Accord de Mu Yucheng

Chapitre 63

Yao panicked. The people in the main hall heard the commotion and seemed to be walking out. Yao glared at Qi'er and quickly pretended to fall down. I smiled inwardly; this woman knew how to play these tricks.

Yao groaned. The people in the main hall had already gone outside. A group of people rushed past me and around Yao, asking her questions. Yao was clenching her teeth, her face was pale, and she was covered in sweat.

"What's going on?" The Emperor came out to greet them, surrounded by a group of people.

I lowered my head, focusing only on covering my wound.

Everyone looked at Xiaoyu, who couldn't help but want to tell the truth, but I pulled her back and shook my head.

Another palace maid hurriedly said, "Her Highness just stepped out of the palace and bumped right into this clueless little girl."

The Emperor glanced at me, then immediately walked over to Yao Shi and asked, "Are you alright?"

Madam Yao shook her head. "Your Majesty, my wife is alright, but I'm afraid she has injured her ankle."

The Emperor hurriedly gave the order, "Summon the imperial physician—"

I looked up slightly and met the furrowed brows of Fourth Master not far away.

Consort Xie glared at me. "If anything happens to the Imperial Consort, you can forget about living a good life."

I lowered my head, feeling the atmosphere growing increasingly tense. Now that the Grand Commander had commanded the three armies, his daughter was no ordinary person; even the Emperor couldn't say anything on my behalf. Lu Li gradually emerged from the crowd. I felt him walk straight past me, squat down in front of Yao Shi, put an arm around her, and softly ask, "Is anything wrong?"

Yao simply leaned against him and smiled slightly, "It's nothing."

Consort Xie had already walked up to me and was loudly scolding, "You little brat, can't you watch where you're going? Or are you harboring some bad intentions?!"

Consort Ding quickly stepped forward, "Sister, you're too worried. It's dark, and someone might not be careful."

Lu Li had already picked up Yao Shi and walked towards the side hall. I withdrew my gaze from him and just kept my head down.

Chapter 18 of the main text: A Marriage by Imperial Decree

I had been kneeling outside the side hall for half an hour. Several princes and concubines were waiting inside for the imperial physician to examine Yao Shi's pulse, but I was the only one kneeling outside with one hand covering my head.

I was half-conscious when someone called me inside.

The expressions of the main figures softened slightly, since Yao was mostly unharmed, and they assumed she would be fine too.

The Emperor beckoned me to stand over. I took a few steps forward and saw Lu Li and several princes standing with the Emperor.

Consort Xie walked up to me, her expression somewhat displeased, and said, "What kind of name is it to cover your face with your hand in front of the Emperor? You don't even know the proper etiquette."

I glanced at the Emperor cautiously, and thankfully his expression remained calm, so I slowly lowered my hand.

A look of horror flashed in the Emperor's eyes, and he quickly stepped forward to pull me back. "You're injured like this? Why didn't you say so before?!"

I bit my lip and remained silent. Then I heard the Emperor summon the imperial physician.

Perhaps it's because I've lost too much blood, my vision is a little blurry...

I was jolted awake when I felt a sharp pain in my forehead. The imperial physician had already applied medicine and bandaged my wound.

I looked around and found Consort Rong and Consort Ding sitting not far away.

As I stood up, they had already approached. Consort Ding said gently, "The imperial physician said you will not be left with a scar. You can rest assured."

"Thank you, Consort Ding."

Xin Nuo came over and helped me up. "Sister, let's go."

As they were talking, Consort Ding escorted us to the door. Consort Rong exchanged a few pleasantries with Consort Ding before bidding her farewell.

Consort Ding glanced at me. She simply asked, "Girl, did you really bump into the Crown Princess today?"

I remained silent. Consort Ding suddenly sighed. "I know my own wife... but I've wronged you, young lady."

Back at Chaoyang Palace, the Emperor was still reviewing memorials under the lamp.

I went over and served him tea. He frowned slightly. "You're injured and you're not resting."

I didn't say anything. He tilted his head back, gesturing for me to sit opposite him, and I didn't refuse.

When I kept watch with him on weekdays, he would have me sit at his desk. Sometimes I would grind ink for him, sometimes I would help him sort the memorials, and sometimes when his eyes were tired, he would have me read the contents of the memorials to him.

Without even looking up, he simply asked, "You need to make a decision about Yang Wei; we can't afford to delay any longer."

After thinking for a moment, I said, "Your Majesty, please grant me a marriage."

The Emperor was taken aback. "What, you want a reward from me? Are you tired of me and want to get married?"

I smiled and said, "It's not for me."

He looked up and glanced at me. "Who is that for? It can't be Yang Wei."

"No," I shook my head, "it's Pang Jian."

His pen paused. "What kind of show is this now?"

"Yang Wei was unproductive because of a woman."

Of course I can't say that I used the most clichéd honey trap to sow discord between the two.

The Emperor chuckled, "So it was a provocation tactic. Fine, let it be."

My head began to spin, and I heard the Emperor ask, "What woman?"

I yawned and, feeling groggy, mumbled, "The maidservant beside Consort Rong is named Yuan Xin Nuo."

