Since the marriage was arranged, Han Zhongyu has become increasingly attached to Xie Yushu, spending almost all his time by her side except when he goes to the government office.

Xie Yushu became increasingly adept at teasing Han Zhongyu, and things like wall-slamming and stamping became second nature to her.

Although Han Zhongyu always told her to be more reserved, he was secretly overjoyed.

After appreciating the beauty, he began to reflect on whether he had been too hypocritical, inconsistent with his words, and not the behavior of a gentleman.

After reflecting, continue the next day.

These sweet and tempting days continued until they received a letter from Han Wuyong.

Ever since the two exchanged tokens and got engaged in front of Han Wuyong, Han Zhongyu has never hidden anything from Xie Yushu.

Whether it was letters from home or matters of the court, he would share them with Xie Yushu.

Anyway, Xie Yushu is a princess of the imperial court, and she has a cooperative relationship with the government. Now, she is also his future wife. He feels that she should have the right to know about matters concerning him.

Xie Yushu, on the other hand, would listen to what Han Zhongyu said, but if Han Zhongyu didn't say anything, she wouldn't pry. Everyone has their own privacy, and this was her way of respecting Han Zhongyu.

When the servants of the Han family delivered the letter to Han Zhongyu, Xie Yushu and Han Zhongyu were having dinner. The servants, who were covered in dust and hadn't even caught their breath, immediately asked to see Han Zhongyu. Han Zhongyu knew that there must be an urgent matter at home, but he stopped eating, put down his chopsticks, and went out.

Upon seeing this, Xie Yushu, out of concern for the Han family, put down her chopsticks and followed them out.

In the living room, the man handed the letter to Han Zhongyu. Just as he was about to say something anxiously, he saw Xie Yushu coming over and forced himself to shut up.

Xie Yushu naturally noticed, and since it wasn't appropriate for her to know, she said...

"I saw you came out in a hurry, so I came to check on you. Since it's inconvenient for you two, you can talk."

Han Zhongyu, however, pulled her back and said to the man...

“The princess is my wife, and I don’t need to hide my affairs from her!”

Just say what you want to say!

Seeing Han Zhongyu's protective manner, the servant inwardly grumbled.

"I didn't know that the princess was your betrothed."

The key issue is that this matter is in jeopardy!

"You've been betrothed by the Emperor again, and the princess has been poached by someone else. Is it really appropriate to say this in front of the princess?"

Despite his inner complaints, his second young master insisted on doing so, and he had no choice but to speak up.

"The Emperor bestowed a marriage upon you, Second Young Master, at the Lantern Festival banquet a few days ago. It is Princess Jinghe, the Third Princess."

It was the Third Princess who said on the spot that she was willing to marry into our household and become a member of the Han family, not that you were to become a prince consort.

Although the old master said at the time that you and the princess were already engaged, the emperor heard that you were marrying into the family and felt it was inappropriate, so he issued an imperial decree.

The old master instructed his subordinates to give you a heads-up: the imperial decree bestowing the marriage upon you is expected to arrive soon, so please be prepared.

Han Zhongyu and Xie Yushu were both stunned. Xie Yushu was speechless.

"He crossed the river and then destroyed the bridge, discarding the donkey after it had served its purpose—what a 'wise ruler' he was!"

Han Zhongyu also became anxious and asked...

"Why was a marriage suddenly arranged out of nowhere?"

Or perhaps they would force a marriage upon them.

That person said

"I don't know much, but the old master should have explained it in the letter."

Han Zhongyu was so anxious that he only tore open the envelope to read the letter after hearing this.

The man glanced at Xie Yushu cautiously, a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

Xie Yushu was angry for a moment, then calmed down.

"Go to the kitchen and have a meal first, and get some rest. Your young master and I will handle this matter ourselves."

Seeing that Xie Yushu could remain so calm, the man was filled with admiration. Any woman would be furious in such a situation, and he was prepared to be her punching bag.

Who told him to deliver such unlucky news? When a woman gets angry, there's no reasoning with her.

Surprisingly, Xie Yushu still had the mind to let him go eat and rest!

Even their second young master was getting anxious, but the princess remained calm and composed. He truly admired her!

After the man bowed and withdrew, Xie Yushu saw that Han Zhongyu had finished reading the letter, and then she snatched it away.

"Eat first. You've been busy all day. Lanting said you didn't eat well at noon. Even if the sky falls, we'll talk after we finish eating!"

Han Zhongyu said seriously

"I will not marry any third princess. Our engagement is already arranged, and I will return to the capital tomorrow to plead my case with the Emperor!"

"Okay, that's enough! Let's go eat, I'm not full yet!"

Han Zhongyu thought she had been traumatized and gone mad, and for a moment he didn't know what to say, so he could only let her drag him back to the dining table.

Xie Yushu served him a few bites of braised shark fin soup, then ladled out a bowl of clear stewed duck soup. She also ladled out a bowl of hazelnut chicken soup for herself and sipped it slowly with some crystal dumplings.

Han Zhongyu watched Xie Yushu cautiously, and seeing that she was eating with relish, he also started eating.

As soon as Xie Yushu put down her chopsticks, Han Zhongyu immediately put down his soup bowl as well.

"Are you done eating?"

I want to say, don't worry, I'll handle things with the Emperor. No matter what, I only love you, and I'll only be with you. I'll even sacrifice my political achievements for it. Please don't be angry with me, okay?

It would be a lie for Xie Yushu to say she was unmoved, but the decree had already been issued and was on its way. She didn't want to act like a shrew and go crazy or become hysterical.

It neither changes the facts nor makes one a laughing stock.

It's a lie to say that the food tastes good; it's really tasteless. She's just using eating as a way to force herself not to lose her composure.

In that time, Xie Yushu calmed down.

"I'm not angry with you, this has nothing to do with you."

I'll ask you one more time, are you truly determined to be with me? Even if it offends Emperor Qingyuan, even if it means defying his decree?

"My mind is made up. If I cannot be with you in this life, I will live out my days alone and never marry another!"

"I understand. Go ahead and wait for you to come back."

Upon hearing this, Han Zhongyu stepped forward and hugged Xie Yushu tightly.

"I will definitely come back. Wait for me!"

Then he summoned Lanting and, along with several guards, stepped into the night.

After seeing that Han Zhongyu had left, Xie Yushu immediately had someone summon Zhao Hu.

Zhao Hu was quite surprised. Since the manor was established, Xie Yushu had never summoned him directly. Most of the time, she would send Nanxing to deliver a message to him.

But he didn't dare delay for a moment and came directly to see Xie Yushu.

"master!"

"Emperor Qingyuan betrothed his third princess, Jinghe, to Han Zhongyu."

They're undermining their master's talent; this is outrageous!

"What does the master want his subordinates to do?"

"Princess, please give your orders. No matter the dangers, I will clear the way for you."

Xie Yushu said coldly

"There's no need to go through fire and water!"

Have the people in the capital keep an eye on Han Zhongyu's movements. As long as he sincerely petitions Emperor Qingyuan to rescind the decree, Princess Jinghe must be bound to be incompatible with Han Zhongyu by birth charts. Do you understand?

He has not let me down, and I will not let him down.

If he agrees to marry the Third Princess, then the whole world will have to know that Han Zhongyu was forcibly taken from me by Emperor Qingyuan for the sake of the Third Princess.

Since he wants to destroy his own foundation by humiliating a meritorious official, I won't mind giving him a hand.