She simply decided to stay behind and keep me company. With a look of concern, she asked, "Your Majesty, what is the matter? Is there still something you are uneasy about?"
The Empress motioned for us to remain calm.
Not long after, the scouts sent to the Marquis of Wuchang's estate to gather information returned to report. This investigation was no small matter. It actually confirmed Commandery Princess Xiuhua's words. I was indeed forced by my family to join the selection, simply because I had set my heart on a poor boy and my family absolutely refused to agree to it.
"What audacity, to dare to lie in the imperial presence. This is a capital offense of deceiving the sovereign."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. That is all ancient history now. Now I am truly and sincerely devoted to the second young master of the Xiao family."
With her hands on her hips, Commandery Princess Xiuhua pointed at my nose as she scolded me. "Yet you still dare to quibble. I was almost fooled by you, you vixen."
Seeing that the situation was turning unfavorable, I steeled my resolve. With determination, I said, "If Your Majesty does not believe me, then have your servant carried into the prison in a bridal sedan tonight. Your servant will have absolutely no objections."
I thought to myself, I'm actually afraid that a long delay will bring trouble and that I'll keep being pestered by that hypocritical scumbag Master Xiao.
It was absolutely earth-shattering. Everyone present was stunned by my bold declaration.
"You are truly a scheming person, refusing to give up until you face the end. Your Majesty, please do not fall for it. This must be another stalling tactic of hers."
The Empress's anger subsided slightly. Although she was too lazy to distinguish truth from falsehood, she was certain that I was not being honest. Thus, with a dark expression, she spoke.
"Since you have such resolve, this palace shall grant your wish. Tomorrow night you shall be wed from the palace and sent directly to perform the wedding vows with Xiao Yu."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting my wish."
The weight finally lifted from my chest. It was now set in stone.
Though Princess Yunyang felt helpless about the situation, she could only rush back to her manor to make preparations. The Empress immediately sent someone to the Marquis of Wuchang's manor to deliver the imperial decree, announcing that Lin Yaoyao was betrothed to Xiao Yu and would be wed from the palace tomorrow.
"Yes, and you must also tell the Marquis of Wuchang that this was entirely Lin Yaoyao's own idea, and that no one forced her."
Commandery Princess Xiuhua gloated as she stared at me, no doubt thinking inside, She must be regretting this to her very bones right now.
When my cheap father received the imperial decree and heard that the palace had investigated my background, he immediately guessed why the wedding was being rushed so hastily. He fumed with rage, yet there was nothing he could do. He could only bite the bullet and prepare the dowry, thinking to send both me and the dowry into the palace to ride on the royal family's coattails.
To avoid being criticized by others, Princess Yunyang didn't idle either. She quickly sent messengers to the prison to deliver the good news to Xiao Yu.
"Guiyuan, Babao, hurry to the prison and inform the second young master that the palace has bestowed a marriage. The bride is the eldest young lady of the Marquis of Wuchang's manor, and she will enter the prison tomorrow to wed him."
The two servants were completely dumbfounded upon hearing this. Getting married? And tomorrow? Good heavens.
Guiyuan and Babao rubbed their hands together in excitement. "Hee hee hee, as you command. We will deliver the good news right away."
They thought to themselves, Did the second young master offend every single woman in the entire capital? This is absolute madness.
Inside the prison cell, the servant tried his best to persuade him.
"Second young master, this is an imperial decree. Do you understand what an imperial decree means? It means a blade is at your neck. You must marry her whether you want to or not."
Xiao Yu glared displeasedly at the two knuckleheads. He sneered.
"You make it sound so simple. Are you two performing a comedy routine for me here? She was the one who chose me. I have no past grudges or recent enmity with her. Why did she plot so meticulously to ruin me? I've already hit rock bottom, and yet there is still a woman fixated on me. Indeed, the world is full of wonders. Besides, a woman who makes such a brain-dead decision must have something seriously wrong with her head. She is definitely not a normal person."
The servants rolled their eyes upon hearing this. Why is the second young master such a blockhead? Could he have gone mad from being locked up in prison for too long?
With bitter faces, they tried to persuade him.
"Second young master, how is this hurting you? This is clearly heaven looking out for you. A beautiful woman's favor is as heavy as a mountain. You should just hide under your blanket and laugh yourself to sleep."
"The second young master is just an unromantic block of wood. He usually pays no attention to women. Once he gets married and tastes the sweetness, he'll know how good women are."
Xiao Yu waved his hand with a cold face. "No matter how flowery you put it, your master will absolutely not marry. Don't even think about getting me to cooperate."
With a turn of his hand, he slammed the wooden door behind the cell bars shut, putting on a completely stubborn attitude.
Unfortunately, the second young master seemed to have forgotten that he is now a prisoner, not the master of this place. Princess Yunyang had already bribed everyone from top to bottom and recorded everything clearly in writing. She was merely asking to hold a wedding in the prison and had no intention of breaking anyone out. After mulling it over, the Minister of Justice found it reasonable, too. So, with a wave of his hand, he let the princess's people and goods inside.
Just like that, led by the prison guards, the crowd swarmed into the prison in grand fashion and set everything up with a loud clatter. They also dropped off a set of bright red wedding robes on their way in.
The head nanny ordered, "Guiyuan and Babao, hurry up and help the second young master change, and see if the size fits."
"Understood."
Having not served his master up close for a long time, Guiyuan rushed forward with excitement. He just wanted to cry out, Second young master, you have suffered so much. But as soon as his hands touched him, it was all rock-solid muscle.
Before he could even process this, he only heard a furious roar.
"Get lost. Get out."
The two of them were tossed flying by the second young master like sandbags. He bellowed with a dark face.
"Go back and tell my mother that I am not getting married. Even if you tie the bride up and bring her here, it won't work."
With the small statures of Guiyuan and Babao, how could they possibly be a match for the second young master? They tried flanking him from both sides several times, but they couldn't even touch the corner of his clothes. Having no other choice, they could only run back dejectedly to Princess Yunyang to call for backup, hoping the princess would have some clever trick to subdue this stubborn donkey.
Princess Yunyang also had a look of worry on her face. This biological son of hers had a temper like a stone in a latrine, both smelly and hard. Even forcing him wouldn't work.