The young general and the prince, who was to be married off, fell in love at first sight!

To be fair, since Lin Shiming enjoys freedom and is unrestrained, this can be said to be the first time someone has come to teach him those etiquette rules.

Moreover, these people were sent by his future "mother-in-law." Although Lin Shiming was not afraid of anything, they were, after all, sent by his fiancé's mother, who was an elder, and he was indeed a little unsure how to treat them.

After lunch, in a hall that Ji Tiao had specially prepared, the group stared at each other for a long time before Lin Shiming finally spoke tentatively under Ji Tiao's urging gaze, "Uh, may I ask how you ladies are addressed?"

"This servant is Rongyan, and these three are Rongyi, Rongsheng, and Rongxu. The four of us are all maids under the Empress's command. Second Young Master, please just call us by our names." After saying this, the four of them bowed to Lin Shiming together.

Four Rong Momos!

Lin Shiming forced himself to laugh, but his eyes kept scanning the four of them, as if afraid that one of them might pull out a needle at any moment.

"So, what are we going to learn?"

"Young Master, rest assured. His Highness the Crown Prince mentioned it to Her Majesty the Empress during dinner last night. Her Majesty the Empress instructed us that since you will be the Crown Princess in the future, only His Majesty and Her Majesty will be able to receive your greetings. All other people in the court and the palace will pay their respects to you. As for other sacrificial rites, the Ministry of Rites will handle them. Officials will discuss the arrangements in advance, and there will be guidance during the process."

"So Her Majesty the Empress said that you only need to know the specific details of various etiquettes and be able to find mistakes in other people's manners. In the future, when someone comes to greet you, if you are in a good mood, you can greet them; if you are in a bad mood, you can just find a mistake and treat it as 'insubordination'."

Ah, is this the source of the Empress's confidence? Lin Shiming was quite astonished. But upon closer reflection, weren't "rites" and "rules" in this feudal dynasty originally used to establish a hierarchy and protect the emperor's rule?

For those in the upper echelons, this has always been a tool for controlling those of lower status; everyone uses it in this way.

Lin Shiming chuckled lightly, thinking that it was actually he, as a transmigrator, who was not used to this and was making a fuss over nothing.

Seeing Lin Shiming's constantly changing expression, the head matron Rongyan didn't ask any questions. She still spoke calmly, "The second young master should be going to the palace with his brother and sister-in-law to express their gratitude to His Majesty tomorrow. So, let's learn how to greet His Majesty and the Empress today."

Lin Shiming thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

*

The next day, Lin Shiming, full of energy, followed his elder brother and sister-in-law into the palace.

As founding heroes and members of the Zhenguo Duke's family, a hereditary noble family, Lin Shiming and his entourage were permitted to enter the palace by carriage or sedan chair. Therefore, they traveled by sedan chair all the way to the gate of the Huangji Palace before stopping.

"Since I am a woman, I will go directly to the inner palace to see Her Majesty the Empress." Ji Tiao whispered to Lin Shiming, "Just follow behind your brother and do what he does. There's no need to be nervous. You haven't forgotten what the nanny taught you yesterday, have you?"

"No."

That's clearly unforgettable. Yesterday, the nanny only taught him one thing: kneeling and greeting the emperor, saying "Long live the emperor!" It all took less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

When the old woman told him that the day's lessons were over, he was completely incredulous and asked her several times to confirm if it was really that simple.

The TV dramas he watched before were never like this!

But the nanny replied that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was of extremely high status, and they usually only needed to bow with their hands clasped when they met the emperor. If it weren't for the fact that tomorrow was a special trip to express gratitude, he wouldn't need to learn the kneeling ceremony.

Before leaving, Rongyan, the old nanny, kindly told him that this was the only greeting he needed to learn. In the future, he would just need to sit there and watch the other nannies demonstrate various etiquettes and learn how to find fault.

Lin Shiming was completely stunned by what he heard.

