You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

Twenty or thirty burly guards from the Earl's mansion swarmed around, completely blocking the way.

Uncle Qiao was so angry that his vision blurred: "In broad daylight, under the emperor's very nose, you dare to rob us? You have no respect for the law!"

He scooped up the imperial plaque, shielding it in front of his niece, and pointed at the guards: "Let's see who dares to step forward!"

The guards stared at the bright yellow imperial seal on the plaque, exchanging bewildered glances, and for a moment no one dared to move.

Chu Nianci looked at the man before her, the man she had once entrusted her life to.

His face was ashen, his gaze cold and hard, showing none of his usual gentle demeanor.

Chu Nianci's heart felt frozen. In her previous life, things hadn't turned out this way; she had happily gotten married.

Just now, she still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking things had escalated to the point of no return.

He would remember the hard work and patience he had put in for the past six months, and sit down amicably to continue the negotiations.

I never expected him to resort to such banditry.

How could I have been so blind back then, not seeing the cold-hearted face beneath that facade?

A sincere heart in a past life was ultimately given to a fool.

Chu Nianci tore off the last trace of a smile from the corner of her lips, raised her hand to grasp the collar of her wedding robe, and yanked it sharply...

With a "rip," she tore off her bright red wedding dress and threw it resolutely to the ground, where it lay like a blood scab.

"I, Chu Nianci, swear here today that even if I die alone," her voice was soft, yet as resolute as shattered jade, "I will never marry you."

Lin Jingrui's handsome face was clouded with gloom, but he remained silent.

"We were blind to trust you, you hypocrite!" Uncle Qiao spat a mouthful of phlegm at him forcefully. "If you can't marry me by trickery, you resort to force. How are you any different from a highway robber?"

Lin Jingrui gritted his teeth and raised his hand to wave.

The guards gripped their sword hilts tightly, and the circle they had formed tightened even further.

He stared at Chu Nianci, his gaze as cold and ruthless as iron.

As long as she sticks to today and goes through with the wedding ceremony, she won't be able to escape this manor even if she grows wings.

In a couple more days, she'll gradually lose her temper and come back to him to beg him.

The wedding hall turned into a fighting arena, and the guests all retreated to a distance. They had come to enjoy the wedding feast, and no one wanted to get involved in this mess.

The Lin family members all looked pleased, waiting to see how this disobedient new bride would be disciplined.

Lin Jingjue and Chu Shunqing even stood on tiptoe to watch, their eyes gleaming with schadenfreude.

Lord Luo Shilong wanted to step forward to mediate, but when he thought of the imperial edict in the palace, he didn't dare to speak. He just sighed, lowered his head and fiddled with the lid of his teacup, pretending not to see anything.

Hongying and Tuanyuan had their arms twisted behind their backs by several burly old women, causing their hairpins to become disheveled as they struggled.

The servants of the Qiao family who were carrying the dowry were also surrounded by the guards of the Earl's Mansion, with their sword sheaths pressed against their backs, unable to move.

The air in the courtyard was tense and strained.

Just as tensions were rising, a commotion suddenly arose from the direction of the front yard, with screams and footsteps mingling together.

"What's going on?" Lin Jingrui looked up impatiently. "Didn't I order the gates to be kept tightly shut...?"

Before the words were even finished, the crowd in the distance parted like a tide.

Butler Hu, wiping his sweat, jogged over: "Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived."

As he spoke...

A group of Ming-style armored guards, armed with swords, cleared the way for a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy with a fair complexion, no beard, and handsome features. Dressed in a scarlet eunuch's robe, he swaggered through the courtyard toward the wedding hall.

"Oh my, it's quite lively here," said the newcomer, who was slender with bright eyes and a whisk in her hand. Her chin was slightly raised, exuding the reserved arrogance of someone from the palace.

With a smile on his face, he bowed to Lin Jingrui as he walked, saying, "Young Master Lin, congratulations! I am here on the orders of His Majesty and the Empress to offer my congratulations on your success in the imperial examination."

Lin Jingrui looked closely and his heart sank.

The visitor turned out to be Li De'an's apprentice, the eunuch in charge of the imperial seal... Jingxi.

Why is he here?

Even if it were a wedding bestowed by the palace to celebrate, it should have been the eunuch from the Empress's side who came...

Without time to think, Lin Jingrui quickly put on a smile and hurried down the steps to greet him, cupping his hands and saying, "I am so sorry for not welcoming you properly, Eunuch Xi. Please, please have a seat and serve tea."

Jingxi's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, but she maintained a smile: "No need."

He flicked his whisk, his voice clear and bright, "The Empress and His Majesty have bestowed gifts, Young Master Lin, quickly prepare the incense table... I have two imperial decrees with me today."

Upon hearing this, the old man and his wife immediately instructed their servants to set up the incense table.

Luo Shilong led the guests in adjusting their robes, and they all knelt down.

Jingxi cleared his throat, took out an imperial edict, and announced loudly: "By imperial decree of the Empress: Prince Lin and his wife are granted a box of pearls and a pair of sandalwood carvings of the Two Immortals of Harmony, as a congratulatory gift for their marriage."

After reading it aloud, he paused briefly, then solemnly took out another scroll of bright yellow imperial edict from his bosom and slowly unfurled it.

Jingxi's gaze swept over everyone, his lips tightening.

Everyone's expression tightened, and they quickly tidied themselves up, this time prostrating themselves in the dust.

