The Empress’s expression grew increasingly gloomy, her resentful gaze fixed on Su Mingyue, unable to conceal its venom.
Turning to meet the Emperor’s disdainful look, she immediately lowered her eyes, swallowing back the words that had already reached her lips.
The Emperor shot her a glare before turning a benevolent smile toward Su Mingyue. “Since you are to choose your own husband, I shall fulfill your wish today and grant you an Imperial Marriage Grant to Pingyang Hou.”
“As you are alone, from this moment on, you shall reside temporarily in the palace. Once the Imperial Astronomers select an auspicious date, all matters related to your marriage will be handled by the Imperial Household Department.”
Su Mingyue bowed her head once more. “This commoner thanks Your Majesty for your grace!”
Boom—!
She and Xiao Lin were in love?
Su Mingyue’s cheerful tone stabbed at Xiao Yunhe’s heart once again.
He stared blankly at Su Mingyue kneeling on the ground, ready to receive the decree, his heart aching as if cut by a knife. How could she so calmly agree to marry someone else?
No! It couldn’t be!
She had always lived in the third branch’s courtyard and rarely interacted with Xiao Lin. When could they have developed feelings for each other?
She would cook for him, learn how to sew shoes and socks for him…
Whenever he mentioned something he liked, she would find it and give it to him as soon as possible.
How could she not love him but instead like that… that sickly man so much older than her?
It must be… she must be angry with him over Ying’er’s matter, which is why she’s throwing a tantrum and insisting on marrying someone else!
The one she truly loved had always been him!
He refused to accept this!
She couldn’t treat him this way!
Xiao Yunhe glared furiously at Su Mingyue.
He swore he would demand an explanation from her!
And reclaim everything that rightfully belonged to him!
…
Until the palace banquet ended, Su Mingyue and Xiao Lin, who were supposedly in love, never once glanced at each other.
As officials began to exit the grand hall one after another, Su Mingyue’s clear voice suddenly rang out. “Lord Xiao! Please stay!”
Xiao Hongyi halted his steps, turning back with uncertainty.
Su Mingyue quickly approached him, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “This commoner will soon be married from the palace. As for the gold and silver items temporarily stored in your courtyard, I must trouble you to sort them out as soon as possible. I will send someone to retrieve them tomorrow.”
What??!!
Xiao Hongyi’s face instantly changed, his brows furrowing deeply.
She knew perfectly well when he used those gold and silver items! She never said she would ask for them back later!
If she had said so at the time, how could he have even considered using her wealth?
Besides, three years had passed, and he had already used a significant portion of that gold and silver. How could he possibly return it?
How outrageous! This girl was clearly deliberately making things difficult for him!!
His chest heaved with rage as he tried to come up with an excuse to brush her off. But before he could speak, he noticed the surrounding officials had all stopped and were looking his way.
Xiao Hongyi’s face flushed bright red, wishing he could immediately find a crack in the ground to crawl into! He dared not utter another word.
“Lord Xiao remains silent with a cold, stern expression. What does this mean?” Su Mingyue’s voice suddenly rose. “Taking without asking is theft… Could it be that Lord Xiao intends to embezzle this commoner’s wealth?”
Without waiting for Xiao Hongyi to react, she took a step forward, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear:
“I came to the Capital City empty-handed. Everything I acquired was earned through my medical skills, and every valuable item came from the various officials in the court.”
“But you know perfectly well the monthly salaries of court officials…”
She let out two cold laughs before adding:
“This commoner is timid and prone to worry… If Lord Xiao harbors other intentions and refuses to return what belongs to me, then I will have no choice but to report this to the authorities or, better yet, directly inform His Majesty!”
“Do you think those generous lords would be willing to make public the gift lists they sent me?”
“Whom do you think they would hold accountable for this debt?”
“You…” Xiao Hongyi’s pupils trembled violently. He staggered back a step in fury, his lips quivering, yet unable to utter a single word!
Xiao Yunhe, standing nearby, heard Su Mingyue’s words with perfect clarity.
His face darkened as if ink could drip from it, his eyes roiling with rage. He was just about to rebuke Su Mingyue for disrespecting her elders and acting willfully…
A pale-faced eunuch came rushing toward the two of them, his voice shrill and urgent:
“Lord Xiao! Lord Xiao, something terrible has happened…!!”
