Volume One, Chapter 10: Congratulations on Becoming One of My Nine Clans

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The heavy snowfall came to an end, and all was silent. Inside and outside the palace walls, everything was draped in silver and white. Icicles hung from the eaves like inverted swords, shimmering with a cold light under the faint dawn. The palace attendants glanced up, then hurriedly took brooms to carefully knock the icicles down. They shattered into countless sparkling crystals, scattering across the bluestone pavement.

“Miss Xie, you must keep this imperial edict safe,” the eunuch Liu said in a sharp, lingering voice that echoed through the still air. He lifted his chin slightly, his gaze revealing a hint of appraisal toward Xie Shu.

Judging by the emperor’s earlier demeanor, Miss Xie’s days ahead promised to be eventful.

The capital city was sure to become even livelier.

Hearing this, Xie Shu nodded and took a few gold melon seeds from the embroidered pouch at her waist. As she received the edict, she discreetly slipped the seeds into Liu’s palm.

Then, clutching the scroll tightly to her chest and hiding it within her fox fur coat, she no longer looked pitiful as she had in the Hall of State Affairs. Instead, she smiled brightly and gave a courteous bow to Eunuch An. “Thank you for your concern, sir. I will deliver this edict to the Marquis of Cheng’en’s residence today.”

Liu weighed the melon seeds in his hand before tucking them into his inner pocket with a subtle turn of his sleeve. Hearing her words, he could not help but laugh aloud. “Miss Xie is truly a clever one. When I report back to His Majesty, I will be sure to mention you favorably.”

With that, Liu bowed slightly, turned, and left with light, proud steps.

After everyone had been escorted out of the palace gates, a few gray sparrows fluttered overhead, chirping noisily. Their calls sounded jarring in the ethereal quiet of the snow-covered world.

Nearby, the carriage of the Marquis of Cheng’en’s household awaited.

Li Shi entered the palace this time feeling dizzy and dazed. Not only had she been beaten for no reason, but that little villainess from the Xie family was even to be entered into their clan records and wed to her noble son! How could this be?

Once the palace attendants had left, Li Shi’s anger boiled over at the sight of Xie Shu. She raised her hand, ready to strike as if to devour her alive.

However, her hand was firmly caught by Ning Rongsheng. With tightly knit brows and eyes full of helplessness and urgency, he said, “Mother, let’s go back to the residence first.”

“Don’t hold me back! I will teach that little villainess a proper lesson!” Li Shi’s swollen face contorted in fury. Despite Ning Rongsheng’s attempts to drag her away, she refused to mount the carriage, shouting curses at Xie Shu: “You heartless little villainess! You want to marry into our Marquis’s household? I think you’re deliberately trying to drag us all down with you!”

Ning Rongsheng’s expression darkened immediately. The emperor’s edict was absolute; even if the Marquis of Cheng’en’s household was unwilling, it was an unchangeable decree! How could Li Shi interfere?

“Grandmother, please calm down,” Xie Shu said, her eyes deepening into an icy pool that sent chills down the spine.

Calling her “Grandmother” was purely to disgust Li Shi.

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Then, a triumphant smile curved on Xie Shu’s lips, tinged with sarcasm. She sneered, “From now on, we’re family. This decree is personally bestowed by the emperor. Grandmother should be happy to welcome me into the household. Otherwise, it would be defying the imperial command.”

Her words rang out like a hammer striking a bell, each syllable pounding heavily on Ning Rongsheng’s heart.

“Mother, shut up!” Ning Rongsheng’s head was splitting in two. He had intended to curry favor with Xie Shu, but she acted like a madwoman, determined to drag the Marquis’s household into ruin.

If he continued assisting the Crown Prince, condemning the Xie family, the Marquis’s household would perish alongside them.

But if he stopped aiding the Crown Prince, the prince would surely hold a grudge, making the days ahead equally unbearable.

After much thought, Xie Shu was clearly pushing him into a corner.

“Xie Shu, I originally wanted to help you, but you bite the hand that feeds you,” Ning Rongsheng said with a fierce glare, lowering his voice to threaten, “If you want to marry into our Ning family, fine. But once you’re in, don’t think you can leave easily.”

Leave? Xie Shu scoffed inwardly. Why would she want to leave?

“Ning Rongsheng,” her footsteps pressed firmly into the fluffy, white snow as she stepped forward to stand before him. She smiled radiantly and said, “Congratulations on becoming one of my nine clans.”

“Ning Rongsheng, if you truly marry in, I’ll torment you to death!” Taking advantage of the empty surroundings, Ning Rongsheng leaned close to her ear and whispered a sinister threat.

“Tsk tsk, my dear husband, rather than threaten me, you should think about how to get rid of me,” Xie Shu said, pulling the edict from her bosom and brushing it before Ning Rongsheng’s eyes. “By the way, you should go back to the Marquis’s residence and get things in order. After all, I’m moving in tonight.”

“The emperor’s decree, I must obey.” Every word from Xie Shu struck like a poisoned dagger, deeply piercing Ning Rongsheng’s heart.

Indeed, the current plan was not to bicker here but to return quickly to the Marquis’s residence and discuss with the family how to respond. To offer themselves as sacrificial lambs for the General Zhenyuan’s household? Absolutely not!

At that moment, Ning Rongsheng glared at the swollen-faced Li Shi, his expression ashen and furious but unable to speak. In the end, he snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and dragged Li Shi into the carriage.

The carriage of the Marquis of Cheng’en’s household hurried away. The household banner fluttered in the wind, while the wheels crushed the snow, mixing it with mud and turning it filthy.

Fine snowflakes drifted in the sunset’s glow like scattered jade fragments.

The last warmth of the setting sun shone upon Xie Shu’s shoulder, her fox fur coat glowing golden in the amber light.

“Why must one sacrifice oneself so recklessly?”

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Suddenly, a tall figure appeared before Xie Shu, blocking her view of the glowing sky.

Zhou Xunli looked at the woman before him. She had just provoked Ning Rongsheng as usual. Though he thought her foolish, a trace of pity surfaced deep within him.

Even for the sake of the General Zhenyuan’s household, it was not worth her sacrificing herself.

Xie Shu turned toward the voice, arching an eyebrow. Her glance inadvertently swept over Zhou Xunli’s fingertips, stained with a trace of ink. She smiled slyly and softly replied, “How does Lord Zhou know I’m not dragging the Marquis of Cheng’en’s household into this too?”

“The Marquis of Cheng’en’s household is not the key to breaking the deadlock,” Zhou Xunli said, leaning in slightly, his low voice like a pearl dropping into water, sending ripples through the heart.

“Besides, if the Marquis’s household makes a single misstep, what do you think will happen to you?”

“Of course, I will marry my husband and follow him into the afterlife,” Xie Shu looked up and smiled.

Her eyes, bright and clear as the moon, were reflected in Zhou Xunli’s dark pupils.

Before Zhou Xunli could react, Xie Shu raised her hand and patted his shoulder, half-jokingly saying, “Lord Zhou, I’m willing to conspire with you. I hope you will encourage me.”

Without waiting for his reply, Xie Shu turned and walked away.

Zhou Xunli remained standing in the snow, then chuckled quietly.

Did she really not trust his investigative skills?

“Lin Sheng, the snow is slippery. Escort Miss Xie back,” Zhou Xunli glanced at Lin Sheng.

Lin Sheng gave a cheerful “Ah!” When entering the palace, he had arranged for the government officials to send a carriage. Now it was finally useful. He chuckled, thinking maybe a promotion was in sight by year’s end!