Chapter 139: The Imperial Son-in-Law

Chapter 139

The Imperial Son-in-Law

Lately, turbulence within the inner palace had grown more intense. The fierce battle between the Empress and Mu Gui Fei had escalated significantly. No one knew what had happened recently, but the Empress seemed to declare an all-out war. Both in secret and openly, the Empress attacked Mu Gui Fei mercilessly. Many of Mu Gui Fei’s close attendants were eliminated—some framed and punished, others mysteriously disappeared. Yet, life in the inner palace continued. The lives of these servants meant little; they were mere pawns sacrificed in the ruthless power struggles of these powerful women, who were just as ruthless as men.

Since Mu Qiuxiang was sent to the palace in place of Mu Rongying, she had not disappointed her family. Upon entering the palace, not only was she elevated to the rank of Consort Zhao Yi, but she also became an invaluable ally to Mu Gui Fei in her conflict with the Empress. While her beauty couldn’t rival Mu Gui Fei’s in her youth, Mu Zhao Yi’s ambition drove her to give her all. She always found ways to ensure that the Emperor became aware of the Empress’s cruel behavior.

Mu Qiuxiang had long been envious of Mu Rongying. No matter where they went, Mu Rongying always outshone her. When she learned that Mu Rongying had fled, Mu Qiuxiang was overjoyed, thinking how foolish the other woman was to throw away such an opportunity—one that everyone coveted. Though her family tried to hide the truth, rumors had spread that Mu Rongying had become merely a bed-warmer for a local powerful individual. What a waste. When the elders decided to send her to the palace instead, Mu Qiuxiang gladly accepted. While Mu Gui Fei sought power for the family, Mu Qiuxiang sought the pinnacle of power for herself.

Meanwhile, Princess An Le had noticed that her father seemed burdened with worry lately, so she visited him almost daily. Every time the Emperor saw his beloved daughter, he would smile with joy. An Le’s personality was endearing, with a straightforwardness and simplicity like a child, rarely found in someone raised within the inner palace. Her innocence was a fortunate gift.

An Le had not been born to a high-ranking consort; her mother was merely a beautiful Consort Chong Yi[1]. When An Le was born, a crane happened to fly near the palace and circled overhead. The Emperor, passing by, noticed it and inquired, learning that a consort was giving birth to a daughter. The crane, a symbol of good fortune, was seen as a favorable omen by all who witnessed it.

Because of this, the Emperor favored her from birth, personally bestowing her name. Her mother was also granted special privileges, being allowed to raise the princess herself—an unusual exception. Perhaps it was all in the Emperor’s mind, but he believed that this daughter brought him nothing but good fortune. As An Le grew up to be sweet and charming, whenever he saw her, his weariness and worries seemed to melt away. The entire inner palace knew of An Le’s favored status, and no one dared offend her. When someone once told An Le about the story of the crane, she didn’t believe in such auspicious signs but always felt grateful to that silly crane.

When An Le was three years old, Consort Chong Yi passed away. The Empress Dowager, feeling pity for the young girl, took her in and raised her at the palace, ensuring that An Le grew up surrounded by the love of the two most powerful figures in the realm.

"What are you doing, Father?"

When she arrived, she noticed that her father was reading some documents. She leaned in to take a closer look, disregarding formalities. She knew that her informal manner would bring delight to her father. The Emperor, seeing her behavior, chuckled fondly, knowing she was just trying to lighten his mood. He playfully flicked her forehead.

"You little one, if this were a classified document, shouldn’t I have you beheaded by now? This study of mine—you’re probably the only one bold enough to meddle in here."

"Oh! Father! If it were truly a classified document, your guards would have stopped me at the door."

An Le exclaimed with a mock-serious face, which made the scene even more amusing. She was likely the only child who dared to speak so casually with the Emperor. In truth, she was probably the only one who could bring him the feeling of a father-child bond—a sole warmth atop the cold throne.

Noticing the unfamiliar fabric of the petition scroll, An Le’s curiosity piqued, and she leaned in closer to read.

"Ah! This is from the Xi Region."

Her eyes scanned the scroll and caught the word of marriage alliance, prompting her to ask her father,

"Are they proposing that their princess becomes a consort, or are they seeking marriage with one of my brothers?"

The Emperor set the scroll down, his expression thoughtful.

"It’s not a marriage with someone in the royal family. The princess of Xi Region wants to marry General Song, Song Qilin."

Princess An Le’s eyes widened in shock.

"That cannot be! General Song is already married to Sister Nie. How can he marry someone else?"

The Emperor, seeing his daughter’s serious expression, couldn’t help but laugh.

"Are you so close to her now that you call her Sister Nie? Don’t worry. I have no intention of marrying her off to Song Qilin. I already knew you’d be upset on behalf of your friend. I’m thinking of proposing that she marry the second young master of Yong An Hou Manor instead. He’s just as handsome as his elder brother, with a gentle and refined temperament. If he agrees to the marriage, I will grant him a noble title and promote him to a higher rank so he will be worthy of her."

An Le frowned, sensing something was wrong with her father’s plan but not knowing how to object. The second young master was indeed handsome and came from a good family—certainly not a bad match. But something still felt off to her. Finally, it hit her.

The second young master was far too gentle. How could someone so soft handle a princess from such a wild region? It was her duty to help protect him...

"Father, marry her off to someone else. The Second Young Master is not suitable for her. He should marry someone else instead."

The Emperor, thinking his daughter might not understand the intricacies of noble family dynamics, explained further.

"He’s twenty years old, a suitable age for marriage. The engagement with Young Miss Chen has already been called off, and marrying the princess from Xi Region would be an excellent choice. Why don’t you agree with it?"

An Le furrowed her brows. She wasn’t very good at finding logical reasons, so she resorted to her usual straightforward approach when making requests.

"Why not grant him to me instead, Father? He’s a handsome and gentle man. Giving such a fine person to a foreign princess would be a waste, wouldn’t it?"

This time, the Emperor was taken aback by his daughter’s words. When he regained his composure, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. His beloved daughter was directly requesting a fine young man. She wasn’t even the least bit embarrassed, requesting for the second young master as if he was a prized ornament or a piece of silk. After a moment of stunned silence, he asked hesitantly.

"Do you fancy him? You are a princess, with many servants at your disposal. Why would you need the Second Young Master? Or do you mean to say you want him to be...an imperial son-in-law?"

Princess An Le pondered this for a moment before slowly nodding. She knew that as a princess, she would eventually have to marry. If she had to marry for political alliances in some distant land, why not wed a handsome man like Song Ren? He was pleasing to the eye, and, by the looks of it, he would indulge her. She would also get to be in the same family as Sister Nie Shuang. What could be better than that? With this reasoning in mind, she reaffirmed her request."Exactly, Father. I want him to be an imperial son-in-law."

[1] Chong Yi is one of the nine royal concubines (嬪, pín).