Chapter 225: The Reality of Marriage

Before receiving the imperial edict of gratitude, Li Zhang knelt down, lost in thought. The polished floor of the Zichen Hall reflected his shadow clearly, as if the heavens and earth had inverted, and the present moment suddenly overlapped with a scene from many years ago. Back then, he too had knelt on the ground, watching the woman he cherished be beaten into a bloody pulp—his heart shifting from resentment and fear to utter despair. Which was crueler: witnessing the eternal separation between life and death, or the bond of a lifelong union? The emperor awaited his response; the entire court held their breath. Before ascending the throne, his answer could be nothing but: "Your humble servant receives the decree." He could only accept the edict and offer thanks, even if the path the emperor laid out was a razor's edge he must painfully traverse, bleeding with every step until the journey's end.

At the close of the court session, Li Zhang's expression remained dazed. They were now husband and wife. She stood before Li Ce, having shed her crimson gown; those beguiling, peach-blossom eyes—did they still harbor the haze of intoxication? Stepping out into the blinding sunlight, Li Zhang recalled how just days before, Ye Jiao had charged into the Eastern Palace, bow and arrow in hand, standing beneath the high eaves with her skirts billowing and hair flowing, gazing at him with profound concern. When the eaves collapsed, she had nestled quietly in his arms like a gentle, obedient red fox. She was meant to be his. The emperor had originally intended to bestow her to him in marriage. Yet by a twist of fate, by the time he realized Ye Jiao's true worth, she had already been claimed by Li Ce—the lowly-born, undead scion raised in the imperial tomb.

As Li Zhang approached the Eastern Palace, the once-familiar path suddenly felt alien. He took a wrong turn and found himself on a narrow, obscure passageway meant solely for servants. Cold sweat soaked through his inner garments. Was this a divine warning? A caution against losing the easily grasped throne for the sake of one woman, only to be cast into dust and servitude? He turned sharply, quickening his pace back to the rightful path. He could not falter—nor take a single misstep. Li Can was right; this was no time to make enemies. Li Ce had risen to fame in Jinzhou, aided the emperor in eradicating the Lu clan, and stabilized the court, clearing obstacles for Li Zhang's future reign. Now that Li Ce's reputation soared and his supporters multiplied, he must never become his foe. After all, she was just a woman. Yes, merely a woman!

Striding briskly toward the Eastern Palace, Li Zhang nearly ground his teeth to fragments. Only upon entering the study did his countenance finally regain calm. The prime minister's son, Fu Mingzhu, was waiting inside. Seeing Li Zhang push open the door, he hurriedly rose to report, "Everything for the day after tomorrow has been arranged." "The day after tomorrow?" Li Zhang wiped his sweat-streaked brow, pale-faced. Observing him, Fu Mingzhu lowered his voice cautiously: "The scheme allowing remnants of the Lu clan to infiltrate the capital and incite chaos has been settled." Those reckless youths of the Lu family sought to disrupt the wedding; while the marquis and city defense troops maintained order, they planned to seize the prison amid the turmoil. Li Zhang uncovered this plot and even wished them to escalate the disturbance. Fu Mingzhu was eager to carry it out, intending to secretly fund those Lu clansmen whose estates had been confiscated. Truly, his failure in the imperial examinations was thanks to Ye Jiao.

After two days of toil, Fu Mingzhu finalized the plan and excitedly briefed Li Zhang. He even detailed where the conspirators would ambush, where the horses might bolt with the bridal carriage, and which street corner would be best for a heroic rescue—or if no rescue came, where the carriage could be fished from the river. The image of the new bride, drenched and climbing from the water, promised great amusement. At the mere thought of Ye Jiao's makeup running and her humiliation becoming the capital's mockery, Fu Mingzhu laughed heartily. "By the way," he asked, "can Ye Jiao swim?"

Before Fu Mingzhu could continue, Li Zhang cut him off: "No need." Fu Mingzhu stared wide-eyed. "No need? Once the underworld speaks, the little spirits run ragged. When they've run ragged, you say 'no need'? Truly a living lord of hell." "Why?" Fu Mingzhu pressed. Li Zhang turned to him, eyes sharp and brimming with undisguised malice: "Because I am the Master of Ceremonies."

The Master of Ceremonies oversaw ritual protocol and ministerial etiquette—a post typically filled by officials from the Ministry of Rites, the Court of State Ceremonial, or the Secretariat. Charged not only with ensuring the flawless execution of ceremonies but also with the safe return of royal kin, Li Zhang bore full responsibility for any mishaps at the forthcoming wedding. Fu Mingzhu inhaled sharply, asking: "Is this the emperor's directive?" "What else?" Li Zhang's voice was cold as steel. "No need to wait for them to cause trouble—capture them and hand them over to Liu Yan. That will count as your meritorious report." A few stragglers attempting prison raids were already in Fu Mingzhu's custody, bound for the Jingzhao Prefecture—a significant accomplishment. Though barred from official office himself, this would bring honor to his father and smooth the way for extraordinary promotion once the crown prince ascended.

