A few military generals who had never interacted with Yun Zheng unexpectedly flashed a rare look of approval in their eyes.
A moment later, several of them spoke up in succession.
"Your Majesty, this subject believes that there is a possibility of war breaking out at any moment between our dynasty and Beihuan! If His Sixth Highness personally goes to the battlefield, it will surely do wonders to boost troop morale!"
"Indeed, Your Majesty! For His Sixth Highness, born of imperial blood, to head to the battlefield with a mortal resolve—how could the sons of Da Qian dare not fight to the death?"
"We implore Your Majesty to grant His Sixth Highness's request, that troop morale may be bolstered!"
Following the lead of these military commanders, many voices echoing their sentiment arose within the imperial court.
Especially among the pro-war faction.
They didn't expect Yun Zheng to kill a single enemy on the battlefield, but this move by Yun Zheng would indeed be a tremendous boost to morale.
For the northern frontier, where war could erupt at any second, this was undoubtedly good news.
Listening to everyone's words, Emperor Wen could not help nodding slightly.
A moment later, Emperor Wen's gaze fell once again upon Yun Zheng. "With such a heart in you, My heart is deeply gratified! Let Me ask you one last time, do you truly wish to head to the frontier?"
Just as Yun Zheng was about to speak, Xu Shifu started making trouble again.
"Your Majesty, this subject believes this matter is still inappropriate."
Xu Shifu bowed once more and said.
"Why is it inappropriate?"
Emperor Wen asked with a frown.
Xu Shifu replied: "The Sixth Prince's courage is commendable, but the situation on the battlefield changes in a heartbeat. Should the Sixth Prince be captured, wouldn't that completely humiliate our dynasty?"
"This..."
Emperor Wen paused slightly, lowering his gaze to ponder once again.
Xu Shifu's concern was not without reason.
If an imperial prince were captured, wouldn't it become the laughingstock of the world?
Seeing that the whole affair was about to fall through, Yun Zheng hurried to devise a countermeasure.
A moment later, Yun Zheng spoke again: "This subject dares to be so bold as to request Your Imperial Father to bestow a sword upon me!"
Heh, Xu Shifu's words had played right into his hands!
If he could obtain a sword bestowed by the emperor, acquiring military power upon reaching the frontier would be that much easier.
While it might not be a true "Son of Heaven" sword, it was still a sword bestowed by the emperor nonetheless!
In times of need, it could definitely be pulled out to bluff people!
"Why do you ask Me to bestow a sword upon you?"
Emperor Wen asked in puzzlement.
Yun Zheng put on a tragic and stirring expression. "If the day of capture truly comes, this subject shall use the sword bestowed by Imperial Father to take his own life, preferring death over becoming a captive!"
"Are you not afraid to die?" Emperor Wen frowned, not believing Yun Zheng had such courage.
"Afraid!"
Yun Zheng nodded.
Emperor Wen let out a cold snort, his face darkening as he said: "Since you are afraid of death, then why..."
Before Emperor Wen could finish his sentence, Yun Zheng began to mutter to himself: "Born in the mortal world, all partings must come; what harm is there in returning to the nether world as a ghost? The mortal world and the nether world are much the same, let us just consider ourselves wandering in a strange land..."
Yun Zheng's voice was not loud, but Emperor Wen and the assembled ministers heard every word clearly.
Hearing these sorrowful verses, the courtiers all felt a pang of heartache, let alone Emperor Wen.
"The mortal world and the nether world are much the same, let us just consider ourselves wandering in a strange land..."
Emperor Wen murmured under his breath.
At that moment, Emperor Wen suddenly realized that he had apparently never cared for this son at all.
Suddenly, Emperor Wen's eyes grew somewhat moist.
Emperor Wen hurriedly turned his head away so that no one would see the tears in his eyes.
He did not know how much suffering this son, whom he had neglected, must have endured to speak such words.
Just as Emperor Wen was lost in sorrow, the imperial physician suddenly came to report.
With his back to the officials, Emperor Wen inquired about Yun Li's injuries.
The imperial physician bowed and replied: "The Third Prince is in no serious condition. After taking the medicine, he has improved somewhat, and after another three to five days of quiet recuperation, he will be fully recovered."
"I know. Withdraw!" Emperor Wen waved his hand.
The physician hurriedly bowed and retreated.
Emperor Wen adjusted his emotions and slowly turned back around. "Enough, since your Third Brother..."
Imperial Noble Consort Shu's expression shifted, and she quickly said: "Your Majesty, although Li'er is in no serious condition, still..."
