sjar Chapter 783 You have to marry him whether you like it or not
Chapter 783 You have to marry him whether you like it or not
Zhao Yunci looked at him, the anger in her eyes gradually turning into a long sigh: "I asked you to spend more time with her in the hope that you two could develop feelings for each other over time. I know Gu Junze, that stubborn mule, but as long as his daughter is truly willing, even if he is unhappy in his heart, he will never stop her."
"But what about you? What have you done? You've personally blocked the path I paved for you!"
"Father..." Zhao Chen'an's voice carried a hint of resentment, "Your subject... Your subject truly loves her."
"Like her?" Zhao Yunci sneered. "If a future monarch can't even win over a woman, how can he possibly conquer the entire world? Hesitation only leads to chaos!"
"Remember this: even without Gu Qingchen, Gu Junze would never rebel! His loyalty is not to me, nor to you, but to this country and to the people of this world!"
"As long as you become a benevolent emperor who loves his people, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will always be your strongest shield!"
Zhao Yunci's thoughts seemed to drift back to that stormy night many years ago.
Zhao Yunci recalled how Gu Junze had single-handedly placed him on the throne, his only request being for the people, for their support, for their will...
Zhao Yunci walked back to the imperial desk.
"By imperial decree! The Ministry of Revenue shall immediately open the granaries and allocate 500,000 taels of silver and 100,000 shi of grain for disaster relief in the south of the city. The Ministry of Works shall immediately dispatch officials to assist in the reconstruction of houses, and all expenses shall be borne by the national treasury! The Capital Garrison, in coordination with the Court of Judicial Review, shall fully cooperate with Qian Zhenyun and Gu Lü to maintain order and provide relief to the disaster victims! Anyone who shirks their responsibilities shall be severely punished without exception!"
Orders were issued from the Imperial Study and spread throughout the capital at top speed.
This was undoubtedly a resounding slap in the face to the Crown Prince.
Zhao Chen'an knelt on the ground, his face deathly pale. He knew that his father had completely rejected all his actions and had clearly sided with Gu Qingchen and Qian Zhenyun.
The carriage stopped in front of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Granny Li didn't get out of the carriage; she simply said coldly through the curtain, "Miss Gu, we've arrived."
Gu Qingchen pushed open the car door, and the wind and snow outside immediately rushed in.
She got out of the car and stepped onto the thick snow in front of the mansion gate.
Then, she saw a person.
Zhao Chen'an stood there, in the swirling snow, in front of the vermilion gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
He wasn't holding an umbrella, and snowflakes covered his shoulders and hair, making his bright yellow prince's robes look somewhat disheveled.
His face was pale, his eyes were bloodshot, and he stared straight at her.
He was also holding a bright yellow roll in his hand.
It is an imperial edict.
Gu Qingchen's heart sank.
Zhao Chen'an looked at her and walked over step by step. His eyes no longer held the usual arrogance and calculation, but a kind of almost insane obsession.
"Qingchen".
Gu Qingchen stood still, not moving, just staring at him coldly.
Zhao Chen'an stopped in front of her, raised the imperial edict in his hand as if it were his last straw, and said, "Take a look at this."
He unfolded the imperial edict; the black characters on the bright yellow silk were crystal clear.
"Father has already issued an imperial decree, betrothing you and me. Qingchen, this is an imperial edict, you can no longer refuse."
Gu Qingchen shifted his gaze from the imperial edict to Zhao Chen'an's face.
“Your Highness,” her voice was colder than the wind and snow, “are you just going to hold this imperial edict and watch the people of the south of the city wait to die in the ruins?”
Zhao Chen'an swayed slightly.
"It was an accident!" he almost shouted. "I just... I just wanted you to come back! Everything I did was for you!"
"For me?" Gu Qingchen laughed, his laughter filled with undisguised sarcasm and contempt. "Your Highness's love is truly precious. But to pave the way with the lives of countless people, I, Gu Qingchen, cannot bear such a burden."
"No! I can make it up to them! Father has already decreed that they will receive medical treatment and food!"
Zhao Chen'an explained urgently, as if grasping at the last glimmer of hope, "Qingchen, none of that matters! What matters is us! We're getting married soon!"
He stepped forward, trying to grab Gu Qingchen's hand.
Gu Qingchen abruptly stepped back, avoiding his touch.
"Do not touch me."
Her gaze was like the sharpest knife, piercing Zhao Chen'an and leaving him covered in wounds.
He looked at his empty hands, then at the imperial edict, and the last glimmer of light in his eyes gradually faded.
"Why?" he murmured to himself, as if asking her, or perhaps asking himself, "Why would you rather choose Qian Zhenyun, who has nothing, than look at me?"
“Because he’s like a human being.” Gu Qingchen looked at him, each word clear and distinct. “He has a heart, feelings, and righteousness. He would get himself covered in wounds just to save a complete stranger.”
She paused, a hint of pity in her voice.
"And you? All you have is scheming and your pathetic sense of self-respect."
"Shut up!" Zhao Chen'an seemed to have been hit where it hurt. He suddenly looked up, his scarlet eyes glaring at her. "Gu Qingchen! Don't forget, this is an imperial edict! The emperor's word is law! Do you dare to disobey the imperial decree?"
"I dare," Gu Qingchen replied calmly.
She looked at Zhao Chen'an, at his face contorted with rage, but felt no emotion whatsoever.
"If I step through this door today, I will never come out for you again."
"You have to marry me whether you like it or not!" Zhao Chen'an completely lost his mind. He suddenly grabbed the imperial edict as if it were a weapon.
"Does the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion really have to bear the crime of disobeying imperial orders for your sake? How can you face your father and your brother?!"
“My father and brother risked their lives on the frontier, not so that I could marry someone like you in exchange for the so-called peace of the family.”
After Gu Qingchen finished speaking, she didn't look at him again, turned around, and walked towards the gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
"Gu Qingchen!" Zhao Chen'an screamed desperately from behind her.
Gu Qingchen did not turn around.
She pushed open the heavy vermilion door and went inside.
The door closed slowly behind her with a dull thud.
The door separated the inside from the outside into two worlds.
Outside the door, there was Zhao Chen'an's roar and the swirling snow.
Inside the door, all was silent.
Zhao Chen'an stood alone in the wind and snow, clutching the imperial edict tightly in his hand; the bright yellow silk had become wrinkled and crumpled.
He was like a child abandoned by the whole world, lost and helpless.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, soon burying his figure and his pitiful pride.