Chapter 1: The Imperial Marriage – “I Can Marry Him”
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The daughter of the Minister's family is beautiful and intelligent..."
"The marriage is hereby arranged with Yan Zhenxi, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The relevant officials are hereby ordered to select an auspicious day for the marriage. This is hereby decreed."
"Your subject receives the decree." Ji Tonghai stepped forward and respectfully accepted it.
"Your Excellency, congratulations!" said the eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree with a smile.
Ji Tonghai's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal, without replying.
The eunuch said nothing more and led his men away from the Minister's residence.
After the person left, the people from the Ji family all had a solemn expression on their faces.
If this imperial decree of marriage had come a week earlier, the entire Ji family would have been overjoyed and celebrating.
Yan Zhenxi, the eldest son of the Yan family.
The Yan family was a renowned and powerful clan throughout history, and many high-ranking officials and even important ministers were promoted by the Yan family.
As the eldest son of the Yan family, Yan Zhenxi did not disappoint his family's reputation. He was famous from a young age, and became the top scholar in his first imperial examination. He was exceptionally talented and became the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, a fourth-rank official, at a young age.
He was always upright and humble, with a clear conscience and gentle nature, making him the perfect son-in-law in the eyes of high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital.
Putting aside his family background and talent, his good looks alone would make him the dream lover of countless women in the capital.
Although the Ji family was also a scholarly family, it was worlds apart from the Yan family.
However, just a week ago, when the Emperor held a banquet, an assassin appeared. In order to protect the Emperor, Yan Zhenxi was unfortunately injured in the head and fainted on the spot.
Although his life was not in danger, he went blind. One group of imperial physicians came, but they all shook their heads and said there was no possibility of recovery.
The once promising young nobleman is now in a state that evokes deep sighs.
There are regulations in the imperial court that prohibit people with disabilities of the degree of blindness from holding important positions.
The Emperor took pity on Yan Zhenxi and retained his position as Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and even bestowed many rewards upon him. It sounded like he was the Emperor's savior, but anyone with discernment knew that Yan Zhenxi's career was likely to end there.
Moreover, the situation in the Yan family is quite complicated. Yan Zhenxi's biological mother passed away when he was young, and now his stepmother is in charge of the inner quarters of the Yan family. Yan Zhenxi's younger brother is his stepmother's son.
Although the stepmother and Yan Zhenxi seem to get along well on the surface, everyone knows what happened before and the undercurrents within. If it wasn't a big deal before, it's not a good ending for Yan Zhenxi now that she's blind.
Ji Tonghai's only daughter, Ji Wanqing, was a renowned talented woman in the capital. Most importantly, Ji Tonghai only had this one daughter and was unwilling to let her marry into the family.
Just as Ji Tonghai was sighing and everyone else was looking worried, a soft voice rang out: "I can marry into that family."
Ji Tonghai looked over in surprise. It was Jiang Zhiyao, who had never been very noticeable in the mansion. She was standing at the very back of the group of people from the Ji family who had come to receive the imperial decree.
"The imperial edict only stated that it was the daughter of the Minister's family, not that it had to be Sister Ji."
Seeing that Ji Tonghai didn't speak, Jiang Zhiyao added another sentence in a low voice, but everyone heard it clearly.
Ji Wanqing looked somewhat anxious and was about to speak when she was interrupted by Qin Gaofei beside her.
"Yes," Qin Gaofei suddenly realized, "It didn't say that Wanqing had to marry him."
A cousin is still a cousin, and it didn't specify her name or whether she was a direct descendant.
Qin Gaofei is Jiang Zhiyao's maternal aunt and Ji Wanqing's mother.
"Go back first, we'll discuss this later," Ji Tonghai said sternly.
Then, looking at his usually well-behaved and sensible niece, he softened his voice and said, "Come to the study with me."
Jiang Zhiyao followed, and as she passed Ji Wanqing, Ji Wanqing tugged at Jiang Zhiyao's sleeve.
Seeing the worried look on Sister Ji's face, Jiang Zhiyao smiled gently and squeezed Ji Wanqing's fingers to reassure her.
In the study.
"Yaoyao, you don't have to wrong yourself," Ji Tonghai said, looking at the obedient Jiang Zhiyao.
Jiang Zhiyao shook her head seriously: "Uncle, I don't feel wronged."
Ji Tonghai remained silent for a while, without saying anything.
After a long pause, he slowly said, "Then let's leave it at that. We'll make it up to you properly."
Although this move was risky, Ji Tonghai only had one daughter, Ji Wanqing, and he really couldn't bear to marry her off like this.
As for Jiang Zhiyao, Ji Tonghai had developed some feelings for his half-sister's daughter over the years, but ultimately, he couldn't put an end to his daughter's future.
