Lin Qinghe looked up at the anxious You Rong, remaining silent. She pondered whether to make a fuss, as this was an excellent opportunity to increase her progress bar.
Slightly lowering her eyes to the hand You Rong was gripping tighter, Lin Qinghe hesitated again.
As she was wavering, the eunuch who came to deliver the imperial edict, seeing that You Rong was not accepting it, nervously reminded him, "Your Highness Prince Rong, this imperial edict… you should accept it first."
You Rong's gaze sharpened. To everyone's astonishment, he snatched the imperial edict from the eunuch's hand, threw it out of the manor without even looking, and then said coldly, "Guards! Escort Eunuch Zhang out!"
Eunuch Zhang's face changed drastically, and he exclaimed in shock, "Your Highness Prince Rong, you… you are defying the imperial decree!"
You Rong didn't even look up and continued, "Uncle Fu, escort Eunuch Zhang out!"
Fu Sheng was anxious in his heart. Defying an imperial decree was a grave crime! But he understood his prince's mind was made up, and no one could change his decision. He had no choice but to cup his hands and reply, "Yes, Your Highness, this servant will escort Eunuch Zhang out now."
Eunuch Zhang was escorted out by Fu Sheng with a look of extreme shock. It was likely that in his more than ten years as a eunuch in the palace, he had never seen anyone dare to defy an imperial decree and throw both the decree and the person delivering it out of the manor.
Not only Eunuch Zhang was shocked, but the servants in Prince Rong's manor were also stunned. They were all dumbfounded. Even Lin Qinghe looked surprised, never expecting You Rong to so decisively throw the imperial edict out of the manor.
Seeing Lin Qinghe staring at him blankly, You Rong became even more anxious. However, with the servants present, it wasn't a good place to explain. He immediately pulled her back to their chamber and explained anxiously, "Qinghe, believe me, I knew nothing about this imperial edict today. I also promise you, besides you, I want no one else. My princess consort can only be you! Only you!"
Seeing the decisive and formidable man pale with anxiety in front of her, Lin Qinghe dismissed her earlier thoughts. She found she couldn't bear to see You Rong upset.
Lin Qinghe smiled, touched You Rong's sharply defined cheek, and said, "Your Highness, don't worry, I naturally trust you and I'm not angry with you. You don't need to be so anxious."
Hearing this, You Rong suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. His tense nerves relaxed, and he embraced her tightly, burying his face in Lin Qinghe's neck and murmuring, "You have been wronged today. I swear to you, such a thing will never happen again."
Lin Qinghe hugged You Rong and smiled, saying, "Mm, I believe you, Your Highness."
As they held each other affectionately, Lin Qinghe heard the system's prompt, "Progress bar increased by 2%, total progress is 68%."
Lin Qinghe sighed inwardly.
This imperial edict for a marriage had been a perfect opportunity to significantly increase her progress bar, but seeing You Rong's anxious state, she had inexplicably given up this chance.
Lin Qinghe shook the messy thoughts from her mind.
Never mind, the progress bar would be full sooner or later. She wasn't in a hurry.
After confirming multiple times that Lin Qinghe was not angry about the imperial decree of marriage, You Rong immediately went to the palace to see the emperor.
Qianqing Palace.
Eunuch Zhang, who had delivered the imperial edict to Prince Rong's manor, knelt before the emperor with trepidation. The emperor's face was ashen, "You say Prince Rong threw my imperial edict out of his manor and defied my decree?"
Eunuch Zhang trembled, "Your Majesty, it… it is true. After I read the imperial edict, when I asked His Highness Prince Rong to accept it, he… he threw the imperial edict out of the manor and also 'escorted' me out of Prince Rong's manor. I waited outside for a long time, but Prince Rong did not open the door to let me in again…"
The emperor felt his authority had been openly challenged. He was furious, sweeping all the teacups and memorials on the table to the floor, and roared, "Preposterous! Is he acting spoiled? Relying on his merits in protecting me, relying on my current favor, he dares to defy my decree!"
The palace servants in Qianqing Hall trembled and all knelt down, shouting fearfully, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger, Your Majesty, please calm your anger…"
Just then, the head eunuch entered from outside and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Prince Rong has arrived and is seeking an audience outside the hall. He is likely here about this matter, and there must be some misunderstanding involved."
"What misunderstanding could there be? Did You Rong not throw my imperial edict out of his manor!"
"This…" The head eunuch thought for a moment and then dared to say, "Your Majesty, you bestowed a marriage upon His Highness Prince Rong. By rights, His Highness Prince Rong should have no reason to refuse. However, if Your Majesty thinks about it carefully, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's manor refused to marry His Highness Prince Rong when he had not yet recovered. Now that His Highness Prince Rong has recovered, His Highness Prince Rong may naturally have some displeasure towards her. If it were a woman of comparable background, perhaps His Highness Prince Rong would not have acted this way."
The emperor, who had been enraged moments before, felt that these words were not entirely unreasonable. His anger subsided somewhat, and he pursed his lips, "In that case, it is indeed that I was not considerate enough. Alas… have Eunuch Zhang come in."
Seeing that the emperor had calmed down, the head eunuch smiled and said, "Yes, this servant will go out and invite His Highness Prince Rong in immediately."
A moment after the head eunuch left, he returned with You Rong.
The emperor waved his hand, dismissing all the palace servants. He sighed, "You Rong, I know why you have come to the palace. This matter… your father has been inconsiderate."
You Rong cupped his hands, "Since that is the case… then please Your Majesty revoke the command."
"Rest assured, I will nullify the imperial edict of marriage between you and Lin Yuyan. Then I will find a woman of good standing and virtue to be your princess consort."
You Rong frowned and reminded him, "Father! Your son already has a princess consort!"
The emperor said with undisguised disdain, "A woman of Lin Qinghe's background is not worthy of being your princess consort. I will find a suitable woman for you to be your princess consort. As for her… if you like her, I will allow you to keep her in the manor and grant her the title of a secondary consort. It would be a great favor to her."
You Rong's expression turned grim, "Father! My son will only have one princess consort in this life, and that is Lin Qinghe! Apart from her, let alone a princess consort, I will not want any secondary consorts or concubines! Please, Father, revoke your command!"
The emperor was stunned for a moment, then became enraged, "Absurd! Do you know what you are saying?"
Facing the furious emperor, You Rong did not flinch in the slightest. He straightened his back and said resolutely, word for word, "Father, your son knows very well what he is saying. My consort and I are deeply in love, and I only wish to spend this life with her. I do not wish to establish another princess consort or take any more concubines. Please, Father, revoke your command!"
The emperor's face turned as dark as ink with anger, "You Rong! What are you saying? You are to succeed to the throne in the future. If you do not establish another princess consort, are you going to let a woman of Lin Qinghe's background become empress? Will the harem be kept empty for her?!"