Xuan Tianhua smiled faintly, looking at Feng Yuheng seriously for a while, then shifted his gaze towards Imperial Concubine Yun, only saying: “Everything can be decided by Imperial Concubine Mother.”
“You agreed?” The one who spoke in surprise was Xiangrong. Not only was she shocked, she was very nervous. Both her small hands were clenched tightly under the table and she stared straight at Xuan Tianhua, expecting to see the real answer from his gaze.
But Xuan Tianhua did not say anything else, he only expressed allowing Imperial Concubine Yun to make the decisions. As for himself, he didn’t say he was willing, and did not say that he was not willing either. He was still the same faint clouds and gentle breeze, to the point that a gust of wind would be able to blow him away, not existing in this world at all.
“Then it’s settled.” Imperial Concubine Yun concluded this and calculated some more, saying: “This is an important matter, we have to prepare more. Seeing that it will be summer soon, let’s do this, during the Mid-Autumn festival this year, we will head to Ji An Prefecture this year to deliver the dowry. What do all of you think?”
Who was going to doubt what she had concluded? In addition, Xuan Tianhua had nodded, what could other people say? This matter was decided with Imperial Concubine Yun’s management, so it could be said that from now on, Xiangrong would be the future mistress of this Chun Palace.
Xiangrong was a little dazed, she had thought that the road of admiring the Seventh Prince was going to continue without end until the end of her life, she had thought that for a deity-like person like Xuan Tianhua, she would never be able to obtain him at all. She was already prepared to long for him for the rest of her life, but unexpectedly, the path winded around the mountain ranges and there was this kind of development. She felt that this was not real and could not help but pinch her arm with great force. This pinch used too much force, to the point that she could not bear with the pain, crying out with an ‘Ah’, then she looked down in embarrassment, thinking that she really messed up now.
But at this moment, a pair of warm hands reached out towards her, lightly covering up the bruised area of her arm. In an instant, a warm feeling came, just like sunlight which suddenly shone in, completely warming up her heart.
Because an additional topic was added during this meal, it was very lively. Imperial Concubine Yun did not ask anything about what happened in the imperial palace and everyone did not mention it, whether the old Emperor recovered or not, Imperial Concubine Yun’s attitude allowed them to understand, many things might not be able to revert to the same as before. No one knew what the ending between them was, but now, the old Emperor could let Imperial Concubine Yun leave and Imperial Concubine Yun choose to forget, then they will allow these days to continue! The days have to be passed one by one, perhaps tomorrow, it would be another situation. With another thing to have hopes for, it was also good.
When Xuan Tianming returned to the palace with Feng Yuheng, the skies have turned dark, the two did not return to the main courtyard and started to stroll around the gardens in the palace while holding hands.
The gardens in Yu palace were large. Even though it was no match to the grandness of the imperial garden, there were green pines and willow trees, and was more refined than the spread of flowers in the imperial garden, Feng Yuheng liked it very much. The two chose one of the pavilions to sit down in. It was next to the lake, there was no tea and no alcohol, but there were carbonated drinks from the future which Feng Yuheng took out from her Space, Xuan Tianming enjoyed drinking it.
She was rather sick of those and put it down after two mouthfuls, and even told Xuan Tianming: “This kind of drink is delicious, but it’s not that healthy and should not be drunk frequently.”
But Xuan Tianming replied with: “Just like Seventh Brother, a person like him looks handsome, but no one knows if he is suited for getting close to over a long time.”
“You are talking about Seventh Brother and Xiangrong.” Feng Yuheng showed a troubled smile, “That child Xiangrong always had an obsession, and that obsession is Seventh Brother. For this, I should be responsible, if not for me, she would not have harboured such deep feelings for Seventh Brother. But I gave them a start but am unable to carry the weight of an ending. Just that what you said, Seventh Brother is a good person, but I don’t know if he can give the true feelings which Xiangrong wants.”
“Seventh Brother doesn’t have many women he is close to. Based on my feeling, excluding Xuan Tiange who is our younger sister, there is only you and Xiangrong. Xuan Tianming lay this bare, looking at Feng Yuheng, pretending to be jealous and saying: “If it was not Seventh Brother and someone else, I will definitely not accept him.”
Feng Yuheng could not help but laugh, “But he is your Seventh Brother! You know this, you’re the only one in my heart.”
“Yeah.” He nodded, “I know, I knew many years ago. You were brought back by me from the mountains, and not that child from the Feng family.”
Feng Yuheng was stunned, correcting him: “It’s not that I am completely not the same, from the blood relations, I am still from the Feng family. It’s just that the inside is different, the life in the Northwest for three years caused me to be completely isolated from that Feng family, completely cut off, even if they brought me back, I will not be able to completely fit in. This might be fate, Feng Yuheng’s fate, and the fate of everyone in the Feng family’s manor. Xuan Tianming” She looked towards him, saying seriously: “I do not like being shut in the palace all day, but I am not very against you becoming an Emperor. If Father Emperor insists on passing the throne to you, then take it! After all, you have sacrificed too much for this land, I know, you wish for Da Shun to be better.”
