Chapter 159: Qiao Zhi’s Wedding

Qiao Run cast a calm, inscrutable glance at Qiao Yi. That single look was enough to make Qiao Yi fall silent. Qiao Run then looked intently at Lian Yue and said, "You might want to give my suggestion some serious thought."

Qiao Zhi, who had long been unable to sit still while watching Lian Yue’s expression darken, stood up in a hurry and said, "Father, I will not marry Miss Yue." Having said that, he carefully glanced at Lian Yue, whose almond eyes were glaring fiercely at him, and only then realized the implication of his words. He quickly added, "I haven't even considered getting married yet."

"Oh, is that so?" Qiao Run looked at his son’s agitated state and finally relented. "If that is the case, then never mind."

Qiao Zhi let out a sigh of relief, though he realized he had been too rash. In his agitation, he had completely undermined his own defense from earlier that afternoon; his true feelings had not been hidden from his father after all. However, the momentary ease he felt vanished when he heard the Retired Emperor continue.

"However, my son, you are no longer a child. The royal lineage is already thin, and every time I think of this, I feel I have failed our ancestors. Now that I have passed the age of seventy, this remains a knot in my heart. You will be twenty after the new year; if there is a young lady you fancy, tell me, and I shall betroth her to you now. It will not be too late to marry when you are ready."

Though the Retired Emperor’s words were somewhat rambling, everyone in the great hall understood his meaning clearly: the Retired Emperor was clearly forcing a marriage.

Qiao Zhi naturally grasped this as well. He also sensed the underlying message: there was no way he could escape this today. Qiao Zhi could not fathom what had happened to make his father so eager to settle his marriage. Twenty years of father-son affection reminded him that he could not avoid this arranged marriage today; he only wondered which family’s daughter his father had in mind.

Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, Qiao Zhi left his seat and knelt on one knee upon the white marble floor in the center of the hall. "Marriage is a major life event; I leave the decision entirely to Father."

Qiao Run looked at his favorite son kneeling below the dais, feeling truly helpless. But if he did not do this, given his current state of health, he feared his son would be in grave danger once he was gone. Since the Empress Dowager had brought this matter up today, he would simply go with the flow.

"In that case, I shall make the decision for you. Your mother’s niece, Han Liuyan, is of a similar age and has a good temperament. What do you think?"

When Qiao Zhi heard the name Han Liuyan, he understood his father’s painstaking efforts. "Whatever Father decides is fine."

How could Qiao Run not know whom his son loved and whom he disliked? Yet, this was the best choice for now. *Xu'er, I failed to keep my promise in the end. When I go to see you, will you blame me?*

Qiao Run did not look at his son, but turned his gaze toward the person selected by the Empress Dowager, who was sitting in the women's section. "Liuyan, are you willing?"

"This subject daughter is willing," Han Liuyan replied. Her voice sounded extremely delicate and demure, fitting the image of a young lady, but her heart told a different story. She was also surprised by this betrothal. When the Retired Emperor first mentioned her name, she had cast a questioning look toward her aunt, the Empress Dowager, on the high platform, only to see her aunt wearing a smile.

She knew she would be betrothed today, and she knew that after this, she would have to leave the prosperous Western Capital and her family. However, the intended groom had changed.

Yet, this only caused a momentary flicker of surprise in Han Liuyan. She had long understood her purpose; the Empress Dowager’s affection for her was merely a means to use her marriage to secure another pillar of support for the family and the Emperor.

Having long since resigned herself to her fate, she felt little emotion regarding who she would eventually marry.

Indeed, before the council of the Eight Great Powers, Empress Dowager Han Lianyan had intended to marry her niece into the Yue family to further tighten their connection. But after the council concluded, she heard the Yue family’s demands from her son, and combined with the rumors she heard from Xueyi regarding the entanglement between Lan Shui and Yue Lingjun, she abandoned that idea. Instead, she chose to marry her niece to the Retired Emperor’s favorite son as a bargaining chip to ensure her own lifelong peace.

