Chapter 63: The Sudden Arrival of an Imperial Decree

Proofread By : Mim

In the corner stood Chu Jinyao. The county princess approached with her entourage in a menacing manner, and her maids and servants surrounded Chu Jinyao, blocking her path.

 

Chu Jinyao glanced around. Rather than feeling afraid, she found it amusing. This was the county princess of the Prince Huailing’s Residence, a noble lady who might soon become the crown princess, yet she was behaving as childishly as the kids from their village.

 

Thinking this, Chu Jinyao said out loud, “County Princess, don’t you think these childish threats are a bit immature? You keep accusing me of being disrespectful to the Prince Huailing’s Residence, but before you say that, shouldn’t you at least consider the actions of your own family? Or is it that only your family is allowed to bully others, and no one is even allowed to speak up against it?”

 

Chu Jinyao finished speaking with displeasure and sternly commanded, “Move aside, I’m leaving.”

 

The county princess was furious, her eyes wide open in anger. But Chu Jinyao wasn’t the type to lower her head or speak softly. As the standoff continued, a voice came from a woman standing outside the pavilion: “We’re all here to attend a banquet. We came happily, so let’s leave happily too. If there’s something to be said, say it calmly. If there’s nothing, then let everyone go their own way. What’s the point of blocking the path like this?”

 

Chu Jinyao was surprised. Everyone had been watching from the sidelines, and yet someone dared to speak up? She looked towards the speaker and saw a tall young woman with a square face and a dignified brow. She looked competent, though her features might seem too strong to elders who preferred more delicate appearances.

 

However, Chu Jinyao admired her courage. For someone to speak up like this in front of everyone showed she was a very righteous person. With this woman breaking the silence, the daughter of the governor, who was the host of the event, quickly approached with a smile, saying, “County Princess, Fifth Young Lady Chu, you’re both here? The wind outside is strong, why don’t we go inside to talk?”

 

This was clearly an attempt to de-escalate the situation. As the host, the governor’s daughter couldn’t afford any drama at her banquet, so even though she didn’t particularly care about the dispute between Chu Jinyao and the county princess, she had to say something.

 

Despite the opportunity to smooth things over, the county princess remained upset and unwilling to back down. She clearly didn’t understand the concept of quitting while ahead. Chu Jinyao, on the other hand, was not afraid. She stood there calmly, locking eyes with the county princess.

 

An awkward silence hung in the air, while the gathered women looked on, some embarrassed, others a bit gloating. After all, watching drama unfold is human nature. They stood in small groups, waiting to see how this would end.

 

While they whispered among themselves, a servant in red approached with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting, “Ladies, sorry to interrupt.”

 

The group turned in surprise, frowning as their maids quickly moved to shield them. They held their handkerchiefs tightly, murmuring, “Who is this? How rude, letting a servant into the courtyard like this?”

 

It was highly improper to allow male servants into a ladies’ gathering, and the women’s expressions clearly showed their displeasure. But among them, the county princess’s reaction was completely different. She widened her eyes in shock and took a few steps forward, exclaiming, “Eunuch Lin, what are you doing here?”

 

“Eunuch?” The other women were more shocked than before. It wasn’t just surprise; it was more like fear. The governor’s daughter was stunned as well. How could there be a eunuch here? And whose side was he on?

 

Xiao Linzi (Eunuch Lin), however, paid no attention to the women’s changing expressions. He continued to smile as he bowed from afar to Chu Jinyao, “Fifth Young Lady Chu. County Princess.”

 

Chu Jinyao hesitantly returned the gesture, but the county princess was too excited to even think of returning the courtesy. She ran out of the pavilion, looking around anxiously.

 

Sure enough, across the lake, a young man stood under the corridor, gazing in their direction. Mist from the rain blurred his figure, but even through the veil of rain, one could sense his overwhelming presence.

 

“The Crown Prince?” Chu Jinyao murmured softly, almost believing she was in a dream. Otherwise, why would she be seeing the crown prince here, when he was supposed to be at the border?

