Chapter 1: Issue An Edict

It was the midst of winter, and the entire capital was covered in a blanket of white snow. In the icy world, a carriage moved through the snow, leaving deep tracks behind. A jade plaque hung on the carriage, engraved with the character “皇” ¹royal, indicating that it was a carriage from the palace.

As people in the street swept away the snow, they gazed at the carriage from a distance, trying to discern its final destination. A sigh of melancholy escaped their lips.

A decree had been issued by the emperor some days ago, announcing the selection of a wife for Jinning Hou. The news had caused panic among noble families with eligible daughters in the capital.

Jinning Hou²Jinning Hou is Shen Hanxing’s noble title. Hou is the second rank among the five noble ranks in the ancient Chinese feudal system. In the context of European medieval history, the “Hou” rank corresponds to the noble rank of Marquis. had crippled legs, a cold and gloomy temperament, and a significant number of lives on his hands³he killed a lot of people. Over the years, the residence of Jinning Hou had sent out numerous bodies.

No one wanted to marry their daughter to a dying cripple, especially since Jinning Hou was known for killing without hesitation. If the wedding turned into a funeral, crying and lamenting would be of no avail.

The emperor was well aware of the public sentiment, so he ordered families with marriageable daughters to submit their astrological signs⁴The Eight Characters in Chinese astrology was used to determine marriage compatibility. When a husband and wife’s Eight Characters are in harmony, it signifies a state of peace and unity, where the energies of yin and yang come together naturally. When there is a clash between the Chinese zodiac signs of a couple (e.g., rat and rabbit), their marriage may not be successful. to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau for selection.

Now, on such a snowy day, an official carriage left the palace, it was likely that the future wife of the Jinning Hou had already been chosen.

However, no one knew where the carriage was headed or which family’s daughter had been selected. It was probably a source of potential sorrow for the parents too.

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Engrossed in their conversation, they suddenly looked up to see someone standing not far away beneath a window.

The young girl had sparkling eyes, reminiscent of a galaxy’s brilliance. The crimson attire she wore complemented her ice-like skin and jade-like bones⁵poetic Chinese expression used to describe a woman’s skin as smooth, moist, and fair, resembling the qualities of ice and jade, with snowy complexion and rosy lips. She was in the prime of her youth.

She had stood there all along, nobody knowing how much she had overheard.

Now that she found that they noticed her, she didn’t reproach them. She merely looked at them calmly with clear eyes.

The talkative maidservant shivered, feeling a bit guilty, and quickly pulled her companion away.

Lin Xingxue quietly watched them walk away, her hand touching the sachet at her waist. She cast a distant glance in the direction of the hall and then turned back.

Such idle gossip she had heard countless times in the past few days, but now it didn’t affect her much.

The crowd was kept in the dark, thinking this was a blissful union, and they couldn’t understand why she chose to step aside willingly.

But she saw it with her own eyes, witnessed her elder sister Lin Xingran naked, nestled in the arms of Gu Yan, tears welling up in her eyes.

Gu Yan’s eyes were full of confusion, wanting to explain to her but unable to find the words.

This matter was kept tightly concealed, not allowing a hint to reach outsiders. Now, looking at it, it seems like a predestined match made in heaven.

Lin Xingxue opened the drawer in front of her and took out the jade pendant from her sachet. She caressed the constellation pattern etched the jade pendant, but eventually decided to put it back into the drawer, out of sight and out of mind.

Perhaps, she should find a way to return it to Gu Yan.

Wu Tong walked in quietly and caught sight of Lin Xingxue putting the jade pendant into the drawer.

She knew the origin of the jade pendant, so while fearing that Lin Xingxue would be upset, she softly comforted, “Miss, there’s no need to be sad for such a person. Now that you see him clearly, it’s better than marrying him and discovering his true nature later on.”

Lin Xingxue looked up at her, her peach blossom eyes lightly smiling, like crescent moons. She nodded and reassured Wu Tong.

Wu Tong looked at her young lady’s face, with worry evident in her eyes.

The girl had a complexion as fair as snow and a charming appearance. Since her return to the capital, there had been many suitors coming to propose marriage. Initially, it was because the marriage arrangement with Gu Yan was blocking the way that suitors stopped. However, now that Gu Yan himself was proposing to the eldest Miss, astute observers could recognize the situation.

