Chapter 124 A Few Intimate Moments Besides, who could be more suitable than you…
Yu Nie recognized the familiar voice instantly; it belonged to Feng Changshi.
Her eyes met Huan Xun's, and the wariness in his eyes intertwined with her tense expression; they both understood each other's thoughts.
The soil samples on the table had not yet been cleaned up. If Feng Changshi saw them, it might cause unnecessary trouble.
Not wanting to be discovered, Huan Xun quickly gave Xie Cheng a wink, instructing him to quickly collect the soil samples from the table.
Huan Xun was about to go out to greet them, but the sharp pain in his back made him hesitate slightly, his jawline sharp.
Almost simultaneously, Yu Nie reached out and gently covered his arm, her palm pressed against the slightly hardened muscles beneath his clothes.
She could vaguely sense his stiff reaction as he endured the pain.
This was one of the few times they were intimately connected.
Huan Xun paused slightly and turned his head to look at her.
"Let me help you. It's best not to do anything strenuous with your injury," she said.
He did not refuse, but deliberately slowed his pace so that she could more easily support him.
The two walked quickly outside.
As they moved, he endured the needle-like pain in his back wound, using her strength to steady himself, and together they went outside.
The sun slanted across the eaves, casting shadows of various shapes, while several orioles perched on the pear tree in the yard chirped incessantly.
As soon as the two of them stepped out of the room and stood still, they saw Feng Changshi's smiling face appear from the corridor in front of them, where embroidered bamboo curtains hung.
He held a whisk in one hand and a bright yellow scroll aloft in the other, with two eunuchs behind him each carrying a valuable lacquer box.
Even from several meters away, Feng Changshi's joyful voice drifted over first: "Grand Tutor Huan, His Majesty has decreed that this is a momentous occasion!"
Upon hearing this, he and she exchanged another glance.
Huan Xun suppressed the intense pain in his back, his face remaining calm as he slightly raised an eyebrow: "'Great joy'? I've been having a run of bad luck lately, what is there to be joyful about?"
Although his voice was calm, those around him already had a vague idea in their minds, and their expressions involuntarily tightened.
Feng Changshi's gaze swept over Yu Nie, lingered briefly on her hand supporting Huan Xun, and then withdrew it, replying with a beaming smile: "Grand Tutor, don't be in a hurry, it's clearly written in the imperial decree. Such a joyous occasion cannot be easily revealed by me. Please, both of you, first respectfully receive the imperial decree."
Huan Xun turned his head to look at Yu Nie beside him.
Sunlight streamed through the eaves, illuminating her slightly lowered eyelashes and softening her profile.
This time, she didn't look at him.
His gaze fell on the back of her hand that was supporting him, and the sensation on her arm told him that she was nervous.
Her subtle nervousness caught his eye, and his heart stirred slightly.
Although he didn't know what this "happy event" was all about, he instinctively felt that it was related to her.
The decree has been issued, and they have no room for further questions.
He endured the sharp pain in his back and bowed to her.
Their voices rang out almost simultaneously, intertwining:
"Your subject receives the imperial decree."
"Your Majesty, my sister, accepts the imperial decree."
Feng Changshi looked at the two of them, solemnly cleared his throat, unfolded the imperial edict in his hand, and proclaimed:
[Disciples:]
I, having received the mandate of Heaven, rule over all my people.
Huan Xun, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince and the Vice Director of the Secretariat, is just over twenty years old. He is of bright character and integrity, serving the Crown Prince with loyalty and diligence, and assisting the state with impartiality. I have always admired him.
Princess Shunhe is gentle and virtuous, with a beautiful appearance that has been noticed since childhood. She has the demeanor of a hermit and the virtues of a princess, and I especially cherish her.
As the ruler of the world, I also cherish the bond between brothers and wish to see my sister find a good husband and a virtuous woman matched with a suitable partner.
