The Double

Chapter 162: Imperial Marriage Decree

As Jiang Yuanbai stepped out of the imperial study, his palms were drenched in cold sweat. The words he had just spoken were what Jiang Li had told him that day. Initially skeptical, he had ultimately been persuaded by her reasoning.

Rather than letting Prince Cheng win over Shen Yurong, it was better to have Prince Cheng form a marital alliance with the Li family, who were already his supporters. Once the Li family married into Prince Cheng's faction, it would be a clear declaration to the world that the Right Prime Minister belonged to Prince Cheng's camp.

When the Li family first pledged allegiance to Prince Cheng, it had been done covertly. Although it was an open secret among court officials, it had never been openly acknowledged. If Hongxiao Emperor agreed to this, it would firmly bind the Right Prime Minister to Prince Cheng. While this appeared beneficial to Prince Cheng—strengthening existing ties—once publicly announced, if Prince Cheng ever rebelled and failed, the Li family would inevitably share his downfall without needing further justification.

Sharing prosperity naturally meant sharing adversity.

For Hongxiao Emperor, this would likely be a convenient decision.

With these thoughts in mind, Jiang Yuanbai quickened his pace without stopping. He had said his piece; how Hongxiao Emperor decided was beyond his control.

Inside the imperial study, Hongxiao Emperor was deep in thought over a memorial.

Eunuch Su stood nearby attending to him when the emperor suddenly asked, "How old is Li Xian, the eldest son of the Right Prime Minister's Li family?"

Eunuch Su hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, Young Master Li is twenty-three years old this year."

"Twenty-three..." Hongxiao Emperor murmured thoughtfully. "Shen Yurong is a year older than him. In that case, he might be a more suitable match." He declared, "I shall draft an edict."

Eunuch Su rushed to prepare the inkstone, hearing the young emperor add, "An imperial marriage decree."

...

Upon returning to the Jiang residence from the palace, Jiang Yuanbai's first action was to seek out Jiang Li, who had been reading in Fragrant Garden Courtyard, and summon her to his study.

"How did you know the palace was planning to arrange a marriage for Princess Yongning?" Jiang Yuanbai asked.

When Jiang Li had first mentioned it, he hadn't taken it seriously. But now that her words had proven true, Jiang Yuanbai couldn't help but treat the matter with greater importance.

"Father, do you remember," Jiang Li replied calmly, "that I attended the Duke's residence for Old General Ji's birthday banquet?" Without changing her expression, she shifted all responsibility to the Duke's residence—after all, Jiang Yuanbai wouldn't verify it there. "During the banquet, I overheard fragments of conversation about this. Actually, what I told you that day about Li Xian being the best candidate wasn't my own opinion—it was what people at the Duke's residence said. I simply found their reasoning very sound. Since you frequently move through palace circles, you might be consulted on this matter. I thought it would be helpful if you could assist."

"People from the Duke's residence said this?" Jiang Yuanbai sounded skeptical. "Why would they care about such affairs?" Ji Heng bore no grudge against Prince Cheng nor was he particularly close to the Jiang family. In truth, throughout the court, aside from Hongxiao Emperor who trusted him, no one else could capture Ji Heng's attention. If the Duke's residence had made such remarks, it would appear they were positioning themselves against Prince Cheng. While this seemed natural—if Ji Heng supported Hongxiao Emperor, he would naturally oppose Prince Cheng—Jiang Yuanbai also felt that Ji Heng's usual actions appeared too ambiguous to be trustworthy."Father, if you ask me these things, I truly cannot answer," Jiang Li replied honestly. "It was just a single meal—I really don't know anything more. If you wish to learn more, since the Duke's household said so, why not visit them in person and ask for clarification?"

Jiang Yuanbai choked back his words. How could he possibly visit the Duke's residence? What would others think if word got out? They might assume the Jiang family had private dealings with the Duke's household. With the Emperor already suspicious, this would only add fuel to the fire.

