ushernet Chapter 443 Imperial Marriage
Chapter 443 Imperial Marriage
The next day, as dawn broke over Xianyang, golden light bathed the vermilion gates of Li Si's residence. A young eunuch loudly proclaimed the imperial decree bestowing Li Si's daughter, Li Yanran, in marriage to Fusu. His shrill voice echoed through the courtyard.
Li Si, dressed in court robes, knelt upright to receive the imperial edict, his hands trembling slightly as he accepted it. After the eunuch finished reading, he slowly rose, his eyes filled with barely suppressed joy. Days of scheming, countless sleepless nights, had finally borne fruit at this moment—how could he not be thrilled?
"Congratulations!" The servants around him crowded around, their faces beaming with obsequious smiles, their congratulations rising and falling like a tidal wave. Li Si smiled and nodded reservedly, but the smile overflowed from his eyes, impossible to hide.
“Father,” Li Si’s second son, Li Xu, slowly stepped out from behind the crowd, a bitter smile on his face, “Congratulations, Father, on achieving your wish.” There was a complex emotion in his voice that was hard for others to detect.
Li Si looked up at Li Xu, his smile pausing for a moment, but he quickly returned to normal: "Xu'er, this is a great joy for our Li family. In the future, you will also benefit from it. Don't put on such a face."
Li Xu forced a smile, "Your son understands, but I can't help but feel a little worried when I think about how my sister will become the Crown Princess and bear great responsibilities in the future."
Li Si waved his hand dismissively, saying, "You're worrying too much. Yanran has been intelligent since childhood and has a beautiful appearance. She and Prince Fusu are a match made in heaven. When Fusu ascends the throne, our Li family will be imperial relatives with immense power, and your future will be limitless."
Li Xu lowered his head silently, saying nothing more. He knew in his heart how much effort his father had put into this day. Since his father's demotion, he seemed to have stayed indoors all night, but Li Xu knew that his father had been busy in his study until midnight every night. Now that his father's plans had finally come to fruition, Li Xu should be happy for his father and sister, but he couldn't feel happy at all.
My younger sister has always been innocent and naive. Is marrying into the royal family really a good thing? Can Fusu really ascend to that position? Li Xu didn't want to upset her father at this time, so she could only suppress the sorrow in her heart.
The Li Si residence was bustling with activity, as if it were New Year's Day. The steward was busy arranging for servants to prepare a celebratory feast, and smoke and fragrant aromas filled the kitchen. The women gathered together, excitedly discussing Li Yanran's dowry.
“Madam, in my opinion, we must prepare a proper dowry for Yanran,” a concubine said to Li Si’s principal wife with a beaming smile. “She will become the mother of the nation in the future. If her dowry is meager, wouldn’t people laugh at us?”
The lady nodded slightly, her eyes filled with pride: "Of course, the master has already given the order to bring out all the good things that the manor has accumulated over the years, so that Yanran can be married off in a grand and glorious manner."
The unobstructed sunlight of Xianyang City streamed into the courtyard of Li Si's mansion, illuminating the carved beams and painted rafters with a golden glow. Li Yanran stood before her boudoir window, an ancient book in her hand, but her gaze was not on the pages; instead, she stared blankly at the scenery in the courtyard. A gentle breeze stirred, ruffling a strand of hair at her temple, but she remained oblivious.
These past few days, the Li Si household has been immersed in a flurry of activity and joy. Ever since the imperial decree of the King of Qin bestowing the marriage upon them was issued, the steward has been directing the servants to move utensils and purchase items, while the mother, along with a group of concubines and maids, has been inventorying Li Yanran's dowry. Even the usually stern father often wears a smile. But Li Yanran's mood, like the calm before a summer storm, is heavy and oppressive.
She wasn't opposed to marrying Fusu. In the noble circles of Xianyang, Prince Fusu had an excellent reputation. He was kind-hearted, approachable to the common people, and always attentive to the affairs of the realm; his insights were secretly praised by many ministers. Li Yanran thought that if she could spend her life with such a person, perhaps she could have a stable and meaningful marriage. However, all of this came too suddenly, catching her somewhat off guard.
Li Yanran's thoughts drifted back to a month ago. At that time, news spread throughout Xianyang City that the Great Qin Women's Academy would be established, and the noble ladies of the city were thrilled. Li Yanran was especially excited; she had always had a strong interest in reading and writing, and had already read through her family's collection of books countless times. In her view, women should not be confined to the small world of their own backyard, but should also have the opportunity to learn about the vast world outside.
She and several other young ladies from the same household often gathered to discuss the courses the academy might offer and to dream about life there. They made a pact to study hard together and become the first batch of students at the Great Qin Women's Academy. During those days, Li Yanran immersed herself in her studies, getting up early to memorize classics and historical texts, and practicing calligraphy and painting in the evenings, all in order to pass the entrance exam smoothly.
"Yanran, come and see the wedding dress your mother prepared for you." Her mother's voice came from the courtyard, interrupting Li Yanran's reverie. She sighed softly, put down the book in her hand, and turned to leave her boudoir.
In the courtyard, bolts of brightly colored silk were laid out on the table, and embroiderers sat together, their needles flying as they embroidered the patterns for the wedding dress. When her mother saw Li Yanran coming over, she quickly beckoned her to come over.
"Look, this is Shu brocade. It cost a lot of money to transport it from Shu. The colors are so bright and vibrant. And the embroidery is done by the best embroiderers in Xianyang. This phoenix is so lifelike, it looks like it's about to take flight." The mother said excitedly, her eyes full of expectations for her daughter's future.
Li Yanran forced a smile and reached out to touch the smooth silk: "Mother, it's so beautiful." But there was no joy in her tone.
Her mother seemed to notice her unusual behavior, took her hand, and asked with concern, "Yanran, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? This is a major event in your life. You're about to marry Prince Fusu and become the Crown Princess. In the future, you might even become the Empress. You should be happy."
Li Yanran bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Mother, I...I don't want to get married so early. I still want to study at the Great Qin Women's Academy. My sisters and I have already made plans."
Her mother's expression changed slightly. She released her hand and said, "Silly child, a girl will eventually get married. Studying is just a pastime, not a serious matter. Now that such a good marriage is right in front of you, don't be foolish."
Li Yanran wanted to say something more, but her mother interrupted her: "Alright, stop talking about this. Just focus on getting married. Don't worry about the academy anymore." After saying that, her mother turned around and went back to discuss the details of the wedding dress with the embroiderers.
Li Yanran returned to her room dejectedly, sat on the edge of her bed, and tears welled up in her eyes. She remembered her father's promise to allow her to study at the Daqin Women's Academy. But now, everything had changed.