Reunion (5)
T/N: Chapter sponsored by Leony, crankyreader, and Anon! Thank you for supporting!
The Emperor nodded his head and said, "This time this emperor will issue the decree, it'll be considered giving Du Xiao Li honor. Moreover, the Du family and Ming Hong tying the knot, isn't that also what imperial mother wanted to see in the beginning?"
The Empress Dowager went silent for a moment. She looked to Han Ming Hong who was still kneeling on the ground, and said in disappointment, "Still not getting up!"
This also made clear that she agreed with the Emperor's idea.
"Thanking Emperor, thanking imperial mother!" Han Ming Hong got back up and returned to his seat after kowtowing.
"But, who should we engage Du Xiao Li to?" Han Ming Xiang spoke.
"There are several shizis* in the imperial household that are of appropriate age. Later, this emperor will look them over again and have Du Xiao li engage to one of them." The Emperor said.
(*T/N: Shizi - generally heir to a wang title; so possibly the emperor's nephew, cousin, or uncle, technically grandson too but I don't think this one is old enough to have grandsons yet.)
"Then this matter will be given to your Majesty to handle." The Empress Dowager said, "This candidate must be good."
"This emperor knows." The Emperor said. "That's right, Ming Yi and the army's merits cannot go unnoticed. I plan on setting up a banquet in the palace and let everyone celebrate together."
"En, the victory from the battle this time shows our Feng Ming's strong power, indeed worthy of celebration, go arrange it then." The Empress Dowager said upon consideration.
"Haha, this time, this emperor needs to reward the ones that have done great service. Don't know what reward Ming Yi wants?" Speaking of the victory this time, the atmosphere in the great hall once again relaxed.
Han Ming Yi got up and bowed at the waist towards the Emperor, saying: "Sharing the burdens for your Majesty is this younger brother's duty, this younger brother doesn't want anything. Your Majesty can just reward the other generals and high-ranking officers."
"How is that okay, if I have to reward, it is to reward you all. Solely leaving you out, which one of those officers would still dare to shoulder the merits?" The Emperor shook his head and said.
"If your Majesty really wants to bestow a reward, then just bestow this younger brother a marriage." Han Ming Yi said.
"That's right, Ming Yi is already 18, and until now, still doesn't have a main consort or side consort. When Hong'er was this big, he'd already had two side consorts. Emperor, looks like we've overlooked." As soon as the Empress Dowager spoke, everyone finally realized that Han Ming Yi up until now still haven't taken in a consort!
"Haha, indeed this emperor's oversight! Do you have a candidate in mind? If you do, this emperor will directly pass a marriage decree for you. If not, this emperor will let the empress chose a delicate beauty for you." The Emperor patted his own forehead and said.
"No need for the trouble, your Majesty can just bestow a marriage for this younger brother and Du Xiao Li." Han Ming Yi nonchalantly said.
"What?!"
Han Ming Yi's words made everyone all gather their astonished gazes on him.
"Ming Yi, this is?"
The countryside girl that Han Ming Hong didn't want to marry no matter what, Han Ming Yi actually actively wanted to marry?
"Isn't your Majesty planning on choosing someone from the imperial household for Du Xiao Li, how about directly engaging her to this younger brother. I just happened to also want to establish a home." Han Ming Yi said, seemingly appearing very nonchalant.
"Eh, this---" The Empress locked eyes with the Emperor and then looked to Han Ming Yi, "Ding Wang, this Du Xiao Li although is Prime Minister Du's daughter, but her status truly is somewhat unworthy of you. Why don't you consider another family's young lady?"
"Many thanks for Empress's good intentions, but one wants to find a husband, and one wants to take a consort, this is a perfect match, so just let it be. In any case, marrying whoever is all the same." Han Ming Yi said.
"Fine, since imperial brother insists, then this emperor will bestow a marriage for you and Du Xiao Li." The Emperor said.
"Emperor, why don't you also bestow a marriage for this younger brother and Ke Xin as well." Han Ming Hong added.
"Your actions today were indeed somewhat offensive to Prime Minister Du, thus today this Emperor will give him a 'double happy occasion', simultaneously bestowing a marriage to his two daughters." The Emperor said.
"However, now that Du Ki Xin is no longer the Du family di daughter, the position of Ren Wang's main consort, don't we need to choose someone else?" The Empress spoke.
"En, no need, this Ke Xin no matter what is also our younger cousin, marrying Ming Hong as the main consort......"
"It's better as the side consort." The Empress Dowager interrupted the Emperor's words. Although Zhong Mei Qing was her younger sister, and she was also the Du Manor's equal wife, a shu born was still just a shu born. Based on status, she was unable to become Han Ming Hong's main consort.
"Then all according to imperial mother's wishes." Han Ming Ze got up and said, "Then this emperor will go back first to draft the decree."
"Respectfully seeing off your Majesty." Everyone in the room aside from the Empress Dowager all bowed towards Han Ming Ze.
"Empress Dowager, there's still some matters to take care of in the military camp, this subject will also withdraw." Han Ming Yi said.
"En, go then." The Empress Dowager said.
Han Ming Yi left Shouyang Hall. Leng Yi, who was waiting outside, quickly went forward. And seeing Han Ming Yi walking in graceful steps, he asked, "Did master encounter something good?"
"Leng Yi." Han Ming Yi suddenly stopped and gazed to the towering palace walls, "How about I find a female master for you all?"
What?!
Han Ming Yi didn't wait for Leng Yi's reply and continued walking forward. Leng Yi subconsciously followed after, but in his mind, he was instead thinking about Han Ming Yi's words. Find a female master? Wasn't that just saying master is about to marry?!
"His Majesty wants to bestow a marriage to master?" Leng Yi said in shock.
Han Ming Yi hooked the corner of his lip and glanced at Leng Yi, but didn't say anything. He continued walking forward. He wanted to quickly finish taking care of the matters at the military camp, and then go before that girl to give her a prevention shot. Else, with her temper, she most likely won't agree.
Leng Yi hadn't seen Han Ming Yi smile in a very long time. Suddenly seeing him hooking the corner of his mouth, he even thought that he was seeing things. However, seeing Han Ming Yi in a good mood, they as his subordinates also felt good inside.
Du Xiao Li was still in the fields behind her courtyard chatting with Ji Liu Feng and them. Silver and the others already had headed back. Suddenly, Ying Ge ran over and said, "Miss, master just sent someone, said to let you go to the front courtyard to accept a decree!"
"Accept a decree?" Du Xiao Li said, somewhat surprised. "What decree?"
"Heard it's an eunuch from his Majesty's side. Should be a decree from his Majesty. Master is urging you to quickly go over, that eunuch is still waiting! Miss, let's quickly go over." Ying Ge urged.
"Then I'll be going back first." Du Xiao Li got up, bid Ji Liu Feng and Ji Liu Xia farewell, and followed Ying Ge back.
Ji Liu Xia saw Ying Ge carrying Du Xiao Li flying over the river and said, "The servant girl by Xiao Li's side's martial art is not bad."
"Pfft----that's of course, who told her to be useless at learning martial arts!" Recalling Du Xiao Li's appearance when she tried to learn martial arts from Leng Er at the time, he couldn't hold back his laughter.
When Du Xiao Li brought Xia Yuan with her to the front courtyard, she saw Du Yun Han and Zhong Mei Qing, as well as Du Ke Xin all there. She felt skeptical inside, if they were bestowing a marriage to Du Ke Xin, then what was she called over for?
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