Chapter 62 I am delighted with her and beseech Your Majesty to grant us this marriage. ...

The two had talked a lot before, and Bai Xuerou had wavered somewhat, but still insisted. However, at this moment, looking at Ling Xun's expression, she was almost strongly shaken.

It was because of the imagination and expectations that Ling Xun's words evoked about the child.

What will their children be like?

But Bai Xuerou still didn't say anything, and didn't even open her mouth again. Ling Xun also remained silent, simply leaning quietly in her arms.

After a long time, the bitter smell of medicine filled the air, and a maid brought the medicine up.

The dark brown medicinal liquid was served in a small white jade bowl, emitting wisps of steam. The bitter smell alone was enough to make one want to vomit.

Bai Xuerou looked over, but out of the corner of her eye she saw Ling Xun looking at her.

She reached out to take the medicine, but the maidservant quickly said, "Madam, please wait a moment, the medicine is still a little hot."

Bai Xuerou waited a few more moments until the steam subsided before picking it up.

A warm sensation came from my lower abdomen.

She paused, looked down, and saw Ling Xun with his eyes lowered, quietly placing his hand on her lower abdomen, as if saying goodbye.

Bai Xuerou's hand holding the medicine bowl suddenly stiffened.

She looked up abruptly, took the pill, and brought it to her lips. Several maids hurriedly exclaimed, "Madam!"

“Sister,” Ling Xun also spoke up.

Bai Xuerou really wanted to ignore it all, but the fact is she stopped.

At the most crucial moment, she made her final decision, despite her inner hesitation.

She put the bowl back and sighed, "Never mind."

After Bai Xuerou finished speaking, she felt a pang of regret, but even more so, she felt a surge of courage and excitement born of impulsiveness. "Then let's give it a try, Ling Xun."

“Let’s see if you can do it,” she said.

Ling Xun looked up in surprise, then stood up the next moment, hugged Bai Xuerou tightly in his arms, and then quickly loosened his grip a little.

"Sister!" he exclaimed excitedly, then quickly added, "I'll go and ask the Emperor to issue an edict, requesting the Imperial Observatory to calculate the most auspicious day, and then I'll invite Master and Mistress to Chang'an."

He spoke quickly but logically, giving Bai Xuerou the impression that he had thought about these things long ago.

But it is indeed appropriate. It is a marriage bestowed by the emperor. Although it is common knowledge that the emperor's power has fallen into the hands of others, it sounds better on the surface.

Furthermore, given her current situation, whether it's her health or the predicament of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, returning to Yandu to await marriage is not appropriate.

Traveling such a long distance, I'm afraid some people might lose their composure and cause unnecessary trouble.

Bai Xuerou responded.

"Sister, you promised me. You promised me." Ling Xun arranged things in a clear and organized manner before letting himself get excited and hugging Bai Xuerou, saying repeatedly, "I really think I'm dreaming."

He looked rather silly, and Bai Xuerou couldn't help but feel a little disgusted, yet she couldn't help but laugh.

"Maybe you really are dreaming," she teased him with a smile.

“How could that be?” He was the one who said it was a dream, and he was also the one who refuted it. Ling Xun said seriously, “I’ve never had such a beautiful dream, so of course it’s real.”

Bai Xuerou actually laughed.

Ling Xun smiled at her, then sat down and held Bai Xue Rou in his arms, whispering, "Sister, you don't know, I've had so many nightmares, dreaming that you're going to leave me, break up with me, and never talk to me again."

"It's alright, sister, you're not. You feel sorry for me. Just thinking about it makes me so happy," he whispered.

“…You…” Bai Xuerou hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed.

How could she ignore Ling Xun?

After the incident, Bai Xuerou was indeed unwilling to accept it, but all she could think about was how to let it pass and for the two of them to go back to how they were before.

I never thought of breaking up and leaving.

Thinking about it this way, isn't she giving Ling Xun hope?

Bai Xuerou couldn't help but whisper, "I never intended to ignore you."

She felt sorry for Ling Xun, so she thought of saying something to cheer him up.

“I’m just worried,” she said.

People's hearts are fickle; she didn't want to gamble, nor did she dare to.

But in the end, Ling Xun still dragged him to the gambling table.

It's just unknown whether this time they'll win or lose.

