Chapter 368: Please grant the marriage

"Xiao Wu, what do you mean by this?"

Duan Rongyin saw what was inside the brocade box, his face instantly changed, and he looked at his fifth brother with strained breathing.

He was always dignified and refined, and the corner of his mouth always bore a modest, easygoing smile.

But at this moment, his gaze was icy cold, like an eagle eyeing its prey.

It is said that when the Moon Noble Consort gave birth to the emperor's fifth son, Emperor Yan, who loved her to the point of near madness, immediately granted her a blank imperial edict.

Emperor Yan personally drafted the heading and affixed the imperial jade seal.

This is an emperor's promise.

No matter what the Moon Noble Consort and her son might want in the future, Emperor Yan is willing to give it to both of them.

Although this imperial edict is blank, its weight is comparable to that of mountains and rivers, heaven and earth.

Carrying the emperor's most fervent love for his beloved from back then, it bestowed upon a consort the great power of life and death, of seizure and grant.

Such a thunderous thing, such a promise—what Emperor Yan meant back then goes without saying.

But back then, when all the consorts in the imperial harem heard of this, they regarded the Moon Noble Consort and her son as a thorn in the flesh, a splinter in the eye.

Yet the sovereign's favor blazed like the scorching sun, and back then he bestowed almost all honor and privilege upon the Moon Noble Consort.

As for the myriad beauties, she alone enjoyed the favor of the Pepper Chamber, and that is no exaggeration.

Even the empress back then had to lower herself by three parts before the Moon Noble Consort.

But that imperial edict, the Moon Noble Consort never once produced it.

Because of this, the empress suffered sleepless nights for years.

Later, the Moon Noble Consort died suddenly.

After the Cassia Fragrance Palace was slaughtered in blood, it was then utterly destroyed in a great fire.

Although Emperor Yan later rebuilt the Cassia Fragrance Palace to mourn his beloved, Prince Su never once set foot in it.

However, it is said that the blank imperial edict had already vanished together with the Moon Noble Consort in that fire.

But the empress and crown prince have, over the years, felt that blank imperial edict as a thorn in their throat, never dispelling their doubts, and thus they have privately probed the Prince Su's manor countless times in their frenzy.

Yet they never found that imperial edict.

In the imperial court, they would seize any opportunity to suppress Prince Su.

And Duan Rongshi, facing their mother‑son's various mad deeds, even when the crown prince was deposed back then, never took the opportunity to produce this imperial edict.

Finally, the empress and crown prince gradually let down their guard and suspicions.

But today, he effortlessly produced it!

How could the empress and crown prince not panic?

Faced with this sudden turn of events, their gazes wished they could devour Duan Rongshi on the spot.

Seeing him produce that, Emperor Yan was also greatly shocked.

"Get out!"

He summoned his strength and gave the order.

The crown prince suppressed his anger, still maintaining the appearance of a refined scholar: "Xiao Wu, did you hear? Father Emperor orders you to withdraw."

"You are truly disappointing."

"These years you have been at the Ministry of Justice; even though you acted lawlessly and violently, committing many atrocities of a cruel official, Father Emperor indulged and loved you without limit, never expecting you to produce this thing while he was ill."

"What do you intend to do?"

"Without regard for Father Emperor's health, you also seek to force his will—just what end are you aiming for……"

Emperor Yan: "Crown Prince, I am ordering you to withdraw!"

"And empress, you all get lost!"

Emperor Yan flew into a rage, grabbed the curtain and yanked it down hard.

The curtain could not withstand the force, instantly collapsed, and fell onto the empress's head.

Had it not been for a palace maid rushing forward to shield the empress, she would surely have suffered more than just the present embarrassment.

The curtain hung on her face, tossing her makeup and the vermilion hairpin on her head into disarray.

For a moment, where was her usual dignity and grace?

Empress Gao's and the crown prince's faces were extremely unsightly; unwilling but unable to stay, they hurriedly withdrew together.

No sooner had they left the hall than the empress hastily gave Wang He a look.

Wang He lowered his eyelids, then fixed his gaze on the nearby little eunuch.

However, Emperor Yan summoned the Imperial Guard.

He ordered them to defend strictly, sealing off the Hall of Purple Celestial inside and out so that not even half an ear could hear any sound from within.

Emperor Yan stared fixedly at his son kneeling on the ground, dressed in ceremonial robes.

His gaze was as cold as a blade.

It fell mercilessly upon Duan Rongshi, and after a long while he finally said: "Present it to me."

Duan Rongshi respectfully took out the imperial edict and handed it to Emperor Yan.

Emperor Yan's hand trembled as he tried to unfold it, but he seemed to lack the courage altogether.

In the end, he heavily set the rolled imperial edict upon the bed.

Twenty‑two years……

This imperial edict has existed for twenty‑two years.

His hiding place for the fragrant grace is truly excellent.

He thought that this imperial edict, this promise, had long since gone with her.

But he never imagined that she had truly left a way back for her son.

A hint of killing intent flickered in Emperor Yan's eyes.

He clutched the imperial edict tightly in his hand, his heart struggling back and forth hundreds of times.

Kill him!

Then the realm would be stabilized.

But his Fuyá…

How could he betray his Fuyá again?

If he doesn't kill him, what does he want?

This son is now nothing more than a knife in his hand.

A knife, how could it covet the exalted position of the Nine‑Five?

He ought to properly be his knife, so as to safeguard his lifelong wealth and honor, free of worry.

He had already arranged a retreat for him.

What is he still fantasizing about now?