"Shut your mouth!"
Emperor Wen suddenly glared at Imperial Noble Consort Shu. "What kind of temperament the Sixth has is clear to the entire court! Had there not been a compelling reason, would he have dared to treat the Third like this? I have no desire to pursue the reasons behind this matter any further; let this matter end here!"
Imperial Noble Consort Shu choked back her words, falling silent instantly.
Having silenced Imperial Noble Consort Shu, Emperor Wen wearily waved a hand at Yun Zheng. "Go back and apologize to your Third Brother, and let this matter pass!"
Oh no!
He had overacted!
Yun Zheng cast a covert glance toward Xu Shifu and Imperial Noble Consort Shu, hoping this brother-and-sister pair would jump out in opposition.
However, though Xu Shifu and Imperial Noble Consort Shu were extremely unwilling, Emperor Wen's previous words had already cut off any notion of once again petitioning him to demote Yun Zheng to a commoner.
There would be plenty of opportunities to deal with Yun Zheng later!
Seeing that neither of these two fellows could be counted on, Yun Zheng could no longer care about anything else. With a heavy *thud*, he dropped to his knees.
"Thank you, Imperial Father, for your magnanimity!"
Yun Zheng said with absolute determination: "But this subject now only wishes to die a glorious death in battle! I beg Imperial Father to grant my wish!"
"You..."
Angered to the extreme by Yun Zheng's words, Emperor Wen roared with eyes breathing fire: "Your Eldest Brother only just drew his sword and took his own life a few days ago after his rebellion failed! Today, you are once again hell-bent on rushing to your death? Are you taking revenge on Me?"
"Your Majesty, preserve your imperial health!"
Imperial Noble Consort Shu offered a word of comfort to Emperor Wen, then hastily and hypocritically said to Yun Zheng: "Yun Zheng, I will no longer pursue the matter concerning your Third Brother! Hurry up and get up, do not make your Imperial Father fall ill from anger!"
Bulls***!
I am not about to give you a chance to stab me in the back!
Yun Zheng cursed inwardly, yet stubbornly declared: "This subject appreciates the kind intentions of Imperial Consort Shu and Imperial Father! I have lived in submissive cowardice for years, and it is time for me to live a glorious life for once!"
The words of the two instantly left the entire court utterly bewildered.
Even Imperial Noble Consort Shu, who had previously wept and begged Emperor Wen to seek justice for the Third Prince, was now making solemn vows not to pursue the matter any further?
Yet Yun Zheng was acting as stubborn as an iron-eating beast, hell-bent on seeking his own death?
What kind of madness was this!
"Your Sixth Highness, hurry and thank His Majesty for his grace! Stop angering the Emperor!"
At that moment, Zhang Huai, a veteran official who had served three reigns, also spoke out to urge him.
"Indeed, Your Sixth Highness, both His Majesty and Imperial Noble Consort Shu have forgiven you..."
"Your Sixth Highness, stop making a scene, we still have major affairs to discuss with His Majesty..."
For a moment, everyone vied with one another to persuade Yun Zheng.
Listening to these exhortations, Yun Zheng could not help cursing his ancestors in his heart.
Damn it!
The script he opened must have been the wrong version!
"I beg Imperial Father to grant my wish!"
Yun Zheng shouted his plea once again: "This subject has no other skills, and asks only that my death serve to boost the morale of our dynasty's troops, while also shutting the mouths of gossips so the world will no longer say our dynasty's princes are all cowards clinging to life!"
"If either of these can be achieved, this subject will die a worthy death!"
"If Imperial Father refuses, this subject has no choice but to smash his head against this grand hall and die to demonstrate my loyalty!"
As Yun Zheng's voice fell, the grand hall plunged into a dead silence.
Everyone stared blankly at Yun Zheng, never expecting him to be so resolute.
Enraged to the core by Yun Zheng's words, Emperor Wen roared with a livid face: "Fine! Since you are hell-bent on rushing to your death, I grant your wish! Hear the decree: Appoint the Sixth Prince Yun Zheng as General Hulie, and have him wed the daughter of Shen Nanzheng on an auspicious date. Within half a month following the marriage, he shall set out for Shuobei..."
Hearing the first half of Emperor Wen's words, Yun Zheng was almost delirious with joy.
He had originally figured that landing the rank of a mere captain would be pretty good!
Never had he expected this cheap father of his to be so generous as to confer upon him the title of General Hulie!
However, upon hearing the latter half of his words, Yun Zheng was somewhat dumbfounded.
