In the imperial court, everyone held a sheet of paper in their hands.
The paper contained the content of Xu Ming’s morial.
After reading through Xu Ming’s eloquent and impassioned several-thousand-word petition, the gathered officials couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath. It was as if the entire hall had grown colder.
This docunt—a “petition to annul the engagent”—stirred the hearts of all who read it. A vivid image of soone unwilling to be bound by family obligations, determined to achieve great deeds unencumbered, leapt off the page.
“Why am I annulling the engagent? I am doing this for the nation!”
“How could I abandon the greater good for the sake of a small family? Besides, should sothing happen to , what then? Wouldn’t Her Highness the Princess be left widowed?”
“Let the engagent remain for now. When I conquer the northern wilderness and slay the countless demons, I shall return with a ten-mile-long bridal procession to wed the Princess!”
Within Xu Ming’s words, one could sense a blend of a scholar’s refinent and a general’s passion—a kind of romanticism unique to those two roles combined.
Is this truly the writing of a fourteen-year-old? This is the epito of a Confucian general!
“Lying at night, I hear the winds and rain;
In my dreams, I ride my iron steed across frozen rivers.”
The military officials, upon reading this verse, couldn’t help but clench their fists around the paper.
We soldiers may be ineloquent, unable to express our feelings, but this Xu Ming has written exactly what we’ve always wanted to say and do!
How magnificent this verse is! It even rekindled the battlefield spirit of many court-appointed military officials.
The court may feel stagnant, but how much more invigorating it is to achieve glory on the frontier!
“What do you all think? Should this marriage be granted or not?” Emperor Wu appeared troubled as he surveyed the court.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty!”
At this mont, Imperial Censor Wang Changqing stepped forward, bowing to Emperor Wu with an expression of excitent.
“Felicitations?” Emperor Wu chuckled, a hint of helplessness in his tone. “Wang Aiqing, what joy could there be in this for ?”
[T/N: Aiqing=Beloved Minister/Trusted Minister. Emperors generally use this term to address their Ministers.]
Straightening his posture, Wang Changqing spoke with delight, “Your Majesty’s affection for the top scholar is known throughout the land, as is your regard for his talents. How could the top scholar, a man of great wisdom, fail to discern that complying with Your Majesty’s wishes would ensure a teoric rise?
How could he not know that, despite never eting the Princess, the Consort Yun, as an ordinary woman, is ranked among the thirty most beautiful in the land?
If Consort Yun is such, could the Princess be any less?
How could he not understand the honor of marrying the Princess? Yet, he remains unswayed by Your Majesty’s favor or the Princess’s beauty, focusing solely on driving the barbarians from the north and vanquishing demons in the south.
To gain such a loyal subject is a blessing for Wu, a blessing for Your Majesty!”
When Wang Changqing finished, many in the court turned to look at him.
This damn Wang Changqing.
He criticizes everyone at every turn, biting like a mad dog, yet now he’s the one lavishing praise?
But it was obvious to all that while Emperor Wu’s expression appeared troubled, he was inwardly quite pleased.
Why?
Because Xu Ming’s refusal to marry elevated him to a higher moral plane! It demonstrated that Xu Ming would not be easily swayed by power.
And that integrity was precisely what the Emperor valued most in Xu Ming!
“Your Majesty, I, too, offer my congratulations!”
Minister of Personnel Ma An stepped forward and bowed.
Emperor Wu turned to him, asking, “Ma Aiqing, what joy is there for now?”
“Your servant congratulates Your Majesty on creating a tale of everlasting camaraderie between ruler and subject!” Ma An’s voice rang clear through the hall.
“Oh?” Emperor Wu sat up, feigning curiosity. “How so, Ma Aiqing?”
Ma An straightened and replied, “In the past, the Liang Emperor invited Chen Mi to serve the court, but Chen Mi wrote a ‘letter of repentance,’ requesting to care for his aging mother. The Liang Emperor consented, and this beca a tale passed down through the ages.
Similarly, the Wei Emperor bestowed a title upon General Tang Wei, who then inscribed a ‘ten-character plea’ on a beam with his sword, expressing his wish to pursue the Way. The Wei Emperor granted his request. Ten years later, when the Wei faced a crisis, Tang Wei wielded his sword and shattered enemy ranks.
Your Majesty’s situation is no different…
And today, the Top Scholar’s Petition to Annul the Engagent, untainted by the desire for beauty or power, driven purely by a heart devoted to the nation, is a testant to his integrity and righteousness, stirring the very essence of literary and moral virtue!
If Your Majesty were to grant this request, then when the Top Scholar achieves his great deeds and earns his rightful glory, returning to marry the Princess, wouldn’t this, too, beco a story celebrated through the ages?”
As Ma An’s words settled, many officials in the court secretly sighed.
Damn it! He said exactly what I was going to say!
Emperor Wu nodded. “What do my dear ministers think? Should this marriage be granted or not?”
The Deputy Secretary of the Secretariat imdiately stepped forward. “Your Majesty, this petition clearly reveals the Top Scholar’s aspirations. It would be wise for Your Majesty to grant his request.”
“I second this!”
“I second this!”
The civil and military officials all echoed in agreent.
The straightforward military officials truly wanted the Emperor to approve Xu Ming’s petition. They didn’t want such a promising young man to be tied down in the capital.
But the learned civil officials, well-versed in court dynamics, all understood one thing: The Emperor had already decided to approve Xu Ming’s request. He rely needed a graceful way to do so.
How could they not provide him with that opportunity?
“Very well!”
Emperor Wu nodded again.
“Since all of you have spoken so, it would indeed appear inappropriate for to refuse his request.
Soone, draft the decree!”
—
The Main Hall of the Xu Residence
The master of the Xu family and his principal wife sat to the side in silence, not daring to utter a word.
In the two main seats at the front of the hall sat the elderly matriarch of the Xu family and an extraordinary young woman.
The matriarch’s face bead with joy, her wrinkles bunching together.
The young woman wore a white, floor-length gown embroidered with pink floral patterns. Draped over her arms was a light purple veil of gauzy silk, trailing over a yard in length.
Her slender waist was cinched with a purple belt inlaid with jade, and her jet-black hair was tied with a pale lavender ribbon. A few elegant strands fell over her shoulders, making her porcelain-like skin appear even fairer.
Her face was free of makeup, yet she radiated a fresh and striking beauty that captivated everyone in the room.
How could such a beautiful girl exist in this world?
Beside the young woman stood two palace maids—one cradling a long sword, the other holding a jade zither.
Wang Feng, observing this noble and exquisite young woman, couldn’t help but sigh, “What a stunning young lady. Why is Ming’er unwilling?”
Then again, she does seem rather cold.
From start to finish, she hadn’t smiled even once.
“Matriarch, Your Highness, the Fifth Young Master has arrived,” a maid announced as she entered the hall.
In an instant, the long sword flew from the palace maid’s arms.
Before anyone could react, the icy princess was already gripping the sword, thrusting it toward Xu Ming’s throat.
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