Chapter 10: Even If It Means Bringing Luck Through Marriage

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Shen Xiangjun. Although over the years he had grown accustomed to opposing the wishes of the Prince of Jin—always doing the opposite of what the prince disliked or rejected—seeing the prime minister Shen’s daughter so eager to marry the Prince still gave him pause. Shen, the prime minister, had always been utterly loyal to him.

Logically, Shen Xiangjun should have been betrothed to the crown prince or another imperial son to strengthen their bond as ruler and minister. Yet Shen had tacitly accepted his daughter’s wish to marry the Prince of Jin. What benefit could this possibly bring Shen? Could it be that the prince had played the role of a dutiful elder brother all these years, leading Shen to mistakenly believe they shared a deep fraternal bond?

Shen Xiangjun was renowned throughout the capital for her talent.

“Shameless enough to not show your face outside? Then you can just stay behind closed doors,” the Prince said flatly.

The cruelty of his words was truly cutting.

Shen Xiangjun was so shocked she forgot to cry.

“My lord?”

The empress dowager could not help but ask, “Which lady does the Prince of Jin intend to marry? Could it be one of his mistresses he’s met over the years?”

In saying this, she effectively labeled the woman the prince wished to wed as some loose woman. No respectable daughter from a proper family would be a man’s mistress.

“Your Majesty! The retired emperor is vomiting blood!” A sudden urgent shout came from outside, causing everyone’s expressions to change.

At the same time, dark clouds rolled across the sky, quickly turning the day gloomy and overcast, as if a storm were brewing.

The sudden change in weather unsettled even the emperor.

The Prince of Jin immediately strode out swiftly.

Qingfeng, his guard standing watch outside, hurried after him nervously, lowering his voice. “My lord, your leg—”

The prince usually could only walk slowly and carefully, for any excessive movement caused unbearable pain in his leg bones. Yet now he was moving so quickly!

“Fetch the chief physician!” the prince ordered in a deep voice.

“Quickly, to the Palace of Eternal Longevity!” Behind, the emperor and empress dowager hurried after him.

After a moment’s hesitation, Shen Xiangjun bit her lip and hurried after them as well.

---

Within the Palace of Eternal Longevity, a thick medicinal scent filled the air, mingled with a faint but indescribable foul odor.

Two years ago, the retired emperor had fallen ill suddenly. Since then, his condition had fluctuated—sometimes able to leave the palace, but often fainting or confined to bed.

The Prince of Jin burst into the palace, where the old eunuch Fu, who had been by the retired emperor’s side, immediately wept openly.

“Prince of Jin, you’ve returned to the capital!” He quickly knelt before the prince. “This old servant pays respects to you.”

“Rise, Fu,” the prince said as he hastened to the bedside.

The retired emperor lay there, his hair pure white, his face gaunt, marked with age spots, and his breath faint as a wisp.

There were even spots of blood on the blanket.

“Father!” The prince knelt beside him, taking his hand. At the touch, he was startled by how ice-cold the hand was.

He had traveled far seeking medicine and had not received the latest letters from the capital. Only upon returning did he learn how grave the retired emperor’s condition had become.

Fu, dabbing his tears, said, “Your Highness, the retired emperor has been longing for your return...”

He had more to say but swallowed the words as the emperor and empress dowager rushed in behind him.

“How is Father? Where are the imperial physicians?” The emperor entered sharply, his gaze sweeping the chamber. Seeing the kneeling servants with reddened eyes and sensing the lingering scent of blood, a surge of excitement stirred within him.

Is the old man finally dying?

Once the retired emperor passed, all imperial power would fully rest in his hands. No one would overshadow him anymore—he would truly be the emperor!

He had waited a very long time for this day.

“The imperial physicians are in the side chamber discussing the prescription,” Fu said.

Several imperial doctors hurried in, dropping to their knees with a clatter.

“Your Majesty, we are fearful... the retired emperor’s condition, I’m afraid—” The chief physician dared not raise his head, his voice trembling.

For two years, they had only been able to slow the decline, but now there seemed no hope left. The retired emperor was like a candle burning at both ends.

“Half a month ago, the retired emperor was still spirited and insisted on visiting the ancestral temple!” the emperor said angrily.

How could it have deteriorated so quickly in just half a month?

The empress dowager burst into tears and rushed to the bedside, trying to approach, but the Prince knelt before the bed, blocking her way.

“Open your eyes and look at me—” she choked on her words, speaking as if they were still a loving couple.

“Your Majesty, when the retired emperor insisted on going to the ancestral temple, we begged him otherwise. That day, he was not well but forced himself to go,” the chief physician explained.

“Yes, Your Majesty, the weather that day was wild—sand and dust swept through the capital, followed by a sudden downpour. The retired emperor fainted at the temple. That visit likely worsened his condition.”

Half a month ago, the weather was strange—the sky rumbled intermittently, fierce winds whipped through the city, and several people were struck dead by falling trees.

Many still shuddered when recalling that day.

Yet the retired emperor had insisted on visiting the ancestral temple alone, forbidding anyone to accompany him inside. Had it not been for Shen Xiangjun, who happened to be passing by while reciting scriptures to pray for the empress dowager, no one would have discovered the retired emperor’s collapse in time.

The Prince of Jin grasped the retired emperor’s hand tightly, secretly channeling his inner energy into him. His eyes reddened as he looked at the frail old man, who bore no trace of the imperial grandeur he once possessed.

“Father, I am A Yue. I have returned.”

Perhaps aided by the prince’s inner strength, the retired emperor struggled to open his eyes.

“A-A Yue, the Great Zhou... is... is falling into chaos...” His voice was hoarse and faint, heard only by the prince kneeling beside him. The empress dowager and emperor tried to lean in closer but could only see his lips barely moving.

“Father, I will find the divine medicine that will cure you!” the emperor cried urgently.

“Silence,” the prince commanded sternly.

The emperor’s eyes widened, ready to leap up. How dare he command him to be silent? He wanted to stop the retired emperor from speaking to the prince!

But before so many witnesses, he dared not make a scene.

“A Yue, I dreamed that the ancestors appeared to me in a vision—the Great Zhou’s dragon vein has been severed... A Yue, you must promise me to protect Great Zhou...” The retired emperor’s voice faltered.

“Father, you cannot leave us now—you have yet to see the Prince of Jin marry and have children!” The empress dowager cried out anxiously. Her eyes caught sight of Shen Xiangjun outside, and she immediately called to her, “Xiangjun, come quickly!”

Shen Xiangjun’s heart pounded in her throat—could this be her chance?

Disregarding protocol, she dashed inside. The empress dowager grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her to the bedside.

“Retired Emperor, this is the prime minister Shen’s daughter. Did you promise her to the Prince of Jin? Shall we arrange their marriage immediately?”

Pressing down on Shen Xiangjun’s shoulder, the empress dowager caused her to kneel at once beside the prince.

“Prince of Jin, even if it is for auspicious reasons, Xiangjun harbors no regrets!”