By special imperial decree, you are hereby granted the title of Imperial Son-in-Law and will marry Princess Shunhe. An auspicious day shall be chosen for the ceremony, and the six rites shall be prepared for your arrival.
You should be grateful for my great favor, and from now on be even more loyal and diligent, assist the Crown Prince without any negligence, treat the Princess with the same heart and the same virtue, be harmonious with her, and uphold morality and righteousness to grow old together.
The proclamation was made known far and wide.
August 12th, the first year of the Xuande reign
After the imperial edict was read, Attendant Feng closed it and handed it to Huan Xun with both hands: "Grand Tutor, this is an edict with His Majesty's own handwriting and vermilion annotations. Please accept it quickly."
Huan Xun felt as if every word on the imperial edict was a heavy hammer, making his head spin and suppressing most of the stinging pain in his back.
At this point, he could no longer feel any pain.
"Your subject Huan Xun, I accept the imperial decree and express my gratitude." He answered the imperial decree, his voice lower and hoarse than usual: "Your Majesty's great kindness is something I could never repay even with my life."
Seeing his expression, Feng Changshi's smile deepened, but it wasn't an annoying smile.
After a moment, he took the scroll handed to him by Attendant Feng, opened it and looked at it again and again. He stared at the red ink writing on it, glanced at Attendant Feng, and then looked at the person beside him.
In those eyes, there was joy, but also an indescribable emotion.
Yu Nie heard all of this clearly, and her cheeks instantly flushed red, even the tips of her ears turned crimson, so hot they almost bled.
She never imagined that when Feng Changshi read out the imperial edict bestowing the marriage upon her, she would be standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
Amidst her embarrassment, a sense of unease quietly gripped her heart.
She twisted her fingers tightly in her sleeve, as if that would suppress the unease in her chest.
She subconsciously avoided his gaze until her heartbeat slowed down, then, as if she had made up her mind, she slowly raised her eyes and met his gaze directly.
In those familiar, deep eyes, there were no emotions she had worried about, no disappointment, and no trace of wanting to refuse.
There was only a faint, deep light, like a sky full of stars under the night sky.
Looking into his calm eyes, Yu Nie felt much of the anxiety that had been building up inside her dissipate.
Feng Changshi saw all this and smiled again, helping Huan Xun up and saying, "Huan Shaofu and Her Highness the Princess are a match made in heaven."
After saying that, he turned to the two eunuchs behind him who were holding lacquer boxes and gestured: "His Majesty, mindful of the Junior Tutor's hard work in assisting the Crown Prince and the joyous occasion of the bestowed marriage, has prepared some small gifts. Please accept them, Junior Tutor."
As he spoke, he stepped forward and opened the lacquer box in the hands of the eunuch on his left.
Inside, on a brocade lining, lay a pair of mutton-fat jade discs. The jade was warm and lustrous, and carved with auspicious patterns, clearly indicating that they were treasures from the palace.
Immediately, he opened another box, inside which was a piece of gold-threaded kesi (silk tapestry), an extremely expensive fabric that even princes and ministers might not possess.
Zhao Yunfu's gift of such an expensive item was probably intended as a gesture of appeasement.
"There is only one pair of these jade discs in the whole world. The material was also a tribute from Persia. The Junior Tutor is knowledgeable and must know that they are priceless. This shows how much His Majesty values the Junior Tutor."
Feng Changshi explained with a smile, "His Majesty also said that Junior Tutor should focus on recovering from his injury, and it's not too late to prepare for the wedding after the wound has healed."
Huan Xun looked at the gifts in the box, a knowing glint in his eyes. Zhao Yunfu had bestowed a marriage and these gifts; he understood Zhao Yunfu's meaning.
He bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your consideration. I will remember Your Majesty's kindness."
He said, “His Majesty, as my elder brother, has bestowed Princess Shunhe upon me in marriage. This is not only a sign of his trust in me, but also an entrustment of the princess’s life to me. This favor and responsibility weighs more than a thousand pounds. I will certainly live up to His Majesty’s expectations.”
