Chapter 16: C16. Imperial Edict: Duke Dingguo's Marriage Fate.

Chapter 16

After centuries of decay, the Great Xia Dynasty surged back to glory under Emperor Yuan Qing. Food became plentiful, and every inch of Jiuzhou's lost lands was reclaimed.

Yet, Emperor Yuan Qing wasn’t exactly a hands-on ruler. Instead, he handed reforms to the rising star Gu Shoufu and entrusted the military to loyal generals. With a sharp eye for talent and a knack for delegation, the emperor embraced a life of ease. In his younger days, he enjoyed the company of his concubines. But once the harem no longer intrigued him, he turned to self-cultivation and chasing immortality. Along the way, he pampered dozens of cats and indulged in the leisurely pleasures befitting an emperor.

Still, Emperor Yuan Qing was disciplined enough to attend court on the fifth day of every month without fail.

As court sessions began, the emperor listened at first, but as debates heated up, his patience dwindled. The ministers’ fierce dedication to the country left little room for him to intervene. He sat upright, toying with his thoughts while observing the squabbling officials below.

Gu Shoufu’s beard had grown visibly grayer—a mark of authority, but also a heavy toll.

Cao Xun, on the other hand, exuded calm confidence. He answered questions from civilian officials with composure and seemed perfectly suited for the role of head Tutor. Li Yao, in contrast, would have lost his temper.

Rumors had reached the emperor about the Minister of Personnel taking in another concubine, clearly to consolidate his influence.

After enduring over half an hour of court, the session finally ended.

But Emperor Yuan Qing’s day wasn’t over. Cabinet meetings dragged on, cutting into his relaxation time.

Finally free, the emperor instructed a young eunuch to fetch his favorite plump orange cat. Just as he was about to settle into leisure, a high-ranking eunuch arrived with a message: Duke Dingguo requested an audience.

Recognizing the familial nature of the visit, Emperor Yuan Qing chose not to bother with formalities. He lounged comfortably, stroking his cat, awaiting Cao Xun’s arrival. If it had been Gu Shoufu, he’d have hidden the cat and feigned more composure.

“Wei ministers salute the Emperor,” Cao Xun greeted respectfully.

The emperor responded with a smile. “No need for formalities. Is something urgent happening at the Governor’s Mansion?”

Cao Xun bowed, visibly uneasy. “The Governor’s Mansion has no pressing matters to report. I’m here with a personal request.”

Hearing this, Emperor Yuan Qing’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Leaning in, he asked, “A favored future wife, perhaps?”

After all, as a warrior who’d dedicated his life to the empire, how could marriage and a legacy not be on the emperor’s mind?

Emperor Yuan Qing wasn’t in a rush to choose a princess for the 19-year-old first prince. His priority was solving Cao Xun’s marriage as quickly as possible.

Cao Xun nodded, looking a little embarrassed.

Emperor Yuan Qing smirked. “It’s not often I see you act so shy. Now I’m curious. Tell me, who’s the woman you’ve set your sights on?”

Cao Xun replied, “I only worry Your Majesty might find my choice amusing.”

“I won’t,” Emperor Yuan Qing said firmly. “Speak.”

Cao Xun finally confessed. “The woman I wish to marry is Yunzhu, Duke Ningguo’s daughter.”

Hearing this, Emperor Yuan Qing immediately pictured Yunzhu as the 14 or 15-year-old he remembered. But as he sized up the elegant woman before him, his first thought was that she didn’t quite fit the role.

In reality, Emperor Yuan Qing knew Cao Xun would end up marrying someone 15 or 16 years old. But since he hadn’t met these young women, their ages were just numbers. Yunzhu, however, was different—he had watched her grow up. The age gap suddenly felt significant.

“Why her?” Emperor Yuan Qing asked, hiding his skepticism.

Cao Xun repeated the same reasoning he had used to convince others, word for word.

Emperor Yuan Qing nodded, acknowledging the logic. The Cao family had wronged Yunzhu, and it was their responsibility to make things right. Besides, at 18, Yunzhu was older than the others, making her a more suitable match.

“That argument makes sense. Have you spoken to Yunzhu herself?” Emperor Yuan Qing asked, feigning indifference.

Cao Xun nodded again, clearly uneasy.

