Chapter 66: Requesting Imperial Permission for Marriage

Yun Xianghe immediately seized the opportunity and said with a smile. It was just perfect that Yun Qianyue didn't want to manage the household; she had been hoping for this moment! She would ensure t...Chapter 66: Requesting Imperial Consent for Marriage

Upon hearing Rong Jing's words, Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes internally; he was telling lies with such confidence without batting an eyelid. The man was clearly cured of his cold poison and even his chronic illness had been eliminated by her; yet, he still claimed that he could only live for a few more years. He enjoyed delicious food and drink every day, which made him feel more comfortable and live longer than anyone else present, including the old emperor. Yun Qianyue ignored Rong Jing's words and continued to look at Rong Feng, finding him increasingly appealing.

Seeing that Rong Jing's face was indeed not too bad despite his gloomy expression, the old emperor nodded and shifted his gaze back towards Yun Qianyue. He finally spoke up: "Miss Yue, what do you think you're doing holding onto Rong Feng’s sleeve Hurry up and let go! Do you want to be mocked by me and all the scholars here Where is your ladylike demeanor I can only say that it’s a shame Lord Wenbo's son has no sense of humor."

"I’m not any sort of lady! Everyone in this Heavenly Kingdom knows," Yun Qianyue turned her head upon hearing him and held onto Rong Feng's sleeve without releasing it. She said to the old emperor, completely unaffected: "Uncle Emperor, I want to marry Rong Feng. Will you grant our marriage"

The moment Yun Qianyue finished speaking, there were simultaneous gasps all around. Cloud King’s vision darkened and he almost fainted on the spot. Even Yun Muhan, who had been sitting in silence throughout, was visibly shocked.

When had a woman ever requested an imperial consent for marriage on her own initiative since ancient times She must be the first one ever!

Night Tianqin’s face darkened instantly. Night Tianyu blinked and looked at Yun Qianyue and Rong Feng, his eyes flashing with interest. This little girl was becoming more interesting by the minute. More intriguing still was how Rong Feng never attempted to pull away from her grip on his sleeve.

"Oh Miss Yue, you want to marry Rong Feng" The old emperor raised an eyebrow.

“Uh-huh, I definitely want to marry him,” Yun Qianyue nodded vigorously.

“Why Is it just because you want to learn his martial arts skills” the old emperor asked.

"Learning martial arts is only part of it. I simply find him appealing and think that if I were to marry him, I will surely be happy in the future. That’s why I want to marry him," Yun Qianyue said without a hint of shame.

Everyone was stunned into silence as they stared at Yun Qianyue.

"Oh So it's like this! Rong Feng is truly so good in your eyes, better than Prince Regent Jing" the old emperor asked with a smile, slowly adding: "Yuyu said you wanted to learn hundred-step acupuncture, but when you heard that you were going to marry Prince Regent Jing instead, you dropped it. Prince Regent Jing is uniquely talented and handsome among our countrymen; yet, you don’t want to marry him and choose Rong Feng instead. Why"

"He only has a few years left to live! I certainly don't want to be a widow," Yun Qianyue immediately replied.

Rong Jing seemed to cooperate by coughing weakly, his complexion turning paler as he did so, giving the impression of a frail beauty as Night Qingran had described.

Everyone felt uneasy for him due to his coughs, but they all agreed that Yun Qianyue's reason was quite convincing. If everyone didn’t know about Prince Regent Jing’s decade-long illness and subsequent recovery which only allowed him to live a few more years, he would have already received many marriage proposals by now. Even if she could not be his main wife, her daughter becoming a secondary consort or concubine in the future wouldn't be an issue; if she were to inherit the Honor王府 after Prince Regent Jing's death and become favored, there was no problem with that either. But since this talented man had such a short lifespan, nobody dared to marry him for fear of being widowed.

"Qianyue, stop talking nonsense!" Cloud King finally spoke up.

Yun Qianyue pouted: "Father, I want to marry Rong Feng. Will you please request the imperial consent from Uncle Emperor Then he can marry me after I turn 16. Otherwise, he might become a military champion soon and then be snatched away by another woman."

"Nonsense!" Cloud King uttered sternly.

“I really am not being ridiculous! What I said is true; more real than gold,” Yun Qianyue immediately promised.

Rong Feng’s body visibly trembled, his gaze locking onto Yun Qianyue's small face. Seeing how serious she was and noticing that his already stiff body had become even stiffer, he stared blankly at her moving lips, the world falling silent except for her earnest expression.

At this moment, Rong Feng wasn’t the only one who could read Yun Qianyue’s sincerity. Even if everyone thought she was joking earlier and merely being playful due to wanting to learn martial arts, they now felt that she seemed truly serious, making the atmosphere even more tense.

"Sister Moon! Stop this nonsense! Let go of Rong Feng immediately!" Night Tianqin finally shouted in anger.

While Night Tianyu didn’t say a word, he glanced between Night Tianqin, the old emperor, and Cloud King before turning his gaze to Rong Jing’s pale face and Yun Qianyue's serious expression. He then smirked inwardly as he realized that today was going to be an interesting show. Although it differed from his expectations, this turn of events might even be more entertaining.

