Chapter 13
Chapter 13
As the feelings between Sun Hanzhou and Anping grew deeper, he made her a promise: he would find a way to ask for her hand in marriage and take her away from the palace.
However, this was no easy feat.
Sun Hanzhou was the son of a Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites, a minor official in the imperial court.
Though Anping had fallen on hard times, she was still a princess. King Liang was suspicious and mercurial; a Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites wouldn’t dare utter a peep in his presence.
When the father heard of his son’s intentions, he was startled and warned him, “Being an Imperial Son-in-Law is no easy task! Especially since Princess Anping is not favored by His Majesty. Marrying her will bring absolutely no benefit to your future. My son, do not be foolish!”
The Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites had clearly underestimated his son’s resolve.
Sun Hanzhou truly loved Anping.
Even with his father’s opposition, he remained determined, racking his brains for a solution.
Eventually, his opportunity arrived during a Regular Martial Examination.
According to tradition, the newly selected warriors from the Ministry of War would receive their final rewards from King Liang himself.
But this year, the highly favored Concubine Zhen had coaxed King Liang into letting her watch the Martial Examination competition. Consequently, King Liang added a new segment to the proceedings: a match between the Palace Guards and the newly selected warriors held before the hall.
Any winner would be granted a reward.
Sun Hanzhou planned to use this opportunity to ask King Liang for Princess Anping’s hand in marriage.
He already had a solid foundation in archery, so he signed up for the event he excelled at. He trained desperately for several months, pushing himself as if his life depended on it.
On the day of the competition, during the imperial archery trial of piercing armor plates, he actually managed to win the final round.
Because of the immense force he exerted, the shafts of his arrows had splintered multiple times, slicing his palms until they were dripping with blood.
Yet, he didn’t even flinch, forcing out a perfect final shot.
King Liang was highly impressed by this and looked upon him with great favor.
When the time came for the rewards, Sun Hanzhou knelt before King Liang and earnestly voiced his desire to marry the princess.
The moment he spoke, Consort Shu and Princess Anning, who were seated nearby, were the first to turn grim.
Princess Anning, Liang Jingning, was the daughter of Consort Shu and the same age as Anping.
At first, the mother and daughter had misheard him. Thinking Sun Hanzhou was asking for Princess Anning’s hand, they were on the verge of a furious outburst, ready to berate a mere guard for having the audacity to seek a princess in marriage.
Once they realized Sun Hanzhou wanted to marry Princess Anping, the two of them were stunned.
It was only then that King Liang remembered he had another daughter he had long forgotten.
He then summoned Anping for an audience.