Chapter 11: The Arranged Marriage

Receiving the imperial edict?

Chu Jiuli’s heart jolted sharply. After a brief moment of stunned silence, she hurriedly knelt, yet a storm of doubts churned within her.

Everyone around reacted like startled birds, quickly prostrating themselves on the ground, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

Once all had knelt properly, the clear voice reading the imperial decree rang out: “By the mandate of Heaven and the Emperor’s order! The legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Chu Jiuli, gentle and virtuous, outstanding in talent, is hereby granted in marriage to Lin Xiaoyu, the heir of the Earl of Changping. The wedding is to be held on the fifteenth day of the next month. It is hoped that the two shall live in harmony and dedicate themselves to mutual happiness, thus binding the two families in friendship. So it is decreed!”

This edict struck like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Chu Jiuli’s face instantly turned as pale as paper.

She could never have imagined being forced into a marriage, and the groom was none other than Lin Wan’er’s elder brother.

Just yesterday, the Earl’s household had rejected her brother’s marriage proposal, and today they sought to claim her instead?

This was an outright disgrace to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage’s family!

Such blatant humiliation was unbearable!

What can be endured, and what cannot be endured!

A blazing fury ignited in Chu Jiuli’s heart. She bit her lip tightly, her hands silently clenched into fists within her sleeves, struggling to suppress the overwhelming anger, though her body trembled slightly.

Hearing the imperial marriage decree, Baoling’s eyes widened in shock. She looked at her young lady with concern, seeing in Chu Jiuli’s gaze not only anger and unwillingness but also a hint of resolute determination.

As for Lin Wan’er, the uncontrollable joy in her eyes was unmistakable.

Once Chu Jiuli stepped into their Earl’s household, she could subject her to endless humiliation, avenging today’s shame.

She wiped the blood and grime from her face and glared viciously at Chu Jiuli, already picturing how she would be wronged in the Marquis’s mansion.

The Ninth Young Master observed everyone’s expressions carefully but maintained an inscrutable smile. He slightly leaned forward and handed the edict to Chu Jiuli. “Miss Chu, receive the edict.”

Chu Jiuli slowly lifted her head, her gaze sharp as a blade piercing the imperial decree before her.

She longed to tear the wretched document to shreds, but she knew well the consequences of such defiance.

The Marquis’s family was now weakened, and her late father’s political enemies were eyeing them hungrily. Openly resisting the edict would drag the entire family into an abyss of ruin.

As she hesitated, the Ninth Young Master raised his sharp voice again, “Miss Chu, do not make things difficult for us. This is the Emperor’s command.”

Baoling, seeing her mistress unmoving, grew anxious and gently tugged at Chu Jiuli’s sleeve, whispering, “Miss…”

Chu Jiuli closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, as if making a resolve within her heart.

Moments later, she opened her eyes and slowly stretched out her hands to accept the edict, her tone icy cold: “Chu Jiuli… receives the edict.”

The Ninth Young Master nodded with satisfaction, curling his fingers elegantly, praising softly, “Miss Chu truly understands righteousness.”

Then he turned to Lin Wan’er with a faint look. “Miss Lin, let today’s matter rest here, for the sake of my modest face. What do you say?”

Though his tone sounded conciliatory, Lin Wan’er knew full well the Ninth Young Master’s will was not to be defied. Despite her reluctance, she could only nod reluctantly.

Holding the edict, Chu Jiuli rose and cast a cold glance at Lin Wan’er, as if piercing through her very being, causing Lin Wan’er to shiver involuntarily.

“Since Miss Chu has accepted the edict, we shall take our leave,” the Ninth Young Master said with a slight bow, turning with his guards to depart.

After walking a few steps, he suddenly glanced back at Chu Jiuli, his gaze lingering briefly on the eight-cornered glazed earring she wore. A fleeting, subtle doubt flashed in his eyes, but he uttered nothing, climbing into his carriage, which vanished in a cloud of dust.

Only after he had gone did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Supported by her maid, Lin Wan’er rose, still unwilling to submit, glaring fiercely at Chu Jiuli. “Once you step into my Earl’s household, you won’t have an easy time!”

With that, she turned to leave.

Chu Jiuli called softly, “Wait.”

Lin Wan’er turned back warily, snapping, “What more do you want?”

A faint smile curved at the corner of Chu Jiuli’s lips as she calmly repositioned the veil that had been torn off, her fingertips brushing lightly against the earring.

After adjusting the veil, she spoke softly, “You liked my maid’s jade hairpin, didn’t you? Since we will be family from now on, I shall gift it to you.”

Though Baoling was reluctant, she could only remove the hairpin.

Chu Jiuli accepted it and walked gracefully toward Lin Wan’er, respectfully offering the hairpin with both hands.

Lin Wan’er looked at the hairpin and, though puzzled by Chu Jiuli’s sudden change of attitude, still reached out to take it, yet her words remained sharp: “Hmph, at least you know when to be sensible.”

Chu Jiuli watched Lin Wan’er’s triumphant expression, secretly sneering in her heart.

After Lin Wan’er left, Chu Jiuli and Baoling hurried back to their residence.

On the way back, Baoling sat inside the carriage, full of questions, and whispered, “Miss, that jade hairpin is quite valuable. Why would you give it to that wicked Lin Wan’er?”

Chu Jiuli lifted her gaze slightly, her expression calm but meaningful. “Lin Wan’er has repeatedly troubled my family. How could I let her off so easily? That hairpin is fine, but once she wears it, in less than three days, she will become the laughingstock of the entire capital.”

Baoling’s eyes lit up instantly, understanding at once, clapping her hands. “Miss, what a clever plan! This time she will surely come to grief.”

But then, her brow furrowed, and she tugged at Chu Jiuli’s sleeve anxiously. “Miss, what about this imperial marriage edict? That Lin Xiaoyu is probably no good either. If you marry him, I’m afraid you’ll suffer terribly.”

“There will always be a way when the carriage reaches the mountain,” Chu Jiuli said, her gaze cold, staring out the window as her thoughts already turned to strategies for what lay ahead.