MCSCPM -Chapter 327 Bestowed Marriage

The guard returned to the palace and reported the matter to Chu Helian.

Chu Helian found the whole affair rather strange. He did not believe in any so-called “fairy sister” at all—it was probably nonsense spoken by children. Still, it was also possible that what the children said was not entirely false, and that his son truly did like Shangguan Jiaoran.

At present, Shangguan Jiaoran was still being held in the Court of Judicial Review (Dali Temple). Chu Helian thought that, no matter what, she was the daughter of the great general Shangguan Qingyun. If Shangguan Jiaoran were to marry Prince Yi, she could be released from the Dali Temple, easing Shangguan Qingyun’s worries and ensuring his loyalty. Moreover, Prince Yi was no longer young—it was time for him to take a wife.

After thinking it through, Chu Helian made his decision. Since the rumor had already spread, he would simply go along with it. Better to bestow Shangguan Jiaoran upon Prince Yi and save Shangguan Qingyun further concern.

“Eunuch Sun, pass on my decree. Bestow marriage upon Shangguan Jiaoran to Prince Yi as his consort.”

Eunuch Sun was startled and asked cautiously, “Your Majesty, did you not intend for Prince Jing to marry Miss Shangguan?”

“A woman like Shangguan Jiaoran is far from worthy of being Prince Jing’s consort. Doesn’t Shangguan Qingyun want his daughter to be a consort? I shall fulfill that wish—but the one she marries will not be Prince Jing, but Prince Yi. Either way, she will still be a consort.”

“Is Your Majesty not afraid that General Shangguan will refuse?”

“What he cares about most right now is his daughter. By issuing this decree, she can leave the Dali Temple and marry Prince Yi. It serves two purposes—she gains freedom and becomes a consort. What reason would Shangguan Qingyun have to be dissatisfied?”

After hearing this, Eunuch Sun finally understood and said, “So that is Your Majesty’s intention. This servant was foolish before and only understands now.”

“It is not too late to understand,” Chu Helian replied. After a moment’s thought, he added, “Eunuch Sun, you are to personally deliver this decree to the Shangguan residence.”

“This servant understands.”

Understanding the Emperor’s meaning, Eunuch Sun received the decree and quickly went to the Shangguan residence.

Shangguan Qingyun had been consumed with worry over his daughter’s situation and had no heart for anything else. Seeing an imperial decree arrive—and Eunuch Sun himself delivering it—he immediately knew it was an important matter.

“By imperial decree—General Shangguan, receive the edict.”

Shangguan Qingyun knelt on the ground as Eunuch Sun read aloud.

Unfolding the decree, Eunuch Sun solemnly proclaimed:
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shangguan Jiaoran, daughter of Shangguan Qingyun, is virtuous, dignified, respectful, and prudent. She is hereby bestowed in marriage to Prince Yi, Chu Yifeng, as his consort. So ordered.”

The decree had barely been read when Shangguan Qingyun stared at it in shock, utterly stunned. For a long time, he did not rise to receive it.

His daughter was supposed to marry Prince Jing, Chu Jingcheng. How could it suddenly be Prince Yi? Prince Jing was the Emperor’s most favored son and was certain to become the future emperor of Beihua. If his daughter married him, she would one day be empress. Yet now, she was to be married to Prince Yi instead. Had everything before been a lie?

Seeing what Shangguan Qingyun was thinking, Eunuch Sun understood why the Emperor had sent him personally. He stepped forward, helped Shangguan Qingyun to his feet, and leaned in to whisper, “General Shangguan, think carefully. Your daughter is still in the Dali Temple. Only by marrying Prince Yi can she be released—and she will become a princess consort. Is that not killing two birds with one stone? Moreover, this is an imperial decree. If you refuse to accept it, that would be defying the Emperor. You must consider this carefully.”

These words were clearly not something Eunuch Sun would say on his own. Since the Emperor had sent him personally, it was obvious that these were the Emperor’s intentions, merely conveyed through Eunuch Sun.

The reasoning was sound. Shangguan Qingyun worried about his daughter and wanted her freed. Accepting the decree was the only way—but doing so meant his plan to have her marry Prince Jing would be ruined.

Seeing that Shangguan Qingyun still hesitated and had yet to accept the decree, Eunuch Sun continued, “General Shangguan, if you do not accept the decree, your daughter may remain in the Dali Temple for the rest of her life. You must consider the greater good. Please accept the decree.”

He raised the imperial edict and held it out before Shangguan Qingyun.

For the sake of the greater situation—and for his daughter—Shangguan Qingyun had no choice. After a long moment, he finally reached out and accepted the decree.

Once the decree was accepted, Eunuch Sun’s task was complete. If Shangguan Qingyun were to resist now, the Emperor would have reason to destroy the Shangguan family and reclaim their military power.

“General, this old servant offers his congratulations,” Eunuch Sun said politely before returning to the palace.

Holding the heavy imperial decree, Shangguan Qingyun felt as if something were pressing down on his chest, leaving him unable to breathe. He did not know what to think.

Soon after, Shangguan Jiaoran was released from the Dali Temple.

She had been imprisoned for a long time and never imagined that her release would come because she was to be married.

