7: The Emperor said: "The three of you just need to live your lives well!"

Before today, Mo Yingqi would never have imagined appearing outside the imperial palace in such a capacity.

A Flying Fish Guard entering the imperial palace as an Imperial Son-in-Law—he was probably the only one in this Daxing Dynasty's history. This truly was unprecedented... and likely would have no successor.

"Imperial Son-in-Law, please come this way." An Eunuch led the way, politely reminding him, "Later, The Emperor and Empress will summon you in the Imperial Study. Imperial Son-in-Law, there's no need to be nervous; The Emperor and Empress have always been good-tempered."

"Thank you, Eunuch."

Mo Yingqi offered his thanks, but to say he wasn't nervous... how could that be? Along the way, palace servants who passed by, seeing his face and his flying fish robe, would immediately bow respectfully and address him as Imperial Son-in-Law.

"That, Eunuch, how is it that my identity seems to be known by all the palace servants?" Mo Yingqi asked somewhat uneasily. "So, do you know what exactly is going on here?"

"Oh, Imperial Son-in-Law must be overjoyed and forgot that three days ago, The Emperor issued an imperial decree, and it wasn't kept from the palace servants," the Eunuch smiled. "With Imperial Son-in-Law's outstanding appearance and wearing the flying fish robe, it's natural that all the palace servants know your identity. Although the ceremony hasn't taken place yet, with The Emperor's golden words, you are already the Imperial Son-in-Law."

"Uh, so that's how it is..."

The awkward sense of incongruity in Mo Yingqi's heart deepened, but no matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn't figure out why. There was nothing for it; since things had come to this, he could only brace himself and go through with it.

The imperial palace was still very large. Following the Eunuch, he didn't know how long they walked before reaching the outside of the Imperial Study. For some reason, Mo Yingqi, who had been uneasy all the way, felt less flustered here.

"Tsk, whether I die sooner or later, I'm still going to die. What's there to be afraid of?"

Mo Yingqi let out a long breath and followed the Eunuch to the entrance of the Imperial Study. Just then, Eunuch Fang walked out from inside. The Eunuch quickly bowed when he saw him: "Chief Steward Fang, the Imperial Son-in-Law has arrived."

"Hmm, good, you may go down first." Eunuch Fang nodded, then looked at Mo Yingqi and bowed. "Chief Steward of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Fang Cheng, greets the Imperial Son-in-Law."

"Eunuch Fang, please don't do that." Mo Yingqi quickly tried to stop him. "Strictly speaking, I'm still your nephew's subordinate; you shouldn't be so...

"Imperial Son-in-Law, you speak wrongly. By His Majesty's decree, your status as Imperial Son-in-Law cannot be changed, no matter what," Eunuch Fang chuckled softly. "Although you are still a Zhenfu Division Banner Commander, you are the master and I am the servant. This rule must never be broken."

With that, Eunuch Fang turned sideways, raised his hand, and said, "Please enter. The Emperor and Empress have been waiting for a long time."

Although the Pacification Bureau was called The Emperor's 'hawks and hounds,' only the Pacification Commissioner could meet The Emperor. Above the Pacification Commissioner was the Commander. However, before the Struggle for succession among the seven sons, the Commander was executed by the late emperor for unknown reasons, and that position has remained vacant.

Everyone thought the current Pacification Commissioner would fill the role, but The Emperor still hadn't issued a decree, and the Grand Secretariat hadn't made any moves. But in reality, it was much the same; the Pacification Commissioner still held sway.

Besides him, Fang Wenbo, who was a Thousand Households, had met The Emperor only a handful of times.

In Fang Wenbo's words: "The Emperor is busy with myriad affairs every day. We, who do the dirty work, just need to do it well. What's the point of meeting him?"

Even a Thousand Households rarely met him, yet he, a Captain, was meeting him now... and as an Imperial Son-in-Law.

He wasn't ignorant of the rules. As soon as he entered the Imperial Study, he kept his head down, following behind Eunuch Fang, and heard him say: "Your Majesty, Empress, the Imperial Son-in-Law has arrived."

Mo Yingqi took a deep breath, then knelt down and said, "Your Humble Servant, Zhenfu Division Banner Commander Mo Yingqi, kowtows to Your Majesty and the Empress!"

"My beloved subject, there's no need for such ceremony. Rise quickly."

The current ruler of the Daxing Dynasty, The Emperor, Luo Nantian, wearing his dragon robe, had a smile on his resolute face. Seeing Mo Yingqi bow, he raised a hand, signaling Eunuch Fang to help him up.

"Hmm, good physique, the frame looks standard." The Emperor nodded. "My beloved subject, raise your head and let Us and the Empress have a good look."

Although Mo Yingqi raised his head, his gaze remained fixed on the ground. When a subject had a private audience, they could not look directly at The Emperor without imperial command. Light offenses were considered great disrespect; severe ones were treated as assassination attempts. Not to mention Empress Shen was also present. Mo Yingqi always found these etiquette rules troublesome, but he had to remember what was necessary.

