Chapter 112

When Lin Jiaojiao and Lu Zhenting heard this, they suddenly raised their heads, their four eyes staring directly at the Emperor!

Even though night had fallen, under the cover of darkness, Qin Yuan still keenly captured the intense dissatisfaction and anger surging in the depths of their eyes, as if they might break through the constraints of reason at any moment and erupt!

Only then did he realize: these two were actually of one mind!

Their appearance of standing together against a common enemy made Qin Yuan feel as uncomfortable as if he had thorns on his back!

The more this was the case, the more Qin Yuan wanted to tear them apart!

He had hoped with all his heart that Lin Jiaojiao would be of one mind with him, sharing the same boat, but who would have thought she had long since fallen for Lu Zhenting!

No! He absolutely must not let them have their way! He only wanted Lin Jiaojiao to be of one mind with him!

"Minister Lu, I will grant you a marriage," Qin Yuan said, revealing his awe-inspiring dignity as an emperor before the two could speak. "General Lu, hear the decree!"

Lu Zhenting and Lin Jiaojiao exchanged a glance, not knowing what medicine the Emperor was selling in this gourd!

"I know deep in my heart that you have guarded the borders for many years, bringing peace to the nation, and have crushed the bandit threats at the border. Your merits are clear; you are truly a pillar of the state and a blessing to the people. Your contributions are indelible, and I am very gratified. Seeing that you, Lu Zhenting, and Jiang Mianmian are a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven, I hereby grant this marriage!"

"To show the importance I place on this marriage, I specifically order the Ministry of Rites to carefully prepare the wedding for the two of you. The edict will be sent to the General's Mansion tomorrow. All matters concerning the wedding must follow the ritual regulations of our dynasty. On the day of the wedding, I will personally send high-ranking officials of the court to offer congratulations, to show my favor!"

"Your Majesty—" Lu Zhenting and Lin Jiaojiao spoke at the same time, wanting to refuse the marriage, but Qin Yuan solemnly issued another decree!

"Song family's adopted daughter Lin Zhiyue, hear this order: I am mindful that Lin Zhiyue has a pure and kind heart and noble medical ethics, and I am deeply impressed. Your medical skills are superb; you are a pillar of the nation and a blessing to the people. I hereby grant you a reward and appoint Lin Zhiyue as an Imperial Physician in the palace, to revise the Great Medical Code with me. I hope you can make further contributions to the prosperity of the country and the livelihood of the people!"

After saying this, he looked up at the pitch-black sky. "It is getting late. Lin Zhiyue, you have experienced many things today and must be exhausted. Rest early. I will send heavy troops to guard this place to ensure your safety."

"Minister Lu, your happy event is approaching. It is late, so you should return early to discuss the wedding arrangements with Miss Jiang, who lives in your mansion, and set the wedding date soon, so that I may drink your wedding wine!"

Qin Yuan bit down hard on the last two words, "wedding wine." He glanced at the jade pendant Lin Jiaojiao was still holding up, did not reach out to take it back, and finally left behind the words, "Prepare to return to the palace!" before turning to leave!

"Respectfully sending off Your Majesty! Long live, long live, long, long live Your Majesty!"

Once Qin Yuan left, the leader of the guards began to drive Lu Zhenting out, but because he had a shred of respect for him, the methods were not too harsh. "General Lu, do not defy the imperial decree! Please do not linger here; please return quickly!"

Qingdai stepped forward repeatedly, only to see that the light in Lin Jiaojiao's eyes had completely vanished, as silent as a dead lake, unable to withstand the slightest ripple!

She even maintained the posture of holding up the jade pendant, kneeling there, her whole person dull and lifeless.

Lu Zhenting stood up on his own and simultaneously pulled Lin Jiaojiao up from the ground!

The guards wanted to push him away from Lin Jiaojiao's side, but the leader of the guards gave them a look, so no one stepped forward.

Lu Zhenting squeezed Lin Jiaojiao's hand, telling her to put away the jade pendant the Emperor had given her, while simultaneously taking out a worn heart-protecting silver mirror from his chest and placing it into her hand.

Lin Jiaojiao raised her eyes to look at Lu Zhenting, but shook her head in despair, wanting to return the heart-protecting silver mirror to him.

"Lin Guniang," Lu Zhenting's gaze was deep and carried an unquestionable firmness. "I do not carry any valuable items with me. This heart-protecting silver mirror has been with me for over ten years; I now gift it to you as a token of my heart."

Lu Zhenting squeezed her hand hard. "You need not be sad. When I return, I will go to discuss this with Uncle Song so that we can find a way to break this deadlock."

Feeling the warmth from his thick palms, Lin Jiaojiao's heart unknowingly surged with a gentle warmth, like the first rays of sunlight in spring.

Under the night sky, the flickering candlelight in Qingju Pavilion added a touch of warmth and beauty to this moment.

Lu Zhenting's lips curled up slightly, forming a faint yet gentle smile. "Only today did I realize the feelings you hid in your heart. I am overjoyed. In this life, I will never fail you!"

The leader of the guards urged, "General Lu, if you do not return now, the Emperor will blame us when he finds out, and it will be hard for all of us brothers. Please do not make things difficult for us!"

Lu Zhenting knew the difficulties of his colleagues; he nodded slightly and prepared to leave Qingju Pavilion under the guidance of the guard leader.

Lin Jiaojiao watched his retreating figure, and a sense of unease suddenly rose in her heart. What if—what if there really was no way out?

After all, as a general of the Dakang Dynasty, Lu Zhenting could not defy the imperial decree! Although she knew Lu Zhenting was not a man who feared death, would defying the Emperor's marriage decree implicate his clansmen!

And now that she was the Song family's adopted daughter and Song Shijie's adopted younger sister, the Emperor had conferred a title upon her and made her an Imperial Physician, all just to have a legitimate reason to serve him! Was all of this just to pave the way for her to be made a concubine later!

If she also defied the imperial decree, would it not also implicate the Song clan!

After this parting, when they met again, could she and he still be considered free?

Would even the exchange of glances be impossible?!

Thinking of this, Lin Jiaojiao suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness and despair!

"General Lu!" Suddenly, Lin Jiaojiao called out to him. Lu Zhenting turned his head abruptly, only to see her running over with tears in her eyes. Disregarding the gazes of others, she reached out to wrap her arms around him, embracing him tightly!

"Ahem, ahem, ahem, Imperial Physician Lin, are you giving us a hard time?" The guard leader coughed a few times and gave a look to his subordinates. Several guards understood and immediately stepped forward, pulling the two of them apart directly!

In this instant, Lin Jiaojiao felt as if she were on the edge between a dream and reality. An indescribable sorrow surged in her heart, as if she were experiencing a heart-wrenching separation of life and death, and the sadness silently drowned her heart like a tide.

Afterward, like guards escorting prisoners, one group of guards pushed Lu Zhenting forward, while the other group pushed Lin Jiaojiao back into the room of Qingju Pavilion!

Qingdai hurriedly followed behind. Once inside, she lit the candles, closed the door, poured tea and water for her, and coaxed, "Lin Guniang, you must rest well. Only when you have rested and recovered will you have the state of mind to figure out how to leave the Imperial Palace!"