The small episode concluded, and no one noticed the shifting, meaningful glances exchanged among the men’s and women’s tables.

Lian Yue returned to her seat. Apart from her elder sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and Qiao Zhi, she felt not a shred of affection for anyone in this royal family.

She had no desire to look at those who considered themselves superior, with their hypocritical smiles; even the floral tea on her table seemed to lack its usual fragrance.

"Do you find them particularly disgusting? The things they do are truly revolting."

"Yes!" This was exactly what Lian Yue was feeling. She could not help but turn to her left, following the elegant and ethereal voice. When she saw the owner of the voice, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "So beautiful."

It was a fresh and refined beauty. Lian Yue remembered that this seat had been empty when she entered the hall, but now a fairy in white sat there.

She wore a moon-white dress embroidered with flowers and butterflies, with an apricot-colored ribbon tied at her waist, making her figure appear willow-thin. Her ink-black hair was held up by a single sandalwood hairpin. Beneath her elegant, willow-leaf eyebrows were a pair of bright eyes that tilted slightly upward at the corners, a straight nose, and small, naturally red lips. But what was most striking was not these features, but the natural charm she exuded with every movement—a charm that made it impossible for anyone to feel even a hint of disgust or impure thoughts.

"Which consort are you?" Lian Yue asked. Given the jealous glares occasionally cast by Lady Yun, who sat below them, such a guess was not strange.

The fairy-like woman arched her eyebrows and said without a hint of affectation, "Does that old man deserve me?"

"I didn't mean it that way!" Lian Yue liked her way of speaking; women in the palace would never be so casual. "Yue family, Yue Lian Yue."

"I know, I heard it just now. The 'Little Moon' of the Yue family is indeed pitifully lovely. If I were a man, I would certainly pursue you relentlessly."

Lian Yue’s cheeks flushed red, but she felt no aversion at all. She naturally gave the woman a coquettish glare. "If I were a man, I would certainly fancy a fairy like you. I haven't asked for your name yet."

"Yanyu Pavilion, Chai Mengqing," Chai Mengqing replied with a soft, doting laugh.

Lian Yue looked at her in slight surprise. She knew of Yanyu Pavilion, of course. She knew about the Eight Great Powers council, and she had expected the Pavilion Master to be a middle-aged, domineering woman. She never expected someone of her own age who spoke so humorously.

Chai Mengqing had liked the boldness Lian Yue showed earlier toward the Retired Emperor. In Chai Mengqing’s heart, women should be exactly like that—in control of their own affairs rather than listening to men. Seeing Lian Yue sit down in a huff, she couldn't help but want to get to know her and chat.

"You said you were betrothed to the Yuwen family just to shut that old man up, right? You don't actually like that guy from the Yuwen family, do you? As for the one you really like..."

Chai Mengqing paused deliberately, tilting her chin toward where An Ming sat, and watched with satisfaction as Lian Yue panicked.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Of course, one should marry the person they love. I support you." Having said this, she winked at the blushing Lian Yue.

They say girls understand each other's hearts best. Although Chai Mengqing arrived late, she hadn't missed the good parts. Because she was interested in Lian Yue, she paid her more attention. She noticed that every time Lian Yue spoke, she would look toward An Ming, and then she followed Lian Yue’s gaze to see the small exchanges between them.

Lian Yue was not angry that her little secret had been discovered, mainly because she couldn't bring herself to be angry with such a fairy-like woman. That final "I support you" drew them even closer.

Chai Mengqing gave her a feeling she had never experienced before—not the conspiratorial nature of Yaoyao, nor the intimacy of Lan Shui, but more like a kindred spirit.

Seeing that Lian Yue did not deny it, Chai Mengqing liked her even more. She pointed to Qiao Zhi across the way and said, "If Qing Ruo heard today’s news, she would surely be heartbroken."