"But Father," Jiang Li probed, looking at him intently, "are you implying that the palace is truly preparing for Princess Yongning's marriage arrangements?"

Jiang Yuanbai glanced at Jiang Li, who watched him with curiosity. Thinking the matter would become public sooner or later, he sighed and nodded. "Today, the Emperor asked me for suitable candidates. I told him I believed Eldest Son Li and Princess Yongning would be a well-matched pair. As for how the Emperor will decide, I do not know."

Jiang Li said, "The Emperor will certainly bestow the marriage upon Eldest Son Li and Princess Yongning."

"How do you know that?" Jiang Yuanbai eyed her suspiciously.

"Can anyone in the court find a more suitable candidate than Eldest Son Li?" Jiang Li stated as if it were obvious.

Jiang Yuanbai fell silent for a moment before replying, "Consort Liu hopes for Imperial Secretariat Writer Shen to become the Imperial Son-in-Law for Princess Yongning."

Jiang Li sneered inwardly but maintained a calm expression. "Shen Yurong's family background is rather humble, isn't it? Moreover, the Emperor thinks so highly of him—how could he bear to give him away? The moment you proposed Eldest Son Li, the Emperor must have decided to bestow the marriage on someone else."

Jiang Yuanbai sighed. "I thought the same."

"Why are you so troubled, Father?"

"Prince Cheng will eventually learn that I played a part in stirring this up. If they had initially favored Shen Yurong and I disrupted their plans, they will surely resent me."

Jiang Li said indifferently, "Even without this matter, Prince Cheng and our Jiang family are not allies. Since that's the case, why bother with their opinions? It's better to clearly see who the true master is and devote yourself to one side." She hinted meaningfully, "A fence-sitter ends up pleasing no one."

Jiang Yuanbai had always been tactful, and Jiang Li's words served as a warning not to harbor illusions. Since he had decided to support the Hongxiao Emperor, he should not expect to coexist peacefully with Prince Cheng. Jiang Yuanbai understood her implication and felt irritated at being lectured by his own daughter. But seeing Jiang Li's gentle expression, as if she genuinely cared for her father and the fate of the Jiang family, he swallowed his reprimand.

After all, she was the only daughter he had by his side now.

After leaving Jiang Yuanbai's study, Jiang Li's expression cooled.

Princess Yongning was moving faster than Jiang Li had anticipated. It seemed she was eagerly anticipating this unborn "life," which was why she was so impatient to secure the marriage with Shen Yurong.

But her scheme was doomed to fail.

As Jiang Li walked on, her thoughts turned to Xue Huaiyuan at the Ye residence. Ye Mingyu had sent word that Xue Huaiyuan had not yet awakened, but Situ Jiuyue said it was not a bad sign. Jiang Li dearly hoped that, at least before Xue Huaiyuan woke up, her plans would proceed smoothly.When Xue Huaiyuan truly awoke, he would finally face the mastermind behind the Xue family's downfall—someone who, after evading justice for a year, was now beginning to pay the true price.

……

In spring, as all things grew and the grass and trees turned fresh, many novel events also unfolded in Yanjing City.

Yet the news that broke this particular morning arrived so abruptly that few were prepared.

During the morning court session, just as it was nearing its end, the Hongxiao Emperor suddenly issued an edict: he was bestowing the marriage of the Eldest Son of the Right Prime Minister's household to Princess Yongning, the sister of Prince Cheng, with the wedding to take place the following month.

This imperial decree came without warning. In the Golden Luan Hall, Eldest Son Li's face instantly paled. Even when the Right Prime Minister later prompted him to receive the decree, he nearly stumbled as he stepped forward.

Prince Cheng’s expression was equally grim—it seemed no one had informed him beforehand. Understandably so; his own sister’s lifelong matter had been decided abruptly, without his knowledge. Yet, before the entire assembly of civil and military officials, Prince Cheng could say nothing. Moreover, the Hongxiao Emperor gave him no opportunity to speak. Once Eldest Son Li accepted the decree, the Emperor cheerfully concluded the court session.

