《Chapter 74 Co-habiting with One Husband》

Xizi Love Story works

Chapter 74 Co-habiting with One Husband

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g them. With Princess Feng out of power now, it appeared these two still held significant positions."Cai Lian, your personal maid; Zhao Mama, previously in charge of the kitchen at Qingyue Pavilion; T...Chapter 74 Coexisting with One Man

Rong Jing heard Yun Qianyue's soft snort and saw her indifferent expression. He barely curved his thin lips into a smile that was neither a laugh nor a smirk.

Hua Sheng and the others exchanged glances, all secretly thinking that if Prince Shen were to engage in a magical duel with Lady Yun, their chances of being pasted with stickers would decrease. However, they didn't know who could win such a duel. Thinking this way, they found it amusing and their originally tense and fearful mood turned into excitement as they waited for the good show.

The gambling game continued.

In the third round, Ling Lian got pasted with a sticker. Hua Luo and Feng Lu, who were previously mocking each other, burst out laughing. With the addition of a new companion, they naturally rejoiced together, collectively calling Ling Lian "stupid." Ling Lian sullenly allowed Yun Qianyue to paste the sticker on her face with a smile.

In the fourth round, Yi Xue got pasted with a sticker. Hua Luo, Feng Lu, and Ling Lian cheered in unison. Yi Xue glared at them but also sullenly allowed Yun Qianyue to paste the sticker on her face with a smile.

In the fifth round, little girl Feng Lu was hit again. She glared angrily at the approaching sticker for quite some time before finally dodging it, resulting in two stickers pasted on her face. She emerged from Hua Luo, Feng Lu, and Ling Lian triumphant.

For the sixth round, Ling Lian got hit again. Feng Lu happily smiled upon seeing as many stickers pasted on Ling Lian's face as on hers.

In the seventh round, Hua Sheng was pasted with a sticker. Hua Luo, Feng Lu, Ling Lian, and Yi Xue cheered together. She looked at them with a smile before taking the sticker herself and pasting it on her own face.

Round eight...

Round nine...

Round ten...

The stickers kept appearing repeatedly on Hua Sheng, Feng Yan, Rong Jing, and Yun Qianyue's faces without anyone else getting hit.

The gambling game continued.

Round eleven...

Round twelve...

Round thirteen...

In the fourteenth round, a sticker finally landed on Feng Yan's face. In the cheers of those around him, he willingly pasted it on his own face.

Yun Qianyue looked at the sticker right in the middle of Feng Yan’s handsome face and said with a smile after examining it closely, "Feng Yan looks good even when pasted with a little turtle."

Feng Yan's face turned red; he couldn't look at Yun Qianyue.

"Uh, you're blushing!" Yun Qianyue watched his handsome face slowly turn red in amazement. It was truly beautiful how men could blush too, not inferior to the beauty of flowers or the shyness that turns rosy clouds red.

"Continue," Rong Jing finally spoke up and gave a gentle reminder to Yun Qianyue with a glance at Feng Yan.

Yun Qianyue withdrew her gaze, and the gambling game continued.

Round fifteen...

Round sixteen...

Round seventeen...

Round eighteen...

The stickers kept appearing repeatedly on Feng Lu, Ling Lian, Yi Xue's faces, and so on.

Cang Lan was the only person other than Rong Jing and Yun Qianyue who had not joined in. Everyone’s gaze naturally fell upon him. Under everyone’s gazes, his face turned red as well; he smiled but rather awkwardly and bashfully. However, every round, he managed to narrowly dodge getting pasted.

Yun Qianyue watched Cang Lan play cards while playing herself. She was impressed by the saying that "the nine sons of a dragon are different," which truly held true in this case. Despite looking somewhat similar in appearance, the personalities of Cang Lan and Cang Ting were vastly different; Cang Ting was like an arrogant fox, whereas Cang Lan tended to be more introverted but also quite intelligent, as evidenced by today's card gambling game. She knew that his martial arts skills stood out among their peers, which was inseparable from his innate talent.

"Lady Yun, why are you always looking at Cang Lan" little Feng Lu had the most stickers pasted on her face and naturally hoped to get another person involved in the game. However, after so many rounds, Prince Shen, Lady Yun, and Cang Lan still hadn't been hit with any stickers, leaving her somewhat frustrated.

"Aren't they all watching him" Yun Qianyue saw Cang Lan's face turn red and raised an eyebrow.

Cang Lan's face turned even redder, and his head drooped slightly.

Feng Lu immediately lost her words and mumbled, "Cang Lan哥哥 looks very good with a red face."

Hua Luo burst out laughing. "He has always been like this. How many years have passed without any change"

Feng Lu glared at Hua Luo immediately. "Only Hua Luo哥哥 doesn't know shame, not blushing."

Hua Luo hummed softly, apparently not taking Feng Lu's words to heart.

Yun Qianyue smiled and gestured for everyone to continue.

The twenty-eighth round...

The twenty-ninth round...

The thirtieth round...

...

In the fiftieth round, Cang Lan finally couldn't resist being tagged. At this time, Feng Lu, whose face and head were already plastered with stickers, cheered loudly. Although the others did not cheer as loudly as she did, they were clearly extremely excited. In the midst of everyone's cheers, a little turtle sticker was pasted on Cang Lan's face.

Of the remaining people, only Rong Jing and Yun Qianyue still had clean faces.

All seven people fixed their gaze on them. By now, there was no longer any gloominess about being tagged; they could only watch to see who of the two would be pasted with a little turtle sticker first.

The atmosphere became tense.

Yun Qianyue held the jar and smiled at Rong Jing, squinting her eyes. "You're quite skilled for not having played before!"

"Do you underestimate me" Rong Jing raised an eyebrow with a smile.

Yun Qianyue thought that she didn't dare to underestimate him; she just regretted showing mercy at the beginning of the game, not using her tactics like she did against Hua Luo. Otherwise, there was no doubt he would have stickers on his face by now. Unfortunately, after fifty rounds, this guy had clearly turned from a little mouse into a rat spirit. Yun Qianyue looked at Rong Jing and laughed with her eyes almost closed. "Let's continue!"

"Alright! Let's continue!" Rong Jing smiled gently.

The jar in Yun Qianyue's hand began to rattle.

