There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 393 I'm Willing to Marry You

"No problem, I have a way to keep her from revealing this secret."

"That's good"

Li Shuchen looked at the person in front of him, whose features were both gentle and resolute, and said earnestly.

"Cheng Zhian, I'm willing to marry you."

Cheng Zhi'an was taken aback by these words, then smiled broadly, like the warm spring sun melting the ice and snow of winter.

"Really? You're not lying to me?"

"Why would I lie to you about something like this? To keep your gender a secret for as long as possible, I have no choice but to sacrifice my own innocence."

"Don't worry, I will definitely marry you in a grand and glorious way."

"That's great! Let's make the dowry bigger, fill ten or eight chests with gold, silver, and other treasures."

"Okay, cough... cough..."

Cheng Zhian suddenly started coughing, and the coughing got worse and worse.

Li Shuchen gently patted her back.

"Having just come back from the brink of death, can't you be a little more composed?"

"It's alright, I'm just so happy. It really is Shu Chen, I'm so glad."

Cheng Zhian's eyes shone like stars as she stared intently at Li Shuchen.

Footsteps sounded outside

Li Shuchen said, "Don't look at me now, go back to bed and lie down, it'll be troublesome if you give yourself away."

"clear"

Cheng Zhian quickly returned to bed, closed his eyes tightly, and Li Shuchen covered him with the blanket, wiping the fine sweat from his forehead.

Linglong carried the medicine box and walked quickly closer.

"Miss"

"Yes, I've applied some wound medicine to him, and the bleeding has stopped. He's fine now. You can prescribe some blood-tonifying and qi-boosting formula for him."

Linglong glanced at the person on the bed, puzzled. Gardenia had clearly said that he was seriously injured and unconscious, so how come he was fine now?

However, judging from the rosy color of his lips, what the young lady said should be correct.

"Yes, Linglong will go open it right away."

After Li Shuchen fed Cheng Zhi'an her medicine, he pretended to slowly wake up, held her hands tightly, and looked at her affectionately.

"Shu Chen, I owe you my life again. Such a great debt of gratitude is impossible to repay; I can only repay it with my body."

Li Shuchen glared at him; he was even more sarcastic than her.

"It's getting late. Take good care of yourself. I'm heading back now."

"it is good"

Witnessing this juicy gossip, Zhi Zi Linglong blushed and lowered her head, not daring to look at the two of them.

"Linglong, you're back."

Linglong quickly followed Li Shuchen to the door, where Li Shuchen lifted her onto Li Wanbai's horse.

"Just bear with it," he said, then mounted his horse.

On the way back to the inn, Li Shuchen secretly stuck a silencing talisman on Linglong's back.

Make her forget the truth that Cheng Zhi'an is a woman.

If she wanted to reveal the truth about Cheng Zhi'an being a woman, no one would be able to hear what she was saying.

Even if she wrote it down, no one else could see it, and gesturing wouldn't help; no one else could understand it either. It was like there was an invisible wall blocking everything away.

To be absolutely sure, another Forgetfulness Talisman was used.

The silencing charm was a system reward she received previously, while the forgetting charm was purchased for 100,000 taels of silver.

Although it was expensive, she felt it was worth it.

夜晚

Li Shuchen called over Lao Ba

"Has Jia Wuqiu made any move?"

"He has always worked in the Precious Pavilion and has never left."

"I understand. You can go back and rest now."

If it wasn't Jia Wuqiu who did it, then who was it?

March 15th, the eleventh year of the Purple Star Dynasty

The main thoroughfares of the capital were filled with the sounds of drums and music, and people lined the streets to watch.

"The newly crowned top scorer is here!"

"Look, look! The new top scorer is so handsome!"

"Let me see, let me see!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen immediately ran to the Sanbao Hall, opened the window, and looked towards the main road.

She wanted to see the top scholar in the best spot.

The procession of the top scholar led the way, followed closely by a tall, fine horse.

Cheng Zhian was sitting upstairs.

He wore a specially bestowed crimson round-necked robe, over which he wore a white silk undergarment, a plain silver belt around his waist, and was also dressed in jade pendants, court boots, and felt socks.

On each side of the black gauze hat was a palace flower adorned with gold leaves, its vibrant red color almost dripping.

