klisemfg Chapter 245 God’s Domain 4
Chapter 245 God’s Domain 4
It turns out that all the indulgence and pampering at home over the past year was just an illusion!
She was chosen, by a member of the royal family who was powerless but extremely favored.
When did that happen?
That's a good question. Even Liu Zhi, who is directly involved, doesn't know.
All she knew was that at the palace banquet that day, she was betrothed, and her family, holding her dumbfounded, came out beaming with joy and profuse thanks. The whole palace was filled with jubilation, but no one asked her if she was willing.
A royal marriage is an immense honor. From now on, the family of the Pillar of State General will be the most powerful in Yujing and even in the entire Qiansheng, second only to the Emperor. They will be even more powerful than the dukes and marquises!
But what about the willow branches?
No one cared about her thoughts or whether she should stay or leave.
This woman, who had been abandoned at Yushan Temple for fifteen years and had only been back in Yujing for a year, was to be married in a month, to someone she had only met once at a palace banquet.
Did she resist?
No, and it can't be done.
After the palace banquet ended and she returned to her so-called home, many unfamiliar faces came to Liu Zhi's courtyard, ostensibly to protect her, the future princess.
But from then on, Liu Zhi was no longer allowed to leave her courtyard.
Her father never came to see her, nor did her brothers, sisters, or aunts. It was as if she never existed in this family, yet the entire capital knew of her as the fourth legitimate daughter, who was also the soon-to-be-married Princess Consort of Xiang.
Liu Zhi knew nothing. During the fifteen years she stayed at Yushan Temple, the abbot only taught her to read and write and basic etiquette. He couldn't teach her anything more.
The simple-minded willow branch was like someone who had fallen into a wolf's den. All sorts of jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards were eyeing her, this piece of fat meat, but she knew nothing about it.
Liu Zhi only ever knew that she was a child abandoned by a wealthy family, and that being able to eat her fill was the greatest blessing. As for anything else, she never asked for anything more.
With the General's Mansion on one side and the Prince's Consort on the other, why would she rebel when she can still live such a good life?
Therefore, she was obedient and compliant, and she would never do anything that crossed that man's bottom line. As for the rumors and events that happened in Yujing during that year, they were nothing more than trivial matters to that man.
Since someone doesn't want her to go out, she'll just stay home. It's only a month; she can wait that long.
In the course of a month, the Prince of Xiang, who had taken a liking to her, visited her residence several times and summoned her to meet him two or three times. They discussed marriage and cultivating their relationship, according to her father.
Liu Zhi was exceptionally obedient, doing whatever she was told. In these few meetings, she learned her future husband's name and who his close relatives and friends were.
He seemed to care about her quite a bit, always treating her with great courtesy. But being too polite wasn't good, after all, they were about to become husband and wife. Once, Liu Zhi gave him a small hint, but he didn't change.
Liu Zhi is now receiving daily instruction from the teaching matrons sent from the palace, learning how to be a wife and how to manage the relationship between husband and wife.
Treating each other with courtesy and respect is good, but if it goes too far, it's not what a couple should be. There should be tenderness and affection, unwavering love and trust, and the ability to keep a man's heart... These are all things that the teaching nanny told Liuzhi.
The old woman also said that nobles and royalty have always had many concubines. As the principal wife, one must be magnanimous, not worry or complain, not be jealous, and not mistreat the concubines, etc.
But she hasn't even married into the family yet, and the Prince of Xiang hasn't taken a single concubine. Why are we talking about something so far in the future?
On her wedding day, she learned the answer.
So, the amusing anecdote of wives and concubines entering the house together also happened to her...
That day, Liu Zhi understood that the Prince of Xiang did not love her, nor did he like her.
The woman he liked and loved was Madam Song Rui, who entered the family on the same day as him and was the daughter of a small merchant.
In the following three to five years, several more ladies came to the Prince's mansion, almost all of them from prominent families.
Lady Song was the only one in the household with the lowest social standing, yet Prince Xiang repeatedly tried to promote her to the rank of concubine, but the old dowager concubine in the household rejected the proposals, using her background as a pretext.
These matters have little to do with Liu Zhi. As long as the Pillar General is safe, her background is enough to ensure that she will always remain in the position of the principal wife and live a life of wealth and leisure.