"Why should I let go No way! I want to marry him. What’s wrong with touching his sleeve a bit now We’ll be the closest people after our wedding," Yun Qianyue blushed as she spoke about being intimate in front of everyone, her face turning vividly rosy.

Rong Feng was stunned and his eyes glazed over slightly.

"How dare you! Do you know who you are What’s your status that allows you to marry him" Night Tianqin raged.

“Yes, I do. I’m a woman and he’s a man. I haven’t been promised in marriage yet, nor have I come of age; as for him...” Yun Qianyue paused, tilting her head to ask Rong Feng seriously: "Hey, are you engaged"

Rong Feng looked at Yun Qianyue and was drawn by her serious eyes. He shook his head involuntarily.

Yun Qianyue’s face lit up with joy: “Then have you been married”

Rong Feng shook his head again.

Yun Qianyue was delighted once again and continued to ask, "Then are there any concubines, sleeping companions, or other miscellaneous women in your household"

"No!" Rong Feng still shook his head. His voice sounded as if it were floating snow, extremely light and insubstantial.

“That’s good then,” Yun Qianyue heaved a sigh of relief; her joy was evident on her face. Her eyes shone brightly like pearls, adding to the beautiful and striking appearance of her flushed cheeks from happiness. She looked at Ye Tianqiong and said, "I haven't married anyone, and he hasn't taken a wife yet. Why can’t I marry him What makes it impossible for him to take me as his wife"

"Is your status in life merely that of a woman" Ye Tianqiong nearly gritted his teeth with frustration, "Don’t forget, you are the legitimate daughter of Yun Wangfu. The first ancestor left behind ancestral instructions stating that every generation must have a daughter from Yun Wangfu…"

“Yes, every generation has to have a daughter from Yun Wangfu entering the palace! I know this too!” Yun Qianyue interrupted Ye Tianqiong’s words and coldly scoffed in her heart. Did this man still think that she would marry him The secrets kept by the original owner of this body must be numerous, yet Ye Tianqiong seemed entirely unaware. Perhaps the former owner's ardent pursuit of him was merely a facade as well. He shouldn’t feel too smug about himself! After finishing her thought, she continued, "The first ancestor did not say it had to be a legitimate daughter from Yun Wangfu who enters the palace; our Yun Wangfu has many daughters, and each one is better than me. Besides that, I took an oath in Jingshan Garden exactly a month ago, swearing that I would never enter the palace no matter what. Prince Regent, you didn't forget about it back then, did you Even if you forgot, there were plenty of witnesses present at the time who remember on my behalf."

“You…” Rage and fury swept across Ye Tianqiong’s face as he was left speechless, clenching his fists tightly within the sleeves of his robe.

He had never expected that Yun Qianyue would be so resolute in her decision to sever all ties with him. She actually intended to marry someone else right here and now, in front of Emperor Wen and the officials. This was a slap in the face to him, making it seem like he, as future emperor, had been rejected. How could this be bearable

Everyone held their breaths; not even a single sound could be heard within this pavilion.

Ever since Prince Regent’s designation and the birth of Yun Wangfu's legitimate daughter, the heirs to the new generation of the nation and the next Empress had been determined more than ten years ago. Though everyone privately believed that Yun Qianyue would be the future Princess Consort and Empress, due to her unruly nature and lack of propriety as a lady, hope rose among other noble families with daughters in the capital city for the position of Princess Consort and Empress in the new generation.

However, since Emperor Wen had yet to make any indication about his preference, court affairs were unstable beneath an outward appearance of stability. No one could guess the emperor’s intentions, and because Yun Qianyue had not reached her coming-of-age ceremony, no one dared to reveal their ambitions for the position of Princess Consort or Empress in the future imperial harem.

Now was the first time such matters were being brought into open discussion, all due to Yun Qianyue asking Emperor Wen for a royal marriage arrangement. She wasn’t marrying someone from royalty or the Prince Regent but rather Rong Feng, an heir of the branch family of Rong Wangfu, whose clan had been exterminated and who lacked any support. Though the Snow Mountain Sect was mysterious and formidable, it only consisted of one person: the old man of Snow Mountain. Apart from his excellent martial arts skills, Rong Feng had nothing else that would attract attention. Even if he had won today's martial arts top ranker title, without a strong family background supporting him in officialdom, how could he advance Wasn’t this just an empty framework Even with Prince Shi’s help, who knew for how long Prince Shi could live How could marrying into the Prince Regent’s household and becoming Empress be less prestigious

Everyone thought Yun Qianyue must have lost her mind!

"Qianyue, marriage is no game…" Lord Yun's body trembled slightly. He was afraid that Emperor Wen would get angry and order Yun Qianyue to be thrown into the Heavenly Prison; even if she were only put in the prison, he feared losing his newly awakened daughter.

"Father, I am not playing," Yun Qianyue looked seriously at Lord Yun. "If I marry Rong Feng, I can assure you that I will never regret it."

Rong Feng’s body trembled as he stared blankly at Yun Qianyue.

Yun Qianyue turned her head and smiled at Rong Feng. Her smile was like a rosy cloud.

