Chapter 428: Kowtow

As soon as Cheng Ming's words left his mouth, Lin Rujun no longer wanted to pay him any attention.

But Cheng Ming's current blood‑soaked state was thanks to her; her hand still clutched his arm tightly, and she tore a strip of cloth from herself to bind Cheng Ming's wound and stop the bleeding.

Cheng Ming whispered a thanks to Lin Rujun, then gently pushed her aside, and with a thud he slammed his head against Emperor Longqing three times.

He raised his gaze and fixed his stare on Emperor Longqing: "Your Majesty now wants to kill and maim me, demanding I shoulder it alone, but even if you bind me to the execution platform and cut me three thousand six hundred times, today I will still take Miss Lin as my wife."

"I humbly request Your Majesty's approval."

Emperor Longqing stared coldly at the wildly arrogant Cheng Ming before him; killing this madman would likely chill the hearts of the veteran generals in the army.

Later it would become uncontrollable, after all the Princess's Residence also wields some influence.

If he were not killed, the hatred in his heart would remain unsatisfied, and he couldn't help but smile coldly: "Are you threatening me?"

Cheng Ming lifted his head, stared steadily at Emperor Longqing, and said: "I do not dare, I only wish to marry Miss Lin Rujun as my wife."

Princess Linghe, standing nearby, saw her son unable to speak, repeatedly insisting on marrying Miss Lin, and realized this would bring trouble upon them.

She hurriedly knelt beside her son: "Brother Emperor, Cheng Ming is truly a man of few words; his heart is straightforward and his speech can be blunt. Please forgive him a bit."

"Cheng Ming," Princess Linghe stared intently at her son, "matters of marriage cannot be so rushed; moreover, today's affairs still require thorough deliberation. You go back first!"

Princess Linghe's heart thumped at that moment; she hadn't expected this reckless boy's audacity could be so great.

She thought she should first persuade her son to return, then gradually convince Empress Dowager Ning An and Emperor Longqing, using the Princess's Residence's influence to force them to make concessions and bring Miss Lin into the Princess's Residence.

But as soon as Princess Linghe finished speaking, Cheng Ming seized the Lin Rujun beside him, who was dressed in a bright red wedding gown.

He looked at Empress Dowager Ning An and Emperor Longqing and said: "Your Majesty, I believe this matter need not be delayed; since today is an auspicious day, it is also a propitious day for marriage."

"Moreover, Miss Lin is already wearing her wedding attire; there's no need for such fuss. Choosing a date is unnecessary when we can act today—just send Miss Lin directly to my Princess's Residence."

As soon as Cheng Ming finished speaking, everyone stared dumbfounded.

Gu Jiu Ling couldn't help but silently give Cheng Ming a thumbs‑up in her mind, truly a man of his word.

Being so decisive in taking a wife, this battle seemed winnable.

The others' faces showed slight bewilderment, especially several elders present.

How could one treat the great matter of marriage as a child's play? Today Lin Rujun's wedding dress was meant for Prince Rui.

Cheng Ming actually wanted Lin Rujun to go to the Princess's Residence today wearing that wedding dress; this matter, in any case, is absurd.

Princess Linghe whispered scoldingly: "Cheng Ming, aren't you crazy? How could you be so…"

Cheng Ming ignored his mother; he knew the matter of marrying Lin Rujun could only be sooner, not later. If he missed this chance, the next might never allow the fate to continue.

He slammed his head against Emperor Longqing again with force; the impact felt as if his head struck the icy floor directly, even cracking his forehead.

Fresh blood seeped out instantly, and Princess Linghe let out a startled cry, too frightened to speak.

She understood her son's temperament; once he went mad, even ten oxen couldn't pull him back.

Emperor Longqing's brows knit tightly, and he coldly stared at the arrogant, overbearing brat before him.

"Please, Your Majesty, grant me your favor!" Cheng Ming, inarticulate, could only repeat this sentence: please, Your Majesty, grant me your favor.

He said it, and with a thud he knocked his head again; if he kept doing so, Cheng Ming feared he would die from head‑butting in Yangxin Hall tonight.

Seeing Cheng Ming's blood spreading on the bright floor of Yangxin Hall, the people around turned slightly pale.

If Cheng Ming were truly forced to die here in Yangxin Hall today, Emperor Longqing and Empress Dowager Ning An would both be in serious trouble.

Cheng Ming kept head‑butting, blood streaming down his handsome cheek, while Lin Rujun's tears could no longer be held back.

She hadn't expected Cheng Ming could go to such lengths for her; suddenly overwhelmed with grief and anger, she fell to her knees beside him with a thud.

Lin Rujun said nothing, merely staying with Cheng Ming as they head‑butted fiercely; the faces of the young pair were already streaked with blood.

Gu Jiu Ling watched, feeling a stir of emotion, yet she could not say anything.

If she were to speak, it would only fail to help the two and would instead harm them.

Finally, after Cheng Ming and Lin Rujun had head‑butted dozens of times, Empress Dowager Ning An suddenly spoke.

Her voice was hoarse, and the smile at the corner of her lips sent a chill to the heart.

"Enough, what do you think this place is? This is Yangxin Hall, where Southern Qi's state affairs are handled."

"You two youngsters act far too recklessly; given that, let the Miss of the Lin family be betrothed to the legitimate son of the Princess's Residence."

When Empress Dowager Ning An said so, those around exhaled in relief, and Cheng Ming was almost ecstatic in that instant; he hadn't expected to truly bring Lin Rujun into his home.

The Lin family also relaxed, and as smiles appeared on everyone's faces, Empress Dowager Ning An turned her gaze toward Princess Linghe and Cheng Ming.

"But the nation has its laws, the family its rules; today the young marquis of the Princess's Residence, for his own selfish gain, dared to breach the palace city, how can our royal dignity remain?"

"The death penalty may be avoided, but the living punishment cannot be escaped."

"The title of Marquis Dingbei that Cheng Ming holds shall not be granted to you this time."

"Otherwise, if today someone breaks into Yangxin Hall, and tomorrow another does, do we consider the imperial grounds a place for random trespassing?"

Emperor Longqing's complexion changed instantly; the Marquis Dingbei title was earned by her husband through great battlefield achievements, and after his death it was inherited by his son Cheng Ming, who became a young marquis.

Now they intend to strip his son's title, which is essentially a slap in the face of his official attire.

She lifted her head in resentment, about to speak, but met Empress Dowager Ning An's gaze.

Princess Linghe swallowed the words that had reached her mouth; she, too, was bewildered.

Today her son could do such a great thing; if it were the past, he would have been beheaded long ago. The fact that he lives now is thanks to the connections her husband forged in the army while he was alive.

However, that relationship is still not very solid; after the older generation passes, it's uncertain whether the younger can still recognize Cheng Ming's titles.

But at this moment Cheng Ming's title was tossed into Taihu, causing Princess Linghe's heart to sink heavily.

If her son later fails to study properly, the entire Princess's Residence might be ruined by his misdeeds.

But before the Princess could finish speaking, Cheng Ming suddenly shouted loudly: "Your Majesty is wise! If you wish to take the Marquis Dingbei title, take it; I, a man who stands tall and upright, will fight my way out on my own."