Incense smoldered as the emperor rubbed his temple, interrupting the courtroom debate. "I have made up my mind about the fourth son's marriage." He glanced at the trembling figure of the Earl of Yongchang. "The daughter of a nobleman marries the prince, which is in accordance with ancestral custom."
Grand Tutor Yang nearly crushed the tablet in his hand. Yesterday, during their secret meeting with Duke Dingguo, they had already finalized the selection of the Fourth Prince's concubine, but who would have thought that the Earl of Yongchang would suddenly appear? The Minister of Rites was about to step forward, but was preempted by the Second Prince's followers: "Your Majesty is wise! Since the Fourth Prince has had physical contact with Miss Yu, he should be treated as the principal wife."
"The Earl of Xuanyongchang is here to see you!"
The shrill summons startled birds perched under the eaves. Yu Bo'an stumbled into the hall in his cloud-patterned official boots, his forehead soaked with sweat, soaking through his seventh-rank egret patch. As he accepted the bright yellow imperial edict, he met Grand Tutor Yang's venomous gaze, his knees buckling as he nearly collapsed onto the gold bricks.
Broken porcelain littered the Yikun Palace. Yang Guifei tore off her pearl necklace, "I want to see how long this poor man can prosper!" A golden armor flashed across the map of the thirteen cities of Mobei. "The Second Prince, please ride back to the capital at full speed! I will prevent him from even entering the city gates!"
"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words." Concubine Xi, in her crimson-purple robe, swept across the threshold. "Now I should address you as Concubine Yang." She stroked her newly acquired Dongzhu hairpin. "Your Majesty has just issued an edict that the Second Prince will reside in the Eastern Palace Garden upon his return to the capital—"
"How dare you!" Yang Guifei raised her hand to throw the teacup, but then she saw Caiwei strolling in, holding the phoenix seal. The Hetian jade seal, wrapped with a bright yellow ribbon, was the very authority she had handed over to the imperial court on Lantern Festival night.
Fireworks blasted in front of the Yongchang Marquis's residence. Yu Chuwei clutched the imperial decree granting her marriage, her fingertips digging into the gold-woven satin. That day when the lakeside pavilion fell into the water, she had deliberately brushed off Xinyi Zigu's jade pendant, only to find a secret letter from Mobei hidden in the secret compartment. The letter, now gleaming faintly at the bottom of the dressing box, bore the same wolf-head seal as the Second Prince's belt badge.
"Congratulations, young lady!" A maid came in holding a phoenix crown. "The betrothal gifts sent by the Fourth Prince's Mansion are piled all over the yard."
Yu Chuwei stared at her blurred face in the bronze mirror. The birthmark on her collarbone, outlined with rouge, had long since washed away, revealing a pale blue tattoo beneath—the mark of a Mobei spy. She suddenly chuckled and inserted the poisoned jade hairpin into her hair.
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