nucmednet Chapter 109: Can't Escape the Eyes of Emperor Jing'an
Chapter 109: Can't Escape the Eyes of Emperor Jing'an
Before the news that the Prime Minister's Mansion had an adopted daughter spread, the decree of marriage came at dawn the next morning.
Everyone in the Prime Minister's Mansion went to the main courtyard to receive the imperial edict. Except for the servants and Song Qinghong who were unaware of the situation, everyone else was very nervous.
What they were worried about was that Emperor Jing'an would specifically grant marriage to Song Qinghong, and then everything they did would be in vain.
Shen Jiayu was more worried than any of them. After thinking it through that day, she realized that only she, as the variable, could send her home.
When the eunuch who announced the decree saw that everyone was present, he cleared his throat, raised his voice and began to read out the decree:
"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: The Song family has a daughter, Shen Jiayu, who is 17 years old, dignified, wise, and beautiful. The Third Prince has an aide, Ye Hanshan, who is 22 years old, well-behaved, and intelligent. Therefore, I hereby order Ye Hanshan and Shen Jiayu to get married at the beginning of next month, to be together forever. I grant them marriage on an auspicious day and time, to promise to be together for life, and to raise talented people. I decree this!"
Everyone was stunned when they heard the decree, and each had different thoughts.
Shen Jiayu's worried heart finally settled down. As long as she could marry Wen Xiangzhu, everything would be fine.
Song Qinghong's face turned pale. She glanced at Shen Jiayu beside her, her eyes full of shock.
She thought that this decree was directed at her, and that she would eventually marry the third prince's aide, but she never expected that the person would be Shen Jiayu.
How could this be?
It shouldn’t be Jiayu’s.
After thinking about it carefully, Song Qinghong understood. She looked at Prime Minister Song and others kneeling in front of her with a frown.
However, Prime Minister Song and others were all shocked, and a chill came over their hearts. Their every move could not escape the eyes of Emperor Jing'an.
The so-called substitute marriage was just a joke to Emperor Jing'an.
The servants in the Prime Minister's Mansion were somewhat puzzled. Song Qinghong was the eldest daughter of the Song Mansion, who had grown up in great pampering and was also loved by Concubine Shu, but she had not been able to obtain this great favor of marriage. Instead, it was Shen Jiayu, who they had seen go from a maid to the adopted daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion overnight, who obtained it.
The servants really couldn't understand it, but they were also a little envious.
The eunuch who announced the imperial decree had a smile on his face that was about to reach the corners of his eyes. He looked at Prime Minister Song happily and said, "Sir Song, please accept the imperial decree."
After all, Prime Minister Song had been an official in the court for many years. After thinking about it for a while, he understood everything, calmed his mind and accepted the order.
"I accept your order. Thank you, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be blessed with good health!"
Then the group stood up. The prime minister's wife came forward and ordered someone to stuff a bag of silver into the eunuch's pocket. The eunuch announced the decree, said a few auspicious words, and left with satisfaction.
"Everyone, go back and do your work!" The nanny beside the Prime Minister's wife gave the order and dismissed all the servants, including the personal maids.
Now there were only five of them left.
The Prime Minister's wife stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Since it has been discovered, the emperor's decree is to grant the marriage, not anything else, so the Song family will be fine, right?"
This decree came as a surprise but also a shock to them, more of a shock.
Is there anything else in Kyoto that Emperor Jing'an doesn't know?
Prime Minister Song looked gloomy, but he still comforted the Prime Minister's wife and said, "Madam, don't worry. His Majesty must have a deep meaning for doing this. We are fine for now."
He didn't dare to guarantee that everything would be fine, after all, the Holy Heart was unpredictable.
If he doesn't take action against the Song Mansion now, there's no guarantee that he'll use this incident to attack the Song Mansion in the future. He'll have to be more cautious when talking to Yuan Bai in the future.
The Prime Minister's wife nodded slightly and said nothing more, but her eyes fell on the imperial edict and did not leave for a long time.
Song Yuanbai was unusually calm, as if he had already guessed the result, or perhaps he knew that what happened in the Song Mansion could not be hidden from Emperor Jing'an, so he simply stopped asking.
Song Qinghong endured it for a long time. Seeing that they were not ready to explain to her, she said with a little anger: "Father, mother and brother, don't you have anything to say to me? What is going on?"
Song Yuanbai, who had remained silent, moved slightly and stood in front of Song Qinghong. He turned to Prime Minister Song and his wife and said, "I will explain to Qing'er. Father, mother, you should have a good rest."
Prime Minister Song's mind was no longer on Song Qinghong. Upon hearing Song Yuanbai say this, he took the Prime Minister's wife away.
The Prime Minister's wife wanted to stay and explain a few words, but was pulled back by Prime Minister Song, and seeing the look in her son's eyes, she followed him obediently.
"You're coming too."
This main courtyard was not a place to talk, so Song Yuanbai took Song Qinghong's hand and walked towards his own courtyard. He said something to Shen Jiayu and left without looking back.
Shen Jiayu touched the tip of his nose and followed them.
Song Qinghong was indeed a little angry. This was a big deal. They actually deceived her. How could she not be angry?
She sat on the bench in the pavilion without saying a word, waiting for Song Yuanbai's explanation.
Shen Jiayu and Song Yuanbai stood side by side. After all, she had lied to Song Qinghong. If Song Qinghong noticed something strange and asked a question or two, she would confess.
"Qing'er, don't blame us. Father is doing this for your own good. We didn't tell you about this because we knew that you would never agree to do this. Now that things have come to this, this matter has been decided. Don't be angry with us, okay?"
Song Qinghong did not answer Song Yuanbai, but asked Shen Jiayu, "You also know about this?"
Shen Jiayu lowered his head and didn't dare to look directly into Song Qinghong's eyes. He said awkwardly, "Yeah, I know."
Worried that she would get even angrier, Shen Jiayu immediately raised her eyes and glanced at her, explaining, "Don't be angry, Sister Song, I was not deceived about this matter, I am willing to marry Ye Hanshan."
Seeing that she didn't believe me, I remembered what I had said to her not long ago and subconsciously started to lie and explain.
"Do you remember what I asked you before? It's because I like Master Ye, and I see that Master Ye cares about you. I thought if you like each other, I would give up and never think about it again. But you don't like it, so I promised the eldest master."
In private, Shen Jiayu was still used to calling Song Yuanbai "Young Master".
Song Qinghong recalled what Shen Jiayu asked her that day, and the way she nodded when he asked her if Ye Hanshan might have already been in her heart.
At this point, Song Qinghong already believed it 70%.
Shen Jiayu was always observing Song Qinghong's expression. Seeing that her expression had eased a lot, he continued, "You see, I am not unhappy at all now. I really want this marriage. Don't worry."
Song Yuanbai immediately echoed, "Yes, Qing'er, look how happy Jiayu is."
Shen Jiayu glanced at Song Yuanbai and said: You would agree with it.
Song Yuanbai: Stop talking nonsense and smile!
Although the two of them usually had no tacit understanding at all, they had a tacit understanding at this moment and understood each other's eyes.