Jiang took the unconscious Shen Yunjin back to Wude Courtyard.

Steward Cheng knelt before Shen Wei and urged, "Master, please go and receive the imperial decree! Disrespecting the imperial decree is a serious crime!"

Shen Wei walked out of the study with a sullen face.

Receiving the imperial decree required the whole family to go together, so Shen Yuan followed along. She helped Old Madam Shen, and together with Shen Changshu and Shen Qingshu, they walked to the gate of the General's Mansion.

The spacious courtyard was already packed with people kneeling.

Shen Yuan knelt on the ground and glanced up, only to see Xiao Yuncheng dismount and stand behind Eunuch Zhao.

It wasn't just Eunuch Zhao who came to deliver the imperial decree; Xiao Yuncheng also came!

It seems that Xiao Yuncheng is determined to get Shen Yunjin.

Eunuch Zhao stepped forward and announced loudly, "General Shen Wei, the General Who Guards the North, receive the imperial decree!"

"Wait!" Shen Wei raised his hand to interrupt Eunuch Zhao. He took the reins from the servant, mounted his horse, and quickly and efficiently said, "I need to go to the palace to see the Emperor!"

Eunuch Zhao: "This..."

Xiao Yuncheng's eyes narrowed. He stood in front of the general's mansion gate, blocking Shen Wei's way: "General Shen, do you intend to defy the imperial decree?"

Even if he wanted to use Shen Wei's influence to find a powerful in-law to secure his position in the court and inherit the throne.

But he couldn't stand Shen Wei disobeying him in front of so many people.

He's already been very polite to Shen Wei!

"Your Highness, I have urgent business to attend to. Please make way!" Shen Weihan's brows furrowed coldly, his attitude resolute.

Xiao Yuncheng stood with his hands behind his back and sneered, "What if I simply refuse?"

"Then please forgive my rudeness!"

Shen Wei kicked the horse's belly hard, trying to rush out through the side gate.

Seeing that Shen Wei was unmoved by reason, Xiao Yuncheng's anger was instantly ignited. He quickly turned around, drew the sword from the guard's waist, and pierced the belly of the horse under Shen Wei.

"General Shen has no respect for rank and dares to offend me. I have no choice but to take precautions to protect myself!"

Fresh blood gushed out.

Upon seeing this, Old Madam Shen turned deathly pale.

Shen Yuan turned around and glanced at Xiao Ling, who was squatting inconspicuously in the corner.

Xiao Ling understood her meaning, and an inconspicuous pebble flew out from his sleeve.

The horse beneath Shen Wei was stabbed by a sword and, startled, raised its front hooves to kick Xiao Yuncheng.

The horse beneath Shen Wei was an old horse that had been on the battlefield. One kick from it could destroy an opponent's internal organs and kill them on the spot.

But the person opposite him was Xiao Yuncheng, the future crown prince personally appointed by the emperor. If he were to crush the other party, he could vent all his anger, but his entire Shen family would also have to be buried with him.

So at this critical moment, Shen Wei gripped the reins tightly. The horse was pulled and kicked its hooves in the air a few times, but it didn't hit Xiao Yuncheng. It neighed wildly and shook its body, trying to throw Shen Wei off its back.

Seeing this, Shen Wei grabbed the reins, trying to jump off the horse.

Suddenly, a stray stone flew out of nowhere and struck the horse's hind leg. The horse slipped, causing Shen Wei to fall off its back.

Shen Wei vomited a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.

Shen Yuan rushed forward to help Shen Wei up. She looked up at Xiao Yuncheng with burning eyes: "Your Highness, you took the virginity of a loyal minister's daughter, used your power to pressure her into marriage, and caused the loyal minister to fall off his horse. Aren't you afraid of chilling the hearts of the ministers of the Great Yan Kingdom by doing this?"

"How dare you disrespect me! You're asking for death!"

Xiao Yuncheng's face was gloomy as he stared at Shen Yuan, but he was momentarily stunned when he met her gaze.

