves to die!"