GTB Chapter 63

Chapter 63: A Public Imperial Marriage Decree

Empress Dowager seemed to not expect that her chosen granddaughter-in-law, whom she had called out to showcase her talents, would receive flowers from these young masters.

Seeing Jiang Jiuchu give a light bow after picking up the flowers from the zither table, preparing to return to her seat, she hurriedly spoke, “Miss Jiang, come forward and let this old one take a look?”

Jiang Jiuchu, who had just stepped away from the zither table, paused, turning her head in confusion. Take a look? At what? Could it be that the Empress Dowager’s eyesight was poor and needed to see her up close?

Also, did the Empress Dowager only focus on the sound and not the meaning of her zither playing just now?

That shouldn’t be! How could a woman who had fought her way out from the three thousand beauties of the harem not be sensitive and think too much?

Looking at the Empress Dowager’s beaming smile, she walked forward uneasily, wondering what the Empress Dowager’s intention was.

Looking at the approaching Jiang Jiuchu, the Empress Dowager sighed inwardly. She hadn’t expected that this Miss Jiang, at such a young age—the age when she should be most driven by ambition—could be so indifferent to fame and fortune, not envying prosperity.

A woman like this, marrying Yan’er, would surely love him wholeheartedly, without any external factors involved.

She looked at Jiang Jiuchu standing nearby, nodded, and turned to the Emperor, “Emperor, issue the decree.”

A single sentence instantly stunned everyone present. Except for a few who knew the inside story, most people didn’t understand what decree the Empress Dowager was going to issue to this Jiang family girl.

But when Jiang Jiuchu heard the words “issue the decree,” her heart trembled, and she instantly understood the Empress Dowager’s meaning. Was she going to be granted a marriage in public?

Upon hearing this, Eunuch De took out the imperial decree that had been prepared in advance and glanced at Jiang Jiuchu, “Jiang Jiuchu, listen to the decree.”

Jiang Jiuchu immediately knelt down upon hearing this.

“By the Emperor’s decree, it is hereby announced that Jiang Jiuchu, daughter of Jiang Yuan, Vice Minister of Revenue, is virtuous and talented. I am pleased to hear of her virtues and beauty. Therefore, I bestow her marriage to the Seventh Prince, Shí Yan, as his consort. Auspicious date to be chosen for the wedding. Respect this.”

After reading the decree, Eunuch De said to Jiang Jiuchu, who was kneeling below, “Accept the decree, Miss Jiang.”

“This subject, Jiang Jiuchu, accepts the decree. May His Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years.” Jiang Jiuchu suppressed the myriad thoughts in her mind and accepted the imperial decree from Eunuch De.

However, the next moment, she heard the Empress Dowager say, “This old one has already had Zhang Tianshi select a wedding date for you. It will be on the sixteenth of next month. Although it is a bit fast, it is an auspicious day that matches your horoscopes, extremely rare.”

The Empress Dowager’s words immediately stirred up a storm in Jiang Jiuchu’s heart. The sixteenth of next month? That would be less than a month away.

The Empress Dowager, seeing Jiang Jiuchu’s stunned expression, assumed she was surprised by the speed and added, “Don’t worry, although the time is a bit rushed, the wedding will definitely be handled well.”

Jiang Jiuchu nodded, and as she turned to leave with the imperial decree, she glanced at Shí Yan, who was sipping tea, but couldn’t discern any joy or anger on his face.

The young ladies in the audience who admired Shí Yan looked at the imperial decree in Jiang Jiuchu’s hands, their eyes filled with jealousy.

They didn’t understand how the title of Seventh Prince’s consort had fallen to a Jiang family who had only recently arrived in Kyoto. They wondered if it was Princess Shí Qingya who had made the connection.

And the young masters who had given flowers were extinguished by a bucket of cold water, feeling extremely lost.

The Second Prince, Shí Jin, looked at Jiang Jiuchu passing in front of him, turned his head to look at Shí Yan, his eyes filled with jealousy. His imperial grandmother really doted on this seventh brother of his.

The Jiang family’s social standing was neither too high nor too low, a good match to hide his brilliance, and this Jiang Jiuchu had a captivating appearance. It was really a bargain for this seventh brother of his.