 

Amidst the sound of the gentle rain, Chu Jinyao felt as though the crown prince glanced at her briefly before turning away. He coldly and regally gave some instructions before leaving without looking back. His figure was soon obscured by the lush green trees, vanishing from sight.

 

Had it not been for the audible gasps from the others around her, Chu Jinyao would have thought she was imagining things.

 

Many women were trembling, their hands shaking as they whispered excitedly, “Was that the crown prince? Why would he be here? Oh my, the crown prince is so young!”

 

Indeed, why was the crown prince here? Chu Jinyao’s heart sank. Was it because of the county princess? It seemed the rumors about her becoming the crown princess were true.

 

The young women present weren’t fools. They all thought the same as Chu Jinyao. Now, when they looked at the county princess, their eyes held a different kind of admiration—tinged with excitement. The county princess, her cheeks flushed with excitement, was surrounded by even more people now. Xiao Linzi noticed that ever since his master appeared, his own presence as an imperial eunuch had been entirely forgotten. He had to cough to remind the excited women that he was still there.

 

Xiao Linzi smiled and asked, “Ladies, the crown prince saw you gathered here and sent me to ask what the matter was. May I inquire?”

 

Who would dare mention such trivial matters now? They all rushed to respond, “It’s nothing serious, no need to worry, Eunuch.”

 

“Ah, nothing serious, then that’s good,” Xiao Linzi said with a meaningful smile. He noticed Chu Jinyao slipping away, chuckled inwardly, and after casting a subtle glance at the others, left with a smile.

 

Chu Jinyao took advantage of the distraction to quietly walk away. After leaving the area, she let out a long sigh.

 

Linglong, misunderstanding the source of her frustration, tried to comfort her. “Miss, don’t be disheartened. Even if they rise high, it doesn’t mean they’ll live a better life than you. Don’t worry, there will be a good match for you too.”

 

Chu Jinyao smiled bitterly, “That’s just something we say to comfort ourselves.”

 

She glanced at the rain dripping from the eaves, feeling a bit melancholic. If the county princess and the crown prince were truly to be married, then what would become of her, the woman who dared to reject the Prince Huailing’s Residence and even openly defy the future crown princess?

 

“Linglong, let’s go for a walk outside.”

 

“Yes, Miss.”

 

Chu Jinyao and Linglong strolled aimlessly through the garden. As they rounded a corner, they noticed someone standing under a flower trellis.

 

The trellis was covered in green leaves, dotted with red flowers. The rain had washed the foliage clean, making the reds redder and the greens greener. Tiny droplets of rain dripped rhythmically to the ground from the leaves above. The light inside the trellis was dim, and the person standing there seemed to be glowing.

 

“Shizi?” (Heir Apparent)

 

“When I came here, I thought you would like this place.”

 

Chu Jinyao remained silent for a long time.

 

Lin Xiyuan saw this and lowered his head with a bitter smile. “You don’t like it? Or perhaps, you don’t even want to speak with me anymore.”

 

“Shizi, men and women should maintain proper distance. We are not truly cousins, so it’s inappropriate for us to stay here for long. The rain is heavy; please take care of yourself. I’ll take my leave.”

 

“Jinyao,” Lin Xiyuan suddenly spoke up, “I’m sorry.”

 

Chu Jinyao stopped in her tracks. It had been so long since this situation began, but this was the first time someone had apologized to her.

 

“I once thought this would be a good match, but I never realized that my assumptions would bring you so much trouble. From the beginning, it was my fault. I’ve already requested permission from my father. I’ll be going to the capital to focus on my studies. As for marriage, we needn’t speak of it anymore. I’ll be leaving in a few days, and after that, I won’t appear before you again.”

 

“Shizi, your dedication to your studies is admirable,” Chu Jinyao replied. “I wish you success in all your future endeavors.”

 

Lin Xiyuan laughed bitterly at her words. He had stayed at the Prince Huailing’s Residence for Chu Jinyao, and now, he was leaving because of her too. How he wished to hear these words from his future wife, but that had been ruined by his own family.

