The affair of Molan was arranged on the day after the Third Prince was completely captured.
"Madam..."
To her surprise, Molan found that her mistress not only arranged a good marriage for her but also specially bought a courtyard with two entrances near the General Mansion as a dowry.
Ye Feng also prepared a residence, just on another street corner.
Molan’s wedding was held in her own courtyard.
Her dowry was also supplemented by her mistress.
Although she was merely a maid, her dowry surpassed that of many young ladies from small families.
"Molan, I asked the General; Ye Feng is freeborn." Xiao Chunyu held a small wooden box and handed it to Molan, "This, you keep it."
"Madam, this is..."
Xiao Chunyu gestured for her to open and look.
When she saw it was her life contract, Molan was not happy but rather terrified.
"Madam doesn’t want this servant anymore?"
Wasn’t it agreed that after getting married and resting for five days, she would return to the mansion to work? Why was even her life contract returned to her?
"You’re such a silly girl."
Seeing her eyes filled with tears, Xiao Chunyu also felt a bit reluctant to part.
"Didn’t we already agree? After you get married, you’ll rest for five days and then return to the mansion to work," Chunyu said. "However, you’re no longer a bondmaid. The General stated that Ye Feng is freeborn, so naturally, you too can only be freeborn. You are the legitimate wife of Ye Feng. In the future, your children can take the imperial exams, go into business, or politics, and will never have to serve as slaves or servants."
"Madam" Molan expressed her gratitude for Xiao Chunyu’s great kindness and once again knelt down: "This servant thanks Madam for her great kindness."
"Still calling yourself a servant?" Chunyu helped her up, "When I suffered at the Wu family, it was you, the nanny, and Jian Lan who protected me so that my daughter and I could leave unscathed. The day we lodged a complaint with the court and returned, my whole body was wounded, and it was with your support that I endured through those times, leading to our happiness today. I have long treated you like my own younger sister. From now on, you will no longer be a servant."
"Madam’s great kindness is remembered by Molan, but when serving by Madam’s side, it is better for Molan to refer to herself as a servant to avoid any misunderstanding that Madam’s teaching and management are lax."
This is also indeed true.
"Alright then, don’t fuss over such trivial matters. Quickly put on the bridal veil, the groom is about to arrive."
As she spoke, there was a commotion in the outer courtyard. Indeed, Ye Feng, dressed in bridal robes and wearing a ceremonial hat, came to escort the bride.
Seeing Xiao Chunyu, Ye Feng quickly saluted.
"Madam, I have come to marry Molan."
"Good, today I entrust Molan to you. I hope you cherish her, love her, and protect her. If one day you no longer love her, don’t hurt her. Just tell me, and I will take her back to the General Mansion."
"Rest assured, Madam, I swear that in this lifetime I will be loyal to Molan, I will cherish her, love her, and protect her, there won’t be a day for Madam to worry."
"Good, remember your words today, do not fail her."
"Yes, Madam."
"Molan, go on, I wish you eternal happiness."
On this day, everyone at the General Mansion was happy for Molan and Ye Feng.
However, the joys and sorrows between people are never the same.
While Ye Feng and Molan held a grand wedding, the Third Prince became a prisoner.
He was confined in the Imperial Clan Court.
The Emperor went to see him.
"Third Imperial Brother, I hope you’re well." The Third Prince let out a cold laugh at the person before him.
Victory makes you king, defeat makes you a prisoner; having fallen repeatedly in his hands, he had no choice but to concede.
"Third Imperial Brother, I don’t understand. You had a good life, why did you choose to overthrow the empire left by our ancestors? What was the point in that?"
"Tell me, you failed back then. After so many years, could you still uproot me?"
"Don’t get too complacent." The Third Prince snorted coldly, "You have only one son. Sooner or later, the empire of our ancestors will fall into the hands of a branch family."
"I have the Eldest Prince. I’m still young. I can still father ten or eight more princes."
"Is that so? Then why haven’t you had any yet? With only a single child, who knows when he might stop breathing."
The Third Prince hinted at something.
"It was you who harmed Che’er!"
The tone almost certainty.
"There’s no need for me to act. There are plenty willing to see him not live." The Third Prince sneered, "You could father a son when Doctor Xiao was around, but with Doctor Xiao gone, you can’t even sire a daughter."
What does that mean?
"Your children were all born thanks to the exclusive formulas of two generations of Doctor Xiao. It’s a pity that Doctor Xiao died a bit late. Had he died twelve years earlier, you wouldn’t have managed to sire even a single egg, let alone sons or daughters?"
"Was your hand involved in the Noble Consort’s false pregnancy?"
"Just realizing this now? I truly can’t understand why, even though I’m smarter than you, I ended up defeated at your hands?"