The father-in-law paused for a moment, then raised his head and chest, loudly proclaiming the imperial edict:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: There is now a General of the Mighty Far, Gu Qinghuai, who is loyal and brave, and fights for his country. He has achieved great military exploits and his fame shakes all directions. He is truly a pillar of the nation. He was engaged to Lin Xihe in the past. This is a match made in heaven and they should be married as soon as possible."
However, Lin Xihe's father was still in mourning, and his filial piety, adherence to etiquette, and strict adherence to mourning rites were admirable and commendable.
Taking into account these circumstances, I hereby grant the two permission to marry, with the wedding date set for October of next year.
I hope that after your marriage, you two will be deeply in love and live in harmony. General, you should prioritize the great cause of the nation, but you should not neglect the warmth of your family. Lady Lin should be gentle and virtuous, upholding good character, assisting your husband in managing the household, and together you will create a beautiful story, setting a model for all the people of the world.
So be it!
Upon hearing this, Lin Xihe stood frozen in place: This was actually the imperial decree bestowing marriage upon her and Gu Qinghuai?
The eunuch, in a high-pitched voice, drawled out, "Miss Lin, why don't you quickly accept the imperial decree?"
At this moment, Chu Yunni gently touched Lin Xihe's arm and urged in a low voice, "Quickly accept the imperial decree, disobeying the decree will cost you your head."
Lin Xihe then seemed to wake from a dream, and with a nervous heart, slowly stretched out her hands and respectfully accepted the imperial edict.
The eunuch immediately put on a fawning smile and said, "His Majesty has issued another decree, taking into account the great contributions the Lin family has made to the country in the past. He has now issued a special decree to lift the seal on General Lin's Mansion and grant Lin Xihe a place to live."
Lin Xihe stood up and looked at her father-in-law's ingratiating smile. She understood that his attentiveness was not for her, but to please Gu Qinghuai.
Then the father-in-law said to Lin Xihe, "Miss Lin, General Gu will soon send someone to deliver maids, servants, and all the necessary supplies. My mission is complete, so I will take my leave now."
The guards behind the eunuch quickly stepped forward, tore off the seal, and reopened the long-sealed gate of General Lin's mansion.
After her father-in-law left, Lin Xihe held the imperial edict in her hands and slowly scanned her own courtyard with her eyes. For a moment, she was in a daze and lost in thought.
"Miss Lin, you and Zhuo'er are ultimately destined to be apart." Chu Yunni's words were full of regret.
She could tell that her son was deeply in love with Lin Xihe, and that Lin Xihe also secretly loved her son.
Since His Majesty has already issued the decree, it means that His Majesty has weighed the matter carefully and ultimately favors Gu Qinghuai.
His Majesty's decree can only be obeyed; otherwise, death is the only outcome, and there is absolutely no possibility of disobeying it.
Looking at Lin Xihe, who seemed a little lost in thought, Chu Yunni thought to herself that her son must be heartbroken at this moment.
This was the only woman her son had ever loved in his twenty-one years, yet she happened to be someone else's fiancée.
"Is there any way to disobey the imperial decree?" Lin Xihe asked softly.
“Absolutely impossible… If you offend His Majesty, you and Zhuo’er will be doomed and plunged into an endless abyss.” Chu Yunni replied solemnly.
Lin Xihe felt a deep sense of oppression, a stark contrast to the carefree and comfortable feeling she had experienced in Xinghua Village in the past.
Even though the sun was shining brightly and the sky was clear, she still felt that the air pressure in the capital was extremely low, as if it were suffocating.
“Madam, I’m afraid it’s inconvenient for me to visit your residence right now. Please ask that when A-Zhuo returns home, you inform him to come to the Lin residence to meet me,” Lin Xihe said. She hoped to discuss the matter with Ji Zhuo and see if he could come up with a solution.
“Miss Lin, if it weren’t for this imperial decree today, I certainly wouldn’t have interfered. But now that the decree is in effect, I can no longer support you and Zhuo’er.” Chu Yunni looked troubled.
Lin Xihe remained silent. She knew what the imperial power represented in this dynasty and era. As a powerless person, she could lose her life if she was not careful.
But perhaps Ji Zhuo will have a way.
Alternatively, getting Gu Qinghuai to give up this idea could also be a way out.
“Madam Ji, I understand your predicament. Thank you for accompanying me here today.” Lin Xihe bowed respectfully.
Chu Yunni knew in her heart that she could not stop her son from meeting Lin Xihe, and given her personality, she could not bring herself to ask Lin Xihe to cut off all contact with her son.
"I'll head back now. If you need anything, come to the Ji residence to find me."
"Yes, thank you, Madam."
Lin Xihe slowly walked into the General's Mansion. In less than a year, many places inside the mansion were already overgrown with weeds.
She strolled through the mansion, slowly wandering around, and saw a yellow wintersweet blooming proudly in the somewhat desolate garden. In this barren courtyard, it stood out so much, as if it were out of place with the surrounding scenery.
"In this mansion, you're the only one who still exudes a vibrant energy," Lin Xihe murmured softly to the winter plum tree.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind: "Someone will come to repair this place later, and everything will be restored to its former glory."
Lin Xihe was startled by the sudden noise and quickly turned around to see Gu Qinghuai, dressed in official robes, standing there.
She subconsciously patted her chest: "Why did you come to someone else's house?"
"What? Why can't I come here?"
Compared to yesterday, Gu Qinghuai's tone of voice had lost its sharpness.
"Nonsense, you're clearly trespassing." Lin Xihe said, taking a step back and deliberately creating some distance between herself and Gu Qinghuai.
“We are getting married next year, so I shouldn’t be considered an outsider, Miss Lin. I’m really sorry, but this is the only way I can ask for your hand in marriage,” Gu Qinghuai said sincerely. He was referring to using the imperial decree to force her into marriage.
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