Duke Lu was so excited he spat out a mouthful of tea, spraying the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince shook his sleeves, his face darkening. “Fifth Brother, can’t you be more refined?”

Duke Lu smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, Second Brother. I was just too surprised.”

Everyone’s gaze returned to Prince Xiang.

Prince Qi asked with concern, “Eighth Brother, did Father Emperor bestow marriage upon Miss Cui and Zhu Ziyu?”

Prince Xiang, who had always been on good terms with Prince Qi, nodded with a gloomy face.

“Congratulations to Eighth Brother.” A clear voice rang out.

Prince Xiang looked over.

Yu Jin raised his cup to him.

“Is Seventh Brother joking?” Prince Xiang asked coldly.

If he were to start a fight today, surely Father Emperor would understand.

Yu Jin raised his eyebrows with a slight smile. “I never joke. I sincerely congratulate Eighth Brother.”

A vein throbbed on Prince Xiang’s temple as he struggled to control the urge to throw a punch.

“Then would Seventh Brother care to explain what I should be happy about?”

Yu Jin swirled the wine in his cup, speaking unhurriedly, “Although today’s incident was embarrassing for Eighth Brother, it’s better than if it had happened in the future. That would have been truly humiliating. Don’t you think so, Eighth Brother?”

Prince Xiang hesitated for a moment, then grabbed a cup of wine and downed it in one gulp.

Seventh Brother was right. Escaping from that Cui woman before the wedding ceremony was indeed something to be congratulated for.

Seeing this, the other princes all raised their cups.

“That’s right, Eighth Brother, don’t take it to heart. Let’s drink…”

Yu Jin brought the cup to his lips and took a sip, smiling slightly.

On the way back, Yu Jin brazenly squeezed into the carriage and embraced Jiang Si, asking, “Si’er, do you think Cui Mingyue and Zhu Ziyu’s marriage will go smoothly?”

Jiang Si turned her head to avoid the strong smell of alcohol and smiled, “Of course, I hope it goes smoothly for them.”

She had thought that cutting off Cui Mingyue’s path to becoming a princess was a small victory but never imagined the Emperor would make such a brilliant move.

Pairing Cui Mingyue with Zhu Ziyu was truly a case of like finding like – a match made in heaven.

Jiang Si could almost imagine what would happen next.

With Cui Mingyue’s arrogance, if Zhu Ziyu were still a promising scholar, it might have been fine. But by making her marry a man who had been expelled from his family and was half-mad, they would likely destroy themselves without anyone else’s interference.

Jiang Si leaned against the carriage wall, smiling.

This small goal seemed close to being realized.

Cui Mingyue sat motionless in her room, still wearing her bright red wedding dress.

Cui Yi, usually unruly, didn’t even dare to enter the room, pacing back and forth in the corridor outside.

“What are you doing here?”

Cui Yi looked up to see Princess Rongyang and said with a bitter face, “My sister is inside.”

“Where’s your father?”

Cui Yi pointed to a shadowy spot, “Father is over there.”

“Keep an eye on your sister.” Princess Rongyang left with these words, not immediately going to see Cui Mingyue, but instead seeking out Cui Xu.

Cui Xu stood under an osmanthus tree. Hearing footsteps, he slightly raised his eyes, saw it was Princess Rongyang approaching, and then lowered his gaze again, maintaining silence.

Princess Rongyang walked up close, seeing Cui Xu’s demeanor, and felt her anger rising.

“Aren’t you going to ask what my royal brother said?”

“What did His Majesty say?”

“You—”

Cui Xu looked at her helplessly, “Do we need to argue at a time like this?”

Princess Rongyang suddenly deflated.

“My royal brother wants to marry Mingyue to Zhu Ziyu!”

Cui Xu was stunned for a moment, followed by a long silence.

“Cui Xu, say something!” For many years, what Princess Rongyang hated most was this man’s indifference.