Suddenly, he seemed to think of something, and a malicious smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He picked up the wine cup in front of him and drank it all in one gulp.

The dance music stopped, and the banquet dispersed.

A luxurious carriage drove out of the palace gate. Shí Yuanchen looked at Shí Yan, who was leaning against the carriage wall with his eyes closed to rest, and finally couldn’t help but ask, “Seventh Brother, do you like that Jiang Jiuchu?”

Shí Yan raised his eyelids and glanced at Shí Yuanchen’s expression, “What if I like her? What if I don’t? Either way, I have to marry someone, don’t I?”

Looking at Shí Yan’s indifferent manner, Shí Yuanchen’s eyes turned, as if holding a glimmer of hope, “If you don’t like her, then change to someone else. It’s the same to you no matter who you marry.”

Shí Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Shí Yuanchen, “Any decision I, Shí Yan, make, I never change.”

“Besides, the imperial decree has been issued, how can it be easily reversed? Or is Eighth Brother thinking that if I change someone to marry, you… would be able to get your wish?”

Shí Yuanchen’s face suddenly changed, “Seventh Brother, you… you saw it?”

“Your expression was so obvious, sitting across from me for most of the day, what do you think?”

Shí Yan said, closing his eyes again, not looking at him.

Shí Yuanchen felt a little uncomfortable. That’s right! Even if she wasn’t promised to Seventh Brother, she wouldn’t like him, would she? The last time they met, she avoided him like the plague, unwilling to even tell him her name. How much hope could he have?

Back at the Jiang residence, as soon as Jiang Jiuchu returned to the courtyard, she anxiously asked Lu Luo to go to Mo Feng Pavilion to see if Song Fuge had returned.

However, this time, Lu Luo was unable to leave the Jiang residence smoothly. It was clear that the Jiang family, because of this imperial decree and the wedding date within a month, had hardened their hearts and would no longer allow Jiang Jiuchu to contact Song Fuge.

Jiang Jiuchu thought that since she couldn’t leave the residence, she would wait for Brother Fu to come to her in person.

Less than a month was very short, but it was enough time for Brother Fu to come and find her. After all, no matter how important Brother Fu’s business was, he should have finished it by now.

However, until three days before the wedding, she still hadn’t seen Song Fuge’s figure. She couldn’t help but begin to suspect, to suspect that Song Fuge had really deserted.

But she couldn’t understand. The method they had devised was seamless, no one would know she was still alive. She didn’t understand why Song Fuge would do this?

While she suspected, she was also worried about Song Fuge. After all, his Hidden Trace Building accepted all kinds of dangerous missions.

In this way, Jiang Jiuchu was tormented by being abandoned and worried, day after day.

In Misty Valley, festive characters were posted. In the hall, Song Fuge, wearing a wedding outfit, was performing the wedding ceremony with Xiaoyue. However, just as they were about to bow to each other as husband and wife, Song Fuge’s legs weakened, and he fell down.

Xiaoyue panicked and hurriedly struggled to help Song Fuge up, saying to the woman sitting at the head of the table, “Aunt, I’ll take him inside first.”

“Go ahead!” The old woman looked at the two entering, a hint of triumph in her eyes. What if he was an adopted son? Wasn’t he still obediently becoming her Xiaoyue’s husband?

She got up and walked outside, thinking that perhaps she would soon be able to hold a fat grandson.

Inside the bridal chamber.

“Now that we’re about to enter the bridal chamber, do you still not believe me? Do you want me to be powerless for the rest of my life?”

“N… no, it’s just that you also know, the antidote isn’t with me. Aunt said that it will be given to you in a while.”

Song Fuge’s eyes darkened. This old woman was really hard to deceive. He then lay down on the bed, “Alright, since Xiaoyue doesn’t believe that I sincerely stayed for you, then so be it! Anyway, one day you will believe me.”

“But this wedding night…”

As Song Fuge said this, he slowly turned to look at Xiaoyue sitting by the bed, revealing a bit of ambiguity, and continued, “I’ll have to trouble my wife.”

Xiaoyue’s small face turned red from being called “wife.” Trouble… trouble her? Sh… she didn’t know how!