usatvline Chapter 288 Disagreements
Chapter 288 Disagreements
Chapter 288 288 Different Opinions
Caught off guard by Gongsun Yuan's rebuke, Marquis Anshi's reprimands were stuck in his throat, leaving him utterly furious. Seeing the mother and daughter with their seemingly identical temperaments, his disgust intensified, and he felt even more pity for Xu Pingyue and her daughter, who were raised in the brothel.
The noblewoman was indeed proud and haughty, unlike the daughter of a humble family. She was gentle, charming, and understanding.
But he remembered his purpose, so he could only suppress his anger and coldly snort:
"Since you're here, listen carefully. Ran'er has already come of age. Because of a previous marriage alliance with the Ouyang family, we planned to hold the wedding this year. But this girl went crazy for some reason. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, she actually wanted to break off the engagement with the Ouyang family in front of His Majesty. I was there at the time. Do you know how those people looked at me? They all treated me like a joke!"
That's what it was for.
"This matter happened a long time ago. Since you didn't blame me then, why bother to pursue it again now?" Gongsun Yuan said. "As for why the engagement with the Ouyang family was dissolved, doesn't you know, my lord?"
An Shihou glanced at Ye Pianran's face, recalled the rumors from back then, and snorted coldly without saying anything more.
"Furthermore, didn't the Marquis already arrange for Miss Bijun to marry Ouyang Shaoyu? It can't be said that he has severed ties with the Ouyang family, can it? Our daughter is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family. Her looks and talent are first-rate. Logically speaking, marrying a prince or nobleman would not be a problem. There are plenty of fine young men in the capital. Dissolving the engagement with the Ouyang family may not be a bad thing."
Gongsun Yuan said calmly.
Seeing his opportunity, Marquis Anshi seized the chance and said, "You're right. With Ran'er's status, marrying a prince or nobleman is naturally no problem. I've been looking for a good husband for her, but I haven't found a suitable candidate yet. However, when the morning court session ended this morning, many people in the palace were congratulating me. After inquiring carefully, I learned that yesterday, the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the Sixth Prince all asked His Majesty for our daughter's hand in marriage!"
Gongsun Yuan frowned and glanced at Ye Pianran. Seeing Ye Pianran's tightly pursed lips, she couldn't help but sigh, understanding the cause of this argument.
"What are your plans, Lord Marquis?" Gongsun Yuan asked.
Marquis Anshi felt slightly relieved and found Gongsun Yuan more agreeable, so he became more talkative:
"His Majesty did not immediately grant their request, but only said that the three of them should compete during the autumn hunt to determine the winner. You also know that the Fourth Prince personally visited the Marquis's residence a couple of days ago, but you may not know that he came not for anything else, but to propose marriage to me! In terms of who is first, he is even one step ahead of the Third Prince and the Sixth Prince! According to the rule of first come, first served, I naturally give him priority!"
Gongsun Yuan said calmly, "But since His Majesty has spoken, we must do as His Majesty wishes. You cannot make that decision."
“To say you’re a woman’s daughter is an understatement!” Marquis Anshi immediately retorted. “I know you think you can marry anyone, but think about it carefully. The Third Prince is martial, has too much of a murderous aura, and is very cold-blooded. He’s not the kind of person who would care for others. Besides, he already had a princess and a son. If you marry him, you’ll only be a second wife. No matter how close you are or how good your relationship is, once you’re married, you’ll have to have another child. It won’t be her child who inherits the throne.”
"The Sixth Prince is an idle, lazy, and irresponsible man who will never amount to anything. What future is there in marrying him?"
"As for the Fourth Prince, although he is not the Empress's son, his mother is Consort Min, who has enjoyed the Emperor's favor for many years! Moreover, he has been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, possessing a talent for handling current affairs. He is also exceptionally talented and outstanding, having served as the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Rites for many years without ever making a mistake, earning the Emperor's deep trust. He is the most favored son-in-law after the Crown Prince. If one were to marry him, one would have both wealth and power. Tell me, in the entire capital, could one find a better son-in-law than him? I merely asked Ran'er to agree to marry the Fourth Prince in front of the Emperor during the autumn hunt, and this girl actually quarreled with me and even talked back. Tell me, have my good intentions harmed her?"
His analysis sounded quite reasonable, and Gongsun Yuan had to admit that if he hadn't already been in contact with Chunyu Yang, he probably would have been persuaded by Marquis Anshi today.
Gongsun Yuan calmed herself down and said, "Ran'er, in the end, your father is doing this for your own good. Even if you are unwilling, you shouldn't argue with your father. Why don't you apologize to your father and admit your mistake?"
Ye Pianran was stunned. If 666 hadn't shouted in her ear, "Listen to your mother," she probably would have thought that her mother was really going to change her mind.
Ye Pianran rose, picked up her teacup, and knelt before Marquis Anshi. She whispered:
"Your daughter knows she was wrong. She shouldn't have talked back to her father. Please punish her."
An Shihou's anger finally subsided a bit. He glanced at Gongsun Yuan with appreciation, then took the tea from Ye Pianran's hand and took a sip, but did not let Ye Pianran get up.
"However, while what you say makes sense, I have a different opinion."
Gongsun Yuan said calmly:
"The Marquis says that the Fourth Prince is trustworthy, but has the Marquis considered that the Crown Prince has already been chosen? The Fourth Prince is so outstanding that he may be resented by the Eastern Palace. If a new emperor ascends the throne one day, the first one to be suppressed will be the one who stands out the most. Fortune and misfortune are intertwined. What seems like a blessing now may turn into a disaster in the future."
Marquis Anshi's face darkened, and he wanted to retort, but he stopped himself from speaking.
"If I were to marry off my daughter, I would not seek wealth and honor, but only a peaceful life, a prosperous family, and many children and grandchildren," Gongsun Yuan said. "If Your Excellency were to let me choose among the three princes, I would think that marrying her to the Sixth Prince would be the best option."
Her words surprised not only Marquis Anshi, but also Ye Pianran.
"mother……"
Gongsun Yuan calmly reassured her with her gaze, then said to Marquis Anshi, "Who in the capital doesn't know the Sixth Prince's reputation as the 'Carefree Prince'? Although he is leisurely, he is not truly mediocre or useless. He simply avoids conflict to show his brothers that he poses no threat, thus ensuring the safety of his maternal clan. Moreover, he is a kind and gentle person, not the kind of person who frequents brothels. If you marry him, you don't need to worry about your husband not being considerate and loving. You will definitely be a peaceful and happy Sixth Prince's wife."
Marquis Anshi: "But the Sixth Prince has no roots or power in the palace and no real authority. When the new emperor ascends the throne, he will have even less chance of advancement. What benefit would the Marquis's mansion gain from marrying such a person?"
"Is the Marquis marrying off his daughter or selling her?" Gongsun Yuan's gaze suddenly sharpened. "Does a dignified Marquis's mansion really have to rely on his daughter to maintain itself?"
Marquis Anshi's face was also extremely ugly: "You—"
"The marriage of one's children is a matter for the couple to decide together. Since we cannot reach a consensus, let's proceed according to His Majesty's method. Whoever wins will be the winner. If it is indeed the Fourth Prince who wins, then I have nothing to say!"
Having said that, Gongsun Yuan flicked her sleeve and said:
"Ran'er, let's go!"