Chapter 380: Heir’s Marriage Decree

Chapter 380: The Heir's Marriage Decree

The marriage decree was delivered to the Duke of Rong's mansion. Upon hearing the contents of the decree, Xie Liuzheng's face was filled with disbelief.

Equally incredulous was Duke Rong, Xie Jinrong.

He snatched the decree out of Xie Liuzheng's hands and read it over and over again, still unable to believe it even after reading it through.

"Madam, just a few days ago we were saying that Zheng'er would never take a wife, and now the Emperor has betrothed Princess Jiu to him? Could our wish have come true?"

Madam Cai beamed from ear to ear. Having seen Luo Qingge in the palace before, she was thrilled with the daughter-in-law the decree had chosen for her.

"Yes, the decree has been issued, and this daughter-in-law is now set in stone. You no longer have to worry about Zheng'er refusing to get married. Our Duke of Rong's mansion finally has an heir!"

Despite Madam Cai's reassurances, Xie Jinrong remained deeply anxious.

"Given our son's condition, is it right for Princess Jiu to marry him? Isn't this ruining the girl's life by making her come to our mansion to live like a widow?"

It was precisely for this reason that Xie Jinrong had never dared to ask Emperor Jingyang to issue a marriage decree for Xie Liuzheng.

Even when ministers' daughters wanted to marry into their family, he always made up excuses to decline!

If Xie Liuzheng didn't marry, only their own family would be worried.

But if he did marry, then both families would have cause for worry!

If things went wrong, it might even reach the Emperor's ears, with people saying there was something wrong with him.

By then, the Duke of Rong's mansion would only be more humiliated.

Madam Cai understood Xie Jinrong's worries. She smiled and said, "Zheng'er's wife has to be Princess Jiu, and no one else."

Xie Jinrong frowned and looked at her, puzzled. "Madam, what do you mean by that?"

Madam Cai took Xie Jinrong's hand and led him into their room. "My dear, let me tell you something, but you must not get too excited."

"Zheng'er can touch Princess Jiu. Just like any normal person, he has no adverse reactions at all."

Xie Jinrong looked at Madam Cai in astonishment. "Madam, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Madam Cai sat down and said gently, "I only found out about this quite by accident during my last visit to the palace."

"The reason I didn't tell you was because I was afraid of ruining Princess Jiu's reputation. After all, I had no way of knowing whether the two of them could ever be together."

"You and I both know you can't force love. If Princess Jiu didn't like Zheng'er, then even if I told you, it would have been meaningless and only caused unnecessary worry."

She paused here, then smiled again. "However, lately, I've noticed that Zheng'er seems quite fond of Princess Jiu, and Princess Jiu also has feelings for Zheng'er."

"Perhaps the two of them really could make it work."

After saying this, Madam Cai immediately stood up and clapped her hands together. "No, the wedding is less than half a month away. I need to hurry to prepare the betrothal gifts!"

"Our Zheng'er's wedding can't be shabby. I want those who said Zheng'er could never find a wife to see just how noble a bride he's landed."

Unlike Xie Jinrong and his wife's excitement, Xie Liuzheng was completely dazed upon receiving the decree.

He sat in the back garden of the Duke of Rong's mansion, looking at the decree placed on the stone table, his emotions in turmoil.

Meng Fan asked him, "My lord, do you not want to marry Princess Jiu?"

Xie Liuzheng's eyes were as deep as a pool. He pressed his lips together and said self-deprecatingly, "I'm afraid she might not want to marry me."

"You know how bad my reputation is out there. Princess Jiu knows all of this. Although she doesn't hate me as much as before, it's not as if she likes me either!"

"I don't think she'd want to tie her life to a good-for-nothing like me."

Meng Fan took a more optimistic view. He poured a cup of tea and handed it to Xie Liuzheng.

"Come on, my lord, haven't you already turned over a new leaf and started a business with Princess Ye?"

Xie Liuzheng lowered his eyes, his slender, jade-like fingers gently rubbing a gold-threaded tassel hairpin. A worried expression crossed his face.

"But the barbecue restaurant hasn't opened yet. Whether the business will make money is still unknown. How can I possibly promise her a future?"

This was the first time Meng Fan had seen Xie Liuzheng so hesitant and uncertain. He felt that the man before him was no longer the Heir Xie he knew!

Indeed, no matter how much of a scoundrel or bastard a person was, once they tasted the sweetness of love, they became a completely different person.

Meng Fan encouraged him, "My lord, if you're really worried, why not have Princess Ye invite Princess Jiu out, and the two of you can sit down and have a good heart-to-heart talk."

"I think, since you care about Princess Jiu, you should be a bit bolder. Maybe Princess Jiu wants to marry you too?"

Xie Liuzheng sat there in a daze. "Is that so?"

Did Luo Qingge actually want to marry him?

He had always thought he would grow old alone, but when the decree arrived, he finally felt a sense of panic.

Luo Qingge didn't like men who were lazy and good-for-nothing. Like other women, she hoped her husband would be accomplished in both scholarship and swordsmanship, a true hero.

For the first time, Xie Liuzheng felt that his past self had been such a scoundrel, wasting so much time.

In the end, he realized that aside from his family's status, he had nothing.

At Prince Ye's mansion.

Luo Sinian also brought word of Emperor Jingyang's marriage decree for Xie Liuzheng and Luo Qingge to Prince Ye's mansion.

After looking into it, Ji Yuntang learned that Consort Li had been the one to instigate this.

She put down her chopsticks, picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and turned to look at Luo Junhe with a puzzled expression.

"Why would Consort Li suddenly ask your father to arrange a marriage between my brother and Qingge? What's her real motive?"

Luo Junhe peeled a shrimp and placed it in her bowl, saying calmly, "Knowing my mother as I do, she wouldn't have Father issue a marriage decree without reason, unless there's something in it for her."

Luo Sinian frowned, completely baffled. "What benefit could she gain from arranging a marriage between Ninth Sister and Heir Xie?"

"Could it be that she already knows about Heir Xie's condition that prevents him from touching women, and she wants Ninth Sister to marry him and never bear children?"

Ji Yuntang turned to look at Luo Sinian and quirked an eyebrow.

"Consort Li does indeed know about my brother's secret. That's not out of the realm of possibility."

"But if that's the reason, she's going to be disappointed. My brother can't touch other women, but he can touch Qingge. Isn't that a stroke of luck that actually brought them together?"

Luo Sinian gave a lazy smile and said noncommittally, "If Consort Li finds out about that, she'll probably be furious!"

Luo Junhe lowered his gaze, his deep, alluring eyes hiding a hint of suspicion.

"I suspect this matter isn't that simple."

"That aside, how could she willingly let Ninth Sister marry better than Luo Qianxue?"

This was indeed suspicious, but Ji Yuntang took it in stride. She stood up and said, "Whatever her intentions are, the truth will come to light eventually. All we need to do is wait and see."

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