The document is clear to the world

Chapter 27

"Master, you're too kind. Please speak freely and see if I have the ability to do so."

“Your Majesty, my daughter Lanruo is now eighteen years old.” Grand Tutor Qin sighed. “By normal standards, she should have been betrothed by now. Over the years, I have neglected my family, including my only daughter, and have wasted her precious time. This child has been intelligent since childhood and has been favored by the Emperor, allowing her to enter the palace for training. When she was fifteen, the Emperor bestowed a marriage upon her, but she refused to marry, so the marriage was called off. Now that she has reached this age, I dare not be as picky as before. I only hope that she can find a good family to take care of her for the rest of her life.”

I nodded. "So the Grand Tutor wants me to accept the official document from Lady Qin and let her leave the palace, to prevent further mistakes."

"That is exactly what I was thinking. I have found her a good marriage through my relatives. We can hold the banquet as soon as she leaves the palace."

"Since it's a good thing, I'll definitely help." I smiled, then asked with slight concern, "But... what's Lady Qin's opinion on this? Has she agreed?"

Grand Tutor Qin frowned. "If she were willing to agree, I wouldn't have come to beg Your Majesty."

I pondered for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "Perhaps... Lady Qin has found someone she loves in the palace, which is why she is unwilling to leave."

Grand Tutor Qin sighed, "If there is such a person, it is indeed true, but so many years have passed, and I dare not speculate."

“Well then, Master, may I go and talk to Lady Qin and then come back to you? If she is unwilling, she will not feel good if I insist on taking away her official register.”

Grand Tutor Qin sighed and nodded. After seeing him off, I rushed to the Shangyi Palace without stopping. Inside the Shangyi Palace, Qin Lanruo was methodically instructing the newly appointed female officials.

Upon seeing me enter, the female officials, of all ages and backgrounds, hurriedly knelt down.

I smiled slightly and looked at Qin Lanruo, "Lady Qin, come and give me a blow."

“There are no outsiders here. You’re two years older than me, so Zhaozhi naturally has to call you ‘elder sister.’” I smiled and handed her some flower tea.

Qin Lanruo's face was pale. "Your Majesty, are you trying to kill me?"

"I am now a lady-in-waiting appointed by the Emperor, so you can just put aside your status as a princess. Besides, you helped me a lot during the Millennium Festival. I have always liked women with talent, and I am genuinely happy to meet you. It's not too much to ask that you be my elder sister, is it?"

Qin Lanruo smiled slightly, "Look at what you're saying, this is my good fortune."

"So, you've accepted my sister?" I thought to myself, she's finally fallen into my trap.

Qin Lanruo lowered her head, her face slightly flushed.

"Now that we're sisters," I said, taking her hand. "Your sister is asking you, shouldn't you tell the truth?"

"Your Majesty... no, sister... what do you want to ask?"

I smiled and said, "It's about your life's most important matter."

Qin Lanruo panicked, her face suddenly darkening, "I...I won't marry anyone..."

"So you want to live a life of widowhood in the palace for the rest of your life?"

Qin Lanruo lowered her head again. "My father came looking for you, didn't he?"

“That’s right, but it’s for your own good,” I said.

Qin Lanruo raised her head, a tear falling from her eye. "Is it really for my own good? Do you know what kind of marriage they arranged for me? They want me to become the thirteenth concubine of the Third Prince, Prince Yu. My father was forced by the Third Prince's authority to agree to the prince's request and marry me off... I, Qin Lanruo, am not after wealth and honor. I don't care about being a princess or an empress. I only ask for one person's heart, to stay together until old age. I won't even become the legitimate wife of the Sixth Prince, how could I possibly become a concubine of some prince?"

I trembled in panic, "Sixth Brother... what, what's going on?"

Qin Lanruo frowned. "Since my younger sister is willing to acknowledge me as her older sister, I may tell you. Three years ago... the Emperor bestowed upon me a marriage with the Sixth Prince, but I refused even at the cost of my life, and begged the Empress to let me stay in the palace as a lady-in-waiting for life."

I understood a little bit. "But why don't you comply?"

"In my heart... there is a beloved one. Even though we cannot be together in this life, I still want to follow my heart and keep the promise we made in the past."

My heart trembled. Even if we couldn't be together, I could follow my heart… What Qin Lanruo could do, I couldn't. I still chose the path my family had paved for me, despite countless reluctances in my heart, I resolutely embarked on this road of no return. Promises… I made too many promises to Xuan, and which ones have I fulfilled? I cannot follow my heart, nor can I be a complete member of the Rong family.

“I understand how you feel,” I said with a slight smile. “But… now that Third Brother is forcing us to marry, if this gets to the Emperor, even if you’re resolute, I’m afraid you won’t be able to resist…”

Qin Lanruo resolutely stood up, gazing into the distance, "Better to be a shattered jade than a whole tile..."

“Lan Ruo…” I quickly got up and tugged at her sleeve, “It’s not that time yet.”

"Can...you help me?"

"Perhaps," I sighed softly. "After all, you are a lady-in-waiting now, you are mine. Even if the emperor wants you, he will have to snatch you from my hands. As for your will... I am willing to grant it..."

"But the Third Prince still comes to find me."

"From today onwards... you will come with me to my residence, and I will take care of the rest."

Qin Lanruo bit her lip, "Go to Prince Ning's residence... Prince Ning, he..."

"It's just adding a female relative; I can make that decision on my own."

Without saying a word, I grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Sharing a Room

As I stepped down from the carriage, Liu Shang was already waiting for me outside the mansion gate.

I helped Qin Lanruo out of the car, and Liu Shang asked me, puzzled, "Who is this young lady?"

"Oh, one of my sisters, find her a room in the side room and make sure she is well taken care of," I instructed.

I had only taken a few steps when I saw Lu Li emerge from the side crescent-shaped doorway, bending down. He paused slightly upon seeing me, frowned, glanced at Qin Lanruo, and then looked at me, "What are you doing here…?"

When I turned around, I saw Qin Lanruo with her head down, so I had Liushang take her away.

I walked towards Lu Li myself, led him to the study, locked the doors and windows, and said softly, "It's Qin Lanruo. Don't you know her? The most talented woman in the capital."

Lu Li turned his back, picked up a book from the table, and said casually, "I've heard of it."

"Third Brother, Sixth Brother, and Ninth Brother all like him. I bet you know something about this."

"Why did you bring her to the manor?"