The young Emperor was uncharacteristically lighthearted.

Left behind were those involved, their faces dark with displeasure. Among the crowd, Shen Yurong—usually a favorite of the Hongxiao Emperor—also looked somber. Known for his gentle and refined demeanor, he always wore a faint smile, but today, that smile seemed strained. He did not linger to exchange pleasantries with his colleagues after court; instead, he paused briefly before striding away, as though he could not bear to stay a moment longer.

When Consort Liu received the news, she immediately went to Cining Palace to confront the Empress Dowager.

"Sister," she said, watching the Empress Dowager fingering her prayer beads, "I clearly discussed with you the match between Yongning and Lord Shen. How could the Emperor end up decreeing marriage to Eldest Son Li? How am I to explain this to Yongning? Sister, surely you did not do this intentionally?"

The Empress Dowager gazed back calmly, her voice as still as stagnant water, devoid of ripples. "I did not deceive you. What I conveyed to the Emperor was indeed regarding Lord Shen. But the Emperor is no child—he makes his own decisions. I do not know his intentions. If you doubt me, go and reason with the Emperor yourself. Perhaps he may even change his mind."

Consort Liu was both anxious and furious. How could she possibly approach the Hongxiao Emperor? He had long held a deep grudge against her and her son; it was unlikely he would listen to her.

"In truth, switching to Eldest Son Li may not be a bad thing," the Empress Dowager said slowly. "The Li family of the Right Prime Minister is far wealthier and more influential than the Shen family. What you care about most would be insignificant to the Lis."

Consort Liu’s heart stirred—this was indeed true. Although the Emperor’s arbitrary decree angered her, she had never particularly liked Shen Yurong either. For one, he came from a common background, and for another, Yongning would be marrying as a second wife—something she disliked. Li Xian, however, was different. Even if the Right Prime Minister had his flaws, he was still a chancellor, and Li Xian himself was both talented and handsome, no less impressive than Shen Yurong.

"But Yongning knows nothing of this," Consort Liu fretted, considering the Princess’s temperament. "How am I to explain it to her?"The Empress Dowager remained as composed as ever. "Matters of marriage have always followed parental arrangements and matchmakers' words—this is the principle since ancient times. Even though Yongning is a princess, it doesn't mean she can freely choose her Imperial Son-in-Law. Compared to those princesses sent far away for political marriages, she is already very fortunate. Moreover, the fault lies neither with you nor with me—this is the Emperor's decree. If Yongning refuses to marry, she would be defying the imperial order."

Consort Liu was also troubled. If Prince Cheng had succeeded in one stroke, who would care about Hongxiao Emperor's decree? Unfortunately, Yongning was too impatient, requesting the marriage arrangement at this critical juncture. For now, everyone still had to heed Hongxiao Emperor's words.

"Eldest Son Li seems quite excellent. Yongning is merely being stubborn for a few days. Once she is truly married, she will naturally understand that you acted for her good. There is no need to exert yourself further here," the Empress Dowager said. "Any more effort would be futile. I have said all I need to say. If you remain dissatisfied, take Yongning and plead your case to His Majesty." With these words, she closed her eyes, clearly unwilling to discuss the matter further with Consort Liu.

Consort Liu seethed with resentment but knew the Empress Dowager spoke truthfully. Standing before her, she pondered and realized it made sense—she had always favored Li Xian over Shen Yurong anyway. Yongning was merely acting childish in the moment; after a few days of fuss, she would come to understand. Without another word, Consort Liu turned and left, intending to return to her side palace first. If Princess Yongning were to seek her out, she ought to be waiting there by now.

...

In Consort Liu's side palace, servants knelt everywhere, palace maids trembling as the floor lay in disarray.

