Chapter 1094: Why Must He Be Like This?

Zhao Junyan is inherently lonely, almost to the point of being a recluse.

The door to his heart remains tightly shut, only opening at specific moments to those he is familiar with.

After all these years, it is still the same!

He is slow to warm, reclusive, but once he trusts someone, he is willing to open up completely, even willing to give everything.

Zhao Junyao stands beside him.

His gaze falls on the distant, bustling palace buildings.

After a long silence, he finally remarks with a faint smile.

"Little Seventh, what you just said is inevitable!"

"With the country prosperous and at peace for so long, some in the army are starting to slack off; this is unavoidable!"

"Soldiers are not mere plants; they are living, breathing people, and as people, they have desires and emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness!"

"No matter how rigorous the army, it cannot train every soldier to be exactly alike!"

"Some are ahead, some lag behind; some are diligent, some are lazy—this is human nature!"

"You only see those who are slack!"

"But you haven’t seen that there are more people like you, who care about the nation and its people, who are diligent and conscientious, also working hard!"

"It’s precisely because of people like this that I have confidence!"

As his words fall.

The air falls into boundless silence once more.

Unclear how much time has passed.

Zhao Junyao suddenly laughs.

"Enough!"

"You said so much, led astray by you! Let’s return to the main topic!"

"What kind do you like? Later, let the Empress arrange it!"

"Father is still watching from heaven, we must make sure he can be at ease!"

Zhao Junyan: "..."

"Emperor! Your little brother..."

"No need to say more, it’s decided!" Zhao Junyao happily interrupts him.

"Later let the Empress choose a few good ones, and you can pick yourself, how about that?"

Zhao Junyan: "..."

After a moment of speechlessness, he twitches his mouth and has to agree.

"That’s more like it!" Zhao Junyao laughs cheerily.

"But Imperial Brother...!"

"No buts!" Zhao Junyao interrupts him again.

"I heard the Crown Prince went to the training ground today; I wonder how he’s doing. Later, accompany me to check!"

"By the way, I heard Juxian Zhai has launched new dishes; how about we have a drink there tonight?!"

Zhao Junyan also has no choice but to agree one by one.

...

After Li Shengan saw people off.

Zhao Junyao sits at the royal desk, staring blankly at the stacks of documents.

How could he not know what Zhao Junyan is thinking?

He doesn’t want to marry.

Simply because one day he wants to charge into battle without hesitation.

Even if he dies wrapped in horse hide, he will have no regrets.

If he has a wife and children, it becomes a burden.

Since it’s destined to be a burden, it’s better not to have it from the start!

So...

Zhao Junyao closes his eyes, a dull pain seizes his heart.

’Why should it be like this?’

’Why should he be like this?’

After a long time, he slowly opens his eyes.

The dark, deep eyes have already returned to calm, like an undisturbed deep blue lake.

Picking up a document, he holds the imperial brush.

He is still that impenetrable, cold-hearted emperor.

...

In early December.

Just as the gossip about the Seventh Prince in the Capital City gradually fades.

Another piece of news emerges from the palace.

Once again pushing the Seventh Prince into the vortex of public opinion.

"Seventh Prince is choosing a consort!"

This news stirs up a thousand waves.

The Seventh Prince, who has gained goodwill throughout the Capital City streets, is now as popular as a precious treasure!

Families without daughters are heartbroken!

Families with daughters are overjoyed.

It’s okay to be rejected in the auditions, it’s okay if Empress Dowager Zhen doesn’t fancy you.

There’s still hope with the Seventh Prince; being the Seventh Princess Consort is not bad!

’No Chamber Maid’ equals ’a loving couple, harmonious household!’

’No Imperial Noble Consort’ equals ’absolute authority within the Prince’s Mansion in the future!’

These two temptations are simply too great.

No one can think of any reason why a marriage like this wouldn’t be happy.

Even getting through life with eyes shut would be much better than other Princess Consorts!

(Having an Imperial Noble Consort above means having to serve her morning and night, and one slip of the tongue could lead to mother-in-law daughter-in-law conflicts!

Having various consorts and concubines below, all creating different schemes to win favor, turning the backyard into chaos!

In the middle, you must sweeten the husband, coax him to visit your room more often so you can have a son early to secure your position!

Such days are just too over-the-top!)

Marrying the Seventh Prince.

These can all be avoided.

Plus, the Seventh Prince is upright, skilled in both literature and martial arts, of noble status, doesn’t gamble or indulge in other vices...

Every inch of him is an advantage.

No young girls or young wives have any reason not to go crazy over him!

Thus...

The path to choosing a consort for the Seventh Prince is especially smooth.

Xia Ruqing received over a hundred documents from outside the palace within three days.

Families with daughters introduce their daughters.

Families without daughters introduce other daughters indirectly.

In short.

No one whose status allows them to send in documents is left out.

...

Xia Ruqing sighs at the pile of documents on the desk.

"The last time there was such a grand occasion was during the Emperor’s grand selection!"

"Now..."

"It seems the Seventh Prince is equally popular!"

Zi Su remarks excitedly, blushing.

"Of course!"

"Last time, the Seventh Prince defeated the Western Xia Warrior in front of civil and military officials!"

"It was a fight that made him famous!"

"Not just outside the palace, even inside, which palace maid isn’t worshiping him?!"

"It’s just a pity..."

Zi Su’s face suddenly dims.

"It’s just a pity that they’re in the harem and rare to meet him; they really envy the palace maids serving outside!"

Zi Yue pinches her arm.

"What’s wrong? You admire him too? Or do you want to serve outside?"

Zi Su nods.

"Of course, don’t you admire him? He’s a great hero!"

Zi Yue can’t help but laugh.

"Empress, listen, this girl wants to serve outside!"

Zi Su quickly glares.

"Hey, hey, hey, what nonsense are you spouting? When did I say I wanted to serve outside!"

"Yet you admire!" Zi Yue says, suppressing laughter.

Zi Su blushes.

"I’m just saying, Empress won’t take it seriously!"

Xia Ruqing casually looks up, meeting Zi Su’s blush.

She says teasingly with a restrained smile.

"I won’t take it seriously, of course I know you don’t want to serve outside!"

"The Empress understands me best!" Zi Su beams with joy.

Yet before she can finish enjoying.

Her spirits are doused by Xia Ruqing’s next sentence.

"Because... you want to serve in the Seventh Prince’s Mansion!"

"Don’t worry; when they recruit concubines, I’ll make sure you’re the first to go, how about that?"

Zi Su’s face instantly turns fiery red, flushing all the way down to her neck.

"Empress!"

She stomps in a hurry: "Not talking to you anymore!"

Turns to run outside.

Xia Ruqing quickly grabs her.

"Hey, hey, don’t leave! I won’t say anymore, I promise!"

Zi Su stands there, blushing, neither able to leave nor stay.

Her state makes Xia Ruqing and Zi Yue burst out laughing.

Zi Su starts to get angry.

Zi Yue quickly stops her.

"No nonsense, there’s no one here, Empress is just joking with us!"

Zi Su keeps her head down, silent.

Xia Ruqing sighs deeply.

"Alright! No more talk of that!"

"Even if you do want to be a concubine, I wouldn’t agree!"