Chapter 3: The Imperial Marriage

 

After the morning court session, the Tianwu City was once again stirred up by a gust of wind from His Royal Highness the Sixth Prince, oh no, it should be His Royal Highness the King of Chu.

 

“I heard that His Royal Highness the King of Chu asked His Majesty for a marriage today in front of all the civil and military officials.”

 

“What?! Imperial Marriage?! Which daughter has His Royal Highness the King of Chu set his eyes on?”

 

“Don’t spread this around, okay?”

 

“Who is it?”

 

“The Duke of State’s daughter.”

 

“Is this real or fake? Has the King of Chu gone crazy?”

 

“I don’t know, but I heard she’s an unparalleled beauty.”

 

“An unparalleled beauty? Have you seen her?”

 

“No, I just heard about it.”

 

“Bah, what if she’s just like your family’s 200-jin woman?”

 

“Ha, that’s possible!”

 

In everyone’s stereotypical impression, those refined and elegant ladies from literary families or large households, who were well-versed in poetry, music, and art, were mostly daughters of officials or from prominent families.

 

On the other hand, those bold and unrestrained ladies who were not bound by petty rules seemed to be daughters of military generals, influenced by their fathers and military life.

 

For example, the daughter of the Marquis Dongping, who was over nine feet tall, had broad shoulders and a sturdy waist, and could exert a force of over 10,000 jin with just a flick of her arm. She had even killed a bear with her bare hands and was known as the “Bear Lady”, further solidifying people’s stereotypes.

 

In the Eastern Palace, a wisp of white smoke resembling a white dragon rose from the incense burner.

 

“Reporting to the Crown Prince! The Fifth Prince requests an audience!” a small eunuch announced in a respectful tone.

 

On the bed, a young man with a cold and stern face opened his eyes, and with a flick of his purple sleeve embroidered with golden cloud patterns, he said indifferently, “Let him in.”

 

“Cough, cough, big brother, why do you always smoke this stuff? Don’t you get tired of it?” The complaining voice grew louder as a young man in a fiery red outfit approached the bed, waving his hand.

 

Shen Muchen sat up, looking somewhat annoyed, and asked, “What brings you to my palace today?”

 

Shen Tengfeng rubbed his hands together and chuckled, “I’m here to help big brother resolve his worries and difficulties, of course!”

 

“Resolve what worries, and what difficulties?” Shen Muchen raised an eyebrow.

 

“Didn’t you hear at the morning court session that the Sixth Prince is going to marry Ye Liyan from the Duke of State’s household?”

 

“That’s the Sixth Prince’s happy occasion. What’s wrong, are you unhappy about it? Did you also have your eyes on Ye Liyan?”

 

Shen Tengfeng shook his head, “How could that be? I haven’t even seen what she looks like, and just hearing about her rumors makes me want to avoid the Duke of State’s household!”

 

“Ah, big brother, you’re making me go off track. I really came to help you resolve your worries and difficulties.”

 

“Oh? Then tell me, Fifth Brother.” Shen Muchen leaned back, resting one foot on the bed and one hand on his forehead, looking interested.

 

“Ah…”

 

Shen Tengfeng rubbed his fingers together, coughing twice on purpose.

 

“How much do you want?”

 

“Five hundred taels, no, three hundred taels will do!” Shen Tengfeng quickly changed his request, observing Shen Muchen’s expression.

 

“Ah Chen, see the guest off.” Shen Muchen beckoned to the small eunuch, waving his hand.

 

“No, no, big brother, 200 taels will do!”

 

“Ah Chen!”

 

“One hundred taels! Just one hundred taels! Big brother, can you bear to see me starve to death on the streets?”

 

Shen Muchen raised his hand, “Speak.”

 

Shen Tengfeng’s face lit up, and he quickly cleared his throat, “Once the Sixth Prince marries that unparalleled beauty, it’s equivalent to having the Ye family’s support. Although the Ye family has an unparalleled beauty, they also have great military prestige.”

 

“Especially since the Duke of State is a veteran general of two generation, the Grand Marshal of the Northern Garrison, and was once granted the title of Grand Marshal by our grandfather. He has made great contributions to the Great Qing Dynasty’s expansion and development! With such a person supporting the Sixth Prince, don’t you feel threatened, big brother?”

 

“Why should I feel threatened?” Shen Muchen asked indifferently.

 

“Big brother, you’re not afraid of the Sixth Prince…” Shen Tengfeng’s words were cut off by Shen Muchen’s icy stare.