 

He didn’t even know whom to blame. He listened to the sound of rain hitting the leaves. Today, Chu Jinyao was dressed in red and white, standing far away among the flowers. The rain dripped softly around her, and as she stood there silently, the surrounding flowers seemed to lose their color, or perhaps they became even more vibrant. Lin Xiyuan suddenly recalled the first time he saw Chu Jinyao—a lively girl who jumped down from a tree like a bird, her white and purple dress swirling like a peacock’s feathers, dazzling him.

 

Back then, he had thought, “Whose playful little girl is this?”

 

And now, in the blink of an eye, she had become so quiet. As she stood there, she reminded him of a scene of lush flowers in full bloom.

 

“Jinyao, I shouldn’t have come today, but I just wanted to see you one last time. This will be the last time. On behalf of my family, I apologize. I never imagined they would do something like this.”

 

“Shizi, Princess and the family elders acted with your best interests in mind. What’s the point of saying this now? In the end, we were not meant to be, so there’s no need to mention it further.”

 

“Not meant to be…” Lin Xiyuan was deeply hurt by her words. He stood there in the cold rain, his gaze filled with sadness. Chu Jinyao bowed and turned to leave.

 

“Jinyao,” Lin Xiyuan’s voice echoed behind her as she walked away. “From the beginning, I only wanted to marry you with the respect and honor of a formal wife. I never had any other intentions, even now.”

 

Linglong felt a bit anxious hearing these bold and almost confessional words. Chu Jinyao hardened her resolve and walked away without looking back.

 

But as she turned the corner, she froze.

 

She had been so focused on the flower trellis earlier that she hadn’t noticed the corridor ahead. As she walked along the corridor and turned the corner, she suddenly saw someone standing there.

 

Chu Jinyao was stunned for several moments, only snapping out of it when Linglong discreetly nudged her. She quickly bowed her head and greeted, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

 

Qin Yi hadn’t expected to hear all of that before seeing Chu Jinyao.

 

Behind him, Xiao Linzi wore an expression of deep regret, wishing he could cut off his own ears. He had stood far enough away. He swore he hadn’t heard anything.

 

Xiao Linzi wore a pained expression, increasingly convinced that while the future crown princess might be fine, he himself was doomed.

 

Chu Jinyao was mortified that a man, and not just any man but someone of great importance, had overheard such things. Her face turned red with embarrassment. Lin Xiyuan also realized something was amiss and came over to see Qin Yi. He too was startled.

 

Lin Xiyuan quietly reached out, intending to escort Chu Jinyao away, but Qin Yi’s gaze instantly pinned his hand in place. “What are you doing?”

 

Chu Jinyao noticed and quickly stepped aside.

 

Lin Xiyuan nonchalantly withdrew his hand and asked, “Greetings, Your Highness. What brings you here?”

 

“How dare you ask me that,” Qin Yi replied with an emotionless sneer. He then gave Chu Jinyao a slight nod, indicating, “You should go. I have something to say to him.”

 

The tone of his voice sent a shiver down Chu Jinyao’s spine. She didn’t want to stay a moment longer, so she quickly bowed and left.

 

Once they were out of earshot, Linglong breathed a sigh of relief and remarked, “Miss, we won’t even mention Shizi, but doesn’t the Crown Prince seem a bit… strange?”

 

Chu Jinyao sighed, “I think so too.”

 

She recalled the Crown Prince’s tone when he spoke, as if he were giving orders to a wife… Chu Jinyao immediately cut off her bold and reckless thoughts and told Linglong, “Forget it, this isn’t something we can concern ourselves with. Let’s go. When we leave, don’t mention any of this to anyone.”

 

“Of course, I won’t.”

 

However, they hadn’t gone far before the sound of hurried footsteps approached from behind, followed by a sharp voice calling out, “Fifth Young Lady Chu, please wait.”

 

Xiao Linzi caught up to them, bowed politely to Chu Jinyao, and took something out of his sleeve, saying, “Fifth Young Lady, the jade pendant you lost at the Prince Huailing’s Residence last time was found by the Crown Prince. He thought it was priceless, but the gold-thread cord wasn’t up to standard. After returning, His Highness immediately had a new one made. He’s taking this opportunity to return it to you.”

