Later that evening, Liang Zhen went to The Yellow Lotus Palace after he's done with his work at The Ministry of Justice.
"I received your note, Your Highness. I apologize, my work today was a lot more than usual."
Huang Rui was sitting on a divan, a scroll of his written thoughts about his meeting with the emperor laid open in front of him, his tea was cooling down.
"That's alright. You have to do your duty."
"Is there anything specific for summoning me, or is this just a normal dinner, My Lord?"
Rui sighed. "We're childhood friends. Must you be this formal in private?"
"You're also the crown prince," Liang Zhen replied, sitting down and pouring tea for himself.
"Prepare dinner for my friends," Rui ordered to a eunuch who was standing nearby.
"I'm not eating anything if you won't."
"Three sets," Rui corrected himself, and the eunuch bowed deeply before leaving.
After their meals arrived, Rui ordered Wu Jian to "stop standing behind me, Wu Jian, no one is going attack me," and as the three friends had their dinner, Rui said, "My father told me you have information about Princess Seorin."
"Ah, your future wife."
"How long have you known this?"
"About a month. The emperor summoned me when the Yeonghwa Kingdom's king sent the marriage proposal."
"And you chose not to inform me earlier?"
"His Highness himself told me to wait before informing you."
"...…"
Rui was annoyed, but he understood that the emperor's wish must be obeyed.
"What do you know about her?"
"Please wait, My Lord. I need to bring my resources first."
Liang Zhen left to his study in the palace, before he returned with a stack of books and a few scrolls.
"I am ready to share about her. So, Princess Seorin, is 24 years old."
"Why did she postpone marrying for so long?" Wu Jian asked.
The normal age for men to get married at that era was 16 or 17 years old. For girls, it's normal to marry when they are 15 years old.
"She loved her father so much, she didn't want to leave him."
Between the three of them, only Rui was not married yet. Wu Jian and Liang Zhen were all married with their parents' choices.
"I have been postponing my marriage too, because…." Rui didn't finish it, but they both knew it's because of his grief.
"She is extremely educated in philosophy, history, law, strategic leadership and palace management."
"Hold on," Rui lifted his hand, "Strategic Leadership? Did you misread it?"
"No, My Lord. I am reading the profile written by Yeonghwa's King."
Rui asked for the scroll and saw it with his own eyes.
"Strategic leadership. That's really surprising for a princess."
"In a letter to the emperor, Yeonghwa's king said that Princess Seorin read every book the crown prince of Yeonghwa was asked to by his tutors. When the crown prince was assigned to write essays, Princess Seorin did the same. She and her brother have been as thick as thieves ever since they were really young. And the crown prince's tutors actually reported to the king that the princess wrote better essays than her brother."
"Why would the king share such personal details?"
"Because he is seeking a true match for his favorite child. He wanted someone who could respect his intelligent daughter, and would not just treat her like a doll."
Rui was quiet because he was reading Seorin's profile, which was apparently handwritten by Yeonghwa's king himself.
Here was the profile written by Yeonghwa's king:
My daughter Princess Seorin is well-educated. Perhaps too well.
I might have brought her up wrongly and indulged in her thirst for knowledge.
The crown prince was sickly as a child and was impulsive, so he used to refuse to study unless his sister did the same.
As a result, Princess Seorin is as well-educated as our crown prince.
The princess had been rejecting her suitors since she was 15. This is because these lords want a meek, silent and shy partner who would obey them without question.
This is hard for her marriage marketability, I have to admit. I have admitted it is all my fault. She argued with all her suitors, demanding the rights to continue her studies, social activities and artistic hobbies.
She dared mention one thing during all these first meetings. She wished for "mutual respect" in marriage. Even mentioning it is scandalous, and therefore, none of her proposed marriage offers ever worked.
But I am hoping that Crown Prince Huang Rui, who has published books of poems, would understand the merit of an intelligent future wife.
She postponed her marriage not because she was unwanted, but because in the end, she was misunderstood as a rebel. Huang Empire is a great country. Perhaps, in the future, your crown prince might appreciate having a wife who could be a partner to discuss about the empire's matters rather than someone who could only pour his tea.
Princess Seorin opened a free food house in Hanyang and gives them with her own hands once a week. The people say it is too scandalous and dirty for a princess.
She opens a school for girls at the front of her palace, teaching rich and poor girls and ladies who didn't know how to read, write and count. They say this is inappropriate, because girls were not supposed to be intelligent. They were feared to grow as insolent girls.
And Princess Seorin loves to dance. I allow her to perform at internal family events here in Hanyang.
Another reason why she is still unmarried until now is again, purely my own fault. I enjoy having a discussion friend who is as sharp and critical as her. She is better than some of my ministers.
However, I realize one of my duties as her father is to find her a good husband.
Only with the Crown Prince Huang Rui do I believe I will feel at ease.
I read his poem books and I believe he is very clever, refined and will not treat an intelligent, older woman unkindly.
If your crown prince marries our Princess and promises to treat her well, I feel that I will face my Maker one day with a light heart.
I will also make sure when Princess Seorin sails to Huang Empire, she goes as a lady who is ready to care for her husband, respects her husband's name, and to be obedient to her husband, as far as she is kindly treated.
*****
The letter was shockingly emotional, from a king to an emperor.
Rui gave the letter to Wu Jian so he could read it as well.
"The Princess sounds….unique," Wu Jian commented.
"She sounds perfect for you, my Lord. She won't make your life boring at all," Liang Zhen assured.
"A princess who learns what a crown prince should learn, serves food for the poor with her own hands, and opens a school for girls. I have never heard a noble lady could even do these things," Rui mused.
"Well, the princess proved it's possible."
"What if she tries to influence my decisions?"
"I don't think she will be," Liang Zhen denied.
"Why are you supporting her already, A Zhen? You haven't even met her."
"Because I saw this," Liang Zhen unfolded a scroll that contained the portrait of Princess Seorin.
She was beautiful, indeed. But all portraits of a lady could be beautiful.
Liang Zhen knew Rui too well. He had to promote the princess's personality first, before showing her portrait. If it's the other way around, it wouldn't work.
"The emperor will send his approval letter tomorrow. Should I go to him and tell that you have agreed?"
Rui found a scroll that was apparently Princess Seorin's essay on appealing to the emperor to reduce the minister's harvest benefits.
There was a date on the top right.
It was written three years ago, when Seorin was 21 years old.
"Our ministers, who already live in abundance, do not need such abundant benefits as well. Instead, let's just give the extra harvest to the poorest people in each city. This method could ensure our people's prosperity for another season."
Yeonghwa's king wrote a note on the left side of the last page, "This essay was only shown to her tutors and to me. It was impossible to publish it, because I fear for her safety. However, because she couldn't do anything else, she donated 9 out of 10 of her harvest benefits for the poor in Hanyang. Even 1 out of 10 for her was enough to feed her whole household for an entire season."
*****
"My Lord, do you disagree with this marriage offer?" Liang Zhen asked once more.
"No. I don't disagree. My marriage plan has always been a concern, and I have always known it will be arranged."
"Do you like Princess Seorin's profile?"
"She seems like an interesting person."
Liang Zhen and Wu Jian shared a look.
"I'll go to the emperor now, telling him you have agreed."
It was settled then. The Huang Empire was going to have a Crown Prince Consort.
*****
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading this.
I don't know how long this will be. I will definitely write it as far as I can, but at least until chapter 5 for now.
For my muse, Princess Seorin is inspired by Jisoo Blackpink.
I hope you like this story so far. Any fans of Renjun here?
If yes, I am so grateful.