Inside the pavilion of Kunning Palace, after the performance of "Phoenix Seeking its Mate" was completed, the Empress Dowager nodded with great satisfaction.
Granny Gui handed her a warmed cup of tea.
"Empress Dowager, Doctor Zhong has been in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for some time now. Would you like to go and see the Emperor Emeritus?"
The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea, a hint of worry on her face.
"They actually summoned Zhong Yuan to the palace. It seems the Emperor Emeritus's illness has worsened again."
Yun Xiaoran's eyes showed surprise. She hadn't expected that the unassuming Doctor Zhong was actually one of the Emperor Emeritus's men.
She felt a little panicked when she recalled how she had conspired with the deceased Granny Zhang to plot against Song Yushu in dealing with Jiang Qingwan.
Just as she was nervously clutching the handkerchief, the Empress Dowager suddenly said, "The royal family hasn't had any happy events for too long. It's time to hold one to bring some joy to the Emperor Emeritus."
“Madam Song, Zheng Qing has not yet returned to the capital. As an elder, it would be impolite for him to be absent from the wedding banquet. However, the Emperor Emeritus’ health is of utmost importance, so we cannot concern ourselves with such matters. I will make the decision today: let Xiao Ran and Yun Han hold their wedding on an auspicious day three days from now.”
Song Yushu's heart leaped into his throat. Just as he was about to kneel down to refuse, Yun Xiaoran knelt down first.
"Xiaoran thanks the Empress Dowager for her great kindness."
The Empress Dowager smiled and raised her hand. "Granny Gui, draft the decree."
Song Yushu hurriedly knelt down, but before he could speak, he was interrupted by the Empress Dowager.
"It is Yun Han who should be thanking me. Why are you kneeling? Get up quickly. I know that three days is a bit rushed, but Xiao Ran was raised by me. I will prepare her dowry. On the day of her wedding, I will bestow upon her the title of Princess to elevate her status. This will not be a disservice to the Ninth Prince."
She sighed softly as she spoke.
"The Emperor Emeritus dotes on the Ninth Prince the most, and the Ninth Prince is surely willing to pray for good health for the Emperor Emeritus. Song, do you have any objections?"
All of Song Yushu's words were choked back in his throat.
How did she refute this?
To utter even a single word would be a grave disrespect to the Emperor Emeritus.
If refusing the marriage truly worsened the Emperor Emeritus's illness, the guilt would be too great for her to bear.
But how could Mo Yunhan possibly listen to reason?
Yun Xiaoran obediently came over to help her.
"Xiaoran will now address you as Aunt. I hope you will take care of me for the rest of my life."
She gave a gentle curtsy.
The Empress Dowager was immediately pleased and personally took an embroidered pouch from her waist and handed it over.
"Xiaoran, come here. This was embroidered by me personally. I have worn it for a long time. It symbolizes happiness and good fortune. I bestow it upon you today. I hope that you and the Ninth Prince will live in harmony and have many children and blessings in the future."
Yun Xiaoran hurriedly knelt down and took the item with both hands.
The moment I held it, a familiar power seeped into my palm, even stronger than the power of the embroidered pouch I had before.
Her heart immediately felt more at ease.
"Thank you for your blessing, Empress Dowager. I will wear it every day and never take it off."
A sinister and ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he knelt down.
With the Empress Dowager around, no one can do anything to her.
Even if Yun Yaoyao's remains are found, what can the Jingzhao Prefecture do if she refuses to admit it?
Three days later, she became the Ninth Prince's Consort and was determined to teach that bitch Jiang Qingwan a lesson!
Granny Gui had already drafted the imperial edict and brought it over for the Empress Dowager to stamp.
Once the Phoenix Seal is placed, the marriage will surely be successful.
Song Yushu was extremely anxious.
Although Mo Yunhan did not tell her the truth about Yun Yaoyao's death in detail, she could guess that it was related to Yun Xiaoran.
Otherwise, given Mo Yunhan's personality, he wouldn't have pressed Yun Xiaoran so hard when she was seriously ill.
If Yun Xiaoran really did kill Yun Yaoyao, this marriage must not go through.
"Empress Dowager!"
She knelt down again, with a resolute determination to burn her bridges.
Yun Xiaoran was startled and immediately turned her head to stop her. At this moment, a palace maid rushed over, forgetting to even perform the proper etiquette, and went straight to Granny Gui's side to whisper a few words.
"What?"
Granny Gui was taken aback and quickly reached out to stop the Empress Dowager from placing the seal.
"Your Majesty, you cannot cover it."
Song Yushu and Yun Xiaoran looked up at the same time.
One was a surprise, the other was a worry.
The Empress Dowager looked displeased, and Granny Gui immediately bowed and whispered something.
"News has come from the Hall of Mental Cultivation: His Majesty has bestowed a marriage upon the Ninth Prince; the imperial decree has been issued."
"What?"
The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table in anger.
Who is it?
Granny Gui glanced at Song Yushu kneeling on the ground before whispering, "That Jiang lady who is kept in the backyard of the Ninth Prince's mansion."
The Empress Dowager's face was terribly gloomy. After a long while, she picked up the Phoenix Seal again.
“The Emperor bestowed this upon him, and I bestow this upon me; both are principal consorts, and they will enter the palace together in three days.”
Granny Gui stopped her again, her voice trembling slightly this time.
"His Highness the Ninth Prince personally obtained an imperial decree that he will never marry another woman in his life."
"You bastard!"
The Empress Dowager swept the scrolls off the table and threw the phoenix seal in her hand aside.
"He's truly bewitched, marrying a divorced woman as his principal wife, relying on the Emperor Emeritus's favor and the Emperor's bias. He's utterly disgraced the royal family."
"They even wrote in the imperial decree that I will not marry two people in this lifetime. Do they mean to make my daughter Xiaoran come into the manor as a concubine?"
Granny Gui was speaking in a low voice, and no one except the Empress Dowager could hear her.
Now that the Empress Dowager has directly lost her temper and spoken her mind, both Song Yushu and Yun Xiaoran are stunned.
Song Yushu never expected that Mo Yunhan would ask for an imperial decree to marry Jiang Qingwan.
But on second thought, marrying Jiang Qingwan was much better than marrying Yun Xiaoran, and it would also have saved him from today's disaster.
Yun Xiaoran was furious.
She crawled to the Empress Dowager's side and asked incredulously, "Grandmother, what are you saying? Brother Yunhan is going to marry Jiang Qingwan? How is that possible! That woman is unwanted by others, how can she become the royal consort?"
The Empress Dowager held her hand with pity and comforted her.
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