161: Chapter 161 Should we cancel this arranged marriage?

On the main seat, the Emperor heard this name and was stunned for a moment.

Immediately, he cast a meaningful glance at Chancellor Ouyang, who was sweating profusely and preparing to step out of the ranks.

"Oh? So it is the daughter of Chancellor Ouyang."

The Emperor stroked his chin, his fingers tapping lightly on the Dragon throne, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

After all, Chancellor Ouyang was the head of all officials; to directly grant a marriage in this manner would somewhat disregard his Face.

Seeing the Emperor hesitate, Chancellor Ouyang immediately seized the opportunity, walked quickly to the front of the hall, and bowed deeply:

"Your Majesty, please be discerning! Although my daughter Wanqing is of humble appearance, being so deeply loved by young Master Chen is truly her good fortune."

"However..."

Chancellor Ouyang changed the subject, his tone revealing a sense of difficulty:

"My daughter is not yet fifteen, has not come of age, and has not yet left the boudoir. It is truly inappropriate to discuss marriage so early, and I dare not trouble Your Majesty to grant the marriage now."

This "delaying tactic" was used to perfection.

It neither offended the Face of the Emperor and Chen Shanzhi in public nor dragged the matter out.

"Your Majesty, how about waiting until my daughter turns fifteen next year? This old servant will then shamelessly request Your Majesty to preside over the marriage. What do you think?"

The Emperor listened and nodded slightly.

The Prime Minister still needed to be given Face. Since he had said next year, the Emperor would just go with the flow and agree.

"Chancellor Ouyang speaks reasonably. Since that is the case, I give you my word: when Wanqing comes of age next year, I shall personally grant the marriage for the two of you!"

As soon as these words were spoken,

The gazes of the scholars in the hall towards Chen Shanzhi were instantly filled with undisguised jealousy and envy!

The Emperor has given his word! Even the Prime Minister has acknowledged it in public!

Waiting until next year for Chen Shanzhi to marry the daughter of the Prime Ministers Mansion was now an absolutely set-in-stone matter!

Once he became the Prime Minister's son-in-law, that kid Chen Shanzhi would truly rise to the heavens in one step!

At the ladies' table, Ouyang Wanqing heard the Emperor's promise, and two clouds of red instantly flew onto her beautiful Face.

She shyly lowered her head, but the corners of her eyes and brows could not hide the extremely intense joy.

Next year, she would become Third Brother's fiancée.

However, while everyone in the hall was immersed in this tale of a talented scholar and a beautiful lady, no one noticed.

Chancellor Ouyang, with his head lowered, had a flash of bone-chilling Killing Intent deep in his eyes!

...

The poetry gathering ended.

Chen Shanzhi was surrounded by a group of powerful young nobles who usually disdained to associate with him, and various flattering words poured in like a tide.

Chen Shanzhi wore an impeccable smile on his Face, responding with ease and saying thanks repeatedly.

Only he himself knew in his heart.

If he had not been Reborn with the memories of his previous life, hearing the Emperor's words "grant the marriage next year," he would probably have thought the overall situation was settled and been so happy he lost his bearings.

However, the bloody lessons of his past life were still engraved in his bones!

It was exactly in this so-called "next year"!

Chancellor Ouyang had demoted him and his father to the border, and then sent assassins on the road to root them out!

Now, although this poetry gathering had forced Chancellor Ouyang to take a stand in public, it had only exchanged for a verbal promise from the Emperor.

Next year?

If by this time next year, his whole family was no longer in the capital, or had simply vanished from the Face of the earth, could the imperial decree for the marriage be issued to ghosts?

Chen Shanzhi sneered in his heart.

Today, in front of all the civil and military officials, he had used the "ode to the wild goose" to force the Prime Minister into a corner; this had absolutely touched the Prime Minister's reverse scale!

In the coming year, that old fox, in order to send his daughter into the First Prince's backyard, would absolutely use any means necessary to kill him!

He must plan ahead!

...

After this battle, the "ode to the wild goose" became a hit across the entire capital overnight!

"Ask the world, what is love, that it teaches life and death to be promised to one another." This eternal masterpiece directly became the bible for all infatuated men and women in the capital to express their feelings.

And the news that the child prodigy Chen Shanzhi would marry the daughter of the Prime Ministers Mansion next year became the most talked-about gossip in the streets and alleys of the capital after tea and meals.

At night, in the Chen family residence.

Chen Shanzhi pushed open the door to his father Chen Chao's study.

Chen Chao was a middle-aged man with a dark complexion and an honest and upright personality.

Seeing his son enter, Chen Chao immediately put down the official documents in his hand and greeted him with a glowing Face.

"Hahaha, San'er! Your performance at the poetry gathering today, Dad has heard all about it from my colleagues! Good lad, you really brought honor to your father! Not only did you take first place, but you also made the Emperor personally grant the marriage! Our old Chen family, the ancestral graves are smoking with good fortune!"

Chen Chao was so happy he was dancing, and the corners of his eyes crinkled with deep lines from smiling.

However, as he praised, he discovered that Chen Shanzhi's expression not only lacked any joy but was terrifyingly grave.

"What's wrong, San'er? Did you run into trouble?" Chen Chao's smile slowly faded, and he asked with some concern.

Chen Shanzhi closed the door tightly, walked in front of Chen Chao, lowered his voice, and told him the whole story.

"Dad, do you really think today was a joyous occasion? Today in the Imperial Garden, I offended the Prime Minister to death!"

Chen Shanzhi took a deep breath, his tone extremely serious:

"I just happened to learn a secret piece of information. The Prime Minister has long reached a private agreement with the First Prince, preparing to marry Wanqing off to him as soon as she comes of age!"

"What?" Chen Chao was shocked, "This... how is this possible? Then why would the Prime Minister today still..."

"He was roasted on the fire by me using the Emperor's words. In order not to disrespect the Emperor's Face, he could only use her coming of age next year as an excuse to delay!"

Chen Shanzhi pointed out the crux of the matter with surgical precision:

"Dad, think about it. On one side is the verbal promise the Emperor made in public, and on the other is the First Prince, whom he had already planned on to consolidate the power of the Prime Ministers Mansion. If you were the Prime Minister, and wanted to find a way to satisfy both, without losing the Emperor's Face, and still be able to logically marry your daughter to the First Prince, what would you do?"

Chen Chao was stunned, and cold sweat began to drip down his forehead.

"Dad, the simplest and most permanent solution is to let our old Chen family... completely disappear before the Emperor grants the marriage next year!"

"This..." Chen Chao gasped, his legs going weak: "San'er, aren't you overthinking this? Although the Prime Minister is strict, he has been a mentor to your father; how could he be so ruthless?"

"Dad, rooting out the weeds is the most basic means in the imperial court!" Chen Shanzhi gripped his father's hand tightly: "We are now a thorn in his side! If we don't plan ahead, our family will absolutely not survive past next year!"

Looking at his son's determined eyes, Chen Chao fell silent. Although he was honest, he was definitely not a fool.

"Then... what should we do now?" Chen Chao swallowed, his voice trembling: "How about... how about we proactively beg the Emperor to cancel this marriage?"