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Chapter 11 Choice

Madam Song, who was bestowed with an "extremely happy" description, forced a smile, her face turning white.

The empress also smiled dryly.

Li Xiao definitely had a mental illness, but when he was lucid, the strengths he displayed had no room for doubt. This was why even though ill, the emperor was still willing to place him in such high regards.

Because of this, the position of Li Xiao's main wife naturally couldn't be picked casually. No matter how crazy he acted, how he liked men, how he planned to ask the emperor to permit him to marry, that was his own business. It didn't matter what the result was. Even if the emperor didn't agree, he'd just scold Li Xiao a little, and complain he's purposely causing trouble. After all, they're father and son.

But if the empress took the initiative to mention this thing to the emperor instead, then the situation would change.

In the end, she wasn't Li Xiao's birth mother. If she randomly went to have Li Xiao marry a bastard child as the main wife, the emperor might think she harbored bad intentions and by extension, it might impact his impression of the crown prince.

She was just about to open her mouth and tactfully express her thoughts, when Li Xiao abruptly stood up. The empress almost couldn't hold her back straight.

Li Xiao did a 'please' gesture with his hand. "Today is a good day as any. How about we go now to demand a title for Song-er?"

The empress held herself steady under Li Xiao's expression of invitation. The two eunuchs next to her stood vigilant facing the handsome man, ready to help the empress escape if he should have an outburst.

The empress fit her title. Even if she was extremely terrified, she still remained dignified and smiled. "Isn't Xiao-er being too anxious? We still have to ask Song gongzi his thoughts about all this, right?"

She knew Li Xiao was serious. At this time, only Song Song can stop his impatience.

Her gaze fell on Song Song--

Suddenly receiving such a privilege, as if dropped from sky, according to logic, he should express some panic or say something like 'I can't possibly accept this,' right?

Ever since Song Song heard Li Xiao say that he wanted to 'request for an imperial edict for marriage', his head felt dazed. Later, when he saw Li Xiao's attitude remained unyielding, he felt his fingers tingle, heart rate speeding up.

Suddenly being called, he couldn't not stand up. His polite and weak appearance in the empress's eyes seemed like he was purposely acting.

The more he acted, the better. If he opened his mouth and declined with a few falsely polite remarks, then she could use the opportunity to wave this thing off, as if nothing happened---

"To receive his highness's affections, this commoner is flattered."

The empress noded, her eyes held a hint of satisfaction. This child who normally quietly resigned himself to mistreatment, in the end, still understood his lack of self-worth.

Song Song continued to reply: "I'll comply with the Emperor's decision. Many thanks to your majesty's help and blessing."

The empress's smile froze on her face.

Li Xiao instantly laughed out loud. "Song-er and I are deeply in love. Now, we only need mother to play matchmaker. Mother, let's go?"

His eyes fell on the empress's face, a hint of threat appeared in his pupils. The empress was afraid that if made unhappy, he'd have another outburst. So she could only stand up stiffly from her chair.

She never thought that while Song Song looked polite and meek, his speech and action could be so straightforward and direct. Not only was it not gentlemanly, in fact held a hint of shamelessness like a hoodlum. At the sight of any benefit, he instantly grab tight without any plans to let go. The teachings from the book of etiquette that stressed on being noble and aloof were thrown in the trash!

The mad king was royalty. His head was messed up. It's one thing for him to want Song Song to become his main wife. Who gave this Song Song the guts to agree to this marriage in just one reply. He should have looked in the mirror first and see if he was worthy!!

Madam Song accompanied the empress, forced by Li Xiao to walk in the front. Song Song followed Li Xiao a step behind. As they walked, Li Xiao suddenly reached out and pulled him next to him so they could walk on the same footing.

Song Song lifted his eyelashes to glance at him, saying softly: "This isn't appropriate."

"Earlier, you also didn't reply following standards."

Li Xiao's voice held a hint of teasing. Song Song couldn't resist smiling, cheeks lightly flushing red.

