Chapter 28

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

After the decree, while the Tang family was completely befuddled, they quiet down and stop trying to inappropriately marry off their bachelorette who now carries the title of Xianzhu.

In accordance with protocol, after she received the decree, she was supposed to visit the imperial palace to greet the imperial consort and thank her for this matter. Given Meng Yanbai’s harem palaces are empty, this step is skipped. Instead, Bai Lianhua met his cousin from the Tang family in private with a decorative screen separating them. He wanted to ask her what expectations she had for her future husband.

There’s a saying that goes if you’re helping someone, do it all the way; if you’re sending the Buddha off, send them all the way to the West… If he and Meng Yanbai also blindly assign her a husband, then they’d just be pushing her down another pit.

Hui Jifu asks to accompany Bai Lianhua for this.

Theoretically the head manager didn’t need to do something like this personally. He’s worried though, what if those servants that followed didn’t know things, or were too blind or big-mouthed or didn’t know how to say something properly. What if they had to answer to the emperor back in his chambers and just bluntly replied something that’s bad for the Prince? The lady from the Tang family already has a sensitive enough identity… Sigh, he’ll have to follow just to be safe.

——Coincidentally, the emperor just happened to also feel that the others could not take care of Bai Lianhua as well as him. So the moment he asked, the emperor grants him permission.

Hui Jifu stands right behind Bai Lianhua, trying to fulfil his assigned role as best as he could, while trying to minimise his presence. He’s also imagining if something that shouldn’t happen happened before his eyes——For example the two expressing their affection for each other, then how he might have been able to rationalise it for the Prince.

He clearly worried too much, though, because the meeting between Bai Lianhua and the cousin from his maternal family is undeniably wholesome.

They have not seen each other for eight years, and the little girl that was naïve and pure back then had already grown into a fine lady. When she met Bai Lianhua again just now, even if it was through the screen, the Tang family lady was still super nervous. Her voice was trembling, even. Quickly, though, she discovered that Bai Lianhua has not changed at all. He’s still the reliable, gentle older brother-like character she could rely on.

She was aware of what the Tang family was thinking, of course, and was very sad that her father and uncles only had power and fame in their minds, for which they could marry off her to anyone useful.

Now, the emperor granted her the title of Xianzhu, and told her she could marry freely… What could be the reason that led the emperor to suddenly be this considerate of her? She’s endlessly grateful to the role Bai Lianhua must have played in this.

What’s unexpected for Bai Lianhua is that, while his cousin was really embarrassed when talking about her future marriage , she still mustered her courage to tell him that she already has someone on her mind.

——She understands that if she still tries to maintain her social code as a bachelorette then she really might miss her chance to spend the rest of her life with the man she wants to.

What’s surprising to Bai Lianhua the most is that the man is also surnamed Bai. Apparently, it is another cousin of his, from the paternal side. The man is the son of Prince Lin from the previous dynasty named Bai Lianyi.

Bai Lianyi is a fine man himself. He’s got the looks, the personality, and the brains. Despite being a noble-born son in the Residence of the Prince, however, his mother passed away when he was just five, six years old. Prince Lin had married a new wife who gave birth to new noble-born children. As the noble-born first son, he is in an awkward position in the Residence and is not treated as he deserves. Not only does his family continuously delay asking for the title of Heir Apparent to be conferred to him, there is even nobody asking for his hand in marriage.

There’s been quite the number of rumours that the title of Prince Lin will definitely not end up on Bai Lianyi’s head, and it will end up benefiting his noble-born younger brothers from a different mother.

His meeting with the bachelorette from the Tang family is the clichéd ‘hero saving damsel in distress,’ actually. Not that clichés are bad in this case, because it managed to help the two in their romantic pursuit.

Not only did the lady from the Tang family fall in love with Bai Lianyi, Bai Lianyi himself also feels affectionate towards her. Because of his identity though, and knowing that the Tang family would not choose a mere descendent from a noble family like him given they’re looking to climb in power and fame, he knows he would not be chosen. When even the Bai dynasty was toppled, he had even less courage to pursue his love.

