Chapter 799: The Great Hall (2/2, Please Subscribe)

The crowd was baffled. They glanced at the slumbering You Sisi, then filed out one after another.

Before long, You Lao strode over, pushed the door open, and entered the room.

"Qiankun."

You Lao calmly swept his gaze around the room, finally letting it settle on Grand Master Qiankun.

"You Lao!"

Grand Master Qiankun immediately tensed, bent at the waist and bowed in the manner of master and disciple.

"No need for such formality. We ceased to be master and disciple long ago. Speak—what is this about a Faceless One?"

"…Exactly as the words say. She has become a Faceless One! Identical to the seven princes!"

"How could this happen?"

You Lao's brow furrowed: "Why has Sisi become the eighth contender?"

"I don't know. The hex signs have gone haywire, as if a great wind has blown through. I've fallen into the game myself and can no longer see the board clearly at all."

You Lao's torch-like gaze fixed unblinkingly on Qiankun as he said, word by word: "…The You Family will never betray the imperial clan!"

"You Lao… Teacher, those words mean nothing coming from me. Although I have means to temporarily conceal this for a while, given enough time the Emperor and the seven princes will eventually notice the anomaly. When that happens, you'll have a hundred mouths and still fail to defend yourself, and the You Family's hundred-generation legacy will be destroyed in an instant!"

You Lao's brow knit tight. He paced back and forth for a while, then suddenly stopped and said coldly: "The wedding will be moved up. I'll arrange for Sisi to marry over as soon as possible. Once the two families are joined, at most the Seventh Prince's faction will simply have two Faceless Ones, and the You Family can demonstrate its loyalty—that we have no ambition to vie for the throne."

"But, I heard that Sisi…"

"Her opinion doesn't matter. You just focus on healing her. In life, she belongs to the Seventh Prince; in death, she is the Seventh Prince's ghost!"

"…Understood."

The two were still talking when a sudden knock sounded from outside the door.

Just as You Lao was about to rebuke the knocker, the person outside called out loudly: "Master, the First Prince has arrived in person and is asking for you by name!"

You Lao and Grand Master Qiankun both felt a jolt in their hearts and exchanged a look.

Frowning, You Lao told Grand Master Qiankun to stay and continue treating You Sisi, while he himself went out to meet the First Prince.

"What is Qing Qianyang doing here at a time like this… The matter of Sisi shouldn't have been exposed yet."

With these thoughts in mind, You Lao went to see the First Prince.

But strangely, the First Prince merely exchanged a few pleasantries, left behind a housewarming gift, and departed.

Yet the mysterious smile hanging on his lips as he left made You Lao's brow crease slightly.

"Qing Qianyang… worthy of being the one closest to a sage among the seven princes—such keen insight. But this is my turf; even if I leave him out to dry, he wouldn't dare act rashly."

You Lao vaguely guessed that the First Prince had probed out something, but that was all it amounted to.

The next day, the First Prince went to set up his stall at the city gate as usual.

On the third day, the wedding between the Seventh Prince and You Sisi was suddenly moved up to be held soon, and the whole city was instantly abuzz.

It was also on this day that You Sisi, who had been unconscious for several days, slowly opened her eyes.

Listening to the maid's report of recent events, You Sisi was dazed, her whole being as if her soul had left her body—like a walking corpse, utterly numb.

He's dead… he's really dead…

Killed on Grandfather's orders!

You Sisi buried her face in the pillow, weeping soundlessly, her body trembling faintly.

"Miss, this time you've truly angered the Master. He says he'll send you off to the Seventh Prince's household in three days to complete the wedding! The ceremony has even been simplified as much as possible, and the invitations have already been sent out!"

With a clang, You Sisi suddenly stood, drew the sword by the bed, held it to her own neck, and cried through tears: "Then let him take my head and finish the wedding with Xiao Qi!"

Saying so, You Sisi made as if to slash her own throat, frightening the maid into a piercing scream.

But just as You Sisi was about to bring the blade down, a voice suddenly rang out from outside the door.

"Let alone cutting off your head—even if only your heart remained, I would bring you back to life and have you finish the wedding with the Seventh Prince!"

You Sisi's motion froze instantly, trembling all over with rage.

"How could he do this! How could he do this!!"

You Sisi was in despair. With a clang, the long sword dropped to the ground.

If Grandfather could bring her back once, he could do it again. What meaning was there in dying over and over?

The feeling of a dead heart left You Sisi in utter hopelessness. She felt herself go numb, emptied of feeling, nothing but a hollow shell.

But two days later, a visitor arrived, and her lifeless eyes regained their spark.

That person was called Qing Qianyang—the current First Prince of Qing Guo!

"I won't see anyone. No one." You Sisi shook her head numbly. Having fasted for two days, her face was haggard, utterly stripped of her former radiance.

"Miss, the First Prince asked me to pass on a message to you. He says that once you've heard it, you'll definitely see him."

"…What message?"

"The owner of the handkerchief is still alive."

Handkerchief?

…Handkerchief… the owner of the handkerchief?!

Hmm!

Like a bolt of lightning striking her whole body, You Sisi shuddered violently.

As if a black-and-white world had suddenly gained color, You Sisi's eyes lit up, her thoughts gradually clearing. She grabbed the maid's hand, so tense her breath came quick, and asked, trembling: "He—did Qing Qianyang really say that? Where is he? I want to see Qing Qianyang!"

"M-Miss, you're hurting me…"

"Where is Qing Qianyang!"

"H-He's… outside, in the pavilion in the courtyard, waiting for you…"

With a whoosh, You Sisi—for the first time in days—left her boudoir and rushed to the pavilion in the courtyard, where she indeed saw Qing Qianyang.

As if sensing something, the First Prince turned to look at the newcomer, smiled calmly, and waved in greeting: "It's been years. I had no idea Sisi had grown into such a graceful young lady…"

Before the First Prince could finish, with a sharp *slap*, his hand was seized tightly by You Sisi, who gradually increased her grip.

His smile unchanged, the First Prince said with a smile, "Sisi, what is the meaning of this?"

"Where is he?"

"Why so impatient, Sisi…"

"Where is he!!"

A roar of loss of control like one gone mad, spraying the First Prince's face with saliva — only then did the First Prince realize that You Sisi truly had not the slightest patience to listen to his nonsense.

"This morning, a great ship crossing the Han Jiang arrived at the Jingcheng docks. The person you seek is on that ship, however…"

You Sisi's pupils contracted, her whole body trembling with agitation. She turned to leave, but was instead seized by the wrist by the First Prince — like an iron shackle, it pinned You Sisi in place, and she could not break free at all.

Just as You Sisi turned her head back in fury, the First Prince said with a smile, "However, you still have a marriage betrothal with my Seventh Brother, so we can make a deal."

"What do you mean?"

Like a fish taking the bait while angling, the First Prince grinned.

……

Imperial Palace.

The full court of civil and military officials waited in silence within the great hall.

Upon the great hall, His present Majesty sat lazily upon the throne, gazing down upon the crowd, and slowly spoke.

"I hear Ye Baiyi has arrived in Jingcheng? Issue my Imperial Edict, ordering him to enter the palace and face me immediately."

"Yes!"

A civil official departed to carry out the order.

And at this moment, a youth in white, accompanied by a young woman of prime age, happened to step in, brushing past that person as they crossed, and entered the great hall!

(End of this chapter)