Chapter 18: Can’t Be the Imperial Consort

Chapter 18: Can't Be the Prince Consort

A gay man, marrying a wife would be ruining her life, wouldn't it?

And marrying a royal princess at that—that'd be a death sentence.

"Father, Father."

Pei Cang ignored him.

Pei Yuhuai stomped his foot, frustrated: "Father, Father, the National Preceptor, the National Preceptor! Let's find the National Preceptor, he'll know what to do."

If all else failed, let the National Preceptor marry the princess. All it took was one word from the emperor to return to secular life—would he dare refuse?

He was handsome and good in bed, surely he could please the princess well.

Pei Cang completely ignored him and headed straight for the imperial study, where other people were already there.

As Pei Yuhuai followed him in, he immediately felt a stare that felt like needles on his back. Yep, it was that bastard Ji Huaiyu. Pei Yuhuai scowled.

Marquis Pei Cang and Pei Yuhuai bowed in unison.

The emperor waved his hand: "Someone, bring the Marquis a chair." Then he added, "Now that the Marquis is here, where's Ning'er?"

"Your Majesty, the Princess and the National Preceptor are here to see you."

"Send them in."

"Yes."

Princess Ruoning entered gracefully, adorned with pearl hairpins, regal and poised, every movement exuding elegance.

Lan He walked slightly behind her, prayer beads in hand, looking otherworldly and aloof.

Pei Yuhuai was stunned to see Lan He. When he had left Qingwu Manor, that guy had still looked half-asleep—how had he recovered so quickly?

And he's with the princess... now that's interesting.

He narrowed his eyes to size up Lan He, but Lan He didn't spare him a glance. He passed by without a sideways glance and went straight to bow to the emperor.

"Your Majesty."

"Ruo Ning pays respects to Father."

The emperor nodded: "Good. I've called you here about something. The ruler of the Sang Kingdom wants to marry Ning'er. I can't stand the thought of it, so I intend to betroth Ning'er to the heir of Marquis Zhongyi—Pei Yuhuai."

The moment these words were spoken, everyone's faces fell, and several people spoke at once: "Please, Your Majesty, reconsider."

The emperor was confused: "??"

He glared at the crowd below: "What? You all think my decision is a bad idea?"

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances and didn't dare say another word.

Qu Ying anxiously wanted to say something, but Ji Huaiyu held her back, frantically giving her a look.

Pei Yuhuai's head was spinning.

He looked at Lan He, who was as calm as ever. That guy seemed utterly indifferent to this matter, like a monk who didn't care about worldly affairs.

Damn that guy.

Princess Ruoning was also surprised. She stepped forward defiantly to refuse: "Father, I have no feelings for the young marquis. How can we be forced into marriage? I never want to marry in this life."

"How dare you!"

The emperor snapped, his expression extremely displeased: "A woman not marrying—what kind of nonsense is that! Marquis Zhongyi has done great deeds. His heir as the prince consort is the only way I can feel at ease!"

Pei Yuhuai was completely speechless.

The princess had tried her best; he couldn't back down either. He was about to step forward to say his piece when, just as he took one step, the emperor spoke to him first.

"Ning'er may be willful, but she is still the apple of my eye. I am personally deciding this marriage. You're not unhappy about this, are you?"

Pei Yuhuai met the emperor's cold, dark stare and steeled himself: "Yu..."

"My son is very happy—he's overjoyed." Pei Cang pulled him back, cutting him off.

Pei Yuhuai was confused: "Dad?"

"Shut up!" Pei Cang sneakily kicked him.

Ouch. Just my luck.

He felt like Feng Suzhen when she found out she'd been made a prince consort—nervous and anxious, wanting to run away.

Feng Suzhen was a woman and couldn't marry the princess; he was gay, and he couldn't marry the princess either!

The emperor's move made his intentions clear enough—he was dead set on this, and he wanted everyone else to go along with it in front of the Sang Kingdom people.

No one said another word.

The emperor nodded contentedly and turned to Lan He: "I would like to ask the National Preceptor to pick a lucky date for Ning'er and the heir of Marquis Zhongyi."

Lan He remained as still as a mountain, looking up: "I request Your Majesty to prepare a table for this humble monk and tell me the Princess's and the young marquis's birth details."

"Someone, bring it in."

"National Preceptor, the birth details are ready. Please begin your calculation." After the emperor spoke, his personal eunuch immediately handed over two brocade boxes.

Lan He remained like a spectator at a show from start to finish.

"Yes, please wait, Your Majesty."

He opened the brocade boxes, revealing talismans with birth details written on them.

His gaze lingered a moment longer on Pei Yuhuai's birth details before shifting away subtly, placing the two talismans next to each other.

Then Lan He began his ritual, chanting under his breath. Blue-white flames began to ignite around the two talismans, but the talismans didn't burn.

The emperor seemed used to Lan He's abilities and took it in stride.

But everyone else there had never seen such a thing. They watched in stunned amazement, finding it utterly extraordinary—especially Pei Yuhuai, whose eyes were huge.

Soon, Lan He finished his reading.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, through this humble monk's calculation, the young marquis and Princess Ruoning aren't fated to be together. The Princess's destined match... lies within the Sang Kingdom's royal family."

The Emperor: "???"

The others: "???"

Really???

Princess Ruoning's expression grew complicated as she pressed on: "Is what the Royal Advisor said true?"

"This humble monk never speaks falsely."

"Then, can you tell me who it is?"

"Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed; I'm afraid I can't say more."

The Emperor's face darkened considerably, but he couldn't vent his frustration directly, so he suppressed his anger and said: "Could the Royal Advisor have miscalculated? Let's have another calculation."

"This humble monk never errs."

"..."

The Emperor was visibly losing face, and Lan He seized the moment to say: "Your Majesty need not worry. As long as the marriage with the Sang Kingdom is set a year from now, there will be a turning point after that year, guaranteeing the Princess a lifetime of peace and good health."

Hearing this, the Emperor's expression improved slightly: "Truly?"

"I dare not deceive Your Majesty."

"Fine. If there's no turning point after a year, I'll hold you responsible."

"Yes."

Then, Lan He went on to say a bunch of other nonsense, but Pei Yuhuai didn't listen closely. All he knew was that he might not have to marry the Princess after all.

Qu Ying and Ji Huaiyu also let out a sigh of relief.

As they exited the imperial study, Ji Huaiyu hurried after Pei Yuhuai: "His Royal Highness the Hereditary Prince, please wait a moment."

Ugh, what a pain.

Pei Yuhuai bolted away, not even bothering to say goodbye to Lan He before slipping off.

"Quit yelling after him," Qu Ying grabbed Ji Huaiyu, somewhat displeased. "With so many people around, you keep chasing and calling him. If anyone catches on, we're screwed."

Ji Huaiyu exhaled heavily: "But..."

"Stop with the 'buts.' Can you think for once? Let's talk when we get back. The plot's gone off the rails now, and it's so annoying."

In the original plot, the Sang Kingdom did propose marriage to Princess Ruoning, on behalf of the Sang Prince, and back then, Lan He also spoke up.

But what he said then was completely different from now—he flat-out refused the marriage and had a minister's daughter marry in her place.

So how come it's still Princess Ruoning now?