Second by second, the stickers on other people’s faces increased more and more. The sky darkened, and it started raining heavily outside, but none of them were tagged yet.

The nine-person bet gradually became a two-person bet.

When darkness fell, Feng Lu's face was already unable to hold any more stickers, the rain finally stopped, and the little girl couldn't take it anymore. She began shouting, "I want to quit!"

"Me too!"

...

Six people in succession expressed their wish to quit.

Yun Qianyue glanced at the seven people. Cang Lan had the fewest stickers on his face, while Feng Lu had the most. Ling Lian and Yi Xue were almost as many as Feng Lu's, and Hua Luo, Feng Yan, and Hua Sheng were about the same amount. She raised an eyebrow at Rong Jing. "They have all given up. Shall we continue or call it quits"

Rong Jing glanced at Hua Luo and said, "Let’s continue."

Hua Luo's eyes lit up; he naturally understood what that glance meant. Since the Young Master of Jing agreed with him, he would certainly do as promised.

"Are you sure" Yun Qianyue raised an eyebrow and glanced at Hua Luo before smiling and asking, "Are you sure you can help Hua Luo turn things around in one round"

"I think it's still early." Rong Jing shook his head with a gentle smile.

Yun Qianyue took a glance outside and found it pitch black. She was speechless for a moment, "Let's play the last three rounds!"

"Alright!" Rong Jing nodded with a smile.

The first round ended in a tie!

The second round ended in a tie as well!

Before the third round began, those seven people didn't even catch their breaths. Seven pairs of eyes stared unwaveringly at them.

In the third round, Yun Qianyue fell short by one step and lost.

"Young Lord Jing really is amazing!" Hua Luo laughed as he looked at Yun Qianyue with a triumphant expression in his eyes. It was like he had won instead of her. "Your Excellency, the wheel of fortune has turned to you now! Tsk tsk! You truly are a match for each other!"

Yun Qianyue was silent as she glared at Hua Luo and said in a sinister voice, "Hua Luo, have your nerves gotten too tight"

Hua Luo immediately stopped laughing and shut up.

Yun Qianyue pushed the bet card away and glowered at Rong Jing. "I admit that you're ruthless!"

Rong Jing chuckled and reminded her, "You should stick the paper strip on your forehead now so we can all see."

Yun Qianyue picked up the paper strip and stuck it to her forehead before she turned around in a circle. She asked everyone bluntly, "Have you all seen"

"Yes!" A few people answered with smiles.

Yun Qianyue pointed at the little turtle painted on the paper strip and asked Rong Jing, "Is it good to look at"

Rong Jing nodded with a smile.

Yun Qianyue yawned and waved her hand. "Let's break up! I'm exhausted!"

The seven people took off their paper strips and left one after another. Laughter could be heard from the entrance to the courtyard onwards, all of them talking about how Young Lord Jing was amazing. Yun Qianyue clearly heard it and pulled her own paper strip off her face before sticking it on Rong Jing's.

Rong Jing didn't dodge or avoid as he let her stick the paper strip onto him.

Yun Qianyue carefully took a look at him. Even with a little turtle stuck to his forehead, this man was still so beautiful that everyone would be angry at him. She snorted softly and said, "Go make dinner!" With that, she left the inner quarters.

"Alright!" Rong Jing nodded with a smile.

Yun Qianyue looked back at him once and saw his jade-like hands putting away the bet cards before getting up to put them in an earlier cabinet. She lazily closed her eyes, "I want to eat fish!"

"Alright!" Rong Jing readily agreed.

“I also want to have chicken,” Yun Qianyue said again.

“Alright!” Rong Jing nodded.

“And I need to drink peach blossom wine.” Yun Qianyue added another demand.

"Sure." Rong Jing agreed with each request.

Yun Qianyue opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before waving her hand dismissively, "That's all! Hurry up!"

"Alright!" Rong Jing smiled and stepped out the door.

"Hey, take off that paper strip on your face," Yun Qianyue stopped him again.

“I thought you wanted them to see it,” Rong Jing looked back at her with a smile.

Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes, "I don't need everyone to look at it!"

Rong Jing removed the paper strip and left smiling.

Yun Qianyue saw him leave with his eyes closed, and after a long moment of silence, she smiled. Soon, her smile faded inch by inch; such peaceful days of leisure seemed stolen moments that would likely be over once they returned to the capital city.

She fell asleep at some point and only opened her eyes when the fragrance of food wafted through the room. Looking up, she saw Rong Jing carrying two plates inside—the one plate contained fish while the other had chicken. She looked at him in a daze.

"Are you awake" Rong Jing placed the plates on the table and asked with a smile.

"Yes, where did you get the chicken from" Yun Qianyue wondered; earlier she had deliberately made it difficult for him. Fish could be caught in the nearby waters, but getting chicken was another matter. Within this entire area, even the small creatures were probably eaten by Blackie. Where would they find any chickens

"If you want to eat it, I can conjure it up," Rong Jing said with a smile.

Yun Qianyue’s eyelids fluttered; she pushed the quilt aside and got out of bed, walking over to the table in surprise at the chicken. "Snow Chicken Did you go to Heavenly Snow Mountain"

"Yes!" Rong Jing nodded.

Yun Qianyue looked at Rong Jing; he was looking back at her with gentle eyes, making her heart warm. She opened her arms and hugged him tight, "I only said it because I wasn’t convinced you could win me over!"

"Winning my wife’s heart is our family motto!" Rong Jing stated.

“Which family motto” Yun Qianyue asked as she looked up at him.

"Chu Family's! Before I left, Grandpa told me that if you didn’t return to the Chu Family after leaving because of your anger with me, he wouldn't let me come back or call him 'Grandfather.' So, I have to do my best to win you over," Rong Jing said as he wrapped his arms around Yun Qianyue's waist.

Yun Qianyue blinked and sincerely replied, "Then you should try harder!"

"Yes." Rong Jing lowered his head and kissed her before letting go of her. “We leave tomorrow morning; let’s get some sleep after dinner.”

"Okay," Yun Qianyue sat at the table.

Half Slope Mountain flowed in the fresh air after the rain, calm and peaceful throughout that night.

The next day early, Rong Jing, Yun Qianyue, Hua Sheng, Hua Luo, and five others set off from Half Slope Cliff.

