Chapter 15: I Don't Like It
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Prince Jin raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t particularly like Shen Xiangjun, but Father thinks well of her. Marrying her into the Jin Manor wouldn’t be so bad, right?”
“How can that be acceptable?” The Emperor immediately responded earnestly, adopting the demeanor of a concerned elder brother. “I also hope you marry a lady you truly like.”
“But I don’t have a favorite. Marrying anyone is the same to me,” Prince Jin replied.
The Emperor’s heart skipped a beat.
Had Prince Jin, after hearing the late Emperor’s final words, resolutely decided to marry Shen Xiangjun?
The more Prince Jin insisted, the more the Emperor suspected something was amiss and became increasingly reluctant to consent.
“Weren’t you here before requesting a marriage decree? Didn’t you already have a lady in mind?”
“That was just a girl I happened to fancy halfway through. She’s from the countryside, a novelty to me. I only intended to marry someone quickly to please Father, given his poor health, nothing more.”
Prince Jin’s expression carried a hint of mockery, as if ridiculing the notion that he could fall for any girl.
His tone when speaking of that girl was casual, almost playful.
Yet the reason Prince Jin gave suddenly convinced the Emperor.
Knowing the late Emperor was unwell, it made sense he wanted a grand wedding soon to lift his spirits!
The Emperor immediately believed it.
Hearing that she was a rustic girl, merely a novelty, the Emperor’s anxiety eased enormously.
He dreaded Prince Jin marrying a princess from a powerful family!
He had even worried about finding a bride of equal status for him. Now, to hear Prince Jin chose a countryside girl himself?
That was perfect!
The Emperor, ignoring the late Emperor’s resting body, quickly asked, excited, “Which family is this girl from?”
Prince Jin frowned, his handsome face showing reluctance.
“Forget it. Now that Father has passed, I don’t want to marry anymore.”
“That cannot be,” the Emperor said urgently. “Father was worried about your marriage just moments ago. Granting a marriage decree during the mourning period would give Father peace in passing.”
Yes, yes, that’s right.
Prince Jin hadn’t wanted to wed before, but now that he had returned to the capital, who knew if he might choose a wife from a powerful family?
That would turn the Jin Manor into a major threat to the Emperor.
Better to settle a marriage now during the mourning period, using the late Emperor’s last wish to pressure Prince Jin.
Thinking this, the Emperor grew anxious.
He had previously been reluctant to grant the marriage decree, but now he was eager, almost desperate to issue it immediately.
“Father has passed. As for the bride, I will choose carefully,” Prince Jin sighed.
“Father’s spirit will return on the seventh day of mourning. Only when he knows you have a fiancée can he depart peacefully,” the Emperor urged earnestly. “Otherwise, you’ll return to the capital alone and lonely. How could he rest easy?”
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Prince Jin seemed somewhat swayed.
But then he frowned, clearly displeased. “That girl was indeed someone I casually rescued from the street.”
The Emperor’s small eyes lit up, eager to ask, “Which family is she from?”
“She’s not a commoner, I heard she’s the second daughter of Doctor Lu Ming, raised in the countryside for ten years.”
“Lu Ming?”
The Emperor was very familiar with him. “Minister Lu? He has a daughter raised in the countryside for ten years? The second daughter?”
The Lu family was quite humble compared to the Jin Prince’s status!
The Emperor almost laughed aloud but caught a glimpse of the late Emperor and chilled, quickly suppressing his amusement.
Lu Ming’s daughter, and only the second one—not even the legitimate eldest.
Such a status made the idea of her becoming Jin Prince’s consort laughable!
But now the Emperor thought this was perfect!
If Prince Jin married such a bride, there would be no powerful in-laws backing her. Perfect, just perfect.
“Since you requested the marriage decree earlier, that means you’ve considered marrying her seriously.”
Prince Jin frowned again. “I just wanted to show Father quickly. I did tell her we planned to settle it.”
“Our royal family values a promise as binding as a mountain; once said, it cannot be taken back, or it would be unfair to the lady.”
The Emperor grew anxious. “Really, A Yue, Father’s spirit must still be in the palace. He can still see everything. Since you’ve always been filial, for Father’s sake, you should hasten to finalize the engagement.”
The Emperor pressed on, “What is Minister Lu’s second daughter’s name?”
“I believe it’s Lu Zhaoling?”
“I remember the eldest is Lu Zhaoyun. And this one, Ling?”
“The ‘Ling’ from water caltrop.”
“Good, good. I’ll draft the marriage decree immediately!” The Emperor was so eager he almost rushed out. Before leaving, he solemnly said, “A Yue, for Father’s sake!”
Prince Jin watched the Emperor’s hurried retreat, his eyes deep and contemplative.
He turned back and knelt before the late Emperor once more.
Father, perhaps... someone can truly save your son.
Shortly after, the marriage decree was handed over to a eunuch to be sent out of the palace.
Prince Jin stopped him outside the palace gate, glanced at the decree, confirmed the names were correct, and then handed it to the messenger.
“Go.”
Go to the Lu family with the decree.
Holding the late Emperor’s tablet, he himself was headed to the ancestral temple.
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Lu Zhaoling woke once more and found herself back in the Tingnuan Pavilion.
She recalled the words she heard before fainting.
When the Emperor entered Ning Shou Palace, she had collapsed into Prince Jin’s arms but hadn’t lost consciousness completely; she had heard everything!
Prince Jin called her a thief.
He said she was dead.
He ordered Qingfeng to carry her out and throw her away.
She had heard all this before Qingfeng hoisted her onto his shoulder and she finally lost consciousness.
Good, Prince Jin, that deserves a deduction of ten points!
If it weren’t for the purple aura surrounding him, she would have sent his life back to the underworld right then!
She was already called a dead little thief—did that mean Prince Jin no longer intended to become betrothed to her?
“Miss.”
A maid’s voice came from outside. Lu Zhaoling’s hearing was sharp; it seemed to be Qingyin.
She remembered these were the two maids Prince Jin had sent her.
“Come in.”
Qingyin entered carrying a tray. Seeing her awake, she quickly set the tray on the table and moved to assist her.
“The manor sent nourishing soup. Would you like to drink it while it's hot?”
Lu Zhaoling nodded. “Yes.”
Setting everything else aside, she needed to replenish her health properly now.
Only by regaining strength could she repay Prince Jin’s life debt.
Qingyin brought the soup over; Lu Zhaoling had no strength even to hold the spoon, so she let Qingyin feed her.
The soup indeed carried the scent of several rare medicinal ingredients.
As Lu Zhaoling sipped the soup, she looked at Qingyin.
A flash flickered in her eyes, but she didn’t speak hastily—she would finish the soup first, not wanting to waste it.
When the last drop of the nourishing soup was gone, she slowly asked,
“Have you killed someone recently?”
Qingyin’s hand trembled, almost dropping the porcelain bowl.
“Miss? Why do you ask?”