Fu Mingzhu nodded repeatedly, reluctant yet resigned: "I will handle it immediately." Alas, no more watching Ye Jiao crawl from the water, covered in mud. As he left the study, the crown prince suddenly asked, "Where is the Sixth Prince?" "I heard he is selecting concubines these days," Fu Mingzhu replied, "I was just about to go see." The crown prince sneered, shaking his head: "Foolishness! When has he ever cared for women?"

The Sixth Prince, Li Can, quite fancied women. Most were fairer than men, with smooth skin; several even paler than himself, with thick, jet-black hair—if only without lice. Their figures varied greatly—some robust enough to sit down an ox, others so slender they could hardly stand. Taste in clothing depended on family background: merchant daughters generally dressed finely; daughters of minor officials were more refined and well-mannered. Since they willingly sent their daughters to meet Li Can, he was willing to examine them carefully, not to waste the early summer's fine weather.

At the waterside pavilion stood a vertical screen; Li Can lounged behind it, watching the young ladies cross the corridor bridge one by one, exchange words and courtesies, then slowly depart. The thinnest cicada-wing gauze draped the screen, unable to conceal their faces. It stood there mainly for aesthetics—and to hide Li Can's disorderly posture.

Suddenly, a woman's soft cry arose from the riverbank. Li Can looked over to see Fu Mingzhu hastily approaching, face half-covered by a folding fan, embarrassed as he bumped into a stranger and apologized repeatedly. What pretense of nobility was this? Li Can chuckled lowly. When Fu Mingzhu sighed heavily and reached him, Li Can looked up and teased, "Ah, the walking coat rack has arrived?"

Fu Mingzhu's curiosity was evident. "Have all the young ladies in Chang'an come?" Li Can asked gleefully, "The line stretches beyond the mansion gates!" "Not all," Li Can's excitement dimmed, "for example, Ye Jiao is absent." "Ha?" Fu Mingzhu forced a stiff smile, weary of the crown prince and Li Can constantly mentioning Ye Jiao, yet powerless to stop it. It was like a misjudged painting that overnight skyrocketed in value, sparking competition among his superiors—a sour, bitter feeling hard to describe.

After a moment's thought, Fu Mingzhu deliberately said, "Your Highness, be cautious. Miss Ye will be the Princess Consort of Chu tomorrow—you must call her sister-in-law." How could he compare a sister-in-law to a lowly concubine offered for selection? Moreover, since the rank of Prince of Chu surpassed that of Li Can, though older, Li Can must observe proper etiquette before them. "Indeed," Li Can nodded knowingly, leisurely saying, "I call her sister-in-law, you kneel before her—we're all wretched souls." Kneeling before her… Fu Mingzhu's smile froze. If not for the death penalty looming over the Sixth Prince, he might have pushed Li Can into the lake.

"Enough!" Fu Mingzhu coughed, rising, "Your Highness, enjoy your selections here. I have affairs to attend." "No more Lu clan troublemakers at the wedding?" Li Can sat upright, long fingers plucking a waxberry from a delicate glass lotus bowl, mischief gleaming in his slender eyes. "How do you know?" "Because I am who I am," Li Can replied disdainfully, "Nothing escapes me. Wait a moment." He stopped Fu Mingzhu. "Help me pick out the women. Keep those with fair skin; those less fair, give a golden pearl flower as thanks for their grace."

Fu Mingzhu's expression twisted strangely. "Why me?" Li Can answered serenely, "Because you are charming, the prime minister's son, impeccable in manners. Treat them well—it spares us from impeachment tomorrow." "Impeach Sixth Prince only; what concern is it of mine?" Fu Mingzhu felt the heavy black pot ready to land on his head.

"Oh," Li Can smiled, "Because I told them I am your attendant. Only those who enter the pavilion after me are truly the Sixth Prince." Fu Mingzhu swallowed hard, throat bitter—now he understood why every young lady eyed him as he passed, whispering among themselves. Resigned, he went to select women while Li Can instructed further: "Oh, those fairer than me need not stay." "Why this?" Fu Mingzhu pressed, barely containing impatience. "Because I'd be jealous," Li Can muttered, "Besides, if

they are prettier than me, they'll be taken by others." "That is too shallow." "My rule is simple: if not mine, none else's."

As dusk fell, the selection concluded. Li Can carefully noted his picks; the ladies in his favor would enter the inner palace to become his consorts. Only the purest moonlight and the faint scent of flowers mingled with whispered plans for the night.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace, Ye Jiao—now the Princess Consort of Chu—prepared for her new life, unaware that the shadows of intrigue and rivalry circled ever closer.