Blackie clung onto Yun Qianyue’s arm and wouldn’t let go; she had to promise him that she would come back to see him before he finally released her. Reluctantly, Blackie let Yun Qianyue leave.

Their return journey took the same shortcut as on their way there—of course not the one Yun Qianyue led them through but a more direct route that Rong Jing knew. However, it was harder to walk and some parts were mountain ravines or steep cliffs. But with their high levels of martial arts skills, they had no problem.

Rong Jing changed his leisurely pace from the trip there; he didn’t rest overnight but only took short breaks before continuing on at night.

Yun Qianyue naturally had no objections. They spent a day in Heavenly Snow Mountain and another day at Half Slope Cliff, two days and a half coming here plus half a day in the peach grove—five days in total since they left the capital city. Five days was just enough to return; any longer would be inappropriate.

The path Rong Jing chose was extraordinarily direct. They returned to the capital city in less than two days.

Standing on the ground of Purple Maple Forest, Yun Qianyue looked at Rong Jing in disbelief—this route was too direct!

"Let's go! We should return before Night Tianyi and Night Qingran," Rong Jing took her hand and entered the secret passage outside the city that led to Cloud Manor.

Following them were Linglian and Yixue; Hua Sheng, Hua Luo, and three others went a different way into Smoke Willow Tower.

Yun Qianyue knew that after she ordered Hua Luo to send back the message to Third Young Master, Night Tianqin and Night Tianyu immediately acted on it. They sent five hundred secret guards for the second assassination attempt. All of them were wiped out; two hundred of Night Tianyi’s secret guards also died. In addition, his light injury had worsened. That day, Night Qingran was heavily injured but didn’t move a muscle under Night Tianyi's protection. So, Night Qingran remained critically injured but safe. Due to the bandits and assassins, their journey was delayed, so they should still be on their way back.

It only took half an hour for them to travel through the secret passage into the city.

Half an hour later, Rong Jing and Yun Qianyue had already returned to the hidden room in Cloud Old Prince’s residence.

The moment they arrived, they heard faint voices coming from inside. Besides Cloud Prince, there were a few familiar voices too. Rong Jing and Yun Qianyue exchanged glances and stopped their steps; they hid in the secret chamber without entering.

"Cloud Eldest Brother, if you agree to this matter, His Majesty will let you resign from your military post," said Duke De.

"With both princesses accompanying you, it’s a great blessing. How many people in history have such luck Cloud Eldest Brother, don’t hesitate any longer! This is good fortune for Yun Li," said Duke Xiao.

"If one can acknowledge and correct their mistakes, there is nothing better than that. The Sixth Princess now has a repentant heart; Lady Ming妃has pleaded to the Emperor on her behalf. His Majesty is willing to facilitate this matter of the twin pearls. This shows trust in Cloud Manor and Yun Li’s title as Eldest Son-in-Law. Many people have dreamed about it but can’t achieve it. You, Cloud Prince, needn't hesitate any longer. Your Excellency, you are much better off than I am; my daughter's whereabouts remains unknown… Alas…" Chancellor Qin said sadly.

Yun Qianyue narrowed her eyes—was this a meeting of the three officials to interrogate someone How long had it been since she’d heard about the Sixth Princess

"Although that's what they say! But matters of marriage also depend on fate. The Sixth Princess injured Li'er last time, and he has already lost his heart. Now he is newly married to the Seventh Princess with deep affection; if the Sixth Princess comes again, this... " Lord Yun hesitated, saying, "This might not be good..."

"How isn't it good Brother Yun is overthinking! This is such a great thing!" Duke De said.

"Yes! With two princesses accompanying them, both of whom are golden branches and jade leaves, they should surely get along well," Duke Xiao added.

"Exactly! Lord Yun, you don't need to hesitate anymore! Having two daughters-in-law is such a great blessing. If it were me, I would have agreed long ago." Chancellor Qin said enviously: "My youngest son hasn't even been betrothed yet."

"This matter depends on Li'er's wishes. Brother De and Brother Xiao should understand that being a prince like me is really too difficult!" Lord Yun sighed無力地說道：“不是我不答應，實在是做不得主。”

"Sigh, Brother Yun, how can you say such things You are now the head of your family; how could it be that you have no authority" Duke De disagreed.

"Others might not know me well, but you three have served alongside me for over a decade. Don't tell me you don't understand my situation! I've been weak all these years and am truly ashamed to let you laugh at me!" Lord Yun said with a sigh.

"Brother Yun, are you saying Miss Shallow Moon disagrees" Duke Xiao asked.

"I’ve already handed over the reins of this family to her. Whatever she says goes," Lord Yun nodded.

"This is good news, as long as you and Old Prince agree, and His Majesty and Consort Ming also agree, then it will be settled. Miss Shallow Moon has changed a lot recently; although her heart remains pure and kind, for such a beneficial matter, how can she obstruct something that benefits Cloud Li" Chancellor Qin took over the conversation.

"Shallow Moon may be pure and kind but also stubborn. What we see as good might not be in her eyes. The three of you have watched her grow up; if she disagrees with this, it's really hard to predict," Lord Yun shook his head repeatedly.

The room fell silent once more.

Cloud Shallow Moon understood the gist of their conversation: Old Emperor wanted to come back and marry off Princess Six into Cloud Li's household. It was a well-calculated move. After a month, who knew how that woman would be Either driven mad or turned into a monster. In any case, if she were to marry into Cloud Manor and wed Cloud Li, it wouldn’t be good for the family nor necessarily beneficial for him.

"Miss Shallow Moon has been recuperating indoors for several days now; I heard His Majesty inquiring about her condition during today's court session. He asked us to check on her," Duke De said after a while.

"Her injuries are serious, and she needs another couple of days of rest." Lord Yun’s voice was low, “The emperor has always been concerned for Yue'er since childhood; it feels like he cares more than this old minister ever could. I feel ashamed. Yue'er is mischievous and stubborn; she loves to meddle in affairs which often results in her getting injured. Sigh, why do I have such a troublesome daughter"

"Brother Yun, having such a spirited daughter is truly fortunate for you! We can only dream of it!" Duke De sighed as well: “My mischievous boy has shown interest in no other girl in the capital but this small lass. He even went to the emperor to ask for permission when he learned she was heading to the Lan family. Later, however, she didn't go, and instead followed the Seventh Prince. I just received word yesterday that they encountered two groups of assassins on their way back to the city; it's not a reassuring situation at all.”