Since the girl fell into water and suffered shock at the age of nine, she became mute.  Despite seeking medical treatment far and wide, there had been no improvement. Most of those who sought her hand in marriage were not sincere.

When the time came, how would the mistress⁶the female head of a family arrange things?

Would she really fulfill the promise she made back then, to arrange a good marriage for the young lady?

Wu Tong couldn’t help but feel uneasy for no apparent reason.

Soon, this unease turned into a reality.

“Imperial edict, what imperial edict? Why does the young lady have to receive an imperial edict?”

“Servant⁷In these times, the servants of a household speak in a third person does not know. Lord Cao is still waiting in the front hall and cannot be delayed. Miss, please hurry and come with Servant.”

Lord Cao was the chief eunuch by His Majesty’s side. If he came with an imperial decree, it must be a matter of great importance.

Wu Tong inexplicably thought of the recent sensational event. Could it be… it shouldn’t be, as the young lady is a concubine’s daughter and cannot have her birth information delivered to the palace. How could she be chosen? She must have misunderstood something.

Wu Tong comforted herself while skillfully redoing Lin Xingxue’s hair bun, then hurriedly headed to the front hall.

When they arrived, the front hall was already filled with many people. Even the eldest young lady, Lin Xingran, stood by the side of the main mistress, Lady Han.

Lin Xingran was supposed to be the center of attention today and shouldn’t have appeared in the front hall. However, due to the sudden arrival of Lord Cao, they couldn’t afford to be concerned about such etiquette.

She gazed at Lin Xingxue with a hint of resentment in her eyes, as if blaming Lin Xingxue for ruining her good day.

Behind Lin Xingran, a handsome young man in a blue brocade robe also raised his head and looked towards the entrance of the hall.

His gaze was complex, and his fists tightened slightly.

Lin Xingxue seemed oblivious to the gazes of the crowd, bowing to her father and the mistress⁸her father’s official wife, but because Lin Xingxue is not her blood daughter, the relationship between the two is just a daughter of the family and mistress of the family.

“Do not bother with these common rituals; proceed to hear the decree ahead,” Lin Fucai authoritatively waved his hand, instructing everyone to stand behind in order.

Lin Xingxue stood at the forefront, kneeling to receive the decree.

She felt a gaze on her back, vaguely guessing who it was, but she didn’t care.

Lin Xingxue lowered her body, and Lord Cao’s thin voice echoed, “By the grace of the heavens, the Emperor decrees: Today, the second daughter of the Lin family, Lin Xingxue, gentle and virtuous, possessing both talent and beauty, has had her Eight Characters matched with Jinning Hou, Shen Hanxing. It is destined by the heavens for them to be married. I, therefore, intend to fulfill this auspicious union, hereby granting the marriage proposal. Choose an auspicious day for the wedding ceremony, and may it be blessed.”

Lord Cao’s slightly sharp voice reverberated in the ears of the crowd.

Lin Xingxue was stunned, and upon hearing the content of the imperial decree, her body felt as if it was suddenly plunged into an ice cellar, taking a long time to react.

“How could Miss Lin, a concubine’s daughter, be betrothed to Jinning Hou?” A voice filled with anxiety broke the silence.

Gu Yan raised his head to look at Lord Cao, his eyes full of disbelief.

Lord Cao’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly questioned, “Lord Gu, are you questioning the emperor’s decision?”

Gu Yan’s heart tightened. He glanced at Lin Xingxue, who remained kneeling on the ground, then bowed his body again, clenching his fists tightly. In a hoarse voice, he replied, “I dare not.”

Lord Cao withdrew his gaze and looked at the silent girl. He spoke in a slightly softened tone, “Miss Lin, perform a grand salute, and then you may accept the decree.”

Before leaving the palace, he had already known that this second daughter of the Lin family, had lost her ability to speak. She was already a pitiable person, and now she had to marry into Jinning Hou’s residence. The days ahead might not be easy for her.

He also didn’t need to care about the momentary disrespect⁹to receive the emperor’s decree, there are more steps for it to be proper etiquette, but because Lin Xingxue cannot speak, he disregarded it of this girl.

Lin Xingxue had already come back to her senses by the time Gu Yan spoke. She completed the formalities and reached out to receive the imperial edict.

