What met the eye was an absolutely stunning beauty.
Without makeup or powder, yet radiant as dawn mist reflecting off snow.
Only those eyes gazed over cold, without a trace of warmth. Shen Yao looked and felt his heart constrict, actually finding it somewhat glaring.
Looking at her more carefully once more, he felt those eyes were deep and profound, as if the sharpness from that instant earlier had merely been an illusion.
“What is your name?” Shen Yao asked.
Changling lowered her head expressionlessly. Just hearing his voice made her feel somewhat nauseous. “Jing Changting.”
The palace attendant beside them stamped his foot, reminding her softly, “You should say, ‘In reply to Your Majesty…'”
“No matter, no matter,” Shen Yao waved his hand. His gaze swept up and down, examining her with a smile that made people uncomfortable just to see. “Today in the great hall, I didn’t look carefully… Your surname is Jing. Could you be…”
“Your Majesty,” Jing Wuwei stepped forward two paces and introduced her. “She is the one I mentioned to Your Majesty before—my youngest daughter.”
“Oh, I remember now, the one you searched for many years…” As Shen Yao spoke, he walked toward his own seat and sat down. His gaze lingered on Changling’s direction for a moment longer before he smiled at Jing Wuwei. “The General’s daughter truly has celestial beauty. Not a single one of the beauties in my harem could compare to even one ten-thousandth of your daughter…”
Before he’d even finished speaking, Ye Qi’s expression had already changed slightly, and Fu Yangui’s eyes also imperceptibly shifted.
Comparing a newly successful presented scholar to the imperial harem was rather too abrupt. Everyone present couldn’t help but think: could the Emperor’s implications mean he’d taken a fancy to this daughter of the Jing family?
After all, having grown accustomed to the vulgar rouge and powder of the deep palace’s inner quarters, suddenly encountering this kind of coldly refined and otherworldly type, it would be difficult not to develop some thoughts.
Sure enough, Shen Yao continued, “I wonder if your daughter is married?”
Jing Wuwei was just about to answer when someone suddenly stood up, stepping out from their seat. “Your Majesty, although Miss Jing is not yet married, she has a marriage engagement…”
Fu Yangui raised his sleeve in salute, his eyes looking directly at Shen Yao. “Her betrothed husband is this minister.”
The scene completely quieted down. Everyone unconsciously held their breath, feeling that Prime Minister Fu’s words carried a meaning of declaring sovereignty to the Emperor—in broad daylight, speaking so directly before so many people, wasn’t he afraid of provoking the dragon’s wrath?
A flash of displeasure passed through Shen Yao’s eyes, but it was only a fleeting instant. Seeing that the one who stepped forward was Fu Yangui, he ultimately forced the corners of his mouth to move, smiling stiffly. “I was just about to say I’d arrange a marriage for Miss Jing. I didn’t expect she already has an engagement with Prime Minister Fu. Truly talented man and beautiful woman—I wonder if a wedding date has been set?”
Jing Wuwei said, “This engagement was established many years ago when Old Master Fu was still alive. I had planned to discuss the wedding date with Prime Minister Fu after the martial examination…”
“Since Your Majesty is concerned,” Fu Yangui turned his body to look deeply at Changling for a moment, then turned back to face Shen Yao. “Tonight at this Martial Assembly Banquet, this minister humbly requests Your Majesty to bestow this marriage, to set a wedding date for this minister and Miss Jing, and choose an auspicious day for the wedding.”
Ye Qi’s gentle jade-like face suddenly darkened.
Changling was even more bewildered—wasn’t this Martial Assembly Banquet supposed to be for celebrating the presented scholars’ success? How had that Fu surname managed to drag things off track toward setting a wedding date?
Jing Wuwei looked at Fu Yangui with a complex expression. Though he didn’t refute or hastily agree, he only said, “This old minister will abide by Your Majesty’s decision.”
Shen Yao’s gaze shifted slightly, falling on Changling. He seemed somewhat puzzled, wondering what was so special about this woman besides her beauty that would make Prime Minister Fu act so contrary to his usual behavior, insisting on using his golden mouth to finalize this marriage?
“Since you two beloved ministers have obtained this fine match,” Shen Yao said, “naturally I should fulfill this beautiful union…”
Ye Qi shot to his feet. Because his movement was too large and forceful, the entire table in front of him was knocked over by his leg with a “crash”—successfully attracting everyone’s attention.
Shen Yao’s brow furrowed. “Marquis He… what is this…”
Ye Qi stepped over the table and bowed to Shen Yao. “Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister objects to this marriage.”
Below was another wave of stunned silence. The court officials dared not make a sound, and the new presented scholars dared not even breathe heavily. Shen Yao was also stunned. He originally hadn’t wanted to be led by the nose by Fu Yangui like this. Seeing He Yu stand up to voice opposition, he couldn’t help but raise his hand and ask, “This is originally a marriage matter between the Jing and Fu families. Since Prime Minister Fu and Miss Jing have mutual affection, I wonder why Marquis He objects?”
