"Master." Xiu Shu stepped forward excitedly.

Princess Jia Hua looked Xiu Shu up and down: "Are you alright?"

"Don't worry, Your Highness, they're just minor injuries. They'll be fine after a few days of rest," Xiu Shu said excitedly, pulling on Princess Jia Hua. "Several things have happened in Jincheng these past few days. Prime Minister Yan's horse got spooked, and his carriage crashed into a tree. The Prime Minister was seriously injured. Also, the Third Prince's Consort petitioned to take the Third Prince to his fiefdom, but the Empress refused. The Third Prince died that very night, and the Third Prince's Consort fainted from crying, saying that the Third Prince had regrets."

Princess Jia Hua listened silently.

Xiu Shu suddenly became serious: "When I was recuperating at the Seventh Prince's residence, Miss Xu came to visit me. Miss Xu said she would ask Her Majesty the Empress to grant me a marriage."

"A marriage decree?" Princess Jiahua recalled the execution of the entire Xu family.

The incident stemmed from Miss Xu's insistence on marrying the Seventh Prince and her public humiliation of Empress Yan, which enraged Empress Yan, who then began to plot against the Xu family.

Thinking of the loyal and innocent Xu Zhongcheng who died unjustly, Princess Jiahua sighed deeply. "Miss Xu ruined the entire Xu family."

While he was deep in thought, an imperial edict was issued.

Miss Xu was bestowed upon the seventh prince as a concubine.

The imperial edict arrived in Yuncheng and was handed to the Seventh Prince. The Seventh Prince's face was extremely gloomy, and the little eunuch who delivered the message trembled with fear: "Her Majesty said that things have been going badly lately and she needs to have some good luck. Miss Xu and His Highness are compatible in terms of their birth dates and can give His Highness a son."

The word "adding a son" was emphasized very tightly.

Crack!

The imperial edict in his hand was crushed.

The young eunuch's eyes widened in fright: "Your Highness, are you going to disobey the Empress's decree?"

The Seventh Prince angrily threw the torn pieces of the imperial edict at the little eunuch, his face turning cold and displeased: "I have never thought of taking a concubine. Go back and tell the Empress that she doesn't need to worry about my marriage."

"Your Majesty is only thinking of His Highness. You have no children yet, how can Your Majesty not worry? Not only Your Majesty, but all the civil and military officials are also hoping that you will have an heir soon." The little eunuch was only halfway through his sentence when the Left General grabbed him by the back of the collar and threw him out: "Get out!"

Seeing the fierce-looking General Zuo, the little eunuch was so frightened that he scrambled away.

After the person left, the surroundings became quiet.

But the bright yellow residue on the ground reminded the Seventh Prince of what had just happened.

The seventh prince looked toward a tent, but no one was moving and the curtains weren't even lifted. With such a commotion, she couldn't possibly have missed it.

However, Princess Jiahua did not appear.

He felt increasingly uneasy.

The young eunuch rushed back to Jincheng and relayed the Seventh Prince's attitude. Empress Yan was not surprised: "The Emperor had considered bestowing a marriage upon him before, but he refused each time. I didn't expect him to accept the decree once or twice. If I hadn't been unwilling to let Zhao Jiahua have all the power, why would I have let the Xu family benefit so much?"

Empress Yan rubbed her temples: "Send someone to tell the Seventh Prince that Miss Xu was humiliated and attempted suicide by hanging, but was fortunately discovered in time and saved. Miss Xu publicly vowed that she must marry him. Xu Zhongcheng holds the imperial token bestowed by the late Emperor and insists on an explanation from the royal family. If the marriage does not take place, it will be difficult to convince the public."

The young eunuch said, "Your Majesty, Lord Xu does not have a token."

Empress Yan raised an eyelid: "If I say it exists, then it exists. Why all this nonsense!"

Seeing that the Empress was about to get angry, the little eunuch didn't dare to say anything more. He quickly got up and braced himself to go and deliver the imperial decree again.

Empress Yan glanced at Qingzhi: "Go and tell Father that he must make this happen."

"yes."

Three imperial edicts were issued in quick succession within a single day.

The Seventh Prince clutched the imperial decree tightly, while the little eunuch shouted, "Your Highness, Miss Xu is, after all, a lady from a prestigious family, and Lord Xu is a loyal minister of the court, a veteran of three reigns. Her Majesty said that you cannot disappoint the civil and military officials, and you must give an explanation to the world. It's just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks. No one is forcing you to enter the bridal chamber. It's fine to just put on a show."

Seeing that the Seventh Prince remained unmoved.

The young eunuch's eyes darted around, and he said in a fawning tone, "Your Highness, Her Majesty is only thinking about the reputation of the Seventh Prince's Consort. Which prince or nobleman doesn't have concubines? If you don't take concubines, people will only talk about how jealous the Seventh Prince's Consort is, and the people of the Southern Frontier will also criticize her for being intolerant."

The seventh prince raised his eyebrows high.

"If you marry Miss Xu, she will take care of all the affairs of the household for you, so you won't have to trouble the Seventh Prince's wife, right?" The little eunuch almost spit out his saliva, bringing up ancestral etiquette, but he still couldn't make the Seventh Prince relax his brow.

At the same time, Princess Jia Hua also received a letter.

It was delivered by Miss Xu.

The letter stated that after entering the palace, he would always treat her with the utmost respect and would never compete with her, only asking to stay by the Seventh Prince's side.

He was consumed by longing and waited for many years, begging her to grant him his wish.

"How can this Miss Xu be so shameless? She's from a prominent family, how could she write a letter to beg you in person?" Xiu Shu said disdainfully.

Princess Jiahua's attitude towards Miss Xu was complicated, but if she were Miss Xu's parent, she would rather strangle her with a rope than let her be so selfish.

They disregarded the reputation of the entire Xu family.