Even if they’re spared their lives for now, and the new emperor did not seem to feel like establishing his authority by slaughtering the whole lot of them former royals. With their surname of Bai, though, the former royals would at best just maintain this current status quo… So he doesn’t even have the right to ask for the hand of the bachelorette of the Tang family in marriage anymore.

Bai Lianhua “…”

Oh, then what are we waiting for? Both the gentleman and the lady are wishing for it genuinely. Approve the marriage!

Bai Lianhua remarks to the system, “I didn’t expect I might have the potential to be a matchmaker.” Without him, this pair would have had such a hard time succeeding. They would only have been able to bury all their thoughts in the bottom of their hearts, brewing into lifelong laments.

The system only smiles on. Matchmaker? Hehe, he’s not even the best one around.

Though it can’t say this out loud, or its host will definitely blow up on him.

…

The day the wedding between Bai Lianyi and the bachelorette from the Tang family is here. Bai Lianhua is also invited and attends their wedding as Prince Qi. He gives them a celebratory gift that helps them look good in front of the guests.

Given he’s here and done that, the Tang family would definitely not dare treat this new son-in-law of Bai Lianyi casually and make their daughter lose face. Naturally, there will also be court officers that would follow along and attend. At the very least they would send in celebratory gifts with an excuse for their absence. The whole process is quite merry overall.

——Not that there wasn’t anyone that tried to stir up trouble saying inappropriate things to him, though.

Given this is the wedding of Bai Lianyi, of course members of the Bai family had to be present.

Unlike what it was like in the previous dynasty, all court officers avoided contact with any Bai family member besides Bai Lianhua and Bai Lianyi. They are so afraid of being associated with them that the wedding scene can be seen visibly divided in two.

The former highfalutin royal family members, of course, have a hard time withstanding such cold treatment. The younger members are still alright. Even if they are sitting here begrudgingly, they can at least read the mood and stand down. The older members, the ones that had already become completely used to being treated respectfully and luxuriously, with their resistance to alcohol already breaking down and then drinking too much, can’t help but start venting out their anger.

Bai Lianhua, the one living the time of his life among them, is of course the most visible target here.

So there are elders from the Bai family that ignored others trying to dissuade them and started to make pointed remarks at Bai Lianhua by using their age as their shield .

Bai Lianhua understands that they’re implying that he’s cold at heart, not filial nor respectful, unfazed in the face of catastrophe occurring to the royal family. Even if Meng Yanbai and he should be mortal enemies given the former has killed his older brothers, he worked in tandem with the usurper and lives the good life by sucking up to him. How dare he intervene in the Bai family’s matters now.

How should he say this? While his character setting is a calm and collected little white lotus, to not fight physically if he can solve it verbally, but that doesn’t mean he’s harmless. Bai Lianhua just lightly remarked that “you’re drunk,” then there’s already people down there that would chase him away from the venue as soon as possible so that he can’t ruin the mood anymore.

Don’t worry, there’s definitely no physical beating nor scolding, and is entirely fitting with the little white lotus principle to be respectful of the elderly. The fact that he was exited from the venue though, is definitely quite the blow to this elder’s self-esteem. For the second time.

Bai Lianhua didn’t mind this little interjection himself. Because he is the former imperial prince, he does have a complicated stance. Even if this remark is thoughtless, but it is still the case that it is normal for the Bai family members to see him as an eyesore.

After Meng Yanbai learned about it, he’s so angry he started laughing though.

He originally only kept them around for Bai Lianhua’s sake. He even promised him that as long as he didn’t leave he’d treat them well their entire lives… Now great. They’re ungratefully taking it to a whole new level.

Bai Lianhua is sucking up to him? Good. Let’s follow up and see who in the world is actually sucking up to whom.

Meng Yanbai, sitting silently through the night, announces a royal decree in the following assembly that completely petrified the court.

In simple terms, it goes – The imperial throne will be succeeded by one of the Bai family. The Bai family member who holds the Princehood of Qi is skilled in recognising talents. I believe in his judgement. Therefore I will confer the title of Crown Prince upon the one that Prince Qi approves of, that Prince Qi believes to have the morals and ability to handle the position.

