Chapter 867 - 768: None Are Willing

Chapter 867: Chapter 768: None Are Willing

Huangfu Yuxuan said deferentially, "As long as Grandfather has decided on a candidate, your grandson can take charge of persuading her parents. In addition, your grandson will personally escort the bride, and will be sure to see this marriage alliance arranged beautifully!"

If what he said before had sounded to everyone like nothing but fine-sounding platitudes, the four words "personally escort the bride" made even the Emperor glance sideways at him.

The two countries were not at war at present; although escorting the bride would not be particularly dangerous, the journey was long, and the time required was not something that could be done in a day or two. It was, all in all, not exactly a desirable assignment.

Especially at this moment, with the Emperor preparing to establish a Crown Prince; leaving the Capital City now did not seem a very wise choice.

However, he was only an Imperial Grandson, not a Prince. Prince Liang was a deposed Crown Prince, and there was absolutely no possibility of his being reinstated. Leaving this place of right and wrong, the Capital City, now meant that no matter who became Crown Prince in the future, they would not treat him as an enemy. So this was, in fact, quite a good move.

Each of them harbored different thoughts.

The smile on the Emperor’s face grew even more obvious as he said, "As for the candidate, did you not have a good suggestion?"

Huangfu Yuxuan said, "The candidate your grandson wishes to recommend is Uncle Ning’s daughter, Princess He Ye! The Commandery Princess is only sixteen this year and has not yet been betrothed. In terms of status, she is of the Imperial Family, of noble birth, already bearing the rank of Commandery Princess; in terms of appearance, her beauty is like that of a flower, one in a thousand. Since childhood, Uncle Ning and Aunt Wang have taught her well; Princess He Ye is well-read and reasonable, outstanding in every respect. Your grandson feels she is extremely suitable!"

He thought of how Princess He Ye had ruined his plans back then, forcing him to set a marriage contract with Zhao Keyan. Especially when he saw Xia Wenjin take out the Black Jade Token, the resentment and rage in his heart had almost built to a peak. For a Princess He Ye who did more harm than good, how could he possibly let her off easily?

When they heard the candidate he named, even Prince Li nodded.

This choice truly was very suitable.

Prince Lu’s son and Prince Xin’s son looked at Huangfu Yuxuan with somewhat heavy gazes. It was not that they had not thought of a candidate themselves, but they knew that if such a name came from their mouths, it might earn enemies for their own fathers. They had not expected that this brief hesitation would allow Huangfu Yuxuan to seize the initiative.

After hearing this, the Emperor looked toward Prince Li.

Prince Li smiled slightly and said, "Yuxuan indeed lives up to having grown up in the Capital City since childhood; he is familiar with people and matters, and his thoughts are thorough!"

Prince Li and Huangfu Yuxuan had previously cooperated. Watching the interaction between the two, Prince Zhuang’s gaze was cold as he drained the wine in his cup in one swallow.

Huangfu Yuxuan lowered his eyes, hiding the chill deep within them. Prince Li’s words were not praise. That he had grown up in the Capital City since childhood was because his father had been the Eldest Prince, the Crown Prince. Now his father was Prince Liang; was Prince Li reminding the Emperor to send his father off to his fief? Grandfather already intended to send the Princely Heirs, who had been kept in the Capital as hostages, back to their parents’ sides. If Prince Liang went to his fief, then as the Heir of King Liang, he would naturally have to go as well.

Once far from the Capital City, he would be outside this circle of power. How would any of those plans be carried out then?

Moreover, Prince Li’s words were also meant for his two elder cousins to hear. This was to set enemies against him!

In a calm voice, he said, "Indeed, the one who knows me is Uncle Li. Uncle Wang is as familiar with the Capital City as I am; I believe that even if I had not proposed this candidate, the one Uncle Wang would have thought of would certainly be her!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the gazes of Prince Lu and Prince Xin did indeed turn toward him. Prince Zhuang, though seemingly focused on his wine, clearly was not entirely unmoved by this remark either.

Prince Li smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

The pit he had just dug was easily tossed back at him by Huangfu Yuxuan.

When they had cooperated in the past, he had found Huangfu Yuxuan quite useful—quick-witted, full of crafty ideas, and the suggestions he offered had all been extremely effective, keeping Prince Zhuang firmly under control.

But after Prince Zhuang became a deposed Crown Prince, their cooperative relationship no longer existed.

Now, watching them dig traps for each other, Prince Zhuang could only sneer coldly in his heart.

After all, it was a family banquet; this matter, having been raised, was soon let pass.

Later, however, the Emperor did indeed entrust this matter to Huangfu Yuxuan.

Once the Holy Decree was issued, there was no fear that anyone would dare defy it. But the Emperor did not wish to chill the hearts of the Imperial Family; since Huangfu Yuxuan had spoken so confidently, it was best to let him handle this affair.

Huangfu Yuxuan went to Prince Ning Mansion the next day.

Regarding this Heir of King Liang, the Ning couple still felt somewhat intimidated. No one knew what means Huangfu Yuxuan had employed, but at court early the following morning, Prince Ning took the initiative to submit a memorial, expressing his willingness to send Princess He Ye to go as part of the marriage alliance.