The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law-Chapter 946 - 940 Persuasion

It was already the end of February, and March was quickly approaching. The snow that year was highly abnormal.

There were unusual signs in the sky, and I feared that this year would be a tumultuous autumn. frёeωebɳovel.com

Jin Zijin’s thoughts suddenly turned to Gu Youyou. She always seemed to feel cold; with the continuous heavy snowfall, I wondered if she was too afraid of the freeze to leave her house.

In reality, she probably wanted to go out and see the snow, or perhaps build a strange snowman.

The emperor’s expression was somewhat unsightly as he watched Jin Zijin’s profile. To his surprise, he saw him smile slightly.

It was not the same insincere, mocking smile that didn’t reach his eyes—it weighed even heavier on his heart.

Being too sentimental was not good for him.

And especially for such a woman.

"No matter whether you plan to take the throne or not, such a woman is not suited for you. You deserve better."

Jin Zijin turned around and said in a low voice, "Do you believe that no one is better than her?"

"How could that be? There are so many women in Beijing, and there’s Che Xiangyuan’s daughter..."

"Then why did you stop Consort Sheng? Because you were afraid she would truly outshine those candidates. Aside from using the spear and the stick, I see nothing that Youyou cannot match Che General’s daughter in," Jin Zijin interrupted.

The emperor felt a twinge of annoyance, but he made a concession, "Since you say so, if her performance is extraordinary, it’s acceptable for you to marry her. However, with her status, she can only be a consort."

Jin Zijin replied calmly, "If she wins, she will be the chief wife. Those are the rules of the game, and the Empress Dowager has agreed."

He would not yield an inch on matters concerning Gu Youyou.

This obstinance made the emperor’s face grow increasingly sour.

Had it been any other son, he would have already scolded them. But Jin Zijin was different, and the emperor was well aware of it. His other sons had requests of him, but Jin Zijin did not.

He owed him, so the emperor tried to convince him patiently.

"If you take her as your chief wife, she will become a target for all. A chief wife without any background or ability will have a worse life than a concubine." This much he knew very well.

Take Qinqin, for example. After the Xiao Family’s great tutor died in battle, the family’s influence in court plummeted. Qinqin was left without support, forcing him to seek other powers that would back him, leading to their downfall.

It seemed Jin Zijin could see the most vulnerable and meager helplessness deep within him.

He felt no sympathy, only disdain in his heart.

His thoughts were not the same as the emperor’s; confronting his helplessness, the disdain in his eyes grew stronger.

"I am not like you. I won’t give anyone the chance to hurt her. Therefore, I will only marry a chief wife, with no other concubines."

The emperor stared at him blankly. Jin Zijin didn’t speak these words boastfully; he was very calm, as if discussing the tea from Qi Mountain.

But his expression was firm, as if he had no doubts that he could achieve this.

The emperor’s face turned colder, knowing that he himself had been unable to accomplish this in his own time, not even daring to utter such words. Thinking this, he felt a twinge of envy towards this son.

"By doing this, you will have no support from influential external families. You will end up isolated and weak while your two brothers will marry chief wives and consorts from the best families in Beijing."

"Isn’t that all thanks to your arrangements?" Jin Zijin asked with a sneer.

The emperor sighed, "My choosing is at least better than if they chose on their own."

He knew whom he could offer, and whom he couldn’t. It was better to have him arrange the marriages than to let them form cliques behind his back.