Sure enough, Su Yaogeng didn’t even open her mouth before she dropped to her knees with a thud.
The Emperor’s eyelids twitched violently.
The gossiping hearts of the royal family and ministers were instantly piqued to the highest point, and in just a moment, countless glances had been exchanged.
The Emperor deeply felt that this was absolutely not the right place to handle any matters, and he was about to suggest moving to another place to discuss it slowly when he heard Su Yaogeng, who was kneeling on the red carpet in the center of the banquet, speak: "This subject humbly requests a favor, hoping for Brother’s gracious approval."
"Zheng’er, whatever it is, get up and we’ll talk about it. This is not the court, there’s no need for such formality." The Emperor’s heart was nearly collapsing; the problem was, there were so many people here, after all, we are brother and sister, weren’t we? Anything can be resolved in private!
But Su Yaogeng remained kneeling, her face taut, and said coldly, "I am aware that what I ask is against protocol, but I still hope Brother can grant this request to annul the marriage between my young girl, Han Jing, and Prince Ling, Su Xingyan."
Everyone couldn’t help but crane their necks to listen. Even the Emperor was dumbfounded by the mention of annulment; did he hear it wrong? She came to annul the marriage?
The Emperor was about to ask what was going on when Su Yaogeng continued, "Brother knows that I have been frail since childhood, unable to bear children of my own. Though Jing’er is not my biological daughter, I have raised her since she was little, cherishing her like a pearl, and never willing to let her suffer the slightest grievance. I specifically requested Brother to grant her marriage to Prince Ling, having heard that Prince Ling is of excellent character and a person whom one could entrust for life. If Prince Ling truly does not fancy my Jing’er, he should straightforwardly say so, and I would never force him. But I never expected that Prince Ling would repeatedly trouble Jing’er. It’s one thing for him to threaten and coerce Jing’er in the Capital City multiple times, but the day before yesterday, Jing’er, to please me, said she must win first place in the hunting competition to show me, and I was greatly comforted. However, who knew Prince Ling would once again coerce her, forcing Jing’er to say if Prince Ling defeated her in the hunting competition, she would propose the annulment herself. Because of this words, yesterday, Prince Ling pressured her step by step, even forcing my Jing’er, a mere woman, to the edge of Liangshan Snow Forest, nearly falling prey to wolves! Brother, our Jing’er isn’t blessed enough to match Prince Ling. I only have this one daughter; if anything were to happen to her, I wouldn’t want to live either. I beg Brother to tell Prince Ling, we annul the marriage, and ask him not to force our Jing’er anymore!"
Listening to Su Yaogeng’s speech, the Emperor’s face turned dark.
The various royal family members and ministers couldn’t help but whisper among themselves, quietly exchanging opinions. The men muttered about how Prince Ling usually seemed like such a gentle and steady person, so why was he always at odds with a woman? Coupled with those rumors in the Capital City from some days ago, they felt even more discontent towards Prince Ling. The women pitied Han Jing, such a good girl, albeit a little plain and willful, but whose daughter isn’t spoiled? The Eldest Princess only had this one adopted daughter all these years, doting on her like she was the apple of her eye. Even if Prince Ling did not like her, he shouldn’t force her to such an extent. The Liangshan Snow Forest, what a place... A place of no return! Marriage isn’t enmity; he can’t just force someone’s daughter to death because he doesn’t like her, that’s too much! Many families with daughters whispered to themselves that, going forward, they couldn’t just look at appearances. No matter how good Prince Ling’s reputation and looks were, they couldn’t just marry their daughters off; it would be like pushing their own child into a pit of fire!