The Emperor immediately guessed the truth: morality aside, Cao Xun had likely been won over by Yunzhu’s beauty. And once captivated, it was unlikely he’d consider anyone else.

Men, no matter how noble or cowardly, are all the same—easily swayed by a pretty face.

“Well, Yunzhu’s looks and background align with yours,” Emperor Yuan Qing conceded. “But marriage is more than attraction; it’s a bond between two families. I’ll need Duke Ningguo’s approval first.”

Cao Xun bowed. “I understand. When I visited Duke Ningguo to apologize, I did broach the subject. He said he would consider it but gave no clear answer. I hope Your Majesty might speak on my behalf.”

Emperor Yuan Qing nodded. “Very well. You may leave. If Duke Ningguo agrees, I’ll issue the decree immediately.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Cao Xun said as he departed.

Emperor Yuan Qing ran his hand over the fat cat in his arms, his gaze sharp as he addressed Eunuch Wan nearby. "Cao Xun wants to marry Yunzhu. What do you make of it?"

Eunuch Wan paused briefly, then smirked. "They say a hero can't resist a beauty. And wasn’t Yunzhu there at the polo match that day? It seems, Your Majesty, you’ve been paving the way for this union for quite some time."

Emperor Yuan Qing nodded, his expression calculating. "Indeed. When Yunzhu is around, who else could he see?"

The disregard Cao Xun had for his stepmother, Pan Shi, was obvious. But was Pan's pride worth more than his marriage?

The emperor's voice cut through the air. "Bring Li Yong to me."

Without hesitation, Eunuch Wan dispatched his apprentice. It seemed like a simple task, but morning turned into noon, and dusk was creeping in by the time the apprentice finally returned, escorting Li Yong, who was disheveled and dressed in plain clothes.

"The guilty subject is late. Please punish me, Your Majesty!" Li Yong dropped to his knees as soon as he entered, sweat dripping from his face, his clothes dusty from the day.

Emperor Yuan Qing's eyes narrowed in disdain. "I heard you left the city at dawn. Have you decided to abandon your noble status and become a commoner?"

Li Yong wiped his brow with a sleeve, his breathing still uneven. "Your Majesty, I have not neglected my duties. I spent the morning practicing martial arts at home, as my late grandfather taught me. Later, I went to the city gate to read the official notices and saw that some criminals were still at large. I thought catching them might rid the people of harm."

The emperor raised an eyebrow. "And? Did you catch them?"

Li Yong looked down, clearly embarrassed. He admitted he hadn’t caught the criminals but had instead been drawn into trivial matters: helping a farmer who fainted and breaking up a domestic spat between a mother and son.

The emperor scoffed. "If capturing criminals were that easy, Shuntian Mansion's law enforcers wouldn’t have jobs. It’s not as simple as you think."

Li Yong muttered, "I understand, but I wanted to stay occupied."

Emperor Yuan Qing studied him for a moment before waving it off. "Fine. Do what you must. If you manage to catch them, I’ll reward you. Now, let’s get to why you’re here. I summoned you to discuss Yunzhu's potential marriage to Duke Dingguo. Do you think she’ll agree?"

Li Yong hesitated, his reluctance plain. "I doubt it. He’s far older than Yunzhu."

The emperor sneered. "Have you forgotten the age gap between the Empress and me?"

Li Yong shot back without hesitation, "Can he be compared to you, Your Majesty? The Empress was fortunate to marry you. Yunzhu, however, endured great suffering with Cao Xun."

Emperor Yuan Qing’s expression remained unshaken. "So, you’re against it?"

Li Yong wrestled with his thoughts, his frustration evident. Finally, he spoke, his voice tinged with regret. "I don’t want it to happen. But I failed Yunzhu. Because of my shortcomings, her marriage was annulled, and she’s been humiliated. If marrying Cao Xun restores her dignity, perhaps it’s for the best."

The emperor’s voice grew colder. "Your failings aside, Yunzhu is like a daughter to me. Whether or not Cao Xun steps up, I’ll ensure she marries someone worthy. I won’t let her suffer again."

Hearing this, Li Yong’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Worried Li Yong might cry, Emperor Yuan Qing cut him off. "Come check on my cat," he ordered.

