Yun Zheng frowned, helplessly saying, "How could you send Yaoâer to the Emperor without reason? And what is the Emperorâs intention towards Yaoâer? Quickly, tell me everything."
"Yes, Father, rest assured. I will certainly tell you the whole story, not leaving out half a word."
Yun Wanye responded playfully, but Yun Zheng glared at him with great disdain.
"Enough nonsense, get to the point quickly."
"Yes, Father, the matter is actually like this..."
Yun Wanye, in his attempt to be with the Princess, initially wanted to sabotage the marriage alliance between Mo Yuanhao and Yun Wanyao, but then his mind took a turn, suddenly thinking of matchmaking Yun Wanyao with the Emperor...
He also conspired with Yun Wanyao to seduce the Emperor. After entering the palace, he recounted the strange attitude of the Emperor towards Yun Wanyao.
"Thatâs how things transpired, Father. It is well known that the Emperor is not fond of women, so I did not expect this plan to succeed; I just intended to give it a try."
"But who knew, the Emperorâs feelings for Yaoâer were apparently deeply rooted."
"Father, the Emperor is, after all, someone you watched grow up. His character and appearance are not bad. If he truly has deep feelings for Yaoâer and has persisted in not marrying for all these years, what harm is there in considering marrying Yaoâer to him?"
"After all, King Qi and Yaoâer are destined not to have a good outcome."
"If Yaoâer can be with the Emperor, then I can also be with the Princess openly. Isnât this killing two birds with one stone, a perfectly harmonious solution?"
Yun Wanye rambled on, attempting to persuade Yun Zheng.
"What do you understand?"
After hearing this, Yun Zhengâs heart was very conflicted.
He had always thought that the Emperorâs reluctance to establish an empress or concubines was due to some unspeakable physical weakness or perhaps a psychological dislike of women.
But who knew, he actually liked Yaoâer...
It is still uncertain whether the Emperor has not married until now because of Yaoâer, so some conclusions cannot be drawn too hastily.
"Entering the palace gates is like entering the deep sea; a place like the Imperial Palace is a place that devours women, leaving no bones behind. How could it be a good place?"
"Some families send their daughters to the palace, hoping to gain imperial favor and rise to power, but I, as your father, do not need that."
"I would rather die in battle on the battlefield than sacrifice the happiness of Yaoâer and Ningning to exchange for the glory and wealth of the family."
"Moreover, our family wields too much power, unsuitable for becoming in-laws of the royal family. A powerful maternal family is not necessarily a good thing for women in the palace."
"If we really send Yaoâer to the palace, and in the future Yaoâer gives birth to a prince, if you were the Emperor, wouldnât you be worried that I, your father, would want to control the court, and therefore plot against you to help the Little Prince ascend to the throne?"
"The human heart cannot withstand such tests, and Yaoâer is not suited to be the Emperorâs woman."
Power is the most seductive poison in this world; it can dazzle oneâs eyes and confuse oneâs true heart.
Between ruler and minister, there is inherently little trust. In the face of enough interests and power, how long can that little trust last?
Yun Wanye: "..."
"Father, werenât you planning to relinquish military power, withdraw from the court, and become an idle Duke?"
"And I, after marrying the Princess, will not be involved in court affairs. Big Brother is even less interested in the court. Our family wonât be prominent for much longer, so why are you still worried about this issue?"
"Heh..."
Yun Zheng let out a cold laugh, saying, "I was indeed planning to step aside from the center of power and become an idle Duke, but that was before."
"If Yaoâer enters the palace, would I still think that way?"
"A woman in the palace with too prominent a family is indeed not a good thing, but if her family is incompetent, they might not even know how she dies in the palace."
"If Yaoâer were to enter the palace, I would naturally want to protect her. How could I then relinquish power?"
This is an age-old unsolvable problem.
Without power, you canât protect the people you wish to protect; too much power makes you a tall tree catching the wind, watched by all below, with colleagues wanting to replace you, and those above wanting to eliminate you swiftly.
Yun Wanye: "..."
He sighed and said, "After hearing your words, Father, I do realize the oversight, but Father, things have come to this, and it is already too late."
"Judging from the Emperorâs attitude, I fear that he will have no one but Yaoâer."
"Moreover, if Yaoâer does not enter the palace, after severing the engagement with King Qi, who else among the young nobles of Haojing would dare to marry her?"
"Father, do you intend for Yaoâer to never marry?"