Chapter 800: I Want to Break the Engagement! (1/2, Please Subscribe)

Inside Wen Wu Da Dian, the full court of civil and military officials stood in four rows, quietly arranged within the great hall.

The Qing Si, Lan Shan, Hong Bu, and Zidian Huowei.

The important officials representing the four great Government organizations of Qing Guo had all gathered here at this moment.

The Qing Si was responsible for the investigation and slaying of Guaiyi; basically anything related to Guaiyi had to pass through the Qing Si's hands. It was the main department in charge of the safety of the common people and the defense against Guaiyi.

Lan Shan was responsible for the investigation of all kinds of cases concerning humans, as well as the enforcement of public security management within the cities.

Hong Bu was responsible for civil duties — drafting laws, establishing rules, and the allocation of finances, transportation, provisions, and supplies. Basically everything in these areas was connected to Hong Bu.

Zidian Huowei, the most special of the departments — only members of the imperial clan or those with some blood relation to it could enter.

Zidian Huowei existed only in Jingcheng; no branches were set up in other cities. It was a special department exclusive to the royal house, and could only be commanded by the imperial clan.

Its duties were mainly two: first, to protect the safety of the imperial clan and operate within the Imperial Palace.

Second, it specifically supervised the other three departments, and held special law enforcement authority — as long as it obtained the imperial clan's permission, it could simultaneously oversee any work of the other three departments.

The four great departments cooperated with one another, assisting His Majesty the Emperor in governing all of Qing Guo.

Now, His Majesty had issued an Imperial Edict summoning Ye Baiyi of the Qing Si. Taking advantage of this interval, His Majesty would generally have the four great departments, following the customary practice of the morning court, present their memorials for His Majesty to review and handle.

But the sudden intrusion of a man and woman into the great hall abruptly interrupted this process.

Trespassing into Wen Wu Da Dian was a capital offense, especially during the morning court.

Yet the man who had burst in caused all the civil and military officials to silently lower their heads and pretend they hadn't seen anything. Only the few Qing Si officials standing near the front changed their expressions when they saw that woman, but in the end none of them dared to speak up here.

His Majesty was a middle-aged man with sword-shaped brows like stars; merely sitting there lazily, he radiated an authority that warned all strangers to keep their distance.

He saw clearly who had come below, and raised his brows slightly.

"Qianyang? It's been a long time since you came to observe the morning court. What brings you here today?"

Qing Qianyang knelt down with You Sisi to pay their respects.

Unlike his usual casual and frivolous manner, before His Majesty, Qing Qianyang was extremely solemn and earnest.

"Replying to Father Emperor, this son's visit today is not to observe the morning court, but for another matter."

His Majesty grew interested, shifted his posture, and asked from his lofty position: "What is it?"

"Does Father Emperor still remember the You Family's daughter You Sisi, who was once granted a marriage betrothal by you? She is You Sisi."

"And then? Does Qianyang have any objection?"

"This son has no objection, however…"

Qing Qianyang said no more, but glanced at You Sisi kneeling beside him and gave a light laugh.

You Sisi immediately rose, slowly surveying the assembled officials.

The full court of civil and military officials — what shrewd people they were.

They immediately formed guesses, and at once their expressions varied.

And those few You Family members in the Qing Si ranks changed countenance even more, their faces turning an awful iron-green.

When You Sisi's gaze returned to His Majesty, she finally slowly uttered four words.

"I want to break the engagement!"

The moment the words fell, the entire assembly was shocked!

"Is it really true?!"

"How dare she?!"

"She's mad! The You Family has gone mad!"

"Breaking an engagement to His Majesty's face — where does that leave His Majesty? An Imperial Edict is no joke!"

Coming back to their senses, some sneered, some were shocked, some were in despair. Everyone knew a fine show was about to begin!

Yet no one noticed that outside the great hall, the Seventh Prince stood rooted to the spot in a daze.

He had heard the news and hurried over, but before his front foot even stepped into the great hall, he heard You Sisi's self-revelation. His mind went blank for a moment, his whole person stunned, and he didn't even notice someone quietly passing by beside him and stepping into the great hall.

Behind that person, a Zidian Huowei guard was wiping sweat as he ran over.

"Report! Ye Baiyi of the Qing Si has arrived!"

Seeing that the man had already stepped into the great hall, the Zidian Huowei guard grew anxious and hurriedly shouted.

Only now did the crowd finally focus all their attention on the man who had suddenly stepped into the great hall.

At this instant, everyone's gaze converged on Fang Yue — including… You Sisi!

Their eyes met, and the two seemed to travel through time and space; a thousand words lay unspoken between them.

……

A few days earlier.

A great ship on Han Jiang.

"Are you all alright?"

Fang Yue looked at the people present. Apart from Jing Yan who had nearly been sent off by the red-eyed monster fish, the others had handled the crisis very properly, and no further mishaps had occurred.

It wasn't that everyone on the ship was particularly strong, but rather that the number of red-eyed monster fish at the bow was relatively fewer, making them easier to deal with, which was why nothing went wrong.

Besides their core five, there were also some commoners who had followed from Chunuan City when they left, as well as the guards of the Special Envoy's retinue.

After confirming everyone's safety, Fang Yue also crouched down to observe for a while the red monster fish stuck to the hull, but after looking for a bit, lost interest — unlike Qing Chen, he really couldn't make out anything.

Qing Chen, on the other hand, was very interested, crouching on the ground to study it, refusing to leave even when called.

Fearing that the remains of the red-eyed monster fish might cause some trouble, Fang Yue had people carry out a cleanup.

On the vast great ship of Han Jiang, only their group of people was present, making it feel somewhat desolate.

Fortunately, the ship only needed Helmsman Lao alone to control its navigation, so there was no need to worry about too many things.

The remains of the red-eyed monster fish stuck to the deck were somewhat difficult to deal with. Fang Yue and the others spent an entire daytime cleaning them up, leaving only a portion for Qing Chen to study.

As night fell, Fang Yue began his great plan of swallowing pills.

With the blessing of Night's Breath, Fang Yue devoured large quantities of medicine, and sure enough, his injuries slowly began to improve.

Fang Yue had also considered forcibly repairing himself with Time Rewind, but after seeing a cultivator with a hundred-year lifespan plummet to only a few decades, he felt a pang of heartache and didn't want to use his lifespan anymore.

【Look at your shabby self! Magnanimity, big spending, understand?】

【Eat meat in big bites, burn your lifespan generously — only with magnanimity can you earn more lifespan!】

【If you get it, give me applause!】

...... Get lost!

【You, you actually yelled at me! Even the old witch never yelled at me, boohoo!】

Cry my ass — I don't know your act?

Rolling his eyes, Fang Yue called Jing Yan over.

But the moment Jing Yan entered his room, Fang Yue froze.

"Your, your face..."

On both sides of Jing Yan's cheeks, a kind of organ resembling fish gills had grown.

Through those leaf-shaped fleshy pieces, one could faintly see the blood vessels and part of the flesh-and-blood structure within.

"What's wrong with my face?"

Jing Yan himself was completely unaware, and even reached up in confusion to touch it.

It would've been fine if he hadn't touched it — the moment he did, he scared himself into falling on the floor, eyes wide, utterly terrified.

"W-what the hell! My face, I-I-I, what the heck grew on me?!"

(End of chapter)