Chapter 75: The Imperial Edict of Betrothal

Xue Qingyin stood in the main hall of the Xue family, still feeling a bit dazed.

The imperial edict had actually… arrived. It was so fast, it was as if there was no chance to change her mind.

Did this count as successfully escaping her fate in the original story?

“Imperial Edict: Now, the eldest daughter of the Xue family of Yizhou, with her hidden virtue and graceful demeanor, is hereby betrothed to King Xuan as his concubine, with the rank of Fifth Rank. The relevant officials are to choose an auspicious date for the wedding ceremony, with the rites of a primary wife.

May it be so!”

The eunuch’s voice was clear and resonant, echoing in the hall, leaving a lingering sound that seemed to last for three days.

Xue Qingyin snapped out of her daze and knelt down to receive the edict, her head bowed as she stared at the stone brick patterns on the floor.

She couldn’t help but mutter to herself, “Hidden virtue?” It meant possessing a beautiful moral character that wasn’t revealed to the world.

She didn’t even know she had that.

The “graceful demeanor” part was a bit more accurate.

She couldn’t claim to be virtuous, but she was beautiful enough to be considered “graceful.”

She knew that “concubine” was a title, usually the highest rank among the concubines of a prince. But this was actually a Fifth Rank, meaning she would receive a salary?

Not bad. Xue Qingyin clicked her tongue.

“Miss Xue, receive the edict,” the eunuch said politely.

After all, she was still Miss Xue today, but in a few days, she would be the concubine of King Xuan.

“Thank you, Eunuch.” Xue Qingyin took the edict with both hands.

As she stood up, the Xue family steward respectfully presented the eunuch with a bag of gold ingots.

The eunuch laughed, “I dare not accept this. This is merely my duty. Your esteemed family is too kind.”

The steward could only put the bag back.

The eunuch left after delivering the edict.

The Xue family remained standing there in a daze.

A concubine wasn’t as glorious as a primary wife, without the title, but she could still share some power. After all, she had a legitimate title and rank.

Therefore, people often called her a “noble concubine.”

Of course, that wasn’t the most important thing.

What was truly eye-catching was that the imperial edict explicitly stated that on the day of the wedding, she would be welcomed into King Xuan’s mansion with the rites of a primary wife.

Not enough family background? Let the ceremony make up for it.

It showed King Xuan’s intentions.

The Xue family servants secretly gasped, thinking that the eldest daughter was truly unassuming. She had somehow captured the heart of King Xuan.

Xue Qingyin also thought it was quite well-arranged.

On the day of the wedding, she wouldn’t have to enter through a side door.

She would enter through the main gate!

At least that gave her some face.

The rest didn’t matter to her. It was just a change of scenery for her to eat, drink, and die peacefully. From now on, she wouldn’t have to see He Songning, and King Wei wouldn’t dare to confess his love to her again.

Xue Qingyin held the edict, turned around lightly, and Xue Chengdong’s incredibly complex gaze.

“I didn’t expect that when you mentioned King Xuan that day, you weren’t just talking idly.”Xue Chengdong’s voice was low.

Xue Qingyin said, “It’s because Father hasn’t shown any concern for me for too long.”

Xue Chengdong heard this and let out a laugh, not sure if it was a cold laugh or a mocking one.

He then said, “Where is your mother?”

“She’s still at the Xu family, of course.”

“She’s not coming back?”

“She’s visiting her family for a while. Is there anything wrong with that, Father?”

Xue Chengdong looked at Xue Qingyin and said, “Nothing wrong. Good, very good. Let her stay for a while longer, it doesn’t matter.”

Xue Qingyin smiled, “Okay!” They wouldn’t be in a hurry to return to the Xue family anyway.

Let Xue Chengdong and Xue Qinghe do whatever they wanted!

“I really didn’t expect the Emperor to agree to your marriage to King Xuan. ”Xue Chengdong’s voice was slightly cold. “It seems King Xuan truly has some deep feelings for you. So… is this your reliance for bringing your mother back to the Xu family?”

Others didn’t understand the current Emperor.

Xue Chengdong could say that he understood him very well.

Especially since he had the Emperor’s illegitimate son in his mansion. This was the result of a deal he made with the Emperor back then.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand why the Emperor would agree to let Xue Qingyin marry King Xuan.

Wasn’t the Emperor afraid that he would use this opportunity to control both of his sons?

With the Emperor’s suspicious nature, he should never have allowed such a thing to happen!

