The Double-Chapter 733 - 220: Seizing Love_5

Jiang Li smiled generously at Yin Zhan. Seeing that Jiang Li was not shy, but rather composed in this manner, Yin Zhan narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Li and Jih Heng before finally retracting it.

This imperial decree of marriage came unexpectedly. Following that, Emperor Hongxiao still bestowed many gold, silver, and jewels upon Yin Zhan as compensation for Yin Zhili’s unsuccessful request for marriage. By the time they returned to their seats, the focus of the discussions among the attendees had already shifted; Jiang Li, Jih Heng, and Yin Zhili became the talk of the event.

Jih Heng returned to his corner and, faced with looks from all directions, appeared utterly indifferent, continuing to pour and drink wine at his leisure. Of course, those who looked at Jih Heng knew of his unpredictable temper and did not dare to stare openly, but instead peeked at him secretly and cautiously.

In comparison, the glances toward Jiang Li and Yin Zhili were somewhat more brazen.

Upon Jiang Li’s return to her seat, the expressions of the other Jiang family members were inscrutable, especially Madam Jiang the Elder and the two brothers, Jiang Yuanbai, whose complexions were quite unsightly. Jiang Jingrui, Jiang Jingyou, and Lady Lu did not understand the underlying implications and only felt that the person in the arranged marriage had suddenly changed to Jih Heng. Compared to Yin Zhili, Jih Heng was unpredictable in temper, and of course, even harder to engage with. Let alone becoming a son-in-law in frequent contact with the Jiang Family, it was best to avoid him at all costs in ordinary times.

Yin Zhiqing sat beside Yin Zhili with a pale face, on the verge of tears; she almost burst into crying. She had initially thought that today was a joyous occasion, that the marriage between Jiang Li and Yin Zhili was a done deal. Her brother was exemplary in every way; Jiang Li got along well with Yin Zhili, and the Jiang family members liked Yin Zhili too—there was no reason for this marriage not to happen. Yet, it had indeed fallen through.

Moreover, the person decreed to marry Jiang Li had turned out to be Duke Su, Jih Heng.

Yin Zhiqing felt bewildered. She had only met Jih Heng twice, but each time he had left an astounding impression on her. Outsiders considered Duke Su ruthless, yet she found such a Jih Heng even more mysterious. Though inexperienced in matters of the heart, she knew that over the years, Jih Heng was the first man to attract her. She had thought there was no hurry and that she could gradually get to know Jih Heng, become friends with him, understand and accompany him, but suddenly, out of nowhere, Jih Heng now had his Duchess.

Yin Zhiqing felt as though the heavens were playing a joke on her.

Madam Yin looked at her with worry but was powerless; she did not have much say in the Yin Household, let alone the ability to change the emperor’s decree.

Sitting beside Yin Zhan, Yin Zhili maintained a smile, seemingly not letting the recent event affect him; however, if one looked closely at his action of lifting his cup, one could see his distraction.

Not only Yin Zhiqing but also Yin Zhili himself had believed that this marriage arrangement would not encounter any surprises. Reality had harshly slapped him in the face. Yin Zhili did not feel embarrassed, but rather... it felt strange.

Before the start of the imperial banquet, the beautiful Duke Su had passed by him, reciting a poem slowly, and now thinking back, it was full of determination and a spectator’s mockery. Yin Zhili thought that he indeed was Jiang Li’s autumn fan, which upon the arrival of autumn, had no use and should be discarded.

Yin Zhili laughed at himself. He had lived for over twenty years with everything going smoothly, adored by countless girls; he never expected to experience unrequited love. He knew that maybe his feelings for Jiang Li were not that deep, but he truly liked her; at least before this, he had never taken any other girl to heart like he did her.

That folding fan... Yin Zhili closed his eyes.

Jih Heng’s extravagant peony folding fan, which he had given to Jiang Li, depicted pear blossoms on white jade. He did not know how Jih Heng and Jiang Li regarded the fan he had given, but they must have thought... that he was overestimating himself.

Jih Heng must have known about this decree of marriage earlier, which allowed him to secure the imperial edict just before his father. But did Jiang Li know?

Yin Zhili involuntarily turned his head slightly, looking through the crowd at Jiang Li.

The young girl sat at her seat, her back straight, her profile delicate and beautiful. Her lips held a faint smile, not much different from the countless times she had faced Yin Zhili. But Yin Zhili could clearly discern that her smile now contained a hint of relief.

She indeed knew it, Yin Zhili felt a sinking feeling in his heart.

Just then, Yin Zhan’s voice sounded in his ear, so faint that only Yin Zhili could hear it.

"Do what you must do; now, do not be distracted."

Yin Zhili jerked to alertness, resuming his gentle smile.

At the high seat, Emperor Hongxiao watched everything with interest, a slight smile on his face. The empress sat beside him dutifully, not saying anything. She had always been so gentle and compliant, just like the Empress Dowager in her younger years.

The Empress Dowager... The armor scratched lightly against the chair producing a faint sound, but she was completely unaware, her gaze briskly sweeping over Yin Zhili and Yin Zhan before disappearing again.

Nobody noticed it.

This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