At least hand over a sword to me first!
What was the point of bestowing a marriage?
Damn it!
Women would only slow down the speed at which he drew his blade!
Chapter 4: This Wife is a Bit Fierce
Regardless of whether Yun Zheng was willing or not, Emperor Wen had already issued the decree, leaving him with no choice but to accept it.
Fine!
A bestowed marriage it is, then!
First, get his hands on military command, and talk later!
Besides, he was an imperial prince after all!
When an imperial prince married, those courtiers—no matter how much they looked down on him—would still have to show some gesture, right?
Ah, seize the opportunity to make money!
The more, the better!
Having soldiers and horses was useless without money and grain!
Only, this being the case, he would still have to linger in the Imperial City for a period of time!
Yun Li and Imperial Noble Consort Shu would certainly use this window to exact their revenge on him!
The time spent in the Imperial City now would undoubtedly be the most perilous period.
He had better think of some countermeasures!
"Your Sixth Highness, stay your step!"
Just as Yun Zheng was walking and thinking, Mu Shun, the head eunuch by Emperor Wen's side, hurried after him.
Yun Zheng stopped and turned to look at Mu Shun: "What does Chief Eunuch Mu want with me?"
Gazing at Mu Shun, Yun Zheng's mind instantly became active.
Mu Shun was, after all, a favored confidant by his cheap father's side.
Even the former Crown Prince had to treat Mu Shun with utmost politeness.
If he could win Mu Shun over...
Almost immediately, Yun Zheng dismissed the thought.
He had no power, no influence, and no backing; what could he possibly use to win Mu Shun over?
One misstep, and he might even expose his own ambitions.
If Emperor Wen found out he was heading to the frontier to seize military power, he would surely have him killed!
Mu Shun replied with a warm smile: "His Majesty has given instructions for Your Sixth Highness to accompany this old servant to the Shen Residence to deliver the imperial decree, and incidentally meet Your Highness's future Princess Consort Sixth."
"Very well!"
Yun Zheng agreed and boarded a carriage along with Mu Shun.
Along the way, Yun Zheng remained silent, burying his head in his own thoughts.
Yet in Mu Shun's eyes, this was merely a display of timid cowardice.
"Does Your Highness know the situation of the Shen family?"
Mu Shun took the initiative to break the silence.
"This..."
Yun Zheng gave an awkward smile, shaking his head to indicate he did not know.
And indeed, he truly had no idea.
Having lived deep within the imperial palace for so long, perfectly exemplifying the adage of turning a blind eye to the world outside his window, he knew very little of affairs both inside and outside the court.
Mu Shun chuckled softly, and only then explained: "The Shen family is a truly loyal household through and through..."
Five years ago, Emperor Wen personally led a campaign against Beihuan.
Shen Nanzheng served as the vanguard general, leading the sons of the Shen family on the expedition alongside Emperor Wen.
After two months of fierce fighting, Emperor Wen misjudged the situation, fell into a crafty trap laid by Beihuan, and was surrounded by a massive Beihuan army.
To rescue Emperor Wen, Shen Nanzheng led ten thousand elite troops in a surprise raid on the Beihuan Royal Court, forcing the main Beihuan forces to fall back in defense.
In the end, Emperor Wen's siege was indeed lifted, but the ten thousand elite troops led by Shen Nanzheng were surrounded by the Beihuan army and ultimately wiped out to the last man.
In that battle, Shen Nanzheng and two of his sons all died in combat, leaving behind an entire household of widows and orphans.
As for Shen Luoyan, she was Shen Nanzheng's youngest daughter, having just turned twenty years old this year.
Hearing Mu Shun's recount, Yun Zheng could not help complaining inwardly.
Emperor Wen was being rather unprincipled here!
The Shen family had paid such a heavy sacrifice to save him, yet now he was betrothal-matching Shen Nanzheng's only daughter to himself—a man who had just been begging for death.
This was clearly bullying the women and orphans of the Shen household!
...
Shen Mansion.
Madam Shen and the female members of the Shen family were enjoying flowers and sipping tea in the back garden.
A maid hurried inside, bowed, and said: "Mistress, people have come from the palace! It's the Sixth Prince and Chief Eunuch Mu!"
"Oh?"
Madam Shen was slightly startled and hastily called for everyone to head to the main hall.
"The Sixth Prince? Didn't the Sixth Prince die in infancy?"
"The one who died in infancy was the Seventh Prince..."
