Chapter 1: The Imperial Order Cannot Be Defied
As night fell and the sound of the hour struck just after 7 p.m., the bustle of Shengjing City gradually faded away. During the day, it was packed to the rafters, but now only the street sweepers under the government’s employ were left tidying the streets.
Located on Chang’an Street, closest to the south of the Imperial City, the Prime Minister’s Mansion was lit up with palace lanterns in the backyard by the orderly maids and servants.
As the exquisite sheep’s horn-shaped palace lanterns were lit one by one, the entire mansion radiated a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
Yet, in the main room of the East Cross Courtyard, Mrs. Dong was quietly weeping with her head bowed, her sobs subdued, not daring to make too much noise.
Beside her sat Mr. Lin, Lin Guangzu, with a furrowed brow. His fists clenched and unclenched as he sighed long and hard, looking at his wife with words that wouldn’t come.
"Husband, what do we do? We only have one daughter, and now she has to enter the palace to become someone important! Those in the West Wing speak sweetly, but in truth, isn’t it because their daughter, who has been in the palace for years, has only birthed a princess? Isn’t having Qianqian enter the palace just to secure her favor?"
Thinking of her sensible daughter, Mrs. Dong could no longer restrain her sobs, clutching her handkerchief tightly, wishing she could tear apart the royal decree that sent her daughter into the palace.
"We had thought to keep her a few more years and let her marry at her own pace, never expecting to be plotted against by that old woman of Ronghe Hall. Knowing she was to enter the palace, we should have arranged her marriage earlier when she came of age."
Remorseful, Mr. Lin punched his leg, but his skinny arms did him no harm.
He who always regarded filial piety highly now referred to his stepmother as "that old woman of Ronghe Hall," which caused Mrs. Dong to halt her sobbing.
Complaining of the grievances suffered over the years.
"Our Xingzhi is now twenty-three years old, yet he’s still just an unranked guard. It’s hard for anyone to believe that the legitimate grandson of the esteemed Prime Minister Lin can’t even attain the lowest seventh-rank court guard, merely inviting ridicule."