Lord Yun was speechless by now. His daughter had always been stubborn, determined to follow through with anything she set her mind to, never backing down until it hit a wall. Just as she did when dealing with Ye Tianqiong, this trait of hers caused him great frustration and disappointment, but he knew more than anyone else that his daughter was truly serious about marrying Rong Feng now. He couldn't help but feel regret; could it be because of what he said yesterday If he had known today would come without Emperor Wen's intervention and Yun Qianyue would pull this trick out to marry no other than Rong Feng, he wouldn’t have spoken with her the way he did yesterday.

"Qianyue, stop fooling around! Father is right; how can marriage be taken lightly" Yun Muhuan’s voice wasn't as stern today but rather cautiously advised.

“Why should I fear meeting him only once Many couples marry without ever having met before; they are introduced on their wedding day and get to know each other that way! At least Rong Feng and I have met each other already!” Yun Qianyue looked at Yun Muhuan indifferently. Seeing he was about to speak again, she immediately said: “Brother, you grew up alongside Princess Qingwan as childhood sweethearts since young, but even after years of interaction, you two still don't seem to be on good terms. Relationships depend on fate and I believe Rong Feng and I are destined for one another.”

Yun Muhuan’s face turned pale and he was speechless.

"Qianyue, please stop this nonsense! Today is the martial arts top ranker meeting; we must be mindful of the occasion," Ye Tianqiong took a deep breath and said sternly.

“The martial arts top ranker competition hasn’t been delayed by me at all. Didn't you see how Night Qinran was still in full swing on the high stage” Yun Qianyue glanced over to the high platform, spotting Ye Qingran defeating someone again. She then turned her gaze back and didn’t look at Ye Tianqiong; instead, she addressed the elderly Emperor who had not spoken for a long time, "Uncle Emperor, I’ve never asked anything of you before, have I This is my first request: could you please grant it"

The reason why Yun Qianyue dared to say that she hadn't ever requested anything from the elderly emperor was simply because she deduced that the original owner of this body must be strong-willed and never easy to beg, let alone an emperor. Hence her words.

After Yun Qianyue's speech, everyone became even more silent; all eyes were on Emperor Wen.

The elderly emperor looked at Yun Qianyue with his deep-set old eyes. His stern expression was naturally imposing as he observed her in silence, seemingly pondering deeply.

“Father, this is nonsense from Qianyue; how can you grant such a request” Ye Tianqiong felt both frustrated and anxious inside. He had been restless every night recently due to Yun Qianyue’s pursuit of him years ago, which now seemed endearing rather than contemptible. How could he allow her to marry someone else

"Prince Regent Brother, in my opinion, Qianyue is being serious," Ye Tianyu smiled.

Ye Tianqiong was instantly furious and shot a venomous glare at Ye Tianyu. “She used to be sincere towards me; isn’t it that…” He wanted to say she had turned her back on him in an instant, but those words couldn't come out of his mouth.

Even though Ye Tianqiong didn’t finish his statement, everyone understood what he meant. Thinking about how Prince Regent was correct; Qianyue used to be infatuated with the prince and would follow him everywhere. Now that she wanted to marry Rong Feng instead, it seemed frivolous. It was as if her feelings for them were fickle.

Everyone believed Yun Qianyue had lost her mind!

"Qianyue, stop this nonsense! Father is right; marriage can’t be taken lightly..." Yun Muhuan’s voice wasn't as stern today but rather cautiously advised.

"To meet someone once, why fear Many couples marry without ever having met before. They get acquainted only after the wedding ceremony. Rong Feng and I have already met once!" Yun Qianyue looked at Yun Muhuan dismissively. Seeing he was about to speak again, she immediately said: "Brother, you grew up alongside Princess Qingwan as childhood sweethearts since young, but even after years of interaction, you two still don't seem to be on good terms. Relationships depend on fate, and I believe Rong Feng and I are destined for one another."

Yun Muhuan’s face turned pale; he was at a loss for words.

"Qianyue, stop this nonsense! Today is the martial arts top ranker competition; we must respect the occasion," Ye Tianqiong took a deep breath and said sternly.

“The martial arts top ranker competition hasn’t been affected by me at all. Didn't you see how Night Qinran was still in full swing on the high platform” Yun Qianyue glanced over to the high stage, where she saw Ye Qingran defeating an opponent again. She then turned her gaze back and didn’t look at Ye Tianqiong; instead, she addressed the elderly Emperor who hadn't spoken for a while: "Uncle Emperor, I’ve never asked anything of you before, have I This is my first request: could you please grant it"

Yun Qianyue’s words made everyone even more silent; all eyes were on the elderly emperor.

The elderly emperor looked at Yun Qianyue with his deep-set old eyes. His stern expression was naturally imposing as he observed her in silence, seemingly pondering deeply.

“Father, this is nonsense from Qianyue; how can you grant such a request” Ye Tianqiong felt both frustrated and anxious inside. He had been restless every night recently due to Yun Qianyue’s pursuit of him years ago, which now seemed endearing rather than contemptible. How could he allow her to marry someone else

"Prince Regent Brother, in my opinion, Qianyue is being serious," Ye Tianyu smiled.