"This world is truly getting more chaotic each day!" Lord Yun said with some fear.

"Yes, but there’s nothing strange about this. Before His Majesty took the throne over twenty years ago, wasn't everything just like that Everything will settle down eventually," Duke De comforted him: “These young people need to suffer a bit to grow; we all have our own troublesome children, so let's console each other.”

"Brother De, your words make me want to bang my head against the wall. Compared with Little Prince Cao, my son is like heaven and earth apart. I'm the one who hasn't raised him properly," Duke Xiao said, filled with shame.

"Cold Brother, now that Little Prince Cao has reformed himself, and even started attending court two days ago, I can see much of your demeanor in his actions. A tiger father will never have a dog son; don't belittle yourself," Duke De said.

"Yes, the emperor praised him yesterday; Little Prince Cao indeed has an unlimited future ahead!" Chancellor Qin added: "Didn’t His Majesty intend to betroth Lady Zhao from the Department of War's household to him If this works out, it would be a fine match."

"I talked with my son about that; he said he’s had his fill of women and no longer has interest in them. Besides, you all know that Miss Zhao Kehan is fond of the Fourth Prince. This situation isn't easy to handle," Duke Xiao said somewhat frustrated.

"Indeed, it's not an easy matter. In our generation, marriages were arranged by parents with a royal decree; now look at these children, each more stubborn than the last, always threatening us and never聽話就事論事，僅翻譯文字內容：

Lord Yun sounded hesitant: "Although that's what they say! But matters of marriage are also determined by fate. The Sixth Princess injured Li'er last time, leaving him heartbroken. Now he is newly married to the Seventh Princess with deep affection; if the Sixth Princess comes again, this... It might not be good..."

Duke De said: "How isn't it good Brother Yun overthinks! This is such a great thing!"

Duke Xiao added: "Yes! With two princesses accompanying them, both of whom are golden branches and jade leaves, they should surely get along well."

Chancellor Qin said enviously: "Exactly! Lord Yun, you don't need to hesitate anymore! Having two daughters-in-law is such a great blessing. If it were me, I would have agreed long ago." His youngest son hasn't even been betrothed yet.

"This matter depends on Li'er's willingness," Lord Yun sighed and said無力地說道：“不是我不答應，實在是做不得主。”

"Sigh, Brother Yun, how can you say such things You are now the head of your family; how could it be that you have no authority" Duke De disagreed.

"Brother Yun, are you saying Miss Shallow Moon disagrees" Duke Xiao asked.

"I’ve already handed over the reins of this family to her. Whatever she says goes," Lord Yun nodded.

The room fell silent once more.

“Indeed, this world is becoming increasingly chaotic!” Lord Yun said with a worried heart.

"Yes! But this isn't strange. Twenty years ago, when the emperor ascended the throne, things were like this as well. Everything will be fine eventually," Duke De comforted him: “Young people getting injured is part of their growth experience. We all have troublesome children; let's just console each other!”

"Brother De, saying that makes me want to bang my head against the wall. Compared to Prince Yan, my son is worlds apart in terms of being a troublemaker. I truly am not good at raising my child," Duke Xiao said with shame.

“Cold King, now that Prince Cold has reformed and entered court two days ago, I can see much of your demeanor in his actions; a tiger father will never have a dog son; there's no need for you to belittle yourself,” Duke De said.

"Indeed, the emperor praised him yesterday; Prince Cold indeed has an unlimited future ahead!" Chancellor Qin added: "Didn’t His Majesty intend to betroth Lady Zhao from the Department of War's household to him If this works out, it would be a fine match."

“I talked with my son about that; he said he’s had his fill of women and no longer has interest in them. Besides, you all know that Miss Zhao Kehan is fond of the Fourth Prince. This situation isn't easy to handle,” Duke Xiao said somewhat frustrated.

“Although I understand this viewpoint! But matters of marriage are also determined by fate. The Sixth Princess injured Li'er last time, leaving him heartbroken. Now he is newly married to the Seventh Princess with deep affection; if the Sixth Princess comes again, this… It might not be good…” Lord Yun hesitated.

“How can it not be good Brother Yun worries too much! This is such a great thing!” Prince Regent D said.

“Yes! Having two princesses accompany them should make for an amiable arrangement. They are both golden branches and jade leaves,” Prince Regent Xiao added.

Chancellor Qin, enviously, said: “Exactly! Brother Yun, you needn’t hesitate anymore! This is such a great fortune. If it were me, I would have agreed long ago.” My youngest son has yet to be betrothed.

“This matter hinges on Li'er’s willingness,” Lord Yun sighed and said無力地說道：“不是我不答應，實在是我做不得主。”

“Brother Yun, what do you mean As the head of your household, how could you not have a say” Prince Regent D disagreed.

“Others may not know me well, but you three have served alongside me for over a decade. Don’t tell me you don’t understand my situation! I’ve been weak all these years and am truly ashamed to let you laugh at me!” Lord Yun sighed and said.

“Brother Yun, is Miss Shallow Moon disagreeing” Prince Regent Xiao asked.

“I’ve already handed over the reins of this household to her. Whatever she says goes,” Lord Yun nodded.

“This is a good thing. If you and the old prince agree, and if Emperor and Consort Ming also agree, it will be settled. Miss Shallow Moon has changed much recently; although she’s still pure at heart, such a good thing would benefit Cloud Li. How could she oppose it” Chancellor Qin continued.

“Shallow Moon may be kind-hearted but also stubborn. What we see as good might not seem so to her. The three of you have watched her grow up; if she disagrees, it will indeed be difficult,” Lord Yun shook his head repeatedly.

The room fell silent once more.

Cloud Shallow Moon had a rough understanding now: the old emperor intended another proposal for Princess Six to marry Cloud Li. He must have thought this was an ideal plan. After a month, who knew what state the woman would be in If not driven mad by torment, she might just be a calculating lunatic. In any case, if she were to wed into the Cloud Household and marry Cloud Li, it wouldn’t be beneficial for either.

“Miss Shallow Moon has been recuperating indoors these past few days; I heard His Majesty inquired about her condition during court this morning and asked us to visit,” Prince Regent D said after a while.

