Twenty to thirty burly guards from the Earl’s Mansion surged forward, blocking the path completely.
Uncle Qiao was so furious his vision darkened. “In broad daylight, right under the Emperor’s feet, you dare to resort to force? You have no regard for the law!”
He picked up the golden plaque bestowed by the Emperor and shielded his niece, pointing at the guards. “I’d like to see who dares to step forward!”
The guards stared at the bright yellow imperial seal on the plaque, exchanging uncertain glances. For a moment, no one dared to move.
Chu Nianci looked at the man she had once entrusted her life to.
His face was ashen, his gaze cold and hard—there was not a trace of his usual gentle demeanor.
Chu Nianci’s heart felt as if it had been frozen. In her previous life, things had not escalated to this point; she had married him joyfully.
In this life, just moments ago, she had still held a sliver of hope that when things reached an impasse, he would remember her six months of devoted waiting and sit down amicably to continue negotiations.
She never expected he would resort to such bandit-like tactics.
How could she have been so blind back then, failing to see the cold and callous nature beneath his handsome appearance?
In her previous life, her sincere affection had ultimately been wasted on someone utterly unworthy.
Chu Nianci wiped the last trace of a smile from her lips, reached up, and gripped the collar of her wedding robe, tearing it off with a fierce tug…
The crimson wedding dress ripped with a sharp “tear,” and she flung it to the ground with determination, where it lay like a scab of dried blood.
“I, Chu Nianci, swear here today,” her voice was soft but rang with the clarity of shattered jade and cracking ice, “that even if I remain alone for the rest of my life, I will never marry you.”
Lin Jingrui’s handsome face darkened with anger, but he remained silent.
“We were blind to have trusted a hypocrite like you,” Uncle Qiao spat a thick glob of phlegm in his direction. “When deception fails, you resort to force—how are you any different from a highway robber?”
Lin Jingrui gritted his teeth and waved his hand.
The guards tightened their grip on their sword hilts, closing the circle around them.
He stared at Chu Nianci, his gaze as sharp and cold as iron.
As long as he held firm today and completed the wedding ceremony, she would have no chance of escaping the Earl’s Mansion.
In a few days, once her spirit had been worn down, she would naturally come to her senses and beg him.
The guests, witnessing the wedding hall turning into a battlefield, retreated to a distance. They had come to celebrate a wedding, not to get caught up in this mess.
The Lin family members, however, wore expressions of satisfaction, eagerly waiting to see how this disobedient bride would be subdued.
Lin Jingjue and Chu Shunqing even stood on tiptoe to watch, their eyes gleaming with schadenfreude.
Lord Luo Shilong had intended to step forward and mediate, but upon recalling the imperial decree from the palace, he ultimately dared not speak. He merely sighed, lowered his head, and fiddled with the lid of his teacup, pretending not to see.
Hong Ying and Tuanyuan were restrained by several burly women who twisted their arms, causing their hairpins to become disheveled as they struggled.
The servants from the Qiao family who had carried the dowry were also surrounded by layers of guards from the Earl’s Mansion, with sword sheaths pressed against their backs, unable to move.
The air in the courtyard was as tense as a drawn bowstring.
Just as the situation reached a critical point, a commotion suddenly erupted from the direction of the front courtyard, with screams and footsteps mingling together.
“What’s going on?” Lin Jingrui looked up impatiently. “Didn’t I order the mansion gates to be shut tight?”
Before he could finish his sentence, the crowd in the distance parted like a tide.
Steward Hu, wiping sweat from his brow, hurried over. “Young Master, someone from the palace has arrived.”
As he spoke…
A team of guards in bright armor, swords drawn, cleared the way, escorting a fair-skinned, beardless young man of about seventeen or eighteen. Dressed in crimson eunuch robes, he strode confidently through the courtyard, heading straight for the wedding hall.
“Oh my, what a lively scene here,” the newcomer was slender in stature, with lively eyes and brows, holding a horsetail whisk in hand, chin slightly raised, carrying the reserved haughtiness of palace insiders.