Therefore, Mo Yingqi naturally didn't see the surprise and joy on the faces of The Emperor and Empress on the main seats the moment they saw his appearance.

"I was wondering why these two troublesome girls were so infatuated..." The Emperor muttered softly. "So, it's him..."

"Don't even mention it. If it weren't for him all these years, would your precious daughters have gone so crazy?" Empress Shen complained, but her eyes, looking at Mo Yingqi, were filled with uncontrollable joy. "Now it's good. From now on, if they want to cause trouble, let the two sisters trouble our son-in-law. You and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief..."

"Shhh, lower your voice, or the duck we've caught will fly away!"

"Tsk, Your Majesty, who describes their son-in-law like that?"

Mo Yingqi didn't look up, only vaguely hearing some murmuring from above. Although his hearing was good, the sound was too low for him to hear clearly.

However, he felt a little relieved. It seemed The Emperor and Empress truly weren't going to make things difficult for him. But with that came an even deeper confusion: what exactly... was the purpose of all this?

Just for this face? To put it somewhat impolitely, they could have just made him a male concubine; it wasn't as if princesses hadn't done that before. Unless an Imperial Son-in-Law held a high position, they could only swallow their anger. There were past examples of commoners who, due to their outstanding talent, topped the imperial examinations and were summoned to be Imperial Son-in-Law, but what was the result? Four words describe it: a complete mess.

His situation might even be worse than theirs. The Pacification Bureau—probably few civil and military officials in the entire capital disliked them. Could these two princesses be mentally twisted, with some special hobbies? But even then, why such a grand display of two women marrying one man?

"My beloved subject, the marriage has been decided by Us and the Empress, and it is set for the end of this month. What do you think?"

"Yes, Your Humble Servant... what the heck?!"

Mo Yingqi was struck dumb by The Emperor's words, so much so that he momentarily forgot he was in the presence of the monarch. Noticing his impropriety in front of the throne, Mo Yingqi quickly knelt and prostrated himself: "Your Humble Servant has been improper; I beg Your Majesty and the Empress to punish me!"

"Rise, rise quickly, it's a family matter, no harm done." The Emperor waved his hand. "The time is a bit rushed, but fortunately, the palace has everything. We and the Empress have checked, and the end of the month is indeed a good day, suitable for marriage!"

It was like getting a pillow just when you were sleepy. The couple was worrying about how to quickly marry off these two 'rakshasa' girls to this unlucky fellow, and who would have thought that the end of the month would be just the right day!

"Your Majesty, Empress, please reconsider; Your Humble Servant did not mean that." Mo Yingqi did not get up, remaining motionless in his posture. "Your Humble Servant is merely a seventh-rank Banner Commander, truly, truly..."

"No matter, no matter. My beloved subject has only been in the Pacification Bureau for a year, rising directly from a small Flying Fish Guard to a seventh-rank official—this is already something others cannot achieve!" The Emperor laughed several times. "My beloved subject, don't feel that being in the Pacification Bureau is undignified. In all trades, there are top scholars!"

What was all this about... Mo Yingqi felt a sense of helplessness and amusement in his heart. Why did it feel like The Emperor was just desperate to marry his daughters off to him?

Now he was even more certain that there was something wrong with those two Legitimate Princesses, but with so many unlucky people in the world, why did they pick him?

However, Mo Yingqi didn't intend to sit idly by. If they truly were princesses with special quirks, he would have to run, even if it meant defying the world!

Although doing so would make his chance for revenge even more remote. But looking at the attitude of The Emperor and Empress, it shouldn't... be that bad, right?

"My beloved subject only needs to wait peacefully for the grand wedding with the Princesses; all other matters can be left to the palace to handle."

Perhaps it was Mo Yingqi's illusion, but why did The Emperor and Empress give off such an extremely joyful feeling? This... it was as if the two princesses weren't just abnormal, but physically disabled?

But that couldn't be. Although Mo Yingqi wasn't interested in rumors about the appearance of women in capital, he had heard How many about the two Legitimate Princesses being the most beautiful in the capital and renowned throughout capital, even without being interested.

"Alright, We need to meet with the Grand Secretariat shortly, so My beloved subject may withdraw for now." The Emperor gave Eunuch Fang a look. "In short, as long as you three live good lives, that's better than anything! And, Empress, do you have anything to say?"

"What words could Your Concubine have? A mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, and the more she looks, the more she loves him." Empress Shen smiled and shook her head. "Your Concubine also needs to return to the palace. The wedding is at the end of the month, and Your Concubine still has many things to do. Oh, by the way, there will be a banquet in the palace the day after tomorrow. Imperial Son-in-Law must attend then."

Mo Yingqi was completely lost. He never could have imagined this situation, and he became even more bewildered by this inexplicable, sudden marriage.