Chapter 271: The Empress Dowager Comes to Force a Marriage
Imperial Study.
Outside, the cold wind was biting.
Inside, the aroma of tea lingered.
Yin Fei stood to the side and spoke: "Miss Yun, although the two children like you, you and Yi'er truly have fate but no destiny. This marriage should be called off."
She had originally accepted this marriage arrangement.
Never did she expect that the Grand Astrologer would calculate an astrological incompatibility.
After consulting the Grand Astrologer in detail, she learned that the so-called astrological incompatibility meant Yun Chu was destined to have a husband-killing fate.
Yun Chu's previous husband, Xie Jingyu, was not yet thirty—still in the prime of his life—yet a perfectly healthy person had died so suddenly.
It turned out he had been killed by her fate.
Had the Xie family's decline also been related to Yun Chu's husband-killing fate?
Any mother would likely be unwilling to have her son marry a woman with an unfavorable astrological chart.
"The two children don't understand what astrological incompatibility means," Yin Fei continued. "I will arrange for Miss Yun to meet with the two children. We can gently decline the marriage in front of them."
What she feared most was the children making a fuss—when they threw tantrums, it was truly unbearable.
The Emperor also dreaded the two children crying in his ears; the memory alone was a nightmare.
He clapped his hands, and Gao Gonggong entered carrying a tray with precious jade artifacts.
The Emperor declared: "Bestow these upon Yun Yiren."
Yun Chu knew this was compensation for her.
She lowered her head, but her eyes narrowed slightly. She was well aware of the current Grand Astrologer's capabilities.
Why would he calculate that she and Chu Yi were astrologically incompatible?
Who was behind this interference?
Although Yin Fei was dissatisfied with this marriage, she would never do such a thing.
The Emperor was even less likely.
The Empress was eager for the marriage to proceed and unlikely to interfere.
Then who could it be?
Yun Chu was utterly perplexed.
As she pondered how to resolve this situation, she heard the eunuch at the Imperial Study entrance announcing: "Greetings, Empress Dowager. Please allow this humble servant to report—"
Before the eunuch could finish, the Empress Dowager had already stepped inside.
"This humble one has also heard about the Grand Astrologer comparing Yi'er and Yun Yiren's birth charts," the Empress Dowager said, looking at Yun Chu. "Yun Yiren's female official star is extremely weak in her birth chart. Paired with anyone, she shows signs of a husband-killing fate—just like Rui'er's chart, which shows wife-killing tendencies with any match. That's why all these years, this humble one never dared find Rui'er a Princess Consort, fearing it would harm someone's life."
Hearing this, the Emperor's lips twitched.
Ever since Chu Rui turned fifteen, the Empress Dowager had found two or three noble daughters for him to consider every year, but Chu Rui had rejected them all.
In the Empress Dowager's words, it sounded so righteous.
He couldn't immediately understand what the Empress Dowager was trying to achieve by saying this.
"The Grand Astrologer said: When great evil meets great evil, the evil can be turned into auspiciousness," the Empress Dowager said with a smile. "This humble one then asked the Grand Astrologer to compare Yun Yiren and Rui'er's birth charts. Never did I expect they would be a match made in heaven."
The Emperor was stunned.
The Empress Dowager actually wanted Yun Chu to marry Chu Rui?
He understood the Empress Dowager's intentions perfectly—she had always wanted Chu Rui to marry a powerful wife to aid in rebellion.
Given the Yun family's current situation, why would the Empress Dowager...
But he'd heard that previously the Empress Dowager had ordered someone to take Yun Chu's heart's blood. Could it be that she wanted to marry Yun Chu to Chu Rui first before taking her heart's blood?
Yun Chu was also extremely shocked.
So the one behind the interference was actually the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager actually wanted her to marry Chu Rui?
Why would she do this?The Empress Dowager was single-mindedly devoted to restoring the former Crown Prince, sparing no effort to win over various factions. Now that the Yun family was no longer what it used to be, why was the Empress Dowager going to such lengths to have Chu Rui marry her?
"Worthy Person Yun, are you willing to marry Rui'er?"
The Empress Dowager inquired with a gentle expression.
