Chapter 372: Your Marriage Matters, I’ll Decide for You!
In the end, the Empress didn’t arrange a marriage, but the Little Princess was still happy because she knew her older sister, the Empress, approved of this union and supported her from behind, so there were no concerns.
Watching the cheerful figure of the Little Princess as she left, the Empress couldn’t help but sigh, “Youth is truly wonderful!”
At that moment, a white figure appeared on the ceiling, teasing, “Your Majesty, you are also young; why the melancholy?”
The Empress smiled bitterly and said, “While I may be young, I’ve experienced much, and my heart is no longer youthful. I too wish for carefree happiness like a cloud serpent, but there are too many responsibilities pushing me forward, and I can’t stop.”
“Your Majesty, you’ve endured so much these years!” Bai Guanyin remarked.
“It’s not endurance; it’s my duty! Since ascending to the throne as the Empress, I’ve enjoyed endless glory, wealth, power, and respect. I must shoulder my responsibilities to honor our ancestors, the people of Great Wu, and my own conscience,” the Empress said with determination.
“Very well said! However, Your Majesty, there’s one matter you should consider,” Bai Guanyin said.
The Empress curiously asked, “What matter is that?”
Bai Guanyin provocatively said, “Your marriage!”
The Empress’s face froze for a moment, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. She stammered, “Bai Sister, what are you talking about?”
Bai Guanyin laughed and said, “I mean, you should find a suitable man, get married, and have children!”
The Empress, annoyed, responded, “Bai Sister, you’re teasing me!”
“I’m not teasing. I’m talking about a serious matter,” Bai Guanyin said earnestly. “Privately, although you’re still young, you’re not that young anymore. In the common world, a woman your age would likely have married already, and her children would have grown up.”
“I understand that you’ve been busy with state affairs for all these years and had no time for personal matters. But now that the country is stable, you should consider your lifelong commitment!”
The Empress blushed even more.
“From a public perspective, this is also for the sake of Great Wu! As the reigning Empress, if you don’t have an heir, the succession becomes a problem. Do you plan to hand over your empire to someone else a century from now?”
“Of course not!” the Empress immediately replied.
“Then, for the stability of the nation and the continuity of the royal lineage, you must consider your marriage!” Bai Guanyin urged. “Without a man, how can you have a royal son or grandson? Don’t you agree?”
The Empress’s face turned even redder.
But upon closer reflection, Bai Guanyin’s words made a lot of sense. She needed to consider her marriage seriously. Without an heir, the dynasty’s future would be in jeopardy. She couldn’t entrust her empire to anyone else. People always had their own interests, and one would pass on their legacy to the person they trusted the most.
However, who could be her suitable match? As the most powerful woman in the realm, ordinary men were not suitable for her, let alone worthy of her!
At that moment, a familiar face crossed her mind. The Empress’s face became even redder, as if dripping with blood, but deep inside, there was a hint of anticipation and joy.
Bai Guanyin probed, “Your Majesty, do you already have someone in your heart, don’t you?”
The Empress seemed as if her thoughts were laid bare. She anxiously said, “Bai Sister, don’t make unfounded claims. That’s not true!”
“Isn’t it?” Bai Guanyin tilted her head, puzzled. “But aside from him, who else is worthy of you? Who else do you hold in such regard?”
The Empress stuttered, “I… I…”
“In truth, Your Majesty, he is the best choice for you.”
Bai Guanyin laughed, saying, “Lin Beifan is not only a top scholar in the imperial examinations, but also an exceptionally rare grandmaster in both literature and martial arts. His leadership abilities are outstanding, and it’s nearly impossible to find anyone as excellent as him in the entire realm. Moreover, he is young, handsome, of impeccable character, and he hasn’t married yet. Choosing him as your husband would be the perfect choice!”
“And, haven’t you been worried that he might run away? Once you make him your husband and have a few children with him, he won’t be able to escape. He will surely stay by your side wholeheartedly, assisting you in governing the nation and its people!”
The more the Empress listened, the more anxious she became. Though she had thought about this herself, hearing it spoken aloud was embarrassing.
So, the Empress resorted to a tactic of “escaping from official duties.”
“Bai Sister, let’s not talk about this for now. I need to continue with my official duties,” she said, opening a memorial and pretending to diligently review it.
Bai Guanyin shook her head slightly and disappeared.
The Empress secretly let out a sigh of relief, touched her face, which had turned red-hot.
Meanwhile, the Little Princess had joyfully rushed to the government office.
“Lin Beifan, I’ve come to see you!” she exclaimed.
“What are we going to do? I’m busy with official matters, and I don’t have time to play with you,” Lin Beifan said calmly while rapidly reviewing the memorials.
“You can be busy, I’ll just watch you!” the Little Princess obediently sat nearby, propping her chin on her hands, gazing at Lin Beifan.
