Chapter 723: The Finale (Part 2)

“Your Lordship, greetings from our house.”

“Mr. Yao, can His Majesty take back the decree of ennoblement?” Lin Miao bowed, assuming a very humble posture.

“His Majesty’s words are like gold, not to be taken lightly. Your Lordship, you must be joking with us?” Yao Qian chuckled dryly.

It’s indeed rare to see someone unwilling to accept a royal title.

Lin Miao felt helpless. Unless he immediately turned against the royal family, he was destined to become this carefree Marquis.

“The second decree is for His Majesty to bestow Princess An Yang upon you as a consort, while your wife will be conferred with a first-rank honorary title, but that will have to wait until after you marry Mrs. Sun,” said Yao Qian.

He is ennobled, and with a title. A marquis with a title is above first-rank. Since his status as a prince consort is also above rank, his principal wife must naturally hold an honorary title, and a first-rank title seems low for her.

Yet, this is an ennoblement as a marquis’s wife. The Emperor’s calculations are truly deep. The senior sister, with the first-rank honorary title, is his principal wife, whereas Princess An Yang, although above rank, is merely a consort.

Within the household, the senior sister is the head mistress, and though Princess An Yang has equal standing, she is still technically beneath her. But outside, the senior sister’s rank is not as high as An Yang’s. According to the court’s regulations, a first-rank honorary title holder must bow to a princess of above rank.

Understanding these calculations, Lin Miao, in his two lifetimes, is surely not oblivious. Yet this is overt strategy; what can you do?

Unless he rejects the marriage and takes his family to leave Da Li.

If it were only him and his senior sister, he might hesitate less. The problem is, his ties are too many, too deep now.

Call him indulgent or lustful, but ever since he let go of his restraints and indulged in the pleasures, there was no turning back.

From the beginning, ever since his soul took over, wasn’t this his thought? Having crossed over, must he still live a life of misery as before?

Forget it, better return quickly.

He still had to visit Fu Qingzhu, as promised, he couldn’t skip it.

“Marquis Carefree, His Majesty has also bestowed upon you a marquis’s mansion, which is the former Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion. Half of it is your marquis’s mansion, while the other half is Princess An Yang’s manor. In essence, the entire Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion is given to you…”

“What, the Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion is given to me? Did I hear wrong?”

“You heard correctly. Marquis Lingyang committed treason and will never leave the dungeon alive in this lifetime, so naturally, the court has seized the Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion and bestowed it upon you and Princess An Yang. It’s only natural.”

After saving his life, in the Emperor’s eyes, this merit is greater than anything else. Enoblement is reasonable, but it was more than just that; a marriage was also granted, which is a bit much.

Is it necessary to invest so much in him?

This is intended to make him eternally grateful and devoted to the Da Li Dynasty, even unto death?

Forget it, the Emperor doesn’t have many years left. Once he dies, and the Crown Prince ascends, then there will be room to discuss, as for this marriage.

Delaying might open a window of opportunity once the Emperor passes.

“Mr. Lin, the Empress invites you.” He had scarcely stepped out of the palace gate when a eunuch’s duck-like voice called from behind.

Lin Miao intended to pretend not to hear and continue forward, but suddenly, the eunuch sidestepped, blocking his path.

“Mr. Lin, the Empress invites you!” The elderly eunuch gave a slight bow, neither humble nor overbearing.

My goodness, at the peak of the Meridian Passage Realm.

This eunuch actually possessed such cultivation, causing Lin Miao to marvel; the royal family’s might should not be underestimated.

If he can’t escape, he might as well take it step by step.

…

“Your humble servant greets the Empress.” Lin Miao was not accustomed to kneeling, although the Da Li Dynasty did not have strict requirements for officials to kneel.

This world differs somewhat from traditional feudal royal societies. For example, those with sufficient martial arts cultivation and reputation can meet officials without kneeling.

Ordinary commoners also meet officials without kneeling, except in courtrooms.

Many rituals are actually very relaxed.

Kneeling is only required on very significant occasions.

“Raise your head, let me take a look.”

Lin Miao slowly raised his head and saw a beautiful lady in imperial dress seated on the phoenix throne. Her splendid gown highlighted her noble status—she was the Empress of Da Li Dynasty.

“What a handsome young gentleman, a good match for our An Yang.” The Empress was quite pleased with Lin Miao’s age and looks, but dissatisfied with the Emperor’s decision to make An Yang a mere consort. The illustrious Princess An Yang, of noble birth, was already marrying beneath her status and couldn’t even be the principal wife—what a laughingstock.

Princess An Yang did not dare defy the royal decree, but her aunt could not tolerate it and wanted to fight for her niece.

“His Majesty has already decreed, betrothing An Yang to you. It is not my place to object. But An Yang is a princess; how can she be a mere consort? I believe An Yang should be your principal wife, and your senior sister Mrs. Sun as the consort, what say you?” The Empress asked directly.

“Your Majesty, from a young age, I grew up with my senior sister, and our feelings are profound. Out of my master’s kindness, she allowed my senior sister to marry me. How could I betray that? The position of principal wife can only belong to my senior sister. If Your Majesty insists otherwise, then I can only decline His Majesty’s kind intention.” Lin Miao noticed a silhouette seated behind the screen, a graceful figure, presumably Princess An Yang.

“Are you truly unwilling to change?”

“I am not willing,” Lin Miao replied.

“Very well, I was merely testing you. I did not expect you to be a man of your word. If An Yang marries you as a consort, she may yet find peace and happiness.” The Empress was not a stubborn person and had tested him while also trying to fight for An Yang.