0p0 Chapter 196 Self-taught
Chapter 196 Self-taught
As the saying goes, some people die of drought while others die of floods.
Ye Wanning didn't know where Xie Bohuai had learned it from, but he let her touch this and that.
After a night of absurdity, she didn't wake up until almost noon the next day.
Yunzhi came to check on him several times. When she saw that her master had woken up, she whispered, "You should advise the master to stop. No one does this. I hope you two can be loving, but look at you, you're covered in marks."
“Indeed, we can’t let him come again today.” Ye Wanning was too tired to get out of bed. After asking the time, she became even more determined. “Is there anything going on at the manor today?”
"It's nothing, just that Si Yan came to report that the Wu family is alright, and he'll investigate their background. They must have taken a liking to each other, it's just a formality," Yunzhi said.
"That's good, one less thing to worry about." Ye Wanning yawned. After eating something, she was very tired and stayed in the house all afternoon.
When Xie Bohuai returned at night, Ye Wanning wouldn't let him touch her anymore. "You should be more restrained, sir. You can handle it, but I can't."
Xie Bohuai said with a bitter face, "I have to make up for what I did before."
"Earlier?"
“Yes, we’ve been married for so long, and we only consummated our marriage a few days ago. After such a long period of inactivity, shouldn’t I ask for some interest?” As he spoke, Xie Bohuai had already put his arm around Ye Wanning’s slender waist. “But let’s go to sleep first tonight, otherwise you’ll have to get up even later tomorrow.”
Ye Wanning pinched Xie Bohuai, feeling that this man was becoming more and more shameless. "Who did you learn all this from?"
"No need to learn, just let me sit next to you, I can learn on my own." Xie Bohuai patted Ye Wanning's hand. "Go to sleep. News has come from the south: Lu Fengnian won, and Prince Cheng was executed on the spot. The Emperor has eliminated a major threat, so we need to be more vigilant from now on."
With Prince Cheng no longer a rebel, the Emperor's next step is to clean up the court.
Whoever is capable, whoever has ulterior motives, he will promote his people, and some people will have to step down for them.
Regent Xie Bohuai is becoming increasingly irrelevant, watching them fight over power as long as they don't try to seize it from him.
Ye Wanning thought of Princess Cheng, "Then what will happen to your niece in the future?"
"Send her to a temple to live out her days," Xie Bohuai said, adding that this was the best possible ending for Xie Lingxian.
Ye Wanning thought about it and realized that was indeed the case.
She was just asking casually; she wasn't genuinely concerned about Xie Lingxian. When Lu Fengnian returned to the capital in triumph, the Emperor, just as Xie Bohuai had suggested, sent Xie Lingxian to a temple outside the city to practice Buddhism.
After several battles, the national treasury was empty, and the emperor punished several corrupt officials. The officials of the Zhenfu Division were extremely busy. The newly appointed commander, Qiu Zhiheng, became famous, and Zhao Chuan was also given important responsibilities.
"The Emperor uses people who have no family background and no other support in the court. These are the best people to use because if they want to gain a foothold and realize their ambitions, they can only rely on the imperial power," Ye Wanning said to Xie Bohuai while looking at the account books.
Xie Bohuai had just returned a short while ago. He intended to stay out of court affairs, but he had been very busy lately. "Yes, His Majesty is a wise man. When he was a prince, he knew to avoid confrontation and conserve his energy. Coupled with the Crown Prince, who loves to work hard, there are now even more problems both inside and outside the court."
"Actually, this is fine too. As long as you are well, it doesn't matter what happens to the Emperor and the Crown Prince," Ye Wanning said.
Hearing Ye Wanning's concern, Xie Bohuai was pleased. "Have you heard about Princess Xihe's marriage?"
"Is it settled?"
"Not yet, but it's pretty much a done deal. The Crown Prince is marrying the Empress's niece, who is also from the Cao family, so it won't serve any political purpose. The Cao family is just an ordinary aristocratic family. Even though the Emperor has been promoting them, they haven't produced any outstanding individuals. Now that the war has just ended and the national treasury is empty, it's the time when money is most needed. The Emperor might marry the princess to a member of the imperial family," Xie Bohuai analyzed.
The social hierarchy was: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Even imperial merchants were not worthy of a princess.
Ye Wanning frowned as she listened, "Wasn't Her Majesty the Empress choosing? Why is the Emperor interfering again?"
"The marriages of princes and princesses are primarily driven by self-interest. No matter how much the Empress dotes on Princess Xihe, it's useless. If the Emperor and Crown Prince don't raise the money soon, unrest will break out in many places." Xie Bohuai has been speaking frankly with Ye Wanning lately, saying whatever comes to mind.
Ye Wanning hadn't seen Princess Xihe for quite some time and didn't know how Princess Xihe was doing.
Princess Xihe was crying in Kunning Palace at this moment, "I won't marry him, I absolutely refuse to marry him. Those two men, one is as fat as a winter melon, and the other is as short as a spinning top, neither of them is good. Mother, didn't you say you would choose one for me, one that I would be satisfied with? How come Father is short of money, so you're selling your daughter with him?"
"presumptuous!"
The Empress frowned. "I've always spoiled you too much, which is why you've said such audacious things. Xihe, if I hadn't stopped you, your father would have already arranged your marriage. Why would you be allowed to choose?"
"What's there to be picky about? They're both ugly and deformed. I don't want to marry them." Princess Xihe wiped away her tears. "If I had to marry them, I'd rather become a nun!"
The Empress was anxious and upset, but she had indeed said that she would let her daughter choose carefully. She was in a real bind, and when she heard that the Crown Prince had arrived, she had no choice but to go see her son first.
When the Crown Prince learned that his sister still refused to agree, he sighed and said, "Xihe is a bit spoiled. Let me go and talk to her."
"Hey, don't be forceful with her. It's the Empress's fault for this. You should try to persuade her." The Empress knew there was no other way. If she wanted people to genuinely serve the royal family, they had to show sincerity. Royal merchants couldn't hold official positions in the court, so marrying a princess was the best way to improve their status.
The Empress and the Emperor discussed this matter for a long time before finally deciding to go and find their daughter.
"Your subject understands." After entering the room, the Crown Prince saw his younger sister sitting on the ground. "You have no manners. You are a princess now. Even if you are crying, you cannot sit on the ground."
"Then I don't want to be a princess anymore! Let me go, I'll go and make my own way in the world!" Princess Xihe said angrily. "You're just trying to persuade me, aren't you? I definitely won't marry them. I'd rather remain single for life than marry two such ugly people!"
"Do you know how chaotic it is outside? Xihe, you have been pampered by your father and mother since you were a child, but you don't know how hard it is for ordinary people. They can't even afford two meals a day. Because of the constant war, they have to sell their children and still can't survive. Your father's hair has turned completely white in order to raise enough money. Do you see the effort they have put in?"
The Crown Prince sighed and said earnestly, "If there were other options, wouldn't your father and mother have wanted you to choose a suitable husband for yourself? They protected you as you grew up and gave you a life free from want. Since you enjoy the honor of being a princess, you should also bear some responsibility for that status. Xihe, no one can live a carefree life forever. You are already very fortunate."
The hall fell silent. Princess Xihe was a bit spoiled, but she wasn't completely ignorant.
After a while, the Crown Prince emphasized his words, "Think more about your father and mother, and those people who are starving and freezing, before you say you won't marry."