Chapter Forty-Nine: Refusal of the Marriage Proposal
Kunning Palace.
Princess Changping, Zhu Weiru, was paying her respects to Empress Zhou when the second imperial son, Zhu Cijiong, suddenly burst in, full of excitement, shouting, “Elder sister, I saw him! I saw him!”
“What did you see?” Empress Zhou frowned and scolded, “You’re always acting wild and unruly. If your father sees you, you’ll surely be punished again.”
Zhu Cijiong made a funny face at Empress Zhou and said to Princess Changping, “Sister, I saw that Wang Pu—the one Father chose to be your Prince Consort.”
Princess Changping’s cheeks instantly flushed. Fourteen was the age when a young girl’s heart first stirs. From her father, mother, and the palace servants’ idle chatter, she had already heard all of Wang Pu’s heroic deeds. In Zhu Weiru’s tender heart, Wang Pu had become a figure of heavenly might; to marry such a youthful hero would indeed be a match made in heaven.
Empress Zhou looked at her bashful daughter with interest and asked Zhu Cijiong, “Son, tell Mother, what does Wang Pu look like?”
Zhu Cijiong replied, “He looks decent enough, but compared to Elder Brother and me, he’s still lacking a bit. Still, he’s better than those sons of noble families in Beijing. Besides, he’s a military man—quite imposing. Not like those official sons, skinny as reeds, ready to topple in the wind.”
Princess Changping giggled behind her hand. “How can you tease people like that?”
“Hey, I’m telling the truth,” Zhu Cijiong insisted. “You haven’t seen those companions of Elder Brother—they’re grandsons of the chief ministers, I hear, but so thin! Though they’re older than me, I could lift two of them with one hand.”
“That’s enough,” Empress Zhou laughed and chided, “Son, stop fooling around. Go to the front hall and keep an eye out. This afternoon, your father will announce the betrothal before the assembled officials. Once it’s done, hurry back and tell your sister, so she’ll no longer be so anxious.”
Princess Changping buried herself into Empress Zhou’s embrace, twisting her waist in protest. “Mother!”
“All right.”
Zhu Cijiong agreed and dashed out of Kunning Palace.
■■■
In the front hall, Emperor Chongzhen was holding a grand banquet for the officials.
Although the meddling of Liu Zongzhou and the other purist ministers at noon had irked him, overall, Emperor Chongzhen’s mood was very good today, so he drank a few extra cups at the feast.
The civil and military officials, intimidated by imperial majesty, were mostly cautious and reserved, afraid to drink freely—except Wang Pu, who had little concept of the distinction between monarch and subject. He accepted every toast, showing off his uninhibited nature. After all, he hadn’t been in this world long, nor had he spent much time with the emperor; like a modern man, he didn’t see himself as a mere subordinate.
As the banquet wore on, the tables were littered with dishes and cups.
Emperor Chongzhen suddenly rose from behind the imperial desk and announced loudly, “Silence, all of you! I… I have joyful news to declare today.”
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The clamor in the hall abruptly ceased, and every official’s gaze turned toward Emperor Chongzhen.
“Esteemed ministers,” Emperor Chongzhen swept his eyes around the hall, finally settling on Wang Pu. He declared in a loud voice, “I have decided… to marry my daughter Ruer to Lord Wang as his wife.”
All eyes instantly shifted to Wang Pu, with expressions of envy and jealousy. They all knew that the Ruer mentioned by the emperor was Princess Changping—this meant the emperor was making Wang Pu his Prince Consort. It was a tremendous honor.
But Wang Pu had no idea who “Ruer” was. Moreover, he had drunk heavily tonight and was feeling dizzy, unaware of the gravity of the occasion. As soon as Emperor Chongzhen finished speaking, Wang Pu stood up and waved his hands about, exclaiming, “Your Majesty, no… there’s no need. I—I already have a wife.”
Clatter.
Crash.