Ye Tianqiong was instantly furious and shot a venomous glare at Ye Tianyu. “She used to be sincere towards me; isn’t it that…” He wanted to say she had turned her back on him in an instant, but those words couldn't come out of his mouth.

Although Ye Tianqiong didn't finish his statement, everyone understood what he meant. Thinking about how Qianyue used to be infatuated with the prince and would follow him everywhere, now wanting to marry Rong Feng seemed frivolous. It was as if her feelings for them were fickle.

Everyone believed Yun Qianyue had lost her mind!

"Prince, my marriage isn't a trivial matter. If I truly wed Mr. Rong, I can assure you that I will never regret it," Yun Qianyue said coldly to Ye Tianqiong, her words as clear and precious as pearls.

Ye Tianqiong’s face turned pale, and he staggered back a step.

"Uncle Emperor, please grant our marriage!" Yun Qianyue ignored Ye Tianqing and solemnly asked the old emperor.

The old emperor looked at Yun Qianyue and slowly said, "Moon, if you want to marry Rong Feng, I can indeed grant it. After all, the first ancestor never explicitly stated that only a legitimate daughter of the Cloud王府 must enter the imperial family. The Cloud王府 does have concubine-born daughters as well, but they are not qualified to become empresses due to their status. Although this is implied and hasn't been explicitly mentioned, it's an eternal truth. Since there's only one legitimate daughter in the Cloud王府, naturally she should be the only choice."

Yun Qianyue frowned, about to refute him.

Suddenly, the old emperor spoke again, "A hundred years have passed; if Emperor Saint Ancestor’s edict doesn't suit current circumstances, there must be changes. Maybe I can break the ancestor's teachings."

"Then please let Uncle Emperor decide! Now I only勉強識字，不懂琴棋書畫，不會詩詞歌賦，好吃懶做，性子頑劣不聽教導，還不服禮數管教。像我這樣的女人實在冇有資格將來入宮。所以，請您賜我和容楓的婚吧！” Yun Qianyue immediately replied. She didn’t look at anyone else, only the old emperor. Wasn't it true that if she asked for a marriage without entering the imperial family herself, would fewer people be watching her The old emperor might also feel relieved. She felt he was unwilling to have another woman from the Cloud王府 become empress and further strengthen their influence.

"Moon, you want to marry Rong Feng but haven't asked him if he wants to marry you! If Rong Feng doesn’t want to marry you, even if I defy my ancestor’s teachings to grant your marriage, wouldn’t that just create a pair of lovesick men and women" The old emperor looked at Rong Feng and reminded Yun Qianyue.

Yun Qianyue was taken aback; she indeed had acted unilaterally without asking Rong Feng. She thought it made sense—what if he didn’t want to marry her Wouldn't that be pointless Shaking her head, she turned and asked Rong Feng, "Hey, Rong Feng, do you want to marry me"

Rong Feng looked at Yun Qianyue; his gaze remained veiled, not responding. Instead, he glanced at Rong Jing.

Yun Qianyue followed his gaze and saw Rong Jing covering his mouth with a handkerchief, lazily leaning against the chair without looking this way. His face was expressionless, as if indifferent to everything happening in front of him.

"Moreover, Rong Feng is still a branch of the Honor王府. Since Crown Prince Shi Jǐng is here now, we should ask for his opinion too." The old emperor followed Rong Feng's gaze and his old eyes flickered with deep thought.

Yun Qianyue frowned and turned to Rong Feng, saying, "I’m marrying you, never thought of anyone else. Regardless who you are or what I am now, from today on at least for this moment, I want to marry you and follow you forever. At this moment, I clearly know who you are and who I am. Just say if you will marry me."

With these words, she still didn’t let go of his hand. She felt Rong Feng was hard to fathom; selling her future marriage and life just to stop the old emperor's trouble wasn't wise, especially to someone she had only met twice. But she did it. In this new environment, she could hardly catch anyone off guard with a surprise move. If she didn’t act now, others might take advantage of her absence, leading to far worse consequences than one simple problem.

Rong Jing suddenly closed his eyes and turned away from the scene, lowering his head as if tired but not leaving.

Rong Feng glanced at Rong Jing and then looked back at Yun Qianyue, staring intently. After a moment, he pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were clear and bright. He opened his mouth to speak but paused, then spoke.

Yun Qianyue suddenly wished for him to say “yes.” It felt like she had waited countless times in her dreams just to hear that one word. Listening to him say "yes," listening to him say "I will marry you." Her heart began pounding; she could feel it clearly and knew his heartbeat was synchronized with hers.

"Moon, today is the martial champion conference. We’ll discuss your marriage later," the old emperor suddenly interrupted Rong Feng’s words, looking kindly but firmly at Yun Qianyue. "You always act on whims; you may ask me for a marriage today and want to annul it tomorrow. Rong Feng has to compete now; don’t distract him. If he misses out on becoming martial champion because of your interference, that will be your fault."

Yun Qianyue’s heart plummeted. She was sure that just before, the word Rong Feng was about to say was "yes"; though he only opened his mouth a little bit, she knew for certain. After her uncle emperor stopped him, the light in his eyes immediately dimmed—she had been watching closely and could see clearly. Pressing her lips together, although disappointed, she confirmed that the old emperor hadn’t planned to kick her out of contention for future empress. So, it seemed she would never have peace.