“The arrangements for this marriage will be jointly handled by the Ministry of Rites and Jinning Hou’s residence. The Astronomical Bureau will soon choose an auspicious day, and the Ministry of Rites will notify you when the time comes.”

After Lord Cao finished explaining the remaining matters, he took the silver bag handed over by Lin Fucai and turned to leave.

As soon as he left, the front hall fell into a silence as if everything had come to a standstill.

Lin Xingxue tightly held onto the imperial decree, suppressing all the shock from a moment ago, bitterness rising in her heart.

The words spoken by Lady Han couldn’t be believed at all. From the very beginning, she had been plotting against her.

Lin Xingxue’s head remained lowered, and everyone assumed she was still in shock.

Lady Han took a few steps forward, wearing a smile, “Originally, I was thinking of arranging a good marriage for you, but unexpectedly, today brings double joy. Both you and Xingran have found suitable partners, and as a mother, I am relieved. Sir, don’t you agree?”

Lin Fucai’s smile was somewhat stiff, but he nodded, saying, “Jinning Hou gained fame at a young age, excelling in both literary and martial arts. He is a good match.”

“Yes, sister, congratulations to you.” Lin Xingran smiled charmingly, her eyes filled with sincere joy.

They surrounded Lin Xingxue, as if they were truly a perfect match.

Gu Yan stood on the periphery, watching Lin Xingxue who was quietly lowering her eyes while being surrounded, feeling absurd.

If such words were spoken two years ago, no one would have questioned them. But two years ago, Shen Hanxing and his elder brother Shen Hanzhou were attacked on their way back to the capital. Shen Hanzhou’s fate was unknown as he fell off a cliff, and Shen Hanxing was poisoned and both legs were paralyzed. Now, he was barely clinging to life. How could this be considered a good match?

Gu Yan knew that the Lin family did not dare to have any objections to the Emperor’s decree. However, these hypocritical congratulations only hurt the heart more, and it would have been better to keep quiet and say nothing at all.

Gu Yan wanted to step forward, but right when he was about to move, Lin Xingxue raised her head and looked towards Lady Han.

Her eyes were cold, as if questioning.

She wasn’t the legitimate daughter, so how did this marriage end up falling on her shoulders?

“When you returned to the capital, I asked Sir to put your name under mine. Now, both you and Xingran are my daughters. Xingxue, rest assured, Mother will make sure you marry splendidly,” Lady Han explained with a smile, discerning Lin Xingxue’s doubts with just one glance.

Lin Xingxue understood; she lowered her gaze, no longer listening to those false congratulations, and respectfully took her leave.

As Gu Yan watched her lonely figure go, he felt Lin Xingran’s gaze. Ultimately, he resisted the urge to catch up.

The hall outside was bitterly cold, the frigid wind blowing through, seemingly to penetrate through the clothes and chill to the bones.

It was only until she returned to Yunxiu Courtyard and tucked a hand warmer into her hands, that Lin Xingxue finally felt warmth spreading through her body.

Outside, the wind grew stronger, heralding the arrival of snow.

Sitting on the bed, Lin Xingxue hugged her knees, curling up like a small beast.

Wu Tong draped a soft blanket over her, speaking with concern, “Miss, don’t be like this. We haven’t even met Jinning Hou. Those rumors outside might be baseless. Perhaps, if you marry him, Jinning Hou will change for the better.”

Listening to these consoling words, Lin Xingxue forced a smile at Wu Tong.

Jinning Hou emerged from a sea of corpses and blood, he couldn’t possibly have a gentle temperament. He was known for being cold-blooded¹⁰describes someone who is emotionally cold, indifferent, or lacks empathy and ruthless, unflinching when taking lives—these were undeniable facts.

In the end, she was still afraid.

It shouldn’t have come to this in the first place.

On that day when she discovered the affair between Gu Yan and Lin Xingran, Lady Han gave her two choices: either become a concubine for Gu Yan or give up on the marriage with Gu Yan and find a prosperous and peaceful family for herself in the future.

She refused to become a concubine, so she decisively gave up on the marriage with Gu Yan.

She knew that Lady Han wouldn’t care much about her marriage, but it didn’t make sense for her to be so calculating towards her.

In the midst of all this, what exactly happened?

TLN: Happy New Year!! 🎊