The woman in front of me looks very much like Shen Yunjin, but her eyebrows and eyes give off a completely different feeling. Her stubborn and brave eyes are like bright pearls in the night sky, making people want to dig them out and hold them in their hands to play with and admire them.

Shen Yunjin always spoke softly and gently in front of him, just like any other woman, acting affectedly.

But this woman named Shen Yuan dared to challenge him in public, which actually piqued his interest.

Xiao Yuncheng slowly walked up to Shen Yuan and said, "You two sisters are like twin lotus flowers, similar in appearance but each with your own unique charm. Why don't I marry you as well?"

Shen Yuan lowered her eyelids. This Xiao Yuncheng was just as arrogant, extravagant, and shameless as he had been in her previous life!

Just as tensions were running high between the two sides, Madam Jiang arrived in haste with the family physician.

She came to Shen Wei's side and knelt down with a thud: "General, for Jin'er's sake, please accept the imperial decree!"

Shen Wei suppressed his anger and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Jiang glanced at Shen Wei, then turned to Xiao Yuncheng, before prostrating herself on the ground. "General, Jin'er is already carrying His Highness the Crown Prince's child!"

The physician stepped forward and whispered, "The second young lady is more than a month pregnant."

"You wicked girl!" Shen Wei roared, vomiting another mouthful of blood.

Upon seeing this, Shen Yuan hurriedly took out silver needles and sealed Shen Wei's heart acupoints to prevent him from being consumed by anger.

"Pregnant? Jin'er is carrying my child?" Xiao Yuncheng laughed heartily, "This is truly double happiness!"

"Sister Yunjin is already more than a month pregnant, so doesn't that mean His Highness the Crown Prince and Sister Yunjin...?"

Shen Yuan hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

But everyone understood what she meant.

Originally, Shen Wei also thought that Shen Yunjin had just gotten drunk at the banquet and that's why she had an inappropriate encounter with Xiao Yuncheng.

But Shen Yunjin was already more than a month pregnant, which proved that what should have happened and what shouldn't have happened, had already happened between them several months ago.

Shen Wei was so angry that his face turned ashen. How could he have given birth to a daughter like Shen Yunjin who had no backbone and no brains?

Jiang looked at Shen Wei with trepidation and pleaded, "Things have come to this, General, please accept the imperial decree quickly and grant Jin'er's marriage to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Eunuch Zhao read out the imperial edict: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shen Yunjin, daughter of the Shen family, is of noble character and kind heart, and is suitable to be the Crown Princess. The wedding shall be held on a chosen date."

Whether due to time constraints or the emperor's displeasure, the imperial edict was written rather hastily and simply.

But the meaning is clear: Shen Yunjin can marry Xiao Yuncheng as she wished, and Xiao Yuncheng also has the powerful in-laws of the General's Mansion as he wished.

But could the General's Mansion become a powerful backer and stepping stone for the Crown Prince's Mansion...?

Thinking of this, Shen Yuan secretly glanced at Shen Wei.

...It remains to be seen.

The disappointment and resentment in Shen Wei's eyes intensified. He coughed twice, suppressing his anger, and then, with Shen Yuan's help, he stood up, lifted his robe, and knelt heavily on the ground again.

"Your humble servant receives the imperial decree!"

The bright yellow imperial edict was stuffed into Shen Wei's hands. Xiao Yuncheng curled his lips smugly and stepped forward, saying, "Father-in-law, please rise!"

As Xiao Yuncheng spoke, he pretended to reach out to help Chen Wei.

But Shen Wei coldly avoided Xiao Yuncheng's hand. He took the imperial edict and returned to the backyard with a sullen face.

Watching Shen Wei's imposing and unyielding back, Xiao Yuncheng waved his hand dismissively and ordered his attendants, "Return to the manor! Prepare for the wedding. Come to the General's Mansion in three days to demand the person!"

Shen Wei had just arrived at the study, and before he even entered the room, he vomited another mouthful of blood and fainted completely.