Decision and Imperial Edict

"Please pick carefully because this will decide your future." Princess Lin Xie Ya was looking at her daughter and wished to end this charade as fast as possible. She rarely met with Feng Ning because in her opinion, having another daughter was simply useless.

She had to struggle in the palace for so long because her mother was weak back then. After all, being a woman too, she understood the worth of a woman very much.

They were nothing more than a decoration.

Placed beside their husband. Their purpose was simply to give birth and to support them in whatever they were doing. This was also because of this that she hated being born as a woman. She couldn't do anything but watch as her brother took everything and sat on that throne.

This time, she wanted to make sure that the one who sat there would be her son.

Feng Ning tilted her head and looked at the two people in front of her. Logically speaking, the age gap between her and Prince Lin Hu Xi was the best. However, it was clear that he didn't like her from the way he looked at her.

Feng Ning made writing notion to the servants who quickly prepared brush and scroll of paper. She wrote crooked words on top of the paper and then showed it to the two princes in front of her.

"Will you treat me well?"

The other Imperial Family members were speechless when they saw this.

However, they knew that Feng Ning was still only a mere six years old girl. In her mind, probably getting married was simply having her husband treated her well and that would be more than enough for her.

Lin Zi Xuan looked at the young girl's crooked writing and her doe eyes. He cupped his fist. "I swear to the Heaven that if Your Highness decides to pick me, I'll treat you well."

"I…I'll also treat you well." Prince Lin Hu Xi actually didn't want to say this, but he felt that he had to say something when his father was already glaring at him. He felt wronged. The one who caused mistake was his half older brother and not him.

Why did he had to take the brunt?

Wasn't it enough for Lin Zi Xuan to be the one to take the blame for this matter?

Hearing their response, Feng Ning was quiet for some time. Her large and innocent eyes were looking at the two of them as if she had troubled deciding. In the end, Feng Ning wrote again in the paper.

"Since His Majesty had picked Cousin Xuan, I'll pick him."

As she showed the writing to everyone, Prince Lin Han Xing eyes widened. "Princess Ning, please think about it more carefully. Lin Zi Xuan is already 18 years old. He's 12 years older than you and will have to suffer waiting for you for a long time."

Princess Lin Xie Ya furrowed her eyebrows. But she also knew that having her daughter matched up with Prince Lin Zi Xuan might be better than Prince Lin Hu Xi. After all, this also meant that she didn't have to care about her that much because both of them would be unimportant people in the end.

An illegitimate son and a mute daughter.

That seemed to be a good match.

"Prince Lin Han Xing, my daughter has made her decision." Princess Lin Xie Ya looked at the man with sharp gaze. "I would like you to please not make careless remark in front of my daughter to influence her. It would be rather inappropriate."

Prince Lin Han Xing gritted his teeth. He could sense that Princess Lin Xie Ya was telling him that if he tried to affect Princess Feng Ning's judgement, it would be inappropriate. However, the one in question was still his son!

Why couldn't he decide anything for his son?

But Prince Lin Han Xing couldn't go against Princess Lin Xie Ya because of his low position within the Imperial Family. He could only swallow any words that he wanted to say.

'She picks me?'

Prince Lin Zi Xuan stared at the young girl who was standing there like a loss girl. He had only talked with her for a few times, but the impression he got from her was that this was a kid who didn't look like a kid at all. She looked far more mature than what her age and appearance suggested her to be.

He thought about the other princesses and a sinister light flashed within his eyes.

This might be for the best.

Compared to the other noisy and arrogant princesses, Princess Feng Ning had the best composure and maturity. At the very least, he wouldn't feel like losing his temper when he was facing such a sensible girl.

"There's no need to quarrel with each other." The Emperor raised his hand, stopping both Prince Lin Han Xing and Princess Lin Xie Ya from continuing their useless debate. His eyes were staring at the two youths in front of him.

An illegitimate child and a mute daughter.

