The people were in an uproar, their chatter nearly blowing the eaves of the General's Mansion off. Editor Wang twirled his beard and shook his head, "While Minister Wang is renowned for his talent, he's old and comes from a poor family..." Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Liu's shrill cry: "How can a young girl like you question the Empress Dowager's order? Hurry and accept it!"

Xiao Yu looked at Liu's distorted face and suddenly chuckled. He took out another bright yellow scroll from his sleeve and raised the corner of his mouth with a cold arc: "The Queen Mother's decree must be obeyed. However..." He paused, and under the breathless gaze of everyone, he unfolded the imperial decree, his voice as clear as jade clashing, "I also have the emperor's oral instructions here--"

Shen Weiwan's eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. Xiao Yu blinked at her rapidly, unfurling the imperial edict that read: "By the grace of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shen Weiwan, the eldest daughter of the General's House, is intelligent, prudent, and virtuous. She is hereby betrothed to the Seventh Prince, Xiao Yu, as his principal wife. This is my decree!"

The entire place was deadly silent; even the wind seemed to have stopped. Three seconds later, thunderous applause and cheers filled the air; some even whistled. Liu cried out, her eyes rolled back, and she fell backwards. The empress dowager's decree in her hand fell to the ground, where it was crushed by the crowd. Shen Ruorou screamed and tried to help her mother, but was jostled by the excited crowd, and the pearls in her hair scattered all over the floor.

Shen Weiwan stared at Xiao Yu in a daze, her palms soaked with cold sweat, her heart beating like a drum: "Your Highness? This... Is this true?"

Xiao Yu neatly put away the imperial edict, stepped forward, and held her slightly cool hand. The warmth of her palm passed through her fingertips. His voice was as gentle as the spring breeze: "Of course it's true. I've said it before, you came first, then fate. I accept your fate."

As the sun set, the crowd in front of the general's mansion gradually dispersed, leaving only scattered melon seed shells and sporadic discussions on the ground. Shen Weiwan stood under the porch, watching Xiao Yu's carriage disappear into the twilight at the alley entrance, the warmth of his palm still lingering in her palm.

Chun Tao held the imperial edict in her hands, grinning from ear to ear, and exclaimed, "Miss, you're truly amazing! You made that old, pissed-off woman Liu faint on the spot, and you even got the imperial decree to become the prince's consort! Now, let's see who dares to propose marriage to you!"

Shen Weiwan took the imperial edict and lightly traced the words "Seventh Prince Xiao Yu" with her fingertips. Thinking of the cold and despair in the snow in her previous life, her eyes couldn't help but warm. In this life, she not only avenged her blood feud and defended the general's mansion, but also grasped the happiness that had been lost and regained.

"Chun Tao," she said softly, her eyes fixed on the brilliant sunset glow in the sky, "go and take down the puzzle sign in front of the door."

"Withdrawn?" Chun Tao was stunned for a moment. "The 'chicken or the egg' puzzle is still hanging..."

Shen Weiwan shook her head, a gentle smile on her lips: "No need." She looked towards the direction of the alley, as if she could still see Xiao Yu's doting eyes when he turned back, "Because... I have found my destined marriage."

In Xiefang Courtyard, Liu Shi woke up to the pungent smell of vinegar and the servants' whispered voices: "Have you heard? The eldest daughter is marrying the seventh prince! That's right! The Empress Dowager's decree was suppressed by the Emperor's imperial edict. Liu Shi fainted on the spot!"

She sat up suddenly, and the silver hairpin on her head fell to the ground with a "clack". She pointed outside and screamed: "Impossible! It must be that little bitch Shen Weiwan who used magic! She seduced the Seventh Prince to support her!"

Shen Ruorou was crying beside her, her eyes tearing up. The scratches on the back of her neck had broken the skin. "Mother, now... now what should we do? Shen Weiwan has become the prince's consort, and we..."

A hint of viciousness flashed in Liu's eyes. She struggled to get out of bed, her hair disheveled like a ghost: "What should I do? I don't believe I can't defeat her! Go! Prepare a sedan chair for me! I want to go to the palace to see the Queen!" She staggered out, not knowing that at this moment in Kunning Palace, the Queen was looking at the account book of Liu's withholding of the general's mansion's food presented by the Seventh Prince Xiao Yu. Her brows were furrowed, and her eyes were full of disgust.

Inside Tinglan Courtyard, Shen Weiwan was pinning the jasmine hairpin Xiao Yu had just given her in front of the mirror when she received the news that Liu was going to ask the Empress for help. Chuntao stood by, worried, "Miss, if Liu goes to the Empress for help, what if the Empress is partial..."

"Just beg me," Shen Weiwan smiled softly at the mirror, the fragrance of the jasmine hairpin lingering at the tip of her nose, "Anyway... I have His Highness."

Before he finished speaking, the familiar sound of horse hooves came from outside the window, coming from far away. Shen Weiwan could no longer hide the smile on her lips, and walked quickly to the window, only to see Xiao Yu dismounting with a food box in his hand, which was her favorite osmanthus cake from the old Chengnan brand.

"Miss Shen," he looked up at her, his eyes almost overflowing with doting. The golden light of the setting sun shone on him, coating him with a layer of warm halo. "This king has come to ask for a reward."

Shen Weiwan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she deliberately put on a stern face, tapping the window sill with her fingertips: "Oh? What reward does His Highness the Seventh Prince want?"

Xiao Yu chuckled and opened the lunch box. The sweet-scented osmanthus cake inside was still steaming. "Of course it is..." He dragged out his words, his eyes locked on hers, "your destiny."

Chun Tao covered her mouth and laughed secretly, then quietly retreated, leaving this warm world to them. The golden light of the setting sun shone through the window lattice, casting long shadows of the two people on the ground. Shen Weiwan looked at the deep affection in Xiao Yu's eyes, and her heart felt like a heater, warm.

She leaned forward, picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the food box, gently tossed it to Xiao Yu, and said with a smile: "Then you have to answer my last question first!"

Xiao Yu took the cake steadily, raised his eyebrows and looked at her, his eyes full of smiles: "Oh? What question can stump me?"

Shen Weiwan blinked, the light of the setting sun reflected in her eyes, like scattered diamonds, and her voice was as clear as a silver bell: "You said... When are we going to get married?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu laughed heartily, his voice as clear as a bell, echoing through the twilight. "It's better to do it today than today. How about... tomorrow?"

Shen Weiwan smiled and shook her head, but her heart was as sweet as if she were soaking in a honey pot. She knew that her happiness had just begun. Those who had hurt her, those dark calculations and conspiracies, would all become a passing cloud in the face of her and Xiao Yu's happiness.

At the gate of the General's Mansion, the riddle that had once stumped countless talented scholars had been removed. The evening breeze blew across the empty wooden poles, as if whispering the most moving story of this summer. And Shen Weiwan's legend had just begun its most glorious prelude. Under the doting gaze of the Seventh Prince, Xiao Yu, and the admiration of the people of the capital, she was heading towards the brightest future.