Qing Niao blinked, looking at her curiously. “Isn’t an imperial marriage decree a wonderful thing? You’re not happy about it, my lord?”

“It’s not that I’m unhappy about it.” Hua Chun shook her head quickly, looking at her. “It’s just that a marriage granted by the Emperor cannot be dissolved. I’m afraid it might end up wasting your entire life.”

“Why would it waste my whole life?” Qing Niao looked at her with wide, innocent eyes, as guileless as a little fairy who’d accidentally fallen from the heavens. “If I get to stay by your side for the rest of my life, I’d be very happy.”

Hua Chun fell silent.

How was she supposed to explain this to such a pure, simple girl? Living out a lifetime as a widow in all but name wasn’t something to take lightly — especially not for someone as young as Qing Niao, with all her youthful years ahead of her, wasted entirely on Hua Chun. It really would be such a shame.

She thought it over, then looked at Qing Niao with a solemn expression. “There’s a secret I’ve never told anyone else. But given how things stand now, I have no choice but to tell you.”

Qing Niao blinked, frowning instinctively. “You want to tell me?”

“Mm — it’s very important. You absolutely cannot tell anyone else. Can you promise me that?” Hua Chun asked earnestly.

Looking at her, Qing Niao frowned. “We’ve only just met, my lord. Are you really so ready to trust me with a secret? One should always be a little cautious of others.”

Was she really lecturing her now? Hua Chun let out a laugh despite herself, finding her all the more endearing. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing too serious — just a bit embarrassing to say out loud.”

Qing Niao’s expression turned solemn as she looked at her. “If you trust me this much, my lord, I will surely keep it in the strictest confidence.”

“Good, then.” Hua Chun gave a dry laugh, looking down at the pattern on her robes for a moment, hesitating, and after an internal battle, looked up at her with a heavy, pained expression. “To be honest with you — I contracted a strange illness years ago. It’s… well, that is… impotence.”

Qing Niao sat up straight, fully prepared to hear a long, drawn-out story, only for Hua Chun to say just that one line.

The key point being just two words: impotent.

For a moment, Qing Niao wondered if she’d misheard. But once she’d registered that Hua Chun had indeed said exactly that, she was left utterly stunned.

“So what I’m saying is, if you marry me, and later meet someone you truly love, I’ll gladly let you go to be with them,” Hua Chun said, rubbing her hands together, looking a bit awkward. “But right now, with the Emperor’s marriage decree in place, if we still go through with the wedding, you’ll be stuck by my side as a widow in all but name for the rest of your life.”

The whole scene looked exactly like some man plagued by years of erectile trouble, too ashamed to face his wife. Qing Niao nearly burst out laughing but managed to hold it in, her gaze still gentle as she looked at Hua Chun. “It’s all right. I don’t mind any of that.”

What? She didn’t mind at all? Hua Chun looked up at her in astonishment. “Are you out of your mind?”

The person before her didn’t look like she was joking, nor did she seem to be speaking on impulse — her delicate face was earnest and clear, her almond-shaped eyes gazing at Hua Chun with unmistakable sincerity. “I’m not foolish. Being able to marry you is an honor for me. Even if you can’t perform, my lord, I’m still willing to serve you faithfully for the rest of my life.”

Hua Chun: “……”

Twenty-some years alive, and this was the first time she’d ever truly felt loved. She was thoroughly moved by this girl — having seen so much scheming and deceit in her life, encountering someone this innocently sweet was genuinely rare.

For a fleeting moment, Hua Chun even considered actually becoming a man and marrying her for real.

Someone who cared for her this much — she couldn’t bring herself to trap her in a sham marriage for the rest of her life. Asking Qing Niao’s opinion clearly wouldn’t change anything now, so Hua Chun resolved to figure something out on her own.

How could she avoid the Emperor’s marriage decree while still keeping her own life intact?

Before she could think further, someone from the palace had already arrived.

“Congratulations, Prime Minister Hua!” Eunuch Qin’s voice carried impressive volume. Hua Chun knelt before him, feeling as though the entire Hua residence could probably hear the commotion.

Madam Wan, seeing the decree in the eunuch’s hands and hearing the word “congratulations,” was positively beaming with joy. Lord Hua beside her looked quite surprised, but still knelt obediently to hear the decree.

“By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prime Minister Hua has served the court with utmost loyalty, and is held in great esteem by Us. Having now found a suitable match in the beautiful and virtuous Lady Qing, of gentle temperament and refined character, We hereby grant special permission for marriage, to seal a lifelong bond. The wedding shall take place on the first day of the ninth month of the Gengyin year, with residence to be established at the Prime Minister’s official residence. So decreed.”

An imperially decreed marriage! Lord Hua’s eyes lit up instantly, and Madam Wan was equally overjoyed. The moment Hua Chun accepted the decree, both of them rushed to seat Eunuch Qin in the place of honor, one offering tea, the other water, their faces beaming like flowers in full bloom.

“You’ve worked so hard, my good eunuch!”

