Zheng Yao sighed helplessly, "Father, I don't want to get married."

Duke Zheng's face darkened. "This matter is not up to you; it is the Emperor's decree."

Zheng Yao bit her lip, wanting to argue further.

Madam Zheng stopped her, saying, "Yao'er, listen to your father and stay home to await your marriage!"

Zheng Yao was unconvinced. Her dream man was a gentleman, and she never wanted to marry a mere warrior.

I wonder if Jiang He is a person with a bad temper.

Zheng Yao regretted not asking her mother to help her find a husband sooner; it was her own willfulness that led her to always want to find a suitable husband.

Her mother loved her and was willing to let her stay at home for a few more years.

Now she is forced to marry into the general's family.

She knew she couldn't disobey the emperor's order, but she was unwilling to accept it.

She locked herself in her room and cried her heart out.

Tomorrow, she will go to the palace to ask her aunt, the Imperial Concubine, to find a way to persuade the Emperor to rescind his decree.

If all else fails, let my sister go and beg Prince Jin. Prince Jin begging the Emperor should give us a better chance of success.

Madam Zheng felt very sorry for her daughter, who was crying with tears streaming down her face.

"Tomorrow, Mother will arrange for the General's wife to meet you and Young Master Jiang from afar. How about that?"

“My daughter doesn’t want to see him. I’ve heard he used to frequent brothels. I don’t like that kind of person.”

Zheng Yao cried even harder.

Madam Zheng was at a loss.

She doted on this daughter and agreed to let her get married early, but little did she know that the emperor would bestow a marriage upon her without saying a word.

"The second young master of the Jiang family is handsome..." Madam Zheng tried to persuade her daughter that she was satisfied with the marriage.

Madam Jiang was known for her kindness.

My daughter is a bit willful.

"Does my daughter care about looks? If he's good-looking, he'll attract even more attention." Zheng Yao said irritably.

Unable to persuade her daughter, Madam Zheng instructed the maids and nannies to keep a close watch on her and not let her leave the room.

If this commotion gets out, the Zheng family will be in serious trouble if the Emperor blames them.

The Duke of Zheng's mansion is now like oil being poured on a raging fire.

Even the Duke of Zheng couldn't fathom the Emperor's thoughts.

During this period, the Imperial Concubine was confined to her quarters, the Duke of Zheng was reprimanded, and the Prince of Jin had no official duties to perform.

The Emperor clearly values ​​Prince Yu more, but by binding the Duke of Zheng's mansion to the General's mansion, is the Emperor trying to put the General's mansion in a difficult position?

The General's Mansion is already in the game.

When the news reached the ears of the Imperial Concubine, she rarely smiled.

“The Emperor still cares about Shen’er,” the nanny immediately chimed in.

"Your Highness! The First Madam and Miss have handed over their name tags and entered." A palace maid reported as she entered.

"It seems my elder sister-in-law has come to express her gratitude," Consort Zheng said, unusually pleased. "Please invite them in."

"This humble servant greets Your Highness, the Noble Consort." The First Madam, accompanied by her daughter, bowed to Noble Consort Zheng.

"Get up quickly, we're all family, no need for such formalities," Consort Zheng said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Highness." The First Madam rose and said, "I have come here specifically to express my gratitude to Your Highness."

"Thank me?" Consort Zheng asked in confusion.

“If it weren’t for Your Highness, how could Yao’er have such a good match?” the First Madam said with a smile, while nudging her daughter beside her.

Zheng Yao lowered her head, concealing the bitterness in her eyes.

Consort Zheng understood the First Madam's purpose and said with a smile, "This is also Yao'er's good fortune. Young Master Jiang is a handsome and talented young man who will surely achieve great things in the future."

It turned out that the sister-in-law thought it was because she had whispered in her husband's ear.

She doesn't have that ability at all; her sister-in-law is overestimating her.

She just wouldn't say it aloud; let's just assume it was her doing.

“Yao’er has grown up and will be getting married soon. Granny Liu, give Yao’er my set of jade jewelry.”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Granny Liu's voice was much lighter.

If such good things happen more often, the Imperial Concubine will be in a much better mood.

The nanny brought over the jewelry, which Zheng Yao accepted and thanked Consort Zheng.

Madam Zheng breathed a sigh of relief; she had been genuinely worried that Madam Zheng would say something disrespectful.

Lady Zheng has something to say to Consort Zheng.

It's nothing more than a matter of getting married.

Zheng Yao didn't want to listen.

She came to the palace today to ask the Imperial Concubine for help in persuading the Emperor to rescind his decree.

Her father warned her not to speak carelessly, saying that the emperor's decree would not be changed overnight, and that her actions would only harm the empress.

Hearing this, Zheng Yao suppressed her urge to ask for help.

Harming the Imperial Concubine was not the outcome she wanted; she couldn't be too selfish.

But she didn't want to listen to her mother's arrangements for her marriage, so she informed the Imperial Concubine, "Aunt! I'm going to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers."

The Imperial Garden is a riot of color all year round; it's hard to find so many flowers in the outside world.

Consort Zheng assumed she was just shy and immediately ordered her maid to take her around.

Zheng Yao walked listlessly along the palace path.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the Imperial Garden.

The vibrant flowers, each vying for attention, dispelled much of the gloom in her heart.

As Zheng Yao was admiring the flowers, she suddenly heard a silvery laugh.

Curious, she looked in the direction of the sound and saw a beautiful woman sitting in a pavilion not far away, dressed in gorgeous clothes and radiant.

She was surrounded by palace maids, like a star being surrounded by the moon.

Zheng Yao recognized the woman; she was Consort Mei, the emperor's new favorite.

Zheng Yao was about to turn around and leave immediately.

She had offended a noble person in the palace, a responsibility she could not bear.

The father warned everyone in the clan to be careful.

Once you've committed a crime, no one can save you.

Consort Mei noticed Zheng Yao, smiled, and waved to her, signaling her to come over.

Zheng Yao hesitated for a moment, but still stepped forward and bowed. Consort Mei said, "What a beautiful girl, she looks even more charming in this Imperial Garden."

Zheng Yao smiled slightly, but she was a little puzzled, wondering why Consort Mei was so enthusiastic.

Consort Mei looked at Zheng Yao and asked, "May I ask which noble family you belong to, Miss? Why have I never seen you before?"

Zheng Yao saw the displeasure in Consort Mei's eyes, and her mind raced, trying to figure out how to escape.

I heard that even my aunt, the Imperial Concubine, suffered a lot at her hands.

"Your Majesty, I am Consort Zheng's niece," Zheng Yao replied softly, bowing her head.

Consort Mei's eyes turned cold, but she quickly regained her smile. "So you are Consort Zheng's niece. Raise your head and let me see you."

Helpless, Zheng Yao could only look up at Consort Mei.

"Indeed, you have a beautiful appearance." Consort Mei looked Zheng Yao up and down. "I have never seen such a fresh and refined woman in this palace."

Zheng Yao was startled, not understanding what Consort Mei meant by those words.

Could it be that they're blaming her for coming to the Imperial Garden?

Zheng Yao curtsied and said, "Your Majesty! I will not disturb Your Majesty's enjoyment of the flowers any longer. I will take my leave!"

"Do you think I'd eat you? It's fate that we're here today, so please accompany me for a walk!" With that, she got up and walked out.

Zheng Yao had no choice but to follow.