However, he had to grant marriage for them because he had no excuse to refuse.

So, Chushi Youtian said to Grand Mentor Liu, "You can go home to prepare for this."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll take my leave." Grand Mentor Liu saluted Chushi Youtian and left.

After he left, Chushi Youtian spoke to Empress Dowager, "Are you satisfied, mother?"

"Yes, I'm very satisfied." Empress Dowager smiled.

"Then that's just fine. Eunuch Li, prepare the Imperial Edict for me." He ordered Eunuch Li.

After Chushi Youtian wrote the Imperial Edict, Empress Dowager continued, "I have another good news to tell you, Your Majesty."

"Really? What good news?" Chushi Youtian frowned slightly.

Empress Dowager smiled, "Shuo Ling is no longer a child. It's time to grant marriage to him as well."

"Days ago, I have picked several girls from the official families and sent their portraits to him. However, he just took a glance and put the portraits aside." Chushi Youtian shook his head.

Empress Dowager couldn't help laughing, "Don't blame him, Your Majesty. He has already had a crush on a girl. As the old saying goes, beauty is the eyes of the beholder. Of course, he doesn't like the girls you picked for him."

"Well, could you tell me who does he like?" Chushi Youtian asked.

"It's Infanta Qingcheng, Yang Zijin, who has been found lately!" Empress Dowager looked at Chushi Youtian.

Chushi Youtian frowned, "You mean, Shuo Ling has affection for Qingcheng? Then does Qingcheng has a crush on Shuo Ling, too?"

"Shuo Ling has given the Sounding with Steps, which was awarded by previous Empress Dowager to the ladies of the mansion of Marquis Shuo, to Qingcheng. Isn't his intention obvious?" Empress Dowager replied.

"They both have a miserable childhood. When they were very young, the girl was lost and the boy lost his parents. Fortunately, they are in love with each other now. If you grant them a marriage, it will make up for the years of my sorrows."

Empress Dowager wiped the tear in her eyes with a handkerchief and sighed. Chushi Youtian said, "Mother, Qingcheng has just returned the mansion of the Duke Mu, and Duke of Mu..."

Before he stopped, Empress Dowager interposed, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I'll persuade Duke of Mu. In my opinion, he won't discourage Qingcheng if she consents to this marriage."

"Let's put it behind the Third Prince's marriage." Chushi Youtian's eyes turned deep.

Empress Dowager stood up and went over to Chushi Youtian, "Your Highness, I just want the two weddings to be held together. After all, good things come in pairs."

"Wouldn't that be too hasty?" Seeing the Empress Dowager came up to him to speak, Chushi Youtian got up and walked aside to avoid her.

Empress Dowager insisted, "It won't. Just issue an Imperial Edict, Your Majesty. I will do the rest."

The conversation had come to this point and Chushi Youtian had to approve Empress Dowager's arrangement. If he went on refusing, Empress Dowager would doubt his intention.

He turned around to make Eunuch Li prepare the Imperial Edict for him.

Chushi Youtian had a bad feeling about today's conversation. He couldn't figure out what exactly this bad feeling was, or he subconsciously knew what it was but didn't want to admit it.

He was afraid, and he knew better than anyone what he was afraid of.

Shuo Ling was now a successful young man who had inherited the witness of the old General Shuo. He raised Shuo Ling since Shuo Ling was a kid. Others considered him a kind Emperor, but he knew that it was for show. He wanted to take advantage of Shuo Ling and prevent him from knowing the cause of the death of the old General Shuo.

The plate in Princess Nanyang's hand was still missing. Now Nanyang's daughter had just returned, but he hadn't had the chance to investigate if she had the plate and how much she knew about it.

He had already known the murderer of Price Nanyang's case, but he didn't stop that person.

If Shuo Ling and Yang Zijin married smoothly, they found out what happened that year and went against him, he had to pay much effort to cope with them.

Thinking of this, Chushi Youtian's eyes were filled with cold light. He mustn't let this imagination come true.

He already had a plan.

After he wrote the Imperial Edict, Empress Dowager picked it up and smiled, "Fine, that's good. Today I have come out for a long time and I feel tired. Now I'm going back, and the rest depends on you, Your Majesty."

She left the Imperial Study with Eunuch Liu's help.

After Empress Dowager left Chushi Youtian sat at the desk, eyes closed.

After a while, he opened his eyes and ordered Eunuch Li, "Go and pass the Imperial Edict on."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch Li left the Imperial Study with the Imperial Edict.

Eunuch Li was confused. To grant two marriages was a joyful matter, but the Emperor looked unhappy. However, Eunuch Li didn't dig into it. As a qualified servant, he should prick up his ears when his master needed him, and act as the deaf when there was a secret to keep.

In the mansion of Marquis Shuo.

Shuo Ling was practicing swords skill in his yard when he saw the guard in the doorway came up.

It was his taboo to be disturbed when he was focusing on something.

He threw the sword directly towards the guard. It flew by the guard's ear and plugged in the old tree, leading to a shake of the trunk and falling leaves.

"What's the matter?" Shuo Ling asked coldly.

The guard was shaking with fear, "Your... Your Lordship, there's an Imperial Edict from the palace."

"Scram! Not again." Shuo Ling warned this guard again. He was a little puzzled, "Why does Chushi Youtian give me an Imperial Edict now?"

The guard hadn't come to his senses, and answered in a shaky voice, "Yes, Your Lordship."

