As early as when His Majesty ordered the decree to be transmitted, the young servant waiting by the palace gates for news had already received word. He ran off, leaping onto the horse tied to a tree branch, and galloped home to report the news.
Qin Yining was doing needlework with Sun Shi in the room when they heard joyful shouting from the second gate.
“Old Madam! Madam! Miss! Great joy, great joy!”
This shout startled everyone in the room. The Old Madam lifted the curtain and came out, anxiously asking: “What’s happened! Speak quickly!”
The woman guarding the second gate said with a face full of smiles: “Old Madam, great joy! The young man following Master just came with news—today His Majesty issued an imperial decree bestowing marriage, granting our Fourth Miss in marriage to Prince Zhongshun as his princess consort. He got the news and came back to report. The imperial marriage decree from the palace will arrive shortly.”
Hearing this, the entire family was shocked beyond measure. Everyone’s gaze fell unanimously on Qin Yining, who was supporting Sun Shi as they stood under the corridor.
Qin Huining’s hands gradually clenched, and she lowered her head in self-abasement.
Eighth Miss was first stunned, then said joyfully: “Fourth Sister, congratulations!”
This congratulation from Eighth Miss brought everyone back to their senses, and they all began offering congratulations to Sun Shi and Qin Yining.
The Old Madam was also beside herself with joy: “Good, good! Though being a princess consort isn’t as prestigious as being His Majesty’s favored concubine, our daughter has still found a good destination. After Fourth Girl marries, next will be Hui Jie’er and Bao Jie’er.”
The men in the outer courtyard also received the news. Qin Yu, Qin Han, Second Master, and Third Master all came to offer congratulations, then hurriedly went to prepare incense altars and candles to receive the decree.
The Old Madam clasped her hands together and bowed to the heavens: “Who would have thought that our family would have continuous good news upon arriving in Great Zhou—truly our ancestors’ protection!”
Second Master smiled: “Not only our ancestors’ protection, but also thanks to eldest brother’s capabilities. Now I’ve obtained an official position in the Ministry of Rites, third brother’s business ventures have been properly arranged—all thanks to eldest brother’s arrangements.”
“Indeed.” Third Master nodded with a smile.
After experiencing massacre, starvation, and plunder, the Qin family had once again stood firm. Though they had sacrificed many people, their backbone had never disappeared.
When the family was almost ready, the imperial decree from the palace arrived.
An incense burner and altar were prepared in the center of the spacious courtyard, with prayer mats laid on the ground. The entire family knelt according to their positions. The eunuch delivering the decree smiled as he unrolled the bright yellow imperial edict, reading aloud in a high, thin voice:
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: We have heard that Yining, daughter of Minister of Rites Qin Huaiyuan, aged sixteen, is virtuous and refined, outstanding in talent and beauty, gentle and humble, with an orchid heart and noble nature. We and the Grand Dowager are greatly pleased to hear this. Now Prince Zhongshun Pang Xiao, aged twenty-four, is of suitable age for marriage, accomplished in both civil and military arts, loyal to his sovereign and respectful to his superiors. The Qin daughter awaits marriage in her boudoir, and with Pang Xiao forms a perfect match of talent and beauty—a suitable couple. We hereby betroth Qin Yining to Prince Zhongshun Pang Xiao as his principal consort. All ceremonial arrangements shall be discussed and managed by both families, with the wedding to be completed on the eleventh day of the fifth month. By Imperial decree!”
“We thank His Majesty for his great grace.”
The entire family kowtowed solemnly.
Qin Yining knelt in the center, bowing her head as she raised both hands high above her head to receive the imperial decree.
The eunuch delivering the decree smiled: “Congratulations, Miss Qin.”
Second Master, Third Master, and the two cousins immediately exchanged pleasantries with the eunuch, presented a generous red envelope, and led him to have tea.
Qin Yining held the imperial decree in her hands, reading the words again. She still felt as if she were in a dream, surrounded by mist and clouds.
She had always felt that though she and Pang Xiao had feelings for each other, actually getting married would not be easy. His Majesty would not allow Pang Xiao to have a powerful father-in-law’s family, and between them still lay the matter of Pang Zhongzheng’s death.
But unexpectedly, Qin Huaiyuan had managed to arrange things so that Li Qitian willingly issued the decree.
She was really going to marry Pang Xiao?
Only at this moment did she feel the great weight in her heart had finally settled, filling her with both anticipation and trepidation for the future.
“My, this girl must be so happy she’s become dazed.”
Hearing this good-natured teasing, Qin Yining came back to her senses and looked toward Second Madam beside her. Only then did she realize she had unknowingly followed her family into the main hall.
The Old Madam took Qin Yining’s imperial marriage decree, smiling: “I’ll go place this decree in the ancestral hall together with your father’s official appointment decree. This is joyous news, joyous news.”
With the dust settled, Sun Shi finally let go of her worries and said happily: “The wedding is on the eleventh of the fifth month—less than a month away! Our Yining hasn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony yet, and we still need to prepare for the grand wedding. Second Sister-in-law, you must help me.”
“Naturally! This is such joyous news. Han’s wife will give birth soon, and now Yining has found a good marriage—isn’t this double happiness? How wonderful!” Second Madam laughed with joy.