“Her injury is severe, she’ll need another day or two of rest.” Lord Yun’s voice was low.“The emperor has cared for Moon since childhood, more so than I as her father. I am ashamed. She’s mischievous and unruly; I didn’t raise her well. She loves to stir up trouble, always getting hurt in the process.”

“Brother Yun, having such a daughter is your fortune! We would kill for it!” Prince Regent D sighed.“My son refuses to speak to any woman in the capital but has taken interest in this girl. He knew she was headed to the Lan Family and went straight to the emperor to petition permission. Thankfully, she didn’t go. Instead, he followed the Seventh Prince. Yesterday I learned that on their way back into the city, they encountered two groups of assassins; it wasn’t easy.”

“This world is becoming increasingly chaotic,” Lord Yun said worriedly.

“Indeed! But this isn’t unusual. Twenty years ago when His Majesty ascended to the throne, things were much the same. Everything will be fine eventually,” Prince Regent D comforted him: “Young people getting injured is part of their growth experience. We all have troublesome children; let’s just console each other!”

“Brother De, saying that makes me want to bang my head against a wall. Compared to Prince Yan, my son is worlds apart in terms of being a troublemaker. I truly am not good at raising my child,” Prince Regent Xiao said with shame.

“Cold King, now that Prince Cold has reformed and entered court two days ago, his actions have much of your style; a tiger father will never have a dog son; there's no need for you to belittle yourself,” Prince Regent D said.

"Indeed, the emperor praised him yesterday; Prince Cold indeed has an unlimited future ahead!" Chancellor Qin added: "Didn’t His Majesty intend to betroth Lady Zhao from the Department of War’s household to him If this works out, it would be a fine match."

“I talked with my son about that; he said he's had his fill of women and no longer has interest in them. Besides, you all know that Miss Zhao Kehan is interested in the Fourth Prince. This situation isn't easy to handle,” Prince Regent Xiao said somewhat frustrated.

“How can it not be good Brother Yun worries too much! This is such a great thing!” Prince Regent D said.

“Yes! Having two princesses accompany them should make for an amiable arrangement. They are both golden branches and jade leaves,” Prince Regent Xiao added.

“This matter hinges on Li'er’s willingness,” Lord Yun sighed and said無力地說道：“不是我不答應，實在是我做不得主。”

“Brother Yun, what do you mean As the head of your household, how could you not have a say” Prince Regent D disagreed.

“Others may not know me well, but you three have served alongside me for over a decade. Don’t tell me you don understand my situation! I’ve been weak all these years and am truly ashamed to let you laugh at me!” Lord Yun sighed and said.

“Brother Yun, is Miss Shallow Moon disagreeing” Prince Regent Xiao asked.

“I’ve already handed over the reins of this household to her. Whatever she says goes,” Lord Yun nodded.

The room fell silent once more.

Cloud Shallow Moon had a rough understanding now: the old emperor was planning another move. After imprisoning the Sixth Princess in ancestral punishment for her misconduct, he wanted to marry her to Cloud Li again. He truly thought this would be beneficial. A month had passed since then; it's unknown what state she is in—either driven mad by torture or cunningly manipulative. In any case, if she were to come and marry into the Cloud王府, it wouldn’t be a good thing for either the Cloud王府 or Cloud Li.

“Miss Shallow Moon has been confined to her room for several days now, I wonder how stable her condition is The Emperor asked about her during court this morning and instructed me to inquire after her on your behalf,” Prince Regent D said after a moment.

“Her injury was serious; she might need another day or two of rest.” Lord Yun's voice was low. “The Emperor has always cared for Moon since childhood, more so than I as her father. I feel ashamed. She’s mischievous and unruly; I didn’t raise her well. She loves to stir up trouble, always getting hurt in the process.”

“This world is becoming increasingly chaotic,” Lord Yun said worriedly.

"Indeed, the emperor praised him yesterday; Prince Cold indeed has an unlimited future ahead!" Chancellor Qin added: "Didn’t His Majesty intend to betroth Lady Zhao from the Department of War’s household to him If this works out, it would be a fine match."

“How can it not be good Brother Yun worries too much! This is such a great thing!” Prince Regent D said.

“Yes! Having two princesses accompany them should make for an amiable arrangement. They are both golden branches and jade leaves,” Prince Regent Xiao added.

“This matter hinges on Li'er’s willingness,” Lord Yun sighed and said無力地說道：“不是我不答應，實在是我做不得主。”

“Brother Yun, what do you mean As the head of your household, how could you not have a say” Prince Regent D disagreed.

“Brother Yun, is Miss Shallow Moon disagreeing” Prince Regent Xiao asked.

“I have already given up control of this household. Whatever she decides goes,” Lord Yun nodded.

“This would be a good thing! As long as you and the old王爺 agree and the Emperor and Lady Ming approve, everything will proceed smoothly. Miss Shallow Moon is different from before; her heart remains pure and kind. How could such a beneficial arrangement harm Cloud Li” Chancellor Qin continued.

“Although she is kind, she can also be stubborn. We may see this as good, but that doesn’t mean she will agree with us. All three of you have watched her grow up; if she disagrees, it’s difficult to say what will happen,” Lord Yun shook his head.

The room fell silent again.

Cloud Shallow Moon understood now: the old Emperor was planning another move. After imprisoning the Sixth Princess in ancestral punishment for her misconduct, he wanted to marry her to Cloud Li again. He truly thought this would be beneficial. A month had passed since then; it's unknown what state she is in—either driven mad by torture or cunningly manipulative. In any case, if she were to come and marry into the Cloud王府, it wouldn’t be a good thing for either the Cloud王府 or Cloud Li.

“Her injury was serious; she might need another day or two of rest.” Lord Yun’s voice was low. “The Emperor has always cared for Moon since childhood, more so than I as her father. I feel ashamed. She’s mischievous and unruly; I didn’t raise her well. She loves to stir up trouble, always getting hurt in the process.”

“This world is becoming increasingly chaotic,” Lord Yun said worriedly.

"Indeed, the emperor praised him yesterday; Prince Cold indeed has an unlimited future ahead!" Chancellor Qin added: "Didn’t His Majesty intend to betroth Lady Zhao from the Department of War’s household to him If this works out, it would be a fine match."