There was only one answer…

King Xuan loved Xue Qingyin too much, so much that even the Emperor couldn’t change his mind.

Xue Chengdong suddenly imagined King Xuan’s indifferent face.

It was truly… truly hard to imagine that he was actually a lovesick fool.

Xue Chengdong felt like he had woken up from a dream, and everything had changed. The entire Great Liang Dynasty felt unreal.

At this moment, Xue Qingyin shook her head, “Our reliance isn’t King Xuan.”

“Then what is it?”Xue Chengdong frowned.

“It’s me!”

“You?”

“When I become filial, able to please Mother. When I no longer seek Father’s concern, when I no longer crave Brother’s closeness. From then on, I will be Mother’s pillar. Mother has me, she doesn’t need anything else.”

Xue Chengdong was stunned at first, then he found her words ridiculous.

“Then I hope it’s truly as you said, that she truly doesn’t need anything else.”

Xue Qingyin hugged the edict, “I’m leaving.”

Xue Chengdong coldly shouted, “Where are you taking the edict? To the Xu family? That’s improper. Don’t you dare!”

Xue Qingyin didn’t turn back, “This is for me, not for you, Father. It’s not for you to marry into King Xuan’s mansion.”

Xue Chengdong: …

Xue Qingyin walked out not far before she saw the Fourth Princess waiting at the corner.

“The Emperor wants you to be the Second Brother’s princess?” The Fourth Princess’s voice was incredulous.

“You’re disappointed. It’s just a concubine.”

The Fourth Princess trembled, “A concubine is still very impressive. I just wonder who the primary wife is.” The Fourth Princess was about to gloat, but then she remembered that she would soon be on the same side as Xue Qingyin, so she suppressed it and tried to look worried for Xue Qingyin, saying, “You… you, you don’t have to be afraid. Anyway, anyway, you’re so amazing. And the Second Brother likes you too. …I never thought the Second Brother would like anyone.”

Xue Qingyin looked at her and said, “You don’t need to put on these expressions.”

The Fourth Princess was stunned.

Xue Qingyin said, “You don’t even know what a genuine smile looks like, or what genuine concern for someone looks like. Putting on a fake… well, it’s like your face is twitching.”

The Fourth Princess felt a sudden surge of anger.

She remained silent for a while, then stammered, “Then… what does a smile look like?”

Xue Qingyin looked at her in surprise, smiled, and said, “Look, like this.”

For a moment, even jade and gold couldn’t match the brilliance in her eyes.

The Fourth Princess stared at her, dazed, “…Oh.”

“Is there nothing that makes you want to laugh genuinely?” Xue Qingyin casually asked.

The Fourth Princess’s eyes dimmed, “No. …My mother died young. After she died, I forgot what it was like to be happy.”

Xue Qingyin remembered the mention of her background in the original story, “Oh, right, sorry.”

“You know my mother died young?” The Fourth Princess looked at her in confusion.

Xue Qingyin thought, I can’t say I read it in a book, can I?

Just as Xue Qingyin was struggling to recall the plot of the original story, the Fourth Princess said, “I know. It must be the Second Brother who told you. The Second Brother… he really likes you a lot.”

Xue Qingyin thought, this was the umpteenth time she’d heard someone say that.

She couldn’t help but tilt her head and think.

She must be the “weakness” that King Xuan deliberately created.

Everyone said that King Xuan was cold and ruthless, indifferent to women, and he was a brilliant military strategist who held great power. For the Emperor, even his own son would be feared to some extent.

If he had a “weakness,” then it would be different. It would give people the feeling that he could be “controlled.” Naturally, the fear would disappear.

Xue Qingyin thought her reasoning was perfectly sound!

All that reading hadn’t been in vain!

It had given her a bit of wisdom!

“Please take me back to the Xu family, Princess.” Xue Qingyin came back to her senses.

The Fourth Princess was reluctant, “I still have things to tell you.”

Xue Qingyin refused, “We can talk about it another day. My mother must be anxiously waiting for me to go back and tell her the news.”

“Anxious about what? You received the imperial edict, it’s a happy occasion.” The Fourth Princess’s tone softened.

After all, it reminded her of her own mother.

Xue Qingyin clicked her tongue, “I used to be a bit reckless, so when the imperial edict arrived, my mother’s first reaction was that I must have done something wrong again and the Emperor was going to behead me.”

The Fourth Princess: …You’re even more reckless than me?

But then the Fourth Princess thought again and suddenly felt a sense of deep sympathy.

We’re truly cut from the same cloth, we’re meant to be together!