The Double-Chapter 540 - 162 Persuasion_3

In the still silence, Empress Dowager Liu stood facing off against Princess Yongning. After what felt like an eternity, she finally sighed and said, "Have you truly made up your mind?"

Princess Yongning declared, "My mind is set without a doubt!"

Empress Dowager Liu sighed deeply, her voice laced with resignation, "I promise you. Now put down the dagger."

"Mother," Princess Yongning lowered the dagger, and earnestly spoke, "This is not a sudden impulse. I have put too much effort into Shen Yurong, and, harboring the thought that all should not be in vain, he must become my Prince Consort. Mother must never think that appeasing me temporarily is the solution. If it never comes to pass, life holds no meaning for me, and I shall find a path to death."

This was an unmistakable threat.

Empress Dowager Liu was nearly angered, but seeing the determined look in Princess Yongning’s eyes, her heart softened. Well, her daughter had always had everything her way since she was little. Since this was the case, why not let her marry the man she loved? If she was unhappy later on, there were countless ways to make a change. After all, sooner or later, the world would belong to their family, what was a Shen Yurong in the grand scheme of things?

"There’s no need to threaten me. If I’ve said it, I will do it," Empress Dowager Liu said firmly.

Hearing Empress Dowager Liu give in, Princess Yongning knew the matter was settled. She instantly broke into a radiant smile, threw the dagger aside, stood up, ran to Empress Dowager Liu, and, hugging her arm, said with a laugh, "Mother loves me the most! I knew Mother would grant my request!"

Watching Princess Yongning’s delighted expression, Empress Dowager Liu didn’t know whether to be angry or to joke, and finally said, "For his sake, you’ve really racked your brains! You even threatened your own mother!"

"That’s because I know Mother will surely pity me and consider my feelings," Princess Yongning said as she sat up straight and addressed Empress Dowager Liu, "Mother, let’s bring up the matter with the Emperor tomorrow, so that he may grant the marriage. Or even if the Grand Empress Dowager grants the marriage, that too would work." The Grand Empress Dowager hardly involved herself in world affairs anymore, so it would be extremely easy to persuade her. As for the Emperor...he had high hopes for Shen Yurong, and because of Prince Cheng, he might be reluctant to allow Shen Yurong to become Yongning’s Prince Consort.

"Tomorrow?" Empress Dowager Liu frowned, "So soon?"

"It is not soon, Mother," Princess Yongning insisted, "I am already seventeen, and next month, I will be eighteen. Ordinary girls of my age would be married off; what more for a princess like me? Shen Yurong and I have been entangled for a year. I don’t want to prolong this and risk complications. I even hope to wed next month if the marriage is granted."

"You..." Empress Dowager Liu frowned at Princess Yongning, "Are you in such a hurry to marry because something has happened?"

Princess Yongning panicked inwardly, but managed a smile and said, "Nothing has happened; Mother can think of it as me being eager to wed and enter the Shen family’s doors!"

"Oh, you!" Empress Dowager Liu shook her head but still couldn’t resist Princess Yongning’s coaxing and agreed to address the matter with the Grand Empress Dowager the following day.

After much more conversation and having lunch together with Empress Dowager Liu in the palace, Princess Yongning finally left.

Once outside the side hall, she looked at her abdomen and smiled faintly.

Everything was going smoothly. Once Empress Dowager Liu talked to the Grand Empress Dowager the next day and the marriage was granted, she would marry into the Shen family next month. Shortly thereafter, the "happy news" would spread, and that way, the child within her could be born openly and honorably.

No one would be able to find fault.

Lost in her thoughts, Princess Yongning couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

...

Having received Princess Yongning’s instructions, Empress Dowager Liu sat in the side hall, pondering for a long time, but ultimately decided to go and seek an audience with the Grand Empress Dowager. freēwēbnovel.com

She thought it through; firstly, Princess Yongning truly seemed to love that man named Shen Yurong, and even if she, as a mother, did not fulfill her request, Yongning’s temperament was such that she would resort to other means. It was better to pass through her own hands and save some trouble.

Secondly, Prince Cheng had also previously joined Princess Yongning to persuade her, saying that Shen Yurong wasn’t too bad—although his family background was humble, he was a man of talent. Empress Dowager Liu suspected that her daughter was irrationally entangled in love, but she trusted her son’s judgment. Since Prince Cheng had praised Shen Yurong, it indicated that Shen Yurong was not without merit. And as for the humble family background, it could be built up from this generation onwards; once Prince Cheng ascended to the throne, they could simply elevate him then.

Empress Dowager Liu even decided not to wait until the next day and went to visit the Grand Empress Dowager right away.

The Grand Empress Dowager’s Cining Palace was located in the east. When the Grand Empress Dowager was alive, the Cining Palace was no different from any other ordinary palace. After her death, the Grand Empress Dowager moved in, and Cining Palace almost became a Buddhist hall.