 

Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but exclaim, “Ah! So it wasn’t that my gold-thread cord was lost, but that the Crown Prince…”

 

Xiao Linzi maintained his smile as if he didn’t realize the strangeness of what he was saying: “The Crown Prince found it unsatisfactory and kept it. This is the new cord. His Highness asked me to deliver it to you, so you can replace the old one.”

 

Was she supposed to wear it, now that he’d made it? Chu Jinyao and Linglong exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what to make of the situation. Not only had the Crown Prince taken her jade pendant without asking, but now he was insisting she replace it with a cord of his choosing?

 

No matter how noble a person was, this seemed quite unreasonable. But he was the Crown Prince—he could do as he pleased.

 

Linglong, though inwardly finding the whole thing absurd, still had to accept the gift graciously without a hint of complaint. Who would dare refuse something from the Crown Prince?

 

After Linglong accepted the jade pendant, Xiao Linzi clasped his hands together and asked Chu Jinyao, “Fifth Young Lady, have you received any letters from the capital recently?”

 

“The capital?” Chu Jinyao asked, confused by his question.

 

Xiao Linzi understood. After the Crown Prince had finalized his business in the capital, he had insisted on making a “detour” to Taiyuan. Unexpectedly, they had arrived few days earlier than the officials delivering the imperial decree.

 

Not wanting to say more, Xiao Linzi added, “Since nothing has arrived yet, you’ll just have to wait a few more days. In the meantime, you can enjoy yourself outside.” Once the imperial marriage decree arrived, the royal rules would be strict, and going out would no longer be as easy.

 

With that cryptic message, Xiao Linzi left. Linglong, after watching him for a while, couldn’t hold back any longer: “Miss, do you think the Crown Prince is…?”

 

“Linglong,” Chu Jinyao interrupted sternly, her voice unusually harsh, “don’t talk nonsense.”

 

But even with those words, Chu Jinyao couldn’t suppress the growing suspicion in her heart, leaving her uneasy. The county princess was about to become the Crown Princess, yet the Crown Prince’s eunuch was behaving like this towards her… Chu Jinyao’s heart sank. She was so unsettled that she decided to head back to the banquet hall. But as they stepped out of the garden, they ran into a maid.

 

The maid looked anxious, but upon seeing Chu Jinyao, she breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Fifth Young Lady, where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you. Come quickly, Madam and Fourth Young Lady are ready to leave, and they’re just waiting for you.”

 

“Leave?”

 

“Yes, the Old Madam Chu sent word that something important has happened at home, and everyone must return immediately.”

 

The maid only knew this part of the story, but seeing Chu Jinyao now, she couldn’t wait any longer and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her along. Chu Jinyao frowned but held back from speaking, instead asking, “Did Grandmother say what the matter was? It seems impolite to leave without informing our host.”

 

“The specifics weren’t mentioned. The Old Madam Chu only said it’s something related to the capital and that we must leave immediately.”

 

The capital… Chu Jinyao exchanged a glance with Linglong, and they both saw the surprise in each other’s eyes. Just moments ago, Eunuch Lin had asked if any letters had come from the capital.

 

In a rush, Chu Jinyao was pulled toward the second gate, where carriages were already waiting. Just as the maid said, everyone else had packed and was ready to go. Madam Zhao looked at Chu Jinyao with some displeasure but didn’t say anything in front of others. She merely said coldly, “We’ve been waiting for you. Hurry and get on the carriage, we’re leaving.”

 

And so, the ladies of the Chu family hurried back to the Marquis’s residence, unaware of what awaited them. When the carriage stopped, Madam Zhao, assisted by a servant, got out first, asking, “What’s going on? Why were we summoned so urgently?”

 

“Madam, there’s no time to waste. The Marquis and the Old Madam Chu are already in the main hall. The imperial eunuch has been waiting for quite some time, and if we make him wait any longer, we’ll risk offending him.”

