Chapter 56
Wei Jing'an couldn't help but steal a glance at himself. He couldn’t figure out which part of him had given the Emperor the mistaken impression that he was skilled at performing.
Wei Jing'an hadn’t even connected this matter to his own son.
Early the next morning, Eunuch Liu arrived at the Li Family’s residence.
"Lord Li, congratulations!" Eunuch Liu smiled at the man before him—Li Tianyou, the Emperor’s current favorite.
"Eunuch Liu, I appreciate you making the trip." Li Tianyou clasped his hands and bowed respectfully.
He thought to himself, this was the Emperor’s trusted eunuch—someone he ought to ingratiate himself with.
"Lord Li, are you prepared?" Eunuch Liu even kindly asked if Li Tianyou was ready.
For anyone else, he wouldn’t have bothered with a reminder and would have just read the imperial edict directly.
"Please wait a moment, Eunuch. This official will have someone prepare the incense table right away." Li Tianyou smiled at Eunuch Liu while quickly instructing Zhou Tong to bring out the incense table.
"Lord Li, there’s no need for formalities. The Emperor has already instructed that you keep things simple." Eunuch Liu recalled the Emperor’s specific orders before he left—since Li Tianyou had originally been a merchant, he might not be familiar with the protocols for receiving an imperial decree. If he wasn’t prepared, Eunuch Liu was to offer guidance.
Given the vast sums of money Li Tianyou had contributed to save countless commoners, he was certainly worthy of a little extra consideration.
"Eunuch Liu." Li Zhiwei hurried over upon seeing her father chatting amiably with the Emperor’s chief eunuch.
She breathed a small sigh of relief. She had been worried her father might struggle in such a situation.
But seeing Eunuch Liu’s kind expression, her tension eased.
"Congratulations, Princess Consort of An." Eunuch Liu looked at Li Zhiwei and thought to himself, Prince An was truly fortunate. This young lady had the people’s welfare at heart—a fact well noted by the Emperor.
From now on, wouldn’t she be able to walk through the capital with her head held high?
"My lord, everything is ready."
Zhou Tong soon returned to report.
Hearing this, Eunuch Liu straightened his expression and stepped before the incense table, standing solemnly. Li Tianyou immediately led his entire household, including Li Zhiwei, who had rushed over, to kneel in unison, holding their breath in reverence.
Eunuch Liu unfurled the bright yellow imperial edict in his hands, his sharp yet clear voice echoing through the hall:
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
It is known that the foundation of the world lies in harmony, and the cornerstone of royal governance is the sanctity of marriage. We have learned that the eldest daughter of Li Tianyou, Minister of Revenue, Li Zhiwei, is of noble birth, gentle and virtuous, wise in nature, and dignified in conduct. Moreover, she is compassionate and benevolent, having contributed both counsel and wealth for the benefit of the people, rendering meritorious service to the state. Truly, she is a model among women.
Prince An, Xu Heming, is Our trusted pillar, a distinguished member of the imperial clan, majestic in bearing, loyal and courageous, with outstanding achievements to his name. Now of marriageable age, he must be matched with a worthy partner.
Having heard of this, We are greatly pleased. To bring about such a union is Our wish. Li Zhiwei, unwed and residing in her family home, is a match made in heaven for Prince An. To fulfill this auspicious pairing, We hereby decree that Li Zhiwei shall be betrothed to Prince An as his principal consort. All ceremonial arrangements shall be overseen by the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Astronomer, to select an auspicious date for the wedding.
Let this be proclaimed far and wide, that all may know.
So it is decreed."
As the edict concluded, the hall fell into silence before erupting with Li Tianyou’s excited voice: "This subject, Li Tianyou, receives the decree with gratitude! Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!" He raised his hands above his head and reverently accepted the weighty scroll.
Li Zhiwei kowtowed alongside her father in thanks, her heart a whirlwind of emotions.
Back then, she had come to the capital with a heart full of trepidation, bearing a lavish dowry, expecting nothing more than a life of tending to her husband and raising children.
Little did she know the Lin Family would turn out to be a den of wolves that devoured people without spitting out the bones.
Though she had been granted a second chance at life, she still encountered their attempts to intimidate her.
By a twist of fate, Xu Qingshi had brought her back to his estate, where she met Prince An.
Even though Prince An had told her yesterday that the Emperor would issue the marriage decree, until the edict was actually proclaimed, she couldn’t shake the surreal feeling—could she really marry Prince An?
But now, hearing her name and Xu Heming’s solemnly linked in the imperial decree, an indescribable sense of security and a quiet anticipation for the future welled up in her heart.
Eunuch Liu, beaming, helped Li Tianyou up. "Lord Li, please rise! The Emperor holds this marriage between Prince An and your daughter in the highest regard. Congratulations, Lord Li—you’ve gained a son-in-law of the highest standing!"
"Thank you for your kind words, Eunuch. You’ve been most helpful." Li Tianyou quickly signaled Zhou Tong to present the prepared red envelope.
After a token refusal, Eunuch Liu accepted it with a smile and added, "The Emperor also asked me to relay a message: though there is an Old Princess in Prince An’s household, she is amiable, and the young heir already shares a bond with Lady Li. Once she enters the palace, she need only remain true to herself—the Emperor and Empress will stand as her supporters."
The protective intent behind these words was unmistakable. Li Tianyou and Li Zhiwei promptly expressed their gratitude once more.
"Lady Li, the Emperor has invited you to the palace three days from now to watch a performance. You must not be absent," Eunuch Liu said cheerfully to Li Zhiwei.
Thinking of the upcoming performance, Eunuch Liu chuckled inwardly.
After all, it would be the first collaborative performance between Prince An and Wei Jing'an—even he was looking forward to it.
"Yes, this subject will be punctual." Li Zhiwei assumed it was merely an invitation for court officials’ families to watch an opera and obediently agreed.
Since he still had to visit Prince An’s residence, Eunuch Liu didn’t linger.
After seeing him off, the Li household was enveloped in jubilation.
Servants came forward one after another to congratulate Li Tianyou and Li Zhiwei.
Li Tianyou held the imperial edict as though it were a priceless treasure, sighing to his daughter, "Zhiwei, with the Emperor’s personal endorsement and his vow to support you, I can finally rest easy about your marriage."
Li Zhiwei’s cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded. "Father, I understand."
Meanwhile, in Prince An’s residence.
Xu Heming soon received an identical edict. After the eunuch departed, he set the decree casually on his desk, tapping the surface lightly with his fingers, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Saving up to marry a wife…" he murmured to himself, recalling yesterday’s jest with Xie Jincheng in the Yongning Marquis’s treasury. The amusement in his eyes deepened.
After leaving Prince An’s residence, Eunuch Liu made a special trip to the Wei Family.
Lin Ziyi was taken aback when she heard the Emperor had invited her to the palace for a performance.
"Eunuch, is this invitation meant for me, or for my mother-in-law?" Lin Ziyi wondered. In the past, such matters never required her presence.
Why was she being summoned this time?
"Lady Wei, the Emperor’s intention is to invite you alone," Eunuch Liu replied, his smile unwavering. He thought to himself, since your husband is putting on a show, shouldn’t you be there to support him?
"Just me?" Lin Ziyi was puzzled. The Emperor wanted only her?
"Lady Wei, the Princess Consort of An will also be attending that day."
