Unexpectedly, a few days later, news broke out that Emperor Lin planned to have Viscount Xi and the Fifth Imperial Princess get married.
Lin Feilu was stunned when she heard about it. Her first reaction was to wonder whether Xi Xingjiang was the one who asked Emperor Lin if he could marry her. However, he denied it in a flash. Although Xi Xingjiang was inconspicuous, he respected boundaries. Since she had clearly refused him previously, he definitely didn’t try to force her.
When Xi Xingjiang heard the news, he was also very horrified. He immediately came to Lin Feilu and repeatedly denied, “I didn’t do it! Even if I wanted to marry you, I would still use my ability to make you marry me willingly. I would never pull a trick like this from behind by any means!”
The parties involved were very confused about this matter, but others were very enthusiastic, and everyone had different opinions.
In the end, rumours were spreading around that Viscount Xi and the Fifth Imperial Princess had already agreed to have each other for life. It was also said that when the Fifth Imperial Princess was born, Emperor Lin had already destined their marriage.
Lin Feilu felt that the gossip spread by these ancient busybodies were no better than the media of the modern world.
Even Yan Xin came to ask her, “I heard that you got engaged?”
Lin Feilu, “Where is the Yellow River? I want to jump in there and drown.”
…
Spring left and summer was approaching. In the late days of spring, Lin Feilu’s 15th birthday was finally ushered in.
Naturally, the palace threw a big banquet to celebrate the Fifth Princess’s birthday. At the banquet, Emperor Lin issued a decree to the world, declaring Lin Feilu as ‘Princess Yong An’ and bestowed her with the ‘Princess Yong An Residence’.
After hearing about the gossip for so long, those who waited for Emperor Lin to grant her marriage were disappointed that there wasn’t an imperial edict for it in the end.
Although Emperor Lin felt that his most well-behaved Princess should marry the most heroic young general in the world, he still considered Lin Feilu’s thoughts and agreed to give her some time to think about it. Unless he got her consent, the marriage would not be decided so simply.
Lin Feilu’s birthday banquet ended with her feeling trepid but happily moved out of the palace with Lin Zhanyuan the next day.
Everything in Princess Yong An’s Residence had been taken care of. Besides Songyu and another maid who had taken care of Lin Zhanyuan his entire life, there was a new batch of stewards in the mansion. Lin Feilu officially became the head of the residence and, naturally, paid equal attention to the tiniest details. With that, she managed the residence in an orderly manner.
After Lin Feilu’s birthday, it was time for Yan Xin and Lin Ting to leave.
The night before their departure, she set up a banquet in the mansion. She did not invite anyone else, intending to send the two on their way by herself.
Lin Feilu knew that he probably wouldn’t come back these few years after Lin Ting left. Although she was happy that he had gained his love and freedom, she was also reluctant to leave her Eldest Brother.
After three rounds of drinking, she excused herself to watch the night sky with Yan Xin and went alone with her.
It was not until that night that Lin Feilu told Yan Xin that Lin Ting took poison back then.
He was her brother, and she wished him to be safe and healthy and hoped that he could live happily and peacefully forever.
She talked a lot to Yan Xin— about the succession battle in the capital, about the innocent people who died in the battle, and the guilt Lin Ting couldn’t let go of. In the end, she just smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, I’ll leave my brother to you.”
Comments