Time flew by and the next day arrived.

An imperial edict appointing the second son of the scholar's family as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue also arrived at the scholar's residence, breaking the quiet of the early morning.

At the same time, Ertai's identity and the news of his beating and punishment were deliberately released, and everyone realized that Fu Ertai, the second young master of the Fu family, was not as simple as he seemed on the surface.

The capital city was in an uproar.

"Imperial edict arrives—"

Despite having been granted special permission by the Emperor not to personally receive the imperial decree, Ertai endured the pain and got out of bed, anxiously awaiting the imperial decree for marriage in his residence.

Upon hearing that the imperial edict had finally arrived, Ertai finally stopped pacing back and forth.

"By the grace of Heaven, the second young master of the Fu family, Fu Ertai, receives the imperial decree—"

Fu Lun, his wife, and Er Kang, who had been waiting in the main hall since early morning, along with Er Tai, who was lying anxiously in bed waiting to receive the imperial decree in person, all knelt down under Fu Lun's lead.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

...

"The second son of the Fu family, Fu Ertai, is hereby appointed as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. This is the imperial decree!"

"Your subject Fu'ertai receives the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your great favor. Long live the Emperor!"

Ertai raised his hand and accepted the imperial edict handed to him by the eunuch.

Then, they awaited the next imperial decree.

But then Li Yu turned around and prepared to leave.

"Eunuch Li, please wait a moment. Is this the only imperial decree?"

After waiting for a long time without receiving a second imperial decree, Ertai stopped Li Yu and asked anxiously.

"Minister Fu, that's all."

Looking at Ertai's pale face, Li Yu felt pity in his eyes.

Unexpectedly, just when the two were about to get married after overcoming numerous hardships, Shen Gege had an accident.

"No, how could there not be? His Majesty said yesterday that the imperial decree for the marriage would arrive at the same time."

Ertai murmured in disbelief.

"Minister Fu, I don't know about this." Even if I did know, I couldn't say.

Li Yu shook her head.

"Thank you, sir."

"Father, the Emperor said he will issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage today."

After Li Yu left, Ertai's face turned even paler, and he looked at Fu Lun standing beside him.

"No rush, maybe the Emperor hasn't had time to write it yet. You're still injured, you should go back and rest first."

Seeing Ertai like this, Fu Lun felt extremely sorry for him.

"No, I'll wait here."

Ertai shook his head.

"well--"

He only found out yesterday how amazing his youngest son was.

If it weren't for Princess Shen, they probably would never have known.

Knowing his youngest son's stubborn nature, Fu Lun knew he couldn't persuade him otherwise.

And so, the group waited with Ertai from sunrise to sunset, and as evening approached, they still hadn't received the next imperial decree.

Ertai's face was also deathly pale.

“Father—”

Ertai stared blankly at Furen beside him, his voice hoarse.

"Go back and rest, I'll go to the palace and ask for you."

Seeing Ertai's state, Fulun decided to go to the palace again.

"Then, I'll have to trouble you, Father."

Ertai did not refuse; he did want an answer.

...

"Your Majesty, Lord Furen has arrived and is outside the door."

The emperor, who was reviewing memorials, paused and sighed upon hearing Li Yu's message.

"Let him in."

The Emperor put down the memorial in his hand.

"May Your Majesty be blessed."

"You've come to ask for a marriage decree, haven't you?"

The Emperor raised his hand, gesturing for Fu Lun to rise.

"Yes, Ertai told me that the Emperor was planning to bestow a marriage upon Ertai and Consort Shen today. But after waiting all day and not receiving it, Ertai is restless in bed, so..."

Furen said with an embarrassed look on his face.

...

“Father—”

Ertai, who had been waiting at the gate of the mansion, called out anxiously when he saw Fulun return.

"Ertai, why aren't you resting!"

Remembering what the Emperor said—that Shen Gege had canceled the arranged marriage due to illness—she knew she must not tell Ertai this instruction.

Thinking of Ertai, who was still anxiously awaiting news in the mansion, and Fulun, who had woken up early knowing that the marriage was to be granted today and changed his clothes again and again, was thinking about how to tell Ertai the truth.

Seeing Ertai still waiting at the door, Fu Lun quickened his pace. Upon entering, he saw his wife and Erkang standing beside him, both looking helpless. Fu Lun knew that they had failed to persuade Ertai to return to his room.

“Father—”

"It was Princess Shen who pleaded with the Emperor to cancel the arranged marriage."

Meeting Ertai's pleading eyes, Furen sighed and said that he had anticipated this situation and had specially sent someone to tell him how to respond to Ertai.

She took all the responsibility upon herself.

"impossible--"

Hearing Furen's words, Ertai swayed, brushed away Furen's hand that was trying to help him, and started to walk out.

"Ertai".

"Impossible! I just saw her yesterday. She promised to wait for me to marry her. It's impossible, Father. I'm going to the palace to find her."

Ertai shook his head and muttered to himself.

But he knew that Furen wouldn't lie; he just didn't believe him.

"Ertai".

Seeing that the person was trying to leave despite their attempts to stop them, Furen forcefully pulled them back.

“Father, I don’t believe it, I’m going to find her.”

Being forcibly restrained, Ertai, a patient who hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day, was too weak to break free for the time being.

"Erkang".

Fu Lun wanted to stop him, but was worried that if he joined in, Er Tai would struggle even more and might aggravate his injuries. Er Kang, who dared not stop him, gave him a wink.

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