novelraw Chapter 1272 - 475: Palace Scheming Is No Match for Rebellion (Part 12)
Chapter 1272 - 475: Palace Scheming Is No Match for Rebellion (Part 12)
"What? Mother wants to appoint Lady Nineteen Wang as a Female Assistant? And the Wang Family, oh no, it’s the Wang Family who actually agreed?"
Just as Emperor Yongcheng was hesitating over the choice of Empress, he heard this piece of news.
Lady Nineteen Wang, he was familiar with her, she was the main wife candidate chosen for him by Empress Dowager He.
Emperor Yongcheng had met the daughter of the Wang Family, her appearance, her character, everything, Emperor Yongcheng did not care much about.
What impressed him the most was Wang Shijiu’s upright posture and her proudly raised head.
Pride!
This is a woman who radiates pride from her bones.
The thousand-year legacy and glory of the top noble Langya Wang Family were vividly displayed in her.
She is noble, she is serene, she is so perfect that she hardly seems like a True Master.
To those whose family status is inferior to hers, Wang Shijiu does not show disdain, nor does she speak harshly.
But standing beside such a distinguished woman, many people can’t help but feel ashamed of their inferiority.
Emperor Yongcheng has a contradictory personality; he is both self-abased and arrogant.
The gap between noble families and commoners, even as an Emperor, cannot be bridged.
In his heart, Emperor Yongcheng admires the noble families.
Yet rationality tells him, I am the Emperor, the ruler of a nation.
Since ancient times, the Emperor is honored while Ministers are lowly; identities differ. Even if Grand Scribe Wang is a praised noble son, he is still just a Minister.
Seeing this Emperor, he must still respectfully salute.
However, Emperor Yongcheng’s heart is not very strong, and his self-comfort has not truly soothed him.
Instead, he feels he is deceiving himself.
Because the aristocratic daughters are indeed distinguished, because they do have the capital for pride.
And himself?
Aside from the identity of an Emperor, it seems, he has nothing worth flaunting!
Previously, in front of Empress Dowager He, Emperor Yongcheng opposed marrying Wang Shijiu, not only for love reasons but also due to these factors.
As a man, a man who ought to be the most distinguished, he feels ashamed in front of his future wife, such a marriage is destined not to be happy!
Emperor Yongcheng has a strong-willed mother, he especially hopes his marital relationship should be the normal male-strong, female-weak dynamic.
Wang Shijiu is not strong-willed, but she is too proud, and when Emperor Yongcheng faces her, he always feels inadequate confidence.
It’s as if he is a puddle of mud on the ground, totally unworthy of the stars hanging high in the sky.
Nianer is still the best, her eyes and heart have only himself.
In her view, he is like heaven, he is her only belief!
Alas, unfortunately, since the incident of falling into the water last time, Nianer caught a cold, her health is on and off, even her spirit seems unwell.
Now she has been sent to the estate outside the city, which is not as bustling and convenient as the Capital City, who knows how she is doing!
It must be said, Emperor Yongcheng’s feelings for Zheng Nianer are genuinely sincere.
Thinking of it, he thinks of this little best friend who has been sent away.
And with Zheng Nianer diverting his thoughts, he did not continue to explore the matter of his mother’s appointment of a Female Assistant.
What Female Assistant?
It’s nothing but a nominal position to fool women.
Do they really think calling someone a "Female Assistant" means she can review memorials and discuss state affairs?!
Absurd!
Emperor Yongcheng sneered secretly, directly putting this matter behind him.
Turning instead to consider the selection of an Empress.
"Speaking of which, the legitimate young daughter of the Duke Dingguo’s family is also quite good!"
The hands under Emperor Yongcheng are few, yet there are a few, always probing some news for him.
Even if not much, outside the palace he still has the Zheng Family.
Zheng Youliang is rather naive, but the two sons he has with Lady Hu are very clever.
With their help, Emperor Yongcheng learned a lot of gossip about the Capital City.
For example, which family harbors private grudges against whom.
Also for example, which noble is dissatisfied with their old wife, secretly keeps a concubine, only to be caught by Mother Worm at the outside residence.
And further for example—
Although there are quite a few useless market jokes, Emperor Yongcheng can still extract some useful information from them.
Take Duke Dingguo Tao Yong, for instance, he is one of the late Emperor’s most trusted old ministers.
After Dayuan was established, with his military achievements, Tao Yong was titled Earl of Duke of Founding, inheriting without change, ranking first among the Six Great Dukes.
Most importantly, he is still the Great General in court, holding twenty thousand elite soldiers.
Certainly, Emperor Yongcheng didn’t highlight him solely for the military power.
After all, Emperor Yongcheng has a fixation—to marry an aristocratic daughter as Empress!
Tao Yong is not a noble son, but the wife he remarried after he made his fortune comes from a noble family.
Even if she is only an offshoot of a fallen noble family, people can cancel all that with just a surname.