When he had nothing to do, he would invite a few ladies over for a chat, or go out to visit the fields, drink tea, listen to opera, or enjoy the lake and flowers. He was very happy.
Ever since she learned that the Prince of Xiang did not favor her, Liu Zhi sealed her heart tightly.
During the more than ten years I spent at Yushan Temple, I didn't learn much, but the one thing I mastered was how to be open-minded.
Some things you can't get no matter how hard you try, but at least she held onto the last thing that belonged to her.
As for the rest, as long as they didn't threaten her current position, Liu Zhi wouldn't care. She even had the idea of taking her sisters to see a play together.
It is said that mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law have always been enemies. She, as a proper daughter-in-law, got along quite well with the Dowager Consort, while Song Rui, a concubine who was always protected by her son, was always disliked by the Dowager Consort.
Sure enough, the one favored by the son is the one who has the substance but not the title (~￣△￣)~
Over the course of five years, even the most foolish person would have figured it out: most of the ladies in the mansion were forced into the household for various reasons.
Over the years, Liu Zhi has developed a few cunning tricks up her sleeve. Apart from one or two girls who are in love with the Prince of Xiang but are also full of scheming and burning with jealousy, Liu Zhi doesn't like to play with them and prefers to keep her as far away as possible.
As for the remaining sisters who hadn't schemed against her or done anything outrageous, Liu Zhi didn't want them to all become resentful women confined to their chambers, so she often took them along for any recreational activities.
He drifted along like this for four or five years, and before he knew it, he had become a model of a wealthy family.
Everyone praised the Princess Consort of Xiang for her skillful management of the household and the harmonious relationship between her wives and concubines, which made many families in Qiansheng envious.
But what Liu Zhi wanted was never these empty titles. Having been abandoned since childhood, she was able to grow up in a Buddhist temple. She always yearned for a better life, and it would always be good if life could be made a little easier.
However, just when Liu Zhi thought that this peaceful life would last a lifetime, an unexpected accident shattered everything.
……
"His Majesty is critically ill; the Prince is urgently summoned to the palace!"
"what!!!"
"The eunuch delivering the imperial decree is right at the door, Your Highness, this matter cannot wait..."
The servant who was delivering the message at the door was kneeling on the ground, and in front of him, Prince Xiang and Lady Song were fishing together.
The Prince of Xiang looked genuinely surprised, while the beautiful woman beside him looked at him with a hint of worry before glancing at the kneeling servant on the ground, her expression turning slightly serious.
"Did the imperial eunuch who delivered the decree say anything else?"
"No, I just told the prince to set off immediately."
The Prince of Xiang glanced at Song Rui and solemnly ordered, "Rui'er, go and tell the Princess Consort about this matter. Tell her to inform my mother that I will return to the capital immediately!"
This matter was of great importance, and Song Rui, knowing the implications, immediately gave him her approval: "Yes, Your Highness, please go ahead. I will go find the Princess Consort now."
The two, who were deeply in love just a moment ago, parted ways the next second. Prince Xiang rushed to the palace, while Song Rui went to find the princess without stopping.
……
The carriage sped along, and Zhang Yanzhi, who was sitting upright in the carriage, was resting with his eyes closed. He was not at all astonished and anxious as when he left the mansion. There was a suspicious smile on the corner of his mouth, and his hand on his lap was rhythmically tapping his knee with his fingers.
The palace was under several times more security than usual, yet the speeding carriage was not stopped and proceeded unimpeded to the emperor's bedroom.
There were many more guards at Chong'an Palace today than usual, and two princes who had arrived earlier than Zhang Yanzhi were stopped by the imperial guards at the gate.
"Seventh brother, you've come too..."
King Zhou, Zhang Yanfeng, said with a sullen face and a malicious expression.
Prince Guang, Zhang Yanyu, kept his eyes fixed on the future Prince Xiang, but remained silent.
Zhang Yanzhi smiled warmly: "Second brother, thirteenth brother, you've arrived early. His Majesty urgently summoned us to the palace, but why wouldn't the imperial guards let us in?"
The following sentence was addressed to the guards, and it was both a question and a slightly flippant interrogation.
Once the three men were present, the guards, following the instructions of the one inside, put away their weapons and released the men.
"Your Highnesses, please."
With the obstruction removed, the three entered the hall with varying expressions. Zhang Yanzhi, who was at the back, glanced outside without making a sound before returning to normal.