nucmednet Chapter 396 Proclamation and Conferment
Chapter 396 Proclamation and Conferment
"In that case, I'll go ask my imperial aunts which ones are willing to marry the emperor of the Western Regions." Gu Wenchao deliberately emphasized the word "imperial aunts," a half-smile playing on his lips. He knew these imperial aunts weren't his grandfather's favorite children; they were currently raised in the royal villas, but none of them truly lived like princesses. If they could marry into the Western Regions, they would undoubtedly vie for the position. However, he wondered if they would bring shame upon the Great Xia Dynasty.
As soon as he finished speaking, Prince Wen suddenly took a half step forward, his jade belt and pendants clinking together with a clear sound: "Your Majesty, I have a matter to ask of you."
Gu Wenchao wanted to laugh inwardly, but put on a concerned expression: "Uncle Wen, what is it? Please speak freely." He had a good relationship with Prince Wen since childhood, so how could he not guess what the other party was thinking?
Prince Wen bowed to Gu Wenchao, his voice filled with sighs: "Your Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus have always understood me. I've always been unable to compete with others since childhood, and it was only thanks to the Emperor Emeritus's support that I attained the status of a prince." At this point, his slender hand touched the jade pendant with a dragon design on his chest, a gift from the late Emperor. "Now, the Emperor of the Western Regions has come to propose marriage. Princess Wenxi dislikes this marriage, and Princess Wenting is too young..." Prince Wen suddenly looked up, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "My Princess Wenxuan has received meticulous instruction from the Empress Dowager since childhood, and is well-versed in both literature and martial arts, beautiful and elegant. I wonder if Your Majesty could bestow upon Wenxuan the title of princess and send her to marry into the Western Regions?"
A deathly silence fell over the hall. Gu Wenchao stroked the gilded patterns on the armrest of the dragon throne, his peripheral vision catching several old ministers whispering amongst themselves in a corner. He was well aware of Princess Wenxuan's importance. This girl could recite military strategy at seven, handled palace affairs with the Empress Dowager at twelve, and had even killed two birds with one arrow during a hunt, astonishing the entire court. Marrying her to the Western Regions would certainly not bring shame to Great Xia. Furthermore, Prince Wen was always grateful to the Emperor Emeritus, and Wenxuan had always been close to the Emperor Emeritus, the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor—it was truly an excellent choice.
“Uncle Wen, there’s no need for such modesty.” Gu Wenchao suddenly burst into laughter, his voice booming like a bell, echoing in the empty hall. The white doves that had been quietly perched on the beams fluttered wildly, as if they had been greatly frightened.
Seeing this, Gu Wenchao's smile didn't fade; instead, it grew even brighter. He proclaimed loudly, "Sister Wenxuan is exceptionally intelligent; it was my oversight that I failed to notice." With that, he slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, stood up, and shouted, "Issue my decree: bestow upon Gu Wenxuan the title of Princess of Great Xia. Prepare her dowry according to the rites for a Grand Princess. Once Emperor Ouyang Lie of the Western Regions replies, Princess Wenxuan will be sent to the Western Regions to be married!"
As Gu Wenchao's decree fell, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence, with only Prince Wen's slightly aged voice ringing out: "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!" Prince Wen slowly stood up, his body trembling slightly, and tears welling up in his cloudy eyes.
He walked step by step to the center of the main hall, then knelt down on both knees and performed a full salute to Gu Wenchao, his forehead striking the cold blue bricks with a dull thud. This strike seemed to have used up all his strength.
Seeing Prince Wen's respectful actions, Gu Wenchao couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. He recalled the days he spent playing at the Prince's residence as a child. Back then, Princess Wenxuan was always so innocent and adorable. Her favorite thing to do was to share half of her candied hawthorn with him, watching him eat it with his mouth covered in sugar, laughing as happily as a child. Her clear eyes always curved into crescent moons when she smiled, giving off an incredibly warm feeling.
However, his sister Wenxuan was now going to marry far away in the Western Regions, and from then on, the mountains and rivers would be vast, making it difficult to see each other again. Gu Wenchao didn't know if she would be able to live well in the Western Regions, or if she would suffer any injustice. The thought filled his heart with worry.
"Sister Wenxuan..." Gu Wenchao murmured softly, as if he could see the little girl he used to play with through those three words. He secretly made up his mind to find some capable people to accompany Sister Wenxuan to the Western Regions, to protect her and take care of her, and to ensure that she would not be bullied in the slightest there.
After the court session, Gu Wenchao went to the Imperial Garden alone. In the twilight, Princess Xiaoyue'er, holding her young son Wu Jialuo, was admiring the flowers. The once orphaned girl, now a gentle and virtuous young mistress of the Wu family, was now a loving wife. The third son of the Wu family was squatting on the ground, teaching his son to draw a deer with a twig; the couple's eyes radiated undisguised love. Upon seeing the Emperor, Xiaoyue'er hurriedly tried to curtsy, but Gu Wenchao raised his hand to stop her.
"Sister Yue'er, do you regret it?" Gu Wenchao asked suddenly, looking at Wu Jialuo's chubby little face.
Yue'er was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, are you referring to the marriage decree bestowed today?" Actually, several years ago, he had directly rejected Ouyang Lie, telling him that she wasn't a real princess. That's why Ouyang Lie waited a few more years until Gu Wenqian grew up. She turned to look at the father and son playing in the distance, her eyes full of tenderness, "Compared to being a caged canary in the palace, I prefer my current life."
Gu Wenchao remained silent for a long time. As he turned to leave, Wu Jialuo's childish voice came from behind him: "Uncle, Luo'er wants to ride a horse!" He paused, but ultimately didn't turn back. The setting sun cast a long shadow of his, like an inescapable shackle, firmly binding this supreme emperor. He said to Wu Jialuo, "Good boy, Luo'er, Uncle has some other things to do. Let your father play with you."
Three days later, Ouyang Lie's letter of approval arrived in Da Xia. Gu Wenchao personally bestowed the title of Princess Wenxuan upon her, and Princess Wenxuan entered the palace to express her gratitude. She wore a purple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with only a white jade hairpin in her hair, making her appear even more elegant than usual. "Does my brother know that the Western Regions are shrouded in yellow sand, where flowers rarely bloom?" she said softly, gazing at the blooming crabapple trees outside the window.
Gu Wenchao tightened his grip on the teacup: "I will order the construction of a Hundred Flowers Garden in the Western Regions, so that you..."
“No need.” Princess Wenxuan suddenly turned around, her eyes glistening with tears. “Wenxuan has received the royal favor since childhood and should do his best for the country. But…” She paused, her voice hoarse, “If my brother passes through the Western Regions in the future, could you… could you go and see Wenxuan? Also, could my brother help me take care of my father? He lived a cowardly life, and my brothers are just as weak-willed as him. I’m worried that they will be bullied while I’m away.”
Gu Wenchao's throat tightened, but he finally nodded. A gust of wind rose outside the window, blowing down a few crabapple petals, which drifted down and landed on Princess Wenxuan's shoulder, like an unfinished farewell poem.