The whole world is shaken.

While nobody says it out loud, everyone thinks the emperor has gone mad.

Just the fact that Meng Yanbai refused to accept any wives or concubines is enough for them to remark in private. Now he’s gone even further. He’s directly saying that he doesn’t plan to leave behind any offspring?

This is completely beyond the understanding of the officers who are completely fixated on the idea of royal families and their descendants. Even if the new emperor looks like his body is physically healthy… If he can’t pass the throne onto his descendants, then what was the point of him usurping?

And not to mention picking someone from the royals of the former dynasty, but letting Prince Qi be the sole decider… Is this a grand joke?

They must voice their concerns! The yushi s are barely held off from lining up and smashing their heads onto the structural beams until they faint.

But Meng Yanbai’s decisions are of course not something that would change with them barraging him en masse.

Meng Yanbai did not discuss this beforehand with Bai Lianhua before announcing it. Therefore Bai Lianhua is also suddenly out of breath at court in the assembly. He doesn’t understand what Meng Yanbai is doing… He’s even joined the other court members in the opposition.

Now the Bai family is in a precarious position. Any sort of careless act and they might be pushed into rebellion and throw the world into chaos again.

Perhaps this limitation can be rescinded in a century, or even just in a few decades. Though now that the dynasty has just been established, they must only tighten their control over them, not loosen it. This was the reason why even if Bai Lianyi has become the husband of a Xianzhu, he was only given the post of an honorary position without any actual power to speak of.

Now with Meng Yanbai’s antics… The Bai family are probably not going to stay settled down.

After the assembly, when Bai Lianhua finds Meng Yanbai alone, Meng Yanbai soothes him, “I knew you would have objected.”

“I’ve already thought this through though.”

“I wouldn’t have any descendants this life. Then the passing of this throne is a problem. Normally, I should have given this to the Meng family, but I didn’t have that good of a relationship with them, nor do I want them to enjoy themselves sprawled over what I’ve worked hard for.”

“I still can’t forget how they treated me when I was young. Not stripping them of their luxuries and privileges is already what I could tolerate at most given our blood relations.”

This is the truth though. While Meng Yanbai is the new emperor, the Meng family is still just another family in the cities. They’re no different from any big families that have it slightly well-off out there, and they didn’t dare object either.

Meng Yanbai continues, “if so, then I might as well pass this throne onto juniors you preferred.”

“One, at least they’d be related to you by blood.”

“Two… I’m never worried that you’d be wronged by anyone. There’s only the Bai family, and I know how much you worry over this. But it is also them that overstepped their boundaries and dared to disrespect you by holding the relationship of the old days in their hands.”

“You’re soft at heart. You concern yourself over the blood relation and can’t toughen up to deal with them once and for all. I can’t stand that, however, that they view you with disdain as they enjoyed your merciful treatment.”

“People pursue profits. Thus, they see the imperial throne as the most important thing ever. They’re probably even trying to take it back in their dreams… Now you have the right to decide who the next Crown Prince is. Now let’s see who dares to disrespect you.”

Bai Lianhua can only laugh bitterly. Disrespect? Now instead of that, they’re probably going to see him as a gold mine. However much they are dissatisfied they’ll never show it on the surface again.

“There’s still time in the future. There’s not a lot of people in the Bai family, but not too few either. When the next generation is born, consider their character from when they’re young. See if there’s anyone you’re fond of.”

——In fact, Meng Yanbai already has a candidate in his mind now that he’s thinking about it. Whether it will go as planned, however, will still depend on what the future holds. So he’ll not discuss it with Bai Lianhua for now.

“Rather than the power, I think what I like most is the feeling that with power, I am no longer powerless to what goes on around me; if you didn’t die, I would never have had the mind to revolt.

“Whoever succeeds this throne is unimportant to me.”

“I treasure this world far less than you do… So in the future, you will personally tutor a ruler far more virtuous than I am.”

“I will be looking forward to it.”

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