roccoschili Chapter 36 A Perfect Match [Requesting monthly votes, etc.]
Chapter 36 A Perfect Match [Requesting monthly votes, etc.]
Inside the Ganlu Hall, there was none of the magnificent splendor one had imagined.
The ground was covered with thick Persian carpets with intricate patterns. Stepping on them was so quiet that it gently swallowed up all footsteps.
A twelve-panel screen carved from rosewood stands against the wall.
The painting depicts a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, with delicate brushstrokes and a magnificent style.
The candlelight in the glass lamps, a tribute from the Western Regions, illuminated a golden Buddha statue, making it appear majestic and dignified.
The air was filled with the scent of precious ambergris and faint herbs.
Hearing it calms the mind and inspires awe.
Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager of the Sui Dynasty, Dugu Jialuo, was reclining on a Hu bed covered with thick, soft cushions.
She wore a vermilion robe embroidered with phoenix patterns, her hair piled high, and her phoenix hairpin shimmering.
Although she is nearly fifty years old, time seems to have been exceptionally kind to this legendary woman, and the beauty of her former glory as a "peerless beauty" can still be faintly seen in her eyes.
But in those phoenix eyes that seemed to see through the hearts of everyone in the world, there was a majesty forged by power.
"Yan'er, you're here..."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry a natural echo, gently reverberating throughout the empty hall.
Yang Yan dared not hesitate for a moment and, following the strictest imperial clan etiquette, quickly walked into the hall.
About five steps away from the folding chair, he lifted his skirt and knelt down.
He placed his hands together on the ground and then gently kowtowed.
"Grandson Yang Yan pays respects to His Majesty. May His Majesty enjoy good health and a long and blessed life."
Every movement, every word, was as precise as if measured with a ruler.
This is the result of his repeated practice of etiquette from memory over the past few days.
Dugu Jialuo's gaze lingered on him for a moment, as if she were scrutinizing something.
After a long while, she slightly raised her hand, her voice calm yet still carrying the inherent authority: "Get up."
"Thank you, Grandmother."
After expressing his gratitude, Yang Yan stood to the side with his back straight, his eyes lowered, staring at the spot three feet in front of his knees.
Do not look at things recklessly, and do not speak recklessly.
This is the only correct attitude a junior should have in front of an elder, especially an iron-fisted empress who holds the reins of power.
"I heard you've been recuperating in the Eastern Palace and haven't come out of your room?" Dugu Jialuo spoke first, her tone carrying the usual concern of a grandmother for her grandchild.
But this concern is like the winter sun—warm, but not scorching, always maintaining a subtle sense of distance.
Yang Yan knew that his grandmother deeply resented his father Yang Yong's "favoring his concubines and neglecting his wife".
This resentment had long been directed at her own son, born to the "culprit" Yun.
In the past, although she knew about her grandson, she had never spoken to him so closely as she did today.
That night, Dugu Jialuo only mentioned casually that he could come to pay his respects to her anytime after he recovered from his injuries.
Yang Yan was well aware of this, but he needed to seize the opportunity. So, as soon as his injuries had almost healed, he came over, fearing that if too much time passed, her feelings for him would fade.
"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Your grandson's injuries are no longer a serious problem."
Yang Yan bowed in response.
"After recuperating for the past few days, I am able to move around normally, so I have come to the palace today to pay my respects to my grandmother."
He attributed his purpose to the purest form of "filial piety," and as for everything else, he would simply remain calm and wait for the right moment to act.
Sure enough, after a few casual, everyday words, Dugu Jialuo suddenly changed the subject.
"Um."
She took the herbal tea offered by the maid, gently stirred it with the lid, as if mentioning it casually.
"You're sixteen this year? Time flies. You were just an infant then, and now you're an adult."
"When you grow up, you should think about starting a family and building a career."
Here it comes! A probe from a top politician!
Yang Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his head, saying, "Your grandson is dull-witted, only knowing how to shut himself in to read books, and has never thought deeply..."
