Chapter 60 Imperial Decree of Marriage: Mortal Enemies Become Husband and Wife?! ...
"My lord, we're almost at Cenzhou. Let's rest for a bit."
The calm lake reflects the layers of lush green branches, interspersed with delicate and elegant flower buds, small and white, so lovely to behold. As we approach Cenzhou, the fragrance of jasmine grows stronger, and a gentle breeze carries its sweet scent, enveloping us completely.
It was midday, and the sun was blazing. Jingnu found a cool pavilion and reined in her horse, raising her hand to call out to Xue Rongyue.
When traveling and in a hurry, riding a horse is naturally faster. To avoid unnecessary trouble, both of them dressed in Hu clothing and disguised themselves as men.
Thanks to Jingnu's skillful hands, no one could tell that the two were women. They also carried long swords at their waists, so no villains dared to offend them along the way.
The dense foliage pressed down on the pavilion, blocking out the scorching sun and making it much cooler. Xue Rongyue wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, sat on the stone bench, and took a sip of the cool tea from her water pouch: "How much longer until we reach Cenzhou?"
Jingnu took out a few solid cakes and replied, "It will take about half an hour to enter Cenzhou, and another two and a half hours to reach Linxian. If we travel at a fast pace, we should be able to meet up with Luo Zhen and the others before nightfall."
To avoid alerting the enemy and drawing attention, Luo Zhen and another guard, Zhao Ming, along with a dozen thugs and Guan He, split up and traveled ahead for several days. They have likely already arrived in the neighboring county and are now quietly gathering information.
Xue Rongyue's face already showed signs of fatigue. Traveling day and night like this would be exhausting even for travelers and knights-errant, let alone her.
She chewed the cakes without tasting them, her legs beginning to tremble: "I wonder how Schumann is doing."
Jingnu comforted her, saying, "If the situation is bad, Luo Zhen will naturally send someone to deliver a message. Since there is no message, it means there is still room for maneuver."
After saying that, Jingnu frowned and looked towards Chang'an with worry in her eyes: "We left Chang'an in a hurry, and we don't know if the Liu family's matter has been properly resolved."
After all, it is a major life event, and although Prince Qin has made a promise, if something goes wrong, they are far away in Cenzhou and cannot help them.
If they return to Chang'an and find that their wife's marriage to the young master of the Liu family is already a done deal, then it will truly be like going from one tiger's den to another, and they will have a lot to worry about.
Xue Rongyue was quite relieved about the matter: "When soldiers come, we will block them; when water comes, we will dam it. There's no use worrying."
Jingnu glanced at her and said bluntly, "Your Highness believes in Prince Qin, don't you? Why are you pretending to be so indifferent? You really do believe in Prince Qin now."
Xue Rongyue raised her leg and kicked her hard.
Jingnu dodged quickly, realizing that her mistress's tolerance for her was almost gone. She couldn't help but sigh with regret and obediently began to eat the cakes.
After resting for a quarter of an hour, Xue Rongyue and Jingnu mounted their horses and continued their journey.
The horses' hooves kicked up a cloud of dust, and a sudden gust of wind brushed past their brows and eyes, heading straight for the lotus flowers on the lake. Ripples spread across the water, and a bird that had been circling there cried out, flapped its wings, and flew away towards the distant mountains.
Guang Sheng looked at the birds flying overhead and said, "We're almost at Cenzhou. Traveling day and night is really exhausting."
With the scent of jasmine lingering around his nose, Qin Jin raised his hand and caught a delicate white petal that drifted down in front of him: "Have you cleaned up all the tails?"
Guang Sheng replied, "Your Highness, rest assured, we will definitely not let them go to Cenzhou."
He curled his lip: "The young master didn't even attend the palace banquet and left Chang'an at the last minute. I don't know where the Empress Dowager got the news, but she was able to send people to follow him all the way. Fortunately, these people were not good enough and were discovered before they even left Chang'an."
If it weren't for the need to force them to convey incorrect information to the Empress Dowager, they wouldn't have been allowed to leave Chang'an.
"Having not appeared in Chang'an for a long time, the Empress Dowager has become suspicious."
His well-defined knuckles caressed the delicate petals, and his fingertips were unknowingly imbued with the refreshing scent of jasmine. Qin Jin lowered his head and sniffed, his voice carrying a hint of nonchalance: "This time we must act quickly to avoid any unforeseen complications."
Guang Sheng glanced at Qin Jin's expression: "The young master seems to be in a good mood."
He rode forward furtively and asked, "Is it because you successfully eliminated your biggest threat?"
Qin Jin raised an eyebrow and glanced at him: "What major threat?"
Guang Sheng clicked his tongue: "Why is the young master still trying to hide it from me? His Majesty's decree of marriage has been issued. The young master of the Liu family and the young lady of the Wang family will be married soon. The young lady of the Xue family has gotten rid of the Liu family. Isn't this a relief for the young master?"