Once his thoughts returned to normal, Ji Tiao had already straightened the clothes of the two brothers, then turned around and got back into the sedan chair to head towards the Fengyi Palace behind.

"Let's go, the only way to get to Huangji Palace is on foot."

*

Upon entering the Huangji Palace, they were greeted by Eunuch Li, who had delivered the imperial decree the day before.

"This servant greets Your Highness and Second Young Master. His Majesty has estimated that you two should have arrived by now. Please wait for us at the palace gate. There is no need to announce your arrival; you can simply go in."

Lin Shihe nodded with a smile, "Thank you very much, Eunuch Li."

"Oh, Your Highness, you're too kind. Please!"

Soon, the three arrived at the main hall, Xuanzheng Hall.

Upon entering the hall, Emperor Longyun was indeed already waiting inside, discussing a memorial with Crown Prince Lu Yuxi beside him.

"Your Majesty, the Heir Apparent and the Second Young Master Lin have arrived."

Upon hearing this, Lin Shihe led Lin Shiming to bow to Emperor Longyun behind the desk.

However, he had only knelt halfway when Emperor Longyun directed the eunuchs serving him to help him up.

It seems the nannies taught us too much.

"No need for formalities." Emperor Longyun put down the memorial in his hand and looked at Lin Shi and Lin Shiming behind him. "I haven't seen the Second Young Master for a long time. He was only four or five years old back then, and now he's of marriageable age. I don't even recognize him."

"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your concern. My younger brother spends less than a month at home throughout the year, and I fear he has become so wild that even I would not recognize him." Therefore, Your Majesty, you would be best to consider canceling this arranged marriage, otherwise I will see him even less once he enters the palace.

"Lin Shihe, are you complaining to me that I stole your brother?" What are you being sarcastic about? Trying to back out, huh? Dream on!

"Of course I dare not. Marrying the Crown Prince is my brother's good fortune." I dare not go back on my word, but I hope your family is fortunate enough to let my brother enjoy this blessing.

"It would be best if they didn't dare. But this good fortune can only be considered true if the two of them support each other." Don't you dare shirk your responsibilities, I'm telling you.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right." Okay, shut up.

"Alright, you've expressed your gratitude. The Crown Prince is here today, so let him take Shi Ming outside for a stroll. You stay here; I have something to discuss with you."

Lu Yuxi immediately cupped his hands and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Although Lin Shiming didn't understand the meaning of what his elder brother and the emperor had just said, he still politely followed suit and greeted them, "Your subject obeys the decree."

*

Lu Yuxi led Lin Shiming directly to a waterside pavilion behind the Huangji Palace and they sat down. The eunuchs around them quickly prepared tea and snacks and put them on the table.

Once everyone had walked a bit away, Lin Shiming asked curiously, "What are you doing here today?"

"I came to wait for you." Lu Yuxi raised her hand to pour him a cup of tea, her tone very gentle. "Everyone is busy as the year draws to a close, and I was afraid I wouldn't see you for a while, so I came to tell you to avoid any misunderstandings."

"Oh, is that so? That's not a problem." Lin Shiming listened carefully and, finding nothing amiss, spoke in a low voice, "If you need to see me, just send someone to deliver a message. I can scale walls and leap over rooftops to see you in the middle of the night!"

Lu Yuxi paused in drinking her tea.

"...It's too dangerous, maybe it's unnecessary!"

"Hey, what's so dangerous about this? My lightness skill is unparalleled. I used to scale city walls all the time. I have experience, nothing will happen!"

This is the imperial palace! How can city walls compare? When I met him the day before yesterday, I only thought that he, the Crown Princess, was a carefree person. I never expected to see him again today, and he would give me such a big surprise.

Lu Yuxi suddenly had a premonition that his future life might be very colorful.

"Of course I know you are highly skilled in martial arts." Lu Yuxi subtly adjusted her stiff posture and forcibly changed the subject. "The other day I mentioned to Mother the matter of the governess for you. She should have arrived yesterday. I wonder if she is to your liking?"

