After Mu Ming changed his clothes, he went to the study and a short while later, the butler hurried over.
"Young master, someone from the palace has arrived." The butler rushed into the study and bowed in front of the desk.
Seeing the steward's flustered expression, Mu Ming was curious and asked, "Did you say what it was?"
"That's the eunuch by the emperor's side. He's even holding an imperial edict." The butler calmed himself down. His tone of voice was no longer as hasty as before.
"Let's go."
When Mu Ming heard the imperial edict, he immediately walked towards the main hall. He thought to himself, what's the matter? Could it be that the border is in emergency again? Or was it some sort of reward?
Inside the main hall, the eunuch stood in the middle with an imperial edict in his hand. When Mu Ming saw this, he became respectful. He slowed down his pace and adjusted his breath before speaking, "I am indebted to Greatfather. I have come with great difficulty to welcome you."
"General Mu, you are trying to kill us all by saying this. Today, we are here to give the general a huge celebration."
This lord knows what the decree says, and he thinks that this General Mu is born with good fortune. Although the eunuch's face was filled with congratulations, as the emperor's trusted aide, he couldn't afford to look down on him. He was only saying this now as a way to tell Mu Ming that this was the reward and not the punishment.
"Thank you, Eunuch."
After Mu Ming said this, he knelt in front of his father-in-law. The butler and servant girls that came with him also knelt on the ground. The eunuch glanced around the room, and when he saw everyone's respectful attitude, he began to read out the imperial edict.
"General Mu Ming, listen to my orders." Following the will of the heavens, the emperor decreed that General Mu Ming would keep the military strategy in mind and would also help the My Xiao Country achieve outstanding war merits. He was, in fact, a meritorious general of the nation. "
When he said this, he paused for a moment to look at Mu Ming before continuing, "General's performance on the stage in the Imperial Garden was outstanding. This Emperor pitied him for having no parents and no one expected him to be so important in his entire life. Grand Princess Xuanyuan Jing's character was dignified, respectful, sensitive, skilled and generous. General Mu Ming could be said to have been created by the heavens. In order to make her look beautiful, he had betrothed Grand Princess Xuanyuan Jing to General Mu Ming as his wife. All etiquette was handed over to the Ministry of Rites and the Vanguard of Heavens, who would handle it together. They would choose a good day for the marriage. The announcement was made both at home and abroad. "Here it is."
After the eunuch finished reciting the imperial edict, he glanced at Mu Ming, then closed the imperial edict and passed it to Mu Ming.
"General, accept the decree."
Mu Ming looked at the bright yellow imperial edict in his eunuch's hand and didn't know what to feel in his heart.
He couldn't accept this royal decree. He had originally wanted to dodge the blade in the arena, but he hadn't expected that he would be chosen. This... What should he do?
Mu Ming's heart was filled with mixed emotions as he thought of the ignorant Shangguan Qinger who was still in her residence.
If she marries a Grand Princess, that would mean she has failed Qing Er …
Mu Ming raised his head to look at his father-in-law and said, "Eunuch, I apologize for disobeying the decree." Even if there was just a little bit of hope, he still wanted to fight for it.
When the eunuch heard Mu Ming's words, he thought to himself, "This child is very arrogant. I don't know if he stayed in the army camp for too long, or if someone taught him."
"General, are you staying in the military camp for too long?" This was not the border, so the military order was not given to those who followed the so-called general outside. In the capital, it was disrespectful to disobey orders, but one had to exterminate nine races. General, let's get this straight. "
The eunuch bent over and whispered into Mu Ming's ear, "Why does the general resist such a decree? It must be because he has someone he likes. "If the Emperor knew, what do you think he would do?"
After the eunuch said this, he glanced at Mu Ming and saw the veins on his head bulging.
He smiled with satisfaction and said, "General, although you are an orphan, don't forget that your parents and family still have people."
"You!" Mu Ming was infuriated by his father-in-law's threats, but he still held it in.
"General, accept the decree." The eunuch then sent the imperial edict forward.
Mu Ming looked at the imperial edict and said, "This subject thanks the Emperor for his grace."
Mu Ming kowtowed on the ground. The eunuch nodded his head, "Generals are wise. In the future, you will know that the Grand Princess is a woman that cannot be found in the world. "Don't let me down."
"I thank eunuch for his good intentions. Your father-in-law, please stay for a cup of tea. " Mu Ming saw that the smile in the eunuch's eyes had disappeared, and was now filled with anger.
Thank you, General Mu, for your kind intentions. We will not drink this tea anymore, but we will come up to beg for a drink some day, please do not be stingy, General. The eunuch glanced at the tea that was served by the maidservant. The tea leaves were scattered and there was no warmth to be seen. He could not help but sneer in his heart.
However, Mu Ming still had a smile on his face.
"Then, I will not keep Eunuch Mu. I will make it so that Eunuch can leave."
Mu Ming bowed towards his father-in-law before sending him off. As he watched his father-in-law ride away, he felt a pang in his heart. He looked at the imperial edict in his hand, not knowing what to say.
"Young master, this imperial edict... Do you want to talk to Miss Shangguan? "
The butler asked cautiously and thought of that Miss Shangguan.
If it was Miss Shangguan, she would definitely not have liked this news.
If the general and the princess were to be married, then Lady Shangguan would definitely be a concubine.
Although some nobles said that they had an equal wife, that was still against the law.
The general could not do such a thing.
"This matter... Even if I didn't say it, the entire mansion would have known it already. " Mu Ming placed the imperial edict in his study and looked at it with a worried expression. He didn't know what to do.