But Xuan Tianming shook his head, saying: “It’s not as if the amount given out must be collected back in full, I hope for Da Shun to be better, but I also believe that with Da Shun in the hands of my older brothers, it will not develop worse compared to if I was in that position. Before Father Emperor passes on the throne, I will do my best to calm the four seas around Da Shun, and when that day comes and the new ruler ascends the throne, I will take you with me to another place. That is a rather good place, though it is not as developed as Da Shun, there are many things waiting to be done, just like Ji An Prefecture in the past, it will be developed by you, turning it into a mystical nation!”
This was the first time Xuan Tianming said anything about his plans for the future, and Feng Yuheng was moved hearing this. She always had one dream, which would be to develop a place in this era, implementing new policies, just like in the future era, placing emphasis on human rights, placing emphasis on equality. The political centre existed for the sake of serving the people, and not like right now, existing in other to rule the people. This included exam oriented education, she wanted to revolutionise this, other than opening up other specialised courses, she wanted to teach others foreign languages, and after learning, they will build boats and sail the seas, opening up the path to foreign trade.
She had implemented these thoughts in Ji An Prefecture before, but that is still located within the lands of Da Shun and was too small. There were results of the implementation, but it was not significant. She really wanted to ask how large was the place Xuan Tianming was talking about and if she was completely unrestricted in her “work”. But Xuan Tianming was tight-lipped about this and only used an evil smile as an answer. Regardless of how she tried to pry the answer from him, he did not reveal anything at all. Feng Yuheng was frustrated and could only give up, but she kept thinking about the future of Xiangrong and Xuan Tianhua. Logically, Imperial Concubine Yun made the decision and Xuan Tianhua did not object, so this marriage should have been decided, but why did she feel so anxious every time she thought about this? Why did she feel that this was not a good thing?
Inside Chun Palace, Imperial Concubine Yun drank some wine and slept early. Xiangrong accompanied Imperial Concubine Yun but could not sleep at all. Her mind was excited and worried, the excitement was from her wish coming true, the worry was that agreeing to this marriage, was Xuan Tianhua truly happy to do it or did Imperial Concubine Yun forcefully push for it because of her?
She could not sleep and decided to get up and leave the bed, walking lightly to leave the bedroom. There was a maid keeping watching outside and wanted to ask her something when she saw Xiangrong come out, but Xiangrong raised an index finger to her lips, making a ‘Shh’ gesture, then speaking softly: “Madam is sleeping soundly, please keep watch. I came out to get some air, there is no need to follow me.”
When she said there was no need to follow her, it really meant there was no need to follow her, she did not even want to bring her own personal maid and walked around in Chun Palace alone. As she walked, she arrived in front of Xuan Tianhua’s courtyard.
Xiangrong was a little stunned, she did not expect that she would walk to this place without realising it, feeling a little awkward. After all, this was in the middle of the night, for a girl like her to walk to the gate of a man’s courtyard, this was inappropriate. Just as she was prepared to turn around and leave, an elegant voice was heard from inside the courtyard, “Since you’re here, come over and sit and drink some tea!”
The voice belonged to Xuan Tianhua, this was when Xiangrong realised in surprise, so this person could not sleep as well. But why was Xuan Tianhua unable to sleep? Was he regretting it?
She entered the courtyard nervously, Xuan Tianhua had already personally poured the tea and placed the cup in front of her. When Xiangrong sat down and wanted to voice the questions in her heart, she did not dare to. She was afraid that if Xuan Tianhua admitted it and said he regretted it, then what should she do? This person was an obsession that she had been unable to give up on her whole life. She thought, even if the other party was not happy to do so, as long as they became husband and wife, even if it was just in name and not real, she would still be willing to accept it, right?
So she did not ask anything, did not say anything and only drank her tea quietly, mouthful after mouthful, cup after cup.
And Xuan Tianhua as well, Xiangrong did not speak, he also did not speak, the two of them just drank tea facing each other. During this time, a pageboy would exchange a new batch of tea and when they drank their third teapot, the skies started to show signs of lightening up.
Xiangrong stood up, bowing towards Xuan Tianhua: “The sun is rising soon, Xiangrong will leave now. The tea from Your Highness the Seventh Prince is delicious, Xiangrong is very willing to accompany Your Highness in drinking tea for my whole life, just…… only drinking tea.” Her voice contained endless loneliness, with this night of drinking tea together, she clearly knew that Xuan Tianhua did no harbour much feelings towards her, because she had seen the interactions between Feng Yuheng and Xuan Tianming before. Xuan Tianming was well known for showing a cold exterior and did not speak much, but once he faced her Second sister, that cold exterior naturally went away and he naturally became more talkative.
She knew, that would be true feelings of liking each other, for the sake of the person one liked, they could change themselves, letting go of their identities to match the other. But the Seventh Prince did not, he was the same as before, acting in the same deity-like way, allowing people to be with him yet still made them feel that they were thousands of miles away. She understood, this was because there was no love between the two of them, and because there was no love, therefore, he would not change when facing her.
But regardless, it was fine as long as there was an engagement, right! Xiangrong consoled herself, she did not ask for much in the first place. She had already surpassed her limits, she should be satisfied, not complaining.
Thinking like this, her mood improved and her corner of her mouth raised in a smile, and as she turned around, that smile was seen by Xuan Tianhua, strangely causing him to feel some heartache.
His fingers wrapped around the teacup tightened a little, and he spoke: “Do not overthink this, with regards to the marriage…… I am willing.”