Zi Xi's interest grew even stronger.

She glanced around the now-silent hall, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the trembling young men.

"It's incredibly noisy."

Finally, his gaze settled on Ling Siran's bewildered light brown eyes, and he spoke in a clear, resonant voice that echoed throughout every corner of the hall.

"Today, I choose him, Ling Siran."

She then raised her hand, her slender index finger pointing straight at Ling Siran.

Zi Xi's voice remained languid, yet carried an undeniable firmness.

The entire hall was deathly silent.

All eyes instantly shifted from Zi Xi to the tall man who remained frozen in place, as if struck by lightning.

Ling Siran was completely stunned.

He stared blankly at the woman on the high platform, dressed in fiery red, smiling radiantly, yet exuding an aura of dominance over all living beings; his mind went completely blank.

He...he must have misheard.

But when the imperial edict arrived at the general's mansion, Ling Siran was shocked to realize that it was actually true.

"...The eldest son of the Grand General, Ling Siran, is of virtuous character and exceptionally handsome, a worthy match for the imperial family. He is hereby betrothed to the First Princess, Xiao Zixi, as her husband. An auspicious day shall be chosen for the wedding. This is the imperial decree..."

The female official's loud voice echoed in the main hall, every word crystal clear.

Of good character?

A unique and outstanding beauty?

The expressions of the Ling family members kneeling on the cold floor tiles were varied and fascinating.

General Ling, the mistress of the house, frowned deeply, her wheat-colored face revealing undisguised shock and doubt.

Her husband, Ling Siran's father, was even more pale, his fingers gripping the hem of her clothes so tightly they turned bluish-white.

The servants lowered their heads even further, but their shoulders trembled slightly, whether out of fear or because they found the imperial edict absurd and wanted to laugh.

Ling Siran knelt upright, his tall figure bowed, his thick eyelashes concealing the shock in his eyes.

"Your subject Ling Siran receives the imperial decree and thanks Your Majesty the Empress for your great favor and the Crown Princess for your patronage."

He stretched out his hands, with their distinct knuckles and calloused from martial arts training, and steadily accepted the heavy roll of bright yellow silk.

It was icy cold to the touch, yet so hot that his fingertips trembled slightly.

The lady-in-waiting offered a few words of congratulations as a matter of routine, and then left with her entourage.

The moment the gates closed, the oppressive atmosphere was instantly shattered.

"This...this is impossible!"

"Ran'er, that eldest princess... why would she choose you? Is it... is it..."

Ling's father was the first to rush to his son, his voice trembling with tears.

Ling Siran wanted to ask if it was intentional humiliation, but dared not say it aloud. He could only anxiously pull his son's arm and look him up and down, as if trying to confirm whether he was alright.

General Ling exhaled a heavy breath, his gaze falling on his eldest son with a complex expression.

Her son was unlike other boys who were delicate and frail. He preferred to practice martial arts and developed a physique and skill that even ordinary women might not be able to match.

In this era, this has become ugly and alien.

The emergence of the third fertility value on Ling Siran's wrist after he reached adulthood further cemented his place in the annals of shame.

General Ling was deeply worried about this, fearing that he would live a lonely and miserable life, but he never expected that he would be chosen by the imperial family in this way.

"Siran, what are your thoughts?"

General Ling's voice was steady, carrying the calmness unique to soldiers.

Ling Siran slowly raised his head, his light brown eyes filled with complex emotions.

Fortunately, there was some good news.