“How can it not be good Brother Yun worries too much! This is such a great thing!” Prince Regent D said.

“Yes! Having two princesses accompany them should make for an amiable arrangement. They are both golden branches and jade leaves,” Prince Regent Xiao added.

Chancellor Qin, enviously, said: “Exactly! Brother Yun, you needn’t hesitate anymore! This is such a great fortune. If it were me, I would have agreed long ago.”

"Indeed! Two princesses accompanying them should be wonderful to deal with," Prince Regent Xiao also commented.

“Very well, this truly is an excellent thing. As long as you and the old王爺 agree and the Emperor and Lady Ming give their approval, everything will proceed smoothly. Miss Shallow Moon's heart remains pure and kind; such a beneficial arrangement should not harm Cloud Li,” Chancellor Qin continued.

“Indeed! How can this be bad Brother Yun worries too much!” Prince Regent D said with a sigh.

The room fell silent again.

“Her injury was serious; she might need another day or two of rest.” Lord Yun’s voice was low. “The Emperor has always cared for Moon since childhood, more so than I as her father. I feel ashamed. She is mischievous and unruly; I didn’t raise her well. She loves to stir up trouble, always getting hurt in the process.

“Brother Yun, having such a daughter is your fortune! We would kill for it!” Prince Regent D sighed again. “My son refuses to speak to any woman in the capital but has taken interest in this girl. He knew she was headed to the Lan Family and went straight to the emperor to petition permission. Thankfully, she didn’t go. Instead, he followed the Seventh Prince. Yesterday I learned that on their way back into the city, they encountered two groups of assassins; it wasn’t easy.”

“Indeed! This world is becoming increasingly chaotic,” Lord Yun said worriedly.

"Indeed! But this isn't unusual. Twenty years ago when His Majesty ascended to the throne, things were much the same. Everything will be fine eventually," Prince Regent D comforted him: "Young people getting injured is part of their growth experience. We all have troublesome children; let's just console each other!"

"Cold King, now that Prince Cold has reformed and entered court two days ago, his actions have much of your style; a tiger father will never have a dog son; there's no need for you to belittle yourself," Prince Regent D said.

“Indeed, the emperor praised him yesterday. Prince Cold indeed has an unlimited future ahead!” Chancellor Qin added: "Didn’t His Majesty intend to betroth Lady Zhao from the Department of War’s household to him If this works out, it would be a fine match."

“Indeed, it’s not an easy matter. In our generation, marriages were arranged by parents with a royal decree; now look at these children, each more stubborn than the last, always threatening us and never聽話就事論事，僅翻譯文字內容：

「雖然這麼說！但姻緣之事也是要看天意。六公主上次傷了離兒，離兒已經寒了心，他和七公主如今新婚，感情甚篤，六公主再來的話，這……」雲王爺猶豫不定的聲音：「恐怕不好……」

「怎麼個不好？雲王兄多慮了！這是多大的好事兒啊！」德親王道。

「是啊！兩位公主陪伴，都是金枝玉葉，定然很好相處的。」孝親王也道。

「不錯，雲王就不要再猶豫了！你得兩個兒媳，多大的美事兒？要依我早就應了。」秦丞相羨慕地道：「我那小兒子現在也還未訂婚。」

「這件事情要看離兒的意願。兩位王兄和丞相當該清楚，本王這個王爺做得實在無力得很啊！」雲王爺歎息一聲，無力地道：「不是我不答應，實在是我做不得主。」

「唉，雲王兄哪裡話？你如今是一家之主。怎麼就做不得主了？」德親王不讚同地道。

「彆人不知道我，三位與我同朝為官十數年，還不知道我？我窩囊了一輩子，也不怕你們笑話，實在汗顏啊！」雲王爺歎息地道。

「雲王兄說得是淺月小姐不同意？」孝親王問。

「如今這個家我早就交權了，她說了算。」雲王爺點頭。

「這是好事兒，隻要您和老王爺同意，皇上和明妃娘娘那邊也同意，這事兒就成了。淺月小姐如今和以往大不相同，心地還是純善的，這種好事兒，是對雲離世子好，她如何能阻攔？」秦丞相接過話。

「淺月雖然純善，但也是個倔脾氣。咱們覺得是好事兒，放在她身上想法就未必了。你們三人也都是看著她長大的，這事情她要不同意，實在不好說啊。」雲王爺連連搖頭。

房中再無人說話，沉默下來。

雲淺月算是聽明白了個大概，感情是老皇帝還要來個回馬槍。六公主被關進皇室祖嗣思過，如今還能再出來想要嫁給雲離。他真是打得如意算盤。一個月過去，那女人不知道什麼樣了。不是個被折磨成的瘋子，就是個成了精的瘋子。總之，她若是嫁來雲王府，嫁給雲離，對雲王府不能算是好事兒，對雲離也不一定算是好事兒。

「淺月小姐已經閉門養傷好幾日了，不知道情況可是穩定了？皇上今日早朝還問到了，讓我等順便探望一下淺月小姐。」半響後，德親王又道。

「傷勢很重，恐怕還要再養兩日。」雲王爺聲音有些低：「皇上對月兒打小就關心，實在比老臣這個為人父者還要上心，老臣慚愧。月兒頑劣，實在冇教養好，就愛湊個熱鬨，什麼事情都要插上一腳，每次都弄個受傷而歸。哎，老臣怎麼就有了這麼一個不叫人省心的女兒……」

「雲王兄有這樣的女兒是福氣。我們求還求不來呢！」德親王也歎了口氣：「我家那個混小子對京城哪個女子都不假辭色，就對這個小丫頭有心。他知道這個小丫頭也要去藍家，非跑去向皇上請旨，後來到好，小丫頭冇去成，他倒跟著七皇子去了。昨日我纔得到訊息，他和七皇子回城的時候前後遇到了兩批殺手，差點兒丟了命，更不叫人省心。」

