Chapter 49: The Imperial Edict Arrives

Li Yifu's passing did not cause much of a stir in Liu Cheng.

If he weren't a relation by marriage to the Shen Family, there probably wouldn't even be a ripple in Liu Cheng; at most, a few people would pass it along, knowing of such an unfortunate soul killed by household servants.

"Is that it?"

"Miss, I just feel this is so unreal."

Cuiyu crouched beside Shen Yunyao, hands wrapped around her chin, face full of disbelief. She thought that to settle this ill-intentioned uncle would take more effort, and she might even have to help her young lady make things difficult for the Li Clan girl the uncle had arranged.

Who would have thought, just as she had made all sorts of preparations, the person was gone!

Shen Yunyao glanced at Cuiyu and said, "Perhaps this is what they mean by fortune changing in a moment."

"Misfortune and tomorrow, you never know which will come first!"

Hearing Shen Yunyao's words, Cuiyu wore a shocked expression.

"Miss, please don't say that!"

"Hearing you say that, I feel utterly hopeless!"

"Let's talk about happier things from now on!"

Which comes first, misfortune or tomorrow?

May misfortune never come!

"I was just speaking offhand; why are you getting so worked up?"

Shen Yunyao was amused by Cuiyu's little act.

Cuiyu huffed arrogantly and said, "Miss, is this really just speaking offhand? This is terrifying enough to scare people to death!"

"I won't tell you anymore; I'll go out and see what's being said out there!"

As the loyal chief attendant to her young lady, she must always keep the latest information and resolutely keep misfortune out.

"Go on, go on!"

Shen Yunyao picked up her book again and waved Cuiyu off.

As a young lady of an ancient aristocratic household, if she didn't have to worry about marriage, her days would still be very comfortable.

She had food and clothing, and there were servants to attend to her.

Such days truly corrupt one's will.

She never lifts a finger to do any work!

It's not that she's lazy; it's that her circumstances don't allow it.

……

The old lady fell ill!

This is the latest information Cuiyu brought back from her outing.

Shen Yunyao had no comment on this.

After Li Shi and her brother's wife from the Zeng Clan had that fight, Shen Yunyao guessed that this grandmother would fall ill.

After all, she lost face!

"Miss, do we really not need to go pay a visit?"

"No, going would be unfilial!"

"Besides, even if we went, we probably couldn't get into Wenxi Hall!"

Shen Yunyao didn't really believe the old lady was truly ill.

"Well, we should at least put on a show!"

"There's no need for that!"

Shen Yunyao was quite decisive about it.

"At times like this, it's best to pretend we know nothing."

Let the matter fade away!

The old lady pretended to be ill because she felt she had lost face.

At this time, anyone who gets close will be unwelcome, and might even be noted down.

Best to act as if nothing happened.

After a while, everything will take its natural course; what should be forgotten will be forgotten.

"All right, I'll follow the miss's lead!"

Cuiyu isn't stupid; hearing Shen Yunyao say that, she thought it over and naturally understood everything.

……

The Shen Family soon returned to calm.

Uncle Li Yifu became a thing of the past; within just a few days, no one mentioned him.

And that noon, outside Liu Cheng on the official road, a squad of armored soldiers in full escort accompanied a scarlet-robed eunuch as they came slowly.

The eunuch sent to deliver the imperial edict for the marriage finally reached Liu Cheng.

When the imperial edict convoy was still ten li outside the city, Magistrate Qu Feng finally saw the messenger who had come to report the news.

"Hurry, go to the Shen Family and get them ready!"

"Others, follow me out of the city to welcome the imperial envoy!"

Qu Feng quickly issued the order and led the people out in haste.

On the way, Qu Feng complained again and again about this little troublemaker Xie Zian, truly not understanding why, after having an official matchmaker come to propose, they still needed an imperial edict for the marriage.

Just how extraordinarily beautiful and talented is the Shen Family young lady?

Qu Feng, full of resentment, hurried along and eventually met the eunuch sent to deliver the edict outside the city gate.

If it weren't for the two nursing grannies in the entourage, the edict convoy could have reached Liu Cheng days earlier; the delay was solely to look after those two nursing grannies.

Liu Cheng County's Area Feng welcomes the heavenly envoy!

Area County Lord, no need for formalities!

The eunuch delivering the edict, smiling, stopped Area Feng, who was preparing to pay his respects with great ceremony.

The Prince Consort told us, Area County Lord loves the people as his own children; his future prospects are limitless; later, we will surely have to rely heavily on Lord Area!

……

Area Feng was dumbfounded; that little ancestor thinks so highly of him—why doesn't he know?

Lord Area, please come with us to the Shen Family to deliver the edict!

The eunuch delivering the edict didn't mind Area Feng's lapse, and generously invited him to enter the city together.

Meanwhile, the Shen Family, after a period of war and chaos, had already restored order.

The front gate was swept clean.

The courtyard inside the gate was also arranged, awaiting the arrival of the edict envoy.

Li Shi, who had been feigning illness in Wenxi Hall, now appeared before everyone with a radiant face.

Shen Yunyao, as the one granted the marriage, naturally also appeared in the front courtyard.

She still wore a veil and a gauze to cover her face.

When the edict procession arrived, outside the Shen Family Courtyard gate, drums and gongs resounded.

Shen Yunyao was a bit startled; to receive an edict, is such a grand display really necessary?

However, she did not dare to ask.

By her side, Lady Lu's complexion was somewhat complicated, her expression quite torn.

She only thought that Xie Zian had taken a liking to her daughter's beauty, but now that an imperial edict had granted the marriage, things were quite different.

This signifies that this marriage alliance has been approved by the Emperor.

Shen Yunyao's entry into the Xie Family is not merely as a daughter of the Shen Family.

Even the arrangements for this marriage will be directly handled by the Ministry of Rites.

That daughter she dislikes has actually truly risen to a high branch.

Shen Yunyao noticed Lady Lu's expression, but didn't think much of it.

At this moment she still didn't understand what this imperial marriage edict meant for her; she just felt a little amused.

But this is clearly inappropriate.

In such a solemn occasion, if she laughed, it would be too embarrassing.

After the deafening drums and drums, a eunuch in a scarlet robe stepped forward, unfurling the bright‑yellow imperial edict he had been holding.

"His Majesty has an oral decree!"

"Miss Shen, the Seventh Daughter of the Shen family, need not kneel to receive the imperial edict!"

What a good fellow, truly a good fellow!

Before the edict was read aloud, this oral decree was announced first, startling everyone in the Shen household.

Before the crowd could grasp what this meant, the heralding eunuch immediately continued.

"The imperial edict has arrived; the Shen family, kneel to receive it!"

Double standard!

Totally a double standard!

Yet, who in the Shen family dares to express dissatisfaction?

A crowd knelt down, including the elderly Lady Li, who knelt properly; only Shen Yunyao stood out like a crane among chickens, standing there, looking quite out of place.

Although it is the emperor's special favor, Shen Yunyao feels that this preferential treatment might offend the entire Shen household!

(End of chapter)