"Thank you, Uncle." Jiang Zhiyao bowed and then turned to leave.
After leaving the study, I saw Madam Ji standing at the door.
Qin Gaofei looked slightly embarrassed: "Yaoyao, please don't take what I just said to heart..."
"It's alright, Aunt," Jiang Zhiyao said.
Jiang Zhiyao knew that her aunt didn't mean her any harm. Her aunt had been very good to her over the years, but they just weren't that close.
She didn't insist, nor did she want to put her aunt in a difficult position. Before Qin Gaofei could say anything more, she said, "I want to go and rest first."
Qin Gaofei opened her mouth, but didn't say anything: "Okay, then you should get some rest."
"Goodbye, Aunt." Jiang Zhiyao left with her maid, Nanzhi.
-
Back in his own courtyard, as expected, he saw Ji Wanqing standing at the door.
She was pacing back and forth to the side when she saw Jiang Zhiyao approaching. She immediately went over and grabbed Jiang Zhiyao's hand: "Yaoyao, how could you..."
"Sister, it's alright," Jiang Zhiyao reassured her.
Upon entering Jiang Zhiyao's boudoir and dismissing the servants, Ji Wanqing immediately said, "Even if you like him, he is already..."
The rest of the sentence was left unsaid.
Jiang Zhiyao's voice was soft but firm: "I know."
"It's not just for my sister, it's also for myself."
"It's better to marry someone I like than to end up marrying someone I don't like and getting tired of each other."
"Besides, isn't my sister still waiting for him?"
Ji Wanqing looked at Jiang Zhiyao and sighed. She knew her younger sister well. Although she was usually easy to talk to, once she made up her mind, very few people could persuade her otherwise.
"Sister, don't worry about it."
Ji Wanqing reached out and pinched Jiang Zhiyao's cheek: "Yaoyao, you're usually timid, how come you have such ideas about such a big thing?"
"Sister," Jiang Zhiyao called out, her words slightly slurred as she was being pinched.
"If you are wronged, go to your sister, okay?" Ji Wanqing instructed. "I will bring you a few more guards."
“We, the Ji family, are not people who can be bullied.”
Jiang Zhiyao nodded obediently.
But looking at Jiang Zhiyao's obedient appearance, Ji Wanqing couldn't help but feel worried.
My younger sister is just too sensible and doesn't want to trouble others.
Ji Wanqing still remembers the first time she met Jiang Zhiyao. She was a small girl carrying a small bundle on her back, hiding behind a nanny, looking at them timidly.
Ji Wanqing didn't react much to the fact that she had a younger sister. She only knew that she was the daughter of her father's half-sister and her cousin. Moreover, she knew that her sister was very easy to take care of and had never bothered anyone.
It wasn't until several months later, when she happened to bump into her, that Ji Wanqing learned that she had been bullied by the servants in the mansion.
Later, she severely punished the servants and expelled them from the mansion. Then, seeing the pitiful little girl, she kept Jiang Zhiyao by her side for several years.
Looking at her younger sister, who was a year younger than her, Ji Wanqing added with concern, "If you are bullied, you must tell us."
Jiang Zhiyao nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
-
Making this decision can be considered the boldest thing Jiang Zhiyao has ever done in her life.
When she said it in front of everyone, Jiang Zhiyao's voice trembled slightly, but fortunately no one should have noticed.
The reason she made this decision was not only because she liked Yan Zhenxi, but more importantly, because she knew that Sister Ji had someone she liked.
They had long been in love, and Sister Ji had been waiting for him to come back.
Jiang Zhiyao silently cherishes the kindness and care that the Ji family has shown her over the years, as well as the constant support from her sister Ji.
Even if she didn't like Yan Zhenxi, or even if the person she was betrothed to wasn't Yan Zhenxi, she would still make this decision if she could.
Jiang Zhiyao turned over and let out a soft breath, as if she had finally accomplished something important.
Bathed in moonlight, she drifted off to sleep.
On the other side, at the Yan residence.
"My lord, regarding the matter of the arranged marriage..."
"Speak." His voice was as thin as ice, like jade shattering or water droplets falling onto a jade plate.
"The Ji family plans to have their cousin marry in their place."
"Oh?" There was a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Sir, what about our previous plan..."
"Make it useless."
"Yes, sir." The speaker bowed and withdrew.
Is she a cousin of the Ji family?
Yan Zhenxi recalled this person in her mind. Was it the little shadow that Miss Ji always followed around?
They seem to be quite law-abiding.
Yan Zhenxi had no impression of her, and didn't even remember what she looked like.
However, it doesn't have to be Ji Wanqing, because that person really likes Ji Wanqing.
