V2C112

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The first time when she heard them, she didn’t care what her father would be saying, “How do you know about his activities in the brothel?”, so she wanted to push the door open and cause a commotion. But as soon as she raised her hand, she heard a long sigh from her mother inside: “But… I feel that Ah-Yan will not agree. Can’t you see that she is deeply troubled this time? I don’t know what sort of situation she encountered out there.”

“…” The Red King also fell silent for a moment and sighed, “Surely she must have suffered tremendously.”

Although she grew up as a young girl who was unable to hide her thoughts, this time around after her return she has become much more quiet, not as smiling and happy as before, and her speech and behavior have also changed consistently – she just turned nineteen but boldly ventured out on her own and disappeared in the midst of turmoil; she came back out of nowhere, no one knows what she has been through during this time, and it makes people feel worried and apprehensive when they think about it.

Mother Consort sighed, “So, don’t mention this to her yet, hold it back for a while, and when you find a suitable time, let me step in and have a gentle chat with her.”

“It is not up to her!” The Red King snapped, “Didn’t she just promise to do as she is told?”

“You even believed this girl’s words?” Mother Consort laughed bitterly and interrupted her husband, “Since she was a child, she always begged for mercy for so many times, but when did she ever really listen to us? Over the years, we have cleaned up after her mess and wiped her face countless times, but this time we really can’t afford to offend the White King – otherwise, how can the Red Clan still have a foothold in Yunhuang?”

Why can’t you offend the White King? What’s wrong with offending him? Zhu Yan was angry and wanted to push the door in when she suddenly heard the Red King lowering his voice and whisper, “The White King knows about that shark.”

“What?” Mother Consort was taken aback and her voice trembled a little, “How did he… find out about the rumor that Ah-Yan tried to run away with that shark in the past? Which of the loudmouthed underlings leaked it out? How could this possibly happen!”

“You women, you only seem to be aware of these matronly things!” A bit annoyed, the Red King pounded his fist on the table, “That’s not what I’m talking about – are you aware of anything else? That shark, Zhi Yuan, was actually an undercover member of the Restoration Army!”

“What!” Mother Consort was stunned, the teacup in her hand fell to the ground with a thud, “That Zhi Yuan? It is true?”

“It is absolutely true. Bai Fenglin suppressed the Yecheng Restoration Army’s rebellion, and after careful investigation, it was discovered that the leader of the rebellion was that Zhi Yuan, who had lived in our house for so many years.” The Red King lowered his voice and gritted his teeth, “This matter is a crime that could result in the extermination of our entire clan, and if the matter gets exposed, the entire Red Clan will be involved!”

In that moment, not only the Mother Consort, but also Zhu Yan, who was standing outside the door, were left in a state of shock.

The thing she has tried so hard to conceal, has been actually discovered by Bai Fenglin? How could this be resolved? Shouldn’t… she seek the Grand Master for help? Otherwise, if the White King’s family reports to the court…

“He was in the Restoration Army?” Mother Consort was also speechless, “What can we do about this?”

“Bai Fenglin did not report to the court and suppressed the matter.” The Red King sighed, “Despite his young age, he had the courage to do this. As soon as he figured out the identity of that leader of the Restoration Army, he immediately eliminated all those involved who knew about it and informed the White King directly, so that he could come and discuss it with me.”

What? Zhu Yan couldn’t help but be baffled as she was listening outside the door.

“He was actually willing to take such a big risk for Ah-Yan! Would you say that I could not appreciate such favor?” The Red King whispered, “This is the real reason why I finally felt forced to agree to the White King’s marriage proposal.”

“In that case, isn’t the White King’s side holding an important piece of evidence against us?” Mother Consort’s tone was a little shaky, and she paused, but then anxiously exclaimed, “Then will Ah-Yan be bullied if she marries there?”

“Ugh… why do you only think about your daughter?” The Red King stomped his foot, “The entire Red Clan is about to suffer great hardship, are you aware of that?”

Zhu Yan gradually lowered her head as she was listening outside the door, letting go of her hand that was about to push the door.

“This marriage seems to be unavoidable. But… what if Ah-Yan rejects it?” Mother Consort was worried, “You know her nature too. What if she runs away again, or refuses to obey in a desperate attempt, and we are unable to do anything about it?”

