Chapter 264: Unworthy of Being a Princess Consort
Since the founding of the Great Jin Dynasty, no prince or imperial grandson in the royal family had ever married a twice-married woman.
To the royal family, this matter was even more unbelievable than the sun rising from the west.
The Emperor was certain that Chu Yi would never marry a woman who had been married before and served another man. Since this son had never wanted to marry in the first place, wouldn’t this give him even more reason to refuse?
He directly summoned Chu Yi and asked, “What is your opinion on this?”
Chu Yi’s voice was cold and deep: “As long as Yu Ge’er and Changsheng like her, I am willing to marry Miss Yun.”
“You…” Yin Fei’s expression instantly changed. “Yi’er, she is not suitable, truly not suitable…”
Never mind that the Yun family had already collapsed, but the key issue was that Miss Yun had been married before. Her body was no longer pure—how could she be recorded in the imperial genealogy?
The Empress’s eyes flickered.
She had previously worried that the two children would choose a noble lady from a first-rank aristocratic family. Now, it seemed her concerns were unnecessary.
Although the Yun family still held a first-rank position, with Yun Silin’s fate unknown, the Yun family was essentially an empty shell.
If Chu Yi married a daughter of the Yun family as his Princess Consort, he would lose his most powerful support.
Considering this, the Empress spoke gently: “Yu Ge’er and Changsheng just selected four individuals: Lady Shanya, the Eldest Princess, Madam Ji, and Miss Yun. I ask just one question: among these four, who is the most suitable to be the Princess Consort of the Pacifying West?”
At this question, everyone present fell silent.
Lady Shanya was over seventy years old, with children and grandchildren filling her halls…
The Eldest Princess was the Emperor’s biological sister and Chu Yi’s aunt…
Madam Ji was a daughter of the Du family, married into the Ji family five years ago, and had given birth to a son and a daughter…
Only Yun Chu had no husband, no children, and her age was indeed suitable…
Yin Fei was speechless.
The Emperor frowned. “Does the Yun family have any other daughters…”
Even a concubine-born daughter would be better than one who had been married before.
“Waaah!” Chu Hongyu suddenly burst into loud sobs. “I want her! Waaah! You all went back on your word! Waaah! Imperial Grandfather, you’re the worst, the worst! I don’t like you anymore!”
“How dare you!”
The Emperor slammed the table coldly.
The little boy shrank back in fear, hiding in Yin Fei’s embrace and beginning to cry silently.
The little girl followed suit, weeping softly.
Chu Yi abruptly stood up, lifting both children, one in each arm. “If Your Majesty is not sincere, then do not use this matter to deceive these children in the future.”
“Yi’er, sit down properly.” Yin Fei tugged at his sleeve. “We are still discussing this. Why are you being so stubborn? Your father only has your best interests at heart.”
“Your Majesty, a ruler’s word is binding,” the Empress said softly. “Many in the imperial court and the inner palace know of this matter. If Your Majesty goes back on your word, I fear… Has Your Majesty noticed that the people Yu Ge’er and Changsheng selected are all women who have given birth? Because these women have been mothers, the children instinctively feel goodwill toward them. No matter how many times they choose, the outcome will not be better than it is now.”
Consort Hui, the birth mother of the Gong Xi Prince, was eager for Chu Yi to marry a Princess Consort with no backing. She chimed in, “Miss Yun is skilled at raising children. In this regard, she is far superior to the other noble ladies in the capital.”
Yun Fei, who had been sitting to the side drinking by herself because this matter had nothing to do with her, never expected that the two children would actually choose Chu’er.Yun Chu married into the Xie family, managed their household affairs, and raised so many illegitimate children.
Now that she had finally left the Xie family, was she to marry into the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor and raise the Prince's children instead?
Consort Yun felt deeply distressed for her niece.
She said softly, "Chu'er actually isn't good at raising children. The fact that those children from the Xie family turned out badly is proof of that."
"The mothers of those Xie children were descendants of the He family - rotten from the root. What does that have to do with Miss Yun?" The Empress paused before continuing, "But Consort Yun's words remind me - since we're arranging a marriage, it should be by mutual consent. Why not invite Miss Yun here to ask her opinion?"
In her view, for a divorced woman to be able to marry into the royal family was an immense honor, and Yun Chu had no reason to refuse.
Gao Gonggong glanced at the Emperor and, seeing no objection, went down to summon Yun Chu.
Though the many people seated below couldn't clearly hear what the royals above were saying, they could more or less discern the situation from the children's loud crying, Yin Fei's anxiety, and Chu Yi's cold expression.
It was clear that the royal family was dissatisfied with Yun Chu.
This was completely within everyone's expectations.
"A widow who was driven out by the Xie family - how could such a woman be worthy of Prince Pingxi?"
"I wonder why the Young Son and Little Commandery Princess gave their jade pendants to her."
"They probably just handed them out randomly. The royal family will surely take the pendants back."
"Prince Pingxi's marriage affairs have been too turbulent."
"Who says otherwise?"
"..."
Amid the discussions, Yun Chu, holding the two jade pendants, walked up to the elevated area. Standing below the steps, she curtseyed to those seated above.
"Miss Yun, you may rise to speak," the Empress said with a smile. "Miss Yun, do you know what these jade pendants signify?"
Yun Chu raised the pendants above her head, bowing her head as she said, "The Young Son and Little Commandery Princess probably gave these to the wrong person. This humble woman has come specifically to return them."
"They weren't given to the wrong person! They're for you!" Chu Hongyu exclaimed loudly. "Will you be our mother?"
Yun Chu hesitated, remaining silent.
The Empress smiled and said, "We women must eventually find our place. We can't rely on our fathers and brothers forever, isn't that right? It's rare that Yu Ge'er and Changsheng like you - this can be considered fate."
The Emperor maintained a stern expression throughout.
Of course he was dissatisfied with this marriage, but having made such a declaration himself, going back on his word would indeed cast doubt on the dignity of the imperial authority.
He spoke: "Marriage unites two families. If you're unwilling, no one will force you to consent."
Yun Chu bowed her head and replied, "Your Majesty, since my divorce, this humble woman truly hasn't considered remarrying..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the two children burst into competing sobs.
"Waaah, Changsheng and I are so pitiful! No one will ever want to be our mother in this lifetime..."
"Nobody loves or cares for Changsheng and me! We're the most pitiful people in the world..."
The two little ones hugged each other and cried bitterly.
Yun Chu immediately bent down and crouched beside them: "Good children, don't cry, don't cry... I didn't say I wouldn't be your mother..."
"If you're not unwilling, then you're willing!" Chu Hongyu jumped up with excitement. "Imperial Grandfather! Father agrees, she agrees, my sister and I both agree - let's consider this matter settled!"
The Emperor looked sternly at Yun Chu: "Are you truly willing to become a mother to these two children?""I have lost two children before, and these two children chose me to be their mother. Perhaps this truly is fate." Yun Chu lowered her head. "I leave this matter entirely to Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress to decide."
Both children's eyes were swollen from crying—how could she bear to continue this tug-of-war...
The Empress smiled radiantly: "Your Majesty, let us bestow the marriage during the New Year's Eve banquet."
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