Of course he knew the way he rushed to jump on Li Xiao and stick to him was really too shameless, but he also understood, just now, if he followed the proper sequence to respond, then the ones happy right now would be the empress and madam Song. If that happened, even if Li Xiao didn't blame him, he'd still become unhappy in his heart. As for Song Song himself what's the point of saving face. If he went according to the empress's intent, no one would think he was 'being courteous and understanding of time and circumstance'. They would only think he was pretending to be noble and virtuous, and behind his back maybe even end up ridiculing him for not knowing what's good for him.

Might as well act from the heart and make Li Xiao happy at the same time. After all, this man was his golden backer in this life.

His face did not reveal any of his many inner schemes. He only slightly used strength to squeeze at Li Xiao's fingers.

Li Xiao's eyes flashed, heart slowing a few beats. He coughed once, then turned his face away.

Madam Song, who was tense all over, followed the empress walking at a steady, not too slow yet not too fast, pace. In her own house, she could strut and throw around her strength all she wanted, but here in front of such a dangerous person such as Li Xiao, she couldn't do anything.

The empress at this time was also forced into a difficult position and felt somewhat angry at madam Song. But in the end, she was her own sister so she couldn't bear to say anything.

Madam Song was the first one who couldn't bear it and whispered: "You're really going to be matchmaker for that bastard child and the mad king?"

The empress pinched her, increased her footsteps, wanting to escape far away from Li Xiao's vicinity as soon as possible.

According to Song Song's status, he couldn't casually meet with the emperor. Therefore, when Li Xiao and the empress entered, he waited outside with madam Song to be summoned.

As soon as they left Li Xiao's presence, madam Song glared at him like she wanted to eat him alive. Song Song quietly stood there, but then saw madam Song moving closer, and using a very small voice, insulted him. "Shameless dog."

This woman really was trying to make use of every second and every inch to make his life miserable. Song Song sighed and said without even sparing her a glance: "If you say another word, then I'll complain to his highness."

Madam Song laughed coldly: "Inside the palace, what can he do to me?"

"Inside the palace?" Song Song looked at her with amusement. "During an outburst, the mad king can't even recognize his own relatives. What? You really think you can leave the Forbidden City alive?"

"You"

A mindless lunatic was already very scary. A mindless lunatic with outstanding martial skills like the mad king can't be described using merely scary. As long as he doesn't kill anyone significant for the nation, it's extremely possible for the emperor to pretend nothing happened. Although the Song family were considered nobility, madam Song even has an official title, they didn't hold real authority. In the emperor's eyes, they were just another grain of rice. It didn't matter if there's one more or one less.

Madam Song's face twitched. "Using your connection to intimidate people! Let's see how long your audacity will last!"

Song Song lightly replied: "I advise madam to act more courteously. If the emperor is willing to grant this marriage, then my audacity will last quite a number of days Then you will have to be real careful."

Madam Song suddenly felt a cold shiver run up her back, and sneered. "Just because of you?" She continued confidently: "The mad king has what kind of status? A bastard child like you, you're not even worthy to wash his feet. Yet you really think you can become the main wife? Keep dreaming!"

Song Song calmly moved to the side and did not continue to rile her up.

Madam Song continued to shoot daggers at him with her eyes. If they weren't standing in front of the emperor's palace hall, she would have force fed him several small needles to torment him viciously.

The malicious thoughts continued to twist and turn, but because they were in the palace, she could only suppress them.

A while passed, someone from inside came to summon them. Madam Song hastily fixed her jewelry before entering, and along with Song Song, bowed low to the emperor.

The emperor said: "Lift your head. Let zhen take a look."

(Zhen is how the emperor refers to himself. It means 'I' or 'this one'. Only the emperor can use this word.)

Song Song looked up, neither servile nor overbearing. The old emperor took a glance, then nodded and said with a smile: "What an attractive and intelligent child. Come. Take a seat."