“What else can we do then? It’s not like one can really tie her up and send her to the White King’s Residence in a bundle…” The Red King let out a long sigh, “If the matter can no longer be concealed, the most that we can expect is for the entire Red Clan to be beheaded. The entire family will have to die together.”

“It can’t be that serious, is it?” Mother Consort was a cowardly person and her voice changed in fright, “It’s just a promise of marriage, how can the White King lay such a heavy hand against our family?”

“Women’s perspectives!” The Red King scolded her in a low voice, “An alliance is an alliance – if you are not an ally, you are an enemy. Do you understand?”

Zhu Yan stood beyond the door, her shoulders trembling slightly. After thinking over the situation, she finally gave up the idea of pushing the door open and making a scene with her parents, so she turned around in dismay and walked back.

However, just as she turned her head, she saw Grandma Sheng coming her way and was about to greet her. Zhu Yan hastily put up a finger to her lips, shook her head lightly at the Nanny, and walked off straight away.

She returned to her room as if sleepwalking, staring at the pile of valuable jewelry, dazed and lost in thoughts.

Although she was surrounded by family and precious treasures, her heart was as desolate and hopeless as it has ever been, just like standing alone in the middle of the desert, with nothing around to see. She wanted to cry, but she couldn’t even do so, because the embrace that enabled her to cry out in peace no longer existed.

Yuan… Yuan, if only you were still here, at least I may still be able to come and find you, and pour out my heart in order to have at least a proper cry. But now, even you have abandoned me.

If you were still around, what would you advise me to do?

Grandma Sheng had no idea what was on her mind, so she stood aside, vaguely worried – after her return this time, she suddenly seemed to have a lot more on her mind, and never showed the heartless cheerfulness she used to. The bright, happy, energetic young girl seemed to have gone forever.

“Nana,” Zhu Yan bowed her head playing with one of the valuable beads that was worth a fortune, and after a long silence, she suddenly asked softly, “What do you think of… me marrying into the White Clan?”

Grandma Sheng faltered for a moment, not really knowing how to answer.

Only after a long time she carefully replied, “That Bai Fenglin is twenty-five years old. I heard that he is handsome and gentle, and that he is considerate and attentive, and is the dream boy of many young girls in the Six Clans.”

“Is that so?” Zhu Yan murmured and exhaled, as if she had made up her mind about something, and suddenly said, “Then write a reply letter from me to Bai Fenglin… and tell him that I accepted his gift and I enjoyed them very much.”

“What?” Grandma Sheng was taken aback, and her mouth hung wide open, struck speechless.

“Later on, you should also go and speak to Mother Consort in private,” Zhu Yan said while holding the beautiful scarlet jewel in her palm and gazing at the light flowing from the bead, “and say that I am willing to marry Bai Fenglin. Tell her not to be concerned.”

Grandma Sheng was still unable to utter a word – in the past months, she already knew that the young princess was dissatisfied with Bai Fenglin and was extremely resistant to the marriage. Now, she suddenly made such a statement, so for the Nanny these words were simply frightening.

However Zhu Yan grinned bitterly and didn’t say anything else.

Yes, she had already lost Yuan and the Master anyway; why not just make a decision to take another step back and give her parents complete peace of mind? Since she was a child, they had always doted on and accommodated her, constantly worrying about her; now that she had grown up, she should in turn guard over her parents and her clan, right?

She has lost too much already and must guard what little she has left! She sighed and subconsciously lifted her hand to run it through her hair – it was empty, just like her heart right at that moment.

When the news of the marriage between the White and Red Clans came out, the entire empire was shocked.

The marriage of the firstborn son and the eldest daughter of the Vassal Kings of the Six Clans was to be reported to the court and the emperor was to grant the marriage before the ceremony could take place.

Therefore, the White King, with his eldest son Bai Fenglin, and the Red King, with his only daughter Zhu Yan, both left their mansions in Yecheng and arrived at the Imperial Capital, the City of Jialan, in the heart of Mirror Lake, where they remained in the Royal Palace awaiting for the Emperor to summon them.

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