 

“An imperial decree?” Madam Zhao was visibly shaken, unable to control her voice. Chu Jinyao felt a strange sense of foreboding, and the other ladies were no less startled, immediately becoming abuzz with speculation.

 

“An imperial eunuch is at our home? What’s the decree about? Who’s it for? Is it a royal edict?”

 

Madam Zhao silenced them with a shout, “Quiet! Follow me quickly.”

 

She led the group in a hurry to the front hall. The front hall was the largest and grandest building in the Marquis’s residence, only opened for major events like weddings or funerals, and it saw little use throughout the year. Now, its doors were wide open, with many people already gathered inside. The Old Madam Chu and the Marquis of Changxing were seated at the top, chatting with a man in yellow robes.

 

As Madam Zhao and her group entered, they didn’t dare raise their heads as they knelt and apologized. The Old Madam Chu scolded, “Why are you so late?”

 

“We were delayed on the road,” Madam Zhao explained quietly.

 

Chu Jinmiao, muttered, “It’s not our fault. One person kept us all waiting.”

 

Several of the girls glanced at Chu Jinyao, but her expression remained calm, showing no sign of fear.

 

“Enough,” the Old Madam Chu didn’t want to dwell on the matter in front of the eunuch. She raised her voice and sternly said, “Now that everyone is here, stand in the back.”

 

She then turned to the eunuch in yellow, smiling ingratiatingly, “Our younger generation was a bit rude. Please forgive us, Eunuch.”

 

The eunuch smiled but said nothing. Perhaps it was just a trick of the eye, but Chu Jinyao thought he glanced over the group of girls, as if he were counting something.

 

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the Marquis and the Old Madam Chu, the eunuch cleared his throat and said in a sharp voice, “The Marquis of Changxing Mansion, receive the imperial decree.”

 

The Old Madam Chu and the Marquis stood at the front, followed by the other men of the household, lined up according to age and rank. After all the men had lined up, it was the women’s turn, with Chu Jinyao and her sisters standing together. Even the seven-year-old Eighth Miss was there, being held quietly by her nursemaid. Behind the ladies, a sea of servants and maids gathered in orderly ranks.

 

The hierarchy was clear.

 

Upon hearing the eunuch’s words, everyone in the Marquis’s residence knelt down in unison, respectfully performing the ritual bow: “Your subjects receive the decree. Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor.”

 

The eunuch began reading the decree: “The Emperor decrees: The Marquis of Changxing and his family have served our empire with loyalty for generations, defending the borders with honor. They are truly pillars of the state. The daughter of the Chu family is known for her gentle nature, virtue, and beauty. Upon hearing of her, we are greatly pleased… Now, as the Crown Prince is of age for marriage, we have selected a worthy match. The fifth daughter of the Chu family, Chu Jinyao, has been raised in the inner chambers, and her talents and virtues are well known. We wish to bestow upon her the honor of becoming the Crown Prince’s consort. Let the Ministry of Rites and the Astronomical Bureau…”

 

Chu Jinyao could no longer hear the rest. In fact, no one could.

 

What had the eunuch just said? He had said that the Emperor himself had decreed that Chu Jinyao would be appointed as the Crown Prince’s consort.

 

The Crown Prince’s consort? That means Crown Princess?

 

Chu Jinyao stood there in shock. She was to be the Crown Prince’s wife? She had been making the wildest, most pessimistic assumptions, thinking she was doomed to live her life as a pawn, always serving others. But now, she had been chosen over the county princess to become the Crown Princess?

 

She couldn’t possibly be dreaming, could she?

 

The Old Madam Chu felt as if a thunderbolt had struck her. She could hardly kneel any longer.

 

Hadn’t the county princess of the Prince Huailing’s Residence been competing for this? How had the position of the Crown Prince’s consort fallen to their family?

 

The eunuch finished reading the decree and noticed that everyone was still kneeling in stunned silence. He coughed lightly and drew out his words, saying, “Marquis of Changxing, come and receive the decree.”