Too high to reach

Chapter 119 Drag him down
Princess Yu'an came out of the palace.

Back at that private residence, she and Xu Ke made sure their trysts took place there.

Actually, she had a princess's residence.

However, we're not at a point where we can do whatever we want yet. We have to consider our reputation and not cause trouble for our mother and elder brother, the Crown Prince.

He'd been having an affair with Xu Ke for two years, keeping it a secret very well; no one knew except his elder brother, the Crown Prince. Not even his mother…

She was half-lying on the couch, lost in thought, when Xu Ke arrived.

Today, he walked briskly, clearly in high spirits. Without a word, he rushed up and hugged Princess Yu'an tightly, his breath hot on her neck, his hands squeezing her neck roughly.

Princess Yu'an felt a tingling sensation all over her body and giggled repeatedly.

"Wait a minute...wait a minute," she gasped, pushing him weakly.

"What are you waiting for? The princess summoned me here precisely for this matter."

"I called you here because I have good... Ah! Stop moving, listen to me."

"Speak quickly, I can't stay long, I have a lot to do and need to get back." Xu Ke let go of her, poured some tea on the table next to him, and drank it in big gulps.

"Lord Xu is indeed very diligent in his duties!" The princess straightened her clothes.

"You need to behave better lately!"

Xu Ke is smart and hardworking. He has been in the Imperial Guard for a while and has performed well. He is now planning to get promoted.

When he first decided to take this path, his family didn't quite understand.

They believed he should follow in his brother's footsteps, take the imperial examinations, enter the Hanlin Academy, and then be sent to a post outside the capital. After serving his full term, he could then return to the center of power.

With the protection of their families, such a path is very smooth.

However, it will take a relatively long time.

Without a major stroke of luck, it's possible to take ten or twenty years.

Moreover, Xu Ke understood that even if the family had a great opportunity, it would definitely be given to the future head of the family... He could only get some scraps and would need to become an assistant to the head of the family.

He didn't want to be a stepping stone. Nor did he want to be like his elder brother, who, in his twenties, had grown a short beard and looked like an old man.

He refused to be a spoiled rich kid, spending his days having fun and living a life of luxury.

He's capable and wants to make a name for himself!
In retrospect, this was the right choice.

"Let me tell you, you're not allowed to make trouble for me about marriage again," Princess Yu'an said with a smile.

Xu Ke's smile faded: "Why are you bringing this up again?"

"Because I feel like I've been taken advantage of! The Mo family is clearly a good family!"

"What's so good about it?" Xu Ke scoffed.

“Anywhere is fine! Otherwise, why would my seventh brother become your brother-in-law? And a blood relative at that!” Princess Yu’an said bitterly.

Xu Ke was greatly surprised. "What did you say? His Highness Prince Qi? What kind of brother-in-law relationship is this?!"

"Your fiancée's younger sister, Mo Yi, is going to become the Prince Qi's principal wife!" Princess Yu'an lowered her eyes, concealing her hatred.

"How is that possible?" Xu Ke simply didn't believe it. "Where did you hear that from?"

"Hmph! Granny Zhao, one of Prince Qi's subordinates, has even brought people into the palace to have the Empress Dowager take a look! I even spoke to that wretched girl!"

Xu Ke sat down next to the princess, his expression grave. "Really? But why?"

"Who knows what you stinking men are thinking? Father Emperor absolutely disagrees, but that bastard insists! Today, Mother Empress just went through the motions, and judging from Father Emperor's intentions... it's settled."

"Is she my younger sister?" Xu Ke thought for a moment, but couldn't remember.

"Yes, dear sister. What incredible luck did the Mo family have?!" Princess Yu'an was both angry and annoyed.

This marriage to the Mo family was arranged by Xu Ke on a whim because of his own fuss. It was a coincidence...

But this time, the position of princess? Can it still be called a coincidence?

Xu Ke thought for a moment, then chuckled, "Or perhaps the Prince of Qi did this to avoid suspicion?"

"how?"

“Look, your own brother is the Crown Prince. Apart from the Emperor, he has the most noble status. But Prince Qi is the Emperor’s firstborn son, so his status goes without saying. Moreover, he has made outstanding military achievements over the years!”

As Xu Ke spoke, his tone unconsciously carried a sense of respect. Within his circle, when people mentioned him, they all spoke of him with envy and admiration…

Thinking about it, the words slipped out: "That aura is no less than His Highness the Crown Prince's! Perhaps he wanted to keep a low profile..."

Princess Yu'an listened with a gloomy expression, then slammed her teacup to the ground: "You're talking nonsense!"

She shouted angrily and viciously, glaring fiercely at Xu Ke.

Xu Ke was startled, and a surge of anger rose within her, but she quickly calmed down. "I don't consider the princess an outsider, so I said whatever came to mind. If the princess doesn't want to hear it, then I won't say it!"