"The Sixth Prince is none other than His Majesty's utterly useless prince. Not only is he useless in both civil and military arts, but he's also cowardly and timid. Whenever the palace holds banquets or the like, he either fakes illness to avoid attending or hides away in a corner..."
Several female relatives murmured among themselves.
"Ahem..."
Madam Shen turned her head to glare at them. "Watch your tongues!"
These girls really!
Were imperial matters something they had any right to discuss?
The women stuck out their tongues and hurriedly clamped their mouths shut.
Soon, they arrived at the main hall.
Everyone looked at Yun Zheng with curious eyes, thinking to themselves, so this was that good-for-nothing prince?
He certainly looked handsome enough.
It was just that he didn't seem to possess a shred of manly vigor.
"Greetings, Chief Eunuch Mu! Greetings, Sixth Highness!"
Madam Shen led the female relatives in bowing to the two of them.
Hearing this, Yun Zheng smiled wryly in his heart.
Just how much contempt did these people hold for him?
They even got the order of precedence backward!
Whether they did it intentionally or by accident was anyone's guess.
Mu Shun chuckled, but his eyes lifted to look at Yun Zheng.
"Rise!"
Yun Zheng gently raised a hand, thinking that at least this Mu Shun knew how to behave.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Only then did everyone straighten up.
"Madam Shen, congratulations, congratulations!"
Upon seeing Madam Shen, Mu Shun immediately offered repeated felicitations.
A flicker of joy crossed Madam Shen's heart as she hurriedly asked: "Chief Eunuch Mu, what is this joyous occasion?"
Mu Shun kept her in suspense for a moment before asking, "Is Miss Shen Luoyan present?"
Hearing this, Shen Luoyan stepped forward immediately: "This humble woman pays her respects to Chief Eunuch Mu."
Yun Zheng carefully scrutinized Shen Luoyan.
Bright eyes, white teeth, and a tall figure.
Between her brows lingered a hint of heroic spirit.
Indeed a spirited and dashing beauty!
Mu Shun glanced at Shen Luoyan and suddenly proclaimed in a loud voice: "Shen Luoyan, hear the decree!"
Shen Luoyan was slightly taken aback and hastily dropped to her knees to receive the decree.
"His Majesty's decree: The Shen household is a family of unyielding loyalty through generations, strict in its family discipline, and a shining model for our dynasty! Today, Shen Luoyan is bestowed as the primary Princess Consort Sixth, to be wed on an auspicious date..."
Boom!
As Mu Shun's words echoed, the minds of everyone in the Shen household buzzed with chaos.
Emperor Wen was bestowing a marriage upon Shen Luoyan?
And furthermore, betrothing her to the Sixth Prince, that good-for-nothing?
Shen Luoyan felt a wave of indignation and grief, her face flushing with anger.
Just moments ago in the back garden, she had been mocking the Sixth Prince as a worthless coward, yet in the blink of an eye, this Sixth Prince was to become her husband?
Until Mu Shun finished reading the imperial decree, none of them had managed to snap out of their daze.
"Princess Consort Sixth, receive the decree and give thanks for the grace!"
Mu Shun looked at Shen Luoyan with a beaming smile.
Shen Luoyan raised her head slightly, staring at the imperial decree Mu Shun was holding out. Abruptly, she stood up, her face filled with fury as she declared: "I must trouble Chief Eunuch Mu to relay a message to His Majesty: this subject's daughter begs forgiveness, but she cannot accept this decree!"
"Audacious!"
Mu Shun's expression turned chillingly cold. "Shen Luoyan, do you intend to resist the imperial decree?"
"That's right! I am going to resist the decree!" Shen Luoyan shouted in indignation.
" Insolent!"
Mu Shun's face was covered in frost. "Do you know what crime it is to defy an imperial decree?"
"Isn't it just death?"
Shen Luoyan's eyes reddened. Lifting her chin high, she gritted her teeth and said, "You can go right back now and tell His Majesty that this subject's daughter will wait at home for His Majesty to bestow a cup of poisoned wine or a length of white silk!"
Hearing Shen Luoyan's words, Yun Zheng could not help feeling inwardly astonished.
Was this woman really this hardcore?
Defying an imperial decree right to their faces, and even asking the emperor to execute her?
How the hell was she just like him?
Though, when he begged for death, he actually wanted to live.
As for her begging for death... she genuinely seemed to want to die!
Wait a minute, was he really that repulsive? To the point that she'd rather die than marry him?
Defying an imperial decree publicly—was she trying to play a round of family elimination?
"You think that defying the decree and having you put to death is the end of it?"
