After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

After a long silence, the late emperor on his throne suddenly let out a low, enigmatic laugh, breaking the suffocating silence.

He spoke slowly, his voice regaining its imperial majesty and composure, "My word is law; having publicly promised to grant you your wish, I will never break my promise to the world!"

The late emperor paused, his gaze sweeping over the officials with their varied expressions, before finally settling on Xie Dai. "Xie Dai, receive my decree."

"Your subject is here!" Xie Dai's voice came from below, steady and powerful, without the slightest tremor.

"Princess Chu Mingzhu is virtuous and prudent by nature, diligent and gentle, and adept at domestic duties. She is my beloved daughter."

"Xie Dai, the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, is unparalleled in loyalty and bravery, has made outstanding contributions, and is of upright character and appearance. He is a perfect match for the princess."

"I hereby bestow this marriage upon you, and choose an auspicious day for your wedding, to demonstrate the imperial grace and to comfort the hearts of my meritorious officials!"

The imperial decree granting the marriage caused a slight commotion in the court, but it quickly subsided.

In any case, His Majesty has spoken, and this marriage is now a done deal.

Only the Crown Prince, standing to the side, stared intently at Xie Dai.

Then, the late emperor changed the subject and continued, "As for your request just now to relinquish the position of heir apparent and return your military post..."

He pondered for a moment, then said, "You are a pillar of the nation, and the peace of the northern border still depends on you. Here's what I'll do: I will temporarily reclaim your command of the three armies in the northern border. The defense of the northern border will be temporarily handled by the deputy general."

"After you marry the princess, stay at Changling and accompany her for a while. If there is any alarm at the border, or if the court has other appointments, I will reconsider."

This arrangement both fulfilled Xie Dai's request and temporarily reclaimed military power, demonstrating thorough consideration and meticulous planning.

"As for your title of heir apparent, it is not just a matter for you alone, but also concerns the succession of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, so it will be retained for now. As for the other rewards, they will remain the same."

Xie Dai kowtowed deeply, his voice steady and powerful: "Your subject obeys the decree! Thank you for Your Majesty's great favor!"

After the court session ended, Xie Dai and the other officials had not gone far from the main hall when a eunuch quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said:

"General Xie, please wait. His Majesty requests your presence in the Imperial Study."

Xie Dai felt a chill run down his spine, but remained outwardly calm, nodded in agreement, and followed the eunuch toward the inner palace.

Inside the Imperial Study, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

The late emperor had changed out of his court robes and was now dressed in casual clothes. He was standing by the window, looking at a magnolia tree in the courtyard.

The magnolias were in full bloom, their large, pure white blossoms adorning the branches.

Standing gracefully in the warm spring sunshine, she appears even more elegant and refined, creating a subtle contrast with the solemn palace.

Hearing footsteps, he slowly turned around, his gaze less regal and more scrutinizing than it had been in the court.

"Thank you, my dear minister, rise." The late emperor's voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. He gestured to a sandalwood chair with a brocade cushion beside him, "Sit."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xie Dai stood up as instructed, but only sat on half of the chair, his back straight and his posture respectful.

The late emperor looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then got straight to the point, "Minister Xie, in the court you made a solemn vow to exchange your entire future for a marriage."

"At this moment, it is only you and me, ruler and subject. I will ask you one more time: is it truly because you love Mingzhu that you are willing to give up your future and marry only her?"

Xie Dai raised his head to meet the late emperor's gaze without flinching. His eyes were clear and resolute, without the slightest hesitation, just as he had issued the military order on the battlefield:

"Your Majesty, yes! In this life, I only wish to stay with Her Highness the Princess, to protect her peace, and to bring her joy. Fame and fortune are but dust compared to Her Highness."

The late emperor gazed at him for a long time, until a petal from the magnolia tree outside the window swirled and drifted gently to the ground.

Finally, he slowly nodded, a complex and unreadable expression on his face.