Cui Xu smiled bitterly, “This is His Majesty’s will. What can I say? Do you want me to defy the imperial order?”

If he could defy the order, he wouldn’t have waited until now.

Princess Rongyang was rendered speechless by the question.

“Since it’s His Majesty’s will, you should go tell Mingyue and let her prepare,” Cui Xu said, then turned to walk towards the courtyard gate with his hands behind his back.

“Cui Xu—” Princess Rongyang called out.

Cui Xu stopped and looked at her inquiringly.

Princess Rongyang’s lips quivered.

Why had she called out to Cui Xu?

The imperial decree was inviolable, and their daughter’s marriage to Zhu Ziyu couldn’t be changed. Of course, she wasn’t calling Cui Xu to defy the order.

But at a time like this, couldn’t this man, as a husband and father, offer her some comfort?

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going,” Cui Xu said, turning to leave.

Princess Rongyang entered the room.

“His Majesty wants to bestow marriage upon me and Zhu Ziyu?” Cui Mingyue murmured after hearing Princess Rongyang’s words.

“The imperial decree will arrive soon.”

“Impossible!” Cui Mingyue suddenly stood up and grabbed Princess Rongyang’s sleeve. “How could His Majesty possibly bestow marriage upon me and Zhu Ziyu? Mother, did you not go to the Empress Dowager—”

Princess Rongyang raised her hand and slapped Cui Mingyue.

“You dare mention the Empress Dowager! If we bother her again and upset His Majesty, even I won’t be able to stay in the capital!” Princess Rongyang’s anger grew as she spoke. “Isn’t all this because of your foolishness? Why did you have to get involved with a married man in the first place!”

Cui Mingyue held her cheek, ignoring Princess Rongyang’s accusations, and insisted on asking, “Is His Majesty going to bestow marriage upon me and Zhu Ziyu?”

At this moment, Cui Yi ran in, “Mother, Sister, the imperial messenger has arrived!”

Cui Mingyue collapsed back into her chair.

After the imperial messenger left, Cui Mingyue sat holding the imperial decree in a daze.

She was supposed to become Prince Xiang’s wife after today. How had things turned out like this?

Since when did a man like Zhu Ziyu have such courage?

Cui Xu looked at his daughter, seeing flashes of anger and disappointment in her eyes, which finally turned into resignation. “Mingyue, you should prepare yourself… No matter what, try to live well with Zhu Ziyu in the future…”

Seeing Cui Xu leave, Princess Rongyang also had no heart to stay, but Cui Mingyue grabbed her wrist.

“Mother, someone must have plotted against me in this matter!”

Princess Rongyang was taken aback.

Cui Mingyue looked up, gripping Princess Rongyang’s wrist tightly. “Mother, it must have been Prince Yan’s wife who instigated Zhu Ziyu to cause this scene!”

Princess Rongyang’s face changed. “Do you have any evidence?”

“I don’t, but I know it must be her! Mother, believe me…”

That Jiang woman must be retaliating for the Lu Shengxiang incident!

Thinking this, Cui Mingyue broke down in tears, filled with regret.

She had been too hasty. If she had waited until she became Prince Xiang’s wife, dealt with the Zhu Ziyu threat, and then focused on dealing with that Jiang woman, how could she have ended up in such a complete defeat?

No, even if she lost everything, she would never be Zhu Ziyu’s wife!

With the imperial decree in place, Cui Mingyue soon found herself back in a bridal sedan chair, carried with music and fanfare to a new residence.

It was a new house specially allocated by imperial grace for Zhu Ziyu, who had been expelled from his family.

This time, even more onlookers than at Prince Xiang’s wedding crowded the streets, making them impassable.

Disappointingly, this wedding proceeded smoothly without any unusual incidents.

In the bridal chamber, the wedding candles flickered brightly, illuminating the room.

Zhu Ziyu gazed at the veiled figure, his eyes complex with emotion.