The date for the Emperor's wedding has been set for mid-October.
Lin Xiangzhi was naturally among those who were genuinely happy, and he was the first to step forward and offer his congratulations upon hearing the news.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations on finally winning the heart of your beauty!"
Seeing Lin Xiangzhi grinning like a fool, Xiao Jingzhao glared at him. "Look at you, all smiles. Anyone who didn't know better would think you're the one getting married."
Lin Xiangzhi: "..."
How can you put it? His brother-in-law is unmarried, so he doesn't dare to go and propose marriage.
"It's all the same. The Emperor's happy occasion is our happy occasion. The Emperor is finally getting married, and it is only right that the whole country should celebrate."
Xiao Jingzhao: "..." Is it that hard for me to get a wife?
Seeing Xiao Jingzhao's unpredictable mood, Lin Xiangzhi asked with concern, "Do the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager know of the good news?"
“Master Huiyuan observed the stars on the Mid-Autumn Festival night and calculated the best date this morning. I have already sent someone to Yannan to deliver the message.”
"Will the Empress Dowager return to the capital?" Lin Xiangzhi swallowed hard, looking expectantly at Xiao Jingzhao.
Xiao Jingzhao considered the auspicious day as soon as he learned it. Princess Kang's due date was in the twelfth lunar month, and his wedding day with Jiang Shuyue was in the eleventh lunar month.
There's no conflict between the two, so the Empress Dowager will definitely return to the capital.
Thinking that he hadn't seen Princess Yonghe for a long time, Lin Xiangzhi cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have received such great news today. Please allow me to go and congratulate the two princesses."
Xiao Jingzhao had no idea what mischief he was up to. He waved his hand and said, "No need to be polite. The news has already spread outside the palace. Chang Le and Yong He both know about it."
"Yes, yes, I feel uneasy not being able to congratulate you in person. Is Sui Sui in Chang Le Palace right now? I would also like to congratulate him."
Xiao Jingzhao was both amused and exasperated by Lin Xiangzhi's eccentric manner.
He waved his hand, "Fine, go ahead. Sui Sui stayed at Yonghe Palace last night."
Xiao Jingzhao was puzzled. How did his once unrestrained friend become so fussy and indecisive after entering officialdom?
Lin Xiangzhi left the imperial study and went alone to the outside of Yonghe Palace, where, unsurprisingly, he was turned away at the door.
"Lord Lin, if you have anything to say, please leave it here. This servant will convey it to you." The palace maid stood upright at the entrance of Yonghe Palace, blocking Lin Xiangzhi's way, neither humble nor arrogant, but polite and respectful.
Lin Xiangzhi's eyes darted around. "I am here on the Emperor's orders, and there are some things I cannot convey."
The palace maid looked troubled. The princess always valued rules, and letting her out meant blocking visitors and preventing outside men from entering.
Lord Lin was acting on the Emperor's orders, but that's another matter.
The palace maid bowed slightly. "Lord Lin, please wait a moment. I will go in and ask His Highness for his opinion before I can give you an answer."
The palace maid went in and saw Princess Yonghe standing under the corridor, looking around.
Seeing the palace maid return, she asked, "Has he left?"
The palace maid shook her head. "No, Lord Lin said he came to see Your Highness on the Emperor's orders."
"If my brother needs him to convey any message, he's definitely just making things up."
Yonghe knew a little about Lin Xiangzhi's personality; he was the kind of person who could say whatever he wanted to anyone.
After pondering for a moment, Yonghe waved her wide sleeves at the palace maid, "Fine, let him in. I want to see what he has to say."
A short while later, a palace maid led Lin Xiangzhi in.
"Your humble servant greets Your Highness. May Your Highness be well."
"Lord Lin, you may rise. I heard you have come to see me on the Emperor's orders. Is there something important you have to discuss?"
As Yonghe spoke, he gestured for a palace maid to bring over a round-backed chair.
Lin Xiangzhi didn't stand on ceremony, took a seat, and looked around, "Where are Chang Le and Sui Sui?"
"Lord Lin, get to the point. Don't beat around the bush. Chang Le is naturally in Chang Le Palace. At this time every year, she would already be in class."
Yonghe recalled a scene from the Imperial Study, and a hint of unease flashed across his face.
"Congratulations, Your Highness, the Emperor and Miss Jiang will be getting married soon."
Yonghe glared at Lin Xiangzhi with annoyance, "Lord Lin, are you so busy that you've lost your mind? The Imperial Household Department has been preparing the phoenix coronet and wedding gown for months, didn't you know?"
Just as Lin Xiangzhi was about to say he didn't know, he saw Yonghe's disbelieving expression.
He gave an embarrassed smile. "I'm sorry, I've been too busy and completely forgot about it."
Although some of the jewelry came from the Emperor's private treasury, and the Imperial Household Department also had other expenses, to say that he, as the Minister of Revenue, was unaware of this would be blatant lying.
Yonghe: "..."
"Your Highness, how have you been lately? My sister keeps thinking about you."
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Lin. I am well. Ruyin visited the palace just a few days ago. It is normal that you are busy with official duties and do not know."
Lin Xiangzhi made small talk, drinking two cups of tea before finally having to take his leave.
As soon as Prime Minister Lin left, the palace maid who served him closely said in a puzzled tone, "Lord Lin is really strange. It's the Emperor's wedding, why is he here to offer his congratulations to His Highness?"
Another palace maid said, "I noticed that he keeps glancing at His Highness's face; he must have ulterior motives."
A blush crept up Chang Le's ears.
She fainted in the Imperial Study that day, and when she opened her eyes, she saw him standing in front of her.
He caught me without a scratch.
...
When the news of the Emperor setting the wedding date spread, no one was more surprised than Cui Yudie.
Her wedding date was also set for the winter month, and she, who had originally accepted the arrangement of fate, suddenly felt resentful.
Furious, she pulled out all the portraits from the drawer.
Why her?
"She's already a spinster in her early twenties. In terms of youth, beauty, and talent, in what way am I inferior to her!"
Liu Xu and Liu Zhi saw that their young lady was acting like she was possessed, scattering the portrait all over the ground.
Liu Xu said to Liu Zhi, "Quickly pick them up and burn them. If the future son-in-law sees this, he will have a problem with the young lady after she marries him."
Ever since her father returned from outside covered in injuries, Cui Yudie felt that the family was no longer the same as before.
The air pressure in the house is extremely low.
The mother complained all day long, and the father went straight to his aunt's courtyard when he got home.
If it weren't for her upcoming wedding, her mother's power to manage the household would have been taken away by her father.
Lady Meng intended to humble herself and apologize to her husband, begging the Right Chancellor to forgive her for the sake of their many years of marriage.
He sent his maid to his concubine's room several times to invite her, but the Right Chancellor ignored her.
Cui Yudie became more and more heartbroken as she thought about it, and finally collapsed onto the soft couch, sobbing uncontrollably.
You Xian'er wasn't surprised when she found out. In her heart, Jiang Shuyue was too dazzling; she was a woman who deserved that position.
Those who understand the times are wise.
She hurriedly prepared gifts and went to Jishetang, only to find it empty. The female doctor knew that her master did not like to interact with people casually, so she lied and said that her master had gone to the palace to try on makeup.
"The phoenix coronet and wedding gown are all ready. This is too fast. Could it be that the Emperor has already made his choice?" You Xian'er muttered to herself as she left Jishengtang.
When Lin Ruyin found out, she thought it was a good thing. The emperor had married the empress, and the next step was to take concubines.
She didn't crave a high position; she would be content as long as she could be that man's woman.
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