Jingxi's gaze swept over the crowd before his lips relaxed slightly, revealing a meaningful smile: "Which one of you is Miss Chu Nianci? Please step forward to receive the imperial decree... It's an event of immense joy."

Chu Nianci was slightly taken aback, but then her heart calmed down.

finally come.

She took a deep breath, stepped forward calmly, and bowed gracefully: "This humble girl, Chu Nianci, greets Your Excellency, the Eunuch."

She had noticed the slight displeasure on the young eunuch's lips when Lin Jingrui addressed him as "father-in-law."

In her previous life, she held the rank of a first-grade imperial consort and was well-versed in palace etiquette.

These close attendants of the emperor were most averse to being addressed as "Eunuch" by others in a condescending manner.

"Lord Inner Supervisor" is the most appropriate respectful title.

Sure enough, Jingxi smiled slightly upon hearing this and squinted as he carefully examined her.

Even the young eunuch, who was used to seeing beautiful women everywhere, was secretly taken aback.

There were many beautiful women in the palace, and he had even seen some of the most stunning beauties.

Such a woman, so radiant and elegant yet possessing a clever and cunning nature, is rare indeed.

Furthermore, it is truly remarkable that she could handle things so well even before entering the palace.

Jingxi nodded to himself.

Given His Majesty's appearance, he had wondered what kind of woman could be worthy of him.

Now that I've met this woman, I feel like we've met our match, a match made in heaven.

Lin Jingrui, standing to the side, was completely bewildered and couldn't help but ask, "Father-in-law, how did she receive the imperial edict?"

Jingxi glanced at him, a half-smile on her face: "Anyway, it's a joyous occasion, so just accept the decree."

Having said that, he unfolded the imperial edict and read it aloud:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Chu Nianci, the legitimate daughter of Chu Maolin, the Prefectural Magistrate of Yangzhou, is gentle, virtuous, beautiful, and intelligent... She is hereby specially granted the title of Lady of the Palace and selected to serve in the inner palace. She is hereby ordered to enter the palace immediately and learn the palace rules in the Xiefang Hall. This is the imperial decree!"

After the imperial edict was read, the entire wedding hall fell into a deathly silence.

Lin Jingrui's face turned deathly pale, and he froze on the spot, as if he had been struck by lightning.

transfixed.

Chu Shunqing's mouth was wide open.

She clearly asked for her sister to enter the palace as an ordinary palace maid, preferably to be sent to a hard place like the laundry department or the warehouse...

Why was she instead given the title of "official's daughter"?

Although her rank was not high, she was still the emperor's woman.

She forced a smile, but inside she felt like she was filled with unbearable jealousy.

This sudden "dignity" was supposed to be a humiliation she bestowed upon Chu Nianci, but now it has unexpectedly become a blessing.

She wanted to slap herself for using her achievements in fighting the epidemic as leverage.

The elderly couple were struck dumb, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Why would His Majesty... suddenly select his own fiancée to enter the palace?

The guests were all stunned and looked at each other in disbelief.

In the blink of an eye, the bride is about to become a concubine in the palace?

Today's wedding banquet is truly a case of one wave after another.

"What...what exactly is going on?" Lin Jingrui finally found his voice and asked blankly, "Why did His Majesty suddenly summon Nianci to the palace?"

Grandpa Jingxi smiled and said a few auspicious words.

He then slowly said, "So this is a great joy. This decree was specially requested by Physician Chu from Her Majesty the Empress based on his merits in fighting the epidemic. He said that his elder sister was eager to enter the palace to serve."

He paused, then lightly flicked his whisk: "Originally, given Miss Chu's background, she would at most be a palace maid. But coincidentally, the Emperor was with the Empress just now, and upon hearing that she was a relative of the Imperial Uncle, he said, 'Since we're family, why not grant her a favor?' She didn't have to start as a palace maid; she was directly promoted to the rank of Imperial Lady. Isn't that double happiness?"

"This humble woman accepts the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness." Chu Nianci had already come to her senses and calmly kowtowed.

He extended both hands to receive the imperial decree.

Everyone realized what was happening and bowed in respect.

Lin Jingrui remained kneeling, motionless.

The Lin family members were all dumbfounded and forgot to kowtow and express their gratitude.

Eunuch Jingxi glanced at them, his smile still on his face, but his tone carried a hint of authority: "Oh, look at him, is Young Master Lin so happy that he forgot to express his gratitude?"

These words sound polite, but they are actually a reminder.

How can one be disrespectful before an imperial edict?

The Earl and his wife then seemed to wake from a dream, hurriedly and quietly tugging at their son's sleeve, urging him in a low voice, "Quickly, quickly kowtow and express your gratitude!"

Luo Shilong, a seasoned official, was shocked but reacted quickly, leading the guests in shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" and smoothly smoothing things over: "His Majesty's imperial grace is boundless, and Her Majesty's compassion for her subjects is a great honor for the Lin and Chu families!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at Lin Jingrui, whose face was pale, and then at Chu Nianci, who had her head bowed. He sighed inwardly, thinking how dramatic today's drama had been.

Just as Jingxi was about to hand the imperial edict to Chu Nianci,

"No!"

As if suddenly struck by lightning, Lin Jingrui abruptly looked up and realized what was happening: "Eunuch Xi, Miss Chu is my soon-to-be wife. Her Majesty the Empress just bestowed wedding gifts upon us. How can we allow her to enter the palace again?"

His voice trembled...