Su Zhe, full of ingratiating smiles, led Elder Liang into the main hall of the Su residence and motioned for him to sit. He quickly instructed the servants to gather the rest of the household in the front hall to receive the imperial edict.
“Elder Liang, please have some tea,” Su Zhe said politely, though his mind was brimming with anticipation, eager to hear any news.
Elder Liang squinted his already narrow eyes. “Master Su, do not rush. Once everyone is present, the edict will be proclaimed, and then you will know.”
When the Su household heard that the imperial envoys were coming to announce an edict, everyone assumed that Su Zhe must have recently achieved something to warrant promotion. Excited, they hurried to the front hall.
Su Fu, having heard that the imperial court sent someone to deliver a decree, finally felt her heart settle after days of tension.
Her usually cold black eyes softened. As expected, Xiao Junhe had once again, just as in her previous life, secured the imperial edict for her.
Thinking of this, a bittersweet sensation welled in her heart—he was probably still worried that she would blame him for acting without permission.
Su Fu quickly composed her scattered thoughts, asked Qiushuang to help her tidy up, and made her way to the front hall.
Once everyone had gathered, Elder Liang stood, cleared his throat, and prepared to read the imperial decree.
The Su household knelt reverently as the edict was proclaimed. Su Zhe, filled with excitement, imagined the possibilities of his promotion, his heart racing with expectation.
However, as Elder Liang unfurled the decree and began reading, Su Zhe’s smile gradually froze.
“By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Su Fu, eldest daughter of Minister of Revenue Su Zhe, with exceptional beauty, modest demeanor, virtuous character, and of marriageable age…”
“Xiao Junhe, son of the Protector General, a young talent with noble bearing, courageous and strategic, having repeatedly achieved military merits for our nation, now of age to marry, shall select a worthy bride.”
“Considering Su Fu’s refinement and exemplary upbringing, I hereby decree that she shall be granted in marriage to Xiao Junhe, heir to the Protector General, with an auspicious date to be chosen for the wedding. By imperial order, so it is!”
As Elder Liang finished reading, the members of the Su household, still kneeling, looked up in disbelief.
Su Zhe’s lips twitched stiffly. “Elder Liang… surely you have misread the edict? How could the Emperor grant my daughter to the Heir of the Protector General?”
Su Qing’s eyes widened as she echoed, “Yes, Elder Liang! How could His Majesty suddenly decree that our eldest sister marry Xiao Junhe?”
Elder Liang’s expression soured slightly. “I am not so old that my eyesight fails me. As for why His Majesty decreed your eldest daughter to marry the Heir, that is beyond my knowledge.”
He then turned to Su Fu, his gaze softening at her calm, unassuming demeanor. A faint smile touched his face, more sincere now. “Miss, please receive the edict.”
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s benevolence! Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!”
Having fantasized countless times since her rebirth about receiving such an imperial marriage edict, Su Fu could hardly contain the trembling of her hands as she accepted the bright yellow decree from Elder Liang.
At last, in this lifetime, she had received the edict that Xiao Junhe had worked to secure for her.
Even after Elder Liang departed, the Su household remained in shock, unable to fully comprehend the magnitude of the announcement.
Once the Old Madam and Su Zhe collected themselves, joy surged uncontrollably in their hearts. Compared to the Wu family, the Protector General’s household wielded far greater power and prestige.
With the Protector General commanding the Xuanjia Army and Xiao Junhe’s mother being the Imperial Princess Yongping, and with this marriage directly decreed by the Emperor, this honor was unparalleled.
They could hardly wait to see Su Fu wed, fearing any delay might jeopardize the match.
The Old Madam and Su Zhe’s attitude toward Su Fu immediately shifted one hundred and eighty degrees.
They now feared that the Protector General’s family might refuse to accept her as a bride.
Su Fu’s expression carried a hint of delicacy, her gaze shifting between her grandmother and father as she spoke cautiously, “His Majesty has decreed my marriage to the Heir of the Protector General, but… what of the Wu family? I do not wish to place Father in a difficult position.”
Su Zhe smiled, calm and assured, lifting his teacup before setting it down and speaking decisively, “Do not worry about that. I will speak to the Duke of Wu myself. After all, this is an imperial decree. I doubt he would dare object.” His confidence and pride radiated, as though he had the situation completely under control.
Su Zhe’s satisfaction with Su Fu grew with each passing moment, thinking ahead to becoming in-laws with the Protector General’s family and imagining the envious glances of his colleagues in court.
The Old Madam’s face, already lined with wrinkles, now bent into a crescent of smiling eyes, her voice full of warmth and love: “If you ever lack anything, tell Grandmother. Should you suffer any grievance, speak to Grandmother, and I will settle it for you.”
“Granddaughter thanks Grandmother.”
Meanwhile, Su Qing seethed with frustration, her chest tightening. She had planned for Su Fu to marry Wu Yuan, yet now the match was for Xiao Junhe—and it was by the Emperor’s own edict!
She clenched the handkerchief in her hands, struggling to suppress her rage. How could Su Fu be worthy of such a man? How could she be worthy of Xiao Junhe?
Su Qing cast a glance at Madam Zhou, who shook her head subtly, indicating she also had no knowledge of how this came to be.
With a venomous tone, Su Qing said, “Sister, congratulations on finding such a worthy match. Yet, since the Emperor has decreed it without consultation, I wonder if the Protector General’s household will accept you.”
Su Fu smiled faintly, “Thank you, Second Miss, for your concern. I shall live well in the future!”
Having married into the Protector General’s household in her previous life, Su Fu knew that Princess Yongping, though not fond of her, had never made things difficult. Upon entering the household, she rarely paid her respects to the Princess, and there had been no reproach.
Meanwhile, in the Protector General’s residence…
Xiao Junhe knelt upright before Xiao Yinghuai and Princess Yongping.
The Princess, her expression stern, raised her voice: “Did you say you intend to marry Su Fu, eldest daughter of Minister Su Zhe?”
Xiao Yinghuai recalled briefly and asked, “The girl who painted at the palace banquet last time?”
“Yes! I wish to marry her. I hope Father and Mother will give their blessing.”
Princess Yongping slammed her teacup heavily onto the table.
Xiao Yinghuai, shrinking back, silently patted his son’s shoulder. Judging by his wife’s reaction, he realized this time Xiao Junhe was in serious trouble and felt a nervous twinge for him…