As she left, she still looked arrogant and domineering. She slapped a guard hard across the face and said, “So you finally let this young lady out! I told you long ago—once I got out, I’d make you all pay!”

“Yes, yes, this humble one deserves death,” the guard replied hastily. He dared not talk back. Shangguan Jiaoran could easily beat them to death. It was best to obediently send this plague away as quickly as possible.

Shangguan Jiaoran returned triumphantly to the Shangguan residence. Seeing her father waiting at the entrance, she rushed over and said, “Father, you must have asked the Emperor to release me, right?”

Shangguan Qingyun remained silent.

She continued excitedly, “Father, do you know how much I suffered in there? Just seeing those guards made me furious! Father, you’re the best—if not for you, I’d still be locked inside!”

“It was not your father who asked the Emperor to release you,” Shangguan Qingyun said heavily. “It was the Emperor’s own order.”

Shangguan Jiaoran failed to notice his tone. Hearing that the Emperor himself had released her, she jumped up in delight. “So the Emperor treats Jiaoran so well! Of course—after all, I’m meant to become Prince Jing’s consort. It’s only right that he released me. Father, since the Emperor let me out, does that mean he’s going to bestow marriage and make me Prince Jing’s consort?”

She grew even more excited.

After a long silence, Shangguan Qingyun finally spoke the truth slowly. “Ran’er… being Prince Yi’s consort isn’t so bad either.”

“Father, what does Prince Yi’s consort have to do with anything? I’m talking about Prince Jing’s consort.”

“There is no Prince Jing’s consort anymore. You are now Prince Yi’s consort,” Shangguan Qingyun said.

Shangguan Jiaoran stared at him in confusion, unable to understand for a long time. “Father, what are you talking about? Why don’t I understand? What do you mean there’s no Prince Jing’s consort, only Prince Yi’s consort? Father, what’s going on? Tell me!”

Growing anxious, she grabbed Shangguan Qingyun’s hand and shook it.

The next moment, Shangguan Qingyun shook her off angrily. “Things have come to this today—you cannot blame your father. You can only blame yourself.”

“What do you mean? I really don’t understand! Did something happen? Does it have to do with me becoming Prince Jing’s consort? Father, hurry up and tell me—I’m going to die of anxiety!”

“Do you know why you were released from the Dali Temple?” Shangguan Qingyun said helplessly. “It’s because today the Emperor issued a decree bestowing you in marriage to Prince Yi, as his consort—not Prince Jing’s.”

As he finished speaking, he shook his head again and again, sighing deeply.

Shangguan Jiaoran’s eyes widened. She stumbled backward, shaking her head desperately. She refused to believe it—this was impossible, absolutely impossible.

With deep disbelief, she said, “Father, you must be lying to me, right? That can’t be true. I’m supposed to be Prince Jing’s consort, not Prince Yi’s. I don’t want to be Prince Yi’s consort—I don’t want this! Didn’t the Emperor say before that he would give me to Prince Jing? How did it turn out like this?”

She was completely agitated now, tears streaming down her face.

Seeing her like this, Shangguan Qingyun felt both heartache and disappointment. “Ran’er, things have turned out this way because you brought it upon yourself. How many times did I tell you to behave and not cause trouble? But you never listened. You were imprisoned in the Dali Temple, and the only way to save you was to accept the Emperor’s bestowed marriage. Your father had no choice.”

“I won’t! I won’t marry him! I will never marry Prince Yi! No matter what, I’ll only marry Prince Jing—I want nothing else!” She was on the verge of collapse.

“You no longer have a choice,” Shangguan Qingyun said. “I have already accepted the imperial decree. If you refuse to marry, that would be defying the Emperor—and our entire Shangguan family would suffer.”

“But Father, why won’t you think of me?” she cried. “Have you thought about how I feel? The one I love is Prince Jing, not Prince Yi! I don’t want to marry him. I don’t want to! Father, I beg you—don’t force me!”

She shook her head desperately. Though she didn’t know Prince Yi well, she was certain she could never love him.

“The matter is already settled,” Shangguan Qingyun said with a frown. “If I hadn’t done this, you would still be in the Dali Temple, unable to come out. I don’t want to see you suffer.”

In the end, he too had been forced into this. The Emperor had used his daughter as a bargaining chip. If he didn’t agree, something would surely happen to her. As a great general, he was powerless—he had done it all for his daughter.

But Shangguan Jiaoran refused to listen. Through tears, she said, “If that’s the case, I’d rather stay locked in the Dali Temple for the rest of my life than come out and marry someone I don’t love.”

“You have no choice now.”

“I don’t care! I won’t marry him—kill me if you want, I still won’t marry him!”

“Do you want to see the entire Shangguan family destroyed for defying the imperial decree?”

“I…” Shangguan Jiaoran hesitated. She knew the consequences would indeed be as her father said. Yet stubborn as she was, being made to marry Prince Yi instead of Prince Jing felt utterly unacceptable.

After thinking for a moment, she stepped back, no longer wanting to argue, and said firmly, “Father, I will not agree to this. The only man I love is Prince Jing.”

Shangguan Qingyun could only shake his head helplessly. How had things come to this?