Princess Yu'an adopted an arrogant posture and said with a mean look, "You need to understand: my brother is also the Empress's legitimate son!"
However, his appointment as crown prince was not solely based on his status, but also on his outstanding performance, his respect for scholars and the deep affection he earned from both the emperor and his ministers. He truly deserved the title of crown prince!

Looking at Xu Ke's pale face, Yu An said sarcastically, "The original empress... so what? Back then, wasn't she suppressed to the point of being unable to breathe by Consort Dong? Crown Prince Li Yuan, how much has he suffered from Li Zhen's bullying?"
Moreover, if it weren't for Prince Yi's rebellion, how could Li Yuan have been made crown prince so early?

How much did the Emperor love Li Zhen back then? Who could surpass him?
Li Yuan's position as crown prince... was merely a matter of chance!
As for Li Jing, all he knows is fighting and killing. How can he be compared to my brother? Can governing the world be accomplished by fighting and killing alone?

You were born into a powerful family and have grown up in this circle. What's wrong with your brain? You say whatever comes to mind…aren't you afraid of bringing trouble upon your family?

This was the first time Princess Yu'an had lost her temper with Xu Ke.

Xu Ke was thin-skinned and furious, wishing he could turn around and leave, ending the relationship forever.

“The princess is right!” he replied coldly.

"Whether you accept it or not, this is the truth! If you open your mouth again, watch your mouth and don't be too arrogant! No matter how great Li Jing's achievements are, they are all just a wedding dress for my Crown Prince! In front of my mother, he has to bow his head and call her Mother..." After saying that, she got angry again.

That bastard never calls her "Mother Empress," but only "Your Majesty."

I'll find an opportunity later to correct his mistake in front of my father. I'll point it out openly and see how he responds...

"It was my oversight that led me to say this." Xu Ke's face was cold, clearly showing his anger.

Princess Yu'an vented her anger for a while, then regretted it. She knew Xu Ke's personality... this man was someone she had given her whole heart and soul to.

She sighed, her attitude softening immediately: "Xu Lang, don't blame me for speaking harshly. Look at me, I'm usually so arrogant... but how can I not suffer! Dongfang Dexiang humiliated me so much, but because his family is powerful and he has Li Jing backing him up, I... can only endure it."

Li Jing is so arrogant and disrespectful to his elder brother, the Crown Prince! His brother is a man of high moral character, loves his brothers, and never holds a grudge against him. But I, I'm speaking out for my elder brother, the Crown Prince!

Xu Ke listened attentively to what the princess had to say.

"Although my elder brother, the Crown Prince, has the appearance of a wise ruler, he also has his difficulties. Li Jing relies on his status and the Emperor's favor to be arrogant and domineering. Even you can see that, so how could I not understand? As the saying goes, there can't be two suns in the sky, and the Crown Prince is the same way!"

When the seventh brother returned, he demanded military power, revealing his wolfish ambitions!

"Xu Lang...you must understand, once we've come together...the Xu family is inseparable from me and my brother, the Crown Prince."

Xu Ke broke out in a cold sweat after hearing this.

To be honest, he hadn't thought about these things much. Being with the princess was for the thrill, for vanity and the sense of conquest, and also because he liked her a little.

The two indulged in eating, drinking, and merrymaking, but rarely discussed politics.

The Xu family strictly forbids its descendants from participating in the struggle for succession, and they are only allowed to do their own duties diligently.

Now, upon hearing this: So, he and the princess are actually together? And he still has to drag the Xu family along?

A chill ran down my spine.

If his family found out... he wouldn't be able to refuse, but he also dared not respond.

Princess Yu'an continued, "Xu Lang, we are going to plan for the future together. You need to think carefully about how you can help me while also securing your own interests. Remember, for a man, establishing merit and achieving success is the most important thing!"

Xu Ke remained silent.

“My brother and I are the closest. Even Mother doesn’t know what we’ve been doing! When he ascends the throne, I can’t say for sure about anything else, but as long as you have some notable achievements, I can grant you a marquisate! You can establish a glorious new Xu family!”

This prospect is indeed tempting.

A marquisate is a hundred times better than passing the imperial examinations to become an official.

Xu Ke finally nodded: "Although I had some contact with these things before, they didn't concern me much, so I didn't take them to heart. Now that the princess has spoken about them, I need to think about it carefully. I misspoke just now, please forgive me, princess!"

"I was just reminding you, not blaming you... Alright... It was wrong of me to lose my temper with you just now! How do you want me to make amends?"

She walked over and took Xu Ke's hand...

To be fair, Xu Keren wasn't entirely bad; she was intelligent, hardworking, and ambitious. It was just that she was young and impetuous, which led her astray, and the harder she tried, the further she went…

(End of this chapter)