Minister Zhuo was silent for a long moment after hearing this, then asked, "Are you saying you want to go to Serenity Pavilion every day? And stay there for a whole hour each time?"
Evan Xiao’s ears turned a little red. "I’ll only be outside her room. As soon as the cultivation ends, I’ll leave right away."
"It’s not that I don’t trust you, but..." Minister Zhuo frowned. "She’s still an unmarried girl. If word gets out, who knows what people will say!"
"Father-in-law, you can come along to act as a chaperone. That should help a lot."
Minister Zhuo shook his head and asked, "Didn’t you say the Emperor would grant the marriage? Why not wait until after the Imperial Edict comes? If you’re officially engaged, it won’t matter."
Evan Xiao thought for a moment and replied, "Alright then. I’ll go to the palace tomorrow and request the decree."
...
Imperial Palace.
Felix Zeng glanced at the Emperor, who was sitting there like a wooden statue, and cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, you’ve been staring at this Imperial Edict for an hour now..."
Emperor Tuoba Hong raised his head, took a deep breath, shoved all his complicated feelings and memories aside, then rolled up the Imperial Edict and handed it to Felix Zeng. "Go to Loyalty Manor and deliver the decree!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Felix Zeng accepted the decree with both hands and left the palace.
By evening, Loyalty Manor received an Imperial Edict.
The Emperor officially granted Grace and Evan Xiao’s marriage.
Just like that, overnight, the name Grace Lawrence became the ultimate rival of every young woman in Yan City.
Many people wanted to see what she really looked like—and then tear her to pieces...
Of course, Grace was blissfully unaware at the time, hugging the Imperial Edict and giggling like a fool all night long.
Later, they asked Leon Zane to perform the Birth Chart Ceremony. Leon said, based on their charts, the next auspicious date would be in March next year.
Naturally, Leon Zane just made up that date.
Evan Xiao didn’t want to get married to Grace outside of the Divine Realm.
He had to wait until Lena’s situation was resolved, then take Grace back to the Divine Realm for a proper wedding.
The only reason Emperor Tuoba Hong granted the marriage was so Evan Xiao could be with Grace openly and honorably.
Minister Zhuo thought the wedding date was a bit far off, but since Grace could spend more time with Lena, he let it be.
...
Starting the day after the Imperial Edict arrived, Evan Xiao came to Serenity Pavilion every afternoon to help Grace cultivate.
Grace was inside, undressing for her cultivation.
Evan Xiao stayed outside, surrounding Grace’s room with his divine power.
If you had the Eyes of the Divine Clan, you’d see a phantom of the Divine Dragon coiling above, the earth energy from the Dragon’s Nexus breaking it down and swirling it into a vortex that funneled straight into the roof.
In just a few days, Grace’s Soul Core had shed its embryonic form and changed dramatically.
...
That afternoon, after Evan Xiao finished the cultivation session, he waited a while until Grace came out, fully dressed.
"Let’s go!" Grace said cheerfully. "You promised yesterday you’d come with me to check out the shop today!"
She was planning to open the blacksmith shop in Yan City.
Evan Xiao nodded, and the two of them headed out together.
But as they walked, Grace suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no! I forgot to bring my Silver Note. Wait here, I’ll go back and get it!"
Evan Xiao nodded and waited for her in the garden near Serenity Pavilion.
Unexpectedly, when Grace returned with her things, she saw Queenie Zhu talking to Evan Xiao.
What was Queenie Zhu up to now?
Grace hid her presence and slipped behind the bushes.
She heard Queenie Zhu say, "General, you work so hard helping my sister cultivate every day!"
"She’s my fiancée. It’s only right," Evan Xiao replied coolly.