Jing Xi’s brow furrowed slightly, his expression showing surprise. “Is that so? Is this Miss Chu truly the Marquis’s intended bride?”
“Indeed,” Lin Jingrui replied, steadying his voice.
“What exactly is going on?” Jing Xi’s gaze swept across the crowd, seeking confirmation.
Yet in the wedding hall, no one spoke.
The officials’ wives and daughters, disdainful of the Lin family’s conduct, were unwilling to speak up for them.
The relatives, unwilling to stir up trouble, remained silent.
The servants, attendants, and hired help had no right to speak.
For a moment, silence reigned all around.
Old Master Lin and his wife exchanged a glance, their faces filled with embarrassment.
Old Master Lin quickly kowtowed deeply and said, “Chu Nianci has been preparing for her wedding in our residence for half a year. Today is the wedding day.”
Jing Xi’s long eyebrows furrowed. He turned his head and examined Chu Nianci closely once more.
Her features were as exquisite as a painting, her figure graceful, with a red dot between her brows and intelligent, clear eyes. Even more remarkable was the dignified and elegant aura that surrounded her.
With such qualities and appearance, if she were to enter the palace, she might truly stand out among the consorts and win the Emperor’s favor.
What a pity, what a pity.
He sighed inwardly but maintained a smile on his face, addressing Chu Nianci gently, “Miss Chu, are you truly the Marquis’s intended bride?”
This question was cleverly phrased, effectively placing the choice in her hands.
Jing Xi was astute enough to see at a glance that the Lin family would never let her go. If she herself were unwilling, taking the matter before the Emperor would only lead to embarrassment.
Chu Nianci bowed properly. “I once was, but now I am not.”
“Chu Nianci!” Lin Jingrui’s face turned cold as he rebuked her. “The marriage contract is here, with all three matchmakers and six witnesses present. How can you deny it?”
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, his fingers clutching the marriage contract tightly in his sleeve.
If she remained ungrateful and dared to deny it, it would be tantamount to deceiving the Emperor on the spot.
“Say it ten thousand times, and my answer remains the same. Even if we must go before the Golden Throne, I will accompany you to the end,” Chu Nianci said softly but firmly.
“Don’t push me!” Lin Jingrui narrowed his eyes.
The atmosphere between them grew tense.
“Heh heh…” Jing Xi, standing in the center of the hall, chuckled softly.
His laughter instantly eased the tension.
“What is the meaning of this?” Jing Xi raised his horsetail whisk, took a step to the side, and positioned himself between the two, blocking their confrontational gazes. “There’s no need for such hostility. Let’s all speak calmly.”
His sharp, discerning eyes swept across the crowd as he said in a deep voice, “This imperial favor was requested by Imperial Physician Chu from Her Majesty the Empress. Where is Imperial Physician Chu?”
Jing Xi raised his voice, drawing out the final syllable.
Chu Shunqing stepped forward, her face pale, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum. “Your servant is here.”
“I ask you,” Jing Xi’s gaze was as sharp as a needle, “was this imperial favor to enter the palace truly requested by you for your sister?”
“Yes… it was requested by your servant,” Chu Shunqing bit her lower lip.
“How many sisters do you have?”
“Only… only one.”
“How audacious!” Jing Xi’s voice suddenly turned stern as he narrowed his eyes at her. “Since you knew your sister was betrothed to the Marquis, how dare you request such a favor from Her Majesty? Are you deliberately trying to make Her Majesty appear unwise and His Majesty unjust?”
Chu Shunqing trembled all over and knelt with a thud. “Your Excellency, please understand. Although the betrothal exists, the wedding has not yet taken place… It was my sister who said she was unwilling to marry and pleaded with me. Out of sisterly affection, I… I dared to ask Her Majesty the Empress…”
Lin Jingrui stared at her intently, his gaze almost piercing through her.
He never expected that this woman, who had repeatedly professed her willingness to “serve the same husband as her sister,” would stab him in the back like this.
Disappointment and anger churned in his chest. He clenched his fists, but with so many eyes watching, he could only suppress the fury burning within.
“Unwilling to marry?” Jing Xi raised an eyebrow, his sidelong glance sweeping past Lin Jingrui’s handsome yet gloomy profile, feeling a flicker of surprise.