The newly appointed Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru and Minister of War Chen Xinjia both dropped their jade soup spoons to the floor, shattering them instantly.
The entire hall froze. Those ladling soup held their ladles mid-air, those smiling wore their frozen smiles, those turning their heads remained twisted. Minister of Personnel Zheng Sanjun bent down to pick up some dropped chopsticks, but upon hearing these words, he was rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Shock!
Utter shock!
The officials could hardly believe their ears. Wang Pu dared to refuse a royal marriage in public! This was a union bestowed by the emperor himself, and the bride was the emperor’s legitimate eldest daughter, Princess Changping. Many had begged for such a match in vain, yet Wang Pu had the audacity to refuse it before everyone.
Emperor Chongzhen’s face immediately darkened. He glared fiercely at Chen Xinjia.
Chen Xinjia shivered, stood up, and asked Wang Pu with a quavering voice, “Wang Pu, weren’t you unmarried?”
Chen Xinjia regretted deeply. If only he hadn’t spoken up on the Golden Throne that day—his words had brought this disaster. Wang Pu, you’ve really ruined me this time. Rage rising, Chen Xinjia almost wanted to bite Wang Pu.
“Uh…” Wang Pu hiccupped drunkenly, “Thank you, Lord Chen, for your concern. I—I just married a wife in Jiangnan, heh, heh heh.”
“Hmph! Outrageous!” Emperor Chongzhen snorted, his face grim, and strode out furiously.
The officials looked at each other in bewilderment. Only Wang Pu stood, swaying with his wine cup, and said, “What’s wrong with all of you? Come, let’s… drink, drink…”
Chang Yanling and Li Zushu, seated nearby, hurried over and supported Wang Pu, whispering, “Brother, you’re drunk. You mustn’t drink any more.”
“I’m not drunk!” Wang Pu struggled, “Let me go, let…”
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Before he could finish, Wang Pu had already collapsed into Chang Yanling’s arms, snoring loudly.
With Emperor Chongzhen gone, the officials lost all interest in continuing the feast. Each slipped away quietly. Those who had schemed for ties with Wang Pu now avoided him as if he were plague; since he dared refuse the emperor’s marriage, it was best not to provoke him before the matter was settled.
■■■
Kunning Palace.
Zhu Cijiong rushed in, breathless. “Mother, sister, something’s happened—something big!”
Empress Zhou scolded, “What is it? Can’t you speak slowly?”
“Mother, sister,” Zhu Cijiong looked at Empress Zhou, then at Princess Changping, finally gritting his teeth, “Wang Pu has refused the marriage in public!”
“What?”
Princess Changping’s face turned deathly pale. Empress Zhou was so stunned she couldn’t close her mouth, utterly unprepared for Wang Pu’s public refusal.
“Son,” Empress Zhou asked incredulously, “Are you just teasing your sister?”
“No,” Zhu Cijiong said anxiously, “I’m telling the truth.”
“That’s right, Cijiong is telling the truth. Wang Pu really refused the marriage in front of everyone.”
No sooner had Zhu Cijiong finished than Emperor Chongzhen’s angry voice sounded outside the inner chamber, followed by the eunuch Wang Cheng’en’s cry: “His Majesty arrives!”
Empress Zhou, Zhu Weiru, and Zhu Cijiong hastily rose and knelt to welcome Emperor Chongzhen.
“Rise,” Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand and sat on the imperial couch, his anger still lingering. “Ruer is virtuous and beautiful—how could she not be worthy of him, this General of Datong? Wang Pu hasn’t even met her and dares refuse publicly! Outrageous!”
Zhu Weiru got up and wept, “Father, I won’t marry. I’ll stay with you and Mother forever.”
“Silly child.” Emperor Chongzhen lovingly stroked her head, then his tone turned stern again. “Don’t worry, Ruer. Your father has ways to make Wang Pu repent. If he remains stubborn, I’ll cut off his useless head and see if he still dares refuse!”
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