World of Hidden Phoenixes 3
The two maidservants at Hua Zhu Yu’s right side and left side could not help but tremble from fear, thought that this person made them felt uneasy for no reason.
“Miss Hua also has something to say, does Miss Hua want to defy the imperial edict?!” Chang gonggong asked in an unpleasant tone.
If she had been able to disobey the edict, she would done it. However, Hua Zhu Yu knew she could not afford to do that. Her father, Hua Mu from Ping Xi, was loyal and devoted to this Northern imperial court, if she fails to comply imperial edict, the first one who want to execute her is not someone else but her father. Perhaps, because this kind of blind loyalty, emperor would be able to treat them, Hua family, this way. Her father was stationed in border region. Because the border region was still unstable, the emperor did not let him return to capital for ten years. This time, Hua family’s army succeeded in defeating Western Liang. Western Liang was left with no choice but to make peace by offering its five great cities. The entire country celebrated this and Hua family asked for many rewards. The emperor had no choice but to allow her father to return to capital and honored him a t.i.tle of Marquis of Ping Xi. She, this nameless, lack of talent and virtue daughter of Hua Mu, was also granted an enviable marriage.
Now, the emperor again all of a sudden decreed her to go and marry, this matter is really complicated and she cannot understand at all, but sooner or later she is going to investigate it throughly. Presently, she still needs to discuss the matter with her father to make a decision. However, they wants her to accept this imperial edict now? It is not so easy.
Hua Zhu Yu made up her mind and said in a light tone: “Chang gonggong, now your servant is no longer Miss Hua but Madam Ji, does not know whether this imperial edict should be accepted or not? Your servant and Chancellor Ji’ marriage was also decreed. If your servant accepts this edict, does not it mean your servant goes against the sacred edict, your servant really does not what to do.”
Chang gonggong was rendered speechless. He did not antic.i.p.ate that Hua Zhu Yu would say this. The emperor did indeed issue an edict to bestow a marriage upon her before. The emperor should annul the first edict before granted her another marriage decree, but that will make the emperor go back on his words.
Chang gonggong was somewhat awkward, hesitating over whether he needs to return to the palace to request for another imperial edict or not. However, emperor will blame him for being incompetent in handling this affair. In the midst of confusion, he spotted Ji Feng Li, put on his ingratiating smile and asked cautiously “Xiangye, you see….”
Ji Feng Li was looking at the burning red candles, his eyes were dark and liquid like ink, and they were shimmering elegantly. He looked back toward Chang gonggong, faintly smiled and told a maidservant who was standing near him “Bring an ink brush, ink stick, paper and ink stone here.”
The maidservant left hurriedly and soon returned with a tray that held a writing brush, ink stick, paper and ink stone in her hands. She moved cakes and pastries on a table aside, spread the paper there, put some water into the well if the ink stone, grinded the ink stick on the surface of the ink stone, and handed the writng brush to Ji Feng Li.
Ji Feng Li took the writing brush and dipped it into grinded ink and started to sway the brush on the white paper. Before long, the white paper was filled with black ink words.
The ink on the paper had not yet dried, the maidservant picked it up. She blew it gently and then put it in Hua Zhu Yu’s hands.
A snowy white paper, black ink words.
His handwriting was bold, unrestrained, vivid and lively. It was so elegant that Hua Zhu Yu really admired it.
Unfortunately, this was a piece of divorce certificate.
Hua Zhu Yu gazed at two big words of divorce certificate written on the paper before her eyes, a chilly smile touched the corner of her mouth, her prideful eyes flashed a trace of sadness.
Indeed, in life, troubles should be expected. It did not occur to her that someday, she, Hua Zhu Yu would get a divorce certificate.
This Ji Feng Li was indeed worthy to be an Imperial Chancellor who gained the favor of the Emperor.
By divorcing her, she was unbound from Ji Feng Li. This allowed the Emperor to decree her to marry Northern Kingdom’s prince. The previous imperial edict did not need to be discarded this way so that no one will say the Emperor reneged on his promise.
“Indeed, worthy of being an Imperial Chancellor, the handwriting is really beautiful, Hua Zhu Yu is very honored to be able to get a valuable calligraphic work of Chancellor Ji. Hua Zhu Yu will surely treasure it.” She said in a lazy voice with admiration in her tone, not a trace of insincerity could be heard it seemed like she was really fond of Ji Feng Li’s handwriting.
There was no one in the room who did not feel amazed. Normally, If other woman was put in this kind of situation, she would cried, got angry or hysterical.
However, she did not cry, get angry or even have a complaint.
is this woman stupid? Why is she so calm? They thought.
“Sorry to trouble jiejie to help Hua Zhu Yu accepts the imperial edict, and Hua Zhu Yu thanks jiejie in advance.” Hua Zhu Yu smiled and said to a maidservant at her right side.
Hearing that, the maidservant reached out her hands to take the imperial edict from Chang gongong and then shoved into Hua Zhu Yu’s sleeve.
“Please, Princess Mu Yun, stay in palace temporarily tonight, tomorrow early in the morning, the Northern kingdom’s envoy will come to the palace and pick Princess Mu Yun up.” Chang gonggong spoke. He changed so fast that now he addressed Hua Zhu Yu as Princess Mu Yun.
The maidservants who were brought by Chang gonggong from Palace came over and held onto Hua Zhu Yu’s arms to help support her.
With a divorce certicate tucked in one sleeve and an imperial edict tucked in another sleeve, head covered by red veil, Hua Zhu Yu left the room.
She could not move and no one helped her to lift the veil.
Even if she had been able to move, she still would not lifted her veil. She did not want to see these people.
Outside the room, snow was still fluttering intermittently. The red veil was being blown up occasionally, allowed Hua Zhu Yu to see the courtyard which was decorated with big red lanterns and double happiness words. Nevertheless, she could not feel festive atmosphere. In contrary, she felt those red colors looked like blood that shined with a harsh bright light.
Hua Zhu Yu took a deep breath, pulling the chilly air into her lungs. She was shivering from the cold.
This was her wedding night.
An unforgettable night in her life!
The two maidservants helped Hua Zhu Yu to get into a sedan chair. The sedan chair was then lifted by imperial guards and headed toward the Imperial Palace. Hua Zhu Yu sat down on the sedan chair, felt a stinging pain in her knee gradually fading as the effect of poisoned wine getting stronger. She stumbled and sank into darkness.
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Note: I make some changes because I think it is more appropriate:
Previous Chapters ↓ Chapter 3
Beijing = Capital
General (Ji Feng Li) = Imperial Chancellor