The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 639 Resistance and Disobedience
As Jia Huan was worshipping at the ancestral temple, an imperial edict from Emperor Qiansheng arrived. Grandmother Jia, looking puzzled, asked Jia Zheng beside her, "Zheng'er, didn't Huan-ge'er just receive an award at court this morning? Why is another imperial edict coming down now?"

Jia Zheng was also completely bewildered and didn't understand what was going on. Jia Huan, on the other hand, was used to seeing all sorts of things. Although he didn't know what Emperor Qiansheng was up to, he remained calm and composed, and ordered Lin Zhixiao to set up an incense table to receive the imperial decree.

The official from the Ministry of Rites, who was in charge of conveying the imperial decree, waited until Jia Huan, Jia Zheng, and the others had all knelt before the incense table before saying in a gentle tone, "Madam Jia is already advanced in years, there is no need for her to kneel. Please take a seat to the side."

However, with Yuanyang's help, Grandmother Jia still knelt down. Seeing this, the official from the Ministry of Rites did not force her, and took out the imperial edict, loudly proclaiming: "By the grace of the Emperor, it is decreed that Jia Huan, the fourth-generation descendant of Rongguo Duke Jia Yuan, currently serving as the Right Vice Minister of the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission, is hereby appointed to govern Liaodong, with the additional title of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. In the eighth year of the Qiansheng reign, Jia Huan achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations, surpassing all others throughout history. During his governance of Liaodong, he recovered all the lost territories of western Liaoning, achieving remarkable merit and outstanding military exploits. He can be considered a man of both literary and military talent, a pillar of the nation…"

"I have a daughter, Princess Yongning, who is sixteen years old. She is of excellent character and appearance, intelligent and virtuous, and a suitable match for Jia Huan. I hereby bestow her upon Jia Huan as his wife, and order the Ministry of Rites to select an auspicious day for the wedding. So be it!"

Jia Huan was stunned, completely dumbfounded. What had Emperor Qiansheng done wrong to become his father-in-law? This was too unexpected!

Lin Daiyu felt as if struck by lightning, as if the world was spinning. If she hadn't been kneeling, she probably would have fallen to the ground. Her pretty face was deathly pale, her teeth clenched, her body trembling uncontrollably, her chest heaving as if she were about to die.

Jia Tanchun, who was standing nearby, sensed something was wrong and peeked up. She was immediately shocked, but in this situation, she dared not move. She could only quietly lean over and support the swaying Lin Daiyu with her body.

Xue Baochai was also pale and bitter at this moment, but she was in much better condition than Lin Daiyu. She also noticed that something was wrong with Lin Daiyu. She turned her head and was secretly alarmed. She quickly supported Lin Daiyu on the other side and gently patted her back to calm her down.

The scene was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Grandmother Jia and Jia Zheng were dumbfounded. Grandmother Jia had planned to announce the marriage between Jia Huan and Lin Daiyu in public today, but unexpectedly, the Emperor suddenly appeared and decided to make Huan the consort of Princess Yongning. What should they do?

The official from the Ministry of Rites who was responsible for delivering the imperial edict had been smiling, but after reading it, Jia Huan did not immediately accept it, and the atmosphere at the scene was strange. He frowned and said, "Young Master Jia, aren't you going to accept the edict?"

Jia Huan turned his head to look behind him, and his gaze met Lin Daiyu's. The latter was also staring at him intently, her affectionate gaze as if it had pierced through thousands of years of mist, filled with helplessness and despair.

Jia Huan felt a sudden pang of heartache, as if being stabbed with a knife.

A strange look flashed in the eyes of the Ministry of Rites official, who urged impatiently, "Lord Jia, hurry up and accept the decree. I still have to go back and report to the Emperor!"

Jia Zheng vaguely knew some of the inside story, and at this moment his heart seemed to be in his throat. He said in a low voice, "Huan-ge'er, why don't you accept the imperial decree? What are you waiting for?"

Jia Huan took a deep breath and firmly shook his head, saying, "I'm sorry, I cannot accept this imperial edict!"

