In Prince Da’an’s palace, Murong Yi hadn’t walked far before he encountered another grand procession delivering rewards.
Another palace attendant from the Prince’s side led the group and congratulated him upon seeing him.
Murong Yi then learned that the imperial marriage edict had arrived an hour ago. The Grand Minister had directly transferred it to the Inner Library, and while presenting it to the Prince, had simultaneously issued it to all government offices in official document form.
Mu Si behind him cried out in shock, “How is this possible! The Guard Office received no marriage edict!”
Murong Yi already understood.
Qiu Wujiu’s revenge came so quickly.
The old fox suspected his identity, so he bypassed the Embroidered Uniform Guards and announced the marriage to the world, making it a fait accompli.
If he accepted, he would leave Ru Prefecture and never again have a chance at the throne, nor could he trip up anyone else. And with the Embroidered Uniform Guards leaderless, it would confirm Qiu Wujiu’s suspicions.
If he didn’t accept, it would still confirm Qiu Wujiu’s suspicions.
All traps.
Zhao San spun around anxiously, saying, “With such an ugly portrait, the Imperial Princess must be blind to take a fancy to Young Master!”
Mu Si: “If you can’t speak properly, say less!”
Murong Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, “I’d be the blind one to take a fancy to her.”
Mu Si said, “Regardless of who’s blind, what do we do about this now? Since the Prince has already sent rewards, that means he’s decided on Young Master.”
The Prince was someone who modeled everything after the imperial court. So-called words carrying the weight of nine tripods—once a command was announced, even if wrong, he wouldn’t overturn it. He certainly wouldn’t petition again to request a replacement over what he considered such a trivial matter.
“If it’s decided, then it’s decided.”
“Huh?”
“Being the Imperial Princess’s husband is such an honor,” Murong Yi smiled slightly. “Could it be that when I finally get something good, everyone should be happy for me too?”
“Huh?”
Zhao San and Mu Si looked at each other in bewilderment: Has Young Master gone mad with anger?
Before Zhao San and Mu Si could figure it out, Murong Yi had already turned to catch up with the reward procession, telling the palace attendant to send the rewards to his own residence.
Princes left the palace at sixteen to establish their own households. Since he wasn’t favored, only after turning eighteen at the beginning of the year did the Prince remember to grant him a mansion. The location was somewhat remote—a confiscated residence from a criminal official, not very large either, but with few people around him, it was quite spacious.
The palace attendant was somewhat surprised. Previously, the rare rewards from this side were all sent to Consort Baoxiang’s quarters. But this time the principal was Murong Yi himself, so naturally they complied.
Betrothal to the Imperial Princess was nominally honor enough. The court itself provided substantial rewards, plus Prince Da’an’s gifts. The grand procession stretched so long that the first sedan chair had already entered Murong Yi’s residence while the last was just leaving the palace.
Zhao San said in a daze, “…This is truly ten li of red dowry. It’s Young Master’s first time having such a grand scene.”
Mu Si said sternly, “Stop that. Young Master isn’t marrying out.”
“Oh.”
The magnificent procession passed through the palace, government offices, the busiest main street, small alleys… In no time, the entire city had seen the glory belonging to the Imperial Princess’s husband.
Immediately after, the Prince’s royal command also arrived, appointing Murong Yi to the nominal position of Commander of the Douniu Guards.
The Douniu Guards were one of the twelve guard units protecting the palace, elite troops of the kingdom. Commanders were always the Prince’s trusted confidants. Murong Yi’s appointment was naturally a sinecure, merely to match his status as the Imperial Princess’s husband and sound impressive when composing the marriage documents. But common people didn’t understand these intricacies and immediately exclaimed in amazement.
Murong Yi received the royal command and immediately donned the Douniu Guards’ gold-embroidered red silk robe. He threw open his residence gates, had all those bestowed gifts displayed throughout the courtyard, then widely sent invitations, asking his seventeen brothers to a banquet.
Of the seventeen brothers, except for the First Prince who always prided himself on his status, the Second Prince who was riding high and disdained associating with him, and the Fourth Prince with whom he’d never had even superficial relations, the rest all came, whether out of curiosity or other motives.
