Chapter 270 - 269: Asking for the Moon
"Don’t play tricks with me."
The Young General Wei’s face showed a warning expression, "I disdain using tricks of the inner chambers, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand them."
Where there are people, there is conflict.
As long as he acts from his own best interest, no matter what conspiracies and schemes others use, they wouldn’t affect him.
Zhao Yuqing glanced at the people present, "I have something to discuss with the Young General, I ask all of you to kindly give us a moment."
"Young General, I’ll go see where they are, why haven’t they brought back clean clothes yet; if you two catch a cold, I can’t explain it to the Emperor..."
After saying this, he slipped away first.
Zhao Yuqing’s maid nodded and also retreated to the outside.
Everyone left cleanly.
The expression of the Young General Wei became increasingly indifferent, "What exactly do you want to say?"
If she weren’t the person he was betrothed to, he wouldn’t even bother to listen to her prattle.
"Young General, I have no affection for you."
Zhao Yuqing said frankly.
Young General Wei’s expression changed slightly, "Whether you have feelings for me or not, what does it have to do with me? After all, I don’t like you either."
Zhao Yuqing suddenly laughed, "It’s good not having affection, that way we can talk about interests, right?"
Young General Wei’s eyes were cold, "When negotiating conditions with others, shouldn’t one understand their own weight?"
"I know I’m of humble status and can’t bring benefits to the Young General, but since the Empress has chosen me, I must have some use to the Wei Family."
Young General Wei did not reply.
Zhao Yuqing continued: "Although I can’t help you have a smooth future, I can at least make the Emperor a bit more assured about the Wei Family, not having them as a thorn in his side or sleepless nights, isn’t it so?"
Balancing court forces is a basic ability for rulers.
Currently, the Wei Family’s momentum is too strong, if they don’t restrain their sharpness in time, they would face overwhelming pressure.
The Emperor might support a new force to confront the Wei Family.
He might also find their faults to weaken their power.
Before finding a balance point, the Wei Family will keep a low profile to avoid becoming a thorn in the Emperor’s eyes.
Since being chosen as the prospective daughter-in-law of the Wei Family, Zhao Yuqing has understood this principle.
Everything she said was true, Young General Wei could not refute Zhao Yuqing’s words.
Back then, when the Duke Mansion wanted to ally with the Du Family through marriage, one reason the late Emperor didn’t interfere was because Xie Yunzhen was captivated by Ji Mingzhu.
Not only did he repeatedly humiliate the Du Family, but he also did many ridiculous things for Ji Mingzhu.
The rivalry of powerful ministers was the result the late Emperor wanted to see.
Thus, when Xie Yunzhen secretly left the capital to find Ji Mingzhu in Yangzhou, the late Emperor merely fined him his salary without stripping him of his position.
Xie Yunzhen and Ji Mingzhu’s marriage went smoothly, thanks in no small part to the late Emperor’s tacit facilitation.
Thinking of this, Young General Wei felt increasingly agitated.
Withdrawing from the betrothal is not easy.
No matter what, he’s certainly going to shed a layer of skin.
Even if he does withdraw, marrying Xie Yunling would still require some effort.
Young General Wei asked coldly, "What do you want?"
Before Zhao Yuqing could answer, he added, "Wanting to enter the Wei Family is impossible."
Zhao Yuqing’s mouth curled slightly, "I already have the imperial edict for the betrothal, what’s impossible?"
"Even if the Young General is steely and dares to resist the decree, the elders of the Wei Family and the Empress in the palace probably wouldn’t agree, would they?"
Being touched on a sore spot, the aura around Young General Wei grew even colder.
If things were easily resolved, he wouldn’t have gone out to clear his mind today.
Nor would he have lost control and clashed with the Xie Family.
So many people saw him become a laughingstock.
Girls have thin skin, and he wonders if Xie Yunling would secretly curse him behind his back.
And Xie Yunzhen, he inherently dislikes him; there’s no need to guess, he surely noted this down with distaste.
During that decisive battle, Xie Yunzhen got injured while saving him, and Ji Mingzhu thus bore resentment toward him.
Every time they met, she hoped for his misfortune.