When I opened my eyes, it was already broad daylight. I had actually fallen asleep on the desk. To my even greater surprise, the Emperor was lying face to face with me on the same desk. This crime alone was punishable by death! When I got up, I realized I was wearing the Emperor's robe. I quickly got up, stretched, and yawned, only to feel someone coughing softly behind me.

I turned around quickly and found a row of princes kneeling on the ground, from the eldest prince to the ninth prince in a straight line. Some of them were looking at me with wicked smiles.

"What are you doing—"

"The time for the Emperor's summons has already passed, so we have no choice but to wait here for the Emperor to wake up," the old man said.

I quickly looked at Eunuch Chang, "Why didn't you wake the Emperor?"

Eunuch Chang smiled and said, "You used to be the one calling the Emperor, when did it become our turn?"

I just felt something was off; when did Grandpa Chang start using the formal "you" to address me?

"Then you should have woken me up first." I was still a little uneasy.

Eunuch Chang hurriedly shook his head, "You are wearing the Emperor's robe, we dare not touch it."

Seeing my surprise, he quickly added, "Perhaps it's chilly at night, and His Majesty is worried that you might catch a cold while you're sleeping."

"Father-in-law, this night watchman is not doing his job properly, how should he be punished?"

Just as Eunuch Chang was about to say something, he heard a gentle voice from behind him, "You'll be punished by having to make me a cup of tea and bring it to me."

I turned around and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty."

The Emperor stood up, rubbing his shoulders. I quickly went over to massage them for him. He smiled and said, "Little girl, you were keeping watch for me, and you fell asleep first?"

Why didn't the Emperor call me?

He chuckled, "If I call you, you'll just keep nagging me to go to sleep. I find that too much trouble."

I just remembered something and quickly looked away. "Your Majesty, the princes have been waiting for quite some time."

The Emperor nodded. "You may all rise. You no longer need to kneel here."

Just as I was about to slip away, the Emperor suddenly handed me a decree, "Take a look, is this correct? That's right, Xiao Lin Zixuan will be chosen."

I opened it and saw several large vermilion characters: "Bestowed Marriage... Marshal Pang Da... Lady Yuan of Qiannuo Palace".

A chill ran through me from head to toe. I knew it was going to happen, but it came so suddenly that I couldn't quite bear it.

Xin Nuo's face flashed through her mind in an instant, her legs went weak, and she hurriedly knelt down. "Your Majesty, I was wrong. Please don't bestow the marriage upon me. I have other ways to persuade you."

The Emperor frowned slightly. "Have you softened? Things have come to this point; the sword is on the bowstring, and we have no choice but to draw it. I don't have that much time to play games with them."

"emperor--"

"You may leave now. Come back and report to me after the imperial decree has been read."

He sat in the side hall for a long time, his hand holding the imperial edict still trembling.

After calming down countless times, I walked out of the side hall and headed towards the small grove outside the main hall.

"Please trouble you, Eunuch, to go to Qianruo Palace and proclaim this decree."

Xiao Linzi nodded, and I took out a silver note from my waist, but he refused to accept it.

I simply shoved the silver notes into his hand and said, "Don't rush back after the decree is announced. Keep an eye on the situation there, and if anything goes wrong, come back and tell me right away."

Xiao Linzi agreed, and I watched him walk away, letting out a soft sigh.

Turning around, I saw the Fourth Master standing straight behind me with a cold face.

I looked around and saw that the other princes didn't seem to notice us; they just walked away chatting and laughing in groups of three or five.

Fourth Master took out a bottle of ointment from his pocket. "Remember to use this. It's a tribute from the Western Regions. They only gave one bottle to each of our brothers' families. I thought it would be very good for your injury."

"The imperial physician has assured us that there will be no scarring."

"Don't believe the words of quacks." He said, his eyes darkening, and leaned closer, lowering his voice, "Is the Emperor considering taking you as a concubine?"

I punched him. "What are you saying?"

He rubbed his shoulder and said, "I can't help but feel that the way the Emperor looks at you isn't so simple."

I lowered my voice, "Don't forget, I'm still his dead daughter-in-law."

"How would he know?" Fourth Master sighed and walked out.

After the Fourth Prince left, I went out of Chaoyang Palace and back to my room.

As I walked to the side door, I suddenly saw Fifth Master leaning against the shadows. He turned around, saw the medicine bottle in my hand, his eyes flickered, and he hurriedly hid it behind his back. I smiled, went around behind him, and snatched the medicine bottle from his hiding place.

"It's alright. I'm always a bit blind anyway. Since this is a good thing, I'll keep it. It'll come in handy. Thank you, Fifth Master."

He smiled slightly, with a hint of embarrassment.

I walked into my room with a medicine bottle in each hand. As soon as I sat down at the table, I saw a third bottle of ointment on it. I lined up the three identical bottles of ointment in front of me and couldn't help but marvel at how different it was to have good interpersonal relationships.

After putting away the ointment, she changed into her palace clothes and walked towards Chaoyang Palace. In the distance, she saw Lu Li and Xiao Yu talking as they walked over.

As I passed by them, I squatted down and bowed. Lu Li nodded slightly to me, indicating that I didn't need to be so polite.

I stood up and saw Xiaoyu's concerned gaze. "Does your wound still hurt?"

I shook my head and smiled. "You brought the medicine too? Thank you."

Xiao Yu was taken aback, and Lu Li, who was standing next to her, couldn't help but look up at him.