Chapter 285 His Imperfections

Consort Li then said softly, "Xue'er has admired Heir Xie for a long time. She dreams of marrying him. Now that the heir has turned twenty and Xue'er has reached the age of sixteen, they are both of marriageable age."

"If Xue'er is married to Heir Xie, then Madam Cai and I can turn hostility into friendship and become in-laws."

"With this connection, I will no longer hold a grudge against her for hitting and scolding me and Xue'er. This would be beneficial for Your Majesty, for me, and for the Rongguo Duke's Estate."

After finishing, Consort Li gazed tenderly at Emperor Jingyang, her eyes limpid and affectionate, softening his heart.

At that moment, his mind was filled with nothing but the look in Consort Li's eyes.

So gentle, so affectionate.

"Turning hostility into friendship—my beloved consort, that's a fine idea."

"But Madam Cai is so domineering and unreasonable. If Xue'er marries into that household, wouldn't she be bullied by her every day?"

Before Consort Li could speak, Luo Qianxue rushed out anxiously.

"Father, I'm not afraid. As long as I can marry Brother Liuzheng, I'm willing to do anything."

"Besides, with Father backing me up, even if Madam Cai wants to lay a hand on me, she'll have to think twice about her own standing."

Emperor Jingyang sighed almost imperceptibly, took Consort Li's hand, and patted it softly.

"In that case, I'd be putting you and your daughter in a tough spot."

Consort Li and Luo Qianxue rejoiced inwardly. The emperor's words meant he had agreed!

Afraid that delay might cause trouble, Luo Qianxue quickly said, "It's no hardship at all. How could I be wronged by marrying the one I love? Please, Father, issue the decree to betroth me and Brother Liuzheng immediately!"

Initially, Consort Li had been against the emperor issuing a decree to betroth Luo Qianxue to Xie Liuzheng.

She believed that, with her skills and abilities, she could manage Madam Cai and make her agree if she performed well today.

But that fool Luo Qianxue had ruined everything!

This had caused a falling-out between her and Madam Cai.

Consort Li had not wanted to come and beg the emperor, but since things had reached this point, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and bring Luo Qianxue to him.

Fortunately, things were progressing well. The emperor had given in easily, lifting a huge burden from Consort Li's mind.

She thought, "Cai Guiti, don't blame me. You brought this on yourself by protecting Ji Yuntang and going against me."

Ji Yuntang had hooked onto the Rongguo Duke's Estate, so naturally, Consort Li couldn't fall behind.

The resources of the Rongguo Duke's Estate could only belong to Luo Jingshen. She couldn't let Ji Yuntang snatch them away for nothing.

Just as Emperor Jingyang reached for his brush to write the imperial decree, Xie Liuzheng couldn't hold back any longer and stormed into the Hall of State Affairs.

With a cold gaze, he announced loudly, "Your Majesty, the Tenth Princess wishes to marry me. Did you ask for my permission?"

Xie Liuzheng's sudden appearance startled Emperor Jingyang, Consort Li, and the others.

The emperor cursed under his breath, for Zhao Defa was such a fool that he couldn't even stop that useless heir and had let him barge into the hall.

He wondered how much of his words Xie Liuzheng had overheard.

Just moments ago, the emperor had been arrogant and high-handed. Now, facing Xie Liuzheng's direct challenge, he felt a pang of guilt.

Yet he still thought he was in the right. After all, wasn't it Xie Liuzheng's mother who had started it?

The emperor stopped writing and looked up at Xie Liuzheng.

"Then what objections do you have?"

"I object!"

Xie Liuzheng's voice was resolute. Those four words sent the emperor into a rage.

Emperor Jingyang: "!!!"

He was the Son of Heaven, and no one had ever dared to challenge him so blatantly!

The emperor slammed the table and stood up, his eyes blazing with fury.

"How dare you! I am bestowing the Tenth Princess upon you as a great favor, yet you dare to say you object!?"

A hint of mockery flickered in Xie Liuzheng's eyes. He sneered, "Your Majesty, I have no feelings for the Tenth Princess. Even if she is a princess, I simply do not like her."

The emperor's face turned red with anger. Throughout history, when an imperial decree for betrothal was issued, the recipients had no choice but to accept.

Yet now, Xie Liuzheng dared to refuse the marriage in front of him! How could he not be furious?

"Xie Liuzheng, do you know the consequences of defying me? Are you not afraid of endangering the entire Rongguo Duke's Estate?"

Hearing this, Xie Liuzheng's contempt only deepened.

If he hadn't overheard the emperor's threat to kill his mother just moments ago, he might still have weighed the emperor's favor toward the Rongguo Duke's Estate.

But hearing it, there was no going back!

To kill someone without even distinguishing right from wrong—to hell with such a despotic emperor!

Xie Liuzheng's dark eyes flickered. He raised an eyebrow and gave a careless smirk.

He said, "If Your Majesty insists on betrothing the Tenth Princess to me, it is not impossible—as long as the princess can accept some of my imperfections. Then I might consider taking her as my wife."

Luo Qianxue's lifeless heart suddenly revived.

She didn't know why Xie Liuzheng had refused earlier but now suddenly changed his mind and said he would marry her.

But as long as he agreed, she could accept any imperfection!

Luo Qianxue was ecstatic and said, "I accept, I accept! As long as I can marry Brother Liuzheng, I can accept any imperfection!"

In Luo Qianxue's eyes, Xie Liuzheng was handsome and captivating, with a tall and slender figure, fair skin, and long legs. When he smiled roguishly, his inky eyes were deep like an abyss, capable of bewitching hearts.

And when he didn't smile, his eyes were deep and affectionate, as if filled with starlight.

She knew that although Xie Liuzheng was known to be a bit of a flirt, he was not vulgar.

Despite his bad reputation, no rumors ever linked him with any woman over the years.

Even his household had no concubines or maidservants.

Tell me, how many men in the Dongchen Kingdom could say the same?

Luo Qianxue mused to herself, for a man as self-disciplined and pure as Xie Liuzheng, what imperfections could he possibly have?

As long as he wasn't impotent or preferred men.

She could accept all those: farting, grinding teeth, snoring, drooling, and the like.

While Luo Qianxue was mulling it over, she suddenly sensed a tall dark figure approaching her, completely enveloping her.

She looked up and saw that the person in front of her was none other than Xie Liuzheng.

At that moment, the man's lustrous black eyes stared fixedly at her, like a serene lake.

They were only a step apart, yet Luo Qianxue was so nervous her heart felt like it would leap out of her chest.

This was the first time Xie Liuzheng had ever come this close to her on his own.

With just a lift of her head, she could see the face she had longed for day and night.

So close, and so perfect, his skin was flawless, without even a single blemish.

Luo Qianxue's heart beat so fast that she started to stammer.

"Liu... Brother Liuzheng, do you... do you have something... something you want to say to me?"

Consort Li, seeing Luo Qianxue completely frozen at the sight of Xie Liuzheng, unable to move, was so angry that she wanted nothing more than to slap her.

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