Both wouldn't be able to do anything much to him. Even if Lin Zi Xuan was a commander at the battlefield, he would still be suppressed and couldn't achieve much. At the very least, until the time come, he would still be the same person as he is right now.

The Emperor didn't need to worry about him.

As for the mute daughter…

Women fought with their mouth and also obtained their qualification to do many things through using their intelligence and mouth. With her already losing the main weapon, it was destined that she would have low position among the nobles.

In fact, she might be said to have no power at all.

In this way, this couple would never be able to threaten him at all.

The Emperor liked this arrangement more. "Since Princess Feng Ning had decided, I shall give my decree right now. Prince Lin Zi Xuan is courageous and will reach marriageable age soon. Princess Feng Ning is gentle, kind, and elegant. I will marry Prince Lin Zi Xuan to Princess Feng Ning and she will become his wife. They will complete their marriage once the two of them reach marriageable age."

Hearing the edict, Prince Lin Zi Xuan knelt on the ground with one knee and said in calm voice, "Subject Lin Zi Xuan accepts the Imperial Edict."

Feng Ning also knelt on the ground, but she couldn't speak. She looked a bit confused as to how she should convey that she accepted this arrangement. When one looked at her, they would only be able to laugh at her funny antics.

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction.

With this verbal edict, their marriage would be set in stone. Later on, he would write it and sent it to the two of them, sealing their fate together.

Princess Lin Xie Ya looked at her daughter and then snorted. She didn't have much time to care for this farce. Now that this had ended, it was time for her to look for her son again. There was no time to waste.

If those women dared to scheme against her son, she would skin them alive.

Prime Minister Feng breathed a sigh of relief when the matter was over. He didn't really remember much about this daughter of his. With his duty of helping the governance, he really didn't have much time to care for the people in the residence.

Now that the marriage arrangement for his second daughter was set, he didn't have to think about this again in the future.

At least, it was pretty good.

"Ning'er, let's go home."

Feng Ning felt chills when she heard her mother said those words in such caring words. Looking at the woman who was more of a stranger to her, Feng Ning nodded obediently and started to walk. She stopped for a moment then turned to look at Prince Lin Zi Xuan.

Coincidentally, he was also looking in her direction at this time.

Thinking for a bit, Feng Ning curtsied towards him. The two of them wouldn't meet with each other for a long time after this until the time for their marriage. After all, Feng Ning had no plan to get out of her residence for a long time to come.

On the other hand, Prince Lin Zi Xuan should be sent back to the frontline, right?

There was really no time for them to meet each other again.

Prince Lin Zi Xuan cupped his fist as response towards Princess Feng Ning. He really couldn't understand what was inside the mind of this young girl for her to pick him rather than his younger brother.

But since she had picked him, he would fulfill his promise.

"Lin Zi Xuan."

The cold voice pulled Prince Lin Zi Xuan back to the other two people around. While his half younger brother looked rather relieved, Prince Lin Han Xing's face looked as black as coal. It was clear that he actually wanted his second son to be engaged to Princess Feng Ning rather than his first son.

After all, he couldn't depend on his first son considering the brat's background.

"Yes, Imperial Father?" Prince Lin Zi Xuan asked in an indifferent and cool tone. He sounded as if there was nothing wrong that had happened.

Prince Lin Han Xing was so angry that this rebellious son of his was taking the chance that he believed to belong to his second son. He snorted. "Watch how I sort you out when we get back home."

After saying that, Prince Lin Han Xing turned around and dragged his second son out. He had to think of a way to make sure that his second son could get close to the other Imperial Family members.

He had great ambition and was not satisfied with just this small rank.

Prince Lin Zi Xuan's eyes turned a shade colder when he heard what his father said, but he said nothing. He simply followed his father from the back whilst erasing his presence.

From above, the Emperor watched their reaction and tapped the armchair. His cold gaze seemed to be able to see through any layer of disguise.

"How interesting."