Looking at it this way, Song Yun Chu asking him whether he was willing to part with Jiang Rumin was clearly a provocation.
Jun Tianyi suddenly felt somewhat heavy-hearted. Logically speaking, since the emperor had granted him and Jiang Yuxi permission to be together, he should feel overjoyed—after all, he had always wanted to give Yu Xi the status of a lawful wife. So why, at this very moment of the imperial decree, did he find himself not as happy as he expected?
He didn’t even know how to respond to Song Yun Chu.
While he hesitated, he felt a slight tightening around his wrist. Lowering his gaze, he met Jiang Yuxi’s hopeful, tear-filled eyes.
That’s right—his true love was clearly Yu Xi. How could he waver just because he felt a bit of pity for Rumin?
So he lifted his head to look at Jun Li Luo, cupped his hands, and said, “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace.”
Seeing this, Jiang Yuxi quickly followed suit in expressing her gratitude.
Song Yun Chu was furious, though not entirely surprised.
【This Dog Scumbag really sticks to his tough-guy persona. He’s definitely going to regret it later, and he might even come looking for trouble with me.】
【Since things have come to this, I’ll just have to agree for now and take it one step at a time.】
“The eldest Miss Jiang is both talented and beautiful, graceful and intelligent. Your Majesty has bestowed such a wonderful marriage upon your subject—I am deeply grateful.”
Jun Li Luo listened to Song Yun Chu’s hypocritical pleasantries and curved his lips into a smile. “I hope my arrangements will bring comfort and happiness to all of you.”
【Comfort? Hah, Dog Emperor, with all your suspicion and wariness toward me, arranging this marriage is nothing but ill-intentioned. I’ll remember this.】
Naturally, Jun Li Luo wasn’t afraid of Song Yun Chu holding a grudge.
Although Song Yun Chu and he couldn’t stand each other, they now had a common enemy and shared the same goal—they both needed to protect their positions from being shaken and avoid the path of destruction laid out in the “original story.”
So, until Jun Tianyi and Jiang Rumin were dealt with, they couldn’t afford to turn on each other.
“My elder sister is still unaware of Your Majesty’s gracious decree. This humble girl will go inform her at once and have her come quickly to express her gratitude.”
Jiang Yuxi bowed to Jun Tianyi and then withdrew from the room.
Song Yun Chu could easily guess that she was going off to flaunt her victory.
That dog man Jun Tianyi never truly understood his own heart. He might not be entirely satisfied with the emperor’s arrangement, but he wasn’t exactly heartbroken over it either. Jiang Rumin, however, was different—her feelings for him were steadfast, and she would surely struggle to accept the Dog Emperor’s decree.
This already melodramatic, tragic romance was bound to become even more absurd with the Dog Emperor’s interference.
“Your Majesty, your subject must excuse himself for a moment. I will return shortly.”
“Is Yun Chu also eager to share this good news with his beloved? Go ahead.”
Song Yun Chu cursed under his breath, then turned and left, heading in the direction where Jiang Rumin was.
In the original story, her tangled fate with Jiang Rumin and Jun Tianyi hadn’t begun this early.
She had originally thought that as long as she avoided being the villain who harmed the male and female leads and didn’t become the treacherous official despised by the emperor, she could escape the fate of Minister Song from the original plot.
But now, events were unfolding with significant deviations from the original story.
In the original, almost all the important male supporting characters were in love with the female lead, while most significant female supporting characters had feelings for the male lead.
Even the highly skilled antagonist Minister Song was forcibly made foolish in the middle and later parts of the original story. To weaken her combat ability, the author arranged for her to suffer from qi deviation during martial arts training, allowing assassins sent by the emperor to take advantage and attempt to kill her. Forced by circumstances, she changed back into female attire and smeared ashes on her face to escape the pursuing assassins. During this time, she coincidentally encountered Jun Tianyi, who failed to recognize her as Minister Song. Deceived by her lies, he merely took her for a pitiful woman who had lost her family and home, and thus sheltered her for a few days.
