#95 - Stabbed Xu Ming's throat
In the imperial court, everyone held a piece of paper in their hands.
Written on the paper was the content of Xu Ming's memorial.
After everyone had finished reading the thousands of words written by Xu Ming, they couldn't help but gasp.
It seemed as if the entire hall had grown colder.
This "Resignation from Marriage" memorial stirred the hearts of everyone present, painting a vivid image of someone who "does not want to be bound by family, wants to have no worries, and wants to establish meritorious service alone."
Why did "I" decline the marriage?
"I" did it for the country!
How could "I" abandon the nation for the sake of a small family?
Furthermore, what if something happened to "me"? Wouldn't the Princess have to live as a widow?
Let the marriage agreement be put aside for now, and after "I" have conquered the Northern Wilderness and slain ten thousand demons, "I" will then marry the Princess with a grand, ten-mile-long procession!
In Xu Ming's "Resignation from Marriage" memorial, a blend of scholar and general's romance was revealed.
Was this really a fourteen-year-old?
This was a typical Confucian general!
"Lying at night, I listen to the wind and rain, iron horses and frozen rivers enter my dreams."
The military officials, upon seeing this poem, couldn't help but clench the white paper!
We military officials are not good with words, unable to express the emotions in our hearts.
But this Xu Ming directly expressed what we wanted to say the most, what we wanted to do the most!
What a heroic poem!
Even many military officials who had been transferred to the imperial court wanted to go to the border to kill enemies again.
It was becoming dull in this imperial court; how could it compare to the excitement of killing enemies and earning merit at the border!
"What do you all think? Should this marriage be bestowed, or not?" The Martial Emperor's expression seemed very troubled.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!" At this moment, Wang Changqing, the Censor-in-Chief, stepped forward, bowed to the Martial Emperor, and looked very excited.
"Congratulations?" The Martial Emperor chuckled a few times, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness, "Wang Qing, what is there for Us to congratulate?"
Wang Changqing stood up straight, his tone light and cheerful: "All under heaven know of Your Majesty's love for the Number One Scholar, and all under heaven understand Your Majesty's regard for the Number One Scholar. How could the Number One Scholar be a fool? How could he not know that following Your Majesty's wishes would allow him to ascend to high positions?
Although the Number One Scholar has not met the Princess, how could he not know that Consort Yun ranks thirtieth on the Red Beauty List despite being of ordinary birth? If Consort Yun is like this, how could the Princess be any different?
How could the Number One Scholar not know what marrying the Princess means?
However, the Number One Scholar does not covet Your Majesty's favor, nor is he captivated by the Princess's beauty, but only wants to drive out the barbarians to the north and slay the evil demons to the south for our Martial Kingdom.
Your Majesty obtaining such a subject is the fortune of the Martial Kingdom, and the fortune of Your Majesty!"
As Wang Changqing finished speaking, many people looked at him.
That damned Wang Changqing!
You usually impeach everyone and bite anyone you see!
But now, you're so good at flattery?!
Who in the imperial court couldn't see that although the Martial Emperor's expression was troubled, he was actually happy inside?
Why?
Because Xu Ming's refusal of marriage this time revealed an even nobler character!
This showed that Xu Ming would not easily be blinded by power.
And what His Majesty wanted most was Xu Ming's character!
"Your subject also congratulates Your Majesty!" Ma An, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, also stood up and bowed.
The Martial Emperor looked over: "Ma Qing, what are you congratulating Us on?"
"Your subject congratulates Your Majesty on achieving a timeless tale of a virtuous ruler and his subject!" Ma An's voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Oh?" The Martial Emperor sat up, seemingly curious, "Ma Qing, what do you mean by this?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty."
Ma An straightened up.
"In the past, Emperor Wen of the Liang Kingdom invited Chen Mi to serve, and Chen Mi wrote a 'Letter of Guilt' requesting to support his elderly mother, which Emperor Wen of the Liang Kingdom gladly granted, becoming a timeless tale.
Emperor Ming of the Wei Kingdom bestowed a title upon the Great General Tang Wei, and the Great General Tang Wei wrote a 'Ten-Word Letter' on the beam with his sword, expressing his desire to seek the Dao, which Emperor Ming of the Wei Kingdom granted. Ten years later, when the Wei Kingdom was in trouble, Tang Wei held his sword and broke through ten thousand troops.
And today, this 'Resignation from Marriage' memorial of the Number One Scholar shows that he does not covet beauty or power, and his heart to serve the country can be seen by heaven and earth, attracting the blessing of the literary Dao! If Your Majesty grants his request, when the Number One Scholar establishes meritorious service, earns fame, and marries the Princess, wouldn't it be another timeless tale?"
As Ma An's words fell, many courtiers sighed inwardly.
Damn it!
How did this guy say what I wanted to say?!
The Martial Emperor nodded: "What do you all think? Should this marriage be bestowed, or not?"
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Secretaries quickly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, this memorial has made clear the Number One Scholar's ambition, Your Majesty should grant his request."
"Your subject agrees!"
"Your subject agrees!"
The civil and military officials all echoed.
Some of the rough military officials really wanted His Majesty to agree to Xu Ming's resignation from marriage, they didn't want such a good lad to stay in the imperial capital all the time.
But who among these book-reading civil officials couldn't see that His Majesty originally wanted to agree to Xu Ming, to achieve a timeless reputation, but just needed a way to step down.
So how could they not give His Majesty this way to step down?
"Good!"
The Martial Emperor nodded.
"Since you all say so, then it would seem wrong of Us not to grant his wish.
Men, draft an edict."
Xu Mansion, front courtyard hall.
The master and the principal wife of the Xu Mansion had arrived.
They sat on the side, not daring to say a word.
In the two main seats in front of the hall sat the Old Madam of the Xu Mansion.
The Old Madam's face was full of smiles, her wrinkles all bunched up.
The young girl wore a white floor-length dress, with wide hems embroidered with pink patterns, and a light smoky purple silk draped over her arm.
Her slender waist was tied with a purple brocade belt inlaid with jade.
Her black hair was tied up with a light purple ribbon, and a few strands of hair elegantly fell over her shoulders, making her delicate skin even whiter. Her face was unadorned, yet she was fresh and moving.
Many people were mesmerized.
How could there be such a beautiful girl in the world?
Standing beside the girl were two palace maids, one holding a long sword and the other holding a zither.
Wang Feng looked at this extremely noble girl and couldn't help but sigh, "What a beautiful girl, why doesn't Ming'er want her..."
It's just that, well, her personality seems a bit cold.
From beginning to end, she hadn't seen her smile even a little.
"Old Ancestor, Princess, Fifth Young Master has arrived," a maid walked into the hall and said.
And in an instant, the long sword was drawn from the palace maid's arms.
By the time everyone reacted, the aloof Princess was already holding the long sword, stabbing towards Xu Ming's throat.
[Dear readers, please don't scold me yet. Tomorrow I don't have to go to work, so I can write a lot. I'll play two rounds of ARAM first, then a game of Valorant, and rest for a while tonight to relieve a week's worth of fatigue.
Then tomorrow I'll write like crazy during the day and try to finish what I owe you in a day.
I really didn't want to deliberately owe everyone, but I really have to live. I have old people above me and young children below me. If I don't work, my family will starve.
I've been writing in my spare time lately.]