“Hurry to the palace gates and see! Your wife and that Miss Liu have been beaten unconscious—they look like they won’t make it!”
“What!?” Xiao Yunhe sprang to his feet. “What about the imperial physicians?!”
His tone was frantic, his voice loud.
The young eunuch frowned at him, a flash of unmistakable disdain instantly crossing his face.
Then his eyes rolled up and down, as if looking at a fool.
Imperial physicians?
A commoner and a mere city gate captain—how could they possibly be worthy of summoning imperial physicians?
If not for the backing of the Pingyang Marquisate, forget attending the palace banquet—this father and son likely couldn’t even get near the palace gates!
And they want imperial physicians?!
Hah! Utterly clueless!!
Xiao Yunhe was provoked by the young eunuch’s look and was about to erupt when Xiao Hongyi jabbed him hard with an elbow.
“We’re in the palace, not our Pingyang Marquisate!”
Reason returning, Xiao Yunhe suppressed his anger and turned to look at Su Mingyue standing nearby: “Yue’er, where is your medicine chest? Let’s hurry over and see!”
What’s so great about those quacks from the Imperial Medical Bureau? In the end, wasn’t it Yue’er who managed to control the Empress Dowager’s chronic illness?!
A bunch of rootless creatures… how dare they look down on others?
A faint, almost imperceptible flicker of pride passed through Xiao Yunhe’s lowered gaze.
Over the years, whenever anyone in the Pingyang Marquisate fell ill, whether a serious disease or a minor ailment, it was always Yue’er who personally diagnosed and cared for them!
Could others afford that? Could they even manage to request it?!
Not to mention, for the exclusive ointments and pills in his Yue’er’s possession alone, how many court officials had sent their sons and grandsons to bow and scrape before him!
And they dare look down on him? Openly mock him and his son right here?
They’ll regret it one day!
Xiao Yunhe subconsciously snorted coldly.
His self-satisfied expression, observed by those around him, provoked a wave of mocking laughter.
The messenger eunuch, however, was too young. He kept repeating the name “Yue’er” in his mind, feeling uneasy.
He hadn’t expected this fellow to be so familiar with Physician Su. The young eunuch lowered his head, stealing a glance at Su Mingyue’s expression…
Yet Su Mingyue merely curled her lips in a cold smile. She couldn’t even be bothered to spare Xiao Yunhe another glance, turning and walking away.
She, Su Mingyue, would never again exhaust herself for these heartless, ungrateful beasts!
Not only that, she would make them—fall into eternal damnation!!
Watching Su Mingyue’s retreating figure, Xiao Lin’s mind buzzed.
Leaving… just like that?
In front of everyone… she actually just walked away like that??!
Xiao Hongyi and his son stood frozen on the spot, instantly feeling as if countless mocking eyes were piercing through them!
Utterly humiliating!
Absolutely disgraceful!!
Soon, undisguised sneers echoed around them, making the two feel even more mortified than if they had been publicly slapped.
“Hurry, let’s go.” Xiao Hongyi forced the words through gritted teeth, his face deathly pale.
Xiao Yunhe burned with shame and fury, his ears flushing crimson.
Never in his life had he been so utterly humiliated!
Since childhood, everyone had always held him in high regard.
The two fled in disarray, leaving those unbearable words far behind.
Just outside the palace gates, Xiao Yunhe suddenly slammed his fist against the vermilion palace wall.
“Su! Ming! Yue!” he ground out through clenched teeth, his eyes blazing with fury. “How could she do this to me? How could she… how could she treat our marriage like a petty bet?!”
“A bet?” Xiao Hongyi’s face was cold and stern as he glanced sidelong at his son, his mind clearer. “With the imperial decree already issued, I can see that girl is dead serious—it doesn’t seem like she’s just throwing a tantrum!”
This marriage was beyond any hope of reversal.
Not long after…
Xiao Yunhe gazed down at Liu Ying, covered in blood and unconscious, his heart aching with pity and helplessness… Why had she cared for him so deeply, even to the point of risking her life?
A eunuch nearby kindly reminded them:
“You two should hurry and take Lady Xiao and Miss Liu back. If they’re not treated carefully, they might suffer lasting injuries and become unable to walk in the future…”
Both father and son felt a chill in their hearts—if they died, it would be one thing, but if they were truly left disabled, how could the third branch of the family ever hold their heads high again?