You Hu took his daughter to come towards them . But this girl called Qingcheng was too flushed by shyness to look at Xu Linghe . Seeing his daughter so timid, You Hu said nothing more and was quite favorably impressed with Di Qing . After all, Di Qing was a descendant of Di Zhan, and his moral standing was not bad accordingly . It was clear that You Hu showed a preference for Di Qing . A chilly look flashed in Xu Yinchang's eyes while Xu Linghe felt secretly delighted, because Xu Linghe thought that the "hot potato" had been s.h.i.+fted and taken finally . However, the eldest brother and the second elder brother of Xu's looked sad with hidden bitterness, showing more jealousy to their youngest brother's match . The second elder brother took a glance at You's daughter and felt much more reluctant at the thought that he was not Mr . right for his loved girl .

"Elder brother, as for the things I mentioned to you last time, could you do me a favor? I have to marry You's daughter . No matter what father thinks, I will marry You Qingcheng . "

"My second younger brother, Miss Han is also lovely . If I were you, I would prefer to choose her . Look at her small chewing mouth, so cute . What's more, the Han family is the wealthiest in the south . It is so tempting . "

A gust of wind blew out all the lanterns in a flash . In the darkness, a beam of spirit light dashed towards the imperial court, and Di Qing on the soft couch fell to the ground silently . Xu Linghe followed and darted up to the light . But the figure twisted and turned to avoid being caught and then disappeared suddenly . In the candlelight, blood gushed from Di Qing's mouth and he gazed at Holy Mother Empress in the imperial court, too desperate to say a word . Holy Mother Empress never expected that it was her grandson who got injured, and then staggered toward him . Di Li had never thought that her brother would suffer such an unexpected misfortune and was choked with sobs with her brother in her arms . Holy Mother Empress could not hold back her tears, thinking that before her grandson would marry a girl, he would . . . At the thought, Holy Mother Empress wept more bitterly . How miserable the dead Di Zhan was! Did it mean the Di family would end up without offspring?

"My grandson, wake up! I haven't had a chance to hold a great-grandson . Who do you like? I will call the shots for you . No matter who she is, I will have her to marry you . "

"Grandma, I have been hurt like this and do not want to ruin other girls . "

With those words, Di Qing spat out blood again, which made Holy Mother Empress feel more miserable for her grandson . She was afraid that her grandson would not survive this time .

"My grandson, whose girl do you like?"

"Grandma, the youngest daughter of a.s.sistant Minister You's, You Qingcheng . "

"Agreed! I will decide for you and send betrothal gifts to the You family now . "

Xu Linghe understood that Di Qing was playing the battered-body trick . It seemed that people from the imperial family were born actors . Convinced! Looking at the blood on the corner of Di Qing's mouth, Xu Linghe wondered what blood this guy used to dye .

"Emperor, send a decree to the You family now! To accomplish the match for Qing'er . He is dying . "

Holy Mother Empress was quite impatient with her superior son . And Xu Linghe became worried about Di Qing . As for what had happened, any observant person was able to figure it out in a breeze . He wished that the Emperor would not see through it .

"Mother, Let me have a look . "

Xu Linghe thought something terrible would happen, because the Emperor could not tolerate any cheat . Such little trick would be contrived merely to make matters worse . Watching the Emperor approaching closer, Xu Linghe got nervous for Di Qing .

There was dead silence in the main hall . Di Qing could only hear his heart beating . For this step, he had utilized all of his connections in the palace . If he would die in the imperial hall today, he had nothing to regret .

Lin Xiaosa thought Di Qing was injured by the black figure, so he became worried about his brother, his brow knitted . Xu Linghe's face stiffened when the Emperor pressed his hands lightly on Di Qing's chest acupoints, as if stanching bleeding for Di Qing . But only Xu Linghe knew that it was a deadly blow, because it would seal up Di Qing's chest acupoints and block oxygen to flow into all Di Qing's windpipes . No more than two hours, Di Qing would die without clear causes .

Xu Yinchang showed no wonder at the Emperor's cruelty .

Emperor's one-side account deprived his wife's life . Xu Yinchang would never forget that his wife and his youngest son knelt on the imperial court with wrenched hopelessness, and he knew that the so-called betrayal and collaboration evidence was fabricated by the Emperor himself, merely because his wife could practice witchcraft . For the sake of securing the throne, the Emperor would clear out all the threats, even including his nephew now .

"Hum! Good to see people of the Di family die . One day, I will let him know what is living death and avenge for my dead wife!"

"Emperor, what's wrong with Qing'er? He looked frighteningly pale . Ask an Imperial Physician to come here now!"

"Imperial Physician is required!"

Lying in holy grandmother's arms, Di Qing had an increasingly difficulty in breathing . In order to deceive everyone, Di Qing dared not to lightly use the spell that could save his life . It seemed that he lost completely today . It was destiny anyway . He felt his heartbeat slowing down . There was a moment when Di Qing saw his childhood—he held his father by the arms, saying that, "Father, I did not listen to you . I failed to bear to the end . And no one can look after Xiaoli any longer . "

"Brother Xiaosa, please take good care of Li'er . My sister, you should not be so unruly any longer . I'm leaving now . "

Looking at her brother, Di Li wailed with a sorrow-stricken heart . She wanted to hold her brother's hand but was too frightened to touch it . Xu Linghe condensed the Spirit Power secretly to brush him gently . Only Xu Linghe knew that King of Jiangdu would not die but fall into a coma . Di Qing risked his life to stay in the imperial court . So Xu Linghe would not let his brother end up in this way .

"Your Majesty, King of Jiangdu slips into a coma because of suffocation . I have retained his heartbeat and vein temporarily . It all depends on his fate . He will wake up within three days at least and three years at most . "

"Emperor, why haven't you conferred the marriage? Do you want me to beg for you on bended knees?"

"Mother, please not! I will decree now!"

The Seneschal, Tian Shen, beside the Emperor announced the imperial edict loudly .

.

"By the grace of Heavenly Emperor, it is the Emperor's decree . You Qingcheng, the daughter of an a.s.sistant minister of the Ministry of War, is virtuous and generous, cordial and honest, elegant and beautiful . Both Holy Mother Empress and the Emperor are gratified at her . Nowadays, King of Jiangdu has reached twenty years old at a marriageable age . It is appropriate to select a match for him . Since You Qingcheng has not betrothed, You Qingcheng and King of Jiangdu are a perfect match created by nature . For the sake of fulfilling a good deed, betroth You Qingcheng to King of Jiangdu . All the ceremonies are jointly arranged by the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Astronomer . An auspicious day should be selected to accomplish it .

"Notify home and abroad and declare publicly .

"The end of the imperial edict . "

When the imperial edict was read out in the main hall, Xu Linghe felt a.s.sured . This movement was dangerous but ingenious . He achieved three things at one stroke: one was to get the girl of a.s.sistant minister of the Ministry of War; one was to heal himself in the palace; another was to keep a closer eye on the Emperor . But Brother Di had to undergo many sufferings of flesh . Fortunately, he got paid anyway .

Di Hu was still muddled at how he was entangled into the struggle for imperial power just because of the birthday banquet for Holy Mother Empress . You Qingcheng was more confused that she liked Xu Linghe, but had to marry King of Jiangdu in the end . How ironic and strange fate was!