This Lin Jingrui had both looks and a noble title.
Why was Chu Nianci unwilling to marry him?
He turned to Chu Nianci, his tone softening as he asked, “Miss Chu, the young master of the Marquis is dignified and impressive. Why are you unwilling to marry him?”
“Isn’t it just greed for vanity, wanting to enter the palace as a consort and pursue wealth and glory?” Lin Jingjue interjected from the side, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Eunuch Jing Xi cast a faint glance at Lin Jingjue, his eyes carrying a hint of cold sharpness.
He didn’t care whom this girl was targeting, but her words had even implicated the emperor, which was a transgression.
“With the Eunuch present, how dare you interrupt?” Madam Xie gritted her teeth and slapped her daughter across the face.
Lin Jingjue covered her cheek in disbelief but dared not speak again.
Jing Xi withdrew his gaze, a faint, ambiguous smile on his face, and turned to look at Chu Nianci, awaiting her response.
Chu Nianci lifted her eyes to meet his, her gaze clear and lucid.
She parted her red lips and said softly, “Esteemed Eunuch, if I were greedy for wealth and glory, why would I marry into the Marquis’s household? You may investigate the current state of the Marquis’s household. Back then, it was my admiration for Lin Jingrui’s character that led me to travel thousands of miles north. Who could have known that upon his return from official duties, he would propose ‘inheriting two branches’—nominally taking my younger half-sister as his elder brother’s wife, but in reality, it was a matter of abandoning one wife to marry another.”
She paused, a faint, bitter smile touching the corners of her lips. “If this matter were to spread back to Yangzhou, both the Chu and Qiao families would become laughingstocks. After discussing with my sister, I realized I was caught in a dilemma. Rather than endure humiliation here, it would be better to enter the palace and repay His Majesty’s grace for bestowing the plaque with my own person. Even if I start as the lowest-ranking palace maid, it would be better than suffering disgrace here.”
With that, she lowered her head and closed her eyes, her posture respectful yet her back straight and unwavering.
Her words were both reasonable and principled, neither submissive nor arrogant.
Jing Xi listened, nodding inwardly.
This woman was not only beautiful but also courageous and insightful, and every word she spoke aligned with the greater principles of “preserving the family’s honor” and “repaying the nation with her person.”
It left no room for criticism.
“Rise,” Jing Xi waved a hand toward her.
“Everyone, rise,” he added.
Chu Nianci stood up.
The others gradually rose to their feet as well.
Only Lin Jingrui remained kneeling stubbornly in the hall.
After a long moment, he suddenly lifted his head, his eyes burning with shame and anger. “These words are mistaken. The marriage contract serves as proof—our two families have long been united in marriage. How could there be any talk of becoming a laughingstock?”
“Marriage contract?” Chu Nianci’s eyes flashed, a trace of mockery curling at the corners of her lips. “Let’s not even mention the marriage contract. To carry out this ‘inheriting two branches’ scheme, you laid the groundwork as early as a year ago when the agreement was made. Even the name signed on the marriage contract was not my real name. Such a marriage agreement is nothing more than a worthless piece of paper.”
Lin Jingrui’s face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. “What nonsense are you spouting…”
“Wait,” Jing Xi raised a hand, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two. He extended his palm. “Where is the marriage contract? Bring it here for me to see.”
Lin Jingrui pressed his lips together and remained motionless, his hand clenched inside his sleeve.
Back then, his family had indeed long intended for his elder brother to inherit both branches, setting a trap in the marriage arrangement. When his parents brought up the matter, he knew it was improper but did not voice any objection—because Chu Nianci’s mother was the daughter of a merchant.
Yet no one expected that their clever scheme had backfired, and they had ended up lifting a stone only to drop it on their own feet.
They could only hope that Chu Nianci still held a shred of affection in her heart.
And would not make this matter public.
Chu Nianci had already calmly retrieved a scroll of brocade from her sleeve and presented it with both hands: “Please take a look, Eunuch.”
Jing Xi took it, unfurled it with one hand, and quickly scanned the entire text until his gaze fell upon the signature.
When he saw the characters “Nian Jun,” his brow imperceptibly furrowed, and a flicker of disdain flashed in his eyes.