Mu Shun stared coldly at Shen Luoyan. "According to our dynasty's laws, those who defy an imperial decree shall have their entire clan... executed to the third degree!"
Executed to the third degree?
Hearing Mu Shun's words, Shen Luoyan froze instantly, her ferocious momentum weakening significantly.
By this time, the members of the Shen family had finally recovered their wits.
Her eldest sister-in-law, Wei Shuang, glanced at her daughter who was not even six years old yet, and hurried forward to grab Shen Luoyan, pleading in a low voice: "You mustn't let your temper run wild! If you won't consider yourself, at least think of the Shen family!"
With that, Wei Shuang anxiously looked toward her mother-in-law.
Madam Shen's chest heaved violently as she fought to suppress her surging fury.
After a long while, Madam Shen clenched her fists tightly, gritting her teeth as she demanded: "Chief Eunuch Mu, what crime has my Shen family committed? Why must His Majesty treat us this way?"
Mu Shun gazed indifferently at Madam Shen: "Madam Shen, His Majesty remembers the distinguished and peerless merits of the Shen family generals, and has specially bestowed this marriage to show his favor and grace!"
"Grace?"
Madam Shen's eyes bulged with rage. "This is clearly bullying the widows and orphans of my Shen family!"
"Madam Shen, watch your tongue!"
Mu Shun's face turned icy cold as he rebuked sternly: "From now on, the Shen family will be imperial relatives! How can this not be considered His Majesty's grace?"
As he spoke, Mu Shun cast a cold, menacing glance at Shen Luoyan. "Miss Shen, in consideration of your father and brothers' distinguished merits, this old servant will give you one more chance! If you still refuse to accept the decree, it truly will be deemed defying an imperial decree!"
As Mu Shun's words fell, several Imperial Guards already placed their hands upon their weapons.
In an instant, the atmosphere grew tense to the breaking point.
"Waaa..."
Suddenly, the crying of a young child shattered the oppressive tension of the scene...
Chapter 5: Dealing with the Two-Faced Traitor
Shen Nianci!
Shen Luoyan instinctively looked toward her niece.
This was her eldest brother's only flesh and blood!
Gazing at Shen Nianci, who had been frightened into wailing loudly, Shen Luoyan's heart suddenly softened.
Wei Shuang hurried over to gather her daughter into her arms, weeping as she pleaded: "Luoyan, we can die, but Nianci isn't even seven years old yet!"
Looking at her tear-stained niece, Shen Luoyan slowly relaxed her tightly clenched fists.
*Thud!*
Shen Luoyan dropped to her knees, two trails of grief-stricken tears streaming down her face.
"This subject's daughter... receives the decree and gives thanks for the grace!"
The moment she spoke those words, it felt as though all strength had been drained from Shen Luoyan's body.
Only after Shen Luoyan accepted the decree did Mu Shun's expression soften slightly.
"Then this old servant will return to the palace to report back. As for the wedding date, you will be notified in due course!"
With that, Mu Shun turned his gaze to Yun Zheng. "Your Sixth Highness, let us return to the palace!"
"Chief Eunuch Mu, go on ahead; I wish to have a word with them."
Yun Zheng smiled faintly, then added: "Chief Eunuch Mu, Miss Shen was merely acting on impulse. I ask that you put in a good word for her before His Majesty regarding today's events."
"This old servant understands."
Mu Shun chuckled, then led his men away.
The moment Mu Shun departed, everyone's gaze fell once more upon Yun Zheng.
"Don't think that because you uttered a couple of hypocritical words I will ever thank you!"
Shen Luoyan looked at Yun Zheng with utter disgust, completely refusing to afford him the respect due an imperial prince.
"I never expected your thanks anyway."
Yun Zheng shook his head with a chuckle. "If it weren't for the fact that your niece is so young, I would actually have preferred you to defy the decree. That way, I could have turned right back and begged Imperial Father to let you accompany me to Shuobei to die."
"Who wants to go die with you?"
Shen Luoyan let out a cold snort, haphazardly wiping the tears from her eyes. The next second, her hand froze mid-motion. "Wait, what did you just say? You're going to... go to Shuobei to die?"
Madam Shen and her two daughters-in-law were struck dumb as well, momentarily forgetting even to look down on Yun Zheng.
"That's right!"
Yun Zheng nodded lightly, a self-deprecating smile on his lips. "Imperial Father has already conferred upon me the title of General Hulie. Once our wedding is concluded, I shall set out for Shuobei! I ask for no merit to the state, but only that my death may serve to boost the morale of our Da Qian troops..."