The queen frowned tightly and sighed constantly.
Princess Lingyang had been spoiled for so long. It was high time someone taught her a lesson!
As soon as Song Wanchu and Yaoguang entered, the queen quickly took their hands.
"Are you both unharmed?"
Daiying smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Princess Yaoguang is extremely brave. When she tamed that big black dog, it was as easy as taming a little puppy. She was so imposing!"
Song Wanchu nodded repeatedly. "Your Majesty, Princess Yaoguang saved me from danger several times. She is a true hero among women."
The queen had verified Yaoguang's identity at the Spring Welcome Banquet.
At that time, she was deeply impressed by this fearless and valiant princess.
What was even rarer was that although she was a weak woman, there was a firm belief and fearless courage in her eyebrows.
Now, looking at her carefully again, the queen liked her more and more.
It was a pity that she only had Prince Hong as her son.
None of the other princes was worthy of Yaoguang.
Seeing the admiration in the queen's eyes, Song Wanchu didn't beat around the bush.
The situation was urgent, so she spoke straight to the point. "Your Majesty, my elder brother beat the eldest son of the Gao family. Although he was wrong, there was a reason for it."
The queen pondered slightly, thinking that Song Wanchu was going to ask her to intercede for Shi Luohan.
"Your elder brother did a just deed. He should not be punished. But regarding matters in the court, I can't interfere too often. His Majesty will make a decision."
Song Wanchu smiled faintly and shook her head gently. "How dare I let Your Majesty take the blame? What I'm asking for today is something else."
Her expression became serious. She knelt down in front of the queen properly.
"My elder brother and Princess Yaoguang fell in love with each other and promised to marry each other when they were in Yunzhou. How could my elder brother sit back and do nothing when the eldest son of the Gao family harassed Yaoguang? Although he was impulsive, his motive was to protect the one he loved."
The queen caught the key point in her words accurately.
Wanchu was smart and straightforward. She knew what she wanted and didn't beat around the bush. It was more sincere than those false flatteries and humble requests.
"I'll keep what you said in mind."
She raised her hand to signal Song Wanchu to get up, and Daiying reached out to help her.
Song Wanchu and Yaoguang glanced at each other and knew what was going on.
The queen quickly figured out the pros and cons.
If Concubine Lan got the upper hand, the future situation would be unfavorable to the crown prince.
Knowing that this matter couldn't be delayed, she decided to see the emperor immediately.
She must speak to the emperor before Concubine Lan!
"You two stay here for a while. Have lunch with me. I'll go and see the emperor."
She told Daiying to entertain the two girls well.
In the Yangxin Hall, the emperor had just finished reading the memorials.
He had been feeling more and more exhausted recently. After just reading memorials for an hour, he felt dizzy.
Several memorials were all condemning Shi Luohan for being unjust and arrogant as an official. They demanded that he be severely punished and that justice be done for Gao Zhao.
Shi Luohan was a talent that the emperor appreciated, so he had been granted the title of a second - rank general. It was a pity that he was too hot - tempered. With one strike, he almost disabled someone.
Gao Zhao was good - for - nothing. Although the emperor looked down on him, he still had to take Concubine Lan and the second prince into consideration.
But if he really punished Shi Luohan, wouldn't it be like slapping himself in the face?
The emperor was in a心烦 mood.
The queen brought a bowl of tremella and snow pear soup.
"Your Majesty, have some. It can reduce internal heat and dryness."
Looking at his gentle and considerate wife, the emperor felt a little better.
"Prince Hong's wedding is approaching. I have a lot of state affairs to deal with. I need you, as his mother, to worry more about it."
The queen smiled and said, "Naturally. I see that Your Majesty is frowning. I guess you have something bothering you. Coincidentally, I have some good news here. Once Your Majesty hears it, you will surely be overjoyed."
"What is it?"
"I just found out today that Princess Yaoguang and Shi Luohan fell in love with each other and promised to marry each other when they were in Yunzhou."
The emperor's eyes became clearer, as if the clouds had cleared. "No wonder. I didn't think he was an impulsive person. Even if he was avenging Princess Yaoguang, he shouldn't have used such excessive force. It turns out he was protecting the one he loved!"