Li Yong glanced at the emperor's arms and saw an orange cat with sleek fur and sharp, clear eyes. "It looks healthy, though a bit fat," he said bluntly.

Emperor Yuan Qing froze, caught off guard for a moment.

An emperor's cat? Anything less than overfed was out of the question.

*

It was too late to meet Li Yong, so Emperor Yuan Qing decided to handle his orders the next day. Meanwhile, he shared his plans with Empress Cao.

Empress Cao's eyes widened. "You want my brother to marry Yunzhu?"

Emperor Yuan Qing replied calmly but firmly, "Why not?"

Empress Cao hesitated, her voice low. "But Brother Shao and Yunzhu once..."

The emperor cut her off with a knowing smile. "Brother Shao has always seen Yunzhu as a sister."

Empress Cao's face turned pale.

The whole "siblings" story had been a convenient lie—a ploy by her mother to break a prior promise. Now, Empress Cao had to use that same excuse to defend against this arrangement.

Emperor Yuan Qing shifted his focus. The fault lay with Pan Shi, not Empress Cao, and he had no intention of pressing her further. Instead, he leaned back on the bed and demanded, "Massage my shoulders." As she began, he added, "Even if Brother Shao sees Yunzhu as a sister, they’ve always been close. There’s gossip about Duke Dingguo breaking the engagement and ruining her chances. If he fulfills the engagement now, it salvages both her reputation and his. Talk to your mother and sort it out."

Empress Cao looked at him, her expression conflicted. Finally, she said, "I’ll arrange for my mother to come to the palace, as you wish."

*

The next day, Empress Cao sent an official decree directly to Duke Dingguo's manor, bypassing all formalities before Emperor Yuan Qing's marriage announcement.

Pan Shi, assuming her daughter had summoned her for urgent matters, wasted no time. She threw on her official robes and boarded a carriage to the imperial city.

Walking down the long corridor to Kunning Palace, sweat rolled down her forehead from the oppressive heat.

Under normal circumstances, Empress Cao would have welcomed her mother with a seat and tea, showing the expected courtesy. Not this time. Vexation darkened her mood, and she dismissed everyone from the palace without so much as a pretense of hospitality.

Once they were alone, Pan Shi cautiously asked, “What’s troubling you?”

Empress Cao’s tone was cold and cutting. “You are. Both families agreed on Brother Shao marrying Yunzhu. You had no right to break that agreement in secret.”

Her words were an open rebuke, leaving no room for ambiguity.

When personal interests weren’t at stake, people valued integrity and despised deceit.

Pan Shi, visibly confused, asked, “Why bring this up now? It’s been settled for ages.”

Empress Cao’s lips curled into a sneer. “Settled? You truly have no idea? My elder brother plans to marry Yunzhu, and the Emperor is about to announce it.”

Pan Shi’s expression froze, like she’d seen a ghost. “Cao Xun? Marry Yunzhu? Does he care nothing for his reputation?”

Empress Cao shot back, her tone dripping with scorn. “Reputation? You and my younger brother tarnished it first. My eldest brother is cleaning up your mess. Tell me, what’s noble about any of this?”

Pan Shi stood there, stunned, her mouth opening and closing without words.

This wasn’t a bluff. Cao Xun truly intended to wed Yunzhu.

And Yunzhu?

That young woman’s arrogance was legendary. Pan Shi could already picture her smug expression, the thought enough to make her chest tighten painfully.

“No! This cannot happen!”

Empress Cao’s derisive shake of the head said it all.

“If you can’t even manage Cao Xun, what makes you think you can stop the Emperor? Better to put a cat in front of him and try to make it bark. At least that would amuse him.”

After warning her mother against trying anything foolish, Empress Cao ordered her to leave the palace.

When Pan Shi entered, her complexion was rosy. By the time she left, she looked pale and sickly, as if the heat had sapped all life from her.

She had barely crossed the palace gates when she encountered a group of eunuchs coming from Qianqing Palace. The lead eunuch, recognizing her, gave a sly smile.

“Madam seems to be in good spirits!”

Pan Shi forced a stiff smile. “What joy are you referring to?”

The eunuch cast a meaningful glance at the imperial edict carried by his younger companion. “The Emperor has decreed a marriage for Duke Dingguo. It seems your household will soon be celebrating!”

Pan Shi: “...”