After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, Chu Yi subconsciously looked up at the screen not far behind him.
Nanzhi was hiding there; there was no way she hadn't heard it.
Although he knew she wouldn't care, and might even congratulate him, Chu Yi just didn't want to agree.
He was unwilling to marry any woman and occupy the title of Crown Princess.
But how could one disobey the emperor's edict!
The one who delivered the imperial edict was the chief eunuch in charge of the emperor's household. Seeing that Chu Yi did not accept it for a long time, he quickly lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness, this is a good thing. The other princes have always wanted to marry Miss Li, but His Majesty has not agreed. You should accept the edict and express your gratitude."
"Your subject...accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."
Chu Yi reached out and took the imperial edict.
The head eunuch left satisfied.
After Chu Yi held the imperial edict and dismissed the others, Nan Zhi emerged from behind the screen.
"That's great news!" Nanzhi looked at him with a grin. "You're in for a treat."
Nan Zhi laughed for a long time, but seeing that Chu Yi had no expression, he seemed very unhappy.
She leaned in and hugged his neck, comforting him like a brother: "You already don't have long to live, and you don't have any children. How pitiful! Take advantage of this time to marry a girl and have a big, healthy son, so you won't die with regrets."
Chu Yi's expression became even more silent.
Nanzhi didn't know why he hadn't comforted her properly, and looked at him somewhat confused.
"Alright, alright, it's fine if you don't like it. As long as you give birth to a son, the mission is accomplished..."
Before Nanzhi could finish speaking, Chu Yi hugged her tightly.
She was somewhat taken aback when she heard him speak with difficulty, "Will you be sad?"
She didn't understand: "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Chu Yi released her, reverting to his previous gentle and easily bullied demeanor, as if nothing had happened, which made Nan Zhi feel strange.
"On my wedding day, could you do me a favor?"
"Go ahead and speak." Nan Zhi leaned closer to listen, and after hearing what was said, she looked surprised. "You really want to do this?"
"Yes, is that alright?"
Nanzhi thought for a moment, then said, "Okay."
...
The imperial edict spread throughout the capital, and the first person to be saddened was Li Qiurou, the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Li.
She loved Shi Xiangming, and the two had already pledged their lives to each other. Why would she want to marry the sickly crown prince?
She immediately went to plead with Prime Minister Li, "Father, I do not wish to become the Crown Princess. Please go to His Majesty and have him rescind his decree!"
Prime Minister Li's face was also very grim. Everyone knew that the Crown Prince's health was unpredictable, and that he would recover after marrying into the family. But with such an uncertain outcome, who would dare to believe it?
His daughter is destined to become the future empress. If the crown prince is gone, the most likely candidate to become the heir apparent is Prince Rui, who was granted the title of prince at a young age.
Now that the Princess Consort of Chu has fallen out of favor, he was planning to marry Li Qiurou to her, but he never expected such a change to happen!
This is clearly an attempt to pit the Li family against Prince Rui!
If the Crown Prince is in good health, that would be best.
But if the Crown Prince's health doesn't improve, wouldn't he have wasted his legitimate daughter?
Prime Minister Li was troubled and hurriedly went to Chu Rui for help, only to be met with a few sarcastic remarks.
"Now that Miss Li is the Crown Princess, and the Prime Minister has become the Emperor's father-in-law, that is a great honor. The Prime Minister should go to the Eastern Palace, not come to me."
Prime Minister Li knew that this was a sign that Chu Rui was going to abandon him, and he had no choice but to leave in a sorry state.
Seeing that Prime Minister Li had no other choice, Li Qiurou could only send a message to Shi Xiangming through her maid, and the two arranged to meet at a certain place.
Shi Xiangming was also very upset when he learned that Li Qiurou was going to become the Crown Princess. As soon as they met, Li Qiurou rushed into his arms.
"Xiang Ming, what should I do? I don't want to marry the Crown Prince."
Li Qiurou's eyes reddened with grievance.
Shi Xiangming patted her back reassuringly, but his eyes were slightly cold. "It's alright, I'll think of a way."
Hearing his words, Li Qiurou felt relieved. She leaned against him for a while, then, remembering something, she said sadly, "The gold hairpin you gave me is gone. I've been looking for it for so long but haven't found it..."
"It's gone, it's gone. I'll just get you another one. Don't be sad, I don't want to see you unhappy."
Shi Xiangming smiled gently, reached out and touched her hair, his eyes full of affection.
Although Li Qiurou had received extensive etiquette training and was a perfect young lady from a respectable family, the other party was simply too perfect in her eyes. He was handsome and refined, kind to her, and always considered things from her perspective, unlike other men who were arrogant and conceited.
She was naturally willing to give up her promising future for him.
After Li Qiurou left, Shi Xiangming's expression immediately changed.
The gentleness was gone, and the affection in his eyes vanished in an instant, leaving only a bone-chilling indifference.
He approached her only for power; no matter how glamorous the world of martial arts may be, nothing is more important than power.
The emperor's decree is not so easily changed. Since he can't get through to her, he should try another way.
Shi Xiangming was about to leave when he heard a soft laugh coming from above him as soon as he turned around.
He instinctively gripped the sword hilt, looked up, and saw a familiar figure swaying on the wall. His hand then slowly loosened.
He wasn't sure if she heard him, how much she heard, or how much she saw, but he tried his best to remain calm: "...Brother Nanzhi, what are you doing here?"
Nan Zhi jumped down from the wall, a smile on her face, and walked towards him step by step: "I'm so familiar with your scent, Senior Brother. I can smell it and I'm here."
She approached him, getting closer and closer until she was almost touching him. Shi Xiangming frowned and subconsciously took two steps back.
Nan Zhi's eyes instantly turned cold. "Senior brother, why are you backing out?"
This was the first time Nan Zhi had ever given Shi Xiangming a cold look. Having been used to her good temper, Shi Xiangming felt a sense of fear upon seeing her displeasure.
He was the eldest disciple of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion, with unparalleled swordsmanship; how could he be intimidated by her?
Now that she had discovered him, he decided not to pretend anymore. With a flick of his wrist, the blade was already pressed against her neck.
Nan Zhi lowered her eyes to look at the sharp sword gleaming coldly before her, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "Senior brother, what are you doing?"
Shi Xiangming sneered, "Let me tell you the truth, every time you come to see me, you disgust me terribly."
Shi Xiangming originally planned to find an opportunity to poison Nan Zhi when she came again, but now he could only end her life in this way.
He had competed with Nan Zhi, and she was no match for him at all. If it weren't for the fact that she always gave him money, he would never have allowed her to exist.
Nan Zhi said, feeling wronged, "Senior brother, your words hurt me. I love you so much..."
"Shut up!" Shi Xiangming roared. "Look at yourself, how despicable you are! I could never like you, no matter who I like!"
As he spoke, he was about to slit her throat.
Unexpectedly, before he could even see how Nan Zhi moved, he felt a sharp pain in his wrist, and the sword in his hand changed direction, pointing directly at his eyes.
Nan Zhi smiled: "Senior brother, I'll give you one more chance. Will you stay with me, or die?"
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