Jinyu paused: "Madam..." Le Xiu waved her hand: "The major issues have not yet succeeded, do not worry about these small matters."

"I’ll go right away." Jinyu crouched and responded, about to speak when a eunuch rushed in from outside: "Madam, madam, something bad has happened!"

They were all her close attendants, Le Xiu asked: "What’s the matter?"

"It’s the Emperor." The person replied: "The Emperor is about to issue an Imperial Decree to arrange a marriage for Seventh Young Master Tong!"

Le Xiu froze for a moment, asked: "What happened, tell me in detail." The person then replied: "The servant heard outside that the Eldest Prince was also present at the time, accompanying the Emperor during the meal, and somehow the topic of Seventh Young Master Tong’s marriage came up. Princess Consort Ying said that such a fine young man encountered such obstacles with marriage, fearing it would be difficult to find a bride in the future. It’s hard for Lord Tong who worries about court affairs and now for his child’s marriage, it’s another burden..." After a pause, continued: "The Emperor casually asked Princess Consort Ying her thoughts on this matter, and Princess Consort Ying said she had no particular thoughts, though she worried that Lord Tong, growing older, might harm his health with stress, becoming unable to serve the Emperor... Speaking of this, she suddenly mentioned she has a younger half-sister about the same age as Seventh Young Master Tong, and suggested acting as a matchmaker to connect them, thus resolving one of Lord Tong’s concerns."

"Did the Emperor agree?" Le Xiu’s expression changed, the person nodded: "The Emperor seemed very interested and even praised Princess Consort Ying for relieving his concerns, saying that Lord Tong should thank her as a matchmaker."

Le Xiu’s face completely darkened, and she asked angrily: "What about His Highness, wasn’t he present, didn’t he say anything?"

"His Highness did speak." The person hesitated: "But... His Highness also agreed!"

Le Xiu sat down in a chair, deflated, Princess Consort Ying really played her cards well, though it’s a marriage with a concubine’s daughter and son, it’s still an alliance with the Tong family, compelling them to consider her family in future dealings.

This woman has such deep scheming, how did she not think of it!

If only she had agreed to Le Yao and Tong Minzhi’s marriage, she couldn’t have let things evolve into such a situation.

Le Yao pounded on the door: "Let me out!" her face full of rage, wishing she could burn Marquis Jinxiang to the ground: "Let me out now!"

After pounding for a long time without anyone daring to respond, she collapsed exhausted to the ground, covering her face and crying, she didn’t want things to become like this, it’s not like she wants to be talked about, it’s bound to the interference in her marriage, if accepted, how would she do such things.

Social status, social status!

Is social status so important, when two people are together, isn’t love alone enough, she loves Tong Minzhi, fell in love from the first sight, why does no one understand her, why!

Minzhi, Minzhi, please come back, we’ll fight together, we will definitely make them agree to our marriage, definitely.

Le Yao cried till the heavens faded, without eating for a day, now overly agitated, she felt weak, just then the door opened from outside with a creak, hearing it was like heavenly music, a redemption.

She turned to look and saw Madam Ruan standing at the door, and she called out eagerly: "Aunt, please let me out."

"Silly girl." Madam Ruan felt heartbroken seeing Le Yao in such a state, she walked over to help her up, smoothing her disheveled hair, offering a handkerchief to wipe her face, softly saying: "Why torment yourself like this!"

Le Yao clutched Madam Ruan’s sleeve tightly, looking at her expectantly: "Aunt, is there hope for Minzhi and my marriage, has Minzhi returned? I spoiled his marriage, so he must return..."

Madam Ruan saw Le Yao like this, truly lost for words, let out a long sigh and still ended up telling Le Yao the news she least wanted to hear: "The Emperor has just issued an Imperial Decree, bestowing a marriage for Tong Minzhi, it’s the daughter of Count Dingyuan from the Chen Mansion."

"What, what did you say?" Le Yao couldn’t help but step back in disbelief: "What Marquis Dingyuan, what arranged marriage?"

Madam Ruan supported her, explained the whole story, Le Yao’s eyes widened: "Impossible, impossible!" she shook her head, heading outside: "I’m going to find Imperial Concubine and she surely has a way to help me." Pausing again she said: "Also Lord Tong, Fourth Madam, they won’t agree to marry into Marquis Dingyuan’s family, why would they consent to this union."

"Yao’er!" Madam Ruan grabbed Le Yao: "Calm down, this is an Imperial Decree, who can disobey?"

Le Yao’s body shivered, suddenly stopped in her tracks, her unstable body slumped against the doorframe, Madam Ruan looked at her with disappointment and said: "How can you be so stubborn, things have reached this point, it has already become a final decision, who you approach is of no use." Madam Ruan didn’t tell her, if she hadn’t caused trouble at Zhao Mansion, Princess Consort Ying wouldn’t have seized the chance, the Emperor wouldn’t have arranged a marriage for Tong Minzhi.

As for the opposition, neither they nor the Tong Mansion, nor Xuanning Marquis Mansion could possibly raise objections, not to mention the marriage between Tong Minzhi and Zhao Mansion just broke off publicly known, they had no reason to refuse, and Princess Consort Ying is praised by the Emperor for her ’kindness’, how can they oppose.

They can only thank the grace!

Looking back at Le Yao, she was just staring blankly, leaning against the doorframe, empty eyes gazing, after a long while slowly lifting her head to look at Madam Ruan: "Aunt, I beg you, let me go." She wanted to find Minzhi, she wanted to run away with Minzhi, to a place where no one knew them!

Madam Ruan certainly understood her intent, persuading: "Don’t do stupid things again, rest here for a few days, wait for your brother’s arrival, then go back to Huainan!"

Le Yao frowned, eyes showing unwillingness, suddenly she pushed Madam Ruan away and rushed outside, her tangled hair piled behind her, she didn’t even have shoes on, running barefooted on the cobblestones...

"Quick, stop her!" Madam Ruan unexpectedly fell to the ground, her elbow scraped, she winced in pain, barely standing up immediately instructed the maids to chase Le Yao.

Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao were inside First Master’s room, Tong Shen Zhi and Madam Jiang sat side by side, Zhou Bohan along with Tong Xiyan, Tong Xiyu, and Second Master Lou were all present, no one spoke, the First Master looked at the Imperial Decree on the table, face dark as water, after a long time, she spoke to Madam Jiang: "Prepare to go to Count Dingyuan’s to propose marriage."

"Yes!" Madam Jiang lowered her head to acknowledge, uncertainly asked: "... Should we inform Seventh Master, to let him return?"

First Master heard and waved her hand: "No need, it’s only a month away, let’s wait until he returns."

"Yes!" Madam Jiang nodded, then Tong Xiyan asked: "Father, shall we really allow Seventh Brother to marry Miss Chen from Count Dingyuan? That’s Princess Consort Ying’s sister!"