The First Master frowned without speaking. Zhou Bohan, seeing Tong Xiyan’s displeased expression, explained, "It’s hard to defy the Emperor’s command. Moreover, from his standpoint, it may be well-intentioned. How can we reject the Emperor’s kindness?"

Despite saying this, Tong Xiyan was still furious: "Despicable!" The thought of a Miss Chen marrying into the family made her head ache. She couldn’t help but look at Fourth Master Xiao and Xiqiu: "Speak up, you two!"

Xiqiu had been sitting silently all along, while Fourth Master Xiao remained calm, showing no change in demeanor. Seeing Tong Xiyan question her, Xiqiu reluctantly spoke up, "Brother-in-law Zhou is quite right. The Emperor’s marriage decree for the Seventh Brother was also compassion for Father. We should gladly arrange the wedding for the Seventh Brother."

Tong Xiyan pursed her lips, listening, and said no more.

Second Master Lou, having gained some weight since the wedding, spoke, "I think this situation may not necessarily be bad. Once she marries into the family, she becomes a member of the Tong Family. Deciding what to do with her is still up to us." As he finished speaking, everyone looked at him, even the First Master cast an inscrutable glance.

Second Master Lou raised his brows, about to speak again, but Tong Xiyu tugged at his sleeve, blushing, signaling him not to continue.

Second Master Lou, feeling a bit disappointed, closed his mouth.

After dismissing everyone, Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao returned to the Governor Mansion. In the carriage, Fourth Master Xiao, hugging Xiqiu, chuckled, "I actually think Second Master Lou wasn’t wrong. In the future, as an elder sister-in-law, if your sister-in-law doesn’t behave well, you can reprimand her." Xiqiu was amused, "So, is that the plan you had in mind when you married me?"

Fourth Master Xiao chuckled approvingly, nodding. Xiqiu couldn’t help but laugh, the knot in her heart loosening. Indeed, none of them rejected the Emperor’s decree because, first, regardless of whether the Emperor was truly kind-hearted, it did solve the awkwardness surrounding Tong Minzhi’s marriage. Second, Princess Consort Ying marrying her sister into the Tong Mansion was not advantageous for her. The alliances bound two unrelated mansions together, but it started off with mutual goals and interests. Once conflict arises, who would prioritize a woman over the larger interests?

There was another reason understood by both her and Fourth Master Xiao, yet unspoken.

Actually, what she cared about was Tong Minzhi’s feelings. Briefly, his marriage was a tumultuous talk of the town, nearly becoming unmanageable. Now, a woman he’d never met nor heard of is suddenly destined to be his future wife, surely leaving him feeling uneasy.

Moreover, who knows what Le Yao’s reaction will be upon hearing this; who knows if she will act recklessly.

If anything happens to Le Yao, Tong Minzhi will likely live his entire life under a shadow.

Just as Xiqiu predicted, news of Le Yao’s disappearance came the next day from the Marquis Jinxiang Mansion. They sent many people to search, but after two days, she was still not found. Xiqiu feared Le Yao might go to Baoding to find Tong Minzhi, so she informed Madam Ruan, who immediately dispatched people to Baoding...

Sure enough, Le Yao was tracked down midway. A bit earlier, Tong Minzhi was also rushing from Baoding to the Capital, having learned about the marriage decree. Fearing Le Yao might not accept it calmly and act rashly, he encountered Le Yao by chance.

Xiqiu wasn’t sure what they talked about, only heard from Madam Ruan that Le Yao seemed dazed, allowing herself to be taken back to Marquis Jinxiang Mansion.

For several days, she lay in bed, eating nothing, drinking nothing, unaware.

By early October, the eldest son of Marquis Zhongshan arrived at the Capital and took Le Yao back to Huainan.

Tong Minzhi stood atop Jiwei Mountain, watching the Marquis Zhongshan’s carriage gradually disappear from sight. Leaning against the wild plum tree behind him, its yellow leaves falling one by one, he closed his eyes, feeling helpless.

His mind wandered back to the first time he arrived here, carrying a cloth bag containing two ounces of silver secretly given by his elder sister and some pastries. He and Mr. Zhao sat crossed-legged, listening to the stories from the founding of Great Zhou to the current state affairs. Back then, he was full of ambition, silently vowing to repay his sister and Mr. Zhao through his own efforts one day!

Ten years had passed in a blink, yet he achieved nothing, causing sorrow to many.

Le Yao, your feelings are too pure, I am too sullied, too despicable to deserve you... In the remainder of your life, I hope you find someone and marry, attaining the happiness truly belonging to you...

Tong Minzhi’s changes were evident to Xiqiu, yet she couldn’t comfort him. Some wounds can only heal with time, then fade into forgetfulness... she knew, at least to Tong Minzhi, his feelings for Le Yao might have been mere curiosity, youthful ignorance with some affections, but these affections were nothing compared to many things in his heart. His sorrow was mostly due to Le Yao’s sacrifices for him, which he couldn’t reciprocate.

Perhaps there was affection, but not enough to drive him mad, likely more so... guilt!

The weather gradually cooled, this year the Capital’s snow arrived much earlier than usual. The wedding date in April for Tong Minzhi approached closer. During this period, Xiqiu visited the palace to thank Le Xiu for sending her the Child-Giving Guanyin. In the palace, she met Min who gifted Tong Minzhi with a congratulatory present, stating he couldn’t attend to congratulate Seventh Uncle, asking Xiqiu to represent him.

"As for the marriage decree, I was present at the time too." Min looked at Xiqiu and said, "I didn’t oppose it!"

Xiqiu nodded, unsurprised by Min’s reaction. Unexpectedly, Min explained, "Although Second Uncle is no longer in the Capital, he will return eventually. The Marquis Mansion lacks a matriarch; Marquis Dingyuan has more than one illegitimate daughter..." His words clearly implied, Marquis Dingyuan currently has a legitimate young lady who has reached maturity. This scenario must be avoided; better now to fulfill the Princess Consort Ying’s wish!

Xiqiu paused for a moment, realizing this was one of the reasons she and Fourth Master Xiao didn’t take action. Unexpectedly, Min figured the reasoning instantly.

Count Dingyuan, while titled, is not hereditary. They need to consolidate their position while Princess Consort Ying is favored, so planning for the future isn’t surprising.

She looked at Min, smiling, finding comfort.