Hiss!!
This time, Jia Zheng's face turned pale, and he trembled like a leaf. He stared intently at Jia Huan. Even the seasoned Grandmother Jia was terrified. As for the rest of the Jia family, they were all ashen-faced!

Good heavens! Master Huan actually refused the imperial edict! This... isn't this disobeying the imperial decree?
The women were both shocked and frightened, their faces turning pale. Although Lin Daiyu was also terrified, she inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. Her eyes were filled with tenderness, and her helplessness and sorrow instantly transformed into boundless affection.

Xue Baochai felt cold to the touch, her heart filled with a mixture of fear, worry, envy, and sadness. She sighed inwardly.

Xue Baoqin, on the other hand, looked at him with a mixture of fear and admiration, her eyes sparkling as she thought, "My God, he actually dared to disobey the imperial decree! He's amazing!"

At this moment, the official from the Ministry of Rites who had delivered the imperial edict finally recovered from his astonishment and questioned him incredulously, "Jia Huan, do you intend to disobey the imperial edict?"

Jia Huan calmly replied, "I am not disobeying your imperial decree, but I have no choice. In fact, I am already engaged." The official from the Ministry of Rites asked in surprise, "You are already engaged? Whose daughter is she? Why did your father say that you were not yet married and had no engagement?"

Jia Huan turned to look at Jia Zheng, whose face turned red and who lowered his head guiltily. It turned out that some time ago, an official from the Ministry of Rites had specifically inquired about Jia Huan's marital status. At the time, he did not expect that Emperor Qiansheng would actually want to make Jia Huan his son-in-law, so he answered truthfully.

Jia Huan inwardly groaned, but could only brace himself and say, “My lord, you are unaware of my situation. My circumstances are rather special. The late Salt Commissioner, Lord Lin, whose given name was Ruhai, was my uncle. He had a daughter named Daiyu, who was my childhood sweetheart and we were deeply in love. When Lord Lin was on his deathbed, he entrusted her to me. Although we did not formally draw up a marriage agreement, it was in fact a marriage between us. Therefore, I can only implore Your Majesty to rescind your decree and find another suitable husband for Princess Yongning.”

"what!"

Upon hearing this, all the maids of the Jia family present couldn't help but cover their mouths and let out a soft gasp, both surprised and envious, their eyes all turning to Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu's cheeks were flushed, her beauty like that of a peach blossom. She was both shy and overjoyed, tears welling in her eyes as she silently murmured, "Huan-di! Huan-di! Huan-di!"

At this moment, Lin Daiyu was both overjoyed and terrified. Her brother Huan had openly defied the imperial edict for her sake, which could cost him his head! What should she do?

The official from the Ministry of Rites looked at Jia Zheng with a stern face and asked, "Lord Jia, is your son's statement true?"

"Well... that is indeed true. It was my oversight at the time!" Jia Zheng was already somewhat flustered and could only stammer out the answer.

The official from the Ministry of Rites said in a deep voice, "That means there's no formal engagement. Even if there were, we can just cancel it. Who would dare to compete with the princess then?"

That's true. Even if you already have a wife, let alone a marriage contract, if the emperor wants to take you as his son-in-law, your original wife will have to be divorced. This happened in the Tang Dynasty.

"Jia Huan, quickly accept the imperial decree!" the official from the Ministry of Rites said in a deep voice, his tone clearly a final ultimatum.

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "I am afraid I cannot accept this!"

The official from the Ministry of Rites turned pale with anger and shouted sternly, "You, Jia Huan, do you really dare to defy the imperial decree?"

"You wretched child, quickly accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude!" Jia Zheng shouted fiercely.

"Third Master Huan, quickly accept the imperial decree!" Everyone tried to persuade him, but Jia Huan firmly shook his head, unmoved.

The official from the Ministry of Rites stomped his foot in anger and shouted, "Guards! Jia Huan has defied the imperial decree! Seize him immediately and take him back to the Emperor for judgment!"

The Imperial Guards immediately swarmed forward, intending to take Jia Huan away!

Lin Daiyu was so frightened that she forgot all about being shy. With a sudden burst of strength, she rushed forward and hugged Jia Huan tightly, crying out, "Don't grab my Huan-di!"

(End of this chapter)