Yan Zhenxi didn't care who he would marry. In any case, he wouldn't like whoever it was, and he was just pretending to be there.
He had overheard his classmates discussing romantic relationships, but he hated being touched by others and felt that he would never fall in love with anyone in his life.
He had never believed in or understood matters of the heart, but it wasn't worth it to create distance between him and that person because of it.
Did His Majesty's bestowal of this marriage indicate that he had become aware of his relationship with that person?
-
Because it was a marriage bestowed by the emperor, many wedding-related matters were arranged by people sent from the palace.
When it was time to take measurements for her wedding dress, Jiang Zhiyao met the people sent to make the first meeting. She was a little nervous, and her palms were sweating.
But the palace maid didn't say anything. After taking the measurements, she asked Jiang Zhiyao what style she liked and then left.
Several days passed without incident.
The people of the Ji family were completely relieved.
It seems that the Emperor has tacitly approved of Jiang Zhiyao's marriage to him.
At the Yan residence, only Yan Zhenxi's stepmother came with the betrothal gifts, chatted briefly, went through some formalities, and then left.
People in the capital gradually learned that Jiang Zhiyao was the one who was going to marry into the family.
The news caused quite a stir, with everyone sighing in disbelief that the once aloof and privileged young master would now be marrying a woman with no background whatsoever.
"Yao Yao Yao Yao!" Her voice could be heard before she was seen.
Just as Jiang Zhiyao put down her book, Cheng Mingzhu walked in.
She naturally sat down in another spot on Jiang Zhiyao's couch, her movements practiced and natural.
"You're the one who wants to marry Yan Zhenxi? Why didn't you tell me? I found out from someone else." Cheng Mingzhu pretended to be a little angry.
"I haven't figured out how to tell you yet," Jiang Zhiyao replied.
Mingzhu definitely wouldn't approve, and Jiang Zhiyao was originally planning to keep it a secret for a while longer.
"Was it Ji Wanqing who forced you to marry in her place?" Cheng Mingzhu asked indignantly.
Cheng Mingzhu and Ji Wanqing are close in age and have similar family backgrounds, so comparisons between the two are inevitable.
Ji Wanqing was known as a talented woman, while Cheng Mingzhu preferred swordsmanship. Her parents often used Ji Wanqing to admonish Cheng Mingzhu, which is why Cheng Mingzhu disliked Ji Wanqing.
Although she knew Ji Wanqing wouldn't do that, Cheng Mingzhu still wanted to have a good talk.
“Of course not.” Jiang Zhiyao immediately shook her head. “Sister Ji would never do that.”
"Sister Ji, Sister Ji." Cheng Mingzhu mimicked Jiang Zhiyao's words with a sour tone, "You call me Sister Ji every day, but I'm older than you. Why don't you ever call me 'sister'?"
"Mingzhu," Jiang Zhiyao called out with a hint of helplessness.
“Yan Zhenxi is already blind, and his stepmother is all talk and no action. If you marry into that family, you'll suffer every day.”
Moreover, although everyone in the capital praised Yan Zhenxi for his gentle and refined manner, Cheng Mingzhu felt that something was off about him; the smile on his face was always the same.
"I think it's fine. It'll definitely be more relaxing this way." Jiang Zhiyao thought it was nothing to worry about.
Cheng Mingzhu tapped Jiang Zhiyao's head lightly: "You, I bet you've got your eye on Yan Zhenxi."
"How...how did you know?" A blush crept onto Jiang Zhiyao's cheeks.
It's obvious, isn't it? Even Mingzhu noticed it.
"You're such a shy person, you rarely talk to people, and you don't even dare to make eye contact with people. But every time you see Yan Zhenxi at a banquet, you can't take your eyes off him."
Cheng Mingzhu's tone carried a hint of disappointment: "I thought it was because you liked pretty things, but I didn't expect you actually like him."
"Forget it, there's no point in saying anything now." Cheng Mingzhu shook her head. "If you're bullied, don't suffer in silence. We can always get a divorce."
If the Ji family stops supporting her, she can support Jiang Zhiyao for the rest of her life.
Jiang Zhiyao agreed: "Okay."
“Yaoyao, if you don’t want to get married anymore, you can come find me anytime.” Cheng Mingzhu patted her chest. “I’ll elope with you.”
Jiang Zhiyao was both amused and exasperated: "Is this how you use the word 'elope'?"
A warm feeling washed over me.
Jiang Zhiyao lowered her eyes, feeling a bit lost. She was about to get married. Would she really have a bad life after marrying him?
She never dared to hope that Yan Zhenxi would fall in love with her, but it shouldn't be difficult to treat each other with respect, right?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
