Chapter 1157: Ancient Academy Records, Lots of Fun 44

That evening, everyone held a victory feast in the courtyard.

Because of his position, the Lord of Azure Cloud State could not attend in person, otherwise it would seem he was getting too close to Heavenly Mystery State, but he truly liked this spirited bunch of youths and had people send over plenty of food and gifts.

Ling Xiao didn't say much more, just reminded them to remember to set out tomorrow, then let them go wild.

The ten companions sat together, drinking, chatting, and enjoying the moon, just as they had back at the academy.

Lan Wuyang was drunk, his face flushed as he raised his cup high, slinging his arms around Tingyang and Wan Zhou's shoulders, declaring outright that he would buy them mansions in the imperial capital.

Wan Zhou shuddered, shook off Lan Wuyang's hand, then slammed it hard onto the stone table.

"No way! I, the young master, refuse to live in that crowded imperial capital! I want to ride freely, live to the fullest—being stuck in the capital is so boring!"

Tingyang nodded as well, "I still have to go back to the mountain villa to hunt—autumn, the most fun season, is just around the corner!"

Lan Wuyang froze, then burst into loud sobs.

"Doesn't that mean you're all leaving?"

When he started crying, Tingyang joined in, and the two howled louder and louder.

The other companions: "……."

Jiang Yao propped her head up while drinking, the stars overhead sparkling lively.

"What are you thinking about? Drink!"

Ye Susu tapped her cup against the one in her hand, then clinked with Si Ning, and the three tilted their heads back to drink it dry.

Xie Beiyao and Ling Xiuyu sat together; this time Xie Beiyao no longer wanted to drink the cross-cupped wine—he wanted to be able to drink this cup openly and properly.

His hand, hanging at his side, secretly took hold of Ling Xiuyu's; Xie Beiyao was a little nervous, but his attitude was extremely solemn.

"Once we return to the imperial palace this time, I will ask the imperial uncle for an edict… to grant our marriage, alright?"

Ling Xiuyu's fingers curled; as he lifted his gaze and saw the light flickering in Xie Beiyao's eyes, perhaps because too much had happened lately, he realized Xie Beiyao had become far more mature than before.

It also let Ling Xiuyu know that it wasn't just Xie Beiyao who couldn't bear to part—how could he himself bring himself to sever ties with Xie Beiyao?

"Good."

Ling Xiuyu replied softly, slowly lowering his head to rest on his shoulder; the moonlight tinted the tip of his ear crimson.

Tingyang showed up again to rain on their parade, popping out from behind them, "I'll attend your big wedding first, then leave!"

Xie Beiyao's face darkened with a black line, and he immediately threw a punch at him.

Xie Yuancheng giggled uncontrollably, collapsing into Jin Chen's embrace, hooking his arms around Jin Chen's neck, his eyes shining bright, "I also want to ask the father emperor for an edict to grant our marriage!"

Jin Chen, afraid he might fall, held him tighter in his arms and teased, "Your Highness, you're so eager to bring me into the Eastern Palace first—are you worried I'll run away?"

He put on a pretentious sigh, full of melancholy, "I don't even know if there are any other brothers or sisters in the Eastern Palace—after all, you're the…"

Before he could finish, Xie Yuancheng clapped a hand over his mouth, furrowed his brows, utterly serious and stern—oddly making him look rather cute.

"It's just you right now, so don't get any wild ideas!"

Jin Chen took his hand and kissed it, raising an eyebrow to tease, "Right now it's just me, which means things might not stay that way later."

Xie Yuancheng blinked, thinking he might have said the wrong thing and hurt Jin Chen,

but when he caught a glimpse of Jin Chen's smiling, handsome face, Xie Yuancheng realized he'd been teased again, his eyes widening, "No playing word games with me!"

Saying that, he went to pinch Jin Chen's face, pulling hard with both hands without restraint.

