Chapter 122: Trouble at the Lantern Festival Banquet (Part 2)

Chapter 122: Trouble at the Lantern Festival Banquet (Part 2)

YueHua's carriage had already disappeared from sight, and Su RAO retracted her gaze.

She looked at the person in front of her.

Seeing the undisguised teasing in his eyes...

A hint of a mocking smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

"How is it, Cousin Jin? Are you interested in your cousin now? I wonder if your butt still hurts after three years. Your cousin wouldn't mind being the second Xiao Gongzi..."

The words 'Xiao Gongzi' were slightly emphasized by Su RAO.

Her fingers cracked audibly.

"Mingjin..."

Before Su RAO could make a move, Su Wu stepped forward, squeezing between Su RAO and Mu Mingjin, and pushed him away.

"You're getting bold! Daring to make a move on my little sister..."

He made faces and winked.

If you don't hurry up and get away, you're asking for a beating.

Mu Mingjin immediately took two steps back, reflexively covering his rear.

"That bastard Xiao Ziyu, this Little Marquis was clearly saving that woman, yet he didn't care about right or wrong... If not for the fact that Cousin likes that bastard, this Little Marquis would have torn down his boudoir long ago to avenge this."

Mu Mingjin, the notorious young master of the Yin Public Duke's Mansion and the only legitimate son, grew up pampered like Su RAO, naturally developing a spoiled nature.

However, unlike Su RAO, Mu Mingjin had the desire but lacked the courage.

Mu Mingjin's words were merely to boost his own morale; if he truly had the ability, he wouldn't have spent three years just talking tough.

"Mingjin, where do you get so much nonsense..."

Su Wu punched Mu Mingjin's shoulder again and pulled him further away.

Talking about tearing down the boudoir in front of his little sister—this was suicide.

"Cousin RAO, don't take him seriously. He's always like this."

Mu Mingyue stepped forward with a gentle smile.

The eldest daughter of the Yin Public Duke's Mansion, she was renowned alongside Zhao Lianxin as another talented woman of Yunlang.

While Zhao Lianxin was the model and national goddess among the women of Langjing, Mu Mingyue was the ideal partner every man in Langjing wanted to marry. This did not mean Zhao Lianxin was inferior to Mu Mingyue; rather, everyone knew Zhao Lianxin's heart belonged to the Prince of Jiyue.

"Cousin, you always protect that boy. He dared to tease me; if not for your face, I would have beaten him to the ground."

Su RAO was well aware of Mu Mingjin's cowardice. Three years ago, she had deliberately beaten him just to catch Huan Niang's attention.

She unclenched her cracking fingers and watched as Su Wu dragged Mu Mingjin aside for a lecture. She knew Su Wu was genuinely afraid she might beat up Mu Mingjin.

Mu Mingyue smiled gently and said no more, leading Su RAO to find the Lady of the Yin Public Duke's Mansion, who was speaking with Su RAO's mother.

The two families, bound by marriage, entered the palace together.

Meanwhile, YueHua's carriage stopped outside the Cloud Chen Hall of Emperor Yu.

Inside the hall.

Yun JI placed the silk letter on the table before Emperor Yu, sitting opposite him on a couch.

Sipping tea, he remained silent.

Emperor Yu also drank tea. Seeing Yun JI remain quiet for so long, he rubbed his brow and finally spoke, "Jiyue, your Uncle Emperor is not forcing you, but now you must marry Su RAO."

Yun JI put down his cup, facing Emperor Yu, and spoke calmly, "Uncle Emperor, why are you so sure what Prince Yi intends to do? I don't think Su RAO can catch his eye."

Though his eyes were covered by a silk band, Emperor Yu felt that if Yun JI could see, his eyes would be calm and composed.

For the Prince of Jiyue, nothing seemed to move him.

"Moreover, whatever Prince Yi intends to do, Uncle Emperor has many princes under your rule. Any one of them could match Su RAO. If you worry about the final control of the military, Jing and Yu Mo are at odds; he is the best choice, and the military power won't fall into his hands."

Taking another sip of tea, Yun JI remained calm, showing no extra emotion.

Having finished speaking, he rose to leave.

"Jiyue, I need Jing to control Su Er. I've noticed a different kind of feeling between them, which you must have already sensed. Su Er is a formidable general, and I must restrain him to ensure the Su family continues..."

"Uncle Emperor..."

Yun JI suddenly paused.

His voice seemed clearer.

"Is one Su RAO not enough to reassure Uncle Emperor about the Su family? If so, why bother plotting? Just find an excuse to eliminate the entire Su family, and the military power will naturally..."

"Ji... yue..."

Emperor Yu seemed angered.

Yun JI laughed softly. "Everyone knows that Emperor Yu dotes excessively on the seventh prince. Even when he dresses in women's clothing and disgraces Yunlang, you turn a blind eye and let him..."

Turning around, he faced the Emperor Yu once again.

"Uncle, you are uneasy about the Su family holding such significant military power, yet you cannot bear to part with them. One Yun Ji is not enough; you want to involve Jing as well. You merely wish for Yun Ji to marry Su RAO and for him to reclaim the Su family's military authority. With his frail body, how could Yun Ji still be so highly regarded by you? How can he continue to refuse and disappoint your imperial will?"

Yun Ji left.

Not angry, not annoyed, only his voice gradually turning icy and distant.

"Ji Yue, I am the emperor of this nation."

Emperor Yu picked up the silk note on the palace table, which contained only one sentence:

"The actions of Xian Yi at the gates of Yun Wangfu... Your marriage with Su Rao can no longer be delayed..."

The silk note burned in the coiled dragon incense burner, and Emperor Yu also rose and walked briskly towards the Luangtian Temple.

However, Yun Ji did not head to the Luangtian Temple but walked in the opposite direction.

Each step was steady, as if every stairway was imprinted in his heart.

Heart is the eye.

Yun Ling followed quietly behind.

Until Yun Ji stopped and stood in a corner of the corridor.

Yun Ling frowned slightly.

"Does the Prince dislike it?"

Yun Ji did not speak but made a gesture of looking up.

Quietly facing the sky.

The rising sun lost its early morning chill, now warm and gentle.

She would not let that decree be issued, and he did not wish for it either...

In the Luangtian Temple, the sounds of the guzheng and pipes filled the air.

Emperor Yu entered the temple with the Empress, Concubine Shu, and a group of princes and princesses.

The royal relatives and imperial ministers all cheered.

Emperor Yu waved his hand, and everyone rose and took their seats.

His imperial gaze swept over where the Su family sat, then asked:

"Old General, why is that girl RAO not here?"

Such an intimate address, without any hint of imperial arrogance.

"Father, since Prince is not here, it's obvious that Su RAO wouldn't be here either..."

This voice belonged to the Seventh Prince.

Ever since that day at the gates of the Yun Mansion earlier this year, Su RAO had not set foot in the Yun Mansion for more than ten days. However, the whispers in Langjing suggested that the unattractive Su girl had resumed her daily pestering of Prince Ji Yue.

That bright red figure always appeared outside the Qingfengju's Moon Gate in the dead of night, but never climbed the wall again.

Probably afraid of ruining her appearance once more.

Today, Prince Ji Yue appeared within Yun Palace, and seeing him, how could Su RAO possibly miss such a golden opportunity...

Everyone present understood the implications of the Seventh Prince's words.

For a moment, the Luangtian Temple fell silent.

Below, Lianxin fiddled with a few threads of her silk handkerchief.