Muruo had finally sobered up completely!

Completely disregarding the tea on his face, his brows furrowed seriously as he asked anxiously.

“Is there no room for negotiation?”

His temperament was fundamentally different from Jingrong’s. He couldn’t remain this calm and composed at such a moment. If he had been the one to hear this news in court today, he would have already overturned the table in fury.

Never mind the relationship between ruler and subject!

Never mind the bond between father and son!

Jingrong shook his head lightly, saying earnestly, “No one can overturn Father Emperor’s decision. You know his temperament—it’s always been this way. Moreover, the Son of Heaven’s word is absolute. To have him revoke his own edict now would be too difficult.”

Only silent sighs filled the air.

Yet Muruo clenched his fists, and with a surge of anger in his heart, completely dispelled the alcohol in his throat!

While feeling indignant, he also displayed an expression of extreme regret.

He said to Jingrong, “What about you then? Are you really just going to watch Kong Yu marry that old Prince Qujiang? Even if you don’t like her, shouldn’t you fight for her? After all, we all grew up together.”

He deliberately emphasized this point!

What he received in return was Jingrong’s impassive expression.

He still maintained that stern face, only his tone of voice becoming slightly heavier. “Do you think I didn’t try? These past two days, I’ve pleaded with Father Emperor countless times in the palace, asking him to reconsider. You should know, if I weren’t his son, at this very moment, I would have already been dragged to the Meridian Gate for execution.”

Well!

These words were certainly no exaggeration.

Indeed, these past few days, he had gone to Fuyang Hall many times, hoping the Emperor would change his mind and find another solution. Unfortunately, the Emperor seemed to have drunk Consort Xiao’s pillow talk like wine.

Listening to Consort Xiao whisper night after night by his pillow that “Kong Yu is the best candidate,” he had apparently been influenced imperceptibly.

Combined with how this matter truly troubled and vexed him, he simply slapped the table and settled the matter.

With one imperial edict, he conferred upon Kong Yu the title of Princess Huiwen, to marry into Qujiang.

Once the edict was announced tomorrow, it would become set in stone.

Even if Kong Yu was unwilling in every possible way, ultimately there was nothing she could do!

The blame lay only in the fact that seven years ago, when Empress Xuanshu died, she could no longer protect this beloved young niece of hers.

The blame lay only in the fact that Jing Xuan had a great mother who strategized for her and helped her avoid calamity.

Though Muruo, this flirtatious playboy, seemed to be covered in romantic debts and full of roguish charm, at the end of the day, Kong Yu was his friend.

How could he not help a friend?

Now burning with anxiety, he said, “Kong Yu’s heart holds only you—how can she be willing to marry into Qujiang?”

Jingrong lowered his head slightly, his deep eyes filled with helplessness.

“I know. I know she certainly doesn’t want to marry. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have waited until now without marrying, only to be appointed by Father Emperor to go to Qujiang.”

Yes, he felt immensely guilty!

If he hadn’t always treated Kong Yu’s phrase “Princess Consort Rong” as a joke and never clearly stated his position, he wouldn’t have delayed her like this.

It was his fault!

He admitted it!

No need to hide it!

Muruo straightened up. His originally clenched fists pounded heavily on the table once. His peach-blossom-colored face carried a man’s protective desire toward a woman.

“I’m going to the Kong residence to see her!”

He was about to stride out immediately!

Jingrong stopped him at once. “She’s already entered the palace.”

“What?” He whipped his head around.

“Father Emperor has already summoned her into the palace.”

…

An hour ago, the Emperor’s edict had been delivered to the Kong residence.

Lady Kong was in the Buddhist hall, tapping the wooden fish, burning candle incense, holding a string of ninety-nine prayer beads in her hand, devotedly turning to Buddha.

The elderly servant outside reported three times before Lady Kong finally showed a reaction.

Her gaze fixed on the Buddha statue in the hall, she uttered a phrase: “Let it be!”

These three words transmitted from inside, making the elderly servant’s heart clench.

When Lady Kong’s words were conveyed to Kong Yu, they expected her to cry bitterly and blame her mother for not standing up for her. Who would have known—

She didn’t make a scene!

She didn’t cry!

She didn’t speak!

Instead, she applied Diaochan makeup before the bronze mirror and changed into new garments.

Throughout, a faint smile remained at the corners of her mouth, yet the smile made people feel it was extremely bitter!

At this moment, inside the carriage, the smile at the corners of her mouth had never faded.

Had she accepted it?

Was she willing to marry into Qujiang?

Hadn’t she been wholeheartedly waiting for Jingrong, wanting to be his Princess Consort Rong?

She lifted the curtain. Probably half an incense stick’s time remained before reaching the palace gates.

Spring had arrived. Outside on the streets, peach blossom trees were planted at intervals. Petals fell like fine rain, bit by bit drifting downward.

They floated into the carriage!

Landing on her head, shoulders, and palms!

The dewdrops on the petals seeped into the fine lines on her palm, cool and refreshing, as if drawing her thoughts back many years ago.

“A’Rong, look quickly—so beautiful.”

That tender voice, like a green sprout in early spring, full of hope!

That year, Kong Yu was only nine years old, holding several peach blossoms in her hands, running toward Jingrong who was by the stream, leaning against a peach blossom tree…

Eight-year-old Jingrong lacked the smile that should belong to this age. Between his brows, he always carried a melancholy that made one’s heart ache.

Kong Yu happily sat beside him, placing peach blossom petals one by one on his thin shoulders.

“Do you really like peach blossoms?” The eight-year-old child’s voice carried a trace of desolation.

Kong Yu nodded!

“When A’Rong grows up, can you plant a peach blossom grove for me?”

At that time, Jingrong neither nodded nor shook his head!

Some say the peach blossom grove Jingrong now possesses was planted for Kong Yu!

Looking at the peach blossom petal in her palm, the smile on Kong Yu’s lips bloomed even more brilliantly.

Her fingertips slowly curled, holding that peach blossom petal in her palm.

She brought it with her into the palace!

Led by palace servants to Fuyang Hall, she saw the exalted Emperor and the spring-breeze-pleased Consort Xiao.

She acted like a puppet, performing the proper courtesies, obediently sitting to one side, listening to Emperor Qizhen’s words.

Nothing more than telling her to peacefully marry into Qujiang. From then on, the Kong family would be worry-free for life. He conferred upon her the title of Princess Huiwen to enjoy wealth and honor.

Of course, Consort Xiao also spoke some words.

As for what she said, Kong Yu had no heart to listen.

Throughout it all, she kept her gaze lowered, looking at the peach-blossom-colored petal in her palm.

The smile at the corners of her mouth remained constant.

So much so that Emperor Qizhen and Consort Xiao believed she was willing.

After all, for a declining Kong family to suddenly produce a princess who was fortunate enough to become Prince Qujiang’s consort was indeed an honorable matter.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before palace servants helped her out of Fuyang Hall.

Outside, rain had begun to fall!

The sound of rain pattered steadily!

Rainwater slowly fell along the roof tiles, the splashing droplets landing on her clean skirt hem—

A palace servant brought an umbrella, holding it over her head.

She said, “Princess, the Emperor has ordered us servants to escort you to Zhaixian Hall.”

Right!

She had almost forgotten!

She was now a princess. Before marrying into Qujiang, the imperial palace would be her home.