This marquisate had tried to play word games to control their daughter-in-law, but their clever scheme had backfired, and they had ended up dropping the stone on their own heels.
With this marriage certificate in hand, even if the matter were brought before the Censorate, Lin Jingrui would have nothing to say.
Lifting his gaze again, Jing Xi smiled and said, “This name does not match the young lady’s given name; it is indeed a worthless scrap of paper.”
“Eunuch, allow me to explain,” Madam Xie, who had been silent until now, hurriedly interjected, “‘Nian Jun’ is an affectionate nickname used in private. At the time, both families wrote it this way deliberately to show closeness, and it was agreed upon.”
“What agreement? Our Qiao family never consented to such a thing,” Uncle Qiao sneered coldly. “Even tampering with the name on the marriage certificate—utterly shameless.”
His heart had been in his throat just moments before.
Afraid that his niece might inadvertently commit the crime of deceiving the emperor.
Only now did he finally feel a sense of relief.
This way, the marriage contract would be rendered invalid, and even if the matter went to court, they would be in the right.
“Eunuch, a word in private, please.” Lin Jingrui finally stood up, having adjusted his trouser legs, and took half a step forward, cupping his hands in salute as he spoke in an extremely low voice.
Jing Xi looked at him with a faint, ambiguous smile.
Having spent so many years in the palace, how could he not know that the other party wanted to make private arrangements and seek leniency through personal connections?
But favors were not to be sought in this manner.
To be suspected of accepting bribes in front of a crowd—if word reached His Majesty’s ears, he truly would have no way to defend himself… Besides, the title “Eunuch” sounded particularly grating.
However, the other party was, after all, from the family of the Empress’s brother, so he still had to show some face.
He followed Lin Jingrui a couple of steps away, and before the other could speak, he first said gently, “Marquis Lin, since things have come to this, why not let the mistake stand? Let the young lady follow me into the palace first. An official lady who has not yet attended to the emperor is not considered a formal imperial consort. In the future, you can seek a favor from Her Majesty the Empress; there may still be room for maneuver.”
“Absolutely not!” Lin Jingrui’s face darkened as if it could drip water. “Once someone enters the palace, how can they ever be retrieved? She must not enter the palace today.”
“Must she stay?” A particularly warm smile bloomed on Jing Xi’s face, but his voice turned cold. “Marquis Lin, it is rare for me to leave the palace on official business. Failing this task is of little consequence, but if the royal family’s dignity is tarnished… that would be a crime for which death would not be enough to atone.”
He leaned in slightly, his words light yet heavy: “It is not that I am unwilling to accommodate you, but in this matter, you are not in the right. If you insist on forcing her to stay, you risk the charge of ‘defying an imperial decree.’ When that time comes, it will be you and the entire marquisate who cannot bear the consequences.”
It was like a basin of cold water poured over his head.
Lin Jingrui’s face turned as dark as iron, and he forced the words through gritted teeth: “Eunuch… truly unwilling to grant this small favor?”
“Indeed!” Jing Xi suddenly straightened his expression and gave him a deep, exaggerated bow, smiling ambiguously as he said, “My apologies.”
With that, he turned to Luo Shilong, who had been standing with downcast eyes and remaining silent, his smile deepening slightly: “Lord Luo is also here. What do you think of this matter…”
Luo Shilong hastily cupped his hands, his words slick and evasive: “How would this humble official dare to speak recklessly? The inner eunuch acts by imperial decree, so naturally everything is for you to decide.”
Old fox… Jing Xi sneered inwardly. This was an attempt to shift the blame onto him.
Unfortunately, as someone serving directly before His Majesty, he truly wasn’t afraid to shoulder this responsibility.
He said no more, flicked his horsetail whisk, and declared in a clear voice: “Since the name on the marriage contract does not match, and the individual herself is willing to enter the palace, His Majesty’s selection of palace attendants is entirely reasonable and lawful.”
His gaze returned to Chu Nianci. She had remained standing quietly to the side all along, her appearance radiant, her demeanor graceful and composed—neither arrogant nor submissive.
He couldn’t help but feel another wave of favor toward her.
Someone like this might very well carve out a promising future in the palace.
He was also happy to do her a favor.
“Chosen Attendant Chu,” his tone softened, carrying the unique authority of the palace, “follow this servant into the palace.”