He walked with a smile, cupping his hands toward Lin Jingrui as he approached: “Marquis Lin, congratulations indeed. I come by the command of His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress, specially to offer you felicitations, celebrating the esteemed uncle’s minor ascension to the marital chamber.”
Lin Jingrui fixed his gaze and felt his heart suddenly sink.
The newcomer was actually Jing Xi, the disciple of the Chief Eunuch in charge of the Imperial Seal, Li Dean.
Why had he come?
Even if it were a palace-bestowed marriage congratulation, it should have been an attendant from his elder sister the Empress’s side who came…
Without time to ponder further, Lin Jingrui swiftly piled on a smile and hurried down the steps to greet him, cupping his hands: “Eunuch Xi graces us with your presence, forgive our lack of proper welcome. Quick, prepare a seat and serve tea for the eunuch.”
The corner of Jing Xi’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, yet his face still held a smile: “No need.”
He flicked his horsetail whisk, his voice clear and bright, “Her Majesty the Empress and His Majesty have bestowed gifts. Marquis Lin, quickly prepare the incense altar… I bring two edicts today.”
Upon hearing this, Old Master Lin and his wife hurriedly directed the servants to set up the incense altar.
Luo Shilong led the hall full of guests in straightening their robes, and they all knelt down one after another.
Jing Xi cleared his throat, first taking out an empress’s decree, and proclaimed loudly: “Decree of Her Majesty the Empress: Bestow upon Marquis Lin and his wife one box of pearls, one pair of rosewood carvings of the Two Immortals of Harmony, in celebration of their nuptial joy.”
After reading, he paused briefly, then solemnly drew another bright yellow imperial edict from his bosom, slowly unrolling it.
Jing Xi’s gaze swept over the crowd, his lips tight.
The crowd tensed, hurriedly adjusting their appearances once more, this time prostrating themselves to the dust.
Jing Xi’s eyes passed over the assembly, then he slightly relaxed his lips, revealing a meaningful smile on his face: “Which one is Miss Chu Nianci? Please step forward to receive the decree… a matter of immense joy.”
Chu Nianci was slightly taken aback, then steadied herself inwardly.
It had finally come.
She took a deep breath, stepped forward calmly, and bowed gracefully: “This humble girl Chu Nianci pays respects to the Inner Eunuch.”
Earlier, she had noticed the flicker of displeasure at the corner of the young eunuch’s mouth when Lin Jingrui addressed him as “eunuch.”
In her previous life, she had risen to the rank of first-grade titled lady, deeply versed in palace etiquette.
These close attendants in the imperial presence most detested being disparagingly addressed as “eunuch.”
“Inner Eunuch” was the precisely appropriate term of respect.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Jing Xi’s lips curved upward slightly, and he narrowed his eyes to scrutinize her carefully.
Even this young attendant, accustomed to seeing clouds of beauties, couldn’t help but secretly startle.
The palace was not lacking in beautiful women; he had even seen peerless beauties.
But rarely had he encountered a woman as radiantly dazzling as this one, noble and elegant yet containing clever wit and cunning.
Moreover, she had not yet entered the palace but could handle herself so appropriately—truly rare.
Jing Xi inwardly nodded in approval.
His Majesty was of such stature; he had once wondered, what kind of woman could be worthy of him?
Now, having seen this woman, it felt like meeting one’s match, a perfect pair made in heaven.
Beside them, Lin Jingrui was already bewildered and couldn’t help but ask: “Eunuch, how can she receive an imperial decree?”
Jing Xi glanced at him, with a faint, ambiguous smile: “In any case, it is a matter of immense joy; just receive the decree.”
With that, he unrolled the edict and read aloud clearly:
“By the decree of the Emperor, who receives the Mandate of Heaven: Chu Nianci, legitimate daughter of Chu Maolin, Assistant Prefect of Yangzhou Prefecture, gentle and virtuous, beautiful in appearance and wise within… Now specially conferred as an official lady, selected to serve in the palace, to fill the Lateral Courts. By decree, enter the palace this very day, to study palace regulations at Xiefang Hall. So ordered!”