But still feeling resentful, Yun Qianyue turned towards him with a pout, "Uncle Emperor…"

"Moon, stop talking! You haven’t come of age yet; marriage isn't urgent. We will discuss this later." The old emperor waved and interrupted her, unwilling to continue further. He sternly instructed Rong Feng, “The time is right, Rong Feng, prepare yourself for the match.”

Rong Feng bowed his head and responded, "Yes."

Yun Qianyue gripped Rong Feng’s sleeve tightly, her pout turning to a smile. She said to him with an expressionless face, “Alright then, we’ll discuss this another day. Anyway, you can’t escape and neither can I.” Smiling heartlessly, she continued: "I want that shattered snow sword! You must obtain it; don't let Ye Qingran get it. Even if he gives it to me, I doubt he'll actually give it to me. He will likely use it to win the affection of the first beauty in Nanyang. If you can get it, consider it as a token of our betrothal or engagement gift for me; I would be very pleased."

Rong Feng remained silent.

"You are too taciturn. But no worries, after spending more time with me, your speech will naturally become more fluent." Yun Qianyue let go of his sleeve and smoothed out the creases in his white sleeves. "Ye Qingran has already reached round 138; you can go now!"

Rong Feng nodded slowly and stood up.

No one had seen a woman so bold, shameless, and unreserved like Yun Qianyue before, but given her reputation as an unruly noblewoman, everyone found it unsurprising. If any other lady of high birth spoke these words, they would be drowned in spittle by the others present. But since the speaker was always outspoken Yun Qianyue, no one said a word.

On the elevated platform, Ye Qingran had stopped fighting and looked over. Though far away, he felt something odd among the people in the pavilion and wondered what happened. Seeing Rong Feng rise to his feet made him raise an eyebrow and call out, "Rong Feng, come up! I shall settle these matters with you."

"Alright!" Rong Feng's toe lightly touched the ground, a single word left unspoken as he leaped upward, landing gracefully on the platform.

“Well done! Let’s begin!” Ye Qingran called out loudly and lavished praise upon Rong Feng without reserve.

The judge immediately announced, "Round 138 begins! Prince of Wénbó守台，黎郡守二公子對文伯候府公子，佰闌縣守公子對染小王爺，開始！”

Two people leaped from the crowd and began their duel on a high platform.

The two duels showcased Rong Feng’s and Ye Qingran’s unique styles. Everyone's eyes were drawn to them.

"Indeed, it's truly worthy of the man I want to marry! His martial arts skills are really excellent!" Yun Qianyue loudly praised him, seemingly not feeling any embarrassment at openly complimenting a man. "I plan to study from him every day and will surely learn well."

The crowd looked around at each other in small groups, no one speaking.

"Little Yue, be more reserved!" the old emperor reminded her with a smile.

Thinking that this old man was still smiling despite his situation, Yun Qianyue found it clear that emperors weren't normal people. Regardless of what he thought in his heart, he certainly put on quite a show on the surface. She smiled happily and asked, "Uncle Emperor, what does being reserved mean"

The crowd broke out in sweat all at once; they had forgotten that Miss Yun Qianyue used to be illiterate. Now it seemed that even after a month of instruction from both Crown Prince Jing and Young Master Yun Shi, she was still much the same as before—worth the same amount but perhaps even more brazen than before. She could do things an ordinary noblewoman couldn't manage. Furthermore, her arrogant behavior had escalated another level. Such a woman would be utterly useless were it not for her status as the legitimate daughter of Cloud Manor. The emperor never took any action against her and instead allowed her to sit here. It was incomprehensible.

"Sigh, I think you should continue studying with Crown Prince Jing! Indeed, these days your mind hasn't absorbed much ink," the old emperor sighed helplessly, ignoring Yun Qianyue and turning to Rong Jing. "Crown Prince Jing, it seems that Little Yue's education will still be in your hands."

"Ahem... I really don’t think I can teach Miss Yun Qianyue well enough; Your Majesty might as well seek another teacher!" Rong Jing shook his head and coughed lightly to refuse the request outright. "My body is frail, and I’ve caught a chill recently, so I truly lack the strength for it. Please forgive my refusal."

"I forgot that Crown Prince Jing isn’t in good health. Then we can't trouble him," the old emperor nodded and swept his gaze around the room, fixing on Ye Tianqiong.

Yun Qianyue hadn't expected her casual remark to give the old emperor an excuse for continuing her education; seeing his gaze fall on Ye Tianqiong, she immediately shouted, "Let my brother continue teaching me!"

Cloud Muhan had been upset with Yun Qianyue's stubbornness about marrying Rong Feng. Upon hearing this, he suppressed his anger and stood up respectfully. "Your Majesty, I'm willing to teach my sister. She's mischievous; let her be taught by me!"

"Qingwan is still not fully recovered and doesn't acknowledge anyone but you. You can stay in the palace for that reason alone, so I don’t need to worry about her. How could you possibly have time to teach Little Yue" The old emperor shook his head and shifted his gaze from Ye Tianqiong to Ye Tianyu.