On the other side, Shangguan Qinger was practicing her swordsmanship in the inner courtyard of the General's Manor, while the young maids were doing their jobs and watching from the sidelines.
In a short while, another young maid came over and started conversing with the young maidservants who were doing the chores.
"Are you speaking the truth?"
"How could it be fake? I was listening from the side."
"Then, General, are you going to marry the princess in the future?"
"What did you say?!" Seeing them talking and laughing together, Shangguan Qinger wanted to join in on the fun, but didn't expect to hear the news right after she approached.
When the maidservants heard Miss Shangguan's voice, they finally realized that their master and Miss Shangguan were in love. If the Emperor had inserted this piece of leverage... But it was the General and Lady Shangguan who suffered.
"Miss Shangguan, don't worry, I'll tell you."
Then, the servant girl and Shangguan Qinger, who were originally serving in the front courtyard, explained the situation to them.
However, Shangguan Qinger was still deeply dissatisfied with the Emperor's bestowal of the marriage. In a fit of anger, she ran over to the study room to find Mu Ming to clarify the matter.
"I'm afraid this Miss Shangguan has no hope with the general."
"What are you talking about? Isn't there still the Third Prince? If the general really wants to marry Miss Shangguan, then he can just go beg the Third Prince. "
"But think about it, if the general and princess are married, who would dare to say no to the general?" Besides, even if Lady Shangguan was a concubine, she would still go there. Not like us, even for those concubines of rich families, it's just a thought. "
"You little hoof, you're talking about your own body? It's fine if they can be safe, but what are they looking forward to? "
As the servants chatted and laughed, Mu Ming and Shangguan Qinger looked at each other in the study room. The two of them did not say a word and only watched quietly. Mu Ming already knew why she had come here, but even though he found it hard to endure, he didn't know what to say.
Seeing the two of them like this, the butler quietly bowed and left. Shangguan Qinger looked at Mu Ming, her eyes filled with tears.
"Qing Er..."
In the end, Mu Ming was unable to hold back and did not say anything else.
Shangguan Qinger casually picked up a cup of tea and slapped it towards Mu Ming, who nimbly dodged it.
Seeing that he dared to snatch it, Shangguan Qinger's anger grew even stronger. She unsheathed her sword and attacked Mu Ming.
Mu Ming saw Shangguan Qinger using her sword to attack him, so he turned around and left her place, passing by her while snatching the sword sheath in her hand, in order to block Shangguan Qinger's attack.
Shangguan Qinger's heart was filled with grief, his sword techniques were in a mess but it was still as sharp as before. When she dodged, she was also afraid of hurting her, so from time to time, she would cut off her clothes due to Shangguan Qinger.
In the end, Mu Ming was unable to dodge in time and was stabbed in the waist by Shangguan Qinger.
"Elder Brother Mu!" Shangguan Qinger immediately threw her sword into the wall to check on Mu Ming's injuries.
"Isn't your kung fu good?! But how could he be hurt by me!? "
It was because Shangguan Qinger knew that Mu Ming's martial arts were far above hers that she attacked him without restraint.
Shangguan Qinger's eyes reddened as tears fell down onto Mu Ming's clothes drop by drop.
"Qing Er, I'm fine." Shangguan Qinger immediately retracted his hand after seeing red in the middle of his attack, and did not harm his vital parts. No matter how heavy Mu Ming's injuries were, he had been injured before, but to Mu Ming, they were nothing at all.
"Elder Brother Mu... But you … Are you going to be a prince consort? " Shangguan Qinger's eyes were completely red as she asked Mu Ming. Seeing her like this, but thinking of what her father-in-law had said, Mu Ming softly agreed.
Hearing Mu Ming's straightforward reply, Shangguan Qinger's heart was in extreme pain.
Looking at Mu Ming, he questioned, "But why? But I, Shangguan Qinger am not a member of the royal family, so what benefits can I get to the Elder Brother Mu? Or is it that I'm not from a good family and am not compatible with you? Could it be that all that you've said before was a lie? "
"None of them... Qing Er, I am definitely not what you think. " Mu Ming looked at Shangguan Qinger. He wanted to tell her what had happened, but he was afraid that she would do something. At that time, they didn't want to split up, so they had no choice but to do so …
"Then Elder Brother Mu, what is the reason? If you say it out loud, I'll believe it. " Shangguan Qinger looked at Mu Ming, in her eyes was only trust.
Mu Ming looked at that pair of eyes and felt a surge of emotions, but he couldn't say anything. He wasn't willing to lie to her. It was this silence that caused Shangguan Qinger to instantly fall into the depths of the valley.
"I understand now …"
Shangguan Qinger swayed unsteadily as though she had lost her soul, and walked out.
Seeing this, Mu Ming's heart became anxious. He wanted to get up and chase after Shangguan Qinger, but because he had stood up too fiercely, his head felt a little dizzy.
When it settled down, Shangguan Qinger was no longer there. When Mu Ming saw this, he no longer chased after him …. After he dealt with all of these matters, he would go and find Shangguan Qinger …
had returned to her room and was sitting at the window in a daze, thinking about something. When he came back to his senses, he found that the sun was setting in the west.
A servant girl kept calling Shangguan Qinger's name. Shangguan Qinger looked over and saw that she had handed him a card.
"The Battle King Manor sent the note saying that the Battle Princess would pay a visit to Miss Shangguan tomorrow. Does Miss want to see Battle Princess? " The young maid sighed when she saw Miss Shangguan so absent-minded.
"See you." Shangguan Qinger was muddleheaded, and with that said, she went to bed.
Seeing this, the young maid did not know what to say, and went to the hall to report back to the Battle King Manor.