Ling Jingxuan looked at the emperor's heartfelt smile, and his heart was filled with realization. How long had it been since he saw the emperor smile at him?

This time, Qin Qingyao not only helped him out of his predicament and appeased the Emperor, but also did him a huge favor for the Lin and Ming families. She also found him a powerful family to help him, allowing him to choose his own princess...

Ling Jingxuan sat opposite the emperor, and when he thought of Qin Qingyao introducing Qi Zhongyuan in front of him with great enthusiasm, he smiled knowingly. Such a simple smile also made the emperor feel comfortable.

"Your Majesty, I want to go to the Grand Secretary's residence later. First, I want to see what the Grand Secretary thinks, and second, I want to confirm whether Miss Qi has a lover, so as to avoid..."

"Okay! My son is very thoughtful. You can take my imperial edict to the Qi family. If Grand Secretary Qi and the Fourth Young Lady agree, you can give it to them."

"If you two are not destined to be together, my son, there is no need to be sad. Your Majesty will definitely choose a good woman who is worthy of you to be the mistress of Prince Duan's Mansion!"

"Yes, I thank you for your grace, Father!"

The emperor wrote the imperial edict, sealed it with the imperial seal, and gave it to his trusted eunuch Chen Xi, asking him to go with Prince Duan to Qi's house.

When Ling Jingxuan left the palace, he made a special detour to the Meridian Gate and said, "Master Lin, Master Ming, you two don't have to kneel anymore. Stand up quickly."

The two old men, sweating profusely and dizzy from the sun, looked up at him, hesitating and not daring to stand up.

Chen Xi, who was standing behind Ling Jingxuan, shrilled, "Please stand up quickly, my two lords! It was Prince Duan who went to the Emperor to plead for your two families. The Emperor is no longer angry!"

The two looked at each other and quickly kowtowed to Ling Jingxuan to express their gratitude.

Ling Jingxuan, "You two adults don't have to do this. How can you, as fathers, influence your children's emotional affairs?"

"Not only will the Emperor not pursue you any further, he has also approved the marriage between Miss Ming and the second son of the Lin family. You two should return as soon as possible and give them a date."

"I still have things to do, so I'll take my leave now."

When Ming Yuli heard this, he collapsed to the ground.

Although he should have been prepared and knew that his dream of becoming a royal relative was shattered, the choice of son-in-law changed from a dignified prince to the most useless playboy in the Lin family. Who could accept such a gap?

Prime Minister Lin was quite open-minded. He thought that as long as the emperor did not pursue the matter, it would be fine. After all, it was just a girl, so he could just marry her. It would not be a loss for the Lin family.

He thought so, but his beloved daughter Lin Xiafeng didn't think so.

She was well-informed and had already learned the truth from Ling Jingyue. How could that psychopath Ming Ruoxi be involved with her bastard second brother?

"It's Qin Qingyao! It must be Qin Qingyao! Ah...that bitch!"

Lin Xiafeng's good move was completely disrupted. He was so angry that he threw a tantrum at home and smashed the porcelain all over the floor.

Caiwei was so frightened that she didn't know what to do. "Miss, please calm down. We don't know what's going on yet. Besides, this is Prince Yi's Mansion, not Prince Wuling's Mansion. The princess..."

"That's enough! What do you know that you dare to speak for her? I can't think of anyone else except her. There won't be another person who would seek death and oppose me in every way!"

Caiwei looked at her mistress's bloodshot eyes and dared not say a word.

"Not only did you ruin Ming Ruoxi and Prince Duan's marriage, but you also dared to make the Ming and Lin families offend Prince Yi and the Emperor at the same time! Qin Qingyao, you are truly amazing!"

"Haha. You always like to meddle in other people's business, always like to seek death! It seems that the lesson I taught you was too kind and too insignificant! Just wait and see!"

Prince Duan brought Chen Xi to the Qi Mansion. After exchanging pleasantries, he asked directly without beating around the bush, "Is your fourth daughter engaged? Does she have a sweetheart?"

"Master Qi, do you think I have the honor to become the son-in-law of the Qi family?"

Thunder crackled, and Grand Secretary Qi was stunned. Prince Duan came to ask for his daughter in person? Could it be that he was mad at the girl from the Ming family and wanted to use his daughter to take revenge on the Ming family?

With such a young and promising son-in-law of a prince, who is also the princess's wife, there was no reason for Academician Qi to refuse.

However, the Qi family has always been law-abiding. The noble nature of a scholar makes him disdain to form cliques and engage in those petty and intriguing things.

Therefore, if Prince Duan wanted to use his daughter to retaliate against others, he would never agree to this marriage!

"Reporting to Prince Duan, my daughter Luo Yuan is currently unmarried and has no lover. It's just that Your Highness, you are..."

"Master Qi, to be honest, I have met the Fourth Young Lady several times before. During the Grain in Ear season, we even went on an outing together to observe the people's sentiments outside the city."

"I had a very good impression of the Fourth Young Lady and was deeply in love with her, but I never expected that my father would suddenly grant me the Young Lady of the Ming Family in marriage. Although I am dissatisfied, I cannot disobey the imperial decree. I am truly helpless."