Yun Qianyue breathed a sigh of relief and turned toward Ye Tianyu, thinking that if he were the one teaching her, it would be acceptable. She wanted to continue pretending she didn’t know etiquette or propriety; she couldn't avoid continued learning then. It mattered little who taught her as long as it wasn’t Ye Tianqiong. So she remained silent.

"Father, I can't teach her!" Unlike Ye Tianqiong, who immediately requested an imperial decree, Ye Tianyu vigorously shook his head.

The old emperor laughed and scolded him: "I knew you couldn’t teach her. You’ve been close friends since childhood; you need to be taught yourselves! If she were left in your care, after a while neither of you would be any use." The kindly expression didn't match that of an emperor but rather resembled the patriarch of a large family or a caring father.

This time it was Ye Tianyu who sighed with relief and winked at Yun Qianyue.

Yun Qianyue harrumphed at Ye Tianyu; she didn’t need him if he wouldn’t teach her. She would see whom the old emperor chose to instruct her. Seeing that the old emperor was still searching among the princes and ministers, Yun Qianyue found their elderly faces boring and instead focused on Rong Feng’s figure floating gracefully above them. Her eyes lit up as she suggested to the emperor, "Uncle Emperor, why not choose Rong Feng He has such good martial arts skills; his literary talents must be excellent too! Besides, he's from the Wen Bo family; isn't it said that their talent is comparable to Rong Jing’s So I’m sure his literary abilities are also impressive. Let me study with him and we can become closer."

The crowd broke out in cold sweat upon hearing her suggestion. They felt she should indeed learn the etiquette expected of women—obedience, chastity, righteousness, etc.—rather than blabbing about her love for a man and calling herself his bride-to-be. It was truly laughable! These old men had never seen such behavior before.

“If Rong Feng wins the title of Martial Champion, I will immediately arrange an official position for him. He has just returned to the capital; there are many things he needs to settle and probably doesn’t have time to teach you,” replied the old emperor, continuing: “Moreover, I doubt he could manage to teach a girl like you. You might even be worse off after trying!”

Yun Qianyue raised her head and said gloomily, "If this isn't possible and that’s not, then who can" She wasn’t going to study with anyone she didn’t like—she wouldn’t have any interest in it and certainly wouldn’t learn well.

The old emperor laughed: “I see you look at no one else but Rong Feng. How about this After the Martial Champion competition, go to the Imperial Study Hall where the Crown Prince and princesses study; their tutors are chosen from among the best in the capital. You mustn't cause any trouble there.”

"To the Imperial Study Hall" Yun Qianyue hadn’t expected this result after all that time.

“Yes,” replied the old emperor.

Yun Qianyue thought, “But I’m now in charge of Cloud Manor; how could I find time to study if I go there Father’s accounts are still waiting for me to look over them.” She wondered if the Imperial Study Hall was inside the palace. Would she have to go there daily—into a place where she had nearly been imprisoned by Ye Tianqiong upon her first arrival

The old emperor turned to Cloud Manor's lord: "Lord Yun, why not find someone else to manage your household affairs It’s more important that this young lady learns proper behavior and etiquette."

Cloud Manor’s lord replied respectfully, “Your Majesty, no one in the house is suitable for managing it. The old Lord also wants Little Yue to gain some experience from running the manor; otherwise she wouldn’t need to go to the Imperial Study Hall. I’ll teach her personally after court…” He sensed that the emperor had started taking Yun Qianyue more seriously recently, his attitude different from before—when he would scold her for mischievous behavior but now showing concern about her education and teaching. Furthermore, today he didn’t arrange a match for her or even discuss abolishing the ancestral precepts. Could it be that he planned to have Yun Qianyue enter the palace The emperor's current attitude was confusing; thus Cloud Manor’s lord politely declined.

“I’ve heard that soon some branches of the Cloud family will move into the capital from Cloud County, as per Lord Yun’s wishes. He wants them all to stay at the Ren王府 (Rong Manor). It’ll be busy for you then; you won’t have time to manage Little Yue’s education. Moreover, with you in charge of the Ministry of Rites and the Southern Liang Crown Prince here, Nanling’s reception will rely on you. You certainly don’t have the time,” said the old emperor dismissively before suggesting an alternative: “How about this Little Yue can attend the Imperial Study Hall from morning to noon and return home in the afternoon to manage Cloud Manor; that way she can still receive education and fulfill Lord Yun’s desire for her to gain experience.”

"Well, then!" Upon seeing the old emperor's determination, Marquis Yun could only agree.

After considering it for a moment, Cloud Qianyue did not refute and reluctantly agreed. She had never been to the Imperial Palace’s study room, and among those princes and princesses, she only knew Nigh Tianqing, Night Tianyu, and Qing Wan. Since her future wasn't going to be peaceful anyway, she might as well face it head-on! She wanted to see what schemes the old emperor had for her. If enemies came with troops, they would resist them; if floods came, they would build dikes to block them. She didn’t believe he was a Buddha who could keep her, a monkey, within his palm!

After this speech, the old emperor no longer spoke, and everyone else remained silent as well.

