After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

Morning light streamed in through the half-open window of the library.

Shen Yan put a stack of "Zuo Zhuan" (a commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals) back on the C-grade bookshelf. His fingertips brushed against the dust on the cover, so he took out a handkerchief from his waist and carefully wiped it clean.

Two servants' voices came from outside the window, deliberately lowered, but they still managed to seep through the crack in the window.

"I heard he's here to announce the imperial decree to marry the woman from the Wang family. Eunuch Zhou is one of the Emperor's men."

"Really? Didn't His Highness say he was going to marry that Young Master Shen?"

His heart pounded erratically, and the book slipped from Shen Yan's fingers, hitting the edge of the bookshelf.

He composed himself, put the book back on the shelf, pushed open the door of the library, and went out.

The winter morning light was blindingly white, and he squinted, but his pace quickened considerably.

After passing through the covered walkway and over the artificial rockery, I saw Xiao Mingyue at the moon gate.

She was dressed in a dark red outfit, standing with her back to him, the tassels at her waist swaying gently in the morning breeze.

Hearing the noise, Xiao Mingyue turned around and her gaze fell on his face.

As if knowing why he had come, it pierced through his forced composure and looked into his heart.

Then, she reached out a hand to him.

Are you scared?

Shen Yan stepped forward, placed his hand over hers, and gently cupped each hair, pressing it into the warmth of her palm.

"I'm not afraid."

A faint smile touched Xiao Mingyue's lips, like the first white plum blossom suddenly blooming on a winter branch.

Then he interlocked his fingers with his.

"Walk."

Inside the flower hall, the imperial eunuch Zhou Lianhai, who was delivering the imperial decree, had been waiting for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

He was an old man who had served the emperor for twenty years, and he was very good at judging people's status.

Holding the bright yellow silk in his hands, his forehead was covered with two layers of fine sweat, and his expression was somewhat anxious.

He waved to the servant at the door: "Go and urge him again, and tell him that there are still errands in the palace waiting for a reply."

Just as the servant turned around, the light at the main entrance of the flower hall dimmed, and two figures entered side by side.

Zhou Lianhai's gaze lingered on their clasped hands for a moment, he swallowed hard, then forced a smile and said loudly, "This servant Zhou Lianhai greets Your Highness the Princess."

Xiao Mingyue did not respond, but walked straight to the main seat and sat down. Shen Yan sat down next to her.

She gestured with her chin toward the maid at the door, who understood and brought over a cup of hot tea.

Zhou Lianhai cleared his throat.

"Princess Xiao Mingyue, the Chief Princess of the State, receives the imperial decree."

He unfolded the bright yellow silk and read it aloud, word by word.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

My elder sister, the Princess Zhenguo, once bravely fought and defended the country, making great contributions to the nation. I am very pleased with her.

Now that the Empress is in the prime of her life, the household affairs are still in vain. We have found Wang Changhe, a Principal of the Ministry of Rites, who comes from a distinguished family, is gentle, kind, frugal, and possesses refined taste and lofty ideals; he is a worthy match for her.

By special decree, Wang Changhe is to marry the Princess, and is hereby granted the title of Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant. The relevant officials are ordered to select an auspicious day for the wedding, and all ceremonies shall be conducted with utmost generosity.

May you two be of one mind and one heart, enjoy lasting happiness and prosperity, and jointly assist the royal family.

So be it.

After the imperial edict was read, the flower hall became so quiet that only the chirping of birds could be heard from the branches outside the window.

Xiao Mingyue picked up the teacup, blew on the tea foam, and slowly took a sip.

As Zhou Lianhai held the imperial edict, the smile on his face began to freeze.

"Your Highness, please receive the imperial decree."

With a bang, the teacup was placed on the table, but Xiao Mingyue remained motionless.

"I cannot accept this."

A smile cracked across Zhou Lianhai's face: "Your Highness, this is His Majesty's decree."

He moved the bright yellow silk half a step forward.

"This servant has served Your Majesty for many years and has never seen anyone throw away an imperial edict. Your Highness, please reconsider."

