Seventeen threats

  "You—" Xia Gao clutched at his chest, panting heavily, his eyes glaring furiously at the person below him. For a moment, he was so angry that he almost forgot himself and the relationship between them as ruler and subject. "Who said you interfered? If you marry that woman, can you be worthy of—"

  "Achoo!" Suddenly, a light coughing sound from beside him interrupted Xia Gao's anger.

  Suddenly realizing that she had lost control, Xia Gao stopped abruptly and glanced at Dequan beside her, but didn't know what to say.

  "Your Majesty, I beg to report that this White Heart is indeed the one who saved me in Maoshan Village. Although she was born deaf and mute, she has a lifesaving grace towards me. This person, I have decided to marry. If Your Majesty regrets it, you can withdraw your imperial decree. But I am willing to give up this prince's position to accompany her side by side, to repay her kindness... Please grant me your permission." He lowered his eyes, and the calm tone of his voice concealed all emotions, but every word was filled with a certain determination.

  These words almost made Xia Gao spit out a mouthful of old blood. He couldn't help but slap the table and stand up, shouting loudly: "Nonsense! How dare you use someone else to threaten me?!"

  For a disabled person, he actually doesn't want fame, wealth and power?!

  De Fu hastily came over to support Emperor Xiang and helped him sit down: "Your Majesty, please calm down!"

  He watched anxiously, remembering how his previous master had also quarreled with the Emperor and ended up... Now, Prince Xiang is again at odds with the Emperor. What if he ends up like his previous master? How would the Emperor withstand such a blow?

  Xia Gaoben was about to shout loudly, but suddenly received a signal from Dequan in the dark. He fell silent for a moment and calmed down slightly. Looking at the person kneeling below, he took a deep breath and finally gritted his teeth and said: "Your marriage will be considered again before answering you. If I hear you speak lightly of abdicating again, beware that I will grant you the crime of deceiving the emperor! You can retreat first, and I'll summon you after considering it for a while."

  De Quan couldn't help but secretly smile to himself. The Emperor was indeed furious, the move of resigning from office had precedents before, and it wasn't as if only Cheng Wang had brought it up, so how did it become 'deceiving the ruler and offending against superiors'?

  He raised an eyebrow slightly and didn't say a word, after bowing he left the imperial study.

  "Dequan, Dequan, what should we do?" As soon as the person left, Xia Gao couldn't help but frown and sigh, "Did you see his attitude? He's clearly threatening us! They all know how to threaten us..."

  Dequan lowered his eyebrows and listened attentively, then let out a sigh and replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, you must think thrice about this!"

  He didn't want the Emperor to drive Cheng Wang away in a fit of anger...

  "Three thoughts? How can I think?" Xia Gao's angry face still hadn't dissipated, pointing at the door he said, "Do you want me to watch him marry a disabled person?"

  "Your Majesty, since Prince Cheng wants to marry that Bai girl in the name of repaying kindness, why not just grant his wish and make him happy? This way, you won't hurt your relationship with Prince Cheng, and he'll also gain a good reputation. Isn't this a win-win situation?"

  At these words, Xia Gao's eyes widened in anger, his furious gaze almost boring two holes into Dequan's body: "He's talking nonsense, and you're following him in his nonsense?! Don't you worry that the future crown prince will also be physically disabled?!"

  Dequan's forehead was covered in cold sweat, but he could only pluck up the courage to ask: "Your Majesty, forgive me for asking, are you really willing to let Wang leave?"

  One sentence made Xia Gao suddenly slump onto the dragon chair.

  Yes, how can he bear to part with him?

  For twenty years, what he wanted most was for him to call himself 'Father'...

  This child is good in every way, but sometimes his temper is just like Ying Er's, stubborn!

  He had lost his daughter in the past and was filled with lifelong regret; would he now lose this son as well?

  He's old and doesn't have the courage to gamble on anything anymore...

  Supporting his forehead, Xia Gao shook his head and sighed. After a long while, he waved his hand at Dequan: "Alright, go call him in."

  He now only hopes that his feelings for the woman are gratitude rather than affection, so that in the future when he meets someone he truly likes, he can also find a good way to settle her down.

  ……

  Bai Han had just returned home when he was invited by He Lan's people to a small Buddhist temple where He Lan lived.

  "Han is light, has seen the emperor? How did the emperor say?" As soon as she saw her son, He Lan asked in a hurry.

  Bai Han's face was complex, shaking his head and sighing: "Mother, send someone to bring that child back..."

  "What?!". He Lan suddenly stood up from her chair, scaring the two maids beside her who quickly supported her. She glared with anger, her facial wrinkles trembling with rage, "How can this be? That little monster is a reincarnated disaster, how can she appear in our White family?! If you bring her back, aren't you afraid she'll bring disaster to our White family?!"

  "Mother." Bai Han saw that she was furious and feared something might happen to her, so he hastily stepped forward, pushed aside a maid, and personally helped her sit down. Sighing, he comforted her, saying: "Mother, listen while your son explains things clearly to you—"

  He doesn't understand that His Majesty already knows about the situation with that little scoundrel, how can he still agree to this marriage. He has no choice but to follow the imperial edict now!

  And from this matter, he saw even more clearly that the emperor's favor towards Cheng Wang was by no means just a superficial phenomenon...

  ……

  Mao Shan Village

  For several days, the continuous light rain quietly washed every corner of the village, everywhere was muddy and watery. Bai Xin had not gone out for several days, fortunately, she had those two baskets of white rice to hold out against hunger, so she didn't have to go to the fields to dig up sweet potatoes and radishes.

  The villagers still acted as usual, from time to time sending her some food to prevent her from starving at home.

  In her own words, her current life is decadent...

  Utterly devastated!

  She had enough silver in her arms to leave the mountain village, but every time she thought of leaving, a feeling of reluctance would arise. One night, she packed up her simple luggage and stepped out of the dilapidated door, but inexplicably, she returned...

  She had never spoken to anyone in the village, not even a single word, but she had developed a deep affection for everything here. Compared to the distant and cold family ties, the kind-hearted villagers gave her a different kind of warmth, even if it was just a piece of leftover vegetable leaves, she felt warm in her heart.

  If life is going to be a waste from now on, she would rather enjoy these tiny bits of warmth in the midst of waste...

  The light rain of several days has ended, and the sky is clear. Early in the morning, Bai Xin carried a bamboo basket on her back to prepare for going out. The land in Maoshan Village is fertile, and every time it rains, some white mushrooms will grow on the mountain. She had met villagers picking many and bringing them back before, thinking that those things could be used to change their taste, so she also went up the mountain to pick a few times.

  Just as she was walking out of the courtyard, she suddenly saw several neatly dressed strangers approaching her home.

  Digression

  Girls who like it can join the group 【4981969】