Chapter 842: Goodbye, You Sisi (5/10, please subscribe)

All civil and military officials, during the daily morning court, must come here to meet His Majesty and report on the day's affairs.

The plaza of Wen Wu Da Dian was very large and long, with flowers and plants planted on both sides, their fragrance pleasant and refreshing.

Passing a few small bridges, beneath them fish ponds where little fish of various colors swam back and forth, a delightful sight.

But the most eye-catching thing was the giant dragon-and-phoenix carving in the center of the plaza.

The dragon and phoenix were not intertwined — they were... opposed!

One dragon, one phoenix, as if born to be enemies, baring fangs and brandishing claws, their expressions vivid and lifelike, as if two divine beasts had truly leapt from the stone slabs above to fight a battle to the death.

Fang Yue stared and stared, and for a moment lost himself.

When he came back to his senses, his heart was still pounding.

What masterful craftsmanship!

Just one glance, and it evoked such a feeling.

The artisan who carved these two dragons and phoenixes must have unfathomable skill!

Suppressing the shock in his heart, Fang Yue climbed the steps toward Wen Wu Da Dian itself.

No sooner had he stepped onto the stairs than Fang Yue noticed someone ahead of him, also climbing the steps.

Only Fang Yue had just begun, while the other had already covered half the stairs.

From this angle, all he could see in the distance was that person's back.

Apparently a youth, slender of build, with very fair hands exposed to the air — seemingly someone who lived a life of ease and privilege.

His clothes were yellow-based, with what looked like a few dragon claws embroidered on the back; the true dragon body was probably embroidered on the front.

Tian Ruichi had told him that the dress code in Jingcheng was strictly regulated for formal occasions.

Wearing such clothes inside the Imperial Palace — could he be one of the Nine Great Princes?

Quickening his pace slightly, Fang Yue wanted to catch up and chat the man up for some information.

With his speed increased, just as that person reached the entrance of Wen Wu Da Dian, Fang Yue had also just finished the stairs and stepped onto level ground.

Looking ahead, the majestic Wen Wu Da Dian was grand and magnificent, its exquisite craftsmanship lifting the heart.

Just looking at it, he could feel the internal force within his body stirring faintly, its circulation unconsciously quickening by a fraction — seemingly of great benefit to cultivation.

Worthy of the Jingcheng Imperial Palace — just one building had such an effect; one could imagine that cultivating inside Wen Wu Da Dian would yield twice the result with half the effort.

Yet the people of the Imperial Palace merely used such a treasure-ground as a council hall.

Truly the height of extravagance.

Fang Yue could not help feeling a twinge of envy — those in the Imperial Palace enjoyed the highest-grade resources of Qing Guo; even with lesser talent, they could still pile up a heap of experts.

If he had not been born in Gu Yue Cun back then, but had chosen Jingcheng as his starting point for development, perhaps his cultivation would now be a step higher?

No — Lord Han's inheritance was not something just anyone could be given.

As Fang Yue was thinking, he saw the youth suspected to be one of the Nine Great Princes being stopped by the guards at the entrance of Wen Wu Da Dian.

They seemed to exchange a few words, and quickly let him through.

Fang Yue hurriedly sped up to approach, but abruptly halted, his mind going hum and turning blank.

Because he heard a voice.

On this ordinary day, in such a casual moment.

He heard a voice he had once thought he would never hear again in this lifetime.

It was... a voice coming from inside Wen Wu Da Dian.

"I want to break off the engagement!"

Time, at this moment, seemed to slow down.

Fang Yue saw the fair-skinned youth who had reached the entrance suddenly stop at the great hall's door, standing stock-still like a wooden chicken.

Fang Yue heard Wen Wu Da Dian, after that one shout, abruptly fall into silence.

But he thought nothing; his mind was a blank, his whole body likewise stock-still, as if his blood had frozen, as if his breathing had stopped — in his head, only the voice he had just heard echoed on and on.

"I want to break off the engagement!"

"I want to break off the engagement!"

"I want to break off the engagement!"

That's right... that's right!

That voice, the voice that had forever lingered in his memory — it was... her voice!

But it was impossible!

She was already dead! How could she possibly be here?

Could I have misheard? Longing turned to sickness, bringing on auditory hallucinations? Or had I over-cultivated and suffered Qi Deviation...

Countless thoughts surged through his mind, but his body moved faster than any thought!

Fang Yue was running!

Even though Tian Ruichi had said that within the Imperial Palace one must not recklessly use Lightness Skill to dash about, Fang Yue still ran! He didn't even pause for half a second when vaulting past the guards.