She suddenly realized that Lin Beifan looked good no matter how she looked at him—left, right, up, down—he was exceptionally handsome! His appearance was off the charts, and he was young and skilled in various arts, from music and chess to calligraphy and poetry. He could lead armies in battle and preside over the court. He excelled in every aspect!
Such an outstanding husband was hard to come by; it felt like she had hit the jackpot. The Little Princess couldn’t help but let out a sly laugh.
Lin Beifan glanced at her, asking, “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing, I just saw you and thought of something fun,” the Little Princess said with a smile. “Don’t mind me, continue with your work!”
“Alright,” Lin Beifan nodded and continued with his official duties.
The Little Princess continued to watch, meticulously observing every detail. When she noticed the ink on Lin Beifan’s table running low, she immediately came over to replenish it. She noticed the tea on his table had gone cold, so she promptly poured a fresh cup.
And whenever there were too many memorials on his desk, she organized them neatly. She also occasionally slipped into the kitchen to bring Lin Beifan some delicious snacks.
Lin Beifan’s gaze flicked back to her again. He felt that something was off about the Little Princess today, and her attentiveness was particularly unusual.
Unable to resist, Lin Beifan asked, “Little Princess, what are you up to?”
“Nothing, you focus on your work, don’t mind me!” the Little Princess said as she fed him a grape, realizing how tasty it was.
Lin Beifan sighed.
After finishing the memorials, Lin Beifan followed the eunuchs to the Imperial Study to report on some matters. Meanwhile, the Empress still hadn’t fully recovered from her earlier embarrassment. When she saw Lin Beifan, the person at the center of her thoughts, she blushed once more. Her gaze flickered, and she felt somewhat uneasy, her thoughts drifting in various directions.
Lin Beifan continued to report his work diligently, while the Empress nodded along, appearing somewhat distant. Lin Beifan couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, are you listening?”
“Ah, yes, yes… My dear minister, I’m listening, please continue,” the Empress finally snapped out of her reverie.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Lin Beifan replied, slightly puzzled.
“Minister Lin, what were you saying just now?”
Lin Beifan: “…”
Lin Beifan’s gaze shifted towards her. The Empress seemed strange today. Could it be that it’s her time of the month?
Lin Beifan had no choice but to start reporting his work once again, and this time, the Empress finally appeared serious, or at least she looked like it. After he finished his report, Lin Beifan asked, “Your Majesty, is there anything you don’t understand?”
“Well… I do have some questions,” the Empress hesitated.
“Please, Your Majesty,” Lin Beifan said seriously.
“I want to ask… Minister, you haven’t been married yet, have you?”
Lin Beifan was momentarily dumbfounded. What kind of irrelevant question is this? What does my marital status have to do with our work? But since the Empress asked, he had to respond as a loyal subject.
“Your Majesty, I do have several close female friends, but as for a formal marriage, I haven’t entered into one yet. I plan to formalize these relationships in due time and give them proper recognition.”
“Good,” the Empress nodded repeatedly. “That’s good. No formal marriage is perfect!”
Lin Beifan: “…”
Lin Beifan remained silent for a moment before asking, “Your Majesty, do you have any other questions?”
“I do have a few more questions…” the Empress thought for a moment, then nervously asked, “You don’t have any existing engagements, do you?”
The corner of Lin Beifan’s mouth twitched slightly. “Your Majesty, I’m just a commoner without any existing engagements.”
“That’s good, that’s good! I can finally be at ease,” the Empress breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Beifan: “…”
After a brief silence, Lin Beifan arched his hand and asked, “May I inquire why Your Majesty is concerned about my marital matters?”
“It’s mainly for your own good.”
“For my good?” Lin Beifan was puzzled again.
“Yes, it’s for your good,” the Empress emphasized. “Minister, you are still young, so you shouldn’t rush into marriage matters. Especially when it comes to choosing a wife, you must be cautious, do you understand?”
Lin Beifan’s mouth twitched again. “Of course, I understand.”
The Empress thought for a moment and added, “However, Minister, as the current Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Army, you are quite busy with state affairs. It’s not suitable for your household to lack a mistress. How about this, you can take concubines for now, but we can delay the formal marriage.”
Lin Beifan: “…”
After some consideration, Lin Beifan asked, “May I ask, Your Majesty, when can I formally marry, and what kind of wife should I look for?”
“Well… Let me think about it and get back to you.”
Lin Beifan was dumbfounded once again. I have to wait for you to think about it? What if you forget?
Seeing Lin Beifan’s puzzled expression, a trace of shyness flashed across the Empress’s face. She pretended to be serious and said, “Minister, rest assured, your affairs are my affairs, and I won’t forget. I will take charge of your marriage matters!”
Lin Beifan was dumbfounded yet again. My marriage matters, and you want to take charge of them?
