Read Novel Full CHAPTER 38 PART1
CHAPTER 38 PART1
When the final, resounding “By imperial decree” echoed through the hall, Xiao Yanfei raised both hands and accepted the imperial edict wrapped in brocade adorned with a colorful cloud-and-dragon motif, handed to her by Liang Zheng. Even the jade scroll rod at its core had a notable weight to it.
Unflustered and composed, Xiao Yanfei responded crisply, “This humble daughter accepts the decree. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Long live the Emperor, may you live for ten thousand years.”
She had been mentally prepared for this moment—what she hadn’t expected was how swiftly Gu Feichi had acted.
After offering her thanks, Xiao Yanfei stood with the decree still cradled in her hands. Smiling, she turned to Liang Zheng and said, “Many thanks, Eunuch Liang.”
Following custom, she personally handed him a red envelope.
Behind her, the rest of the Xiao family were still kneeling on the ground, frozen in shock, unable to react right away.
“No need to be so courteous, Second Miss Xiao,” Liang Zheng replied with a wide smile, accepting the red envelope. He discreetly gave it a quick pinch between his fingers, confirming the grainy texture inside to be medicine. Relieved, he silently praised: This Second Miss Xiao really knows how things work.
His smile deepened. With both hands, he gave Xiao Yanfei a respectful gesture and said, “Allow me to offer my congratulations, Second Miss.”
There was a subtle familiarity in his expression as he exchanged a glance with Xiao Yanfei—one that only the two of them could understand.
Xiao Yanfei responded with a faint smile.
Liang Zheng then flicked his silver horsetail whisk and gestured toward a woman in her fifties standing to the side. He beamed as he introduced her, “Second Miss Xiao, this is Zhu momo.”
Zhu momo was thin and wiry, with a broad, flat face and unremarkable features. She wore a rust-colored robe with dark patterns and had her gray hair neatly tied into a round bun. There was a faint air of arrogance in her brows.
“Second Miss Xiao,” she stepped forward and offered a half-curtsey, her manner deliberately casual. “I am here under imperial orders to instruct you in court etiquette.”
She deliberately emphasized the words “imperial orders,” clearly intending to assert dominance from the outset.
Liang Zheng lowered his voice, speaking so that only Xiao Yanfei could hear, “This Zhu momo was sent by Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Keep her around for a few days, just for show. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to get rid of her so she won’t trouble you.”
Xiao Yanfei studied Zhu momo for a moment. She did recall seeing her at the side of Empress Liu back at Qinghui Garden. With poise, she replied, “I appreciate your help, Eunuch Liang.”
Liang Zheng chuckled, “I must return to the palace and report back. I’ll take my leave now.”
At last, Marquis Wu’an, Xiao Yan, also rose to his feet. Finding his voice again, he ordered the head steward, “Peng Da, see Eunuch Liang out on my behalf.”
“This way, please, Eunuch,” Peng Da said with a smile, leading the way while also slipping red envelopes to Liang Zheng and his attendants.
Liang Zheng accepted them without hesitation and left with an easy grace.
As the rest of the Xiao family gradually got back to their feet, they remained utterly stunned. One by one, their eyes turned toward Xiao Yanfei and the imperial decree she held, filled with disbelief and murmurs of speculation.
Xiao Yan, cast her a cold sidelong glance before calling a few of his brothers to join him in the outer study.
Meanwhile, the Old Madam’s elegant face remained unreadable, showing not even a trace of joy.
But when her gaze brushed past Zhu momo standing nearby, the Old Madam held her tongue. Smiling, she instructed her head maid to escort Zhu momo to settle in. She then dismissed the other women from the household, leaving only Madam Yin behind.
As the others left, the faint rustling and murmurs faded away, and the room fell into an eerie silence.
The Old Madam’s expression changed instantly. Her face darkened as she stared at the imperial decree in Xiao Yanfei’s hands.
The gold threads woven through the brocade shimmered dazzlingly in the sunlight—almost blinding.
