Zong Han's dark eyebrows furrowed into a frown. His eyes, cold as if submerged in a frigid pool, fixed on Fan Zehao in the soft chair. "Back at the prince's manor, wasn't it you two who promised me that as long as Junjun agreed, you wouldn't oppose her marrying me?"
Seeing his anxious demeanor, Zhao Jiaqi was reminded of her own newlywed days. She pursed her lips, secretly smiling, and lowered her head, feigning deafness.
Fan Zehao, however, had a thicker skin than Zhao Jiaqi. He retorted suspiciously, "Did I say that? I don't recall anything of the sort!"
Zhao Jiaqi immediately put on an act of remembrance. After a moment, she shook her head. "It seems... not. I've forgotten. Emperor Zong wouldn't mind, would he? After all, I'm old and tend to forget things!"
She was old?
How old?
As far as he recalled, Zhao Jiaqi was only a year or two older than him, not yet thirty. How could she be old!
At this point, even Zong Han, as dull as he was, could grasp the situation. This couple was definitely doing this on purpose, unwilling to let him smoothly marry the young girl back to his country. He had misjudged them; he never expected Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi to be so untrustworthy, agreeing to something and then going back on their word!
Zhao Jiaqi scanned Zong Han's fluctuating expression. "Since Junjun has agreed, we as her parents have nothing more to say. However, there's one thing we must remind you of today!" She continued, "Junjun was adopted by us. You know this. But... in our hearts, Junjun is like our own child. We dote on her, cherish her, and have raised her with great care. She's also a bit willful. If she displeases you, you don't need to discipline her privately. Just let me know, and I'll send someone to bring her back, educate her properly, and then send her back to you. Remember this point!"
The first part of her speech was earnest, but the latter part was a warning. Zong Han, no matter how slow-witted he was, understood. If the young girl were ever sent back, it would be like a meat bun thrown to a dog – gone forever! How could he let such a thing happen? Was it so difficult to only have the young girl as his wife for life?
"Empress, rest assured. Zong Han was born in the palace and understands the dangers of the harem. I will absolutely not take any concubines. For this lifetime, Junjun will be my only Empress. No matter how pampered or how unruly the young girl becomes, as long as I am alive, I will be her sky. I will bear all the trouble she causes and will never let her suffer the slightest humiliation!"
With such words spoken, it seemed they had no more excuses to object. Fan Zehao was unwilling, but among the people he knew, Zong Han was intelligent, capable, mature, steady, resourceful, and self-disciplined. There was nothing to pick at. If he considered age and temperament, he still felt his daughter was being taken by a pig. What a pity for his beautiful blossom of a daughter!
"After the new year, it will be Junjun's coming-of-age ceremony. We'll have the Imperial Observatory select a good date for the wedding!"
As Fan Zehao spoke, Zong Han inwardly breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was too close a call; fortunately, things were settled. In two months, it would be the young girl's coming-of-age ceremony. Although it felt like a long time, he could wait!
The next day, when Fan Zehao went to court, he announced this happy news. The marriage alliance between Zong Sheng Kingdom and Yun Kingdom was a strong union between two powerful nations. As soon as the news was released, within half a month, neighboring and vassal states learned of it. They all cursed Zong Han for being an old ox grazing on tender grass, snatching the Yun Kingdom's Princess Jun first. Now, with closer ties between the two countries, it posed a significant threat to them as neighbors. Thus, the neighboring Wei and Tianhan Kingdoms both submitted memorials, seeking to congratulate Princess Jun on her wedding and, incidentally, discuss trade between their nations.
As for what Wei and Tianhan Kingdoms were worried about, Fan Zehao, Zhao Jiaqi, and Zong Han all understood. According to their intentions, as long as they didn't actively provoke conflict, their future days would be peaceful. If conflict was provoked, the two kingdoms would not hesitate to practice their skills and act together!
As time passed, the end of the year arrived. After the events of the past year, Zhao Jiaqi decided to indulge in extravagance this year. She not only summoned the princes from her fiefdom but also chose to set off fireworks on New Year's Eve. She wanted to thoroughly dispel any bad luck and hoped there would be fewer vexing matters in the future.
Huangfu Xu and Huangfu Xian, a couple of delightful rivals, met and chatted enthusiastically. After Fan Xudong returned, he locked himself in his room with Pingting for a full three days before willing to come out. If it weren't for the thirtieth day, Zhao Jiaqi would have wondered how long he would have stayed shut away.
The moment he emerged, his legs felt a bit unsteady. Fan Zehao mercilessly teased him, "Younger brother, take it easy. Don't end up with a son but a deceased father. Then your son will call another man 'Dad,' and you'll be at a complete loss, won't you!"
Pingting, who was about to exit the room, heard her elder brother's words and blushed as red as a scorched iron pot. One could have cooked an egg on her face! In a fit of pique, Pingting directly sought out her aunt, asking her to reprimand her son, Fan Zehao.
Zhang Cuihua, upon hearing that she was being complained about by her daughter-in-law for her son, laughed heartily. She waved her hands repeatedly, refusing, "Niece-in-law, I can't help you with this. Find your elder sister-in-law; only she can control him!" They were all fiercely protective of their own in the Fan family. How could she scold her own son? She doted on him too much to discipline him!
Having been rebuffed, Pingting became more honest. In fact, she secretly played tricks, often instigating her elder sister-in-law to have another child. But Zhao Jiaqi had no intention of having more children. Let alone her four children, just Yu Meng alone had tormented her so much that she doubted her life. Where would she find the will to have more! Having too many children was like incurring debts. The fact that she hadn't been angered to death by Yu Meng was a testament to her great fortune!
Guangju Palace.
Although Zhang Cuihua lived in the palace, she had not changed any of the customs passed down from her ancestors. Early in the morning, she led Fan He in posting couplets on the palace gates. While directing Fan He to place them crookedly, she muttered, "It's just one palace, but there are so many rooms. Can we finish pasting them all this morning?" Fan He was also a dutiful person. Hearing Cuihua's words, he pondered for a long time and said, "We should be able to. If not, let the young men help. In any case, we must finish before noon!"
The eunuchs behind the couple...... In their lifetime, they never thought anyone would call them young men! When it was time to paste the God of Wealth, Zhang Cuihua pulled her daughter-in-law out of the palace and handed her the scroll painting of the literary God of Wealth. "This is the literary God of Wealth. You are in business, so it's more suitable for you to paste it. Put it in the study!" Zhao Jiaqi saw her mother-in-law's devoutness. She dared not call this superstition and followed her mother-in-law's instructions, pasting it on the study wall. Afterward, she bowed with her mother-in-law.