Madam Han froze for a moment before scoffing, "You really did forget your own family once you had a husband’s family!" Saying that, she let the curtain of the carriage fall and instructed the coachman to leave.
Watching the departing carriage, Han Xinran felt deeply hurt. She lifted her head to hold back the tears in her eyes before turning around to head back to the residence.
Prince Shengping stayed in the country estate for two days, personally supervising the servants as they made a batch of rouge, and then he leisurely returned to the city.
As soon as Prince Shengping returned to the residence, the Ma Family eagerly gossiped to him about all the malicious rumors that had injured both parties, which made Prince Shengping’s eyebrows twitch in annoyance.
Just when Prince Shengping became angry and was about to order people to find Xiao Yeyang, an envoy from the palace arrived.
"Your Majesty, you called for me?"
Compared to the discomfort of others, Prince Shengping seemed quite at ease in the presence of the Emperor.
The Emperor glanced at him, "Finally deigned to return to your residence?"
Prince Shengping handed several exquisitely packaged boxes of rouge to Eunuch An with a cheerful grin, "Your Majesty, these are the new rouge creams that I’ve developed."
The Emperor gave him a sidelong glance, "Have you heard about the matter between Yeyang and the Yan Family girl?"
Prince Shengping hummed, "The rumors are flying high; of course, I’ve heard. Your Majesty, you must not indulge that lad Yeyang. Definitely don’t let him marry that seductive woman."
The Emperor placed down the memorial, "I heard about Yeyang and the Yan Family girl two years ago. Both families were aware of their relationship, which is quite different from those rumors."
Prince Shengping was surprised.
The Emperor continued, "To be honest, your son was the one who first provoked the lady. Now the Jiang Family is spreading rumors everywhere. Her reputation is ruined. As a father, what do you think should be done?"
Prince Shengping was at a loss for words and after a long while, he tentatively suggested, "Well, how about we have the Yan Family girl become Yeyang’s concubine?"
The Emperor regarded Prince Shengping, thinking to himself, if his uncle knew Xiaojiu had arranged for his only disciple to become a concubine, he would probably really want to give him a severe lesson.
"The Yan Family girl is personally granted the title of Countess by myself. When the Northern Frontier was unstable, the Yan Family d both grain and medicine. Now, you want their daughter to become a concubine?"
Prince Shengping fell silent, "Then Your Majesty, what do you think should be done?"
The Emperor smiled and handed over the marriage decree he had prepared in advance to Prince Shengping.
After Prince Shengping read the decree, he felt he had been schemed against and couldn’t help but say, "About the Empress Dowager..."
The Emperor indifferently said, "The slanderous rumors originated from the Jiang Family. Xiao Yeyang, as a Prince and imperial descendant, has ruined the young lady’s reputation and should naturally take responsibility."
Prince Shengping was very good at reading the room; though the Emperor seemed to be discussing the matter with him, he could tell that the Emperor had made up his mind, and he knew that opposing was futile, so he nodded in agreement.
"If that young man insists on marrying a girl who is not his social equal, he better not come to me weeping about any troubles in the future!"
The Emperor looked at him, "Isn’t the wife you have now also not matching your social status?"
Prince Shengping showed an embarrassed expression, "How can Yeyang compare with me? I have Your Majesty to rely on, but what about him? He has a brother, yes, and they fight like hens."
The Emperor shook his head and said no more. Xiao Yeyang and Xiao Yechen had caused the current state of affairs, and he, as their uncle, bore the entire responsibility.
The events within the palace drew great concern from all the households, and when the envoy from the palace took the imperial edict directly to the Yan Family, the well-informed knew about it immediately.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
It has come to our attention that the Ministry of Revenue Vice Minister Yan Zhigao’s eldest legitimate daughter Yan Yiyi is skilled, gracious, benevolent and modest, and possesses outstanding character and beauty, which has greatly pleased the Empress Dowager and Us. Now that Prince Shengping’s son Xian Yeyang is suitable to marry... Choose an auspicious date to complete the wedding, by Our order!"
When Daohua received the imperial edict from the eunuch’s hands, the news that the Emperor had betrothed Xiao Yeyang to the Countess of Shengping spread like wildfire to every household.