Princess Yongning had stormed in demanding to see Consort Liu. Upon learning of her absence, she began smashing items on the tables. Clearly enraged, the palace maids—well-acquainted with the princess's temperament—dared not utter a word, praying for Consort Liu's swift return. Though Consort Liu was usually domineering, only she could calm Princess Yongning in such moments.

Princess Yongning's heart raced with panic.

No one knew how she felt upon hearing of the marriage decree. What she thought was a certainty—having even heard that the Empress Dowager had spoken to the Emperor, assuming he would not refute her out of face—had twisted into a nightmare. Hongxiao Emperor had not refuted it, but he had substituted another man!

How could this be?

She carried Shen Yurong's child in her womb—how could she marry someone else? Desperate to understand what had happened, she had intended to explain to Shen Yurong. Yet after court adjourned, Shen Yurong had vanished from the palace. Unable to find him, she wondered if he was angry, growing even more frantic. But her most urgent task was to rectify this mistake.

The most direct solution was to have Consort Liu intervene.

Just as her impatience peaked, a palace maid announced from outside: "The Consort has returned."

Princess Yongning sprang to her feet and rushed forward. "Mother!"

"What is the meaning of this?" Consort Liu frowned, surveying the wreckage with displeasure. "Yongning, you may act recklessly ordinarily, but this is not your princess manor!"

Unmoved, Princess Yongning retorted with red-rimmed eyes, "Mother, how can you care about these trivial things? I am about to be sold off, and you worry about mere possessions?""What do you mean 'sold out'?" Consort Liu said, stepping over a broken vase as she instructed the palace maids to clean up the area before taking her seat. "Don't speak nonsense."

"The imperial marriage decree!" Princess Yongning raised her voice. "I clearly told you it was Shen Yurong! How could it become Li Xian? Mother! I won't marry Li Xian! In this lifetime, I will only marry Shen Yurong!"

Consort Liu quickly dismissed all the palace maids and glared at her. "How dare you say such things! The palace is full of spies everywhere. If you're not afraid of being overheard, I am!"

Seeing Princess Yongning on the verge of tears, Consort Liu explained, "I did speak with the Empress Dowager, expressing my hope for an imperial marriage between Shen Yurong and you. She agreed. All these years, though I've never thought much of her, I know she wouldn't agree to one thing while doing another. She doesn't care about these palace matters. The one who secretly changed the arrangement was the Hongxiao Emperor." At this point, a flash of ruthlessness appeared in Consort Liu's eyes. "That little wolf cub seizes every opportunity to trip us up. I've long said keeping him was nothing but trouble!"

"Why would the Emperor do this?" Princess Yongning said. "I just want an Imperial Son-in-Law! How does that interfere with his affairs!"

"Who knows? Perhaps he just wants to make trouble for us," Consort Liu said indifferently. "Yongning, actually, I think Li Xian isn't bad. His father is the Right Prime Minister, and the Right Prime Minister knows his place well. He's also on good terms with your elder brother. If you marry into the Li family, they won't treat you poorly."

"I've said it before," Princess Yongning declared firmly. "I won't marry Li Xian. The only one I'll marry is Shen Yurong!"

"Then what will you do? That's an imperial decree. If you disobey, you're defying the Emperor's order. Besides, even if you're a princess and fear nothing, not even imperial defiance, what about Shen Yurong? Shen Yurong is a subject. If the ruler demands a subject's death, the subject has no choice but to die. Shen Yurong's life hangs on the Emperor's whim. Even if the Emperor hesitates to move against you for other reasons, he can easily target Shen Yurong."

Upon hearing this, Yongning panicked. "He can't harm Shen Yurong!"

Consort Liu looked at her, and the panic in Princess Yongning's eyes grew increasingly evident. Indeed, while the Hongxiao Emperor might not dare touch her due to Prince Cheng's influence, dealing with Shen Yurong would be effortless for him.

