Reborn Lady - Chapter 268

Emperor Yongping’s expression changed.

Wei Ying analyzed first, “Look, I am a princess now, your favorite princess. You even gave me a mansion, and I can have whatever I want. But if you give me a consort, I can’t be at ease anymore. I have to work hard to get along with him, let me please him. I don’t like it. Others might also please me, the consort and his family may still think that I am a princess. Besides, even if the consort and I have love at first sight, love each other, there’s still the matter of giving birth. In case I have a difficult delivery…”

“Shut up, little girl, what nonsense are you saying!” Emperor Yongping finally couldn’t listen anymore and interrupted with a sullen face.

Wei Ying continued to mutter, “That’s what it is. No matter how powerful you are, can you guarantee that I will not have a problem? I heard that giving birth is painful, and I don’t want to.”

Emperor Yongping retorted, “Women have to give birth, except for a few, aren’t most fine?”

Wei Ying responded, “They can’t help it. Poor families need to marry their daughters in exchange for dowry, and rich families need their daughters to marry. But I am a princess, and my father is the most powerful Emperor in the world. Father, tell me, do you need any benefits from my marriage?”

Emperor Yongping stared at his daughter and said, “I don’t need any benefits. I just want you to marry a good man, have a son and daughter, so you do not grow old alone.”

Wei Ying smiled and walked around to hug Emperor Yongping’s arm, saying, “I know that you love me, but even if I do not marry, the word ‘lonely’ will never be related to me. First of all, I have money and my own mansion. How many people envy the wealth that can’t be in their hands? If I get lonely, I can raise an opera troupe to sing, raise cats and dogs, and go to the homes of my brothers to play cards with my sisters-in-law. No matter how bad it is, I can still raise a few animals.”

Emperor Yongping: “You…”

Wei Ying giggled, jumped a few steps, and said across the table, “Father, I have recently read a lot of princess annals, and I found out that after the princesses in the past got married, there were not many happy ones. Needless to say, some princesses were weak and did not dare to say that they were bullied by their husbands. On the contrary, those who were not married were really happy. Father, you gave me the title ‘Changle’, didn’t you just want me to be happy and at ease? If you only want me to marry and have children, why give me the title?”

Emperor Yongping’s eyes followed his daughter all the time, watching her fly to him like a bird, and then fly to the opposite side, observing her as she talked a lot. Crooked reasoning, call it crooked reasoning, but there was still a little reason.

When a woman married and obeyed her husband, even a princess had to follow a bunch of rules and regulations. Even if the consort did not dare to talk about it, there was also the royal censor of the court.

Like his Eldest Daughter, who was at odds with Zhao Mao. But since it hindered her reputation, she couldn’t divorce her husband as she liked.

The Second Daughter also suffered a lot when giving birth.

Seeing that her father was thinking about it, Wei Ying came over and acted like a baby, “Father, just say, which man in the world do you think is worthy of your favorite daughter?” 

Emperor Yongping didn’t answer that question and looked at her, saying, “But didn’t you have a dream that this Emperor picked the most talented man in the whole capital for you?”

Wei Ying responded, “The question is, who is the most talented man? The number one scholar must be talented, but we will get a champion every three years. What if the next champion is more talented than this one?”

Emperor Yongping was speechless.

Wei Ying joked, “Perhaps I dreamed of the Wenqu star in the sky. When I die, I will fly up to become a fairy and meet the Wenqu star. At that time, you, the Emperor, will give me a marriage, won’t my dream come true?”

That dream was beautifully made. Emperor Yongping laughed and became angry upon hearing it, then suddenly stretched out his hand to pinch his daughter’s cheek, remarking, “When did you become so eloquent?”

Wei Ying cried out in pain.

Emperor Yongping quickly released his daughter, observing her rubbing her delicate face in an aggrieved manner. He sighed, saying, “I understand, you just don’t want to marry. But if you don’t want to marry, what will you do?”

Wei Ying reiterated the plan she had shared with Cui Yu. She didn’t intend to upset Cui Yu; she genuinely had considered it.

Cui Yu worked in the Imperial Palace and assisted her father. She didn’t want to enjoy her father’s favor in vain, merely being an idler. Instead, she aimed to be her father’s eyes, observing the state of the world and engaging in practical initiatives for the people. In this way, she hoped to live a fulfilling life, free from criticism by both the common people and court.

Emperor Yongping did not expect his daughter to harbor such great ambitions.

“Father, I am your daughter, destined to be recorded in the history books. I don’t want future generations to only know how many children I gave birth to. I want to undertake something practical, even if it’s just one commendable deed. That, too, is a good name for me,” Wei Ying knelt down and expressed her determination.

Emperor Yongping was moved by these words, helped her up, and said, “Okay, I will accept it, but it might be tedious to study books and watch the people. Can you endure it?”

“I can,” she replied firmly.

On the other side, as the showgirls were finishing their performance, Concubine Cui Shu seized the opportunity to talk to her younger brother.

Concubine Shu advised, “Yu Lang, you are not young anymore. Take advantage of this draft and choose a partner quickly. Our Cui family relies on you to carry on the family.” 

Cui Yu laughed and responded, “There are so many people with the surname Cui in the world. Dazong is also surnamed Cui; even if not for me, he will continue the family line.”

Concubine Shu, who had been urging marriage for years, sighed, “Are you still afraid of surpassing him again?”

Cui Yu replied, “Well, it’s about human life. I’d rather believe it. The Emperor and Empress love me so much, and I’d like to ask my sister to convey my apology.”

Concubine Shu, looking at her unmarried younger brother, shook her head and said in a low voice, “You like Ying’er too, don’t you?”

Cui Yu was shocked and looked at his sister in disbelief.

Concubine Shu smiled wryly and said, “You are the person I care about the most, and your marriage is also my heart’s trouble. Others may not notice, but I can see it.” 

Faced with his sister’s complicated gaze, Cui Yu couldn’t deny it and asked, “Is there anyone else who knows about this?”

Concubine Shu shook her head. Who else cared about her younger brother? The Emperor did, but he cared about too many people, so he was too distracted. Concubine Guo Xian, born in a general family with a bright personality, was not so attentive and had never noticed Wei Ying’s infatuation.

They were all good children, but they were born in the wrong generation.

Concubine Shu felt sad and tilted her head to wipe her tears.

Cui Yu knelt down in shame, saying, “I’m the one who troubled you.”

Concubine Shu came to help him with a wry smile, “I just love you and don’t mean to blame you.”

Cui Yu looked at her and said, “I am content to be able to see the princess from a distance.”

The princess was infatuated, and he couldn’t respond. The only thing he could do was to watch her from afar. In time, if she changed her mind to marry someone, he would be happy to see her succeed. If she didn’t marry, he would stay with her until death.