vrcanaries Chapter 1317 Good thing
Chapter 1317 Good thing
Zhan Xuan stood up and walked to Prime Minister Min: "Using her later years in exchange for this is a good thing? Prime Minister Min, tell me, what exactly is so good about this?"
Prime Minister Min bowed and said, “Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Li has just been established and everything needs to be rebuilt. As Queen, Pang Qiang can appease the people; the rumors about you and Ye Li have also quickly dissipated. Isn’t this a good thing?”
Zhan Xuan fell silent. Min Xiang's words made perfect sense, but he just couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart.
He knew that Pang Qiang and Prime Minister Min were doing this for him and for the country of Li, but he just couldn't accept such a sacrifice.
Minister Min looked at him earnestly: "This old minister knows you are not happy. But her mind is made up and it is difficult to change. If Your Majesty truly cares for her, you should grant her wish and let her become a virtuous empress, whose name will be remembered in history."
Zhan Xuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He knew that Prime Minister Min was right. Pang Qiang's personality was such that once she made a decision, she would never change it. If he tried to stop her, it would only make things worse.
"Has the Imperial Observatory chosen a wedding date?" Zhan Xuan opened his eyes, his voice calm and undisturbed.
Min Xiang breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Observatory is currently conducting calculations and expects to provide results in three days."
“Alright.” Zhan Xuan nodded. “Three days from now, I will personally go to the Imperial Observatory to select an auspicious day.” With that, he turned and walked towards the door, his steps heavy and firm.
Stepping out of the Min residence, the sunlight was blinding, yet Zhan Xuan felt icy cold all over.
He looked up towards the direction of the palace, which was magnificent and resplendent, yet resembled a giant vortex about to engulf him, Ye Li, and Pang Qiang.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, and blood dripped from between his fingers, but he was completely unaware of it.
When he returned to the palace, he saw Ye Li pacing back and forth outside the Imperial Study.
He eagerly stepped forward and asked, "Why was Pang Qiang chosen as queen? Have you seen her?"
Zhan Xuan said helplessly, "She insists on doing so, Ali. Actually, there's something I haven't told you. Back in the witch clan, Pang Qiang told me that she wanted me to give her a child!"
Ye Li blinked blankly: "Give her a child?"
Zhan Xuan nodded emphatically: "Yes, she said I had no choice!"
Ye Li quickly understood that she meant that the child would be Zhan Xuan's way of giving an explanation to the family and even to outsiders.
He lowered his eyes sadly and said, "I'm sorry, it's my fault, I've implicated Pang Qiang!"
Zhan Xuan frowned and said, "How have you done anything wrong? If anyone has to take responsibility for this, it's me. I shouldn't have done this to you!"
He didn't finish his sentence, but his eyes revealed the depth of his feelings.
Ye Li blushed instantly and murmured softly, "How about I try to persuade Pang Qiang again? She should listen to me, right?"
Zhan Xuan waved his hand: "No need. She's even more stubborn than you. I can't persuade her, let alone you. Let's just leave it at that. At worst, we'll treat her better. The entire palace will respect her!"
Ye Li had no choice but to agree, but he still wanted to give it a try.
As night fell, the back garden of the Min family mansion became very lively.
Several maids set up a stone table in front to roast meat, while Zhan Miao sat opposite Pang Qiang.
Pang Qiang smiled, poured her a drink, and pushed it in front of her: "Today, we're not leaving until we're drunk!"
Zhan Miao picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. He wiped his mouth, but his eyes caught Pang Qiang taking only a small sip before putting down her glass. He couldn't help but frown: "Sister A-Qiang, you only coax me to drink, but you don't drink any yourself?"
Pang Qiang smiled helplessly, her fingertips tracing the rim of her cup: "My status is not what it used to be. Every move I make is being watched. I can't do whatever I want like I did in the prosperous dynasty."
Mentioning her time in the Sheng Dynasty, Zhan Miao's smile faded slightly. She picked up the wine jar and filled her cup again: "I would rather stay in the Sheng Dynasty forever. Now that my second brother has become the king and you have become the queen, our friendship has grown distant."
“There’s no awkwardness.” Pang Qiang interrupted her softly, her eyes sincere. “It’s just that our identities are different now, and the burdens on our shoulders are heavier. Your second brother is the king, responsible for the millions of people of Li Kingdom; I am the queen, so I have to help him stabilize the harem and appease the court.”
"But I can tell that Second Brother isn't happy at all." Zhan Miao put down her wine glass, her tone tinged with indignation. "He doesn't want you to be Queen, and you're clearly upset too, so why do you have to put yourself through this?"
Pang Qiang lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a light shadow beneath her eyelids.
She picked up her glass and downed the wine in one gulp. The spicy liquid slid down her throat, bringing a burning warmth that also dispelled the tears in her eyes.
"Feeling wronged? Perhaps." She said softly, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "But compared to the stability of Li Kingdom, compared to enabling Boss Xuan to secure his position, what are my little grievances?"
Zhan Miao slammed his hand on the table: "Second Brother can choose any noble lady to be his queen, but he can't choose you. Is there some reason for this? Is someone forcing you? Tell me, and I'll go talk to Second Brother for you!"
Pang Qiang shook her head, feeling a warmth in her heart as she looked at Zhan Miao's anxious expression. She knew that Zhan Miao was still the same spirited and loyal young girl she used to be.
“No one forced me; it was my own decision,” she said softly. “Your second brother has just ascended the throne, and his power base is not yet secure. His entanglement with Ye Li will give those powerful families leverage against him. Only by entering the inner palace to appease them can we extinguish their arrogance.”
"But have you thought about yourself?" Zhan Miao's voice softened, tinged with a sob. "For the rest of your life, you'll be confined within these four palace walls, never again able to ride horses and hunt with us, or roam the world together like before. Do you really want that kind of life?"
Pang Qiang looked at the bright moon outside the window, a hint of longing flashing in her eyes, which was then replaced by determination.
She picked up the wine jar and filled a cup for both Zhan Miao and herself: "Miao'er, not everything in life can be done as you please. Once you've taken on some responsibilities, you can't easily let them go."
She picked up her wine glass and looked at Zhan Miao: "Have you ever heard the saying, 'A scholar will die for one who understands him'? Your second brother and Ye Li are my confidants. I can give everything for them!"
Seeing the determination in Pang Qiang's eyes, Zhan Miao knew that further persuasion would be useless. She raised her wine glass and gently clinked it against Pang Qiang's: "Alright! Let's drink until we drop!"
After a couple of drinks, Zhan Miao became more talkative. She chattered on and on about interesting stories from Liguo.
Pang Qiang listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a word or two, and a genuine smile gradually appeared on her face.
The wine jar was gradually emptied, and both of their cheeks flushed.
Zhan Miao lay on the table, looking at Pang Qiang with dreamy eyes: "Sister A-Qiang, I really miss the old days. Back then, we lived in the Marquis's mansion. We would go out to fly kites during the day and come back to eat and drink together in the evening. How carefree we were!"