Seeing that Princess Qinglan had actually taken the matter to the Empress Dowager, Jiang Yuwei had no choice but to have Aunt Zhou close the shop and clean up the area in front of it.
Jiang Yuwei herself led Xia Yue and Yun Qing to the Jingwang Mansion. Today, Jiang Yuwei only wanted to dampen Qinglan's arrogance and teach her a lesson so that she would not provoke her again. She did not expect that Qinglan would have the nerve to complain to the Empress Dowager.
Now, Jiang Yuwei is focused on returning to Prince Jing's residence to discuss this matter with the Princess.
To her surprise, as soon as Jiang Yuwei entered the Jingwang Mansion, she saw the Empress Dowager's personal maid say something to Ning Huaizhi and then make him kneel down to receive the imperial decree.
Seeing that Ning Huaizhi was standing and refused to kneel, the princess gave him a push and whispered in his ear:
"You're foolish. If you defy the imperial decree now, your wife and children will suffer. Can you bear to see them like this..."
Before the princess could finish speaking, Ning Huaizhi looked up and saw Jiang Yuwei just entering. His eyes immediately reddened. No, he couldn't let Yuwei and the children be in danger. With that thought, Ning Huaizhi knelt down abruptly and said to the old woman:
"Your subject receives the imperial decree."
Seeing that Ning Huaizhi had received the Empress Dowager's decree, the old woman turned and left, giving Jiang Yuwei a half-smile as she passed by.
Jiang Yuwei gave the old woman a slight bow, and after she left the palace, she turned back to Ning Huaizhi and asked:
"General, what decree did the Empress Dowager just issue?"
Ning Huaizhi, his eyes red, looked at Jiang Yuwei and slowly spoke:
"Madam, I... I'm so sorry..."
Seeing the couple like this, the princess waved for the servants to leave and quietly departed herself. She felt it was best to let the couple talk alone at this time.
Seeing that everyone had left, Jiang Yuwei stepped forward and helped Ning Huaizhi, who was still kneeling on the ground, to his feet, and asked in confusion:
"What's wrong, General?"
Ning Huaizhi grabbed Jiang Yuwei's hand and pulled her into his arms.
“Madam, just now, just now the Empress Dowager sent that nanny to deliver an imperial edict, saying that I should marry Qinglan and that you, you should be a secondary wife.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuwei abruptly pushed Ning Huaizhi away and frowned, questioning him:
"So, the decree you just received was this very decree?"
Ning Huaizhi nodded weakly.
"Ning Huaizhi, didn't you say that if the imperial court forced you to marry Qinglan, we would go back to Ningjia Village?"
Jiang Yuwei could no longer hold back her tears. She looked at Ning Huaizhi through her tears, hoping he could give her an explanation.
Ning Huaizhi gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"This is not a decision I can make alone. I cannot leave the military camp right now, and I cannot disobey the Empress Dowager's decree. It's not as simple as you think, Madam."
As he spoke, Ning Huaizhi reached out to take Jiang Yuwei's hand.
Just then, a palace maid from the Empress Dowager's side arrived at the Prince's residence and looked at Jiang Yuwei, saying:
"Madam Jiang, please come with me. The Empress Dowager has something to ask you personally."
Upon hearing this, Ning Huaizhi quickly and warily pulled Jiang Yuwei behind him, looking at the newcomer.
"Didn't I just agree to the Empress Dowager's decree? Why does the Empress Dowager still want to question my wife?"
The palace maid gave a slight bow.
"I was just following orders. The Empress Dowager only said that she wanted to ask Lady Jiang a few questions, and said nothing else."
At this moment, Jiang Yuwei calmed down considerably when she saw Ning Huaizhi blocking her way. So she gently patted Ning Huaizhi's shoulder, signaling him to move aside.
Then he said to the palace maid:
"I understand. Please wait for me a moment while I go back to my courtyard to change my clothes before I go to see the Empress Dowager."
The palace maid nodded slightly and sat down in the chair.
Seeing this, Xia Yue hurriedly stepped forward to serve tea.
Jiang Yuwei turned and walked towards Diancui Courtyard. Ning Huaizhi followed behind her, looking anxious, and said:
“Madam, you cannot go to the palace. I am worried about you going alone. I will go with you.”
Jiang Yuwei turned to look at Ning Huaizhi and said:
“I know you have your reasons, but the Empress Dowager has ordered me to the palace to discuss your marriage with Qinglan. If you go with me, you will be caught in a dilemma. Besides, even if you go, it won’t help me. Go back to your quarters to prepare for your wedding.”
When Ning Huaizhi heard Jiang Yuwei mention his marriage to Qinglan, his heart sank. He had just signed a military order and would soon be going to support the border.
If he were to leave Beijing and return to Ningjia Village with Jiang Yuwei and the children at this time, he would be a deserter, and he would have to live a life of constant hiding with his whole family. He didn't want Jiang Yuwei to suffer such a hard life with him.
Now that the Empress Dowager has decreed that he must marry Qinglan, Ning Huaizhi is unable to refuse. Given his current status as a mere general, he knows how terrible the fate of himself and his family would be if he refused the Empress Dowager's decree, even without the Princess's reminder.
Thinking of this, Ning Huaizhi couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had thought that his leg was healed and that he had come to the capital, and that he would be able to give Jiang Yuwei and the children a better life.
Moreover, Ning Huaizhi had always wanted to give Jiang Yuwei a grand wedding, but now that his wedding with Jiang Yuwei hadn't been completed, he was going to marry Qinglan first.
The thought that Jiang Yuwei would no longer be his legal wife made Ning Huaizhi feel increasingly aggrieved. He felt that he was nothing and could not protect his wife and children at all.
Ning Huaizhi slammed his fist into the trunk of a tree by the roadside, making the small tree sway three times. Blood flowed down his hand, but he could no longer feel the pain.
What pain could be greater than his heartache? By the time he came to his senses, Jiang Yuwei had already disappeared. Helpless, Ning Huaizhi had no choice but to return to Jinglan Pavilion alone, feeling dejected.
As soon as Jiang Yuwei entered the princess's room, she knelt down directly before the princess.
"Your Highness, someone from the palace just came and said that the Empress Dowager wants to summon me to the palace for questioning."
Seeing this, the princess quickly got up to help Jiang Yuwei.
“Yuwei, now that the die is cast, there’s nothing you can do about it. Huaizhi, he has no choice in the matter. You must understand his predicament. Get up first.”
As she spoke, the princess helped Jiang Yuwei sit down.
"Yuwei, don't be afraid. Since Huaizhi has already humbled himself and agreed to the Empress Dowager's decree, I will definitely not let anything happen to you. Today I will go to the palace with you. You should go back and freshen up quickly. We will meet in the front courtyard in a while."
Upon hearing the princess's words, Jiang Yuwei rose and bowed to her. Just as she was about to turn and leave,
The princess called out to her.
"Yuwei, when you enter the palace today, act according to the circumstances and do not act impulsively."
Jiang Yuwei turned around and gave a bitter smile.
“I know, Your Highness.”
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