CHAPTER 670: CHAPTER 670: DON’T STOP ME, I WANT TO MAKE A SCENE IN THE PALACE

Princess Consort Ji was filled with True Qi, angry and regretful. Had she known it would turn out like this, she would have arranged a marriage with a local Noble Lady at their fiefdom. Better yet, not returning wouldn’t have led to the current situation.

A fallen dynasty’s Commandery Princess, with a noble status?

Bah!

She wasn’t even as prized as an Official’s Fifth Rank daughter. With such a sensitive identity, she was destined not to excel or stand out. Someone like her, brought home, would only be cherished and displayed like an ornament.

Princess Consort Ji was headstrong and dim-witted, but even she knew that marrying this Princess Chongyang would be disastrous for anyone!

Heavens, she still dreamed of holding a legitimate grandson. With such an Official Wife, could she bear a legitimate son?

Inconceivable!

Princess Consort Ji was sweating with anxiety; marrying her was absolutely out of the question. She decided to enter the palace to plead with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. If they didn’t retract their decree, she would cry, throw a tantrum, or even bang her head before the late Emperor’s tomb.

This was too much, utterly preposterous!

Prince Min saw her so anxious that tears began to flow. He held her hand and said, "Consort Mother, don’t be upset. Making a fuss in the palace now is futile; I’ve already accepted the decree."

"But we could ask him to withdraw it."

"Consort Mother, once the Emperor’s golden words are spoken, they cannot be retracted. The decree can only be withdrawn by him; we cannot suggest it, or it would be seen as defying the decree, essentially handing them a ready-made pretext!"

Princess Consort Ji was stunned, her lips trembling.

Prince Min lowered his voice and said, "Vassal Kings are often looked upon with suspicion by the Emperor. If I were to defy the decree, who knows, he might seize the chance to diminish my domain. Then, our situation would be truly dire."

Princess Consort Ji’s tears flowed as she clasped his hands tightly, saying, "Then, we won’t marry her. Could we return to our fiefdom instead? At most, I, as Consort Mother, could swear never to emerge for a lifetime."

She was truly regretting it to her very core this time.

"That is still defying the decree."

Princess Consort Ji felt dizzy, saying, "If this won’t work, and that won’t work, then what are we supposed to do? Are we simply to follow the decree as it is? How can they treat us so harshly, pushing us to our doom? It’s not like we wish for anything grand, merely arranging a marriage for you with an Official Wife, yet they resort to such means?"

"Consort Mother, Princess Chongyang isn’t as bad as you imagine. Word has it she’s gentle in nature and very beautiful."

"Oh, my foolish son, what good is beauty? A gilded hen that can’t lay eggs is still just for show. If they allow her to give birth to a legitimate son, they wouldn’t have awarded her to you!" Princess Consort Ji cursed through gritted teeth, "If she cannot give birth, you’ll never have a legitimate son, and how can I sit back and watch her occupy the position uselessly?"

Her words were crude. Prince Min rubbed his forehead and replied patiently, "Consort Mother, there are still Concubines. The status of a Concubine isn’t low either; should she be willing, once she bears a child, it can be recorded under the Official Wife, still making it a legitimate heir."

Princess Consort Ji rolled her eyes dramatically, saying there’s no comparison; a fake is still fake.

"Consort Mother, let’s proceed this way: marrying Princess Chongyang as the Official Wife isn’t too bad. It at least pacifies the concerns from above, granting us some peace, isn’t it?" Prince Min said with a gentle smile, "As for the children, as long as they’re astute enough, they can be nurtured into commendable and distinguished heirs."

The grief in Princess Consort Ji’s eyes deepened; so naive! Even if they are outstanding, without the right pedigree, they fall short. You are a prime example!

She saw the smile on Prince Min’s face, but it only seemed more like a bitter smile to her, so she gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, then we marry. Someone, prepare the carriage. I must enter the palace to thank the Empress Dowager. Ze’er, don’t stop me!"

Do not stop her; she intended to enter the palace and stir up trouble!