He hurriedly went out of Shuo Ling's face for fear of being killed the next moment.

This guard was an informer, awarded by Chushi Youtian to watch him.

After that guard went away, Shuo Ling pulled out the sword from the trunk which led to another shake.

The sword had penetrated into the trunk for over three inches.

Shuo Ling tidied up and walked out of the backyard.

Eunuch Li was sitting in the lobby. He raised from the chair and spoke up in a shrill tone, "Marquis Shuo, listen to the Imperial Edict."

"I'm listening." Shuo Ling went down on one knee.

Eunuch Li unfolded the Imperial Edict and read, "This is the command of His Majesty, The Emperor that rules by the Mandate of Heaven: Marquis Shuo has solved many difficulties for me and eased my burdens. Now that he has been a man of marriageable age, I chose a good girl to marry him. Three days later, Marquis Shuo will marry Infanta Qingcheng. This is His Majesty's will."

Shuo Ling frowned at this Imperial Edict, "What does he want to do? Why does he grant this marriage now?" Shuo Ling thought there must be something hidden in Chushi Youtian's action.

"Marquis Shuo, please take the Imperial Edict." Eunuch Li reminded him as he saw Shuo Ling was distracted.

Then Shuo Ling took over the Imperial Edict, "I'll obey His Majesty's command."

"Congratulations, Your Lordship!" Eunuch Li smiled.

Neglected his congratulation, Shuo Ling turned around and left.

The smile on Eunuch Li froze, but he had known that Shuo Ling was a cold person, so he didn't feel much insulted.

He asked the servants behind, "Go back."

Shuo Ling went into his study and looked the Imperial Edict over. Although he was anxiously longing for marrying Yang Zijin, this Imperial Edict came so suddenly that he felt displeased.

He spoke towards the dark corner, "Contact with our people in the palace and ask them to keep an eye on Chushi Youtian these days. If he takes any action, report at any time!"

"Yes, My Lord." A voice came from within the darkness. It was Zhou Ji who was originally sent secretly to protect Yang Zijin.

In the Mansion of the Duke Mu.

"Congratulations, Duke of Mu!" Eunuch Li smiled at Duke of Mu.

Duke of Mu frowned slightly at his words and asked, "Eunuch Li, why to congratulate me?"

Eunuch Li replied to him in a shrill voice, "You will see after you received the Imperial Edict. Duke of Mu, listen to the Imperial Edict."

"This is the command of His Majesty, The Emperor that rules by the Mandate of Heaven: Infanta Qingcheng and Marquis Shuo are congenial with each other. Three days later, Infanta Qingcheng will marry Marquis Shuo. This is His Majesty's will."

"Marry Marquis Shuo? three days later?" Duke of Mu repeated.

"That's right. Duke of Mu, please take the Imperial Edict." Eunuch Li smiled.

Duke of Mu took the Imperial Edict over with suspicion, but the Imperial Edict didn't lie to him.

Although he was reluctant to accept this Imperial Edict, he couldn't defy the Emperor's order, "I'll obey His Majesty's command."

"Then I'll take my leave, Duke of Mu." Eunuch Li said after Duke of Mu accepted the Imperial Edict.

"Butler, go and show Eunuch Li out." Duke of Mu asked his butler aside.

After Eunuch Li left, Duke of Mu walked to Yang Zijin's place.

Lan saluted Duke of Mu as she saw him coming, "My Lord."

"Is the Infanta inside?" Duke of Mu nodded and asked.

"Her Highness is having a rest inside, My Lord."

Hearing the sound outside, Yang Zijin hurriedly put things away.

Duke of Mu opened the door.

"What brings you here, father?" Yang Zijin looked at Duke of Mu.

Apart from greeting each other at dinner, they hadn't seen each other since their last quarrel.

Duke of Mu walked to Yang Zijin and handed the Imperial Edict to her.

“What's this?" Yang Zijin asked.

Duke of Mu sighed, "Have a look!"

Yang Zijin unfolded the Imperial Edict and frowned at its content. Three days later? How could it be in such a haste?

Duke of Mu saw Yang Zijin's complexion and asked, "Won't you marry him? If you don't like this marriage, I'll let His Majesty withdraw this edict at full split!"

"Em... Father, it's an unchanged tradition that one's marriage is arranged by his or her parents. I just thought it comes all of a sudden and I haven't fully prepared." Yang Zijin gave a slight cough at Duke of Mu's words.

Duke of Mu sighed, "As long as you are willing to marry him, I'm relieved."

Then he went out of Yang Zijin's room. Looking at his lonely figure, Yang Zijin felt a twinge of sorrow.

She could understand how Duke of Mu felt. His long-lost daughter didn't stay long in this mansion before marrying to another place!

Yang Zijin was right. Duke of Mu did feel guilty for her. He walked into his room alone and closed the door.

"Suhan, our daughter has grown up and is going to marry someone, but I haven't given her anything. Her wedding is in a few days and she is going to be someone's wife. I should be happy for her, but I don't know why I can't rest easy."

Yang Zijin was puzzled, too. Why did the Emperor grant this marriage? Although she had a consummated loving relationship with Shuo Ling, she thought it was too soon to get married...

She felt somehow uncertain but didn't know the reason.

It was getting dark outside. Yang Zijin asked Lan to bring dinner into the room. After dinner, she cleaned herself and went to sleep.