Upon entering, the group of princes nearly tripped over the gold and silver objects covering the ground. Looking up, they were nearly blinded by the brilliant jewels and treasures illuminated by lights everywhere.
Murong Yi, personally leading the way, kicked aside a tall golden nine-petaled lotus lamp stand without even looking, rolling it aside with a clatter, and shouted, “How is it still not cleaned up after so long!”
Zhao San: “Replying to Young Master! We’ve been working all day! The emergency-hired hundred short-term workers are on their way, and the craftsmen Mu Si found have also arrived. We’re determined to build ten adequate storage rooms within three days!”
Murong Yi just snorted. A handsome young man with burning eyes stared at the silks and satins everywhere and laughed, “Little Eighteen, you’ve really struck it rich now.”
Murong Yi smiled, “Eleventh Brother is too kind. It’s just that my residence is simple and cramped, temporarily unable to accommodate everything.”
Eleventh Prince Murong Zhang chuckled, “It’s somewhat in the way. Let me help you clear some, so no one trips.” He bent to pick up several items, and as his wide sleeves drooped, he smoothly slipped a jeweled circlet into his own sleeve.
Murong Yi’s gaze flowed, his smile composed with a hint of showing off, as if he hadn’t seen anything at all.
Entering the main hall, the feast was already prepared. Some had visited his residence before and seen its usual appearance. Even those who hadn’t knew he lived only on his princely allowance with no other income, so his residence must be simple. But today brocaded silks were piled on plain cloth, colorful banners hung between white walls, plus pearl curtains and silver screens, golden lamps and silver cups, clustered flowers and brocades—an assault of extravagant luxury that seemed determined to blind everyone’s eyes.
The banquet featured eight delicacies and fine cuisine. Murong Yi sat high in the place of honor, frequently urging wine, his face full of triumphant spring breeze. The princes had initially dismissed this marriage, but now seeing such wealth and splendor, and Murong Yi’s genuinely pleased expression, they gradually became confused, feeling this might truly be an excellent match that the least favored Little Eighteen had lucked into.
Eleventh Prince especially kept looking at the room’s decorations, silently calculating their value. The more he calculated, the worse his expression became.
After three rounds of wine, the guests weren’t drunk but Murong Yi was half-tipsy. He pointed at various objects, telling the guests their origins one by one.
“See this? This jewel-inlaid eight-bat-holding-sun golden plate is what the Imperial Princess uses daily for fruit. Made by a master craftsman, its base is carved with eighteen auspicious beast totems—only the imperial family can use these. There’s only one pair total. After seeing my portrait, she had the other one sent to me. But this thing is so heavy, it’s really tiring to hold!”
Everyone: …If you find it tiring, why are you clutching it and won’t let go?
“This lotus-blue flower-piercing dragon-pattern plum vase set comes from the palace’s Cloud Kiln. Every piece from Cloud Kiln is exquisite. The Imperial Princess selected the best of the best, had it wrapped in over ten layers of cotton cloth and sent over. This porcelain is white as snow, pure as jade, so thin you can see sunlight and moonlight through it—quite nice actually. Just the color is too plain. Ah, young girls’ taste and judgment are just like that…”
Everyone: …If you look down on her taste and judgment, why did you put one of those vases on each of our tables?
“This crystal jade eighteen-bead bracelet, each bead lustrous—the Imperial Princess wore this personally every day. Sigh, these girly trinkets, why give them to me!”
“This purple crystal beast-button oval private seal has fairly pure coloring. The Imperial Princess instructed me to use this seal when writing her letters in my spare time. Who has time to constantly write her letters!”
“This piece…”
“That piece…”
The host spoke endlessly while the guests’ faces looked like they were eating excrement.
This noble and seductive style was truly unbearable.
Finally, when Murong Yi’s mouth went dry and he paused for breath, taking something from his robes, everyone prepared to seize the opportunity to change the subject. Then they saw him pull out a piece of paper and smile as he looked at it for a long while. Under the brilliant lamps, the beauty’s skin was like jade, upright and bright. Everyone couldn’t help but focus intently, seeing him read the letter with smiling brows and flowing eyes. Though he said nothing, affection overflowed, clearly showing this was no ordinary letter.