「如今這世道真是越來越亂了！」雲王爺心裡發怵地道。

「是啊！不過這也不奇怪，二十多年前皇上登基前不也就這樣？早晚會好的。」德親王寬慰地道：「年輕人受點兒傷也是磨練。我們都有不省心的兒女，就彼此寬慰吧！」

「德王兄這樣說真是叫我去撞牆了，比起染小王爺，我家犬子差得可是一個天上一個地下的區彆。老臣纔是教子無方的那個。」孝親王慚愧地道。

「冷王兄，如今冷小王爺改過自新，前兩日入朝，我看他行事頗有你的風骨，虎父無犬子，差不了的。你就無須在我們麵前自貶了。」德親王道。

「是啊，昨日兒皇上還誇獎他了，冷小王爺以後前途無量啊！」秦丞相也接話道：「皇上不是有意將兵部侍郎家的趙小姐許配給他嗎？這若是成了可是一樁好姻緣。」

「我和犬子談了，那小子說女色膩了，如今冇那心思了。況且你們也知道那兵部侍郎家的趙可菡小姐心儀的人是四皇子。這事情也不好辦啊！」孝親王有些頭疼地道。

「的確不好辦。咱們那一輩都講究父母之命，媒妁之言。一道聖旨下來就賜婚了。可是如今你看這群孩子，骨頭一個比一個硬氣，動不動就威脅我們，冇一個聽話的，皇上自小看著他們長大，都知道他們的脾性，如今聖旨也不輕易下了。反倒苦了我們幾個老的，在皇上和這幫子小的中間夾著，裡外不是人。」德親王有些頭疼地道。

「是啊！不過這也是情理之中的事。二十多年前皇上登基前不也就這樣？早晚會好的。」德親王寬慰地道：「年輕人受點兒傷也是磨練。我們都有不省心的兒女，就彼此寬慰吧！」

「德王兄這樣說真是叫我去撞牆了，比起染小王爺，我家犬子差得可是一個天上一個地下的區彆。老臣纔是教子無方的那個。」孝親王慚愧地道。

「冷王兄，如今冷小王爺改過自新，前兩日入朝，我看他行事頗有你的風骨，虎父無犬子，差不了的。你就無須在我們麵前自貶了。」德親王道。

「德王兄這樣說真是叫我無地自容了，比起染小王爺，我家犬子差得可是一個天上一個地下的區彆。老臣纔是教子無方的那個。」孝親王慚愧地道。

「冷王兄，如今冷小王爺改過自新，前兩日入朝，我看他行事頗有你的風骨，虎父無犬子，差不了的。你就無須在我們麵前自貶了。」德親王道。

“Miss Qian Yue has been in seclusion for several days, I wonder if her condition is stable The emperor asked about it during the morning court session and told me to inquire after Miss Qian Yue on your behalf.” After a while, Prince Wei said.

The injury was quite serious; she probably needs another couple of days to recover. Prince Cloud’s voice softened slightly as he spoke: “The Emperor has always been concerned about Moon since she was young. He cares more deeply than this old minister does, and I feel ashamed for that. Moon is naughty and unruly; I never managed to teach her properly. She loves to stir up trouble in every situation and gets hurt every time. Ah, how did I end up with a daughter who causes me so much worry”

“Prince Cloud, having such a daughter is indeed fortunate for you! We would be thrilled if we had one like her!” Prince Wei sighed.

The young ruffian in my household barely gives any woman a second glance; he only has eyes for this little miss. He even went to the Emperor to ask for permission when she was going to the Lan family, and later on, the girl didn’t end up going while he followed Prince Seventh instead. I just learned that yesterday they both encountered two groups of assassins during their return to the city; it’s really worrying.”

“This world is becoming increasingly chaotic!” Cloud Prince lamented.

“That’s true, but this isn’t surprising either. Wasn’t everything like this before His Majesty ascended the throne two decades ago Everything will be fine in time,” Prince Wei comforted him.

“Indeed, it is a form of discipline for them to suffer injuries and hardships during their youth. We all have our own unruly children; we should console each other.”

“Your words are like a knife twisting in my heart, Prince Wei! Compared to Lord Cold’s son, my boy is worlds apart in terms of caliber. I am the one who failed as a father,” Prince Filial lamented.

“Prince Cold, since Lord Cold has changed for the better and exhibited your character when he entered court recently, there shouldn’t be much difference between him and you. You don’t need to belittle yourself in front of us.”

“Indeed, yesterday His Majesty even praised him. Lord Cold’s future is boundless,” Chancellor Qin added.

“I had a conversation with my son; he said that he’s tired of women and has no interest at the moment. Furthermore, you all know that Lady Zhao from the Ministry of War desires Prince Fourth. This situation isn’t easy to handle either.”

“That’s true, it is indeed difficult. In our generation, marriages were arranged by parents’ orders or matchmakers with an imperial decree being sufficient for a marriage. But now take a look at these youngsters; their bones are as hard as iron and they threaten us whenever we disagree. None of them listen to reason, and His Majesty knows their characters well since childhood. He doesn’t issue edicts easily anymore. We old folks suffer in the middle between the Emperor and these young ones.”

“That’s true! This era belongs to them now that we’re getting old,” Prince Cloud sighed.

“No matter what, you should persuade Cloud Li anyway! Empress Ming begged His Majesty for this; I saw Sixth Princess today and she has indeed become more obedient. She suffered hardships just like Lord Cold and gained enlightenment, which is a good thing.”

“Seventh Princess and Sixth Princess are still sisters after all. Sharing one husband shouldn’t be too difficult to manage. You should speak with Seventh Princess first as her father-in-law; His Majesty will also summon her to the palace to discuss this matter. If she agrees, persuading Cloud Li should be much easier.”

“I married only Empress Cloud and didn’t agree to take concubines despite others’ objections back then. Later on, Concubine Feng and others entered our household with her consent. Prince Cloud, you ended up taking more than one concubine in the end,” said Prince Filial.

“Please don’t bring up this embarrassing matter; I’m already embarrassed enough! I feel so sorry for Miss Qian Yue’s mother!” Prince Cloud lamented.

“You married a woman who was once referred to as the most beautiful in the world alongside Princess Guardian of Western Yan. What good fortune you have! You’re being too modest now, Prince Cloud,” said Prince Wei with laughter, rising from his seat and causing rustling sounds.

“Alright, we’ve conveyed His Majesty’s intentions, and you are a wise man. Speak with Miss Qian Yue, Cloud Li, and Seventh Princess individually; this is an unprecedented good fortune for the Cloud Household! Think about it, Empress is now pregnant with the Crown Prince while two princesses will be marrying your son. Add to that the engagement of Miss Qian Yue and Prince Seventh – these are all rare honors for you. We can’t even beg for such blessings.”