Qin Yining was sent back to her bedroom. Sun Shi hurriedly instructed Nanny Jin: “There’s no time now for her to embroider her own trousseau. Go hire the best embroiderers and prepare carefully. Yining should at least make a pillowcase herself as a token. During this time, don’t let her show her face in public—stay in your room quietly and embroider!”
After Sun Shi finished speaking, without waiting for Qin Yining’s response, she rushed out energetically to prepare other matters.
Qin Yining remained in shock, unable to recover for a long time.
Xian Yun, Ji Yun, Bingtang, and Qiu Lu were already blushing with joy. The four exchanged glances, then bowed to Qin Yining: “Congratulations, Miss! Your wishes have come true!”
Even Xiao Zhou nodded happily: “Congratulations, Sister!”
Qin Yining said dreamily: “Rise, all of you. Xian Yun, Bingtang—your needlework is skillful. Help me embroider pillowcases. My own skills aren’t presentable.”
After speaking, Qin Yining sat in place and began dazing again, making the maids unable to help but smile.
Qin Yining recalled all her experiences with Pang Xiao—from their initial mutual testing at first meeting, to gradually falling for each other, then to their desperate vows of eternal love. To wait until today’s imperial decree had truly required enduring so much.
She had been home for two years now. These two years had been richer in experience than her previous fourteen years combined.
Though she had walked step by step to reach this point, exhausted in body and spirit, being able to gain the sincere treatment of those around her and obtain this marriage document made all the hardships she had endured worthwhile.
The imperial marriage decree was also delivered to Prince Zhongshun’s mansion.
After Pang Xiao, Yao Chenggu, Ma Shi, and Yao Shi received the decree, the entire family looked at each other and smiled silently.
Ma Shi slapped her thigh: “Quick, quick, quick! Hurry and prepare the betrothal gifts! Dafu, whatever treasures you have stored away, bring them all out! And silver too—don’t be stingy when marrying a wife. Miss Yining isn’t having an easy time with you. She’s suffered so many grievances because of you before, so you must make a good showing!”
While speaking, Ma Shi had already punched Pang Xiao on the shoulder: “You rascal! You’re naturally blessed! Getting such a capable father-in-law as Minister Qin, and being fortunate enough to marry such a virtuous wife—your Pang family ancestors’ graves are smoking with good fortune!”
Pang Xiao was hit in a pressure point and grimaced: “Grandmother’s strength is too great!”
“If I’m not strong, how can I control you rascal? Yuping, hurry up and organize everything. As a mother-in-law, you should be proactive and communicate more with your in-law. Don’t think your son being a prince makes him special—your son is just a troublemaker, and Miss Yining is the unlucky one marrying him!”
“How can you speak of your own grandson like that?” Yao Shi chided without any real anger.
Yao Chenggu nodded: “Your mother is right. Do as your mother instructs.”
“I understand, Father.”
Yao Shi immediately began organizing.
Pang Xiao called Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi, saying solemnly: “Next month’s eleventh is this prince’s day of great joy. During this busy time at the mansion, you two help the Old Madam and Grand Madam with advice. As for the protocol, we cannot exceed His Majesty’s standards for marrying an empress, but otherwise make it as grand as possible. Understand?”
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi nodded repeatedly.
These two were skilled strategists, yet now Pang Xiao was assigning them to organize a wedding—truly making little use of great talent.
But they both knew the feelings between Qin Yining and Pang Xiao, understood Qin Yining’s character, and this was an imperial marriage decree. They felt that the prince entrusting the wedding arrangements to them showed extreme trust.
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi approached this like any major undertaking, carefully studying the protocols in the study.
Since the prince had spoken, as long as they didn’t exceed His Majesty’s standards for marrying an empress and conformed to princely protocol, they would make everything as luxurious as possible to ensure the Qin family felt their sincerity.
Pang Xiao calmly saw off Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi, then with a stern expression ran to the training ground. He stripped to the waist, wearing only black silk trousers, and began punching wooden posts.
He was now extremely excited, finding no outlet to vent his emotions and excessive energy, so he simply spent the entire afternoon boxing, breaking three wooden posts in the process.
This behavior made Huzi, who was following nearby, chuckle secretly.
It also greatly surprised Ji Zeyu, who had quietly come to visit.
“Alan, you’ve come.” Pang Xiao was covered in sweat, his skin showing goosebumps from the evening’s cooling temperature, but he paid it no mind. He took the cloth Huzi handed him to wipe his face and sweat, then put on a snow-white undergarment.
Ji Zeyu’s gaze swept over the various scars on Pang Xiao’s body before nodding and raising the wine jar in his hand.
“Drink?”
“Perfect timing.” Pang Xiao instructed Huzi to have food prepared, then went with Ji Zeyu to his bedroom to sit.
Ji Zeyu saw Pang Xiao’s slightly furrowed brow and his appearance of still having energy to burn after an afternoon of boxing. He couldn’t help but console him: “His Majesty decreed the marriage—you can only comply with the imperial will. Even if there was the enmity of killing your father before, you must endure it now. I can see you like the Qin daughter. In the future, you can set aside hatred and live well.”
Pang Xiao was somewhat surprised that Ji Zeyu would comfort him this way. He smiled: “I know.”