After the fuss died down, Xie Yuancheng snuggled back into his arms and said solemnly, "Really, there's no one else—the father emperor has had only the empress mother all these years, he's kept no concubines, so how could I go looking for anyone else?"

Jin Chen kissed the corner of his mouth, held him tighter, his tone tender, "I know."

"What are you doing in public?!" Tingyang, just having been beaten by Xie Beiyao, again intruded on them, peeking through his fingers.

Xie Yuancheng jumped at the sight, blushed slightly, ducked into Jin Chen's embrace, pointed a finger, and said, "Beat him up!"

Jin Chen lifted his leg and kicked; Tingyang darted away, stumbling back a few steps, his body askew.

"Ahhhhh!"

With a plop, Tingyang fell into the fish pond.

The companions instantly burst into loud laughter, crowding over to watch the spectacle.

——

The next day they set off back to Heavenly Mystery State.

Along the way they stopped to tour the borders of Azure Cloud State, singing and racing horses; the tension from their arrival was gone, and they carried the joy of victory and good news, making the return journey even more pleasant.

On the road, they received two pieces of good news.

The assassins and killers of the Divine Pavilion were pulling the strings; North Wind State had changed hands, its new emperor installed by the Divine Pavilion, the entire imperial family secretly controlled by the Pavilion, while the Pavilion openly maintained friendly relations with Heavenly Mystery State—no one in the world knows why the Pavilion does this, but everyone knows that thereafter Heavenly Mystery will be the undisputed hegemonic power.

Precisely because North Wind State changed hands and the Heavenly Mystery Squad won, the captured cities were finally returned to Heavenly Mystery, and the deeds of these youthful heroes spread far and wide across the land.

After several days of travel, the Heavenly Mystery Squad led by Ling Xiao finally returned to the imperial capital, and on the obligatory route back to the palace, the townspeople lined the streets to welcome them.

Jin Chen had been riding outside, but after a stretch of road he went back into the rear carriage, brushed off the flower petals that clung to him, and squeezed next to Xie Yuancheng to sit, holding him.

"What's wrong?" Xie Yuancheng wondered; it was rare to see Jin Chen so vexed, and he couldn't help but smile.

"They threw flower petals and handkerchiefs at me—used ones, how filthy!"

Jin Chen muttered his complaint, hugging him and kissing him over and over until he was satisfied.

Xie Yuancheng blinked, lifted the curtain to look outside and saw there really were a lot, then lowered the curtain and asked Jin Chen.

"Do you know what this signifies?"

Jin Chen only knew it was no different from throwing rotten eggs and vegetables, so he nodded.

Xie Yuancheng frowned suspiciously, "You really know? This actually shows affection for you."

Jin Chen blinked, then an idea struck—he took the handkerchief from Xie Yuancheng's sleeve and hid it on himself.

"Now I know."

"What…?" Xie Yuancheng blushed a little, feeling shy about snuggling into his embrace.

Once back in the palace, the first thing was to go pay respects to Emperor Junhong, who had been waiting a long time.

Old Master Jin also entered the palace, and Jin Chen, after receiving permission, went to see his father first.

During the routine ennoblement ceremony, Xie Beiyao, in front of all civil and military officials, petitioned Emperor Junhong for a marriage edict.

Emperor Junhong smiled and thought for a moment; he had long known that his relationship with Ling Xiuyu was very good, and now the matter of Prince Li had been settled. As Heir Apparent, Xie Beiyao would continue to assist Xie Yuancheng in the future, so this marriage was also a good thing.

"Very well, Imperial Uncle hereby consents to this marriage."

Ling Xiuyu and Xie Beiyao knelt together to thank the edict; when they rose, he furtively glanced at his father standing among the officials behind, but the Secretary merely smiled at him and had no intention of stopping it.

As long as we can confirm that Ling Xiuyu harbors no rebellious intent, the affection between the two children has grown since childhood, so how could the Secretary possibly disagree?