"Your information network is quite impressive."
Before Guang Sheng could feel smug, Qin Jin picked up his riding crop and tapped him on the head. His expression was cold as he said in a deep voice, "If you keep talking nonsense and don't know how to control your mouth, you'll lose your tongue."
Guang Sheng understood the serious warning in Qin Jin's words and immediately realized that he was not joking. He was so frightened that he quickly tightened his mouth and nodded repeatedly, indicating that he would never speak carelessly again.
Guang Sheng is good in every way, except he can't control his mouth. Regardless of what happens between him and Xue Rongyue in the future, right now, we can't let Guang Sheng's careless words tarnish Xue Rongyue's reputation.
Thinking of the purse in his arms, Qin Jin's lips curled up slightly again.
He resisted the urge to take out his purse and examine it closely: "Let's go, let's go into town."
The two men raised their whips and spurred their horses into the city.
Dragonflies frolicking above the lotus flowers were startled by the sound of galloping hooves. With a "whoosh," they scattered and fled away from the graceful lotus flowers, rushing off into the distance.
With a loud "crack," the teacup slammed heavily onto the ground, shattering instantly. The impending storm in Chang'an attracted many dragonflies that hovered low in the air. Xue Xiude's suppressed voice mingled with the rumble of thunder, unable to conceal the shock and anger in his tone.
"His Majesty has already issued the imperial decree for the marriage. The Liu family has no other young men of similar age. What else can I do? Am I unwilling to show my loyalty?!"
A deep, smiling voice followed: "The Liu family has three branches and many descendants, how could there be no suitable husbands?"
Xue Xiude understood the implication in the man's words and sneered twice: "The third branch of the Liu family? The third branch of the Liu family only has two sons, both of whom are already married. Who can the Xue family marry into?"
His brow furrowed suddenly, and his voice rose: "Don't tell me you plan to marry my daughter off to the third master of the Liu family as his second wife! I, Xue Xiude, would never dare to lose face like that!"
Seemingly startled by Xue Xiude's words, the unfamiliar male voice paused for a moment before continuing, "...How could that be? Even if the general agrees, I'm afraid Master Liu the Third would not agree. I'm referring to the infant son of the Liu family's third branch who was switched at birth."
Xue Xiude was stunned: "Isn't he already dead?"
The man sitting opposite said, "Liu Sanlang, who was supposed to be returning to his ancestral home, is indeed dead, but the imposter is still alive and being raised in the Liu family."
Xue Xiude was puzzled: "What do you mean by that?"
The man's lips curled slightly, revealing a meaningful smile: "Speaking of which, that imposter has lived in the Liu family since childhood, received instruction from renowned teachers, is well-mannered, gentle and polite, and is proficient in both literary and martial arts. He is an extremely intelligent person, far superior to the Liu family's deceased biological son, Liu Sanlang."
"If it weren't for that, the Liu family wouldn't have kept this imposter in their home after their own son was recognized as a member of the clan, only preventing him from seeing anyone. After Liu Sanlang's early death, the Liu family was filled with regret. If they had known their son was destined to die young, they would have just accepted the mistake and made this whole ordeal, only to become a laughingstock for no reason."
The farce that happened in the third branch of the Liu family was widely publicized back then, and Xue Xiude, who was in Chang'an at the time, had heard about it.
However, when the third wife of the Liu family gave birth on the mountain, due to a sudden disaster, she and a farmer who was also giving birth at the same time had their children switched at birth. She mistakenly raised the farmer's child as her own son until three years ago, when the truth was finally corrected by chance.
The grudges and conspiracies involved are now unknown. Xue Xiude was not interested in the infighting among the different branches of the Liu family. He had only overheard a few rumors and casually mocked the Liu family elders for being blind and incompetent, unable to recognize their own son and raising someone else's son for nothing.
He sensed a hint of unease in the man's words: "You mean, you want me to marry my daughter to this imposter?"
"Don't underestimate him just because he's an imposter. Before his true identity was revealed, he was the hope for the revival of the Liu family. The Empress Dowager read his articles years ago and once held him in high regard."
The man slowly said, "Liu Ruyu is nothing but a good-for-nothing who is all show and no substance. The articles that made Liu Ruyu famous in Chang'an were all written by him."
Xue Xiude's furrowed brows remained unchanged: "He's just a peasant with no connections. There are countless noble families in Chang'an. Marrying my daughter to him would be too low a marriage for me. I wonder what people will say about me if word gets out."
"Besides, she's a legitimate daughter of the Xue family, and yet she's marrying down like this. How can Chun'er find a good match? I was hoping Chun'er would marry into that family..."