Xie Yunling and Ji Mingzhu are as close as sisters, if Ji Mingzhu spoke ill of him behind his back, marrying Xie Yunling would be as hard as ascending to the heavens.
Besides going to war, Young General Wei has never faced setbacks in other aspects.
This time, his fighting spirit was truly stirred.
If no one lets him marry Xie Yunling, he insists on marrying her.
If he can’t marry her, he won’t give up!
His eyes fell on Zhao Yuqing, full of pressure, "If you lose your life, would the imperial edict for the betrothal still be effective?"
"Without me, there would just be another Zhao Yuqing. Are you sure you want to take the risk, Young General?"
Zhao Yuqing gripped her cloak firmly, her eyelashes trembled a little.
She stopped beating around the bush with him.
"The Young General should know, my father passed the imperial civil exams at over thirty, with no family background, able to stay as an official in the capital purely because of exceptional luck, also supported by the Emperor."
"My mother married him young, yet in the capital, she frequently faced difficulties from noblewomen, some even instigated their husbands to place pretty concubines in my father’s back court."
"My mother hasn’t studied much, unlike the concubine who can converse with my father about poems, songs, and the affairs of love."
"She’s not good at managing household accounts, the authority over the household was seized by that concubine, leaving our mother and daughter in poor conditions within our own home, and I’m laughed at and played with by noble ladies when I’m outside... This imperial decree for marriage is my only chance to turn my life around."
The Young General Wei furrowed his brow, "How well or poorly you live isn’t caused by me, what does it have to do with me?"
Zhao Yuqing laid out the unpleasantness openly, "I understand the Young General wants to marry Miss Xie, why don’t we make a deal, after a three-year period, we can divorce; you won’t offend the Emperor and you can seek another good match, how about it?"
"You think I’m foolish, three years is enough time for countless changes to happen."
Women gain status through children.
If Zhao Yuqing learns from the women in the inner chambers and uses a child to pave her way.
By then, would he be able to divorce just because he wants to?
"I can write an agreement for the Young General, if I break the contract, you can write me a divorce letter and I won’t have resentment."
This coincides with Mrs. Wei’s proposal.
First marry Zhao Yuqing back home, then wait for the right time to leave her and remarry.
Young General Wei knows he’s not a good person, if pushed, he can indeed do such a thing.
But he doesn’t want to gamble.
"If we really wait three years, Xie Yunling will already be married."
"And what if she’s married, if you really love her, just bring her back."
Seeing him silent, a smile flashed in Zhao Yuqing’s eyes.
"Young General, can you truly tell whether you genuinely like Miss Xie or if it’s just a rebellious impulse?"
"If it’s the latter, you’re offending the Emperor for her and implicating the Wei Family along with the Empress and the Crown Prince, do you think it’s worth it?"
"If, three years later, you still want to marry Miss Xie, then it proves you genuinely like her, in that case, taking risks for love is meaningful."
Young General Wei’s expression was contemplative.
He deeply regarded Zhao Yuqing, always feeling he underestimated her.
She might have the faults of inner chamber women, but she wasn’t as foolish as some people.
Would she really be so easy to dismiss in three years?
But he has to admit, Zhao Yuqing indeed made a compelling argument.
Resisting the decree to withdraw from the betrothal affects not just him.
He rubbed his fingers thoughtfully, "The Duke Mansion is prominent, its chosen husband won’t be a pushover."
Zhao Yuqing raised an eyebrow, "Then it depends on your skill, Young General. If you find the right person, propose them to Miss Xie, and if the Xie Family takes notice, whether or not you want to reunite with Miss Xie in the future would be entirely up to you."
From the man’s expression, Zhao Yuqing knew he was wavering.
By then, both he and Miss Xie would be remarried, the resistance would be much less, and it would be a roundabout way of fulfilling his wish.
And he wouldn’t have to offend the Emperor, how could he not be tempted?
Young General Wei’s gaze was inquisitive, "What do you want to get from the Wei Family? After the divorce when you return home, your situation might be even worse."
He doesn’t believe anyone would involve themselves in a losing deal.
Zhao Yuqing lifted her chin slightly, "I want half of your fortune; I want to leave the capital and start anew."
Young General Wei’s expression was complicated, "You’re asking for too much."
"Every person for themselves, or the heavens will condemn them."