"You... what do you want?"

"Why not, let me hear you first."

Duan Rongshi lowered his eyes: "Father Emperor thinks, what does the son want?"

Having said that, he slowly lifted his head to look at Emperor Yan.

Emperor Yan's pupils twitched violently.

He rarely summons this son for an audience.

Because he looks too much like his Fuyá.

Even the red mole at the center of his brow is exactly the same.

Every time he sees Duan Rongshi, he is reminded of his Fuyá.

Emperor Yan would then feel heart‑wrenching pain, unable to sleep through the night……

His mother consort, wasn't she dead at this very age back then?

Duan Rongshi: "Father Emperor, there's no need to worry. Your subject merely wishes to exchange this promise for an imperial edict granting marriage."

Emperor Yan thought he had misheard.

"What did you say?"

Duan Rongshi: "Your subject wishes to marry the eldest granddaughter of the Xiuli Jiangjun Fu, Li Qingluo. I hope Father Emperor will grant this."

Emperor Yan stared blankly for a long time.

So long that he pinched himself secretly before snapping back to his senses.

He?

Holding the emperor's promise, he actually only wants a marriage edict?

Does he know what he's saying?

Does he realize what kind of opportunity he's wasting?

Is he an idiot?

Emperor Yan almost burst out cursing him as a fool.

Although, if he truly dared to ask for something he shouldn't, I would certainly not give it.

I would even have him secretly executed for the sake of court stability.

But how could it possibly be just a marriage edict?

Emperor Yan, angry and with a headache, rubbed his swollen nose bridge.

"Little Five, I give you a chance, speak properly……"

"It's merely a concubine; I'll casually reward you with one."

"The eldest granddaughter of the venerable general of Xiuli Jiangjun Fu—even if Li Chao Jing committed a capital crime, I've heard that she and her grandmother have long severed ties with their clan; I could overlook their background and grant this match, but don't go too far!"

"The promise I gave Fuyá back then was certainly not just a marriage edict——"

Duan Rongshi silently gazed at his father emperor.

"Then Father Emperor, what can you grant your subject?"

Emperor Yan paused.

He, he could give him a high office.

Give him more fiefdoms.

Give him gold and silver…… even countless women.

And not merely a maiden.

Duan Rongshi: "Your subject is dull‑witted, knowing he does not please Father Emperor, so these years he has never asked Father Emperor for anything."

"Just like the mother consort, your subject only desires a pure and unbreakable marital bond until death."

Emperor Yan's face turned pale: "A pure and unbreakable marital bond……?"

He felt waves of bitterness in his heart.

These words were what he said when he embraced Fuyá, his love deep back then.

He only regretted that he was not an ordinary mortal, unable to share a pure and unbreakable marital bond with Fuyá……

Back then he also promised that in this life, his heart would hold only Fuyá as his beloved.

He would never let her down.

Emperor Yan, recalling the past, felt heart‑wrenching pain.

Yet he still did not accept; he actually only wanted a marriage edict.

「These years, I have repeatedly tried to grant you a marriage, but you have refused each time from afar. I, out of respect for your mother's consort, have never forced you. 」

「It seems that now you have truly found your beloved? 」

「But she is merely a lowly-status concubine; how do you want the world to see you? 」

Duan Rongshi: 「I, your subject, am steadfast in my loyalty to the Li family; how could I let her be only a concubine? 」

「If it weren't clear that her status is lowly, I, your subject, would never have needed to use this imperial decree in my lifetime. 」

「I hope Father Emperor will fulfill this, as it would make up for the regret you owed the consort back then. 」

Duan Rongshi again brings up Noble Consort Yue; Emperor Yan seems to have suffered a heavy blow, turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Duan Rongshi, however, seemed not to have noticed at all, merely continuing to kneel silently before the bed.

Emperor Yan stared fixedly at him; seeing the ruthlessness in Duan Rongshi's eyes, his heart suddenly jolted.

At this moment, he finally dimly understood.

This son, does he hate him?

He and Fu Ya's son actually hate him?

……

Li Qingluo returned so quickly to Xiuli Jiangjun Fu, naturally surprising Pei Lao Furen greatly.

She clearly said she was going to Yangzhou; perhaps she hasn't even reached the outskirts of Yangzhou yet?

「Luo'er, what happened on the road? Grandma sees you looking quite wan. 」

Li Qingluo dismissed all the servants in the room, then summoned Luo Shen Physician and Dong Siyuan.

Then she straightforwardly stretched out her hand, letting Dong Siyuan take her pulse first.

「How does my pulse compare to last time? 」

Dong Siyuan felt her pulse and jumped in fright.

「This... what is going on? 」

「Miss, the internal heat toxin in your body, compared to what I felt two days ago, has become so strong it cannot be stopped. 」

「Last time it was barely noticeable; this time it is quite evident. 」

「What on earth has happened to you? 」

Luo Shen Physician's expression changed upon hearing this, and he hurriedly reached out to take her pulse.

As soon as he felt it, his face grew even worse.

The pulse was taut and slippery, rapid; internal toxins erupted fiercely, causing excessive internal heat.

「Luo'er, you have been poisoned. 」

「Moreover, this poison is about to enter your viscera; it must be extremely vicious and hard to dispel. 」

Luo Fan, having said that, couldn't help but look worriedly at Pei Lao Furen.

Pei Lao Furen's legs instantly went weak, and she grabbed Li Qingluo.

「Luo'er, what's wrong with you? 」

「What poison have you been hit with? Don't scare Grandma! 」