The distance closed rapidly.

Through the entrance of Wen Wu Da Dian, he faintly saw the backs of the full court of civil and military officials, the exalted Majesty high above, and standing at the center, as if surrounded by the entire court... that dream-haunting, ever-remembered graceful figure!

The instant he saw that graceful figure, Fang Yue's breathing grew rapid.

But when he truly reached the entrance of Wen Wu Da Dian and truly made out the back of that graceful figure, Fang Yue stopped.

Because his heart was pounding, pounding violently.

The ministers seemed to be buzzing with discussion about that graceful figure.

But Fang Yue heard nothing; in his ears there was only a tremendous ringing.

All he could see was that graceful figure with her back to him.

He was afraid.

Afraid that everything before him was a dream, a phantom, a bubble.

Afraid he had mistaken the person, afraid he had nurtured false hope, only for the dream to shatter into fragments and plunge him back into the abyss.

But he still took a step forward, brushing past the dazed pale-faced boy, and stepped into the Wen Wu Da Dian!

"Report! The White-Robed Night of the Qing Division has arrived!"

From behind, a guard's urgent shout suddenly rang out.

This loud voice drew every pair of eyes to the doorway, all fixed on Fang Yue.

Among them, naturally, was You Sisi—who had just turned around and looked toward the entrance…

In that instant, their gazes met, as if crossing time and space, returning to that night in Qingsi County.

That night, You Sisi, drenched in blood, fell from the sky!

That night, Fang Yue roared in fury and surged upward!

It was their final meeting. Their last sight of each other.

Afterward, Fang Yue heard the news of You Sisi's death.

Though he had not seen her corpse with his own eyes, Jing Yan and Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu would never lie to him.

Besides, Bai Xiaoya's slash had killed You Sisi midair—she had lost her breath before even hitting the ground.

Fang Yue had believed he would never see You Sisi again; the person in his memory would remain forever locked within it.

Yet he had never imagined… he would see her here, in Jingcheng's Wen Wu Da Dian, under such a coincidental, sudden circumstance—the person he thought impossible to meet again!

Unlike her usual official robes.

The You Sisi before him wore a woman's skirt, her long hair coiled up, adorned with two translucent jade hairpins—normally meant to highlight feminine grace—but at a glance, that familiar aura of martial spirit still surged forth.

Yet her firm, icy face, the moment she saw him, bloomed like a flower—her eyes widened visibly, joy and astonishment spreading across her features, and as she raised her jade hand to cover her mouth, tears streamed directly from her corners.

"Night… Nightcolor?! How? How are you here?"

Her familiar cold voice had become trembling with excitement.

The moment he truly heard You Sisi speak—

Fang Yue suddenly felt as if a dream had stepped into reality.

The earlier hazy, dreamlike sensation gradually faded.

The girl he had longed for day and night stood before him, real and undeniable.

His entire body trembled uncontrollably; his eyes held only the girl before him—everything else seemed irrelevant.

Why are you still alive?

Why are you here?

Why didn't you contact me?

Why why why?

A thousand words tangled in his heart.

Ten thousand questions begged to be answered.

Yet in the end, it all condensed into one action.

Fang Yue lunged forward and embraced You Sisi with all his strength.

Feeling her soft touch, the fragrance of her hair, and the trembling of her body, Fang Yue whispered: "It's good. You're alive."

Yes, it's good. You're alive—so every regret can be mended, everything is still possible.

Sensing the emotion transmitted by Fang Yue, You Sisi's own emotions gradually calmed.

Then she realized one thing—she was being held by Fang Yue.

Her body temperature rose rapidly; her ears turned crimson.

She felt every gaze in the hall fixed upon her.

You Sisi was so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole right there and crawl into it!

Blushing, she quickly pushed Fang Yue away.

Amid Fang Yue's slightly startled expression, You Sisi lowered her voice, speaking softly.

"Our matter—we'll discuss it later."

As she spoke, You Sisi secretly grasped Fang Yue's hand, then lifted her head, facing the Emperor, her blush now faded, her voice cold and composed—utterly different from the one she had used with Fang Yue—saying:

"Your Majesty, this is how things stand. I humbly beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree and restore Sisi's freedom."

Everyone had seen You Sisi's reaction.

Who was You Sisi? The You Family's daughter—the only girl among the younger generation.

She had grown up playing, fighting, and pranking with nothing but male peers.

Everyone's impression of You Sisi was that of a tomboy, a tomboyish girl.