"Perfect match! She's far better than any of the nannies I've heard in stories."

Lin Shiming was actually quite intelligent, but regarding the topic of governesses, which had never been his concern before and which he had never paid attention to, his understanding of them could only come from storybooks or hearsay.

Seeing that the person had finally given up on the topic of storming the palace, Lu Yuxi breathed a sigh of relief. "What did you hear in your story?"

"There are many. I've heard that the gentler nannies make people practice various bowing postures every day, while the stricter ones might punish them with a ruler. In the stories, there are many vicious nannies who use the guise of teaching manners to torture people. I was almost going to believe it, but after meeting several nannies sent by the Empress yesterday, I found that they were all talking nonsense."

“I’m not talking nonsense.” Lu Yuxi chuckled. “The old women you mentioned are very common. The royal family is full of people who use rules and etiquette to torment you. It’s just that you are the Crown Princess, so you are already in a position of authority. And the only people with higher status than you who could bully you are your father and mother, so you find these old women to be very friendly to you.”

“Then I understand. In the end, isn’t it just about dividing people into different classes?” Lin Shiming’s expression seemed indifferent for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. “But speaking of which, shouldn’t I see Her Majesty the Empress when I go to the palace today?”

Lu Yuxi seemed to have noticed a slight change in Lin Shiming, but he couldn't quite make it out. He lowered his head and twirled the teacup in his hand, pondering it for a moment before putting the matter aside.

He looked up again and took a sip of tea. “Fengyi Palace belongs to the inner palace. If you go in, you will inevitably run into some of Father Emperor’s concubines. Although you are already the Crown Princess whom Father Emperor has decreed, you have not yet been married and officially conferred a title. You will still have to pay your respects when you see them. So it is better not to go for now.”

"Moreover, although you are marrying me, you are still a man. Your interactions with the empress and concubines may attract attention and cause problems. There is no rush to see the Empress Dowager. It will be better to wait until the annual banquet this year, when officials of the third rank and above, their families, and princes and nobles enter the palace together."

“Okay,” Lin Shiming nodded, “Then remember to give my regards to the Empress.”

“I will remember.” Seeing that Lin Shiming’s teacup was empty, Lu Yuxi refilled it for him. “There’s one more thing.”

Lin Shiming looked at him with suspicion.

"The imperial decree for the marriage has been issued. I expect many people in the capital will be inquiring about you, wanting to see you or do something for you. The old lady of the Nanyang Marquis's mansion will be celebrating her 70th birthday in half a month. They should be sending you an invitation."

"Can I not go?" He genuinely disliked these kinds of occasions.

“Sure, whatever you wish.” Lu Yuxi agreed without objection. He didn’t want to force Lin Shiming to do something he didn’t like. Although he didn’t know what his father and the others were plotting, he instinctively wanted Lin Shiming to never have to get involved in those schemes.

As for the follow-up issues, he is just mild-tempered, not without temper, and he will take care of them for Lin Shiming.

However, to Lu Yuxi's surprise, Lin Shiming hesitated for a moment and then changed his mind, "Forget it, I'll go. Since I've already agreed to marry you, I can't avoid all the social obligations in the future. Since it's going to happen sooner or later, there's no need for me to refuse."

Lin Shiming suddenly stood up and walked to the edge of the waterside pavilion, looking at the surrounding red walls and corridors that formed a well-ordered world. "Besides, if I don't go, won't I be accused of being 'arrogant' for no reason?"

Lu Yuxi looked up in surprise. He hadn't expected Lin Shiming to be able to think of this level and see through those people's methods.

"Whether or not to do something is a completely different matter from whether or not to want to do it." At this moment, Lin Shiming seemed to truly reveal the proud spirit and strategic thinking inherent in the Lin family. "I am a military general and a man of the Jianghu. How can I refuse to fight when faced with a problem and drag others down? Since I have agreed to your and my brother's request and entered this game, let's wait and see whether these things will torment me or I will bring something new to this place."