The Double-Chapter 735 - 221 Shock_2
Chapter 735: Chapter 221 Shock_2
Jiang Li said in annoyance, "Nonsense."
"Alas," Jiang Jingrui suddenly sighed again, "it’s too late to say anything now. The imperial edict has been issued; even if we know Duke Su has a difficult temperament, it’s impossible to call off the marriage now. Initially, I thought it was the Crown Prince..." His face was full of regret.
It seemed that the Jiang family members generally thought Yin Zhili was a better choice than Jih Heng. However, after what Emperor Hongxiao did tonight, Jiang Yuanbai and Jiang Yuanping probably wouldn’t think the same as before. Jiang Jingrui might not understand the complex situations at the imperial court, but the other members of the Jiang family were certainly not foolish.
Jiang Li guessed that when she returned to the Jiang Residence later, Jiang Yuanbai would want to have a "heart-to-heart" talk with her.
Indeed, as the carriage arrived at the entrance of the Jiang Residence, Jiang Li wanted to head back to her courtyard, but after only a few steps, Jiang Yuanbai called out to her, saying, "Jiang Li, come with me."
Bai Xue and Tonger looked at Jiang Li worriedly. Jiang Li gave them a reassuring glance and followed Jiang Yuanbai to the study.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Jiang Yuanbai turned and asked, "Did you know about Duke Su asking for your hand in marriage tonight beforehand?"
Jiang Li replied, "No."
She had to lie about this matter; if she admitted the truth, Jiang Yuanbai would only think that her previous warning about problems within the Yin Household was motivated by self-interest.
Jiang Yuanbai looked at her skeptically.
"I really didn’t know about this bestowed marriage, and I didn’t know the Prince of Xia County would ask the emperor for this marriage either. But one thing I do know is that the Jiang family and the Yin Household must not become too close. If there is any sign of that, someone will surely come forward to stop it. I didn’t expect that person would be Duke Su."
Jiang Yuanbai was half-convinced as he said, "Are you speaking the truth?"
"If Father doesn’t trust me, there is no point for me to continue," Jiang Li said with a straightforward attitude that made Jiang Yuanbai feel like he was perhaps being too petty. Looking at his daughter, he felt a sense of nostalgia; Jiang Li was a young girl—what young girl should be troubled with court politics every day? There were daughters who were sacrificed as bargaining chips for their families, but as the daughter of the Grand Secretary’s Family, she was supposed to be doted upon and not bothered by such trivial matters.
"Why would Duke Su ask for your hand in marriage?" Jiang Yuanbai asked, "Previously in Huangzhou, he saved you... Have you had prior dealings with him?"
"The incident in Huangzhou was coincidental, and it is not as Father imagines between me and Duke Su. As to why Duke Su would ask to marry me, I guess he probably knew beforehand about the news of the Prince of Xia County’s marriage alliance with the Jiang family; it was just a preemptive move on his part."
"That means he values you, which is why he competed for you with the Yin Household," Jiang Yuanbai said.
"Father is really overestimating me," Jiang Li said with a slight smile, "Neither the Yin Household nor the Duke Residence would overturn the big picture over a daughter. I think, the reason Duke Su asked for my hand in marriage is not because he values me but because he doesn’t want the Jiang family to ally with the Yin Household. Father shouldn’t forget that Duke Su’s loyalty lies with His Majesty. In this bestowed marriage, His Majesty’s attitude is also thought-provoking. From what I can see, His Majesty would rather have me marry into the Duke Residence than into the Yin Household. What does that suggest?"
Jiang Yuanbai looked at Jiang Li, unable to voice his thoughts. He had guessed the possibility but didn’t want to believe it. To say it out loud would mean admitting that he had misjudged and made wrong choices, a cost he might have to pay for in the future.
"His Majesty suspects the Prince of Xia County, doesn’t trust him. The Prince of Xia County holds military power, and you’re the head of the civil officials—how can His Majesty be at ease if the Prince of Xia County becomes another Prince Cheng? Even Prince Cheng failed to win over the Jiang family; if the Prince of Xia County is successful, how could His Majesty feel secure? Compared to that, Duke Su has no military power but has loyalty, making him obviously the better choice. I guess, it’s possible that even the decision of the bestowed marriage wasn’t proposed by Duke Su himself but was the emperor’s idea, and Duke Su was just following orders."
Jiang Li’s words, mixed with truth and deception, sounded more credible than either complete truth or complete falsehood. Jiang Yuanbai felt the same as he recalled Emperor Hongxiao’s reaction during the banquet. Although the young emperor was growing up and becoming more distant each day, in that moment, he still felt that Emperor Hongxiao was observing.
Indeed, Emperor Hongxiao did not trust Yin Zhan, in this, Jiang Li had not lied. freewebnøvel.coɱ
"What on earth did the Prince of Xia County do..." Jiang Yuanbai murmured, "If His Majesty didn’t trust him, he wouldn’t have summoned him back to the capital in the first place."
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