Late Ming Dynasty: So what if Emperor Chongzhen was inactive?!

Chapter 160 Cao Bianjiao marries a princess, Zhu Youjian sells his sister for personal gain.
Cao Bianjiao had already begged to be let go, but Zhu Youjian still didn't open the edict in his hand. After all, he needed to clarify things first, otherwise, it would be difficult to clean up the mess.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian ignored Cao Bianjiao's anxiety and left him aside, instead switching his conversation partner back to Cao Wenzhao.

"General Cao, your nephew is not married yet, is he?" Zhu Youjian asked.

Upon hearing this, Cao Wenzhao's pupils dilated dramatically, and he hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, no!"

"Is there a marriage agreement?!" Zhu Youjian continued to ask.

Cao Wenzhao shook his head and answered definitively, "No!"

"Hiss! So you're not a very good uncle after all," Zhu Youjian said with a shake of his head and a sigh.

"Yes, I am also often troubled by the marriage of the dragon-transformed one, and I always feel that I cannot explain it to my elder brother," Cao Wenzhao said cooperatively.

"Alas, I truly sympathize with you. I also have a younger sister who is of marriageable age, about the same age as General Cao. However, the princesses of my Great Ming Dynasty often meet the wrong men, and the husbands they are chosen are all good-for-nothings. Therefore, I dare not easily agree to marry her off."

"However, a woman of marriageable age must be married off. Although I dote on my younger sister, I cannot keep her in the palace indefinitely. Now that she is getting older, what should I do? If I cannot settle my family, I will have no face to face my elder brother," Zhu Youjian lamented.

Sigh! Sigh! Sigh!
The emperor and his minister sighed repeatedly, one after the other. Despite being a generation apart in age, the two men displayed a sense of mutual sympathy and shared suffering at this moment.

Having been brought to this point, Cao Bianjiao knew exactly what was going on. The emperor wanted him to marry a princess! The crucial point was that his uncle hadn't politely declined on his behalf; it seemed he had agreed. However, court regulations stipulated that imperial sons-in-law were forbidden from holding official positions, and their sons were not allowed to hold official posts in the capital! What respectable young man wanted to marry a princess? He still hoped to earn a title and ensure his family's future through military achievements!

If Cao Wenzhao knew what he was thinking, he would definitely rebuke him for being pedantic. Each emperor has his own rules, how can they be mechanically applied? The current version of the answer is that the maternal relatives are the most promising! When Cao Wenzhao learned that he had been promoted three ranks and appointed as the commander-in-chief, he did not feel much joy. Instead, he was happy to know his nephew's future prospects.

Besides, both the late emperor and the current emperor were handsome, so this princess must be quite beautiful as well. A virtuous wife is chosen, and the first choice is a noble family. Who in the world has a family as prestigious as the emperor's? This young man has gotten all the advantages!

"General Cao, what do you think?!" Zhu Youjian asked.

Cao Bianjiao was incredibly awkward. Facing the expectant eyes of the emperor and his uncle, he still stubbornly said, "With the Jurchens not yet destroyed, how can I have a home?!" "Bah! Why are you imitating the words of the Marquis of Champion? It's bad luck! You keep saying you want to share my burdens, but you won't even agree to such a small matter. How can I trust you?!" Zhu Youjian said somewhat angrily.

Cao Wenzhao also put on a stern face and scolded, "Cao Bianjiao, don't be foolish! Marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers. Your father passed away early, so this matter is under my jurisdiction! Besides, this is a marriage bestowed by His Majesty, a great event that makes our Cao family's ancestral graves gleam with auspicious smoke. This matter is settled!"

Cao Bianjiao's face fell again, feeling that this was his uncle's revenge for his previous rashness and disrespect. However, being a young man, Cao Bianjiao was just habitually contradicting others, and deep down he still had some vague longing for marriage. He stammered, "I'm just a soldier, I'm afraid Her Highness the Princess wouldn't look at me. After all, a forced marriage won't be happy."

"Little sister, have you taken a fancy to her?" Zhu Youjian turned and yelled towards the screen. There was a moment of silence behind the screen, then a barely audible nasal sound came from behind it: "Hmm!"

At this moment, Zhu Huiti was not alone. Her sister-in-law Zhang Yan, Empress Zhou, and the two Consorts Sun were all watching from the sidelines. After all, life in the harem was monotonous and boring day after day. Such a scene, which seemed like something out of a picture book, was actually happening to them, which was a rare source of amusement for them. The women all wore maternal smiles.

“Since that’s the case, then little sister, you shouldn’t hide anymore. The children of the Zhu family should be more open-minded and not adhere to so many rules. Come out and have a meal with us, and meet General Cao. Otherwise, he’ll think you’re an ugly monster,” Zhu Youjian said with a smile.

"I, I, I!" Zhu Huiti was furious. She hadn't expected this. It had already taken a lot of courage for her to agree to the marriage. Her shyness hadn't even faded yet, and now she had to take it a step further. This was really too difficult for her.

Zhu Huiti twisted her fingers, tears welling in her eyes, and looked pleadingly at her sister-in-law. Zhang Yan wiped away her tears, pushed her away, and said softly, "Go, go, don't be afraid."

Zhu Huiti felt a sense of helplessness, but she knew she couldn't stay in the palace forever; this day would come sooner or later. Compared to other princesses who didn't know who their husbands were until their wedding night when the veil was lifted, she was already very lucky; her fifth brother had treated her well.

A soft footstep sounded from behind the screen, and a beautiful young woman with a face like a peach blossom emerged. Cao Bianjiao, who had been reluctant at first, was now completely captivated at first glance! It was all the emperor's fault for his incessant nagging. If he had simply invited the princess out earlier, he would have been crazy to tell the emperor that he had no home to return to! He had learned both literary and martial arts, sold himself to the imperial family, seeking only a title and a secure future for his family—and now he had a wife!
Cao Bianjiao himself was indeed a formidable fighter. He was tall and imposing, handsome, and his upright character was written all over his face. His eyes were clear and fearless, giving people a strong sense of security at first glance. Isn't that exactly what girls love most?!

Not to mention the little princess, even Zhu Youjian himself was tempted. If he wasn't afraid of burying talent, he would have wanted to bring Cao Bianjiao over to be the head of his personal guard. However, reason told him that Cao Bianjiao's greater role was to lead cavalry to launch a night raid on the Plain Yellow Banner camp. Even if he couldn't cut Huang Taiji into six pieces, he could scare Huang Taiji half to death.

Attraction between men and women often begins with physical appearance, which is perfectly normal. However, maintaining decorum afterward depends on the moral character of both parties – this is what is meant by "attraction begins with appearance, but loyalty is based on character." In this respect, Zhu Youjian trusted both Cao Bianjiao and Zhu Huiti.
If these two can get together and live well, then this inept matchmaker can save face. Otherwise, a whole bunch of trivial matters will arise, and even an upright official would find it difficult to manage family affairs. The Empress's family gave him quite a headache.

(End of this chapter)