Chapter 1221 - 15: The Pearl Collector and the Princess
Chapter 1221: Chapter 15: The Pearl Collector and the Princess
Li Anqing’s expression darkened; he had certainly considered these matters, which is why he wasn’t in a hurry for Qinghe to get married. He responded coldly, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"I want to say, Uncle Li, what do you think of me? My family background is clean, and I share many common interests with Qinghe. You’ve gotten to know me quite well over these days; even though you often roll your eyes at me, I heard you telling Aunt Wang that I’m smart and diligent, so you still think I’m not bad, right?" Ahai chuckled.
Li Anqing squinted again and said nothing.
"I know what you’re worried about, Uncle. You think I might have multiple wives as a wealthy man in the future. Don’t worry about that; I will only have Qinghe. I will also seek an Imperial Physician to treat Qinghe. However, to me, whether Qinghe can be cured doesn’t matter. Being with Qinghe is joyful and happy, and every day is full of anticipation. Having too many women in the backyard only leads to trouble; I know this better than anyone. My mother was a victim of the struggles between women, so I swore a long time ago that I would only have one woman in this lifetime," Ahai said sincerely.
Li Anqing’s expression gradually softened and suddenly said, "What is your real name?"
"My name is Tang Zhishi, and due to family affairs, I must return now. Please accept this Jade Pendant; when I return, I will formally propose and marry Qinghe openly," Ahai said, revealing his real name this time.
"Alright. We will wait for you." Li Anqing looked at the young man before him, saw the sincerity in his eyes, and finally nodded. He was willing to give the person before him a chance, which was also a gamble for him—betting that he truly cared for Qinghe and could bring her happiness.
"I won’t say farewell to Qinghe; I’m afraid I won’t be able to part. In short, I will finish handling matters quickly and come back," Tang Zhishi said.
"Alright, then you go now." Li Anqing nodded.
...
After Tang Zhishi left, Li Anqing noticed that his daughter appeared lonelier and would sometimes stand under the grape arbor in a daze.
Alas, let it be, let it be, girls can’t be kept once grown.
It seems that his daughter and Tang Zhishi are indeed in love—a hope Tang Zhishi returns soon after handling his affairs.
A few days later, the streets were abuzz with a hot topic.
The Emperor wants to establish the eldest Princess as the Crown Princess, which means she will inherit the throne!
This has never happened before; this country has never seen an Empress. Is the current Emperor losing his mind?
Not at all!
The Emperor is determined to appoint the most favored Princess as Crown Princess; if he were the only one advocating for it, it could be seen as him prioritizing personal preference over the state, but on the royal court, half of the ministers surprisingly supported it; the other half strongly opposed it.
Reportedly, whenever the court convenes, the ministers stand on opposing sides, arguing like it’s a marketplace, with no one willing to compromise. One faction supports the Princess, while the other staunchly opposes it. Sometimes the spitting arguments nearly land on the Emperor’s face, often angering the Emperor to adjourn the court to discuss later.
The matter remained deadlocked this way.
Upon hearing this, Li Anqing exclaimed in amazement. What kind of formidable person is this Princess to have half the ministers backing her? In a previous life, he read about history, noting that the only Empress, Wu Zetian, ascended the throne through immense hardship and took the position at an advanced age.
But this world’s Princess, valued so highly by the Emperor, supported by the ministers in this way—what kind of person is she exactly?