#92 - Don’t I have any face?
“Xu Ming deserves death, but I temporarily decline the imperial decree.”
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Xu Ming's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly echoed throughout the entire courtyard.
In an instant, everyone was stunned in place, looking at Xu Ming in disbelief.
Many even wondered if they had misheard.
Xu Ming, he...
Rejected the Emperor's marriage proposal?
Seriously.
How dare you?
This is the Emperor's decree you're refusing! Are you really not afraid of losing your head?
“Ming’er, what are you saying?” The old matriarch of the Xu family was very anxious, her cane tapping incessantly on the ground.
“Ming’er, do you know what you're doing?” Xu Shuiyai's face was stern.
“Ming’er, you, you, you…” Xu Zheng pointed at Xu Ming, stuttering.
This matter was simply too shocking for them.
They never imagined Xu Ming would refuse the marriage.
Although Princess Zhaowen had always been in the depths of the palace, and few people had seen what she looked like.
But so what?
Even if she was extremely ugly, what difference would it make?
Wouldn't it be the same once the candles were blown out?
Besides, the Emperor is so handsome, and Princess Zhaowen's deceased mother was the number one beauty of the former Wu Kingdom, even ranking thirtieth on the beauty榜 as a mortal! How beautiful must she have been! Just imagine!
With such a foundation, how ugly could Princess Zhaowen be?
Why did you refuse?
“Ming’er…”
Chen Suya, kneeling to receive the decree, gently tugged at her son's sleeve, her expression full of worry.
Chen Suya hoped her child could marry the girl he loved.
But this was defying the imperial decree!
If he defied the decree, Ming'er would be beheaded!
“Top Scholar, what… what did you just say?”
Wei Xun also suspected he had misheard.
It shouldn't be.
Wei Xun couldn't think of a reason to refuse.
Normally, shouldn't the Top Scholar be grateful and kowtow to thank the Emperor?
How could he refuse?
Could it be because of that Qin Qingwan?
But Qin Qingwan is already a cultivator, with a lifespan of thousands of years. What relationship do you have with her, Top Scholar?
To Qin Qingwan, you are just a ripple in the long river of life.
“Eunuch Wei, um… our Ming’er is still young and doesn’t know the importance of things. Please, please take a seat first. Chunyan, what are you standing there for? Quickly pour tea for Eunuch Wei!”
Xu Shuiyai was the first to react, quickly pulling Wei Xun to sit in a seat.
The others who were kneeling were puzzled. The Xu Top Scholar had refused the imperial decree, so should they continue kneeling or not?
Xu Zheng quickly stepped forward, wanting to lecture him as his cheap father.
Although Xu Zheng also knew he had never cared about Xu Ming, and even had an indifferent attitude towards Xu Ming, because he did have quite a few sons, why would he care about a son born of a concubine?
But no matter what, he was still his father, wasn't he?
“Ming’er, ah, you, that, this won't do! Quickly tell Eunuch Wei that you were confused, or else you'll be beheaded!” Xu Zheng stammered, trying to organize his words.
He originally wanted to lecture him with "fatherly authority."
But when Xu Zheng came in front of Xu Ming, the majesty and martial aura emanating from Xu Ming made Xu Zheng cower immediately.
“Nephew, you really need to consider this carefully. This is something ordinary people can only dream of!” Qin Qingwan's father, Qin Ruhai, also stepped forward to persuade him.
In fact, Qin Ruhai also felt that Xu Ming hadn't let go of his daughter.
If his daughter hadn't entered the Tianxuan Sect, if she wasn't a natural saint.
Then, with Xu Ming's current status, marrying Qingwan would have been something he would have approved of with both hands and feet.
But now it was different.
Although you are the Top Scholar, although you achieved Triple Crown, although your poetic talent is known throughout the world, you are ultimately just a mortal.
Qingwan doesn't even know how many times she will come to visit us. When the time comes, she will have to sever her ties with the mortal world. As her father, I will have to pretend that I don't have this daughter. Why are you still so sentimental?
Zhao Wenshan stepped forward and asked, “Nephew Xu, have you really thought about this? This is defying the imperial decree…”
As the Top Scholar, Xu Ming would definitely not be beheaded for refusing the marriage, otherwise, the Emperor wouldn't be able to explain it to the world.
Otherwise, if word got out that “the Wu Kingdom Emperor killed his own Top Scholar because he was rejected after bestowing a marriage,” that would be terrible, and the Wu Kingdom would lose face in the world.
But if that's the case, Xu Ming is, after all, “defying the imperial decree,” and in front of so many people.
“I bestowed my only daughter to you on the day you achieved high rank, and you still refused? Don't I have any face?”
He definitely needed to give the Emperor an explanation.
Looking at the crowd, Xu Ming calmly said, “I will definitely give His Majesty an explanation.”
Xu Ming bowed to Eunuch Wei, “Eunuch Wei, could you wait for me for a moment? I would like to write a memorial to His Majesty.”
Wei Xun opened his mouth, then slowly closed it, and finally sighed deeply, “Of course, this old servant will wait for the Top Scholar here, but please think it over carefully, Top Scholar.”
“Thank you, Eunuch Wei.” Xu Ming stood up and looked at Zhao Wenshan, “Uncle, do you happen to have a memorial on you?”
The reason Xu Ming asked Zhao Wenshan for it was not to deliberately give the Xu family a hard time.
But Xu Zheng and Qin Ruhai were both in honorary positions with insufficient rank. If they wanted to write a memorial, they needed to apply to the Ministry of Rites...
Xu Shuiyai, as the Duke of Xu, did have enough rank, but his seniority was a bit high, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him to ask.
“I don’t have one on me, it’s at my residence…” Zhao Wenshan looked embarrassed, then looked at Xu Shuiyai.
Xu Shuiyai hesitated, but finally nodded, “I have a memorial there.”
“Thank you, Lord.” Xu Ming bowed.
“…” Xu Shuiyai was very helpless and could only take Xu Ming to his study.
Xu Pangda and Zhao Wenshan followed, and although the others also wanted to see what Xu Ming was going to write, they had to stay behind to appease Eunuch Wei's emotions…
“I’ll grind the ink for Fifth Brother.” Xu Pangda rolled up his sleeves, extended his chubby hand, and carefully ground the ink for Xu Ming.
Although Xu Pangda also felt sorry for his Fifth Brother, no matter what Xu Ming did, Xu Pangda respected Xu Ming's decision.
“Thank you, Fourth Brother.”
Xu Ming nodded and picked up the brush.
Zhao Wenshan spread out the Xuan paper for Xu Ming.
“Eunuch Wei, please calm down. Our Ming’er is still young and doesn’t understand things.”
“Yes, Eunuch Wei, don’t look at Ming’er being the Top Scholar, but Ming’er still has a lot of youthful energy.”
“Eunuch Wei, don’t worry, we will definitely talk to him properly.”
In the courtyard, Xu Zheng and the others kept saying good things, secretly stuffing silver notes to Wei Xun.
In the past, Wei Xun would still accept silver notes, but at this critical moment, Wei Xun secretly pushed them back.
“Alas, our Top Scholar is really… um?”
Just when Wei Xun couldn't help but want to complain a few times.
Wei Xun suddenly stood up.
Above the Xu residence, the literary fortune gathered, and gusts of scholarly wind blew towards the study, the fragrance of ink and literary fortune wafted out, covering ten miles.