“General Xue really dotes on this adopted daughter, and he plans for her in every way.” The man raised his hand, interrupting Xue Xiude’s unfinished words. “I know General Xue’s concerns. Don’t worry, the Liu family has made up their minds to adopt this imposter as their son. They will open an ancestral hall for him in the future, and his name will be included in the family genealogy. He will no longer be a farmer’s son.”
"The descendants of the three branches of the Liu family are all useless. In the future, we can only cultivate this adopted son. Moreover, he is gentle, dignified and polite. After Lady Xue marries him, the couple will treat each other with respect. They may be able to live a life of luxury in the future."
"I don't care about any of that, as long as it doesn't interfere with my Chun'er's marriage." A strange unease welled up in Xue Xiude's heart. His knuckles tapped on the table as he absentmindedly said, "Let me think, let me think carefully..."
"General Xue, this is unthinkable. If His Majesty were to strike first again, we would miss another golden opportunity."
The man spoke calmly, but his words carried a sharp edge: "It's just a small matter of marriage, yet it has caused trouble time and time again. I don't care, but I'm afraid that the Empress Dowager's heart will be stirred up and she will doubt the general's loyalty. That would be a great loss."
Xue Xiude naturally understood the threatening tone in his words, and his face immediately darkened. The veins on his forehead bulged as he panted, but he dared not actually rebuke the man because of his status. Moreover, what he said was not an exaggeration.
The marriage alliance with the Liu family had been agreed upon long ago, but it has turned into this situation. If there are any further twists and turns, who knows what the Empress Dowager will think.
He could only suppress his unease for the time being and reluctantly nodded: "Since that's the case, then let's do as you say. I'll find an auspicious time in the coming days to exchange birth dates with the Liu family and then we'll finalize this marriage."
The man frowned, looking down on Xue Xiude's stupidity: "General, don't you understand? His Majesty is watching us closely. If we delay even a moment, who knows what might happen? There's no time for these formalities. I've brought the marriage certificate. Please, General Xue, go and get the seal quickly and stamp it."
He warned in a deep voice, "Delay could lead to unforeseen consequences!"
Although Xue Xiude felt this was too hasty, he was also taken aback by his words. After hesitating for a moment, he called out loudly towards the door, "Huaiyu, go and get my seal!"
The guards outside the door responded and were about to step forward when the steward of the mansion, Old Man Geng, suddenly rushed over. He was stopped by the guards at the door and could only report through the door: "General, Your Majesty has issued an imperial edict. The eunuch who is to deliver the edict has already alighted from his sedan chair in front of the mansion. Please come forward quickly to hear the decree!"
Xue Xiude was startled and hurriedly stood up, his unease becoming tangible: "Your Majesty, why would Your Majesty issue an edict at this time, and what is it about...?"
The man's expression turned completely indifferent, a sharp and cold killing intent flashing in his eyes, but it was concealed by the rising steam of the tea. He chuckled lightly and said indifferently, "Why guess? General, why don't you go out and listen to the imperial decree? You will understand then."
“That makes sense, I’ll go out right now, I’ll go out right now…” Xue Xiude wiped the sweat from his forehead, straightened his clothes, and strode out.
The one who came to deliver the imperial decree was the chief eunuch of the emperor's side. As soon as he stepped across the threshold of the Xue residence, he saw Xue Xiude rushing over and immediately burst into laughter. He stepped forward and congratulated him repeatedly, saying, "General Xue, there is good news in your family! Congratulations! This is a great thing!"
Xue Xiude's unease intensified. He swallowed hard, forced a stiff smile, and stepped forward, pulling a heavy bag of gold from his pocket and handing it over: "Eunuch Xu, what brings you this joy?"
Eunuch Xu did not refuse in the slightest and readily accepted the bag of gold.
His smile remained unchanged, as if he hadn't noticed Xue Xiude's pale and unsightly face. He chuckled and said, "His Majesty has found an excellent marriage for Princess Yong'an. Look, the imperial decree for the marriage has arrived. Isn't this a great joy?"
Xue Xiude's heart froze, then pounded even faster after a thud. He didn't even have time to wipe the sweat from his forehead. His heart was in his throat as he tried to control the trembling in his voice: "Princess Yong'an... Your Majesty, Your Majesty has betrothed Princess Yong'an to whom?!"
"General, why should you worry? His Majesty dotes on Princess Yong'an, and the husband he has chosen for her is naturally a young and talented man who is his childhood sweetheart and whom he knows well—"
After keeping Xue Xiude in suspense for a while, Xu Gonggong finally revealed the name slowly and deliberately: "This person is Qin Jin, the heir of the Qin family."
“Princess Yong’an and Prince Qin grew up together. They are well-matched in terms of social status and appearance. They understand each other’s temperament perfectly and have a childhood friendship. Their marriage is a match made in heaven and they are truly a perfect couple.”
"It's clear how much His Majesty cherishes Princess Yong'an; it's no less than General Xue's affection for her!"