"Round 251! The Young Master of Wen Bo Houfu versus… Rounder Little Prince versus…" The referee shouted loudly again.

Cloud Qianyue looked up at the dais and saw two more people flying onto it. Perhaps those two clearly knew they couldn’t defeat Rong Feng and Night Qingran, but still wanted to spar with them a bit. This was pride among martial artists. She shifted her gaze upwards and observed the sky; the sun wasn't high yet. More than 100 rounds had passed in the time that it took Rong Feng to get up there for so long. It seemed these two would be able to finish their match earlier today!

She withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, and idly played with the silk ribbon she was holding. She waited quietly for the results.

This pavilion finally fell silent without any more commotion. Only the referee's continuous loud shouts could be heard.

An hour later, Cloud Qianyue couldn't help but fall asleep from drowsiness.

The old emperor turned his head and gave her a glance. Seeing her sleeping with her head tilted to one side, he saw that the ribbon in her hand had been braided into a messy braid. She was now lying there askew, truly having no trace of a lady's posture or propriety. He stared at her for a moment; his old eyes were deep in thought and profound contemplation. After a short while, he turned his head away and continued looking towards the arena. His sharp brows concealed the imperial aura under his aged appearance. Anyone would see him as an elderly man.

The people in the pavilion gradually noticed that Cloud Qianyue had fallen asleep and exchanged glances but none of them spoke.

"Round 522! The Young Master of Wen Bo Houfu Rong Feng wins! Prince Qingran of De Qin王府勝出！”裁判高聲宣讀兩輪的勝者，最後一聲尤為響亮。

所有人都一副不出所料的表情。

雲淺月被吵醒，迷迷糊糊地看向高台，果然再無人上台，隻剩下夜輕染和容楓。她扭了扭僵硬的脖子，就聽到身邊老皇帝笑道：“丫頭，睡夠了嗎？”

"Yes! Indeed, sleeping like this isn't as comfortable as my usual nap!" Cloud Qianyue mumbled. Her head was stiff.

“You can even sleep with me sitting beside you. You really have a big pair of lungs!” The old emperor joked and looked at the sky before instructing Night Tianyu, "Let's end today’s martial arts test here! Let Rong Feng and Qingran rest for one night and continue tomorrow. If we tire out those two children, I will lose two valuable talents!"

Cloud Qianyue lifted her eyes to the sky; it was noon now, so she thought they could disband and return home for a meal.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Night Tianyu bowed in response and gave a signal to the referee.

The referee shouted loudly, "The Emperor has ordered that today’s martial arts test will end here. Tomorrow, Young Master Rong Feng of Wen Bo Houfu and Prince Qingran of De Qin王府將再決一勝負！”

On the dais, Night Qingran was eager to start and had been waiting for the referee to announce it so he could compete with Rong Feng again. Instead, they were told to disband, causing him to frown as he looked inside the pavilion. Before he could say that he wanted to continue, Rong Feng turned around and gracefully descended from the dais. He had no choice but to lightly touch his toes and descend.

The two of them, with their elegant robes fluttering, descended one after another, truly being formidable martial artists.

Cloud Qianyue watched Rong Feng and Night Qingran, the two handsome men moving gracefully—indeed enviable. She missed those times when she could fly for several feet due to her martial arts skills; now she could only envy it. Sighing, she thought that all of this was done to help that black-hearted Rong Jing and had lost her abilities as a result. She shifted her gaze to look at Rong Jing.

She saw Rong Jing still with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep; his jade-like face was covered by a few messy strands of hair. The ink-black strands made his face appear even more white and delicate—much paler than usual. She frowned slightly, withdrew her gaze, thinking that if Jade Ning saw him like this, her heart would surely break, truly making him a weak-looking beauty.

"Yue, did the candidates who took part in today’s written test have their results recorded How many rounds did each of them make it through against Rong Feng and Qingran" The old emperor turned to ask Night Tianyu.

"Your Majesty, I've had the results recorded as you instructed," replied Night Tianyu immediately.

“Good. Bring me those lists later for my review. I will grant positions based on merit,” nodded the old emperor and slowly stood up. Minister Lu immediately approached to smooth out any wrinkles in his dragon robes caused by sitting down.

"Yes!" Night Tianyu bowed his head in response.

“Prepare the imperial carriage for our return!” The old emperor instructed Minister Lu.

Minister Lu quickly supported the old emperor and shouted, "Prepare the imperial carriage for our return!"

The royal retinue immediately returned to their positions and followed behind the old emperor as he took a step down from the pavilion. The group left.

"See Your Majesty off!" Everyone instantly kneeled except for Rong Jing, who was still sitting with his eyes closed, and Cloud Qianyue, who was rubbing her neck while seated.

“You may all rise,” the old emperor waved his hand without turning around.

The crowd waited until the old emperor left the pavilion before slowly getting up.

Duke De said to Rong Jing, "Young Marquis Jing, your health isn’t very good. If you feel exhausted tomorrow, there’s no need for you to come and watch. The Emperor will understand."

Rong Jing opened his eyes without sitting up, nodded at Duke De, and said, "Thank you, Uncle Duke De! I know."

Duke De nodded, seemingly sighing as he didn’t say anything else before turning around to leave the pavilion.

