The Marquis of Zhendong's household had stood unshaken for 600 years, sustained by generations of talents and divine generals capable of commanding vast armies.
Now, the realm was divided into three. To the north lay Dafeng, to the west Daqing. In the east, Donghuang teemed with great demons across endless mountains. To the south, the Nanman thrived with their powerful Gu sorcery.
The world was far from peaceful. With these external threats, the household didn't need to blindly curry favor with the Emperor for imperial grace. Instead, the royal family frequently sought to win them over. Every holiday brought rewards from the palace, and now, the betrothal of a princess was the clearest sign yet.
But Xia Chen… he had never been one to languish beneath others' shadows.
If he truly entered a betrothal with the future Empress, what would he do five years from now during the Coup of the Gate? Stop her? Aid her?
Neither choice aligned with his interests.
"You don't want to marry the princess?"
Cui Mengrou gazed at Xia Chen softly, her eyes shimmering with warmth, her mature beauty flowing naturally.
"No!"
Xia Chen's reply was firm, without a trace of hesitation.
"There's no turning back now. At this very moment, the imperial edict has likely left the palace gates and is on its way to our household."
Xia Qián sighed and shook his head. This matter had long been settled; they were merely announcing the outcome now.
Xia Chen fell silent. How could he not know? Many things had been decided long ago, and with his current status, he had no say in them.
Yet he was one of the key figures in this marriage, only learning of it after everything was set. Wasn't that absurdly laughable?
"This betrothal wasn't originally meant for you. His Majesty had his eye on your younger brother. The envoy reached Donghuang with the decree, but your father declined politely, and so the role fell to you!"
Cui Mengrou watched Xia Chen's silence, pausing in thought before slowly revealing the power play behind this marriage.
Xia Chen pressed for details and learned that the betrothal had initially been intended for his brother, Xia Hao. Yet his parents rejected it without hesitation, citing Xia Hao's youth and need to focus on martial arts and military strategy, arguing that matrimony would distract him too soon.
They then submitted a petition, asserting that Xia Chen, as the legitimate eldest son, was closer in age to the Second Princess, among other reasons.
Emperor Wen, upon receiving this reply, remained silent for three days. Only this morning did the edict leave the palace, approving Xia Yuan's request and finalizing the match.
Cui Mengrou looked at Xia Chen's calm demeanor, her heart aching with pity.
Becoming an Imperial Son-in-Law was a meteoric rise for commoners.
But for heirs of a meritorious noble house like theirs, it was a shackle.
Six hundred years ago, Emperor Ling's favoritism toward eunuchs and reliance on maternal relatives sparked the Rebellion of the Feudal Lords, nearly toppling the realm. Were it not for Emperor Wuzong's restoration, the dynasty would have changed hands.
After seizing the throne, Emperor Wuzong learned from history and decreed that maternal relatives could neither meddle in politics nor hold key posts.
Though they weren't entirely stripped of power, maternal kin fell out of favor. A century ago, Emperor Suzong began reappointing them to balance the court.
Today, their situation had improved significantly, but restrictions lingered.
An Imperial Son-in-Law naturally counted among the maternal kin.
This was why Xia Yuan, faced with the Emperor's intent to betroth a princess to his younger son, dared to defy him outright. He refused to let Xia Hao's future be stifled.
Marrying a princess meant a future without promise!
A sigh flickered in Xia Qián's eyes. His nephew's fate had always been harsh, but an imperial edict could not be defied. Someone had to marry into the royal family.
If Xia Yuan and his wife wouldn't sacrifice their younger son, the elder one would have to step up.
"Though it's unfair to Chen'er, with his crippled physique, despite years of studying military strategy, his martial path is limited. Becoming an Imperial Son-in-Law, backed by our household, ensures a life of wealth and ease. Perhaps it's a blessing."
Xia Qián reasoned inwardly. Emotionally, having watched this nephew grow up, he felt far closer to him than the unseen Xia Hao.
But as the family head, he had to prioritize the clan's interests.
Xia Yuan's younger son, Xia Hao, was a heaven-gifted prodigy, possibly destined to rival their ancestor Xia Xuanzhen and lead the family in the future.
He shouldn't be bound by the title of Imperial Son-in-Law.
…
Though indignation burned within Xia Chen, his eyes remained tranquil, a faint smile on his lips as he calmly accepted it all.
He understood the stakes. His birth parents, unwilling to hinder their younger son's prospects, finally remembered their eldest in the capital, thrusting him forward to deflect Emperor Wen's move—a seeming alliance that was, in truth, a subtle suppression.
His marriage was merely a product of power struggles and compromise.
As for his own thoughts, they hardly mattered.
"The Empress… who could imagine that the future ruler of the four seas and eight wildernesses, before her rise, was so pitiable?
Not only used as a tool for political marriage, but the chosen groom didn't even want her—rejected outright. No wonder this chapter of Emperor Wen's reign is shrouded in silence. Unable to control your own fate—what a bitter feeling!"
Xia Chen mused, sighing inwardly. That last thought—whether for the Empress or himself, he couldn't tell.
In the front hall, Bizhu stepped in with some haste, yet her elegance remained unruffled.
"Master, Lady, someone's arrived from the palace—led by Ye Gonggong himself, with quite the entourage."
Xia Qián and Cui Mengrou exchanged a glance, both knowing the purpose.
"Chen'er, come with us to receive the imperial edict!"
Xia Chen rose silently and followed them to meet his fate
Outside the household's gates, Xia Chen met the Ye Gonggong Bizhu had mentioned. His hair was streaked with white, yet he bore a youthful complexion and rosy cheeks. Though a eunuch, he carried an aura that commanded respect—no one dared underestimate him.
"Ye Wuzheng, known as Ye Gonggong, served three emperors, survived the Coup of the Gate unscathed, and in the Empress's era, still guarded the palace. His strength is unfathomable—a pillar of the royal family, a loyal servant of emperors!"
These details flashed through Xia Chen's mind unbidden.
"So this is the legitimate son of the Marquis of Andong—truly a fine young man!"
Ye Gonggong chuckled as he regarded Xia Chen, offering congratulations.
Seeing this eunuch who would shine in the Coup of the Gate, Xia Chen bowed respectfully.
Ye Gonggong blinked in surprise but quickly recovered, nodding back with a smile. His first impression of the youth was favorable.
Though Xia Chen was the groom, the proceedings that followed had little to do with him—he was merely needed to show his face.
After welcoming Ye Gonggong into the household, they bathed and changed. Ye Gonggong read the edict, Xia Chen received it, and the marriage was officially set.
The process left Xia Chen dizzy with its endless formalities—imperial edicts of this caliber demanded strict etiquette.
Typically, edicts were verbal or informal, free of such rigmarole.
But a princess's betrothal was different. Both household and palace required grandeur to signify the importance of both parties.
The affair stretched into the afternoon. Xia Chen held the dragon-emblazoned edict, crafted from some unknown material, feeling as if he were in a dream.
He had truly become the Empress's fiancé. But could he survive the Coup of the Gate and become the Emperor's Consort?
His death in that coup—was it really just an accident?
Pondering this, he glanced at his uncle and aunt ahead, then quickened his pace to their side without hesitation.
"Uncle, I've broken through to the Eighth-Rank Refining Essence Realm. I'd like to seek a post and serve the nation!"
Xia Chen took a deep breath, his voice ringing with resolve.