During that period, Jun Tianyi happened to be quarreling with Jiang Rumin. Not only did he intentionally avoid Jiang Rumin, but he also went to show kindness to Minister Song, who was staying in the guest room. The medicine he brought her was even more effective than that from the palace. Minister Song thus decided to leave only after her injuries had fully healed. However, after spending several days together, she unexpectedly developed feelings for Jun Tianyi, largely because she had long lived in a world of deceit and seldom received genuine care from others.
When Song Yun Chu read this part, she was so furious that she left numerous negative reviews.
Minister Song had no idea that the medicine given to her by the male lead was actually made by the female lead, nor did she know that his late-night visits to check on her were merely acts of pettiness aimed at making the female lead jealous.
The subsequent development was that Minister Song realized she had fallen for Jun Tianyi and began targeting Jiang Rumin at every turn.
This romantic subplot felt utterly absurd, as if it existed solely to serve the anguished love story between the male and female leads.
Moreover, what was there to like about that dog scumbag Jun Tianyi? He wasn’t even as intelligent or capable as that madman, the Dog Emperor.
After recalling the plot, Song Yun Chu realized she had already arrived outside Jiang Rumin’s door.
Jiang Yuxi was speaking with Jiang Rumin when she heard footsteps and turned around. Seeing that it was Song Yun Chu, she immediately put on a respectful expression.
“Lord Song, you’ve arrived.”
Jiang Yuxi walked up to Song Yun Chu, curtsied, and said, “I’ve already told my elder sister about the arranged marriage. She seems quite displeased. It would be best for you to persuade her, my lord.”
With that, Jiang Yuxi stepped back and walked past Song Yun Chu. As she did, she turned her head and flashed a mocking smile at Jiang Rumin.
Seeing this, Jiang Rumin bit her lip in frustration but could do nothing about it.
Song Yun Chu seemed to sense something and turned to look at Jiang Yuxi, who quickly turned her head back and calmly walked away.
Even without seeing her expression, Song Yun Chu could vaguely guess how smug she must have been.
“Greetings, Lord Song.”
Jiang Rumin adjusted her expression and bowed properly to Song Yun Chu. “I was unaware of your identity before and may have been neglectful. I hope you can forgive me.”
Noticing Jiang Rumin holding her arm, Song Yun Chu moved to support her, but Jiang Rumin quickly stepped back two paces, making her distance very clear.
Song Yun Chu coughed lightly. “Miss Jiang, you’re injured. Please, take a seat.”
She had nearly forgotten that, in her current identity as a man, Jiang Rumin would naturally maintain boundaries between men and women.
“Lord Song, you are a favorite of His Majesty. Could you please ask His Majesty to revoke the marriage decree?”
Jiang Rumin looked directly at Song Yun Chu, her expression pleading.
Song Yun Chu raised an eyebrow slightly. “His Majesty announced the marriage in front of everyone, and even Prince Yi did not object. If I were to raise an objection, wouldn’t it seem like I don’t know my place?”
Jiang Rumin’s face stiffened. “Prince Yi… truly had no objections at all?”
“No.” Song Yun Chu said with a straight face, “Miss Jiang, why not take my advice? His Highness and your sister are deeply in love. You might as well fulfill them and stop interfering…”
Though aware of Jiang Rumin’s steadfast feelings for Prince Yi, Song Yun Chu still wanted to attempt persuasion.
But before she could finish speaking, Jiang Rumin interrupted, “It’s not me interfering with them—it’s Yu Xi causing trouble! His Highness isn’t indifferent toward me! He merely trusts Yu Xi too much and has some misunderstandings about me.”
Song Yun Chu nearly rolled her eyes but maintained a composed expression.
“Your Excellency, please forgive my bluntness, but I cannot marry you.”
Jiang Rumin rose again, supporting her injured arm, and knelt before Song Yun Chu. “I know you are highly favored by His Majesty, and countless women aspire to become the Prime Minister’s wife.” Yet I dare not accept such an honor. To me, fame and status have never mattered—I only wish to hold onto the bond between His Highness and me.”
Song Yun Chu: “…”
Is there any saving this love-struck fool?
She was about to ask Jiang Rumin to rise when footsteps echoed outside, accompanied by a familiar, chilling voice—
“Miss Jiang, do these words mean you intend to defy Our decree? Then you ought to consider carefully whether you can bear the consequences of opposing the imperial will.”