The Fang residence was a second-rank official’s estate, imposing and solemn.

At this moment, Madam Fang was talking with her youngest daughter, Fang Xinyan. “If nothing unexpected happens, His Majesty will issue an imperial decree tomorrow to bestow marriage between you and Prince Pingxi…”

Fang Xinyan’s face showed a peculiar radiance, joy overflowing from her eyes.

Madam Fang couldn’t help but sigh.

She had only conceived this daughter at age forty. She nearly lost her life during childbirth, and her daughter’s health was also weaker than ordinary people’s. Therefore, she had been spoiled and pampered since childhood.

After her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony, she thought to keep her daughter for another year before discussing marriage. When she turned seventeen, they began viewing potential matches. After looking around, her daughter wasn’t satisfied with anyone.

Under her repeated questioning, she finally learned that her daughter had somehow developed feelings for someone—Prince Pingxi!

Looking at Prince Pingxi himself, there was naturally nothing wrong with him. However, Prince Pingxi had a son and daughter before even marrying—such behavior was truly despicable.

The Fang family was second-rank, a legitimate daughter of an aristocratic family wielding real power. She absolutely couldn’t become someone’s stepmother.

But—

In this world, which parents could win against their children? No matter how unwilling, she could only steel herself and go discuss the marriage with Consort Yin…

“After the imperial decree for bestowed marriage is issued, according to custom, you will meet Prince Pingxi’s two children.” Madam Fang instructed. “Prince Pingxi dotes on those two children. No matter what they do, you must not lose your temper…”

Fang Xinyan pouted. “After I marry him and bear Prince Pingxi a true legitimate son, what will those two children amount to?”

Madam Fang quickly covered her daughter’s mouth. “You can say such things at home, but you absolutely must not reveal this outside.”

As mother and daughter were talking, they heard an old servant woman standing at the door say, “Madam, Prince Pingxi has sent a letter, asking that the master and madam open it personally.”

Before Madam Fang could speak, Fang Xinyan rushed over, snatched the letter from the servant woman’s hand, and opened it directly.

Madam Fang shook her head. This child was becoming more and more improper. It was fine at home, but after becoming a princess consort, she would frequently enter the palace—truly worrying.

Fang Xinyan held the letter, originally all smiles. After seeing the letter’s content, her smile instantly vanished. Her fingers loosened and the letter fell to the ground.

The servant woman quickly picked up the letter and respectfully handed it to Madam Fang.

“What?” Madam Fang’s face was also full of disbelief. “Prince Pingxi says he already has someone he loves and wants our Fang family to actively seek the Emperor to cancel the bestowed marriage?”

“No, I don’t want to…” Fang Xinyan shook her head violently. “If he had someone he loved, he should have married her long ago. How could he still be alone now? This is just his excuse.”

Madam Fang pulled her daughter to sit down and said gently, “Prince Pingxi must have hit a wall with His Majesty, which is why he wrote this letter asking the Fang family to come forward to cancel the marriage. His attitude is very clear—he’s unwilling to marry you. Since that’s the case, our Fang family won’t force it…”

“Mother, I like him. I must marry him!” Fang Xinyan cried loudly. “Don’t tell Father about this, don’t let Father see the Emperor, don’t cancel the marriage! I must marry into Prince Pingxi’s residence. I must become his princess consort!”

“Xin’er!” Madam Fang’s tone was stern. “It’s one thing that Prince Pingxi has children, but from the bottom of his heart, he’s unwilling to accept this marriage. What’s the point of you marrying him? You’re a precious pearl your father and I raised in our palms. All the major families in the capital want to marry you. Why must you go suffer at Prince Pingxi’s residence? Xin’er, listen to Mother—stop banging your head against the wall…”

“But I like him.” Fang Xinyan was nearly breaking down. “If I can’t become his wife, I’d rather never marry for my entire life. I’d rather cut my hair and become a nun…”

Madam Fang could only sigh.

Chu Yi never expected that the next morning, the imperial decree for bestowed marriage actually arrived.

He knew very well what kind of person Lord Fang was. Once he showed the slightest unwillingness, whether for his daughter or for the family, Lord Fang would definitely persuade Father Emperor to cancel the bestowed marriage.

