"You must know how to lie low and not confront the emperor head-on. Then, take up a military post, go to the frontier to gain experience, and go as far as possible."
"Mother, do you mean you want me to strive to gain control of the military?"
Xie Changling's eyes lit up, and hope suddenly rekindled in his heart. Yes, seize military power, take the opportunity to rebel, and snatch Xi'er back!
"Well……"
The Prime Minister's wife was embarrassed. She had only wanted Changling to go further away from the capital, so that he wouldn't stay and cause more grief, and might even anger the emperor.
But she never expected her son to think that way. Taking command of the military was impossible; who would hand over military power to the enemy?
However, seeing Xie Changling cheer up, the Prime Minister's wife swallowed back the words that were about to come out. Oh well, it's rare to make someone happy.
"But Mother, will the Emperor really release them?"
Xie Changling had not forgotten the Emperor's words about bestowing a marriage upon him, and he believed that the Emperor had not forgotten either. These words were like a guillotine hanging over his head, ready to fall at any moment.
"Yes, your father told me that after he returns from this disaster relief mission, he will try to get you an official position. The Emperor will remember his contributions and will certainly not refuse."
The Prime Minister's wife reassured him, but before he could be happy for long, he heard a servant's hurried footsteps. When he saw the two of them, he knelt down and said...
"Madam, young master, a eunuch from the palace has arrived. He says he's here to deliver an imperial edict from the Emperor and wants you to receive it!"
!
Xie Changling immediately realized that this must be an imperial marriage decree. He hadn't expected the emperor to be in such a hurry, as only a day had passed.
He gave a bitter laugh, feeling an inexplicable bitterness on the tip of his tongue. He wondered what Xi'er would think of him, or rather, what the Emperor would want Xi'er to think of him.
"Ling'er, what does His Majesty mean this time?"
The Prime Minister's wife was greatly alarmed. She was afraid that the Emperor might have overheard her words, which was why she rushed to deliver the imperial decree.
But then I thought about it again and realized it was impossible. It would take at least half an hour to get here and back from the palace. If someone was really watching us, it wouldn't be that fast.
It seems that only Changling can answer her questions. Could it be that something happened yesterday that she doesn't know about?
The Prime Minister's wife gripped Xie Changling's hand nervously, her eyes filled with worry: "Ling'er, do you know what the Emperor means?"
Xie Changling's face turned even paler. He felt dizzy and disoriented. He hadn't expected the Emperor to be so demanding. He hadn't even had time to go to the frontier yet.
"Mother, the Emperor wants to bestow a marriage upon me. Can I refuse?"
"cannot!"
The Prime Minister's wife immediately interrupted him, saying to her foolish son, "Don't you understand? You have to reassure the Emperor. Do you think he would feel comfortable letting you leave the capital if you refused the imperial decree?"
Xie Changling suddenly seemed to have all his strength drained away, his lips turned white, and he looked like a wandering soul, only able to nod.
"My son knows."
Xie Changling's last shred of hope was shattered by the Prime Minister's wife. He himself knew all too well that he had to obey and be subservient in order to secure his future.
But he was unwilling, a deep sense of resentment enveloped him, but what good was it if he was unwilling? He could only obey, there was nothing he could do.
The light in Xie Changling's eyes flickered, but finally settled on one point, and he followed the Prime Minister's wife to the gate of the mansion.
...
The main gate of the Prime Minister's residence.
A eunuch dressed in a dark red robe was holding the imperial edict and speaking it out word by word.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that the Prime Minister's son has divorced Ms. Song. Now that they have divorced, they should part ways peacefully and there should be no further entanglement."
"Although I find it regrettable, I pity the Prime Minister's son who is widowed and alone. I have heard that the second daughter of Jiang Lu, the Vice Minister of Rites, is unmarried. The two are of similar age and should be happily married. I hereby bestow marriage upon you two."
"I expect you to treat Lady Jiang well, and I hope that you two will live in harmony and support each other. I hereby order you to marry within one month. This is my decree—"
Only after uttering the last word did Xie Changling's dead heart truly die, and his face turned ashen.
When he came to his senses, he saw the eunuch close the imperial edict and walk towards him: "Thank you, young master. Please accept the edict. I still have to go back to my post."
The old man looked at him with a forced smile. His face was covered in thick powder, making him eerily white. When he smiled like that, he could scare a person out of their wits.
However, Xie Changling was already distraught. He tried his best to suppress the resentment surging in his heart, and without showing any emotion on his face, he accepted the imperial decree: "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."
The eunuch seemed very eager to see Xie Changling's respectful demeanor. He grinned slightly and said, "Then I'll be leaving now."
"Father-in-law, would you like to stay for a cup of tea before you leave?"
The Prime Minister's wife took the opportunity to place a purse in his hand. Her movement was very subtle, and the fabric was so inconspicuous that it could not be seen at all without careful observation.
The old man tossed the purse in his hand; it was quite heavy. A genuine smile appeared on his face, and his eyes were filled with amusement.
"No, no, thank you for your kindness, Madam. I have to go back to report to the Emperor, so I won't bother you any longer."
"But please rest assured, Madam, I am not one to gossip or spread rumors, and I will tell you the truth."
After the eunuch finished speaking, he left with his men, leaving only the people from the Prime Minister's residence behind.
The Prime Minister's wife quickly helped Xie Changling up from the ground, brushed the dirt off his body, and held his hand, which was indeed terribly cold.
"Ling'er?"
The Prime Minister's wife looked at him with concern, but Xie Changling shook his head and remained silent.
He stared intently at the imperial edict in his hand, his expression unreadable, revealing neither joy nor anger.
He stood there for a long time before slowly carrying the imperial edict back to Qingfeng Garden.
The Prime Minister's wife watched his retreating figure, her nose stinging with tears. Her Ling'er, his life was truly unfortunate; why was everything so difficult for him?
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