Chapter 188: Imperial Decree for Marriage
Princess Palace.
Li Anning was sitting in front of the dressing table, and a female official in the princess's mansion who was skilled in makeup was doing her makeup.
She used to think that they were very good at putting on makeup, but after seeing Li Nuo's skills, she felt that they were just so-so.
When she gets married, she can ask him to dress her up often.
It's a pity that she married too late. If she had married half a year earlier, she could be riding in a carriage with him and parade through the streets today, making all the women in Chang'an envious and jealous.
Just as she finished putting on her makeup, a female official came in and said respectfully, "Your Highness, someone has come from the palace and said that His Majesty has summoned you."
"Father wants to see me?"
Li An Ning was stunned when she heard this. Over the years, her father had never summoned her. She vaguely guessed what the reason was.
This made her a little uneasy, so she asked tentatively, "Did Father tell me what it was about?"
The female official said, "It seems to be about the princess's marriage."
Now Li Anning could no longer remain calm.
She came to the palace by carriage and was led by two palace maids all the way to the imperial garden.
In front of a bush somewhere, a figure stood with his hands behind his back.
Hearing the footsteps behind him, the figure turned around, revealing a heroic and majestic face.
Li Anning walked forward slowly and whispered, "Father."
When her mother was still alive, she had a brief period of happy childhood. Her father would play with her, let her ride on his neck, and lift her above his head...
But ever since my mother and my brother the Crown Prince died of illness one after another, my father has gradually become less like a father.
From the outside, the current father is no different from the father in her childhood memory, but a deep gap has already separated father and daughter.
Emperor Xia looked at the pretty woman in front of him. His eyes, like a deep pool, finally showed some fluctuations. He sighed, "My little princess has grown into a big girl..."
Li An Ning's voice trembled slightly as he whispered, "I wonder why the emperor summoned me here?"
Emperor Xia's gaze became deep again, and he said, "You have reached the age of marriage. During the grand court meeting this year, I said that I would choose one of the top scorers to be your consort. But I never thought that the top scorers in six subjects would be the same person..."
Li Anning's heart was in her throat, and she was quietly waiting for his next words.
Emperor Xia continued, "I cannot take back what I said in front of all the officials in the world, so I can only let you down. I have already seen your prince consort for you. He is handsome and has won the first place in six subjects. He is a rare young hero in ancient and modern times. I want to fulfill my promise and let you marry him and become his legal wife together with his original wife..."
Before he could finish his words, Li Anning was already in tears.
finally……
Finally she got what she was waiting for!
She could hold his hand openly, call him husband in front of everyone, be with him from morning till night, investigate cases together, practice together, and do anything they like...
Emperor Xia looked at her tears, paused, and said, "I know that I have wronged you, but I never joke. You are a princess of the royal family, and you should know the big picture."
Li An Ning wiped her tears, raised her head and said, "I know that if your father doesn't keep his word, officials and people will lose trust in you. I am willing to marry you, but I have two conditions..."
Emperor Xia already felt guilty, so he said, "Go ahead."
Li An Ning said: "I want a grand wedding, lots of dowry, and I want to marry with Sister Jia Ren."
Emperor Xia asked, "Who is Sister Jiaren?"
Li Anning said: "She is the prince consort's original wife."
Emperor Xia always felt that something was wrong, but after thinking about it, he agreed.
While marrying off the princess, giving enough respect to the original wife can better show the magnanimity of the royal family. An Ning is more thoughtful than he considered.
He continued, "What about the second condition?"
Li Anning said without hesitation, "I want to parade with my husband."
This was not an excessive request. Emperor Xia looked outside the palace and said, "The ceremony will take some time to end. I will ask the Secretariat to draft an edict. It should still be in time..."
…
The Imperial Palace.
Inside a certain hall.
The number one scholar wearing a dragon robe walked in front, and the other scholars walked out of the hall in an orderly manner.
When they heard from the officials of the Ministry of Rites that the ceremony was over and the parade of floats was about to begin, everyone perked up.
After more than ten years of hard study, isn't this what we've been waiting for?
Before I even reached the palace gate, I could already see crowds of people lining both sides of the streets outside.
The two palace gates slowly opened.
Lu Sheng walked forward, pointed to the main gate in the middle, and said to Li Nuo: "Top Scholar, please go through this gate."
Among the hundred Jinshi, only the top scorer could go through the main gate in the middle, while the rest could only go through the relatively low and narrow side door.
After walking out of the palace gate, you can see the floats parked not far away.
Freshly picked branches of flowers were placed on the open carriages, and the scholars would soon sit in these carriages and parade around Chang'an.
The ceremony in the palace had ended, but the officials from the Ministry of Rites were slow to announce the start of the parade.
Everyone had no choice but to stand there and wait.
Li Nuo was also a little confused. According to the procedure, he should get in the car and prepare to set off.
With so many officials in the Ministry of Rites and almost every process being time-bound, it is impossible for them to make such a low-level mistake.
At this moment, a rider on a fast horse came galloping out of the palace.
"The imperial edict has arrived!"