Now that the imperial decree had arrived at Prince Pingxi’s residence, it could only mean that yesterday’s letter had not reached Lord Fang’s desk.

“Prince Pingxi Chu Yi, receive the decree!”

“The Fang family has a daughter, well-educated and reasonable, gentle and virtuous, of outstanding character. I am greatly pleased to hear of her. Now Prince Pingxi is of marriageable age. I choose the fourth Miss Fang, Fang Xinyan, to be matched with him. All ceremonies shall be handled by the Ministry of Rites… By imperial decree!”

Eunuch Gao finished reading the imperial decree in a shrill voice.

But for a long time, he received no response.

He looked at Chu Yi on the ground and reminded him, “Your Highness, you should receive the decree.”

He was a favored person beside the Emperor. Yesterday, he had slightly overheard a sentence or two of the dispute between Prince Pingxi and the Emperor in the Imperial Study. He knew in his heart that Prince Pingxi was dissatisfied with this marriage.

But the imperial decree had already been issued. No matter how dissatisfied, he must happily receive it.

Chu Yi raised his head. “I will not receive this decree for bestowed marriage. I’ll enter the palace with Eunuch Gao to plead guilty to Father Emperor!”

Eunuch Gao was utterly shocked.

Defying an imperial decree was a grave crime. Had Prince Pingxi gone mad?

He wasn’t the only one who came to announce the decree—behind him were four young eunuchs, two palace maids, and a group of guards.

Everyone present heard these words.

Eunuch Gao said in a low voice, “Your Highness, His Majesty is determined to bestow this marriage. Even if it’s not Miss Fang, there will be a Miss Wang or Miss Li. Bestowed marriage is an imperial command and also a paternal command. Your Highness should stop quarreling with His Majesty and receive the decree.”

Chu Yi stood up directly and had someone prepare his horse.

Eunuch Gao sighed, rolled up the imperial decree, and followed him into the palace.

“How dare you defy the imperial decree!”

As soon as the Emperor saw Chu Yi, he was so angry he threw an inkstone. But he still cared about this son—the inkstone only smashed beside Chu Yi’s feet.

Chu Yi knelt on the ground. “Your son is guilty. Please punish me, Father Emperor!”

“Do you really think I wouldn’t dare punish you?” The Emperor was so angry he laughed. “I’ll ask you one last time—are you truly unwilling to marry the Fang family’s daughter?”

Chu Yi spoke resolutely, “Yes!”

“Good, very good!” The Emperor clapped his hands. “Someone, drag him down and give him twenty lashes first.”

Guards from outside walked in. At the same time, the Empress Dowager also walked in. “Emperor, now is not the time to punish Third Prince. You should think about how to give the Fang family an explanation.”

The prince defied the decree, and the Fang family lost all face. The Fang daughter’s marriage prospects would also be affected going forward. The Fang family’s anger must be appeased.

The Emperor only felt a headache coming on.

He had calculated everything, but he truly hadn’t calculated that this son would dare to defy the decree.

“How about this.” The Empress Dowager spoke. “Bestow marriage between Miss Fang and Rui’er.”

The Emperor was stunned.

He and the Empress Dowager were not biological mother and son. The Empress Dowager was the former Empress. The Crown Prince died early, which is how the throne came to him.

And Chu Rui was the only son of that early-deceased Crown Prince. After he ascended the throne, he enfeoffed Chu Rui as Prince Zhuang.

Chu Rui was now twenty-three years old and not yet married. It wasn’t that he deliberately overlooked him, but because Chu Rui was weak and sickly, bedridden year-round…

“I’m afraid that’s inappropriate.” The Emperor said. “Rui’er is weak, and Miss Fang is delicate. If this continues, I fear Rui’er’s illness will never recover.”

The Empress Dowager’s expression immediately darkened.

The Emperor pretended not to notice.

The Empress Dowager had made quite a few moves privately over the years. He had turned a blind eye to them.

Once Yun Silin captured the Cavalry General guarding the southern border, he would slowly deal with the Empress Dowager…

Speaking of the southern border, the Emperor frowned. Yun Silin seemed to have lost his trail during this period. It had already been over half a month since he last wrote back to the capital…