novelhk Chapter 318 A Substitute Bride's Brave Love, A Prince Without Heirs Forever By Her Side - 48
Chapter 318 A Substitute Bride's Brave Love, A Prince Without Heirs Forever By Her Side - 48
"Zhuo Yucheng, I am willing to give you a chance!" Upon hearing this, his heart, which had plummeted to the bottom, instantly burned like a bonfire. His eyes shone with excitement and anticipation as he looked directly at the king sitting high on the throne and asked in a slightly trembling voice, "Is that really so?"
"Absolutely true!"
The king nodded affirmatively, then waved his hand, and the numerous men in the hall were orderly led away from the scene by the guards like a tide.
After everyone left, the entire hall appeared empty and quiet.
"However, I'm afraid you might not be able to easily agree to the conditions I've proposed!" the king said, looking at Zhuo Yucheng with a meaningful expression.
Zhuo Yucheng had long since disregarded his own life and death, his heart filled only with his deep and passionate love for Wanwan. He responded without hesitation, "As long as I can be with Wanwan, I will do anything, even give my life! I hope Your Majesty will give me your guidance!"
Seeing Zhuo Yucheng's resolute attitude, the king stopped beating around the bush and stated his request directly: "I wish to bring your Zhuo family under the wing of my foreign land. From now on, you will be my son-in-law."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhuo Yucheng staggered back a step, his face showing astonishment. But he quickly regained his composure, took a deep breath, and cupped his hands, saying, "Father-in-law, I am willing to marry into the family, but the foundation of the Zhuo family, passed down through generations, is the crystallization of the hard work of our ancestors and concerns the livelihood of countless clansmen. Please forgive me, but I am truly unable to comply with your request and hand it over!"
Faced with Zhuo Yucheng's refusal, the king was not angry. He simply sighed softly and said slowly, "I have only one daughter, Wanwan, and the son she bears will undoubtedly become the sole heir of my foreign land. Under these circumstances, I must make a careful choice to ensure the continuation and prosperity of my foreign land. So, what do you suggest I do in this matter?"
Zhuo Yucheng knelt on the ground with a thud. "I will immediately order the abolition of the three palaces and six courtyards, and issue a decree to implement a monogamous system starting from the palace. Wanwan will be my only wife and empress. I will appoint my son as crown prince, and he will inherit the Zhuo family's rule. As for the foreign land, my father-in-law and mother-in-law are both young and can reign for decades without any problem. If an heir is truly needed, I will release my son to inherit the foreign land's rule."
"Get up!"
Zhuo Yucheng slowly stood up from the cold, hard ground. His movements were slightly slow, as if every tiny movement carried a heavy burden.
After straightening up, he stood respectfully to one side, head bowed, not daring to look directly into the imposing gaze of the person in front of him.
"If Wanwan hadn't insisted you come here, I would never have allowed someone like you to appear before me! Everything I did just now was merely to test your true attitude."
His tone was stern, but the deep affection he held for his child was undeniable.
Parents everywhere share the same concerns; they ask for little, only that their children live happy and fulfilling lives.
Wanwan was separated from her family at a young age and was unable to enjoy their company.
Now that they have finally found their beloved daughter, their joy is beyond words.
They did not want to restrict Wanwan's pursuit of happiness and her right to do so because of their own circumstances.
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Yucheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It turns out that the father-in-law's elaborate efforts were not intended to make things difficult, but simply to confirm his sincerity towards Wanwan and whether he could provide her with a stable life in the future.
Thinking of this, Zhuo Yucheng quickly raised his head and said sincerely, "Please rest assured, Father-in-law, I know I have wronged Wanwan in the past, and I will certainly not repeat the same mistake this time. I hereby swear that I will treat Wanwan with all my heart from now on and will never let such a thing happen again."
After receiving a slight nod from his father-in-law, Zhuo Yucheng hurriedly left as if he had been granted a pardon.
When he arrived at Mu Wanwan's residence, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, not only did not settle down, but he became even more anxious and uneasy.
He stood at the doorway, his body slightly bent, his head jutting out a little, his eyes darting nervously into the room.
That door was like an invisible barrier, separating him from the world inside filled with laughter and joy.
A series of clear and melodious laughs came from inside the house; it was Aunt Mei and Wanwan happily playing with the children.
Their laughter mingled together, like a cheerful and melodious piece of music, filling the entire room and creating a harmonious and beautiful atmosphere.
How he longed to be a part of it! But for the past few days, Wanwan's attitude towards him had always been lukewarm, and sometimes it could even be described as cold indifference.
Nevertheless, deep down he had long anticipated this outcome and had prepared himself mentally for the neglect he would face.
However, when he actually faced it, the sense of loss still surged into his heart like a tide, making it difficult for him to suppress.
Just then, a maidservant hurried past him carrying a steaming bowl of medicine. As if grasping at a straw, he quickly whispered to the maidservant, "I'll bring it; just give me the medicine!"
Now, everyone here knows that the man before them, Zhuo Yucheng, is the princess's former husband.
Out of respect for the princess, everyone naturally treated him with more deference and courtesy.
After taking the medicine bowl from the maid, Zhuo Yucheng held it tightly in both hands and carefully stepped into the room.
He was extremely careful with every step he took, afraid that he might accidentally spill even a drop of the medicine.
Mu Wanwan was sitting on the edge of the bed, teasing the child in Aunt Mei's arms with a smile on her face.
The little one giggled and waved his little hands incessantly, as if trying to grab something.
Mu Wanwan's beautiful face radiated happiness, and her bright smile was as warm as the spring sun.
When she inadvertently caught a glimpse of Zhuo Yucheng walking towards her out of the corner of her eye, the bright smile that had been on her lips vanished instantly, replaced by a cold and distant expression.
Aunt Mei also noticed Zhuo Yucheng's reasoning. Zhuo Yucheng nodded to Aunt Mei, who tactfully replied, "Princess, shall I take the baby to find the wet nurse first? He seems hungry."
Mu Wanwan knew perfectly well that this was just Aunt Mei's lame excuse.
It's obvious they wanted to create an opportunity for the two of them to be alone together.
He first glanced at her delicate face, then without saying a word, he plopped down on the edge of her bed, yelling, "Wife, hurry up and drink your medicine!"