Given their statuses, in the past, Sister Xin, as a concubine’s daughter from the Yu family’s main branch, would have been considered overreaching even as a secondary consort to the Fifth Prince.
But now, with Yue Floating Light in the picture, especially when the marriage proposal came from the cousin who was closest to Floating Light, Yu Huaixian felt that even the Fifth Prince was barely worthy of a Yu family girl.
“Hmph!” Yue Floating Light let out a cold snort. Even from afar, Shen Jian’s heart trembled; he instinctively knew trouble was coming.
He silently prayed that the Grand Tutor would only take out his anger on that scoundrel Xie the Fifth and not vent it on him, a distant cousin.
Xie Zhiquan: Distant?
Shen Jian: Distant!
Xie Zhiquan: Cousin, you have a red mole the size of a mung bean on your left waist.
Shen Jian: !!!
“I think he’s using Fourth Sister as a shield to avoid marrying into the Southern Yue kingdom!”
“Gan Tang is also a princess—smart and beautiful. How is she not good enough for him?” If anything, Xie the Fifth was getting the better deal.
Yue Floating Light took a furious bite of tender venison, but the meat didn’t taste as good as before.
Yu Huaixian was utterly confused. How did this involve marriage alliances? Seeing his cousin’s cheeks puff up with anger, he couldn’t help but find it amusing. Floating Light’s fiercely protective nature was oddly endearing and heartwarming.
“Even the imperial family won’t have much to say about it.”
“It’s just that I don’t know what the elder grandfather’s stance is.”
He glanced cautiously at Yue Floating Light’s expression. “Why is our family entangled with Southern Yue? If the Fifth Prince proposed to Fourth Sister just to avoid the marriage alliance… Floating Light, what do you plan to do? Will you agree?”
Yes, he was asking her directly. He guessed that the letter from Elder Grandfather was meant to seek Floating Light’s approval.
If she didn’t agree, with her influence, even the Emperor himself might lose face arguing with her.
Yue Floating Light: Isn’t the real question whether I agree or not? Shouldn’t you be asking Fourth Sister, who is the one actually involved?
Yu Ningxin: Who I marry doesn’t matter. The choice has to be made by Seventh Sister. She trusts that whoever Seventh Sister picks won’t lead her into a trap. It guarantees fewer detours.
“What am I going to do? Beat his dog head to a pulp!” Floating Light wasn’t sure if Xie Zhiquan’s interest in Yu Ningxin, who was talented in her own right, was purely her own quality or also influenced by her presence.
One day, she would leave this world. Once she did, would their feelings suffer as a result?
If Xie the Fifth had his eye on Fourth Sister merely to cling to her own connections, she would never agree to this match under any circumstances.
Yu Huaixian instinctively shrank back. At that moment, his younger cousin’s fierce expression was genuinely intimidating.
“Southern Yue probably proposed a marriage alliance to mend relations after that sneak attack earlier. They nominated Gan Tang and Xie Zhiquan as the pair!
That wicked Xie didn’t even let the night pass before running to the Yu family to ask Grandfather for marriage!”
“Does… does His Majesty know?” Yu Huaixian couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer.
An inter-kingdom marriage was no trivial matter. However, if they could swap Fourth Sister for Princess Gan Tang, the Emperor would likely agree.
Emperor Mingxi: Agree? If Floating Light doesn’t mind, I’d gladly pack Xie the Fifth up and send him to the Yu family tonight. Exchanging an unimportant son for a tighter bond with Floating Light seemed like an excellent deal!
Yue Floating Light narrowed her eyes. “He is the emperor—the whole world is his, including his sons. Who would believe he was oblivious?”
Back in the capital city, Emperor Mingxi felt an inexplicable chill and sneezed twice in a row. First sneeze means people are missing you, second means scolding, third means being remembered. Someone was cursing him?
“Your Majesty, shall I fetch you an extra robe?”
The emperor waved his hand. “By my reckoning, Floating Light should have received Minister Yu’s letter by now.”
Given her fiery temper, he was bound to be dragged down by that brat Prince the Fifth!
Yet, despite thoughts of the chaos, the emperor wore a smile. No wonder that boy had refused repeatedly over the past two years whenever he pressed him to select a primary consort. So the little scoundrel had long set his sights on the Yu family’s Fourth Girl.
Before, he was scared of Floating Light, so he didn’t dare speak up. Now, if not for Southern Yue nominating him as a son-in-law, he’d probably keep stalling!
Eunuch Qian Gui overheard the emperor mention Yue Floating Light, glanced at his master’s face, and smiled. “The Grand Tutor should be nearing Yizhou soon. By our pigeon’s speed, the message should have arrived.”
The capital Mingxi was in Quanzhou, bordering Yizhou. If the Grand Tutor’s route didn’t cut through Yizhou into Lianzhou, Qian Gui honestly feared she’d lose her temper and ride straight back.
The emperor didn’t voice his concerns aloud, but his anxiety was no less than Qian Gui’s. After some hesitation, he asked, “Qian, do you think Floating Light will blame me for my Fifth son’s actions?”
Achoo, achoo! Just then, the emperor sneezed twice again. Qian Gui quickly handed him a cup of hot tea.
Emperor Mingxi took a sip and lamented, “Can you believe it? My Fifth son went to propose to Minister Yu without even telling me! Floating Light won’t think I sent him, will she?”
Then his tone turned vindictive. “Gan Sheng that worthless cur—first trying to kidnap Floating Light, and now proposing a marriage alliance just to buy time!”
He sneered. How naïve. Did he really think the dagger was already in their hands? Did he believe that the Great Yan would miss this golden chance for war—an excuse served on a platter?
Qian Gui quickly comforted him. “Your Majesty, please calm down. Don’t let those unworthy people sour your spirit.” He said nothing further. Having served the emperor for over two decades, he knew His Majesty just wanted a sounding board, not actual advice.
If he truly wanted counsel, there were plenty of ministers in court eager to help.
“Qian, you’re right. One day, I’ll drag Gan Sheng to the capital to kneel and repent!”
He downed the last of his tea with a soft sigh. “I’m just worried that Floating Light might misunderstand me.”
He had met the Yu family’s Fourth Girl—a refined, capable young woman who managed Floating Light’s affairs. A far cry from typical sheltered ladies—she more than deserved his Fifth son.
“Your Majesty has already sent a letter to the Grand Tutor. By our timing, it should arrive half a day after Minister Yu’s.”
Qian Gui didn’t know the letter’s contents, but he could guess: His Majesty would disavow any involvement in the Fifth Prince’s proposal.
Sure enough, who knew the emperor better than Eunuch Qian? That evening, Yue Floating Light hadn’t moved from her spot. She sat in the same place, reading the emperor’s freshly arrived letter. She scanned his familiar handwriting, surprised he had written so many sheets without getting tired.
From her perspective, those seven or eight pages conveyed just one message: Xie the Fifth acted entirely on his own volition, and even his father only found out afterward.
Earlier that day, still simmering with anger over the familial letter, Yue Floating Light hadn’t bothered to change location. She had simply ordered rest for the night.
It wasn’t a threat; she was just being stubborn.
But anger aside, she wouldn’t sacrifice her points. Her mission still had to be done.