Zhao Quansheng merely said “Oh,” then continued: “Now that everyone is here, let’s announce the edict.”

Qin Yongtao led everyone toward the main hall, his heart nearly bursting with suppressed blood—Chang Daocheng got beaten? Chang Daocheng would definitely hold him accountable for this!

Unable to think about the consequences, Qin Yongtao escorted Zhao Quansheng and his party to the hall that had already been properly arranged according to protocol.

In the main hall, all the masters of the Qin residence were waiting inside. None of them dared to eat, obediently waiting.

Xu Shi had also been released. She wore a gloomy expression: “Seventh Girl could have gone to the mountain any time—why did she have to put on airs today as a filial granddaughter and deliberately go to the mountain? She’s made us all go without food until now.”

Qin Yunyun also rubbed her stomach, pouting in complaint.

After Qin Yongtao returned, Dong Shi no longer accompanied Zhao Quansheng and was now also in the main hall. Hearing her mother-in-law’s repeated complaints, she only kept her head down and remained silent.

As soon as Zhao Quansheng entered, under Qin Yongtao’s guidance, everyone knelt down in order.

Zhao Quansheng unfolded the imperial edict in his hands, cleared his throat lightly, and began to read: “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: It has come to Our attention that Qin Shuying, daughter of the late Jianghuai Salt Commissioner Qin Yongzhou, is graceful and dignified, modest and courteous, gentle and virtuous, outstanding in character and appearance, which greatly pleases Us. Now Liang Zhe, eldest son of the Conquering Western General’s residence, is nineteen years old and of marriageable age, and should be matched with a worthy woman. Since Qin Shuying awaits marriage in her chambers and is perfectly matched with Liang Zhe as if made by Heaven, to fulfill this beautiful union, We hereby bestow her upon Liang Zhe as wife. All ceremonial arrangements shall be jointly handled by the Conquering Western General’s residence and the Qin residence, with an auspicious date chosen for the wedding. By Imperial Decree!”

Xu Shi couldn’t hold back—she spurted out a mouthful of fresh blood!

Fortunately, she was quick and sprayed it into her handkerchief, so Zhao Quansheng didn’t see.

Though Qin Yunyun didn’t spit blood, she wasn’t much better off than if she had.

As for the others, everyone was extremely shocked, though none showed it as obviously as this mother-daughter pair. There were also those genuinely happy for Qin Shuying, such as Qin Lulu.

After rising, the female family members surrounded Qin Shuying, offering congratulations.

Qin Yongtao and Qin Kaiyu accompanied Zhao Quansheng, walking with him toward the residence exit.

Qin Yongtao earnestly urged Zhao Quansheng to stay for lunch before leaving. Zhao Quansheng smiled without warmth, and Qin Yongtao, unable to withstand it, didn’t dare say more. He saw Zhao Quansheng, Liang Zhe, and the ceremonial procession off at the main gate, and only after they were completely out of sight did he hurriedly return.

Zhao Quansheng still had to go to the Conquering Western General’s residence to announce the edict.

Qin Shuying had already returned to Yilan Garden. She could handle the female family members’ false sentiments and Xu Shi’s murderous glares. But having sat in the carriage for half the day and sprained her ankle, she truly wanted to rest and had no patience for more pretense.

Nanny Fu and Hong Juan had remained in the residence. Seeing her swollen ankle, they felt both pain and joy for her.

Though they didn’t know much about Liang Zhe as a person, since this was an imperial marriage decree, it was certainly an extraordinary matter. Speaking of it, this was the first time in over thirty years that the Emperor had used an imperial edict to arrange a marriage for a woman outside the imperial family!

The first time in over thirty years!

From now on, Qin Shuying could walk sideways through the Qin residence. Even when she married into the Conquering Western General’s residence, the Liang family wouldn’t dare look down on her.

Moreover, though they weren’t clear about Liang Zhe as a person, they knew very well the status of the Conquering Western General’s residence—it was a super first-rank residence! There were only three such residences in all of Great Zhou!

Liang Zhe was the legitimate eldest son of the Liang family. After their young lady married in, she would become the most honored mistress of the Qin residence, second only to Imperial Consort Lianpin!

Nanny Fu wiped her tears and insisted that Qin Shuying lie down obediently so she could apply medicinal salve.

“My young lady, you’ve finally emerged from bitterness to sweetness! If the master and madam knew from the underworld, how happy they would be! Tonight, I’ll burn paper money for them and tell them this good news…”

She chattered on and on, wiping tears as she spoke.

“Since Young Master Liang personally rescued you, he must be a good person. This marriage must have been requested by him. Look at him, covered in dust and dirt, rushing urgently to see you—he must be very concerned about this marriage. Young lady, you’ve finally emerged from bitterness to sweetness. In the future, respect and love each other with Young Master Liang, supporting each other as you walk through life…”

Nanny Fu continued chattering, while the three main maids watched her without interrupting her incoherent rambling. They all knew how difficult it had been for their young lady to reach this point!

Moreover, now that their young lady had a good destination, as her maids, they wouldn’t have to live in constant anxiety from now on, which was naturally wonderful.

Qin Yongtao returned to his study, followed by Steward Miao, who had previously been sent to pursue Qin Shuying.

Qin Yongtao asked impatiently: “What exactly happened? How did Prefect Chang end up getting beaten by Guard Liang?”

Steward Miao gave a detailed account.

When he and Liang Zhe caught up to Qin Shuying, she had already reached halfway up the mountain. The carriage was overturned by the roadside, and Qin Shuying was being protected by two maids, confronting a large man.

Though Qin Shuying’s two maids had no martial arts skills, they had strength and had picked up wooden sticks, wildly swinging at the man, preventing him from getting close.

Qin Shuying had brought six guards up the mountain. Two of them were already injured and lying on the ground, while Chang Daocheng had surprisingly brought two attendants and was fighting with five men in black.

Seeing this, Liang Zhe somehow had a teacup in his hand. Steward Miao hadn’t clearly seen how he exerted force, but the teacup pierced into the back of the man attacking Qin Shuying and her maids, and the man immediately fell dead.

Having resolved Qin Shuying’s crisis, Liang Zhe leaped up and joined the melee. In the confusion, Liang Zhe severely beat Chang Daocheng until Qin Shuying shouted that he was attacking the wrong person, only then did he let go.

In the end, all five men in black were defeated. Liang Zhe tore the dead man’s clothes and tied them all up securely.

“Master, Liang Zhe is terrifying! Fighting one against ten is nothing to him! And he’s extremely brutal—he kills with one strike! He’s definitely from the battlefield, incredibly violent. He single-handedly defeated all five men, one strike per person, specifically targeting fatal spots. Two of them were probably crippled by his beating! And when he stripped the dead man’s clothes, he treated him no better than livestock, picking up tree branches to slice with. I don’t know how he exerted such force, but he tore the clothes into strips, leaving the dead man no dignity at all!”

Mentioning this, Steward Miao still felt lingering fear. He had never seen such a vicious person with such ruthless methods—simply indescribable. Of course, the dead couldn’t retain much dignity anyway, but there probably weren’t many who would treat corpses like he did.

Qin Yongtao clenched his fist and pounded heavily on the table: “Detestable!”

Steward Miao said: “How could Prefect Chang withstand Liang Zhe’s two or three punches? He probably won’t be able to get out of bed for a month!”

If Qin Yongtao hadn’t detected something suspicious by now, he would have wasted all these years.

“Why didn’t he beat anyone else but specifically targeted Chang Daocheng? Chang Daocheng has only been in the capital for a few days—how does he know him? And what exactly did he accomplish to be able to convince His Majesty to grant this marriage?!”