“Xiao Yanfei, what exactly is going on here?” the Old Madam demanded coldly. “Speak! What shameful things did you do that day in Qinghui Garden?!”
It was clear to anyone that she was far from pleased with this imperial betrothal.
Xiao Yanfei wasn’t blind or deaf—of course she could hear the disapproval. Tilting her head with a saccharine smile that didn’t reach her eyes, she replied, “Shameful things?”
“Is Grandmother referring to the polo match I played at the temporary palace with Eldest Sister, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Princess Ning Shu? Or perhaps she means sharing a banquet table with the Emperor and Empress—was that shameful?”
The Old Madam choked, momentarily lost for words.
Her face turned even darker. In a sharp tone, she barked, “Don’t try to deflect! Why would His Majesty bestow a marriage between you and Young Lord Gu out of nowhere?!”
“Grandmother,” Xiao Yanfei said sweetly, “didn’t you already promise Madam Wei that I would be sent to the Gu household to ward off misfortune?”
The corner of the Old Madam’s eye twitched. Her well-manicured fingers clenched tighter around her sandalwood prayer beads.
Yes, she had intended to send Xiao Yanfei to the Gu family—to serve as a concubine to Gu Feichi and help ward off his illness.
A mere illegitimate girl was a small price to pay for currying favor with the powerful Duke Wei’s household. Why not?
Even if the Duke’s family fell from grace one day, the Xiao family could simply sever ties with a discarded concubine. After all, she’d have no real status, and the two houses wouldn’t be formally connected. Even if the emperor turned against the Duke’s household, the Xiao family wouldn’t be implicated because of a lowly concubine’s maiden clan.
But a legitimate wife—a titled consort was a different matter entirely.
If Xiao Yanfei became the future Marchioness of Duke Wei’s heir, it would tie the Marquis Wu’an’s household directly to the Duke’s. The connection would be inescapable.
The Old Madam would rather see Xiao Yanfei sent off as a concubine than have her take the position of an honored, titled wife in the Gu household.
The more she thought about it, the more displeased she became. A dark, oppressive aura surrounded her as she spat coldly, “Ominous!”
This girl was nothing but bad luck!
Ominous? Xiao Yanfei sneered inwardly. The last time the Old Madam called her “ominous,” word had spread throughout the entire household.
The servants in the marquisate were experts at currying favor with the powerful and stepping on the weak. Everyone had trampled over her, just to prove their allegiance.
And now it was happening again?
“Ai.” Xiao Yanfei let out a soft sigh and calmly met the Old Madam’s gaze.
Grandmother, how muddled you must be—to call an imperial edict inauspicious!”
She pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed delicately at the corner of her eye, her expression pitiful and frail. “Such words, Grandmother… are you trying to drive our entire household to hang themselves?”
“…” The Old Madam’s heart gave a sudden jolt. Her eyes sharpened at once, cold as a bitter winter wind.
The servants in the room instantly sensed the tension. Several shrank back nervously.
The Old Madam’s fingers tightened around her prayer beads, knuckles pale. She snapped, “You are the inauspicious one!”
“I should never have allowed your elder sister to bring you to Qinghui Garden that day. You bring nothing but misfortune to this marquisate!”
She had once thought this girl obedient, but ever since she met those noble people outside, she had become arrogant and insolent—forgetting she was just a lowborn concubine’s daughter, never meant for the spotlight.
Madam Yin frowned and gently urged, “Mother, please mind your words…”
To accuse a young lady of being ‘inauspicious’ or ‘unruly’ could ruin her reputation entirely.
Xiao Yanfei lowered the handkerchief. Her eyes were dry and pristine, not a single trace of tears.
She nodded slightly and sighed. “Grandmother must be right.”
“But just now, Eunuch Liang reminded me—I’ll soon need to enter the palace to express my thanks. Ah… I suppose I’ll have to inform His Majesty that Grandmother finds me too inauspicious to be worthy of this marriage. I wonder what His Majesty was thinking, granting such a match in the first place…”
Her voice was soft, unhurried, as gentle as falling snow.