Princess Yongning was nearly in tears, murmuring, "What should I do then?"

She had always been arrogant and willful, never showing such vulnerability and helplessness. Watching her, Consort Liu's heart softened, and she asked, "Are you truly determined to marry no one but Shen Yurong?"

Princess Yongning nodded.

"I do have one idea."

Princess Yongning grasped at this lifeline, eagerly pressing, "What idea?"

"When I spoke with the Empress Dowager before, I didn't specify when the wedding should take place. I assume she didn't mention it to the Emperor either. Since the decree states 'to be married on an auspicious day,' I can tell the Emperor to postpone it, say, until this winter. By then..." Her voice lowered. "The world will have changed entirely. Who would still care about this decree?"

Princess Yongning was taken aback but understood Consort Liu's meaning.Prince Cheng was about to launch his rebellion soon, at least before this winter. Once the rebellion succeeded, this imperial edict would be nothing but trash—when the emperor himself changed, what significance could an edict hold?

This was the only solution Consort Liu could devise: have Yongning delay this marriage until the edict became invalid, after which the engagement would naturally dissolve.

But... Princess Yongning shook her head. "It won't work."

"Why?" Consort Liu asked, puzzled.

Just as Princess Yongning was about to speak, she suddenly felt a wave of nausea in her throat. She bent over abruptly, covering her mouth as she retched dryly. Startled, Consort Liu immediately called for attendants to support her and sought to summon a physician, concerned she might be unwell.

Princess Yongning grabbed Consort Liu's hand tightly. "Don't call the physician!"

Consort Liu looked at her, and slowly, her expression shifted. She said, "Yongning, you couldn't possibly..."

"Mother," Princess Yongning replied, flustered and helpless, "I am carrying Shen Yurong's child."

...

Shen Yurong was on his way back to his residence.

Walking toward the state-bestowed mansion, he passed neighboring homes of other officials. Usually, when he took this route, people recognized him and regarded him with envious eyes. But today, as he headed home, he felt surrounded by mocking gazes.

Of course, he knew this was impossible. These people couldn't possibly know about his relationship with Princess Yongning. Thus, they wouldn't be aware of the storm of turmoil that the morning's betrothal edict had stirred within him.

That sensation of thorns pricking his back was an illusion, yet it reminded him of another time—when Xue Fangfei was caught in an affair, and the people of Yanjing City had looked at him with that same mix of pity and amusement.

Today, past and present converged once more, so vividly that he nearly couldn't distinguish dream from reality. For a moment, he wondered if the events of the past year were nothing but a ludicrous dream, and if he pushed open the door, his beautiful, clever wife would still greet him with a gentle, smiling face.

What a joke, Shen Yurong thought.

He didn't love Princess Yongning. Every moment spent with her felt like a forced pretense to him. When she clung to him obsessively, he wanted to push her away. But now, with Hongxiao Emperor's betrothal edict issued, he didn't need to push—Princess Yongning could no longer approach him. And suddenly, panic seized him.

It was as if he had spent a long time raising a beast, resenting its clinginess and the time it consumed, waiting for it to grow plump and tender for slaughter. But before the harvest season arrived, the beast suddenly fled. All his efforts had come to nothing, like drawing water with a bamboo basket—everything was wasted.

Including the sacrifice of his beautiful wife, which had now become utterly meaningless.

Hongxiao Emperor's betrothal edict was already decreed. Shen Yurong saw more clearly than others that there was no room for reversal. Princess Yongning must marry Li Xian. Even if Prince Cheng's rebellion succeeded later, Prince Cheng would not slight the Li family's support. Shen Yurong himself would become a stumbling block between Yongning and Li Xian, forcing Prince Cheng to choose between the Li family and him.It seemed he had no chance of winning, for the Li family possessed immense wealth while the Shen family had nothing from the past. Yet even if he had won Prince Cheng's favor through his own abilities, making the prince believe the Li family was less valuable than himself—that was a tiger. For Princess Yongning to remarry him, she would have to break off her engagement with Li Xian.

