Chapter 376: Imperial Marriage Decree

Chapter 376: The Imperial Edict of Marriage

Ji Qingqing's heart leaped with joy as she picked up her skirt and hurried out. Cui Liu thought she'd dodged disaster, but Ji Qingqing unexpectedly turned back and coldly ordered the two servants guarding the woodshed:

"From now on, feed her whatever the family dogs eat. Don't let her die—just give her a bowl of water a day to keep her alive. I'll come back another day to have some fun with her."

Ji Qingqing walked away with a cold sneer, but Cui Liu felt like she'd been thrown into an ice cellar.

She knew that after the incident at the mass grave, Ji Qingqing would not let her off easily, but she had never imagined she would torment her like this.

She'd rather Ji Qingqing just kill her outright than suffer this living hell.

Ji Qingqing returned to her room and changed into a white butterfly-feather ruqun, donning a matching veil upon her head. As she walked, she seemed to float like an immortal.

When she arrived at the front courtyard, she saw Eunuch Zhang holding the imperial edict. She hurried forward and knelt down.

"Your subject's daughter, Ji Qingqing, receives the imperial edict."

Eunuch Zhang was startled by her attire and asked in surprise:

"Why is Second Miss Ji wearing a veil? Are you feeling unwell? Shall I summon a royal physician to examine you?"

Ji Qingqing's heart raced in panic—her face was still swollen. There was no way she could let Eunuch Zhang see her like this.

If word of this got back to the Crown Prince, she'd be in big trouble!

With this thought, Ji Qingqing coughed lightly behind her hand and said in a soft, delicate voice: "Thank you for your kindness, Eunuch Zhang. Your subject's daughter just caught a chill from the cold and is already on medicine. No need to bother a physician to check my pulse!"

Eunuch Zhang said no more and began to read the edict.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: I have heard that the second legitimate daughter of the Marquis Yongning's household is gentle, talented, beautiful, and of outstanding character—a perfect match for the Crown Prince. I hereby decree this marriage, appointing her as Crown Princess to reside in the Eastern Palace. The third day of the third month next year is an auspicious date; the wedding is set, and preparations shall proceed accordingly. Let it be known!"

"Crown Princess, accept the edict!"

Ji Qingqing's heart raced with excitement. Hiding her overwhelming joy, she stepped forward and took the imperial edict with both hands.

"Your subject's daughter receives the edict. Long live the Emperor—may he live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand."

Seeing this, Lady Meng quickly produced a heavy embroidered pouch and handed it over with a beaming smile.

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Zhang. This pouch is a small token of my appreciation—please accept it."

Eunuch Zhang didn't refuse and took it with a smile. "The wedding is still two months away. Crown Princess, take good care of yourself—the Crown Prince still thinks highly of you."

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back to the palace to report!"

Lady Meng and Ji Nanchuan walked Eunuch Zhang out together.

Ji Qingqing clutched the bright yellow imperial edict, still feeling like she was dreaming.

She walked over to Lady Meng, unable to hide her excitement.

"Mother, is this real? Am I really going to be the Crown Princess?"

Lady Meng took Ji Qingqing's hand, her eyes warm and tender.

"Of course it's real. I told you long ago—you're the once-in-a-century Destined Phoenix Maiden, and the Crown Princess position was always meant for you."

"Our Marquis Yongning's household has been plagued by Ji Yuntang's bad luck for too long. From now on, we'll rely on you, Qing Qing, to turn our fortunes around!"

This statement did wonders for Ji Qingqing's vanity.

Ji Yuntang had thrown the Marquis Yongning estate into chaos, yet she was about to become the Crown Princess, bringing the greatest honor the household had ever seen.

From now on, everyone in the marquis's household would have to dance to her tune, including her three older brothers.

With that in mind, Ji Qingqing decided to test just how much pull her new title as Crown Princess had.

"Father, Mother, I'm craving Seven Delicacies Soup from East Street, Snow Vegetable Yellow Croaker from West Street, Rouge Goose Breast from South Street, and Hundred Flowers Duck Feet from North Street."

"And I want that Phoenix Through Gold Dress from Peiyue Pavilion. That dress is a work of art—I've had my eye on it forever, but Second Brother wouldn't buy it for me."

"Mother, please buy it for me! When I go out with Crown Prince Brother next time, I can wear it and make the whole estate proud."

Madam Meng was thrilled and would give Ji Qingqing anything she asked for.

"Okay, okay, whatever you want, Mother will make it happen."

What Madam Meng didn't know was that the Phoenix Through Gold Dress Ji Qingqing wanted was Peiyue Pavilion's crown jewel.

Buying it nearly wiped out Madam Meng's savings.

But then she figured—once Ji Qingqing became Crown Princess, she'd have anything she wanted.

So she spoiled her rotten without a second thought!

The Imperial Palace, Weiyang Palace.

Jian Lan reported to Concubine Li that the Empress and Luo Jingshen had a huge blowout in Fengyi Palace.

"Concubine Li, someone saw the Empress and the Crown Prince arguing in Weiyang Palace. She won't let the Crown Prince marry Second Miss Ji."

Concubine Li's eyes narrowed, and a cold smile curled her lips. "She won't agree? What right does she have to say no?"

"She never seems to care about the Crown Prince on a normal day, so why is she suddenly butting in when it comes to his marriage?"

"If you ask me, she just doesn't want the Crown Prince to do better than Luo Junhe. But so what?"

"She'll never know in her whole life who her real son actually is."

Jian Lan kept her head down and listened without saying a word.

After hesitating a moment, she added, "I also heard that during the argument, the Empress accidentally hit the Crown Prince, and he didn't fight back."

Concubine Li jumped to her feet, shocked and furious. "What did you say? She actually hit the Crown Prince?"

Jian Lan answered honestly, "Yes, someone saw the Crown Prince leave Fengyi Palace with a handprint on his face."

Concubine Li clenched her fists so hard her knuckles went white. Furious, she swept the tea, fruit, and pastries off the table.

"Empress, I will be irreconcilable with you for the rest of my life!"

The affection she craved was being trampled on by someone else—how could she stand it?

Concubine Li thought of Luo Jingshen's cold attitude toward her, and then imagined how submissive he was before the Empress. She felt a sharp pain in her heart.

If Luo Jingshen were willing to call her "Mother," she would gladly die for it.

But the Empress?

What did the Empress do?

The Crown Prince merely wishes to marry a woman—why should the Empress refuse?

At this moment, Concubine Li's desire for revenge against the Empress was at its boiling point.

"She dared to hit Shen'er—I'll make her pay!"

Jian Lan's eyes flickered. After a moment of silence, she bowed and said, "Consort Li, if you want revenge, what's so hard about that?"

"You just need to give her a taste of her own medicine!"

Concubine Li knew that Jian Lan was clever and full of ideas. She glanced at her and said, "Go on."

"The Empress humiliated the Crown Prince, so you, my lady, can humiliate her children in return. This not only vents your anger, Consort Li, but also avenges the Crown Prince and gives the Empress a taste of her own medicine—three birds with one stone."

When Jian Lan finished, the first person Concubine Li thought of was Luo Junhe.

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