allonlinenovel Chapter 254 Since it's what the princess likes, I will naturally grant her wish.
Chapter 254 Since it's what the princess likes, I will naturally grant her wish.
"Are you from Lu Yang's family?"
"Indeed, I am Lu Yangyusheng, the second son of the Lu Yang family." Lu Yangyusheng answered honestly, his beautiful face serious and quiet, like a peony in full bloom.
Cheng Yan frowned slightly. No wonder Huizhen was attracted to a man with such a face.
"I remember the Lu Yang family."
The Lu family was similar to the Sima family; both were followers of Emperor Taizu, and both were strategists. After Taizu became emperor, he appointed officials and Lu Yang once served as a minister.
It's just that the younger generation is disappointing; after the elders passed away, the younger ones didn't really stand up for themselves.
The Sima family is somewhat better off, having produced a Sima Wuyan. Although he pursued a military career, he is now considered a third-rank general, a person of name and status in the imperial court.
The Sima family thus preserved the glory of their ancestors.
However, the Lu family was in decline. There were no outstanding members in two generations. Lu Yangyusheng's father only managed to become a sixth-rank official, which was not a high-ranking position and could only preserve some of the honor and wealth of an official's son.
In other words, the Sima family rose to prominence, and thanks to the marriage ties between the two families, they lived a relatively comfortable life in the Qin capital.
"I'll give you a chance today. Tell me, what exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to fool the Empress Dowager and the princess?"
"We dare not."
Sima Wuxu bowed and explained, "My lord, this was truly just an accident."
"When I first met the princess, she didn't think much of me. I was in poor health and not handsome enough, so I wasn't the princess's ideal husband."
"The princess mentioned that she liked good-looking people, and then mentioned that her cousin was good-looking. The princess was very curious about this and wanted to meet her cousin. Little did she know that things would turn out like this."
"Since it is what the princess likes, I will naturally grant her wish."
This statement is quite reasonable and well-founded, with a clear cause and effect. It roughly means that Princess Huizhen did not take a liking to him, but instead became attracted to Lu Yangyusheng because of his good looks.
It was all just a series of unfortunate coincidences.
Sima Wuxu, in particular, was the most innocent.
"To grant her wish?" Cheng Yan didn't believe him. "Do you mean you'll become the princess's husband and then arrange for your cousin to be her lover, a male concubine kept in her residence?"
Sima Wuxu's face froze: "That's not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?" Cheng Yan retorted. "Do you mean you want to hand over the princess to your cousin?"
"You jest, my lord. How could I possibly make such a decision about the princess? I cannot control who she likes. After all, even the Empress Dowager and you, my lord, might not listen to her."
He was truly innocent. The person he was looking for had taken a liking to someone else, and he dared not be angry or speak out, so he could only swallow his anger.
"However, my lord, I also have something to say. You are probably aware of the princess's temperament. If you want her to marry, it has to be someone she likes herself. My cousin comes from a decent background, is handsome, and most importantly, the princess likes him."
"Oh?" Cheng Yan glanced at Lu Yangyusheng again. He was young, with red lips and white teeth, and a beautiful face. He was indeed the kind of girl Princess Huizhen liked. For him, she even stopped thinking about Xie Zhan.
"Young Master Lu Yang wishes to become the prince consort?"
Lu Yangyusheng's face flushed slightly, and she replied somewhat stiffly, "If the princess takes a liking to me, I am naturally willing."
Cheng Yan continued, "Do you know that Huizhen loves good looks the most? She likes you, but she also likes other people. Before you, she kept several handsome young men with red lips and white teeth. One would massage her shoulders, another would massage her legs, and yet another would feed her wine. After all that, you still want to be her husband?"
Lu Yangyusheng froze completely.
Cheng Yan took in his expression, but said, "What, didn't your cousin tell you what kind of person this princess is?"
Lu Yangyusheng looked somewhat embarrassed, her face turning red, then pale, then green.
"I suppose you are aware of this. Since you are aware, you should also understand that the couple that the Marquis and the Empress Dowager are looking for for Princess Huizhen are merely for show."
"If Princess Huizhen still likes you, you will become husband and wife. If she no longer likes you, or falls in love with someone else, or keeps several people in her princess residence, you must not say anything."
"At most, she can live a carefree and elegant life in her princess mansion, while you can live in your Lu Yang family. If you want to take two concubines, so be it."
"If you can accept these conditions, and if Huizhen likes you, it's not impossible for you to become her husband. But don't worry, the Lu Yang family will naturally receive the benefits they deserve."
To put it bluntly, the royal family's intention in arranging Princess Huizhen's marriage was simply to help her avoid a potential political marriage. This marriage was based solely on interests, not on feelings.
Cheng Yan made the worst-case scenario clear, so if things really came to that, there would be no need to mention Princess Huizhen anymore.
In reality, it was also Empress Dowager Cheng and Cheng Yan's selfish motives that they cleaned up the mess that might happen to Princess Huizhen in the future. She could have a loving marriage if she wanted, and keep a gigolo if she wanted.
Lu Yangyu opened her mouth, but for a moment she couldn't say anything.
Cheng Yan added, “You can go back and think about this matter carefully. It’s best to think it through before you speak. If you agree, the Lu Yang family will have received all the benefits they deserve. If you later say that you can’t tolerate it, then I will not agree.”
"Go back and think it over carefully, Songnian. Show the guest out."
“Yes.” Song Nian, who was waiting to the side, stepped forward and gestured for the two to leave.
Sima Wuxu and Lu Yangyusheng exchanged a glance, then bowed and left with Songnian.
Cheng Yan poured himself a cup of tea and sipped it slowly. After he finished, he got up and returned to Chunxie Courtyard.
When Cheng Yan returned, Qin Yi was swinging on the swing in the yard. The yard was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus and the chrysanthemums of various colors were in full bloom. She sat on the swing, gripped the rope tightly with both hands, and called out to Lü Qiao to push her up a little.
"Higher! Higher!"
She chuckled, her eyes relaxed, and the autumn wind blew through her hair, lifting a strand of black hair that floated in the air.
She saw him come in, then stopped, lifted her skirt and walked over, taking his hand and leading him back: "Today you're going to push me on the swing, and you can't say no!"
She was as cheerful as a little girl, chasing butterflies among the flowers, lifting her skirt as she went...
No, it's not that she looks like someone else; she's still a little girl.
Even if she usually keeps a straight face, she'll occasionally reveal this side of herself.
Cheng Yan suddenly felt enlightened. The pent-up frustration in his heart seemed to dissipate all at once, and he felt completely relaxed. The sky cleared, and the grass and trees smelled even more fragrant.
He smiled, then pressed her down to sit on the swing: "Whatever you want, I'll push you on the swing."
I've spoiled my wife, so I have no choice but to continue spoiling her for the rest of my life...