Everyone had suspicions but didn’t want to ask, to avoid hearing his seemingly modest but actually boastful tone. Murong Yi looked at the short letter for a long time before finally smiling and putting it back in his robes, saying to everyone, “A young woman’s spring feelings, a page of lovesickness—it’s quite embarrassing…”
Everyone: …Here it comes, here it comes again.
That seemingly humble but actually exaggerated smile of yours.
Seventh Prince couldn’t help saying, “Then we must congratulate Little Eighteen. The Imperial Princess actually fell in love with you at first sight, with deep affection. This is wonderful. Little Eighteen has no real position anyway, so it’s perfect to go to the capital as the Imperial Princess’s husband and serve her well. We others are busy with many affairs and can only remain in Ru Prefecture to share Father Prince’s worries.”
This was mocking Murong Yi for being unfavored and thus becoming the Imperial Princess’s husband, with no future even then.
Murong Yi smiled with curved brows and eyes, “Seventh Brother speaks wrongly. Little brother being able to become this Imperial Princess’s husband is also sharing Father Prince’s worries. Perhaps in the future, the worries little brother can share will be even more than big brothers’!”
At these words, the room fell silent. But when everyone cast meaningful glances his way, Murong Yi began a new round of humble-bragging discourse.
Everyone: “…”
But afterward, no one had any appetite left.
What did Murong Yi’s last statement mean?
Could it be that his becoming the Imperial Princess’s husband was Father Prince’s intention?
Could it be this Imperial Princess’s husband position wasn’t worthless, that Father Prince had deeper meaning, and Murong Yi’s trip carried a mission?
Thinking of Father Prince’s hidden ambitions and relationship with the court, everyone couldn’t help thinking of the four words “high-level spy.”
Using the Imperial Princess’s husband status to infiltrate the court and inner palace, control the Imperial Princess and thereby control more resources and connections, then coordinate from inside and outside in the future…
If this were true, then if successful later, it would be a great achievement. Perhaps Father Prince promised Little Eighteen something, judging by his last statement…
Calculating this way, this marriage was definitely not a loss, and at worst there would still be wealth and honor…
The princes grew more restless, immediately taking their leave. Murong Yi didn’t try to keep them, personally seeing them out with a face full of self-satisfaction and triumphant spring breeze, constantly grasping his brothers’ hands and instructing them to definitely visit his palace when they went to the capital in the future—he and the Imperial Princess, as a virtuous couple, would certainly sweep the couch to welcome them. Everyone smiled falsely in agreement while internally spitting in disgust.
Look at this arrogant manner!
The eight characters aren’t even written yet, and he’s already talking about being a virtuous couple!
After everyone left and the lights dimmed, all those gold, silver, and jade objects, the room full of silks and satins, were quietly put away. Murong Yi stood in the corridor’s shadows, half in moonlight and half in darkness. By the railing, night-blooming cereus blossomed and withered, leaving only a trace of faint fragrance. The warm jade-like glow of distant palace lanterns outlined his features—contours more magnificent than the red carved railings and green eaves.
A black shadow quietly leaped over the high wall and landed before him.
“The Third, Fifth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth… and other princes went directly home to sleep. The Sixth, Eighth, Ninth and other princes summoned advisors for council… The Seventh and Seventeenth princes went to their maternal relatives’ homes… The Eleventh Prince entered the palace late at night.”
The corner of Murong Yi’s lips curved slightly.
He had obtained the information he wanted.
The showing off had actually been psychological warfare, targeting his various brothers’ hearts that coveted great power.
With many monks and little porridge, with so many sons the share of favor was small too. Most couldn’t even get central important positions, let alone lucrative posts. Power had great allure, but if there was no power, having lots and lots of money was also good.
Among them, Eleventh, who loved gambling and already owed much external debt, was the prime example.
Now, surely Eleventh had already entered the palace overnight to find his quite-favored mother consort and petition the Prince, wanting to replace him as the Imperial Princess’s husband?
“That’s exactly what I hope for, but I wouldn’t dare request it.”
…
Author’s Note: This chapter was originally going to be called “Versailles Master Murong Yi”