"Very well." The late emperor uttered a single word, walked back to his desk, and sat down. "I believe in your sincerity at this moment. But marriage is a serious matter, not a game, especially with Mingzhu... her status is special. I will give you one month."

"For the next month, I hereby grant you special permission to freely enter and leave the palace and accompany Mingzhu, using this token." He picked up a small token from the table and handed it to Xie Dai:

"If your mind remains unchanged after one month, I will order the Ministry of Rites to formally prepare for your wedding."

Xie Dai was puzzled, wondering why the late emperor had gone to the trouble of giving a one-month deadline, but he could not disobey the emperor's command, so he respectfully accepted the order.

"Your Majesty, I obey! Thank you for your kindness!"

Until that day, he finally understood the late emperor's intentions completely.

Memories unfold, a scene of bright spring sunshine.

Xie Dai was granted permission to accompany the eldest princess, and he did so with almost all his might.

Knowing that she lived a dull life deep within the palace, he tried his best to take her out of the palace to the suburban villas, to the bustling markets, to watch acrobatics, and to listen to storytelling...

He clumsily tried various methods, hoping to dispel the gloom in her eyes, even if only for a moment.

In his presence, Chu Mingzhu would occasionally reveal a faint smile because of his clumsy actions or because of interesting things she saw in the marketplace.

That smile, as gentle as ripples on water, was enough to make Xie Dai's heart pound, making him feel that all his efforts were worthwhile.

But more often than not, Chu Mingzhu was silent and absent-minded.

One day, the two dined at a well-known old restaurant in the city, sitting in a private room by the window.

Outside the window is a bustling street, the noise of spring somewhat separated by the carved wooden window.

The dishes on the table were exquisite and smelled wonderful.

Xie Dai was carefully serving her food, explaining the origins of the dishes, trying to cheer her up.

However, as soon as a steamed sea bass was served, Chu Mingzhu smelled its fresh aroma and her face turned pale instantly.

She suddenly covered her mouth, turned her face away, and let out a suppressed retching, her forehead beaded with cold sweat.

Xie Dai's brow furrowed suddenly. He quickly put down his chopsticks, stood up, and supported her slightly trembling shoulders, his tone concerned:

"What's wrong? Is the food not to your liking? Or are you feeling unwell? I'll send someone to fetch a doctor right away!"

Chu Mingzhu grabbed his wrist with her other hand; her fingertips were icy cold, but the force was surprisingly strong.

She kept her head down, her voice barely audible, tinged with barely concealed panic:

"I...I'm fine. I just...I suddenly feel a little dizzy, probably from being tired. There's really no need to call a doctor."

Xie Dai looked at her pale face, a few strands of black hair on her forehead stuck to her skin with cold sweat.

At this moment, she had shed her usual deliberate composure and aloofness, becoming as fragile as the thinnest icicle on a spring branch, ready to shatter at the slightest touch.

His doubts grew, and he pressed on, "But you clearly look unwell. Let the doctor take a look, just to put your mind at ease."

Chu Mingzhu slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was despair, shame, fear, and a hint of resolute despair.

She avoided Xie Dai's concerned gaze, staring at her tightly clenched hands, her knuckles white, and said in a trembling voice, almost inaudible:

"I...I'm just...pregnant."

Xie Dai's hand, which was supporting her shoulder, suddenly froze, and his whole body seemed to be instantly frozen, his blood congealing.

The private room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; only the faint sounds of the bustling city outside the window made the silence inside seem eerily deathly.

After a long while, Xie Dai slowly regained his breathing.

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

He should have thought of that sooner…

Three years ago, in the hunting camp, the Crown Prince's possessive and insane words and his unfulfilled rage...

The three years he spent away from Changling, rushing to the battlefield to fight bloody battles...

Given Chu Yan's obsessive nature and methods, as well as the growing power of the Crown Prince within the palace, it would be incredibly easy for him to force a seemingly noble princess.