This time, Shen Yurong was truly wearing a "green hat."

Two "green hats"—the first time, he had taken the initiative, willingly making himself an object of pity and ridicule just to climb higher. The second time, he was still climbing upward, but the higher he rose, the more he loathed being laughed at by others.

The higher one climbs, the more reluctant they become to lose what they have gained.

Shen Yurong stood at the entrance of his home, unwilling to go inside. He knew all too well that as soon as he approached the Shen residence, his mother would rush out to greet him, and Shen Ruyun, having received the news, would hurry back as well. They would press him for answers about what had happened. They saw Princess Yongning as a towering tree, and him as the one clinging to it. Now that the tree was about to fall, they were panicking and demanding to know why.

Why?

It felt absurd, like a cruel joke. Every coincidence seemed like a deliberate punishment from heaven for the things he had done in the past.

He had no solution. He was utterly helpless.

...

Princess Yongning returned to her residence in a daze.

Consort Liu had exhausted every argument, both kind and harsh, to make Princess Yongning understand one undeniable truth: this marriage was unavoidable if she wanted her unborn child to be born with legitimacy.

When Consort Liu first learned of Princess Yongning’s pregnancy, her immediate instinct was to have someone brew a medicinal concoction—a single bowl to drink, and it would be as if nothing had ever happened.

It was only because Princess Yongning knelt on the ground, clutching Consort Liu’s legs, weeping and pleading, that Consort Liu’s heart softened and she changed her mind. Never in her life had Princess Yongning humbled herself so deeply, yet in these past few days, for the sake of this child, she had done things she never thought possible.

Princess Yongning rested a hand on her abdomen, recalling the moment in Consort Liu’s chambers when she had asked in despair, "Mother, is there truly no other way? Could my elder brother think of something?"

Consort Liu had replied, "This matter must not be told to your brother. He has been very busy lately and must not be distracted by such affairs... Moreover, the Right Prime Minister is closely connected to him. If your brother finds out, there is no guarantee the Right Prime Minister won’t learn of it. No matter how strong their relationship, which family would be so magnanimous as to accept you marrying into their household while carrying another man’s child? If Li Xian remains unaware, on your wedding night, I will arrange for someone to help you deceive him. We can find a way for you to give birth to the child later. But if you tell your brother, you risk causing trouble."

With no other choice, Princess Yongning had to accept this plan. To avoid raising suspicions as her pregnancy progressed, Consort Liu even had to take the initiative to speak to the emperor, requesting that the wedding take place the following month.

In other words, next month, Princess Yongning would marry into the Li family, becoming the wife of Li Xian, and carry this child to term within the Li household. When the child was born, his father would be Li Xian, not Shen Yurong.

Princess Yongning felt as if all the strength had drained from her body, leaving her almost unable to sit upright. Her face pale, she suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

She had longed to marry into the Shen family, and she had begun scheming for it long ago. From the moment she first laid eyes on Shen Yurong, she knew this man was meant for her. She had eliminated Xue Fangfei, clearing every obstacle in her path. Yet now, when everything seemed to be falling into place, how had it all come to nothing?

Suddenly, the image of Xue Fangfei on her deathbed flashed before her eyes—the day she had gone to see her. Xue Fangfei lay on the bed, looking at her, a faint smile playing on her lips. Now, that smile seemed like mockery.

Was she mocking her for all her scheming, only to end up with nothing? She was marrying someone else, never to become Madame Shen.Shen Yurong still didn't know she was carrying his child. Even after learning about the imperial marriage decree, he hadn't come to see her. Princess Yongning wondered what Shen Yurong was thinking—was he angry, or did he simply not care? Or perhaps, like her, he found this entire situation utterly absurd?

What puzzled her most was how things had come to this.

(End of Chapter)