“Your Majesty doesn’t know—Miss Jing was lost among the common people in her early years and didn’t know she was the daughter of the Jing family. Earlier, this minister was fortunate enough to meet and know Miss Jing, and we had already privately promised ourselves to each other for life…” Ye Qi’s lies flowed from his mouth, yet everyone pricked up their ears to listen as he spoke earnestly. “This minister promised Miss Jing that after finding her family, I would formally send a marriage proposal. I didn’t expect she would turn out to be the General’s daughter… Originally, this minister intended to speak frankly with General Jing after the examination, but who knew Prime Minister Fu would bring it up first.”
Changling: “…”
As soon as these words left his mouth, Fu Yangui’s face could no longer maintain its refined elegance. He said, “Marriage is a major matter requiring a matchmaker’s words. Does Marquis He think that with empty words alone, he can destroy this marriage of mine? Isn’t that somewhat excessive bullying?”
Fu Yanyang: “…”
Zhou Qin had been watching nervously. Seeing Fu Yanyang suddenly looking like his jaw was about to drop, she asked, “Wh-what?”
Fu Yanyang whispered, “This is the first time I’ve heard my older brother say someone is bullying him excessively…”
Ye Qi shook his head and met Fu Yangui’s gaze, speaking leisurely. “Prime Minister Fu’s words are mistaken. Miss Jing and I have mutual affection—I knew her before you. How can you say I’m destroying Prime Minister Fu’s marriage? Since marriage is a major matter requiring a matchmaker’s words, this marquis today requests Your Majesty to be matchmaker for Miss Jing and me. What could be improper about that?”
Fu Yangui naturally knew every sentence Ye Qi just said was fabricated nonsense.
But he had no way to expose it. He could only laugh coldly. “If Marquis He wants to marry General Jing’s daughter, have you asked General Jing even once?”
Jing Wuwei had been observing Marquis He and Prime Minister Fu undermining each other the whole time. The more he watched, the more suspicious he became. Although He Yu’s words were too abrupt for him to fully believe, judging solely by his reaction, he truly seemed devoted. Moreover, the He family’s military strength had indeed always been a major concern of his. If he could take this opportunity to form a marriage alliance with the He family, it wouldn’t be a bad thing either.
The young marquis had displayed such fearlessness today. He weighed the situation and deflected diplomatically. “What the Marquis has said, this old man is also hearing for the first time… Your Majesty, this was meant to be a martial assembly banquet. There’s no need to disturb this fine feast over my family affairs. This matter—why not discuss it later?”
Ye Qi had probably been waiting for exactly those words. Hearing them, he nodded. “Indeed. We ministers were rash today. Please forgive us, Your Majesty.”
This matter had originally been stirred up by Shen Yao himself. He’d inadvertently provoked the heart’s desire of both Prime Minister Fu and Marquis He. Of course he wouldn’t go so far as to punish them. Hearing Jing Wuwei say this, he quickly nodded. “That would be best.”
Just when everyone thought the matter would be dropped and Ye Qi was already planning to return to his seat, Fu Yangui suddenly said, “Since today is a martial assembly banquet, why not let this minister compete with Marquis He to entertain His Majesty?”
Ye Qi’s brow jumped inexplicably. Before he could speak, Fu Yangui seized the initiative, pointing to a stage several zhang behind them. “Whether the engagement came first or Marquis He’s so-called meeting and knowing came later, regardless of which, if we persist in our views, it will ultimately put Your Majesty in a difficult position, and also put General Jing in a difficult position. That being so…”
He turned to look at Ye Qi, smiling faintly. “Would Marquis He be willing, at this Martial Assembly Banquet, before Your Majesty and all the heroes under heaven, to settle victory and defeat through martial combat?”
Changling silently covered her face—the young marquis had truly lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot. In terms of martial arts, with that sickly, dying body of his that kept visiting the King of Hell, how could he possibly fight someone surnamed Fu?
Unexpectedly, she heard Ye Qi say, “Alright.”
Changling abruptly turned her head.
In truth, whether that Fu surname married her or not, whether that Shen surname arranged this marriage or not—she didn’t much care. After all, at the Martial Arts Assembly she’d have to tear off the facade with this whole group anyway. What was there to worry about in this brief moment?
She’d been watching Ye Qi running his mouth over this trivial matter and was already getting somewhat annoyed. But hearing he was actually going to fight, she nearly hurled the wine cup in her hand straight at his skull.
By rights, when the current Prime Minister and a First Rank Military Marquis had spoken such inappropriate words before everyone, the Emperor should speak up to stop them.
