"Is General Yan refusing the imperial decree?" the eunuch asked with a fake smile.
General Yan replied, "Your Excellency, I dare not refuse the decree. I merely wish to ask His Majesty."
"Then do not blame me for not reminding you, His Majesty despises defiance. General Yan, you are on your own!"
With that, the eunuch flicked his sleeve and left.
General Yan stood up and watched the eunuch's retreating back. "Yan Zhao, you will accompany me to see His Majesty."
Yan Zhao rose and said, "Father, I caused this matter. I should handle it myself."
General Yan backhanded him with a punch. "You rascal, do you think I want to go? I'm just afraid His Majesty might chop off your head in anger! With me present, His Majesty will at least show some consideration for the Yan family's contributions to the荒泽."
"Father…"
"Stop dawdling and let's go. This sort of thing is best not delayed," General Yan said.
Yan Zhao said no more and accompanied General Yan to the palace.
At the same time, Prince Jing and Xue Changyi also received the news. Prince Jing was somewhat annoyed. How could Yan Zhao be so ungrateful? What was wrong with Changyi that he dared to refuse the imperial decree for marriage?
Xue Changyi also hadn't expected that even a general's mansion would dare to refuse an imperial decree for marriage. Hua Yun Jin rejected her, and now a boorish general dared to reject her.
Xue Changyi was truly angry.
"Imperial Brother, we absolutely cannot let the General's Mansion continue to be so arrogant."
"Rest assured, Changyi, Imperial Brother will surely reclaim this honor for you," Prince Jing said coldly.
"I will accompany Imperial Brother to see Father Emperor," Xue Changyi declared.
Prince Jing nodded. "Alright, but you must listen to Imperial Brother."
Xue Changyi nodded.
"I will also go. To dare refuse an imperial decree for marriage, to reject my Changyi's marriage, I will never let this matter rest."
In the prison, upon hearing that people from the General's Mansion and the Shu Palace were requesting an audience, the Emperor of 荒泽 smiled. "Aning, you were right. In the end, they all have to see me. Come, Aning, accompany me to see and hear what they have to say."
"Yes, Father Emperor." Even without his father's permission, Xue Zining had intended to go and see.
Upon arriving at the imperial study, they could already hear an argument taking place inside. "Father Emperor, let's stop outside for a moment!"
The Emperor of 荒泽 immediately stopped. "Whatever Aning says, so be it."
"General Yan, what you have done is too much. It is your honor for my Changyi to marry into the General's Mansion, yet you dare to refuse the marriage?" Judging by the voice, it must be Consort Yi.
General Yan replied, "Consort Yi, this humble official naturally knows Princess Changyi's noble status, but my son's heart belongs elsewhere. Even if it means defying the decree, he does not wish to deceive Princess Your Highness."
"May I know which woman young General Yan favors? If possible, I can have her brought in as a concubine."
"Princess Changyi, in my heart, she is noble and beautiful. I once vowed that if I could marry her, I would spend my life with only her, growing old together."
"Young General Yan, do you think it is appropriate to say such things in front of Changyi?" Prince Jing said coldly.
"Your Highness Prince Jing, love arises without reason. I have no interest in anyone else, so I implore Your Highness Prince Jing to persuade Princess Changyi not to fixate on me. I will marry no one but her in this life."
"Presumptuous! To speak such words before me, before my Changyi! General Yan, have you bullied me too much? I will surely report the Yan family to His Majesty in detail."
"Aning, do you wish to continue listening?" the Emperor of 荒泽 asked Xue Zining.
"No need, Father Emperor."
The Emperor of 荒泽 nodded and glanced at a nearby eunuch. The shrewd eunuch, understanding immediately, loudly announced, "His Majesty arrives!"
The Emperor of 荒泽 strode into the study. "Long live His Majesty, long, long live!"
The Emperor of 荒泽 said, "Rise, all of you. Do you have something to tell me?"
Prince Jing spoke first. "Father Emperor, the General's Mansion wishes to break the engagement."
The Emperor of 荒泽 looked at General Yan and asked, "General Yan, is what Prince Jing says correct?"
General Yan quickly kowtowed. "Your Majesty, there is a reason for this matter. I beg Your Majesty to allow this humble official to explain the circumstances."
"Speak. If your explanation is not satisfactory, I will not be lenient. Rise and speak."
General Yan stood up and said, "Your Majesty, it is simply that my son's heart belongs elsewhere. If he marries Princess Changyi, he will be letting down Your Majesty's trust and disappointing Princess Changyi. Thus, he refused the marriage."
"Do not speak of your refusal so nobly, so high-mindedly," Consort Yi said angrily.
"Consort Yi, you are Princess Changyi's mother. Do you not care for Princess Changyi's happiness?" General Yan retorted.
As Consort Yi was about to speak, Prince Jing interrupted her, shaking his head. "Since General Yan has said this, Father Emperor, I hope General Yan can tell us what kind of woman Young General Yan truly likes, so that Changyi may give up hope."
General Yan heard this and glanced at Princess Changning standing behind the Emperor of 荒泽. Xue Zining nodded to General Yan.
General Yan smiled and said, "Your Highness Prince Jing, since you have put it this way, I shall not hide it any longer..."
"Your Majesty, please allow me to answer my own matters," Yan Zhao suddenly said.
The Emperor of 荒泽 laughed heartily. "Good, speak quickly. I, too, wish to know what kind of woman has captured Young General Yan's eye."
Yan Zhao slowly raised his eyes, his gaze falling upon Xue Zining. "Your Majesty, my heart has been set on Princess Changning for many years. I hope Your Majesty will grant my wish."
Everyone in the imperial study fell silent.
"Impossible…"
Xue Changyi shook her head.
"Princess Changyi, I apologize, but I am truly smitten with Princess Changning at first sight, and I have no regrets in this life."
Xue Changyi shook her head, tears flowing down her face. First Xue Chang'an snatched her Hua Shizi, and now Xue Changning snatched her marriage.
"Young General Yan, you must make this clear. Did you not refuse Changning before?"
"Your Highness Prince Jing, I refused before simply because I felt I was not worthy of Princess Changning. But now I know that perhaps I will never be worthy in this lifetime. However, I cannot wait a lifetime. Allow me to strive bit by bit, to become worthy of Princess Changning. One day, I will succeed."
"Good, well said." The Emperor of 荒泽 was very pleased.
"Your Majesty, Yan Zhao refused the marriage and defied the imperial decree. This is a grave offense," Consort Yi could not help but say. Since he could not marry Changyi, then no one else should have it easy.
"Consort Yi, there are many talented young men. Why cling to just Yan Zhao? I will find another good consort for Changyi."
Consort Yi was about to retort, but Prince Jing stopped her, shaking his head.
Consort Yi forcibly swallowed her words.
"Since Changyi is not the person Young General Yan desires, and I am not one to force a union, then I shall issue a new imperial decree, granting the marriage between Changning and Yan Zhao!"