Chapter 1271 - 50: Love Debts (Part 26)
The Ninth Prince grew up with Su Yang and the others.
As good brothers, they naturally hoped he could achieve his desires and leave no regrets in life.
As elder cousins, they hoped their cousin could marry a perfect gentleman who would love and cherish her throughout her life.
They trusted the character of the Ninth Prince, but he was already feared by the Crown Prince.
If his feelings for Shen Yue were not so deep, unable to remain loyal to her, potentially having many wives and concubines in the future, hurting their cousin’s heart, Su Yang would never agree.
If the Ninth Prince truly loved Shen Yue and would marry none other than her, Su Yang felt he could make an effort; not because he lacked ambition, but because true brotherhood should not make the Crown Prince suspicious, and avoiding marrying the woman he loves just to alleviate such suspicions would be rather cowardly.
A person like that could never be their brother.
Of course, this was just Su Yang’s perspective. Shen Yue was only his cousin, agreeing or disagreeing to marry the Ninth Prince was up to the Jibei Marquis Mansion, and he certainly couldn’t make that decision.
Su Yang did not oppose, and the Ninth Prince said, "I’ve liked your cousin for several years now."
Zhao Duan looked at the Ninth Prince and said, "You’ve hidden it quite well."
The Ninth Prince, "...."
It’s just that you weren’t observant enough, alright!
The Ninth Prince expressed to Su Yang and Shen Xing that he would marry none other than Shen Yue.
Back when Su Yang ran away from home and was sold into the palace, he was sent to play with the Ninth Prince, who then moved to live at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
Their relationship was even better than that of blood brothers; true brothers might not share the same bed, getting kicked awake by siblings night after night.
Ever since he left the palace, over the years, the Ninth Prince probably hadn’t lived more than a year in the palace in total.
Later, after moving out of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, Shen Xing and Zhao Duan returned to their homes, occasionally staying at Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, naturally making the Ninth Prince return to the palace.
But having become accustomed to living outside the palace, he really disliked the restrictions of palace rules and firmly requested the Emperor to let him live outside the palace.
After severely reprimanding him, the Emperor granted him a residence.
The Ninth Prince was the only prince among the Emperor’s many sons to move out of the palace before marrying a wife and being bestowed a princedom.
The Ninth Prince found it uncomfortable to live in the palace, let alone fight for the throne, staying in the palace for a lifetime to read memorials, manage affairs, constantly worried about ministers plotting against him, potentially becoming a terrible ruler by accident... In the Ninth Prince’s view, that would absolutely be a foolish desire.
From a young age, the Ninth Prince had never considered that his own father might have grown weary of the Dragon Chair, constantly changing cushions.
But while he was uninterested, others assumed he was interested.
The Ninth Prince felt mentally exhausted.
He looked at Su Yang and Zhao Duan and asked, "Can you guys help me think of what I should do?"
Zhao Duan and Shen Xing looked at him, "What can you do, when you can’t make decisions about your own marriage?"
"You can only seek a marriage decree from the Emperor."
The Ninth Prince naturally knew that his marriage had to be decided by his father.
He had considered directly asking his father for a marriage decree.
But should he really obtain such a decree, the Crown Prince might become anxious, unable to sit still.
The Ninth Prince felt this wasn’t the best option, he looked to Su Yang, hoping to hear Su Yang’s thoughts.
Su Yang pondered and said, "If you can persuade the Crown Prince to help you propose, then this marriage is almost certain."
The Ninth Prince, "...."
Shen Xing, "...."
Zhao Duan, "...."
That’s too ruthless, isn’t it?
Can the Crown Prince really help the Ninth Prince propose, thus finding himself a threat?
If it weren’t for concerns about the Crown Prince, this matter wouldn’t be so complicated.
"You’re not joking with me, right?" The Ninth Prince’s voice floated weakly.
Su Yang looked at him and said, "This involves the lifelong happiness of my cousin, can I joke with you about it?"
"Even if you go to Jibei Marquis Mansion now to propose, as long as my father is around, this will be a hurdle you must face," said Su Yang.
"...."
Though the one getting married is Shen Yue, merely the niece of the Marquis Dongxiang.
But Marquis Jibei and Old Master Shen and Third Master Shen will definitely seek the opinion of Marquis Dongxiang.
The Marquis Dongxiang won’t be the kind to break up lovers, but the Ninth Prince will need to have the ability to transform potential dangers into invisibility.
If he can persuade the Crown Prince to help propose, it would mean that the Crown Prince trusts him sufficiently.
Thus there would be no fear of the Crown Prince threatening him swiftly.
Then Jibei Marquis Mansion would feel safe marrying Shen Yue to the Ninth Prince, especially since they watched him grow up, knowing him well.
Moreover, if he dares to wrong Shen Yue, Su Yang and Shen Xing would beat him into doubting life.
Having provoked Marquis Dongxiang from a young age, and being beaten so many times, Su Yang believes he understands his own father about fifty to sixty percent.
Persuading the Crown Prince to propose—
It can only be more difficult than this, not simpler.