The maids behind the Old Madam could hardly believe their ears. The usually quiet, delicate Second Miss… was threatening the Old Madam?
“…” The Old Madam’s face darkened to ink. Rage surged straight to her head.
She was the matriarch of the marquisate, the honored dowager. Even her eldest son, Marquis Wu’an, had never dared speak harshly to her. Yet this concubine-born girl dared to defy her?
“Xiao Yanfei—kneel!” the Old Madam shouted, trembling from head to toe as she pointed a quivering finger at her.
“Don’t be angry, Grandmother.” Xiao Yanfei smiled even more sweetly, her eyes curved in a perfect arc, her tone soothing. “His Majesty is merciful. If he were to hear that Grandmother was so displeased by the imperial marriage decree that it made her ill… I doubt he would take it lightly.”
“Ai—” she sighed again, smiling faintly, a touch of mockery hidden in her otherwise pleasant tone.
“You—!” The Old Madam could hardly speak. The hand she pointed with trembled even more violently.
Xiao Yanfei gazed steadily at her and asked, with a look of utter sincerity, “Grandmother, I’ve heard the imperial guards are charged with investigating officials and upholding the law. Is that true?”
The Old Madam: “…”
Her heart gave a violent jolt. A flicker of unease and panic crept into her already clouded eyes, her complexion alternating between pale and ashen.
Everyone knew the imperial guards had spies in every corner of the capital, embedded deep in the households of officials both high and low. Even within her own Marquisate—even in this very room—there was no guarantee their words were safe.
At this moment, any sign of displeasure on her part could be interpreted as dissatisfaction with the imperial marriage decree.
Back when the late Marquis was defeated in battle, it had taken no small effort to retain their noble title. If the Emperor were to revisit old grudges now… who would dare speak on their behalf?
The Old Madam felt as though a sharp blade were pressed against her back. She hastily suppressed her fury, but her gaze remained locked onto Xiao Yanfei’s face, burning with barely restrained anger.
Xiao Yanfei met that furious glare with perfect composure. Her lips curved in a faint, smiling arc—graceful and unbothered.
She held the imperial edict forward slightly, as if offering it for inspection, and asked sweetly, “Is Grandmother pleased?”
The Old Madam nearly crushed the prayer beads in her hand. She gritted her teeth and forced the words out: “Pleased… very pleased.”
But her eyes darkened further, and her posture stiffened as the breeze swept through the courtyard.
Just days ago, after returning from Qinghui Garden, she had privately questioned her eldest granddaughter Xiao Luanfei about what had occurred at the summer palace. Luanfei had casually mentioned that the Emperor had intended to grant Gu Feichi a marriage with the young lady of the Duke Cheng’en household—Miss Liu—but Gu Feichi had refused, right in front of the Emperor, enraging him greatly.
And now, in the blink of an eye, the Emperor had set his sights on their Marquisate?
“How wonderful, how wonderful indeed.” Xiao Yanfei patted her chest and let out a breath of mock relief. “I was so worried for a moment.”
The Old Madam: “…”
Clutching the imperial edict in her hands, Xiao Yanfei finally understood the thrill behind the phrase borrowing the tiger’s might. This scroll was practically a divine sword of authority.
She couldn’t help but glance toward Madam Yin, who stood quietly behind the Old Madam. Madam Yin offered her a warm, gentle smile—a striking contrast to the fury burning in the Old Madam’s eyes.
Xiao Yanfei’s eyes crinkled slightly, her mood entirely unaffected by the harsh words and chilling atmosphere just moments earlier.
“Mother,” Madam Yin stepped forward with a calm smile and stood beside the Old Madam. “Since you’re so delighted today, why not add to Yanfei’s wedding trousseau?”
She didn’t say dowry—she said add to the trousseau.
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