Chapter 424
“Minister Li, I am glad that you readily accepted the marriage proposal for your son with my daughter,” Qiu Zedong said and looked at Eunuch Gao Bing. “Where is the Queen?” he asked.
“I am here, Your Majesty,” Zhu Liling said and bowed her head to him. Both Li Zixuan and his son stood up to greet the Queen. She walked up to the King and sat beside her.
“Let’s talk about the matter for which we have gathered together,” the King asserted. “My Queen, I have decided to make our daughter marry within the next week. I do not think that we should wait the whole month,” Qiu Zedong told his decision. “What does the Queen say?” he tilted his head to gaze at her.
“I agree with His Majesty’s decision,” Zhu Liling said, keeping a tiny smile on her lips.
“Your Majesty, pardon me, for interceding in the conversation,” Li Jianjun said. Both the King and Queen looked in his direction. “If His Majesty allows, then I would like to meet the First Princess before the marriage,” he expressed his desire while keeping his head low.
“Son, what are you saying? I do not think that there is any need to meet with the First Princess,” Li Zixuan stated and apologized to the King on his son’s behalf.
“I want to meet the First Princess so that she will not carry any doubts regarding me,” Li Jianjun stated.
“What doubts can Princess Jingfei have about you?” Qiu Zedong asked him.
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“Since I have a younger sister, so I have always seen how much she fears having a husband. When she talks with me regarding her marriage in the future, she always says to me that she would like to know about the man she will marry someday. I think that the First Princess may also have such kind of thoughts, Your Majesty,” Jianjun asserted. “That is what I think. However, I respect His and Her Majesty’s decisions,” he added so that they would not feel any kind of disrespect.
“Then, I will allow for the meeting of the Princess with Li Jianjun. If it happens today, then that will be great,” Qiu Zedong acknowledged the request of Li Jianjun and praised Li Zixuan for imparting such good values to his son.
Li Zixuan felt proud and thanked the King for his generous compliment.
“Eunuch Gao Bing, bring Princess Jingfei here,” Qiu Zedong gave an order. Gao Bing bowed and left the guest hall.
After a while, he returned with Jingfei, who was followed by her personal attendant too. Jingfei greeted her parents, followed by Li Zixuan.
“Princess Jingfei, take your seat,” Zhu Liling said. She nodded and gracefully walked to the broad chair where she was supposed to sit. After she settled on the chair, she heard her father speak.
“Princess Jingfei already knows about Minister Li Zixuan. This is his son, Li Jianjun, with whom the Princess is supposed to marry,” Qiu Zedong said and shifted his gaze at Jianjun. They both greeted each other when Qiu Zedong continued and told Jingfei that Jianjun wanted to have a private conversation with her.
Jingfei was astonished to hear that and gazed at Jianjun, who had a tiny smile on his lips.
“Thank you, Father, for allowing us to have a conversation. I am truly grateful for it,” Jingfei stated.
Qiu Zedong was stunned to find that even his daughter wanted to know about Jianjun. He was happy that he agreed with Jianjun’s suggestion.
“Gao Bing, prepare a private room for both of them by the lake side of the palace,” Qiu Zedong again gave an order.
“We elders have decided that you both should get married by the next week,” Qiu Zedong informed his daughter, who was shocked to learn about that.
“Pardon me, Father, but my brother is not here. I would like to marry in his presence,” Jingfei stated.
“Xiaoming will probably return by the next week,” Qiu Zedong asserted.
Jingfei could not oppose her father’s decision, but she was a little upset. She would leave the palace by the next week. The thought of it was making her more upset. She lowered her head as she got lost in her thoughts. She was not happy about this marriage, but she could not express her thoughts on it.
If Huang Xi had not hated her, she would be happily married to him. Her fate was indeed bad.
“Princess Jingfei!” When she heard the loud voice of her mother, she came out of her thoughts and looked at her.
“Where was the Princess lost? I have called you twice,” Zhu Liling asked while faking a smile.
“Forgive me, Mother,” Jingfei said.
“The room is ready. Follow Eunuch Gao Bing with Li Jianjun. We will be waiting for both of you,” Zhu Liling instructed her daughter. Jingfei rose to her feet, bowed before them, and then, she left the hall.
Soon, they reached the small manor which was made on the lake side of the palace. Eunuch Gao Bing told them that there would not be any palace servants, so they could talk with each other as long as they want.
Jianjun thanked him and Gao Bing left that place. He saw Jingfei had taken the seat while he sat after her. A cool breeze was blowing and along with it the fresh scent of roses filled his nostrils. He looked out and saw the roses planted in the mini-garden while the lake was filled with lotuses.
“What does Li Jianjun do?” Jingfei asked him. Though she had already known about it, but she wanted to hear it from his mouth.
“I have joined as a third-rank official in the Governor’s office,” Li Jianjun replied.
“Does Li Jianjun like me?” Jingfei asked. “Was he happy to find out that the King’s eldest daughter would marry him?” she queried.
“That was a sudden question about likeness, Princess Jingfei,” Jianjun said with a tiny smile on his lips. “When she hid behind the pillar to see me, I found that gesture sweet and cute,” he stated.
Jingfei’s cheeks turned a little red. He found that gesture sweet and cute! She noticed that smile on his lips and then, again peered into his eyes. “What about the second question?” she blinked once and waited for his response.
“I was surprised to find out that His Majesty found me capable enough for his eldest daughter. I was indeed happy. But, more than that, I am interested in knowing if Princess Jingfei is happy with this proposal?” He asked, keeping the same smile on his lips.