Tong Cheng'er was still a little confused: "What do you mean, 'people from the palace have come'? What's all this about?!"

Ru Xue repeated, "Someone from the palace has come to read out His Majesty's decree of marriage bestowed upon you. They're waiting in the front courtyard! We can't keep them waiting any longer."

Tong Cheng'er suddenly realized: "What? An imperial decree bestowing a marriage upon us?"

Rulan nodded: "Yes, it is the imperial decree bestowing the marriage."

Tong Cheng'er was completely bewildered: "Wasn't I sent out of the palace? I didn't even finish the imperial selection. What kind of imperial decree of marriage is this? You're not just kidding me to wake me up, are you?"

Ru Xue: "Princess, how could we servants dare to joke about such a thing?"

Rulan chimed in, "That's right, Princess, we wouldn't dare joke about something like this."

Tong Cheng'er thought about it and realized that it really wasn't something to joke about.

Tong Cheng'er looked distressed: "But this imperial decree of marriage sounds like a joke."

Rulan: "Whether it's a joke or not, let's hurry up!"

Tong Cheng'er sighed: "What's going on? How did this marriage get arranged?"

I wonder if His Majesty will arrange a marriage. What if he just doesn't like her and randomly betroths her to some awful family? In that case, she'll have nowhere to turn for help, since this is a marriage bestowed by the Emperor, and divorce is not an option.

Rulan and Ruxue acted quickly, and in no time Tong Cheng'er was dressed up in a new outfit.

Then Tong Cheng'er hurried to the front yard to listen to the announcement.

When she arrived, everyone in the front yard was waiting for her, and this time she felt unusually embarrassed.

When Alhatu saw her coming, he said to the eunuch who was in charge of reading the imperial edict, "My daughter was sick a few days ago, but she has just recovered. The physician said she needs to rest more, so I'm sorry to have troubled you, Eunuch Ming, to wait so long."

As a member of the imperial court, Eunuch Ming naturally knew His Majesty's attitude towards Consort Tong, so he wouldn't show any displeasure.

He smiled kindly and said, "It didn't take long. Resting is the most important thing. I was thirsty, so I must thank you for the tea at your residence!"

Once everyone had arrived, the Tong family's masters and servants knelt on the ground and began to listen to the proclamation.