But Shen Yao didn’t.
He looked at them inscrutably for a moment, then turned to Jing Wuwei. “After all, they’re both competing to be your son-in-law. What does General Jing think?”
Jing Wuwei saw this invisible burden tossed back into his lap and thought: Prime Minister Fu and Marquis He have always maintained surface harmony while harboring mutual discord. Today’s actions have brought their conflict out into the open. That being so, if I observe the tigers fighting from the mountain, wouldn’t I reap the fisherman’s profit?
With this thought, he said, “This old minister has no objections.”
Shen Yao raised his eyebrows. “If you two beloved ministers exchange a few moves, it would suit today’s martial assembly banquet atmosphere. However, stop at the appropriate point—no need for a major battle that would harm collegial harmony.”
Ye Qi and Fu Yangui said in unison, “We obey Your Majesty’s command.”
The dancing girls on the stage were hurriedly led away by ceremonial officials, and the music of strings and woodwinds also stopped.
Fu Yangui’s foot pressed down, his form flashed, and he was first to leap onto the platform.
Ye Qi was wearing quite a bit today. He removed his outer robe and casually tossed it beside his seat. Just then, he heard a cry of surprise from those seated.
On the stage, a figure descended gracefully, standing opposite Fu Yangui.
That woman wore a light blue misty silk garment, ethereal as an immortal. Who else could it be but Changling?
Ye Qi’s heart suddenly jumped. He immediately swept forward, but before he could leap up, Changling’s hand suddenly raised, signaling him not to come up.
Fu Yangui stared at her in a daze.
Just that instant earlier, he felt the fresh breeze she’d brought with her had occupied his entire mind. By the time he came to his senses, Changling was addressing the person before the imperial throne. “Your Majesty, I’m not confident about Prime Minister Fu and the Marquis competing. Who knows if they’ll go easy on each other?”
Jing Wuwei immediately said angrily, “What are you doing? Get down here immediately!”
Changling turned a deaf ear, only looking toward Shen Yao. “If today you must arrange my marriage, then let me choose my own husband. How about that?”
Shen Yao asked doubtfully, “You choose your own husband—how?”
“According to the martial examination competition rules—within one incense stick’s time, whoever leaves the platform first loses.” Changling’s voice wasn’t loud, yet each word entered the ear clearly. “I’ll fight each of them once. Unless they both defeat me, only then will I believe they have real ability. If neither can defeat me, then I won’t marry today.”
Jing Wuwei pointed at her. “Outrageous! How dare you act so presumptuously at the Martial Assembly Banquet! Get down here!”
“General Jing, don’t be hasty,” Shen Yao placated Jing Wuwei, then turned to Changling. “You’re merely a small presented scholar—you’re absolutely no match for the Prime Minister and Marquis He.”
Changling pretended to be thoughtful. “If Your Majesty is worried, just have them let me use only one hand. Wouldn’t that be fair?”
“Let you use one hand?” Shen Yao’s brow furrowed slightly. “That’s not impossible… However, tonight is after all the Martial Assembly Banquet. I wonder if all you beloved ministers would be unwilling to watch this competition?”
As soon as he finished speaking, someone among the presented scholars immediately said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, we’re willing to watch!”
The one who spoke was Fu Yanyang. After speaking, he elbowed Zhou Qin. Zhou Qin hastily followed weakly, “Will-willing.”
Six out of ten of this year’s presented scholars originally harbored considerable affection for Changling. Having thought pursuit was hopeless, hearing Changling say “if you can’t win, I won’t marry,” they were naturally delighted. Moreover, even Prime Minister Fu’s younger brother had voiced support, showing this was also Prime Minister Fu’s intention. How could they possibly object?
“Willing, willing.”
“Exchanging martial arts at the Martial Assembly Banquet isn’t off-topic either.”
“This minister has no objections.”
As for the remaining court officials, they all loved watching excitement—how could they possibly pour cold water at this moment?
“Let’s do it this way,” Shen Yao leaned back in his chair and smiled at Jing Wuwei. “General, today’s Martial Assembly Banquet can be considered a martial competition to choose a husband for your daughter.”
On the stage, Changling briskly gestured and said to Fu Yangui, “Minister Fu, please.”
This gesture was too familiar, as if eleven years of time had toppled over, suddenly appearing right before his eyes.
Long overdue, yet heart-stopping.
Changling saw his soul-lost expression and inexplicably frowned. “Minister Fu?”
The trembling in his sleeves was hidden. Fu Yangui closed his eyes, managing to conceal the joy that couldn’t be hidden even for an instant.
She didn’t recognize him.
Did this mean heaven… was giving him a chance to start everything over?
Fu Yangui opened his eyes again. His voice was somewhat hoarse, the corners of his mouth hooking slightly. “Good. Let’s begin.”