"I understand." How could Ling Xun not know her concerns? He smiled gently, yet earnestly.

When facing Bai Xuerou, Ling Xun was always gentle and sincere, never being perfunctory in the slightest.

"It's already a blessing that my sister-in-law gave me this opportunity. What happens after that is up to me. I won't let her down." Ling Xun was so confident and certain.

Bai Xuerou then smiled.

"Okay, then we'll see how you perform."

The two talked until very late before Ling Xun finally left, but it was only a formality; he slipped back as soon as he returned.

Bai Xue Rou finally agreed to his proposal, and he wanted to be with her every moment, not wanting to be apart for even a second.

Bai Xuerou was amused by his overbearing behavior, but ultimately said nothing and tacitly allowed him to stay.

At night, the two did nothing but quietly embrace each other.

Bai Xue Rou leaned against his chest, and all the loneliness she had felt on countless nights because of the empty room and bed vanished.

She fell asleep without realizing it.

The next morning, Ling Xun entered the palace.

Now that the royal power has fallen into the hands of others, the daily grand court assembly is just a formality, and the emperor on the imperial steps is just a figurehead. In all matters of the court, Ling Xun decides on matters that he is involved in, and Lang Cheng and the Duke of Qing decide on matters that he is not involved in.

Ling Xun rarely attended court throughout the year; usually, when something happened, it was the officials he supported who spoke up, and everyone naturally understood this.

The sudden summons to court put everyone on edge, their first thought being that something big was about to happen.

Sure enough, after the court session began, Ling Xun was the first to step forward in full view of everyone.

Everyone held their breath and looked over.

What they heard was Ling Xun requesting the emperor to grant him a marriage.

The ministers were taken aback, and the young emperor on the throne was also stunned.

Several years have passed, and the young emperor of yesteryear is now thirteen years old, well aware of his situation. Regardless of his inner thoughts, he appears outwardly docile, allowing himself to be swayed by his court officials, never revealing the slightest desire to seize power.

His greatest function seems to be that his ministers would discuss matters, report to him, nod in approval, affix their seals, and issue imperial edicts.

The officials could take the seal whenever they wanted, and the eunuch who issued the decree listened to Lang Cheng and other important officials more than he did.

With each generation of emperors coming and going in the Great Qi royal family, the entire palace seemed to have become the backyard of the court officials, who could come and go as they pleased and give orders.

"Good." As he had done countless times before, the young emperor subconsciously said "good," before coming to his senses and asking, "I was unaware of the Regent's intention to bestow a marriage upon me."

"My former sister-in-law is now a widow, but she is kind and gentle, a truly wonderful woman. I admire her and beseech Your Majesty to grant her marriage."

The young emperor couldn't help but widen his eyes. Sister-in-law?

Seeing Ling Xun's calm and composed expression, as if it were just a perfectly normal sentence, I couldn't help but calm down as well.

It seems like nothing special. Nowadays, not many people marry their sister-in-law, but it does happen. There are even records of people marrying their nephews' wives in historical books.

The young emperor subconsciously looked at Lang Cheng and the Duke of Qing, and seeing that neither of them showed any reaction, he agreed and said, "Alright, I will issue the decree now."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ling Xun raised his hand.

The young emperor quickly waved his hand, smiling and saying, "No need, no need."

He looked at Ling Xun standing in the hall, and his heart was filled with complicated feelings. Ling Xun was only a few years older than him, but their circumstances were worlds apart.

Ling Xun had already taken control of the Zhenbei Army and was a powerful overlord that even Lang Cheng and the Duke of Qing could not contend with. Yet, he still had to live a life of ignominy under Lang Cheng and the Duke of Qing, and dared not show the slightest desire for imperial power.

However, given the current situation, it seems there's not much to care about regarding imperial power.

This world is almost in the hands of the Ling family. The young emperor's ambitions were crushed before they even had a chance to grow. Now, his greatest wish is that Ling Xun will show mercy and spare his life.

If we could follow the historical records and give him a noble title, that would be the best outcome.

Before the young emperor had even finished speaking, Lang Cheng and the others had already begun congratulating Ling Xun.

Ling Xun's decision to marry his former sister-in-law is indeed controversial, but no one present is stupid enough to say such a thing.

Furthermore, they were happy to see his reputation damaged.