The two 'mother and son' thanked the emperor. Song Song sat next to Li Xiao. Madam Song, who was full of nerves, sat in a lower position to the empress. She only heard the emperor ask Song Song a few questions, before turning towards her. "What does Madam Song think of this?"

What does she think? Even if she had misgivings in front of the ruler, she couldn't say it out loud. Madam Song could only smile in reply. "All according to your majesty's decision."

In the end, the emperor valued the mad king. There's no way he would let his own child marry home a man. In her heart, she was confident in this thought. She heard the Emperor laugh loudly in reply. He coughed twice, then said: "Do we need to discuss this matter with Song Guogong?"

Madam Song thought he was testing her, and hastily said: "Even if my husband comes, we would still listen to the will of your majesty."

The emperor nodded and said: "If this is the case, then we'll leave it like this for now."

He looked at Song Song again, stating tiredly: "Alright. Everyone can return. It's time for my rest."

He stood up and left with the support of an eunuch. Everyone stood up respectfully to send him off. When that stooped figure completely disappeared, Li Xiao said goodbye to the empress and left first with Song Song.

The two just left, Madam Song immediately said: "Sister, the emperor just now, what did he mean?"

The empress's expression was somewhat grave. She glanced at Madam Song. "What do you think he meant?"

Madam Song said: "Song Song is born of lower class. How could he match the mad king? In my opinion, there's no way the emperor would agree to grant this marriage!"

Hearing her talk with such confidence, the empress suddenly laughed. "If that's the case, then you don't need to worry. You can go back."

The empress left as well. But madam Song still didn't get a clear answer. She frowned, thinking since her sister told her not to worry blindly, then that's a good thing. She felt relieved, and couldn't help feeling Song Song's unperturbed expression today was somewhat laughable.

"Oh well. Let him dream for a few more days."

Inside Yangxin Palace, the eunuch in waiting was fiddling with the candlelight. He turned his head to look at the old emperor who was sitting in front of the table, hesitated for a moment, walked over to ask: "Your majesty, is it a difficult choice?"

The emperor coughed lightly, looking at the blank white silk in front of him. "Today, Xiao-er arrived to ask for permission to marry. Is it to make zhen feel at ease, or is it because he sincerely likes that child?

"This servant feels, it could be both."

The emperor fell silent for a long time before saying: "He's a good child."

Realizing something, the eunuch at the side raised his sleeve to wipe at the corner of his eyes, saying: "Your majesty's consideration and love towards Ping Wang, he understands clearly in his heart."

The eunuch knew that the emperor had his troubles too. If Li Xiao didn't fall ill, the throne would have been his. All these years, the emperor never gave up on treating him. He even let him join the army to make a name for himself in attempt to give him a chance to prove that he wasn't useless, his importance already far surpass that of other princes. But no matter how much the emperor appreciated his abilities, he still couldn't pass on rulership to the hands of a lunatic.

According to history, no ruler has ever had a male empress. Therefore, if he passed the imperial edict today according to Li Xiao's wishes, then everyone will understand that the emperor made a decision. That he gave up on ping wang and will give the throne to the crown prince. If he agreed to the marriage, on one hand, it represented that he abandoned ping wang. On the other hand, it represented that he's pacifying him. Either way, in anyone's eyes, it would seem like he was paving the way for the crown prince.

(Note: I still don't know if this part is clear. The emperor's saying. Sorry you can't rule the nation, but I'm letting you marry the guy you want. While Everyone else is thinking: Oh, the emperor wants him to marry a guy, that means he finally decided to have the crown prince inherit the throne.)

"Your majesty are you worried ping wang will feel hurt?" The eunuch consoled. "Looking at his attitude towards the child next to him, it's real fondness. You don't need to worry about them too much."

The emperor held his brush. After a long time, he finally exhaled a long sigh, his elderly voice carried a hint of sorrow: "How unfortunate for Xiao-er."

The brush traveled. The imperial seal pressed down on the white silk.

This national and family matter like this, was decided.

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The author has something to say:

Do you want the nation(power) or the beauty(love)? Pointless question.

Adults naturally want both.