 

“What did I teach you? Some things are not for you to say, and you should keep them to yourself.”

 

“My intention was to stir up trouble and prevent this marriage from happening, haha…” Shen Tengfeng scratched his head and chuckled.

 

If Shen Muchen didn’t become the emperor, how could he enjoy the luxuries and wealth of being a carefree prince?

 

“The imperial decree has been issued, and there’s no way to revoke it. Are you saying you dare to revoke the imperial decree on behalf of our father?”

 

“Big brother, you can’t say that!” Shen Tengfeng hastily waved his hand, as if the hat of being a filial son had been placed on his head.

 

Shen Muchen stood up and walked to Shen Tengfeng’s side, saying indifferently, “Next time you come for money, just ask directly and don’t say unnecessary things, lest someone with ill intentions overhears.”

 

“Moreover, think about how to behave well and let our father grant you a royal title, so you can leave the palace early.”

 

Shen Tengfeng’s face turned pale, but big brother, you see, our father deducts my allowance every month, and I’m almost starving to death. How can I behave well?

 

“Stop frequenting those places of pleasure and causing trouble, and you won’t anger our father and have your allowance deducted.”

 

“Ah Chen, take him to get the money.”

 

Shen Muchen turned around, waving his hand impatiently, as if he really didn’t want to bother with this notorious younger brother of his in Tianwu City.

 

“Thank you, big brother! I’ll definitely come to visit you often! Haha!”

 

At the Duke of State’s residence, a red-clad eunuch led a group of eunuchs and guards into the courtyard.

 

“What’s going on, Miss? Why have so many people from the palace come?” Jinlian asked in a low voice.

 

“Shh, be quiet.” Ye Liyan gestured to the two girls not to speak.

 

Jinxiu and Jinlian quickly closed their mouths.

 

“Eunuch Xu.” Ye Tiance bowed.

 

“Congratulations, Duke of State. Please accept the imperial decree.”

 

Eunuch Xu opened the imperial decree with a smile.

 

The people of the Duke of State’s residence knelt down in unison with Ye Tiance’s movement.

 

“…We have heard that Ye Liyan, the daughter of Northern Garrison Ye Feng, is well-versed in etiquette, has exceptional beauty, and is talented in both virtue and art…”

 

“…to complete the beauty of a virtuous woman, we hereby grant you to be His Highness the King of Chu’s queen consort.”

 

“Queen…this…”

 

“Minister! I accept the imperial decree with gratitude!”

 

Ye Tiance received the imperial decree with both hands, bowing respectfully.

 

“Miss…”

 

Jinxiu and Jinlian clearly felt their mistress’s body tremble slightly.

 

“Duke of State, your family will be royal relatives in the future. Congratulations!”

 

Eunuch Xu couldn’t help but glance at Ye Liyan, who was standing not far away.

 

People said that the Duke of State’s daughter was an unparalleled beauty, but how many people had actually seen her?

 

Even with a black silk ribbon covering her face, it was hard to conceal her exceptional beauty.

 

Now that he had seen her, everything seemed to make sense.

 

“Eunuch Xu, you’re too kind, Ah Fu!” Ye Tiance called out.

 

The Duke of State’s steward, who was standing not far away, quickly came forward and took out a silver bag from his waist.

 

“Eunuch Xu, a small token of appreciation.”

 

Eunuch Xu silently accepted the silver bag, his eyes almost smiling into a line: “Duke of State, I’ll take my leave now.”

 

“Eunuch Xu, take care.”

 

After the group of people left the residence, Ye Tiance finally let out a sigh: “Pah, old eunuch dog.”

 

If he didn’t know what kind of imperial decree the other party had brought, he wouldn’t have given them a good face.

 

“Miss, are you okay?”

 

Hearing Jinxiu’s concerned voice, Ye Tiance finally turned around.

 

The black silk ribbon had already been soaked with tears, and two tear streaks flowed down.

 

“Liyan, what’s wrong…”

 

Ye Liyan, supported by Jinxiu and the others, shook her small head like a drum: “I’m sorry, Grandfather… I’m just too happy…”

 

Her grandfather had told her that something good would happen today, and she was curious, but she never thought it would be an imperial marriage decree. The emotions she had been suppressing day and night finally overflowed into tears.

 

Ye Tiance couldn’t help but sigh, feeling sorry for his poor granddaughter. If he could see her settle down well in her life, he would have no regrets.