The next day, early in the morning when the sky had just brightened.
After a night of rest, Gong Xiaohua was in great spirits. She got dressed and came to the small yard, seeing that Madam Gong and Dad Gong were already in the yard.
"Dad, Mum, good morning."
"Morning, Xiaohua."
"Go get your younger brother up."
"Oh."
"This Xiaonan, all he knows is to sleep every day. The sun is already shining on his butt."
Gong Xiaohua looked up at the sky. At this time in modern day, it would be 6am.
This was because she was a soldier in modern times, so she had the habit of morning drills every day.
Poor Gong Xiaonan. As a half-grown lad, not only did he have to start working early, but also because his dad and older sister got up early to practice boxing every day, he was forced to get up early as well to practice with them.
Gong Xiaohua came to the room where Gong Xiaonan lived and knocked twice.
"Gong Xiaonan, time to get up."
There was no response. She knocked harder several times and shouted loudly, "Gong Xiaonan, hurry up and get up."
Some sound finally came from the room, "Sis, I'm so tired. Let me sleep a bit more." Having said that, the room became quiet again.
"Then sleep slowly. I'll go tell Mum that you want to continue sleeping." She turned and walked towards the yard. But before taking two steps, she heard the door open behind her and the sound of rapid footsteps running towards her.
Gong Xiaonan ran to Gong Xiaohua's side and grabbed his sister's arm, "Sis, see I'm already up."
Madam Gong called from afar when she saw the two siblings pulling one another, "You two pick out two nice outfits to wear today, Xiaohua especially has to wear beautiful women's clothing, don't wear your uniform."
"Mum, no boxing practice today?" Gong Xiaonan asked.
"No practice today. Hurry up and tidy yourselves, you can eat breakfast soon."
"Great, I'll be ready in a bit." Gong Xiaonan was overjoyed that there was no boxing practice today.
Soon, the two siblings had tidied themselves up.
"Mum, what's the occasion today?" Gong Xiaonan asked.
"Your sister already has a marriage arrangement from His Majesty. Today the imperial decree should arrive. This is the first time our Gong family has received an imperial decree in generations. Later, everyone be vigilant."
"What? Sis is getting an arranged marriage? Who is it arranged to?"
"The fifth young master of Minister Qin's residence."
"Which Qin residence?"
"Of course it's the Qin residence of Prime Minister Qin."
"Cough cough. Mum, are you kidding me? Our family and the Prime Minister's family have dozens of hierarchical levels between us. Even if we stand on our toes, we can't reach them." Gong Xiaonan almost choked on his own saliva upon hearing his mother's words.
"Why would I kid you? This is absolutely true."
"Sis, aren't you afraid? That's been the foremost family in the capital for hundreds of years. I heard the women there are full of sinister and ruthless means. They can kill without leaving a trace of blood!" Gong Xiaonan shuddered in horror.
"Where did you hear all this nonsense?"
"My colleagues told me that worldly families often have people holding certificates to sell themselves to the county government to have their names removed from the household registrar."
"What your brother said is right. There is often overt strife and covert struggles in powerful families. If you are not careful, your life could be at stake." Dad Gong said worriedly.
"Also, worldly families have many rules. Xiaohua, if you have time, help ask around and see if there are any retired tutors or matrons who have served in the palace or prestigious families. Invite them to teach Xiaohua the proper etiquette lest she marry into the Qin family without knowing any of the rules and becomes a laughing stock."
"That makes sense. Okay, I will start asking around tomorrow."
"Dad, isn't this a bit exaggerated?" Gong Xiaohua asked.
"It's not exaggerated. I heard that the fifth young master is Minister Qin’s most favoured grandson. He intends for him to inherit the position of family head in the future. If that's the case, your burdens in the future will only grow heavier."
"Dad, if I refuse the decree or petition against it, would it implicate you?"
"Abandon any thoughts of that. It would not only implicate us, but also implicate your grandfather and maternal grandfather's families."
Gong Xiaohua had bitterness in her heart that was hard to speak of. Qin Chuyuan, you've really screwed me over badly.
At that time, at the Qin family residence, they had just received the imperial decree from the palace.
The various Qin family branches had different reactions.
The main Qin family line was naturally the happiest. However, such joy could not be openly displayed in front of everyone, so they felt very uncomfortable holding it in when hearing the decree.
The third branch of the Qin family seemed expressionless, having probably prepared themselves mentally for this.
The other two cadet branches had mixed reactions, happy and worried. They were happy that the future Madam Fifth Young Master would have a lower status than them, allowing them to manipulate her however they wished without fear.
What worried them was that with Qin Chuyuan marrying such a lowborn woman, what were the chances he could still inherit the position of family head? If the position of family head fell into the hands of the main branch in the future, it would be difficult for these cadet branches to move up.
As for Minister Qin, his expression was so gloomy it was terrifying. He did not expect His Majesty to be so ruthlessly absolute, giving his most favoured grandson a prison warden's daughter as wife. This was blatantly humiliating and suppressing their Qin family.
Did they really think the Qin family was that easily bullied?
After Mister Wu left, Minister Qin stood up and said to Qin Chuyuan, "Come with me."
Having said that, he took the lead walking towards his residence, Jingchen Courtyard.
Upon arriving at the study in Jingchen Courtyard, Minister Qin grabbed the teacup on the desk and smashed it on the ground.
"Did you have a hand in this?"
Qin Chuyuan did not reply. Minister Qin knew that Qin Chuyuan's silence meant acquiescence.
"You've become more and more disobedient."
"Grandfather, marrying into the Lin family will only lead our family to ruin. I cannot stand by and watch our Qin family be doomed to eternal damnation."
"Also, when it comes to marriage, virtue matters most. Based on the investigations done on Miss Lin's misdeeds over the years by my subordinates, do you think she is fit to marry into our family?"
Qin Chuyuan handed over the detailed report of investigations to Minister Qin. Minister Qin's face turned red and white as he looked over the long list of misdeeds in the letter.
"Then you could have chosen daughters from other prestigious families, not someone from such a lowly family like the Gongs."
"Grandfather, although the Gong girl is of humble origins, once you get to know her, you would not think this way. She is more outstanding than those hypocritical ladies from prestigious families."
"Humph. How rare to see Qin family's ascetic Fifth Young Master finally learning to stand up for a woman. You can drop the act now. Haven't I told you that for the future heir of the Qins, emotions are the most useless thing."
"I beg to differ. What difference does a life devoid of emotions have from being a walking corpse?"
"If we are unable to petition against the decree, I do not object to making her permanently disappear from this world."
"If you insist on doing so, I am willing to leave the Qin family and never step foot into the Qins again, and this includes you making a move on anyone from the Gong family."
"Bastard. Do you think you can threaten me?"
"Grandfather, feel free to put it to the test."
"Good, this is splendid!"
"Grandfather, if there is nothing else, your grandson will take his leave."
"Scram!"