His back was as straight as a pine tree, and as the people cheered, he merely nodded slightly, a smile playing on his lips.

"Miss, Miss, Young Master Cheng is the top scholar! Young Master Cheng is the top scholar!" Grape jumped up and down with joy, looking as excited as if she herself had become the top scholar.

"You know what, Cheng Zhi'an looks quite handsome with the red hairpin and flowers in her hair. She has a refined and elegant air about her, and she is gentle and graceful."

"Miss, the procession has stopped. It has stopped in front of our inn."

Grape patted Li Shuchen, and Li Shuchen looked down and indeed stopped.

"What's going on? Shouldn't the ceremonial procession stop at the Cheng residence?"

Li Shuchen murmured to herself as she lifted her skirt and walked downstairs.

Cheng Zhian had dismounted and was standing in the crowd waiting for Li Shuchen's arrival.

Li Shuchen, bewildered, stood next to Cheng Zhian under the watchful eyes of everyone downstairs and asked in a low voice.

"what happened?"

"Good thing"

What good news?

"Cheng Zhian, Li Shuchen, receive the imperial decree!" Eunuch Wu shouted.

Cheng Zhian pulled Li Shuchen to kneel down.

"Your subject receives the imperial decree."

"The commoner girl receives the imperial decree."

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

"I have heard that when Heaven and Earth are in harmony, all things come to life; when auspicious omens are formed by Heaven, the state is at peace."

"Cheng Zhian, the top scholar of this imperial examination, is exceptionally talented and his literary brilliance shines like the stars. He is a pillar of the nation. I have heard of Li Shuchen, who is naturally intelligent and quick-witted. She is a delightful and charming young lady."

"The two are well-matched in appearance and character, their temperaments complement each other, one dignified and the other humorous, perfectly embodying the principle of yin and yang in harmony. I am personally delighted by their union and hereby bestow this marriage upon them, making them a perfect couple."

"I hope that after your marriage, you will live in harmony, with the scholar standing firm in court and the lady managing the household with grace and intelligence, complementing each other to demonstrate my sincere intention to help you achieve your goals and promote harmonious human relationships."

"I hereby order"

"Your subject/commoner receives the imperial decree and expresses her gratitude."

Li Shuchen accepted the imperial edict with both hands, while Cheng Zhian glanced at Zhizi.

Zhi Zi took out a bulging red envelope and handed it to Eunuch Wu.

Eunuch Wu smiled and said, "Our family also shares in the joy of Scholar Cheng and Miss Li. May the two of you be forever united in love."

"Thank you for your kindness, Eunuch." *2

The ceremonial procession departed in a grand procession, leaving the inn completely packed with people.

Cheng Zhian and Li Shuchen immediately went upstairs.

"Why was the marriage suddenly bestowed upon you? Did you propose it to the Emperor?"

"Not only me, but Young Master Xiao also petitioned the Emperor for a marriage decree to marry Gu Ziying, the daughter of Minister Gu."

"So, is Young Master Xiao the second or third place scholar?"

"The title of 'Third Scholar' was earned by himself."

"Why?"

He said that if it wasn't first place, there was really no difference between second and third place; it would be better to be third, which would also bring a reputation for good looks, and it would sound better for him to marry Miss Gu.

"At least he has a conscience."

Li Shuchen was overjoyed, humming a little tune.

"Today is a good day. Everything I wish for will come true. Ziying's love life has settled down, and her mission is complete!"

Cheng Zhi'an was also very happy as she listened to Li Shuchen humming a song; she hadn't expected that she would actually do it.

Of course, this is not the result of her efforts alone.

"Li Shuchen, did you marry Cheng Zhian willingly? If you were forced, tell me, and I'll go and have my uncle, the Emperor, rescind his decision. Even if Young Master Cheng is the top scholar in the imperial examination, he cannot force you to marry him."

Princess Changning hurried in from outside, anxiously asking Li Shuchen...

Li Shuchen pulled Princess Changning down to sit and helped her catch her breath.

"It was my own choice. I suddenly realized he was a really good person, rich and famous, and handsome. I figured marrying him wouldn't be a bad deal, so I agreed."

Whether it's a loss or not, it depends on whether you like him.