As Eunuch Xu's measured voice faded, Xue Xiude felt a tightness in his chest, neither rising nor falling. The surge of blood rushed into his lungs, almost making him gasp for breath, while a strong, metallic taste of blood rose in his throat.
His mind went blank, his ears were ringing, and he could no longer hear any of the sounds around him. He felt his legs go weak and his face turned completely pale.
He understood the consequences of this decree better than anyone else!
It's over. All those years of planning have been ruined!
Your Majesty, Your Majesty, how could you bestow a marriage upon these two?! These two are mortal enemies, irreconcilable foes. For so many years, under his deliberate instigation and manipulation, who in Chang'an is unaware of their rivalry?!
His Majesty actually dared to do that!
As Eunuch Xu finished speaking meaningfully, he saw Xue Xiude's expression change drastically and couldn't help but sneer, saying in a drawn-out tone, "General Xue, hurry up and listen to the imperial decree."
Xue Xiude stood there, stunned, ignoring everything.
Eunuch Xu gave him plenty of face, but after a while, he finally lost his patience. The smile on his face faded, and his voice suddenly turned cold: "General Xue, could it be that you are dissatisfied with His Majesty's bestowal of marriage and want to defy the imperial decree?"
Grabbed swiftly by Geng Weng, Xue Xiude fell to his knees with a thud. The instant his knees touched the ground, he finally came to his senses and hurriedly kowtowed to the imperial edict, saying, "Your subject... Your subject dares not..."
Inside the main hall, a wisp of smoke rose and drifted out through the half-open window. Birds perched on branches were startled away by the muffled thunder in the distance. The pattering raindrops pattered on the white wall, leaving streaks of varying shades.
Hearing the commotion outside, the man finished his hot tea in one gulp, lowered his eyes, and slowly stood up: "What a pity, it's useless now."
The news of the Emperor's bestowal of a marriage between the Xue and Qin families was not dampened by the sudden downpour; within half a day, it had spread throughout the streets and alleys. The fact that these former enemies were now to be united in marriage truly astonished many, leaving numerous households stunned and sighing in disbelief at the imperial decree.
"Your Majesty really isn't afraid of turning enemies into bitter spouses..."
In a martial arts school on the west side of Dongfang City, the shopkeeper, watching the falling rain, was about to close his doors when he overheard a pair of craftsmen passing by discussing something. He froze on the spot, his expression changing drastically, and quickly called out to them, "Wait, what were you two saying? His Majesty has bestowed a marriage upon the Princess of Yong'an and Prince Qin?!"
One of the craftsmen laughed and said, "That's right. The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree just left the Xue residence. Now, who in Chang'an doesn't know about this marriage?"
"I heard that Princess Yong'an and Prince Qin have always had a bad relationship. They are like oil and water and have fought each other many times. Now they are engaged, and I wonder how they will react. I'm afraid one of them will try to kill himself and the other will refuse to submit to the death."
Another craftsman chimed in, "That's right. The Xue and Qin families seem to be at peace, but who knows what kind of trouble they'll cause at their mansions."
The shopkeeper felt a chill run down his spine and had difficulty breathing. It wasn't until the rain soaked him to the bone that he came to his senses. It was too late to thank the two men. He scrambled back into the martial arts school, not bothering to wipe the rainwater streaming down his forehead. He took out some paper and began to write furiously.
His wife is unlikely to be suicidal right now, because she's not even in Chang'an and has no idea about this arranged marriage!
He had to send a message to Cenzhou immediately to inform his wife of this, otherwise—
Just thinking about it made the shop owner feel like half the sky had collapsed.
Cenzhou, a neighboring county.
This place cannot compare to the liveliness of Chang'an. In Chang'an, as soon as night falls, rows of candles light up the streets like stars in the sky. The streets and alleys are packed with tourists and travelers. The cries of vendors in the east and west markets are endless. Taverns of all sizes are full of customers. Hu girls dance gracefully to the beat of drums, and their graceful dance moves are dazzling.
Although Linxian is a place nestled among mountains and rivers, it is still quite remote. Moreover, the continuous mountain ranges make it extremely easy for bandits to rob and plunder. Therefore, as soon as night falls, the shops here close early, and there are few people on the road. Under the few lonely lanterns, only one or two wild cats can be seen.
Qin Jin leaned against the peeling paint on the railing, tossing the half-eaten dry food in his hand to a skinny stray cat rubbing against his leg: "You're quite clever, knowing to come here to find me."
The kitten meowed twice in response.
Qin Jin curled his lips into a smile. Suddenly, a pebble was thrown straight at him. Just before it reached him, he calmly caught it before looking up at the direction from which it had come.
A pair of familiar almond-shaped eyes came into view.
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Author's Note: I'm here! I'm a couple of minutes late. I was a bit rushed today. Feel free to point out any bugs!
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