"Now that something like this has happened, I feel that this may be God's will. Therefore, today, I have come to the palace to ask my father for an imperial decree to grant us the marriage."

"But I know that coming here this time was really hasty and reckless. Moreover, I came directly to the Qi Mansion right after leaving the palace. I was so nervous that I didn't even prepare any gifts. It was really rude."

"This time, I just want to ask for the opinions of Grand Secretary Qi and the Fourth Young Lady. If the Fourth Young Lady is also interested in me, then I will take out this imperial decree granting the marriage."

"If the Fourth Miss has no romantic feelings for me, I will take this imperial edict back and pretend nothing happened. Lord Qi need not embarrass me."

Academician Qi was bewildered. How could an imperial edict be played like this? He could read it if he wanted to, and take it back if he didn't? Playing house?

Seeing that Grand Secretary Qi was full of distrust towards Ling Jingxuan, Chen Xi felt really sorry for His Royal Highness Prince Duan. "Grand Secretary, this imperial edict is in our hands. The Emperor is still waiting for your news in the palace. You must think it through!"

"Eunuch Chen, I am sorry for being abrupt. Please give Scholar Qi some more time."

Chen Xi sighed helplessly, "Master Qi, Prince Duan truly cares deeply for your Fourth Young Miss. Otherwise, with the imperial edict in hand and read directly, would you still refuse?"

"But why didn't he say anything, and instead asked for your opinions first? It's because he cares and respects you! Even in front of the Emperor, Prince Duan is thinking about you. What are you hesitating about?"

Qi Dashi was so nervous that sweat broke out on his forehead. "This old minister... I just want to ask Your Highness Prince Duan one question. You said you are interested in my daughter. Are you sincere?"

Ling Jingxuan, "This prince is absolutely sincere. As long as the fourth lady is willing to marry me, this prince will marry her with the most grand royal ceremony."

"Moreover, I can assure Academician Qi that as long as she doesn't do anything to offend me, her position as the principal consort will never be shaken!"

Ling Jingxuan had a clear conscience when he said this, because this was his original plan. He married Qi Luoyuan just to let her be the mistress of the palace and to make the Qi family stand on the same boat with him.

He couldn't promise to Qi Luoyuan that he loved her or not, but as long as Qi Luoyuan didn't betray him, she would always be his princess.

Academician Qi looked at Ling Jingxuan with a sincere and serious face, and a feeling of heat rushed from the soles of his feet to his forehead. Their Luo Yuan has made great progress!

How could you hide the fact that you had feelings for Prince Duan and not say a word about it when you came back?

"Someone, go and ask the Madam and the Fourth Miss to come over!"

"Your Highness, Prince Duan, I have no intention of embarrassing you. As long as you repeat your previous promise in front of my wife and daughter, I will accept this imperial decree!"

Prince Duan nodded, "No problem."

Having said that, when he really saw Qi Luoyuan, his throat still felt like it was blocked.

Perhaps the servant who delivered the message had already informed her young lady, so she was now hiding behind her mother, with her head lowered and her face red, not daring to even look at Prince Duan.

Ling Jingxuan suddenly thought of Qin Qingyao. That girl had never treated him well since the first time they met. She would lecture him and confront him every time they met, and she protected Dugu Yu like she was protecting something else...

"Your Majesty?"

The sudden words of Qi Daxueshi brought Ling Jingxuan back from his memories.

Ling Jingxuan looked at Qi Luoyuan and asked with a smile, "Fourth Miss, how are you these days?"

Qi Luoyuan's voice was as soft as a cat's meow. If you didn't listen carefully, you wouldn't be able to hear it at all. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My daughter is fine."

"I came here today to ask your father for marriage. Are you willing to marry me and become the mistress of the palace?"

"Little...little girl..."

Qi Luoyuan was shaking all over, and she kept shrinking behind her mother. Then her mother pulled her out, "You silly child, why are you hiding? His Highness Prince Duan is asking you a question, hurry up and speak!"

"Yes, my daughter is willing!"

Prince Duan laughed, and Chen Xi laughed even more happily. He took out the imperial edict and sang in a shrill voice, "The imperial edict has arrived. Qi Luoyuan, the fourth daughter of the Grand Secretary of the Palace, receives the edict!"

…

After Chen Xi finished his task, he happily returned to the palace to report the good news to the emperor. Ling Jingxuan was walking alone on the street and suddenly didn't know what to do.

Only half a day had passed, so why did he feel as if he had been in another world?

He walked aimlessly on the street and unknowingly came to the door of Fenghuaxueyue.

"Qin Qingyao, I have requested the imperial decree. Now what?"

…

After Qin Qingyao returned home, she told Dugu Yu everything about her meeting with Ling Jingxuan and Ling Jingxuan's decision to marry Qi Luoyuan as her princess. Dugu Yu was both relieved and heartbroken by her frankness.

She was so upright, which made him look extremely petty!

But what can I do? I’m just angry!

"Didn't I tell you not to go see him alone?"

"I didn't go to Wangjiang Tower. He came to me. He specifically asked me for help and asked me to show him the way. It's so pitiful!"