Before the knight on horseback walked out of the palace gate, a powerful voice was heard first.
Although the sound was not loud, it was very penetrating and could be clearly heard by everyone in the noisy environment.
Including the scholars in front of the palace gate, everyone knelt down. In an instant, the entire palace gate was silent.
The knight dismounted, took out a bright yellow scroll from his bosom, and said, "New champion Li Nuo accepts the decree!"
Li Nuo was stunned for a moment, then said: "Student accepts the order."
The knight opened the scroll and said loudly, "The imperial edict says that the new champion Li Nuo is of noble character, excellent in both talent and appearance, and has won the first place in six subjects in one person. He is truly the best among the heroes in the world; the beautiful daughter of the Song family is gentle, respectful, and has a gentle and gentle temperament, a gentle and bright virtue, and a beautiful and upright beauty. She is granted the title of a sixth-rank imperial lady... My youngest daughter An Ning is virtuous and well-mannered, and is of noble character. She is the right age for marriage... I have ordered the Ministry of Rites to select a date for the wedding and prepare for the ceremony. I hope that the three of you will be in harmony and of one mind. Don't let me down. I respect you."
The voice of the knight who read out the imperial edict seemed to have a strange power. Even the common people hundreds of feet away could hear it clearly.
However, this imperial edict was too wordy and most people could not understand its meaning.
But the newly-appointed scholars nearby understand it very well.
No, really let the princess marry him!
How can a royal princess marry a married man?
I thought that since there would be only one person in each of the six subjects and the other party was already married, His Majesty would revoke the order and choose another one from this batch of Jinshi as the prince consort.
Unexpectedly, His Majesty would rather let the princess marry a married man than consider anyone else.
Is it really so amazing to be the top scorer in six subjects?
Being the top scorer in six subjects is truly amazing.
People who have never taken part in the imperial examination may think that being the top scorer in six subjects is very impressive.
But only those who have participated in the imperial examinations know that the word "awesome" is simply not enough to describe the top scorers in six subjects.
The imperial edict stated that not only could he marry the princess, but he also did not have to divorce his original wife.
He came from a distinguished family, being the only son of the most powerful official in the court. He also won the first place in six subjects and ranked first among all the successful candidates.
That would be fine, but he also had two, no, three beauties in Chang'an...
Why does all the good things in the world happen to him?
All the successful candidates were envious and jealous.
But they can only envy and be jealous.
Among the ninety-nine people present, if there was any one who was ambitious enough, even if he won the top spot in one subject, he would not have the turn to be the prince consort.
But they don't live up to expectations.
The imperial edict came so suddenly that even Li Nuo was caught off guard.
Li Anning said that as long as he won the first place in six subjects, her marriage could be delayed.
Li Nuo believed it.
After all, they held hands, hugged each other, and had their first kiss.
In Li Nuo's heart, her position is always somewhat special.
His original idea was to delay it as long as possible.
As for the result of not having to divorce, not having to let his wife suffer, and having Li An Ning and his wife become co-wife, to be honest, he didn't even dare to think about it.
The knight took the imperial edict, walked up to Li Nuo and said, "My Lord, please accept the edict."
Li Nuo took the imperial edict and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
At this time, a figure slowly walked out of the palace.
Li An Ning, wearing a phoenix crown and gorgeous palace dress, slowly walked in front of Li Nuo and extended her slender hand to him.
Seeing Princess An Ning, who had a beautiful face, graceful figure and elegant demeanor, having her hand held by that man, all the Jinshi candidates were so angry that they almost gritted their teeth.
If I had made one less mistake in the question.
If I had written better.
If I had performed exceptionally well in shooting...
Unfortunately, there is no if.
The Ministry of Rites finally solved a troublesome matter. Lu Sheng smiled and said, "Please ask the number one scholar and the princess to get in the car!"
Li Nuo held Li An Ning's hand and slowly walked to a magnificent carriage in front of the palace gate.
A figure had already sat in the car early.
Li Anning lowered his head and did not dare to look at Song Jiaren.
Song Jiaren glanced at them, then silently moved to the side to make more space.
This carriage was originally designed to accommodate two people. After all, no number one scholar had ever had two wives.
Fortunately, the seats were spacious enough. Li Nuo sat in the middle, with his wife on his left and Li Anning on his right. The three of them could sit together, but there was no space in the middle.
The carriage started slowly, with the number one scholar's carriage walking in the front.
The scholars who came after him rode in a carriage of five people each, always keeping a distance from the carriage in front.
Li Nuo was still holding Li An Ning's hand, and he didn't know whether his wife understood the imperial edict just now.
Even if you didn't understand, you can understand this scene now.
Before, the lady seemed to have accepted An Ning.
But it was messed up by Song Yiren.
Li Nuo tried to hold his wife's hand.
It went very smoothly, without any resistance.
He boldly put the hands of the three of them together. Song Jiaren turned her head to look at him but didn't say anything.
Li Anning breathed a sigh of relief, smiled at the crowd on the roadside, stretched out his hand, and waved at them, which drew cheers from the crowd...
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
