[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling":3,"chapter-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-277":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Top Scholar of Da Ling",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2289112,4475,"Chapter 277: Zhang Jiaqi","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-277",277,"\u003Cp>Though Liu Yi feigned composure, she internally understood this arrangement carried a tinge of selfishness—she hoped Zhang Jiaqi would quickly shift her focus and stop dwelling on Jiang Mingyu, thereby eliminating any future complications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But emotions are inherently hard to sever; how could Liu Yi not understand Zhang Jiaqi’s nature? She was a straightforward girl who, once she fixed her heart on someone, would find it nearly impossible to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Liu Yi couldn’t help but sigh softly. Perhaps she was a little selfish, wishing Jiaqi would give up this hope entirely to avoid future trouble. Yet love is inherently unpredictable—how could she not wish Jiaqi happiness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yi Fei, what are you thinking about?” Jiang Mingyu asked gently, noticing her distraction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing much, just worrying about Jiaqi’s feelings,” Liu Yi replied honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled knowingly. “I understand your good intentions. But this can’t be rushed. If Jiaqi truly has no feelings for Zhuge Yu, we mustn’t force her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most importantly, we must ensure Jiaqi understands our goodwill and blessings. The rest, let fate decide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yi nodded. Jiang Mingyu was right. Zhang Jiaqi was stubborn; if she mistook their actions for a dismissal, it would backfire. Honesty and openness were the best path—let her choose her own future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right. I’ll guide her gently, never pressure her. As long as Jiaqi understands in her heart, we’ve done all we can,” Liu Yi said with a relieved smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded with a smile too. He understood Liu Yi’s intentions and trusted her wisdom to handle this properly. Heaven’s will had been set; humans could not defy it—only follow the path ahead and let Jiaqi find her own happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several days later, Jiang Mingyu issued an edict exempting the people from taxes for three years. Former refugees from the capital returned in droves, and Jiang Mingyu’s prestige reached new heights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Yu sighed in admiration: “He who wins the people’s hearts wins the realm. Master will surely unify the land!” Every household in the city celebrated, the streets alive with festivity, as if it were the New Year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten days later, Liu Ximen and Zhang Junhao’s family arrived from distant Xiangcangzhou. They had wished to come sooner, but the journey was long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since hearing Jiang Mingyu would marry, Zhang Jiaqi had lost all her smiles. Yet Zhang’s entire family rejoiced over Jiani’s wedding, oblivious to her distress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Liu Yi saw Zhang Jiaqi arrive, she knew it was time to speak with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Liu Yi radiant with joy, Zhang Jiaqi forced a stiff smile. “Lovers finally united—I’m happy for you, Yi Fei.” Her tone was brittle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yi took her hand and spoke softly: “Jiaqi, it’s time you thought about your own future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Future? Zhang Jiaqi’s smile grew more complicated—was this an attempt to push her away, so she wouldn’t interfere with them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her expression darken, Liu Yi hurried to say: “Jiaqi, we truly care for you. Zhuge Yu by Jiang Lang’s side is an excellent man—if you married him, it would be perfect…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she finished, Zhang Jiaqi’s face turned cold: “Yi Fei, are you here to humiliate me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without another word, she turned and ran. Liu Yi sighed but did not chase. She understood Jiaqi’s heart—her own emotions were equally tangled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had thought this arrangement thoughtful, yet Jiaqi had completely misunderstood, deepening her wound. Human hearts are hard to fathom—she should not have acted so hastily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, given time to cool down, Jiaqi would realize it was all done with pure intent. She would never force Jiaqi’s hand—only hoped she would find her own happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiaqi ran out of the courtyard, tears blurring her vision. She didn’t know where to go—only that she needed to escape this place that shattered her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sprinted blindly, ignoring passersby and carriages, until she collided with someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch out!” the man cried, grabbing her arm and steadying her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiaqi looked up—it was Zhuge Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Yu was equally startled to encounter her here. Seeing her tear-streaked face and frightened eyes, his heart stirred. “Miss Zhang, what’s wrong? What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiaqi tried to wrench free, but his grip was firm. Helpless, she whispered: “Let go. I don’t want to see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Yu frowned, puzzled by her agitation. He paused, then said: “Don’t rush. Come with me—I’ll take you somewhere quiet. We can talk properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jiaqi shook her head. “I don’t want to talk to you. Don’t bother with me. I have nothing to do with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Yu’s chest tightened. He knew she meant there was no love between them—only an arranged match. He didn’t want it this way either, but he had feelings for her and wished to win her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke softly: “You do have something to do with me. You are my future wife, and I am your future husband. Since we are to become husband and wife, we must understand, respect, and care for each other. Don’t act so impulsively—listen to me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang Jiaqi grew angrier. She shouted: “Stop talking! I won’t marry you. You’re not the one in my heart—you never will be!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she shoved him hard and turned to run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuge Yu lost his balance and fell to the ground. He tried to rise and chase her, but she had vanished into the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat there dazed, his heart aching as if cut by knives, unsure what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, after hearing Liu Yi’s account, Jiang Mingyu’s face was etched with helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He comforted Liu Yi: “Enough. You’ve done all you could. If Jiaqi doesn’t understand our intentions, there’s nothing more to be done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Five days remain until the wedding. You, my bride and future Empress, should prepare properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yi smiled bitterly, her gaze finally settling on the crimson wedding robe embroidered with gold thread beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gently traced its fabric, yet felt no joy. She knew Jiang Mingyu had ordered it specially for her—embroidered with their names and auspicious patterns, symbolizing their perfect happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had once dreamed of wearing such a robe, marrying the man she loved, becoming his wife, his Empress. But she never imagined that man would be Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did love Jiang Mingyu—she simply felt she had loved him too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was willing to give everything for him—even her own happiness, even her own life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lifted her head, meeting his eyes, speaking with deep emotion: “Mingyu, I promise you—I will be a good bride, a good Empress, a good wife, a good mother, a good friend, a good partner, a good subject, a good everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will walk with you through storms, through hardship, through despair, through crisis, through trials, through glory, through life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will support you, protect you, aid you, fulfill your dreams, realize your ideals, achieve your goals, build your realm, create your glory—with my heart, my love, my loyalty, my sincerity, my wisdom, my courage, my strength, my all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will make you know you are not alone—you have me, you have us, you have the realm, you have Heaven’s Mandate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will make you feel you are the luckiest man—you have me, you have love, you have joy, you have happiness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will make you understand you are the greatest man—you have me, you have merit, you have fame, you have honor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will make you believe you are the most perfect man—you have me, you have beauty, you have goodness, you have virtue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she finished, she gently kissed his forehead, then embraced him tightly, refusing to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu was moved beyond words by her words, her kiss, her embrace. He held her tightly and whispered: “Yi Fei, thank you. I love you.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1292,"2026-06-20T03:28:18.279Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d62397bdc97afb49f49dcf3c2c988383e1a78e1db208ec8e89c42813c5d950da","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-278","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-276",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]