“Jinghua has always been well looked after in the palace — many thanks for your care as well.”

Eunuch Qin smiled, glancing at Hua Chun. “This servant did nothing at all — it’s the Prime Minister’s exceptional talent that has earned His Majesty’s deep favor.”

Hua Chun smiled and bowed. “You’re too modest. I’m someone who remembers kindness, and I certainly remember all the good you’ve done for me.”

The Emperor was always at odds with her, and Eunuch Qin often served as a buffer between them. Though it hadn’t accomplished much, his heart was clearly in the right place, and that alone deserved a proper show of respect. When it came to dealing with people, being helped by someone was a kindness worth acknowledging with warmth in return. And although Eunuch Qin’s status wasn’t as high as Hua Jinghua’s, having an extra ally never hurt.

With that thought in mind, Hua Chun decided to personally see Eunuch Qin out. Just then, Lord Hua unexpectedly spoke up. “Having served at His Majesty’s side for so long, would you happen to know his personal preferences?”

Hua Chun’s heart sank, and she hurried forward to pull him aside. “Father!”

“What is it?” Hua Zhengrong frowned. “Am I not even allowed to ask, just because you didn’t?”

That was hardly a question one could just casually ask! Hua Chun was nearly scared out of her wits by this man. With no time to explain, she could only help Eunuch Qin up and pull him toward the door. “Please don’t take offense, good eunuch — my father doesn’t understand palace protocol, and his words may have come across as inappropriate.”

The Emperor’s personal preferences were always kept strictly confidential, precisely to prevent anyone from exploiting them for an assassination attempt. And here was Lord Hua, casually asking about them without a second thought — no wonder he’d never passed the imperial examinations. He must have studied himself silly!

Eunuch Qin’s smile faded slightly. He looked at Hua Chun and said quietly, “The Prime Minister needn’t take it to heart. This servant won’t either.”

“That’s good to hear,” Hua Chun said, relieved.

“His Majesty has granted a heavy favor this time. This servant hopes the Prime Minister understands His Majesty’s true intentions,” Eunuch Qin said, pausing at the door, giving her a deep, meaningful look. “Please, don’t disappoint His Majesty.”

Hua Chun blinked, then nodded with understanding. “His Majesty’s grace is one this subject will never forget, and I will surely serve him faithfully for the rest of my days.”

Eunuch Qin nodded, bowed to her, and boarded the carriage waiting outside.

Hua Chun watched the carriage set off before turning to head back inside.

Lord Hua still stood in the main hall, looking displeased at Madam Wan, who was twisting her handkerchief, unsure what to say. Seeing Hua Chun return, though, her face brightened again. “This is such an incredible honor! An imperial marriage decree — it brings glory to our entire ancestral line!”

“Mm,” Hua Chun said, unable to muster much enthusiasm.

The decree had come down faster than a rocket, giving her no time at all to react. Now that the bright yellow embroidered scroll had already been handed over, there was no going back on it.

She’d just have to get married first and figure out a solution afterward.

“Since it’s an imperial marriage decree, and the wedding date has been pushed back anyway, let’s make it a grand occasion,” she said. “A woman only marries once in her life — we shouldn’t shortchange her.”

“Of course,” Lord Hua said. “Though what was that gesture you made a moment ago? Did I do something wrong?”

Taking a deep breath, Hua Chun smiled and explained calmly, “If an ordinary person asked Eunuch Qin that question, they’d have been arrested as a would-be assassin long before finishing the sentence.”

Lord Hua blinked, then frowned. “How could it possibly be that serious?”

“Nothing is ever as simple as you think, Father,” Hua Chun said. “Please let me handle this. You don’t need to stir up any more trouble.”

Leave it to her? Lord Hua fell silent. From his perspective, Jinghua didn’t get along particularly well with any of her younger sisters — if he didn’t intervene himself, who knew when Xunyue would ever get her chance to enter the palace.

Quietly forming his own plan, Lord Hua said nothing further, waving for Hua Chun and Madam Wan to go rest, then sent for Concubine Ren.

“Don’t mind your father,” Madam Wan said. “He just loves meddling in everything, terrified of wasting that scholarly title of his.”

“I know,” Hua Chun said. “I’ll figure out something for Third Sister myself.”

“You’re still going to help her?” Madam Wan’s eyes widened. “Have you forgotten how she’s always needling you?”

Hua Chun shook her head. “I remember all of it. But Xunyue entering the palace benefits us with no real downside. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Madam Wan puffed her cheeks, about to say something, then swallowed it back with a sigh instead.

Her Jinghua was always thinking about the bigger picture. As her mother, she couldn’t very well let her own petty grudges get in the way of that.

Once the decree came down, the Hua residence suddenly grew lively, with visitors arriving to offer gifts for several days straight — even several officials at court who had previously stayed neutral sent gifts as well.

“Anything from Li Zhongtang or Grand Tutor Tang?” Hua Chun asked, looking at the pile before her.

Pin Tan shook her head. “No, but there’s one from Marquis Gongyu. Would you like to see it, Master?”