Once the edict was finished, the entire wedding hall fell into deathly silence.
Lin Jingrui’s face turned deathly pale in an instant, frozen in place as if struck by lightning through the crown of his head.
He stood there, dumbstruck.
Chu Shunqing’s mouth hung agape.
She had clearly pleaded for her sister to enter the palace as an ordinary palace maid, preferably assigned to laborious places like the Laundry Bureau or the Storage Department…
How had she instead been granted the title of official lady?
Although the rank was not high, she was now ultimately a woman of the emperor.
Chu Shunqing forced a smile on her face, but her heart felt as if a jar of vinegar had been overturned—sour and bitter.
This sudden “honor,” which should have been a humiliation she bestowed upon Chu Nianci, had now, through a twist of fate, become a favor?
And it was even obtained using the merits she had earned during the epidemic relief efforts—she could have slapped herself.
Old Master Lin and his wife were even more thunderstruck, nearly collapsing to the ground.
How could His Majesty… suddenly select their soon-to-be daughter-in-law to enter the palace?
All the guests in the hall were also stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.
In the blink of an eye, the bride-to-be was about to become a consort in the palace?
Today’s wedding banquet truly had one wave subsiding before another rose.
“What… what exactly is going on?” Lin Jingrui finally found his voice after a long pause, asking in confusion, “Why has His Majesty suddenly summoned Nianci to the palace?”
Eunuch Jing Xi chuckled and offered a few auspicious words.
Then, unhurriedly, he explained, “That’s why this is such a joyous occasion. This decree was specially requested from Her Majesty the Empress by Imperial Physician Chu, using her own merits from the epidemic relief efforts. She said her elder sister had long yearned to serve in the palace.”
He paused, lightly flicking his horsetail whisk. “Originally, given Miss Chu’s background, she would have been nothing more than a palace maid at best. But as luck would have it, His Majesty happened to be with Her Majesty just now. Upon hearing she was a relative of the Imperial Uncle’s family, he remarked, ‘Since she is family, why not grant her a favor?’ Instead of starting as a palace maid, she is directly appointed as an official lady. Tell me, isn’t this a double blessing?”
“This common woman accepts the decree, thanking His Majesty for his great grace.” Chu Nianci had already regained her composure, calmly kowtowing.
She extended both hands to receive the decree.
The crowd, catching on, followed suit with bows and salutes.
Lin Jingrui remained frozen on his knees, unmoving.
The Lin family members were also dumbfounded, forgetting to kowtow and express gratitude.
Eunuch Jing Xi glanced at them, his face still wearing a smile, but his tone carried a hint of authority. “Oh, look, Young Master Lin is so overjoyed he’s forgotten to give thanks?”
The words sounded polite but were actually a reminder.
In the presence of an imperial decree, how could any breach of etiquette be tolerated?
Only then did the Lin couple snap out of their daze, hurriedly and discreetly tugging at their son’s sleeve, urging in a low voice, “Quick, quick, kowtow and give thanks!”
Luo Shilong, after all, was a seasoned official. Though inwardly shocked, he reacted the fastest, leading the guests in shouting “Long live the Emperor!” and smoothly smoothing things over. “His Majesty’s grace is vast, and Her Majesty’s compassion for her subjects is truly a great honor for both the Lin and Chu families!”
However, as he spoke, the corner of his eye couldn’t help but glance at Lin Jingrui’s pallid face and then at Chu Nianci, who kept her head bowed. He sighed inwardly—today’s drama had truly been full of twists and turns.
Just as Jing Xi was about to hand the decree to Chu Nianci,
“Impossible!”
Lin Jingrui, as if suddenly jolted by electricity, snapped his head up and reacted. “Eunuch Jing Xi, Miss Chu is this humble official’s soon-to-be wife. Her Majesty the Empress just bestowed wedding gifts moments ago. How can she now enter the palace?”
His voice trembled…