Two days prior, the palace had already dispatched someone to deliver a verbal message to the Ling household.

The Ling household had long since made their preparations. On the day the imperial decree arrived, every member of the household was present within the residence.

Ling Daye, as head of the family, was the natural choice to receive the phoenix decree. Sun Shi knelt together with her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. Ling Xiao knelt beside his older cousin Ling Ji, his heart brimming with a wild, disbelieving joy.

The Empress Wei had bestowed a marriage upon A’Shu!

A’Shu could leave the palace!

A’Shu was to be wed to Wei Yan!

All of this seemed too wonderful to be real.

Not only Ling Xiao — even Ling Daye himself had been struck dumb by this sudden piece of happy news. He had not slept a wink the previous night, and even now, at the very moment of receiving the imperial decree, everything still felt hazy and unreal.

The palace attendants carried one heavy chest after another into the main hall, while the palace maids held lacquered box after lacquered box in their arms.

Before long, the vast main hall of the Ling household was filled to overflowing.

Xin Yun, dressed in a pink gown, smiled and said: “Lord Ling, these are the trousseau gifts bestowed upon the Lady Official Ling by His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress. Here is the inventory list — please review and acknowledge each item.”

Ling Daye had not lost his head entirely in his joy. He gratefully received the gift list and knelt in the direction of the imperial palace to give thanks for the imperial grace.

Xin Yun smiled again and said: “Lady Official Ling will also be leaving the palace tomorrow to return home. We ask that Lord Ling make proper arrangements. As for the wedding date between Lady Official Ling and Imperial Physician Wei, once the Ministry of Rites has selected an auspicious day, they will send word to your honored residence.”

Ling Daye acknowledged this repeatedly, and together with Sun Shi, reverently escorted Xin Yun out of the residence.

The palace entourage departed, leaving behind a single slender phoenix decree and a hall full of trousseau gifts.

Sun Shi let out a long breath, her eyes full of astonishment and disbelief: “My Lord, am I dreaming? Her Majesty the Empress personally bestowed a marriage upon A’Shu, and gifted her with all of this as a dowry.”

Such a lavish dowry would rival that of any distinguished young lady from an illustrious family.

And the match itself was so favorable!

Though it differed somewhat from the earlier notion of A’Shu becoming a side consort of the Crown Grandson, Wei Yan was Her Majesty Empress Wei’s only blood brother. His medical skills were exceptional, his future prospects were bright, and his looks were matchless. To be wed to such a desirable husband was truly beyond reproach.

By this point, Ling Daye had finally calmed down slightly. Grinning, he said: “I never expected such a sudden piece of happy news! For Her Majesty the Empress to personally bestow the marriage — what a glorious and honorable thing.”

To forge a connection with the ascendant Empress Wei was an immense windfall for the Ling family.

By now, Ling Daye had cast aside whatever scheming thoughts he had harbored before, and was wholeheartedly thinking about how to make this wedding as grand and festive as possible.

But what Ling Xiao cared about most was: “Uncle, can A’Shu really leave the palace and come home tomorrow?”

Brother and sister had not seen each other for over a year.

Ling Daye smiled: “Since Miss Xin Yun has said so, it cannot be false. Sun Shi, have someone go and tidy and clean A’Shu’s bedchamber again at once. Replace everything in the room with new items.”

Sun Shi responded with cheerful delight.

Jiang Shi smiled and said: “Your daughter-in-law has nothing to do — I’ll help Mother-in-law get everything arranged.”

Ling Ji thought for a moment and reminded: “Father, for such a joyous occasion, should we not first send word to Dingzhou? For A’Shu’s wedding, Fifth Uncle and the others should all come to the capital.”

“Look at my memory — I got so excited I forgot something this important.” Ling Daye slapped his forehead: “I’ll go to the study right now and write a family letter; have someone deliver it to Dingzhou immediately.”

Ling Xiao added: “Such good news should also be sent to Cousin Yan. She and A’Shu have always been close — she’ll be overjoyed when she hears that A’Shu is coming home.”

The entire Ling household was bustling with happiness over the news that Ling Jingshu would soon leave the palace and await her wedding.

And in the palace, Ling Jingshu herself was eagerly looking forward to that moment of departure.

Over the past few days, to avoid suspicion, Wei Yan had not dared come to Lingbo Palace. He had only quietly sent a letter through a messenger; it contained a single short line of writing.

A’Shu, wait for me at the Ling household — I will come to take you as my bride!

Ling Jingshu read those few words over and over, countless times. Each time, her heart grew sweeter.

In the past, every letter she received had to be burned after reading, for fear of discovery. This time, she could finally keep the letter openly, storing it in the sachet worn close to her body, tied at her waist.

Time spent waiting always passes more slowly than usual.

That night, Ling Jingshu could barely sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, Wei Yan’s smiling brow and eyes floated into her mind, as did the faces of her family.

The longing for her loved ones, which she had been suppressing all this time, threatened to overwhelm her entirely.

She missed her blood brother Ling Xiao; she missed the lively and lovable Ling Jingyan; she missed her warm and magnanimous older cousin and his wife; she missed her great-uncle and great-aunt, who, though somewhat self-serving, had still treated her with a measure of affection…

After a night of tossing and turning, when Ling Jingshu rose in the morning, she was, surprisingly, unaffected — her spirits were bright as ever.

Since she was leaving the palace today, she could no longer wear the female official’s uniform she had grown accustomed to. The gown she had brought into the palace over two years ago was somewhat worn and had grown a little small, and no longer fit well.

Yet the glow of joy on Ling Jingshu’s face, and the delight shining in her eyes, were enough to make one overlook all of that.

Ling Jingshu knelt respectfully before Empress Wei, kowtowing three times: “Over the past two-plus years, I have been fortunate to receive Your Majesty’s generous care and protection. Jingshu is endlessly grateful and truly does not know how to repay Your Majesty’s kindness. Today, Jingshu is about to leave the palace, and has come especially to express her gratitude and bid farewell. I only pray that Your Majesty’s health remains blessed and that your wishes are fulfilled.”

Throughout these past two-plus years, Empress Wei had spared no effort in shielding her.

Without Empress Wei, her days in the palace would never have been so manageable.

Empress Wei looked at the radiant, lovely Ling Jingshu before her, and her smile was half reluctance, half wistfulness: “Rise quickly! Your leaving the palace is a joyous occasion. Though I am loath to part with you, between keeping you by my side and seeing you and A’Yan joined in wedlock, I far prefer the latter.”

She paused, then smiled and teased: “The next time we meet, it will be when you and A’Yan come to the palace to pay respects after your wedding. At that point you will be A’Yan’s wife — my sister-in-law, my own family. There will be no need to keep kneeling every time we meet.”

At Empress Wei’s teasing words, Ling Jingshu’s fair face instantly flushed scarlet.

Empress Wei looked at the young woman unable to conceal her bashful joy, and felt a rush of satisfaction in her heart.

Witnessing Wei Yan take a wife and establish his own family had been her greatest wish over these years.

Now that wish was about to be fulfilled, and her heart was truly glad. That gladness far outweighed any reluctance to part with Ling Jingshu: “All right, enough with this bashful maiden’s air. Go quickly — leave the palace now!”

Ling Jingshu murmured her assent, bent in a bow, and finally turned to leave.