“Prince Wei’s advice is spot on, we mustn’t miss out on this,” said Prince Filial, getting up.

“His Majesty values the Rong王府，雲王爺應當知曉皇恩浩蕩。”秦丞相也站了起來。

“三位的意思我明白，哎，我儘量試試吧！”雲王爺也窸窸窣窣地站了起來。

德親王、孝親王和秦丞相三人告辭離去。雲王爺將他們送出門外後，屋內恢複了寂靜。

"Let's go out!" Yun Qianyue turned her head and said to Rong Jing.

Rong Jing nodded, pushed open the door of the dark room, and the two of them walked out. Ling Lian and Yi Xue followed them out as well.

The room was empty; Old Duke Yun wasn't there.

"Father should know we're back! Let's wait for him here," said Yun Qianyue.

Rong Jing hummed in agreement, released Yun Qianyue’s hand, and sat down on a chair.

Ling Lian and Yi Xue knew they had to rely on Duke Yun to dispel the illusion, so they also waited by his side.

"You said that His Majesty wants Brother to marry Princess No. 6—whose idea is this" Sitting down as well, Yun Qianyue poured a cup of tea for Rong Jing and one for herself before taking a sip and asking.

"This matter does seem unexpected, but it isn’t entirely surprising. As a princess from the imperial family, Princess No. 6 cannot be confined in the Ancestral Lineage Compound her whole life. She will eventually have to come out. After being locked up for a month, it’s time for her release," Rong Jing said.

"What an eloquent plea by Lady Ming! If Princess No. 6 is her daughter, isn’t Princess No. 7 also her daughter !" Yun Qianyue snorted coldly. "There are so many decent young men in the capital from good families; why choose Brother and wish to enter the Cloud Prince’s Manor instead Does she want to ruin both of her daughters"

"Princess No. 7 and Lady Ming have grown distant, and now she views them as no longer being her children. Princess No. 7 is a person of the Cloud Prince’s Manor, wholeheartedly devoted to it; His Majesty probably knows this point too. But Princess No. 6 is different. After staying in the Ancestral Lineage Compound for over a month under the surveillance of the secret personnel overseeing it, she has changed greatly from before. She either becomes mad or turns into a sharp sword. If used well, even madness can become a sharp blade. Why wouldn’t His Majesty use her" Rong Jing sipped his tea.

Yun Qianyue frowned and harrumphed lightly. "I won’t let them succeed!"

"Uncle Yuan has returned!" Rong Jing said, glancing at the door.

Yun Qianyue turned her head to see Duke Yun indeed returning after seeing off Prince De and the other three. Remembering how her mother had followed Nan Lingrui to Southern Liang, she felt a warm sensation in her heart and called out, "Father!"

"I was expecting you two to be back by now!" Duke Yun walked in, shut the door casually, looked at them both, and smiled. "Moonie, did you see your mother"

"Of course I saw her!" Yun Qianyue nodded with a smile and boasted proudly, "Mother even made me a delicious meal. Unfortunately, I didn’t eat as much as Brother that rascal; he’s craftier and managed to whisk Mother away first. Father, you’ll have to endure separation from Mother for some time in the future. But I won’t let you leave."

Duke Yun chuckled. "That smelly brat is sharp! Over these years, I’ve had a thorough understanding of him both inside and out. Since he saw his mother, he naturally wouldn’t let her leave again. However, Southern Liang isn’t peaceful internally now; it’s good that Mother went to help him."

Yun Qianyue blinked her eyes. "Are you willing to be separated from my mother"

"Little girl, we’re old husband and wife; we don’t care about a short while," Duke Yun laughed. "Did you hear what the three of them said just now"

"I heard it!" Yun Qianyue nodded.

"I knew you would definitely disagree! Yesterday, His Majesty asked Li to probe for information; Li tactfully refused, and I also stated that it wasn’t appropriate. But the Emperor and Lady Ming clearly don’t give up easily; they sent those three persuaders over to convince me. Although their words were ostensibly directed at Li, they undoubtedly wanted to take action through Princess No. 7. If she agrees, Li would agree as well. That’s probably what it means," Duke Yun added.

"What is Sister-in-law thinking" Yun Qianyue asked.

"Princess No. 7 has a keen mind and should have gotten wind of the news too. I don’t know her thoughts yet, but now that you’ve returned, you can ask her; she trusts you more," Duke Yun said.

“Mm-hmm!” Yun Qianyue nodded. "I’ll go find her later!"

Duke Yun nodded and looked at Rong Jing. “Xiao Jing, what’s your take on this matter”

Rong Jing smiled and said, "Since the Emperor and Lady Ming both have their hearts set on it and sent two dukes and Chancellor Qin to persuade us, while also selecting Princess No. 7 for an audience in the palace, it probably won’t be settled easily. But as long as Young Lord Yun Li and Princess No. 7 remain steadfast and express their determination through death, His Majesty likely can't do anything about it. However, I’m afraid they might not hold out."

"Where is Brother now" Yun Qianyue asked.

“Your brother is still in the Ministry of Rites!” Duke Yun replied.

Yun Qianyue stood up and said, "I’ll see Sister-in-law first!" Then she walked out but stopped after a few steps when she realized it wasn’t appropriate for her to go around while recuperating. After considering, she told Duke Yun, “Father, please release the illusions on Ling Lian and Yi Xue so they can invite Sister-in-law to my Jade Moon Pavilion from West Maple Courtyard. I’ll wait for her there."

"Alright!" Duke Yun nodded and gently waved his hand; Ling Lian and Yi Xue’s appearances returned.

Yun Qianyue looked at Rong Jing, who smiled at her and said, "I'll return to the Glory Prince's Manor shortly."

Yun Qianyue nodded and didn’t say anything more. She left the room with a light step toward her Jade Moon Pavilion. Ling Lian and Yi Xue exchanged glances, bowed respectfully to Duke Yun and Rong Jing in farewell, and also walked out of the door toward West Maple Courtyard.

———–ld. This time, both of them privately agreed not to compete over it. Even if they jointly managed the household, they still wanted to hold the keys to management in their hands. If that yellow-haired...