"What books are you reading?" Dugu Jialuo interrupted him, her voice still calm.
"I've been reading the Book of Rites and the Book of Han recently."
"The Book of Rites is good."
She put down her teacup, the soft sound standing out clearly in the silent hall.
"The marriage ceremony is to unite the two families, to serve the ancestral temple above, and to continue the lineage below."
"This is a fundamental principle of human relations and the foundation of family and nation."
Dugu Jialuo's gaze fell on Yang Yan's face, scrutinizing him.
"As the eldest grandson of the Crown Prince, this matter is of paramount importance to you personally, and to the nation as a whole."
"Your mother, Madam Yun, is gentle and kind, but in matters of great importance, her knowledge is inevitably limited to that of a woman confined to her quarters. Have you considered this?"
The words were so straightforward.
It not only openly revealed her contempt for Yun Zhaoxun, but also blatantly pointed out her intention to interfere in Yang Yan's marriage!
Yang Yan understood Dugu Jialuo's intentions almost instantly, and the marriage was originally within his consideration. After all, what was the most famous thing about the Dugu family? Who in later generations didn't know it? The three empresses came from the same family.
This is not concern; it is a precise political co-optation.
A predetermined plan for all possibilities in his future.
Yang Yan's recent performance has made it worthwhile for her to make this crucial move.
Yang Yan understood, of course, that he had to respond directly and that he must not appear too eager or premeditated.
His mind raced with calculations, but his face betrayed a mixture of fear and subservience.
"Your grandson is young and inexperienced," he said, his voice carrying just the right amount of bewilderment and obedience. "Besides, the Book of Rites says: 'If betrothed, she becomes a wife; if eloped, she becomes a concubine.' The rites are highly respected. Your grandson... will leave all decisions to his grandmother, father, and mother, and will have no disloyal thoughts whatsoever."
He once again relinquished the decision-making power, both to show weakness and to subtly draw a line—my marriage is a "betrothal," governed by etiquette, not a "runaway" that can be disposed of at will.
Upon hearing Yang Yan's reply that he had completely relinquished the decision-making power, a fleeting, unreadable expression flashed across Dugu Jialuo's phoenix eyes.
She seemed satisfied with his obedience, yet there was also a faint hint of scrutiny regarding this premature maturity and repression.
She lightly touched the phoenix-carved armrest of the folding chair with her fingertips, and finally returned to a state of unfathomable calm.
"Knowing how to respect etiquette and observe rules is good," she said slowly, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger. "I will discuss this matter with your father. You should focus on your studies and cultivate your character."
She spoke the four words "cultivating oneself and nourishing one's nature" very slowly.
This is both an instruction and a warning—before placing a piece on the chessboard, the piece must be in its proper place.
"Grandson knows."
Upon hearing this, Dugu Jialuo's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, as if a faint smile had appeared on her face, whether she was laughing at her naivety or seeing through her pretense was unclear.
"Marriage is a major life event, and one should choose a woman from a respectable family who is of equal social standing and of good character."
"Only then can you secure your home and family, and establish a stable foundation for yourself."
Her voice paused, each word like a heavy hammer blow, striking Yang Yan's heart with a deep, resonant sound.
"That's your duty too!"
The phrase "This is also your duty" weighed heavily on Yang Yan's shoulders like an invisible mountain.
Her voice lacked the warmth of a grandmother, only the decisiveness of a regent empress when ruling government affairs.
Yang Yan knew that this seemingly casual conversation about his grandson's marriage was actually a test: first, to see if he was willing to be a pawn, and second, to find out if he had any undue influence.
This is also an invisible rein, meant to firmly tether this budding "wild horse" to the track approved by Dugu Jialuo.
If he hesitates even slightly, or reveals even a hint of his own thoughts, he will immediately be labeled as "having ulterior motives".
He had no other choice.
Inside the hall, candlelight flickered and incense smoke curled upwards.
A silent game of chess has come to an end.
But from that moment on, an invisible rein was always ready to be placed around him.