Fighting, brawling, mischief—that was the image befitting You Sisi.

As for the delicate, sheltered lady who blushed at a boy's touch—no one had ever imagined it, not in a thousand dreams.

Thus, You Sisi's abnormal behavior now spoke volumes.

Had it been anyone else, that embrace alone would have earned the man a sword through his heart, dismembered by an enraged You Sisi—how could he still be standing here with such girlish behavior?

But… the Emperor's word is never false!

When the Emperor had once bestowed this marriage, the You Family had accepted—it was fate's decree, settled beyond challenge, and no one could defy it!

Many secretly sneered; some felt pity, yet only watched helplessly at this doomed pair.

Everyone knew what their fate would be.

Since ancient times, no one had ever defied the Emperor's command.

The words of His Majesty are absolute!

To defy His Majesty's decree is to defy His Majesty himself, is to make an enemy of the entire Qing Guo!

When one makes an enemy of the nation, who can stand against it?

"You want me to retract my decree and dissolve the marriage?"

His Majesty, lounging lazily upon the throne, looked down from above, gazing calmly at You Sisi, and slowly uttered his next words.

"What sort of thing are you?"

The words fell.

The entire great hall fell into silence.

Below, the assembled civil and military officials of the court looked at the stunned You Sisi, and most of them smiled knowingly to themselves.

The You Family is very important to His Majesty, very important to Qing Guo.

But You Sisi herself is not important to anyone!

Speaking of strength, You Sisi had not even reached the Human level, only possessing exceptional potential.

The word "potential" is quite a subtle thing.

Geniuses in this world are as numerous as the stars.

But only those who truly reach the Xian can truly be called geniuses!

A dead genius does not deserve to be called a genius.

A failed genius likewise has no right to be called a genius.

Survive, become stronger than anyone else, only then do you truly have the right to make your voice heard!

And even so, before the colossal existence that is Qing Guo, one is still but an ant, utterly insignificant.

The Immortal level is sealed; the Rain level is the Xian.

The number of Rain-level powerhouses directly determines the strength of a nation's power.

And Qing Guo possesses a more flourishing national strength than its neighboring nations, a greater reserve of Rain-level powerhouses!

One more Rain-level genius is naturally excellent.

Without one, things would simply remain as they are.

Unless the Immortal level is broken, no matter how many geniuses come, they are only geniuses, nothing to fear!

And speaking of status.

You Sisi's status, now, was awkward.

Marry the Seventh Prince, ascend to the heavens in a single step, and she would be the Seventh Prince's consort, a member of the imperial clan, her status lofty, looking down upon all living beings of Qing Guo, second only to a select few.

And precisely because of this marriage arrangement, everyone in Jingcheng who saw You Sisi had to show some deference, to give face to the Seventh Prince!

A marriage bestowed by His Majesty is set in stone; You Sisi is the future Seventh Princess — who would dare offend her!

But if this halo were stripped away, You Sisi would be left with only the label of the You Family's young mistress, and the situation would be entirely different.

The You Family is one of the four great families of Qing Guo; as the family's young mistress, You Sisi naturally held no mean status.

But that was only relative to everyone beneath the four great families. Facing the other great families of equal standing, and the imperial clan, she was nothing at all — no one would show her any face — and she would utterly sink into being an ordinary participant in the power struggles of the Imperial Palace.

If she did not marry the Seventh Prince, she could only marry someone from the four great families — either absorbed internally, or resolved through diplomacy. As a member of the You Family, she had never had any freedom when it came to marriage.

Therefore, You Sisi's talk of breaking the engagement was merely a joke, and could only be a joke!

"Your Majesty, calm your wrath! My little sister... You Sisi, she is merely gravely ill in bed, her mind is unclear, she spoke foolish words in a moment of confusion. I shall take her back at once to be properly cared for. The grand wedding in three days will surely proceed as scheduled!"

In the Wen Wu Da Dian, the civil and military officials stood in four vertical columns.

One column for Qing Si, one for Hong Bu, one for Lan Shan, one for Zi Dian.

Corresponding precisely to the four great families!

The department the You Family oversaw was, conspicuously, the 【Qing Si】 department — a lineage passed down, always so.

But this did not mean everyone in Qing Si was from the You Family; rather, the main power structure, the key personnel, were all managed by the You Family.

A small portion would consist of people from other families, or from the common folk, or even from other branches of the imperial clan, who joined Qing Si to serve.

But for this group of people, reaching the core official positions of Qing Si was absolutely impossible.

(End of this chapter)