Imperial Husband Chapter 12

Yang Shaochuan respectfully held the imperial edict as he entered the Prince of Dingbei's mansion. "The imperial edict has arrived. Li Jin, receive the decree."

This single sentence caused a thousand waves, stunning everyone present. They were all completely baffled as to why Yang Shaochuan was calling for Li Jin to receive the decree instead of Li Shiyun, the Prince of Dingbei himself.

"Li Jin receives the decree."

Li Jin calmly knelt to receive the decree.

Seeing this, the others had no choice but to suppress their questions and kneel together.

Yang Shaochuan nodded, then opened the edict in front of everyone and proclaimed, "By the decree of Heaven, the Emperor commands: Li Jin, the third son of the Prince of Dingbei, Li Shiyun, is humble and courteous... We confer upon you the title of Heir Apparent. So it is decreed!"

"Thank you for your great grace, may Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years."

Unlike the disbelieving people around him, Li Jin composedly expressed his gratitude and accepted the edict handed to him by Yang Shaochuan.

In his previous life, this same scene had occurred. But the difference was, back then, Li Jin had just recovered from a serious illness and was still weak on his feet. Furthermore, Ping'an had been severely injured by Wei Shiwan and couldn't get up, so with no one to support him, Li Jin had stumbled and fallen in front of everyone immediately after receiving the edict, becoming a laughingstock.

Yang Shaochuan offered congratulations, "Congratulations, Heir Apparent."

With this edict, as long as Li Jin's health didn't suffer any mishaps and he committed no treasonous acts, his position as Heir Apparent was as stable as Mount Tai.

Li Jin said politely, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Yang."

Lin Zhong hurried forward and said, "Eunuch Yang, you have worked hard coming all this way. Would you like to go inside for some tea?"

"You are too kind. This servant must return to report to the Emperor, so I will not disturb you further." Yang Shaochuan bowed to Li Shiyun and the others, then left with the guards who had accompanied him.

As Yang Shaochuan departed, the people present fell into a unanimous silence, seemingly digesting this sudden news.

"Isn't his body ruined? How can he still become the Heir Apparent?" Li Ruoyan's words, blurted out without thinking, instantly broke the calm.

"Yan'er, don't talk nonsense."

Wei Shiwan called out to Li Ruoyan in a low voice, signaling her to be quiet.

"Mother, I'm not talking nonsense, it's the truth!" Li Ruoyan pouted discontentedly, simultaneously glaring at Li Jin with malice in her eyes.

"Shiwan, a child's words carry no harm, you needn't be so strict with Yan'er." Wei Rong took a few steps to the left, deliberately coming to Li Jin's side, and said coldly, "Besides, Yan'er is right. Presumably, all of this was arranged by that person in the palace. Only that person has such great 'capability'."

The that person Wei Rong referred to was none other than the current Empress, Gu Rushuang.

Wei Rong was furious. She had already planned to propose making Li Yanshen the Heir Apparent to Li Shiyun later, but now it seemed her efforts had come to nothing.

Li Shiyun's face was as black as a pot, and he left without a word.

"Yes, Mother." Wei Shiwan did not dare to contradict Wei Rong and nodded in agreement.

In reality, the moment Yang Shaochuan finished reading the edict appointing Li Jin as Heir Apparent, Wei Shiwan had secretly clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms without her feeling any pain.

Indeed, it would be best if he were just dead. A dark light flashed quickly through Wei Shiwan's eyes.

"If Grandmother finds the imperial decree inappropriate, you may enter the palace to ask the Emperor for the reason," Li Jin said to Wei Rong, meeting her gaze without arrogance or servitude. "Your grandson is feeling unwell and will take his leave now."

"Stop right there!" Wei Rong's anger was ignited by Li Jin's words. "Who taught you to speak to this old woman like that at such a young age?"

"Your grandson was merely resolving Grandmother's doubts."

"You call this resolving doubts?"

Wei Rong was so angry her eyes widened.

"Yes."

Li Jin nodded affirmatively, his words enough to infuriate someone to death.

"You..."

The momo serving Wei Rong reminded her before she could scold Li Jin further, "Dowager Lady, Zhiqiu, the attendant from His Majesty the Empress's side, is here."

[嬷嬷 (mómo): nanny or elderly female attendant (a term of address for an old wet nurse or a senior maid in a household, especially in a historical or imperial context)]

When Gu Rulan was still alive, Gu Rushuang often sent Zhiqiu to bring things to the prince's mansion, so the older servants in the mansion were familiar with Zhiqiu's appearance.

Zhiqiu entered and did not waste words, going straight to the point with Li Jin, "This servant carries the decree of His Majesty the Empress, to bring Li Jin, Heir Apparent of the Prince of Dingbei, into the palace. Heir Apparent, please."

"Very well."

Li Jin nodded and left with Zhiqiu.

"Outrageous! This Li Jin..."

"Mother, be cautious with your words." Wei Shiwan suppressed the anger in her heart and whispered into Wei Rong's ear, "Walls have ears. If Mother says something that reaches the Emperor's ears, it will be troublesome."

Reminded by Wei Shiwan, Wei Rong had a sudden realization and broke out in a cold sweat.

Shiwan is right. If I say something unpleasant and it gets back to the Emperor, it would be tantamount to defying the imperial decree.

"Mother, Shen'er just said he wanted you to listen to him recite the Dragon-Patterned Whip Shadows."

[龙文鞭影 (Lóng Wén Biān Yǐng): lit. Dragon-Patterned Whip Shadows, the title of a famous, classic Chinese children's textbook from the Ming Dynasty.]

Under Wei Shiwan's hint, Li Yanshen also came over and said, "Yes, Grandmother, your grandson would like you to hear how I recite it."

Wei Rong was surprised, "Shen'er is already studying the Dragon-Patterned Whip Shadows?"

Wei Shiwan smiled and nodded in affirmation.

Li Ruoyan also said, "Grandmother, it's true. Brother is amazing."

"Good, this old woman agrees."

Wei Rong agreed with a smile, not mentioning the earlier matter at all, as if it all had been an illusion.