Shen Yan's fingers clenched slightly inside his sleeve, but his back remained straight, showing no sign of backing down.

No matter how worried he was, he couldn't show weakness at this moment; he was ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with the princess.

Looking at her from the side, one could see Xiao Mingyue leaning back lazily in her chair, one hand supporting her forehead, with a half-smile on her face.

"I said, I won't accept it."

"Your Highness!" Zhou Lianhai tucked the imperial edict back to his chest, his voice deepening slightly. "Disobeying an imperial edict is a grave crime in every dynasty. As someone close to His Majesty, I must remind you that His Majesty's patience has its limits."

He glanced in Shen Yan's direction and slightly curled his lips.

"This humble servant dares to speak further, Your Highness is of noble birth, why should you quarrel with His Majesty for the sake of a commoner like me?"

Shen Yan's face turned pale, and he silently clenched his fists, a deep sense of guilt welling up in his heart.

His identity ultimately became Xiao Mingyue's weakness.

But then Xiao Mingyue's clear voice rang out: "Zhou Lianhai, if I were to accept the Emperor's decree, that would be true defiance."

"What do you mean by that, Your Highness?"

Xiao Mingyue reached into her sleeve and took out a scroll wrapped in bright yellow silk. The color of the silk was deeper and heavier than the imperial edict in Zhou Lianhai's hand, gleaming with the light of time.

She unrolled the scroll and placed it on the table in the flower hall, then pushed it toward Zhou Lianhai.

"When the late Emperor was alive, he personally bestowed upon me a marriage decree, granting me the right to choose my own husband, which was equivalent to an imperial edict."

She pointed to the two still-freshly written names on the marriage certificate.

"I have chosen a husband for my daughter-in-law, and we will hold the wedding on a selected date."

Zhou Lianhai stood rooted to the spot, leaning closer to the marriage certificate and staring at the seal on it over and over again.

He had seen the late emperor's private seal with its gold dragon pattern and the vermilion seal of the Phoenix Pavilion and Luan Terrace countless times in the palace, and he could tell their authenticity at a glance.

it is true.

His hand trembled slightly, and sweat trickled down his temples from his forehead.

"This, this..."

"What's wrong, Eunuch Zhou? Don't you recognize the late emperor's seal?"

"I recognize it, this servant recognizes it." Zhou Lianhai swallowed hard, his mind racing. "However, however, the two imperial edicts contradict each other, this servant dares not act on my own authority."

He took a half step back and bowed, sweat already dripping from his forehead to his chin.

"I humbly request Your Highness to accompany me to the palace to meet His Majesty and explain to Him in person which of the two decrees should be issued first and how to decide on it. This decision still requires His Majesty's personal approval."

Xiao Mingyue stood up, rolled up the late emperor's marriage certificate again, and put it into her sleeve.

"it is good."

She strode toward the door, with Shen Yan following half a step behind.

As he reached the threshold, Zhou Lianhai hesitated before speaking.

"I would be grateful if Young Master Shen and the Princess could enter the palace together."

Xiao Mingyue stopped in her tracks, turned her head, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

The palace is the emperor's territory. Shen Yan, a commoner, has entered that den of tigers and dragons. What if Xiao Chengyu becomes enraged and uses him as a scapegoat...?

"No need, I..."

Before she could finish speaking, a hand grabbed her wrist.

Shen Yan stepped forward, passing her by half a body length, and faced Zhou Lianhai.

His ears were still red, and his voice wasn't very loud; it even trembled slightly.

"I am willing to accompany Your Highness into the palace."

Xiao Mingyue turned to look at him.

This man, who had habitually bowed and yielded since the first day he entered the mansion, now stood ramrod straight, his gaze unwavering.

Shen Yan met her gaze, his words ringing out firmly.

"Wherever Your Highness is, I will be there."

Xiao Mingyue snapped out of her daze, grabbed his hand, and whispered in his ear, her voice so low that only the two of them could hear.

"Don't worry, I will protect you."