Feng Changshi: "With your words, Your Majesty will surely be pleased. I will return to the palace now to report back, so that His Majesty may know the good news of your receiving the imperial decree as soon as possible."
After saying this, he bowed again and then turned and left with his attendants.
Watching Feng Changshi and his entourage gradually disappear at the end of the corridor, Huan Xun withdrew his gaze and turned it back to her.
She looked at him, worried that standing for too long would be bad for his back injury, so she helped him into the room first.
Xie Cheng, carrying the lacquer box he had received from the eunuch, followed him into the room. Seeing that his master had something to say, he dismissed the guards and maids around him, placed the box on the table, and then withdrew as well.
In the blink of an eye, only the two of them remained.
Yu Nie helped him sit down, opened his mouth as if to say something, but didn't know where to begin. In the end, he only managed to utter a very soft question: "Did the wound on your back hurt again when you received the imperial decree?"
Huan Xun looked up at her. Her eyelashes were long and thick, and her pupils were bright and clear. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he chuckled, "The pain in your back doesn't hurt much, but..." He paused, his gaze falling on her hand that was still holding onto his arm, "Your hand has been gripping it very tightly, and it's making my arm hurt a little."
These words made Yu Nie release her grip the next moment. She said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I was afraid you would lose your balance. Maybe I used too much force..."
Huan Xun smiled more deeply at her flustered appearance, but did not point out her earlier nervousness.
He reached into the lacquer box and took out a jade disc, handing it to her: "His Majesty bestowed this pair of jade discs upon you. If you don't mind, young lady, you can keep this one for now."
"I?"
"Hmm." His voice was slightly deep, but very pleasant to the ear.
She gazed at the jade disc he offered; the warm, smooth jade seemed even more exquisite in his slender fingers.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally took it. Her fingertips accidentally touched his fingertips. She paused and quickly withdrew her hand.
"Why give it to me?" She held the jade disc, feeling the coolness of the jade.
Huan Xun's tone was calm yet intriguing: "Since these jade discs symbolize 'harmony and perfection,' I can't keep them all by myself."
A profound meaning flashed in his eyes: "Besides, who is more suitable to hold this jade than you?"
Yu Nie's heart skipped a beat, and his hand holding the jade disc tightened involuntarily. The cold jade material pressed against his palm, but he couldn't suppress the heat rising from the bottom of his heart.
His words touched her heart, causing an undeniable shiver.
Based on what she knew of him from those few days in the past, she didn't believe deep down that he would be someone willing to accept an arranged marriage.
She wanted to ask him, to ask him if, setting aside the distinction between ruler and subject, setting aside his status as the Crown Prince's tutor, and even setting aside all other considerations, he was truly willing to agree to this hasty marriage.
But why would she want to ask such a question?
Is it necessary to keep asking this question?
They are merely allies, and they could tacitly use this marriage as a pretext.
There is absolutely no need to seek the answer.
But even though she couldn't find a definite reason in her heart to need an answer, she had already called out to him, "Huan Xun..."
"What?" He had just taken the last piece of jade from the box and turned to look at her.
She hesitated for a moment, then gripped the jade disc tightly in her hand, looked into his eyes, and said, "You...are you really willing?"
As soon as she said this, she suddenly regretted it and quickly explained, "Actually, you don't need to answer me. I was just asking casually. It's okay if you don't answer..." Her voice grew softer and softer, and he looked at her with a guilty conscience.
He held the warm, smooth jade between his fingers, gazing at her with leisurely concentration, his thumb tracing the patterns on it.
She tried to pick up the teapot to hide her guilty conscience and poured herself a glass of water.
Suddenly, he moved closer to her, his hand stopping her movement, his aggressive gaze hidden beneath a warm smile.
He said slowly, "And what about you, Princess?"
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