"The green pine on the mountain and the dust on the path—how could clouds and mud ever be joined in marriage?" Yun Chu lowered her head and spoke slowly. "I beg Your Majesty to rescind this decree."
Her words gave the Empress Dowager ample face, implying that Chu Rui was the green pine on the mountain while she was merely the dust—unworthy of him, hence her refusal.
The Empress Dowager snorted inwardly. Of course, Yun Chu was not worthy of Rui'er.
But who made Rui'er take a liking to Yun Chu?
She had no choice but to bribe the Grand Astrologer and seize the opportunity to intercept the match.
The Empress Dowager spoke: "If you truly feel you are reaching beyond your station, then after marrying him, take good care of Rui'er. His health is frail, and many matters will require your attention."
Yun Chu slowly raised her head, though her gaze remained fixed on the tip of her nose. "Your Majesty, this humble woman was previously willing to marry Prince Pingxi because those two children had lost their mother, and I too had once lost a child... Now that the Grand Astrologer has calculated my birth characters to be inauspicious, I can no longer marry Prince Pingxi. But that does not mean I am willing to marry just anyone else. I understand Your Majesty's protective heart toward your child, and I beg Your Majesty to understand my resolve not to marry again carelessly."
Earlier, her polite refusal had been feigned ignorance by the Empress Dowager.
Now, she had made herself perfectly clear.
The Empress Dowager's face showed disbelief, quickly turning to fury. "You, a woman who has been married before—for me to favor you as Rui'er's wife is a blessing you cultivated in your previous life! Who gave you the audacity to refuse?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." Yin Fei couldn't help speaking up. "Anyone who suddenly loses one marriage proposal and then abruptly gains another would find it hard to accept..."
After all, Yu Ge'er and Changsheng both liked Yun Chu, and she couldn't bear to see Yun Chu forced into marriage by the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager coldly retorted, "You, a mere consort—what right do you have to speak here?"
Yin Fei's words stuck in her throat, and she said nothing more.
The Empress Dowager turned to the person on the dragon throne. "What does the Emperor think of this marriage proposal I've suggested?"
The Emperor rubbed his fingers.
He had pondered for a long time but couldn't fathom why the Empress Dowager wanted Chu Rui to marry a daughter of the Yun family.
The only plausible explanation was that she wanted to legitimately obtain Yun Chu's heart's blood.
Such an obsessive act could indeed only come from the Empress Dowager.
The Emperor slowly spoke, "Marriage should unite families, not create enemies. No matter how divinely ordained this match may seem, it must have the consent of both Worthy Person Yun and Rui'er."
"Rui'er naturally agrees." The Empress Dowager said, "As for Worthy Person Yun, her consent is not hers to give. Emperor, please issue an Imperial Decree for the marriage."
What the Emperor detested most in his life was the Empress Dowager's attitude.
Though he was the Emperor, he was constantly suppressed by the Empress Dowager using her status as his birth mother.
He declared, "Though I am the ruler of this nation, I will not force a woman into marriage. I will not issue such a decree."
Yun Chu lowered her head.
She had gambled correctly. She knew the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were at odds, and he would never allow her to act recklessly.
The Emperor was not protecting her but upholding his dignity as the sovereign.
"Who says only the Emperor can issue marriage decrees?" The Empress Dowager coldly stated, "I too can issue an Imperial Decree. Does the Emperor wish to interfere with my decree?"
The Emperor clenched the back of his hand tightly."Filial piety is the foundation of all virtues. If word spreads through court and country that he disrespects the Empress Dowager, causing him to lose the people's support, wouldn't that fulfill Her Majesty's wish?"
The Empress Dowager declared in a clear voice: "The Yun family has a daughter named Yun Chu, virtuous and gentle, well-versed in domestic duties. By special decree, she is granted in marriage to become the principal wife of Prince Yici's eldest son. The wedding shall be scheduled at an auspicious date!"
Prince Yici was the posthumous title conferred upon the former Crown Prince after his death. Prince Yici's eldest son—that would be Chu Rui.
Yun Chu's heart sank. The Empress Dowager was determined to marry her off, but what could possibly be her true intention?
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