The court is now corrupt and decadent; those who can speak out and dare to speak out are gone. The remaining people are all adept at reading the room, so naturally no one dares to say anything unpleasant at this juncture.

Ling Xun was calm and reserved, rarely showing obvious joy or anger, but today he was completely different, his face full of smiles that didn't stop until the end of the court session.

He did not leave the palace, but instead went to the Imperial Observatory, where he soon found a day that satisfied him.

September 6th.

It's only July now, which means the wedding date is in two months.

Ling Xun left satisfied, and news of the morning court session had already spread rapidly.

The people of Chang'an were all surprised, but not very surprised, since rumors about the two had never stopped, although few people mentioned it directly anymore.

But it still sparked a lot of discussion.

The younger brother marrying his sister-in-law would attract gossip no matter where he was, let alone in the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion.

The news spread rapidly beyond Chang'an, and soon, those who needed to know it would all be aware of it.

At the same time, Ling Xun dispatched his household's fast riders to Yandu at an urgent speed of 800 li to invite the Bai couple to Chang'an.

Although the marriage was bestowed by the emperor, the presence of Bai family elders was still required for the ceremony.

Bai Xuerou decided to move to another courtyard.

Ling Xun personally arranged for a courtyard near the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion. Compared to the mansion, it was inevitably simple, but if he wanted something better, it would be much farther away. After thinking it over, he had no choice but to have it properly furnished, but he still felt guilty and thought he had wronged Bai Xuerou.

Bai Xuerou didn't care and offered him a few words of comfort before the servants announced that Madam Wu had returned to the mansion.

For the past two years, Ms. Wu has been living in a separate courtyard, practicing Taoism, and living as a lay Buddhist.

She was a little worried when she suddenly saw Bai Xuerou send someone to invite her. On her way back, she heard about the arranged marriage.

When the two met, they were both filled with emotion.

Bai Xuerou felt somewhat ashamed. She wouldn't care in front of outsiders, but since she was quite familiar with Madam Wu, she couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.

He only managed to utter a hurried, "You're back."

After that, I didn't know what to say.

Madam Wu, however, remained more composed and smiled, saying, "I never imagined that you and the Prince would have this connection."

She had been mentally prepared since she first heard the rumors, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly, and that Ling Xun would actually marry Bai Xuerou as his legal wife—

She thought that Ling Xun would at most take Bai Xuerou as his concubine after he ascended the throne.

After all, Bai Xuerou was not suitable in terms of either status or family background.

But Ling Xun clearly didn't think that way.

Lady Wu may not know much about this nominally illegitimate son, but from what she has heard, she knows that he is a man of great talent and ambition, and can be described as domineering and ruthless.

Even Ling Ji'an back then was not immune to wavering, but he would not, let alone Ling Zheng.

Ling Xun was far more outstanding than his father and brothers.

"I didn't expect this either." Bai Xuerou calmed herself down, shook her head helplessly, and said, "It can only be said that fate is playing tricks on us."

"That's good. With the bond between you two, your future will surely be bright," Madam Wu comforted her.

Bai Xuerou just smiled, and then accompanied her back to Huiyin Courtyard. Although Madam Wu was not there, the servants here did not slack off. This morning, under her instructions, they tidied up the place again.

"I'm about to move to another residence. There are still many things to do at the Prince's Mansion, so I'll have to trouble you."

Ms. Wu hesitated slightly. Her decision to become a nun was genuine, but she was mindful that her elders were only lay Buddhists and she truly did not want to be involved in this mundane world anymore.

But she eventually agreed.

Not for himself, but for the Wu family.

The previous incident involving Third Sister had already offended Ling Xun. Although the Wu family had a son serving in the Prince's mansion, he wasn't considered a key figure. At the very least, it wasn't enough for the Wu family; they wanted more.

That's why Madam Wu never became a nun; she wanted to stay and act as a link between the Wu family and the Prince's Mansion.

Over the next day, everyone in the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion knew about this, and they couldn't help but discuss it privately, but no one dared to say it openly.

Now, when everyone recalls what happened before, they all suddenly realize what happened.

No wonder the Prince has always treated Madam Bai with such gentleness and consideration; now I understand.

-----------------------

Author's Note: They're getting married soon, no drama, it seems so simple. This is just a sweet little story!