Chapter 288 The Emperor Grants Marriage
These three words instantly drowned out all the other voices at the banquet. Song Anlan's face changed slightly, but soon returned to normal. He immediately ordered his attendants, "Burn incense and go out to greet them, and receive the decree."
The last time the Song family received an imperial edict was when the emperor granted a marriage between Prince Chang'an and Chunzhi.
But at that time, it was Huo Zheng who fought hard for it and got the result.
The Song family is just a merchant family. What is there in the family that is worthy of the emperor's decree?
Song Anlan had a bad feeling.
Song Wan'er's heart instantly rose to her throat. Ever since she knocked over the vase today, she had been worried that something bad would happen.
The entire coming-of-age ceremony went smoothly, and she felt relieved. However, not long after she sat down and was talking with her sisters, the imperial edict arrived.
What kind of imperial edict could it be?
Is the will good or bad?
No one knows.
Huo Zheng and Chunzhi exchanged a glance and whispered, "Let's receive the order first."
Chunzhi hummed, and whispered in Song Wan'er's ear: "Wan'er, don't be afraid, we are all here."
Song Wan'er forced a smile, "I'm not afraid. Maybe the emperor heard that I've come of age and is sending me a gift."
On any other day, Huo Yanran would definitely say she was wishful thinking, but now, she agreed with Song Wan'er and said, "Maybe. I hope it's a satisfactory gift."
The emperor's heart is like the sea, and no one can guess what he is thinking.
In the blink of an eye, Eunuch Zhang came to the banquet holding the imperial edict and two young eunuchs.
Huo Zheng, Chunzhi, Song Anlan and others came forward, and everyone at the banquet stood up and bowed deeply to welcome the imperial edict together.
Eunuch Zhang unfolded the imperial edict and said loudly:
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: I have heard that Song Wan'er, daughter of the Song family, is of outstanding appearance, gentleness, and grace. General Jiang Hao of Pingxi has long been infatuated with her and sincerely desires her hand in marriage. I am deeply pleased to hear this. The two are now at the right time for marriage, a match made in heaven. To fulfill this beautiful union, I hereby marry Song Wan'er, daughter of the Song family, to General Jiang Hao of Pingxi. All ceremonial arrangements are to be handled by the Ministry of Rites, and an auspicious date will be chosen for the wedding. I decree this!"
When Song Wan'er heard this decree, she was completely stunned.
The emperor granted her a marriage with Jiang Hao?
Is she still asleep, or is she having a strange dream...
Is the emperor bored?
Jiang Hao has been in love with her for a long time and sincerely proposes to her. Is he crazy?
Countless thoughts flashed through Song Wan'er's mind, and her expression became more and more confused.
Song Anlan, who was always gentle and calm, now looked cold.
The emperor would not grant a marriage between Wan'er and Jiang Hao for no reason, and the imperial edict also made it clear that this marriage was requested by Jiang Hao from the emperor.
Jiang Hao had deliberately approached Wan'er in order to seize the Song family's wealth. After failing once, he actually dared to come again!
Song Anlan didn't want his sister to get married so soon, and he was a thousand times unwilling to let her marry Jiang Hao.
"Miss Song, please accept the order."
Seeing that the Song brothers and sisters had no intention of thanking him, Eunuch Zhang had to remind them.
Song Wan'er was a little stunned. She didn't want to marry Jiang Hao.
But she had been in the capital for so long, and had seen a lot of the world by her sister's side. She knew that the emperor had supreme power, and anyone who dared to disobey would surely die.
Rather than disobeying the imperial order and being sentenced to death, and also causing her brother to die, Song Wan'er felt it would be better to accept the order. Just as she was about to reach out to take it, she was stopped by Song Anlan.
Song Anlan said, "My sister is young and spoiled, and I have spoiled her. I have long told her to find a son-in-law who will obey my every command. The Pingxi General is a new noble in the court. I am afraid that letting him come to the Song family as a son-in-law would be a disgrace to him."
"Master Song." Eunuch Zhang stared at Song Anlan and held up the imperial edict. "The Emperor's granting of marriage for Miss Song and General Pingxi is a great honor for the Song family. Are you defying the order by delaying the acceptance of the imperial edict?"
The last sentence suddenly sounded heavy and oppressive.
"I accept the order." Song Wan'er couldn't let her brother be accused of disobeying the order, so she immediately reached out to take the order, bowed and said, "I thank you for your grace."
No one expected that Song Wan'er would actually take the imperial edict on her own initiative. It was too late for Huo Zheng, Chunzhi, Huo Yanran and others to speak up to stop her.
"Wan'er--" Song Anlan was even more surprised and heartbroken.
Song Wan'er held the imperial edict in her hand and forced a smile towards her brothers. "It is a great honor for me to have the emperor personally grant me marriage today, as I am coming of age."
"That's right." Eunuch Zhang laughed. "I'd like to congratulate Miss Song and General Pingxi in advance. I wish you two a long and happy marriage and deep love."
"Thank you, eunuch."
Song Anlan recovered and began to greet Eunuch Zhang, inviting him to stay and have a couple of drinks.
Eunuch Zhang declined, saying that the emperor was still waiting for his reply. After greeting the Prince of Chang'an and his wife and the Thirteenth Princess, he left the Song residence with the two young eunuchs.
Song Anlan saw Eunuch Zhang and the others out.
After a long while, everyone at the table started to discuss, "Who is the General Pingxi?"
"Jiang Hao, that's the traitor who killed the rebel leader and defected to the imperial court. Now he's become a new noble in the imperial court!"
"What connection does this Pingxi General have with the Song family? Why does he insist on marrying Miss Song when he has so many other noble ladies to marry?"
"Only the Song family knows about this..."
Everyone at the table was talking about it, and their eyes were all on Song Wan'er.
Song Wan'er returned to the banquet with the imperial edict. Her legs went weak and she sat down directly. She also placed the imperial edict on the table.
Huo Yanran sat next to her and couldn't help but ask, "Are you scared now? Why weren't you scared when you received the order just now?"
"I was also afraid when I received the imperial edict." Song Wan'er whispered, "I was afraid that my brother would openly disobey the imperial edict on my behalf and be dragged out and beheaded..."
Huo Yanran said, "With my seventh brother here, how could I possibly allow someone to drag Young Master Song out and behead him?"
"But there will always be times when Prince Chang'an is away," Song Wan'er said. "I only have one brother, and he's the best brother in the world. I can't let him risk his life for me and disobey my will."
"Wan'er." Chunzhi touched Song Wan'er's head with heartache, "Let's think of a way. There will always be a way."
Huo Yanran took a deep breath, as if she was ready to risk everything, "I'm going to the palace right now to ask my father to revoke his decision."
Song Wan'er reached out and grabbed Huo Yanran's sleeve, "Don't go..."
Even Prince Chang'an Huo Zheng was disliked by the emperor and sent to Xizhou. Princess Thirteen's life will only become more and more difficult in the future. Although she doesn't understand the ways of the world, she has read so many storybooks for a good reason.
She hugged Huo Yanran's arm, leaned over, and whispered to her, "We can't be mandarin ducks in this life. It's such a miserable life..."
Huo Yanran was amused and wanted to cry at the same time because of her. "It's already this late, and you still want to be my lover?"
The two little girls sitting together, leaning on each other, really look like a pair of star-crossed mandarin ducks.
Huo Zheng said: "The situation is not yet unsolvable. There is still a way to solve it."
Chunzhi, Song Wan'er, and Huo Yanran's eyes lit up instantly, and they asked in unison, "What's the solution?"
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