As an emperor, although he was usually serious and cold - faced, he was also a man of emotions.
He understood Shi Luohan.
How could a man tolerate his beloved being harassed and molested?
Seeing the emperor's frowning brows relax, the queen knew she was on the right track.
"Your Majesty, why don't we just go with the flow and bestow this marriage? Firstly, the Gaochang Kingdom has always been a vassal state of the Great Zhou. As the emperor of the Great Zhou, it is reasonable for you to bestow a marriage on the princess of Gaochang. Secondly, once their mutual love becomes official, Shi Luohan's beating of Gao Zhao will be a just act. Those who are shouting to impeach Shi Luohan will stop. The Gao family will know they are in the wrong and won't dare to demand justice anymore."
As the queen, she could only say so much about the benefits of bestowing the marriage.
The emperor patted her hand. "Good. It's a good idea. I was just worried that there was no suitable general in the court to help Princess Yaoguang restore her country. Once Shi Luohan becomes the son - in - law of Gaochang, this problem will be solved!"
There was another benefit, which was to prevent the Gaochang Kingdom from being controlled by others and becoming a threat to the crown prince.
On this point, the emperor and the queen understood each other tacitly and neither of them mentioned it.
The emperor immediately called the courtier in charge of drafting imperial edicts to prepare the decree.
When Concubine Lan sent Mrs. Yang away and rushed to the Yangxin Hall in a hurry, Li Luxiang, who was holding the imperial edict, was just coming out.
"Eunuch Li, where are you going to deliver the imperial edict?"
Li Luxiang beamed with joy. "Your Highness, His Majesty has bestowed a good marriage on General Yunhui and Princess Yaoguang!"
All the color drained from Concubine Lan's face.
There was no need to go to the Yangxin Hall anymore.
...
The queen returned to the Yukun Palace with a beaming face.
"Yaoguang, I'm afraid I can't keep you for lunch today."
Song Wanchu and Yaoguang were overjoyed.
They thought that even if the emperor agreed to bestow the marriage, the imperial edict would not be issued for a few days. They didn't expect that the result would come out in just two hours.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness!"
The queen helped them up. "Don't thank me. I did this because it involves the court affairs and also for my own sake."
The two of them knew in their hearts that the queen always put the crown prince first. If it was beneficial to the crown prince, of course she would be the first to act.
Yaoguang was sent out of the palace by Daiying.
Since Song Wanchu rarely entered the palace, she stayed with the queen to chat.
"Your Majesty, the meal is ready."
A maid came in to inform them.
Just as they sat down at the dinner table, Princess Lingyang came.
Thank goodness she didn't bring that big black dog.
But she looked at Song Wanchu with hostility in her eyes.
With the queen present, Song Wanchu wasn't worried that she would do something out of line.
"Mother, the food and wine are so sumptuous today, yet you didn't call me."
Lingyang pouted and threw herself into the queen's arms.
The queen doted on her little daughter after all. Her serious face softened, and her eyes were full of affection.
But she still didn't forget to warn her. "Eat properly. Wanchu is your elder sister now. Don't be rude."
Princess Lingyang showed her white teeth at Song Wanchu. "I don't have a sister who seduces Taoist priests!"
Song Wanchu sneered inwardly.
Endurance and concession would only make Princess Lingyang more and more excessive.
She was just a bully who feared the strong and bullied the weak.
Song Wanchu put down her chopsticks and looked at Princess Lingyang calmly.
"Princess, the Taoist priest you mentioned could remain pure - hearted and abstinent in front of other women, but he couldn't help himself in front of me. I didn't need to seduce him. He just fell for me willingly. Then tell me, if we fell in love, whose fault is it, his or mine?"
The provocative look in Princess Lingyang's eyes instantly faded.
"You're shameless. This is the palace. How can you talk about such dirty things?"
Song Wanchu retorted sharply. "I've been married before. I don't care about my reputation. But the princess hasn't been married yet. As soon as she opens her mouth, she mentions the word'seduce'. Who is really being dirty?"