Xiao Duke gave Rong Jing a glance and then looked at Yun Qianyue. He snorted but said nothing, following after Duke De down from the pavilion.

Seeing that Prince Yun didn’t seem like he wanted to leave, the other officials also walked down slowly in mutual politeness.

In an instant, only Rong Jing, Yun Qianyue, Prince Yun and Yun Muhuan remained inside the pavilion.

Prince Yun looked at Rong Jing and said slowly, "Young Marquis Jing, if your body isn’t feeling well, I’ll let Yun Qianyue ride in my carriage with me. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself by escorting her home."

Rong Jing raised his head to look at Prince Yun and asked lightly, “Uncle Prince Yun still needs to go to the palace today, right The moment the list of contestants comes out, the Emperor will definitely call several uncles over for consultations. Uncle Duke De and Uncle Cold seem to have followed His Majesty into the palace already, so you should hurry on in too! Although my body isn’t feeling well, I can still walk a few more steps to escort her home.”

"This…" Prince Yun saw how pale Rong Jing’s face was and was hesitant.

“Father, I’ll send my sister back home first before returning to the palace!” Yun Muhuan immediately said.

Prince Yun felt that this option was best. Just as he nodded his head in agreement, Grand Eunuch Lu who had already walked a distance away from the Emperor returned and shouted at them loudly, "Young Prince Yun! Someone just sent word to say that Princess woke up and is causing a ruckus because she can’t find you! You should hurry into the palace!"

Yun Muhuan frowned with an extremely displeased expression.

"Hurry along now! As for Yun Qianyue, I’ll trouble Young Marquis Jing to escort her home," Prince Yun immediately urged.

Yun Muhuan glanced at Yun Qianyue and seeing that she didn’t mind, he hurriedly left the pavilion as well.

"Qianyue, don’t be naughty anymore. You… oh, what happened today will definitely spread throughout the land tomorrow anyway, so you’ll just have to wait for Grandfather’s cane upon your return!" Prince Yun wanted to lecture her but was afraid of upsetting Qianyue again after she had finally calmed down with him after a long time. He could only sigh and left with quick steps. It would be better for him to head into the palace now to find out what the Emperor planned to do as today’s events had truly frightened him badly.

Yun Qianyue saw Prince Yun and Yun Muhuan leave in a hurry, pursed her lips, and stood up when she found that Rong Jing was not getting up either. She didn’t want to bother with him and walked away.

"I had no idea you were going to marry only Rong Feng," Rong Jing’s voice floated over lightly as he looked at Yun Qianyue, his tone cold yet mocking.

“Today! What now It has nothing to do with you. I’ll marry him and that’s final. In any case, Rong Feng is much better than this heartless fellow,” Yun Qianyue turned around and raised her eyebrows at him.

"I truly have no say in your matters, but I hope that you’ll really marry him. He should call me Uncle since he’s of the next generation to mine. If you do end up marrying him, it will be because he doesn’t have any other relatives left and thus consider me his senior as well as his uncle. Then every day, you’d need to go pay your respects in the morning and evening. Just thinking about those days makes me feel that they’re very much worth looking forward to," Rong Jing got up gracefully, smoothed out the wrinkles on his moon-shaped brocade robe, and said slowly.

“What” Yun Qianyue was shocked and widened her eyes as she shouted. “How so”

Rong Jing glanced at her surprised face indifferently before turning around to walk out of the pavilion without another word.

"Hey, wait! What did you just say You’re his… Uncle Rong Feng" Yun Qianyue quickly took a step forward and grabbed onto Rong Jing’s hand in disbelief as she stared at him. If she married Rong Feng, she would have to pay her respects every day

Rong Jing shook off Yun Qianyue’s hand without saying anything.

Yun Qianyue clung onto his sleeve tightly and said firmly, "Quickly explain yourself! Otherwise I won’t let you leave!"

Forced to stop walking, Rong Jing raised an eyebrow at Yun Qianyue. “You’re sure you want to argue here Rong Feng’s watching from below right now. You just said that you would marry him but are already getting into a tussle with me so quickly. Do you know how he’ll be thinking”

Yun Qianyue turned her head and found that Rong Feng was indeed looking over at them, as well as Ye Qingran. The distance was far and she could not see their facial expressions. She let go of him but when Rong Jing started walking again, she grabbed onto his arm once more. "Let him think whatever he wants! Quickly explain!"

She would rather be killed than marry him if that were the case! The thought of addressing Rong Jing as Uncle and paying her respects to him daily was even worse than swallowing a fly—it made her stomach turn. She wouldn’t marry anyone!

—Interlude—

Ahem, everyone, please send me your votes because I really don’t have the motivation without them… Yesterday, I had such a hard time writing one ten thousand-word chapter and felt that it wasn’t good enough, so I bit my teeth off and rewrote it all. Aww! Is there anyone who can comfort me >_<

Right now we’re in the middle of stormy weather. Please vote for me to give me a boost. Let’s circle around together and cheer up!the kind of art you know; it’s tangible. But there’s also a very abstract concept: everything that's beautiful can be called art. It's an aesthetic view characterized by human emotions and imagination...