Chapter 6: The Midnight Assassin

  I had thought to heat a pot of wine, drink a little and then go to sleep, but who would have thought that I would welcome such an honored guest. Zi Ruo Ye looked down at the person she was pinning down, her smile full of flirtatious intentions. "Beauty, tonight is just right for you to warm my bed, why not spend the spring night together?"

  Liu Qing's eyes blazed with anger as he glared at the person pinning him down, his beautiful eyes filled with resentment. "You want to kill me?" He hadn't expected Zi Ruoye to be skilled in martial arts, and even more astonishingly, she had subdued him in an instant. Biting his lip, his long eyelashes covered his eyes, looking like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

  Today, being caught by this Dong Tu Zi is because he is not as skilled as others. Thinking of the rumors in the streets, it's likely that his own life will be ruined at the hands of this Dong Tu Zi today. Liu Qing's eyebrows and eyes were filled with worry and sadness, but in an instant, they transformed into determination.

  If she had killed herself, that would have been the end of it; but if she had done something to provoke him, even if he was no match for her, he could never have submitted to her!

  Zi Ruoye's eyes sparkled with amusement as she gazed at the person below her, whose expression changed several times in just a few short seconds. She couldn't help but laugh and say, "She hasn't even done anything yet, so why does she look like she's about to heroically sacrifice herself?"

  "With eyes like that, I suppose your face is also exceptionally beautiful? It seems that this king is indeed a lucky person." The people below became even more stiff, although they had already made up their minds, but in their hearts, they couldn't help feeling a pang of sorrow.

  "I'd rather die than marry you!" Liu Qingyu glared at Zi Ruoye with a resentful gaze, as if she wanted to stare holes through her before feeling satisfied.

  Marry me?

  Zi Ruoye blinked, not understanding why the person below her was speaking such shocking words. Not to mention that she had no intention of marrying a husband, but this person directly said he wouldn't marry her from the start, which made her feel strange. Looking at the increasingly desolate eyes of the person below her, she relaxed her grip and sat up, leaning against the bed, half-closing her drunken eyes, and slowly said, "Beauty, you might really have a bit of charm, but this king also doesn't casually marry someone to turn over this king."

  Liu Qingyu sat up, his eyes still burning with anger, and this scoundrel had the audacity to insult him, saying "If it weren't for you! I wouldn't be...". He bit his lip, the words on the tip of his tongue, but he suppressed them, for as a man, years of upbringing had taught him not to speak so bluntly.

  A man having a mind of his own before coming of age... is considered indecent in the country of Zixuan. Because men who have not come of age are basically not allowed to go out.

  Zi Ruoye heard it vaguely, at midnight, without mentioning that she rashly rushed into the palace and assassinated him, even if it didn't succeed. Now he said he didn't want to marry her. "Beauty, this king is completely unaware of this matter, but if beauty wants, this king will accompany you for a spring breeze."

  "You! If it weren't for you, today in the imperial court... " Gnashing her teeth, this time she didn't succeed, and later she would be on guard. She turned around to leave the room, but her face suddenly felt cool as the black veil covering her face was pulled down.

  In the dark room, only a thin moonlight penetrated through the window, and Ziyu Ye carefully examined the person in front of her. The face was as delicate as a jade orchid, with skin as white as snow and a pointed chin. If not for the fierce gaze that seemed to want to cut himself into pieces, she might have thought that the person in front of her was indeed a jade orchid.

  Many are fragrant and crystal clear like snow. Compared to lotus flowers, they have a more playful color, but still elegant and refined, evoking affection.

  "Still... truly a stunning beauty." With slightly intoxicated eyes, he smiled at Liu Qingyu without making any excessive movements. "However, beautiful one, this king is rather tired lately, so you should leave early. If you want to spend some intimate time with this king, I wouldn't mind serving you."

  "You! You're really shameless! Bastard!" At once, a black figure flew out of the window. Liu Qingyou was annoyed in her heart, but she couldn't do anything about it. Next month on the third... what should he do?

  Zi Ruoye gazed at the slightly swaying window and secretly smiled, hoping that the reckless beauty wouldn't be caught by anyone...

  "Your Highness! Was that an assassin just now?" A voice came from outside, the guards had just seen a shadowy figure flying out of the prince's window and were shocked. Could it be that there was an assassin?

  "Nothing's wrong, I just wanted to open the window for some fresh air. You all continue with your patrol."

  The guards were puzzled, but they responded and continued to patrol. It was possible that the prince's friend had also said something... Zi Ruoye closed the window, with such poor martial arts skills, how could he come to assassinate?

  Shaking his head, he looked outside and saw that the sky had already darkened. This wine probably wouldn't be drunk after all; it was better to rest early... But in his heart, he couldn't help but feel a little puzzled - why did he say he wouldn't marry him? Could it be that the steward had taken it upon himself to arrange a marriage for him without success? Today, the steward hadn't even mentioned it. It seemed like tomorrow would have to be the day to ask about it.

  "Your Highness, Your Highness..."

  Zi Ruoye struggled to open her eyes. She had clearly instructed them not to attend the early court session yesterday, so why were they calling her to get up today?

  "What? Didn't you say it was too early...?" The voice was still drowsy, but when the door opened, he saw the butler standing at the entrance, wiping sweat.

  "Your Highness, you've finally woken up. It's already noon now. Someone from the imperial palace has arrived to deliver an edict. They've been waiting for Your Highness for two hours now." The housekeeper wiped her own sweat, this was killing her, the person from the imperial palace had made them wait for two whole hours.

  Is someone coming from the imperial palace? Is there an imperial edict?

  "Let him rest for now, I'll come after I've washed and dressed."

  Zi Ruoye arrived at the hall and saw that Wang Shiren was indeed waiting for her. "Ruoye is late, don't be surprised."

  The eunuch didn't seem annoyed, as if he had expected this outcome all along. "It's alright, Your Highness should just accept the edict quickly."

  Zi Ruoye led the people of the Wangfu to kneel down, but in her heart, she was puzzled about the content of the imperial edict. To lead the army and pacify the rebellion? With a great general present, it wouldn't be her turn, this lustful king. Could it be that the emperor had issued an edict for her to attend court every day? As she listened to the imperial edict, Zi Ruoye's face became increasingly strange...

  "By the decree of the Emperor, who has received the Mandate of Heaven, it is commanded that Wu Xian, the Fifth Master of the Purple Pavilion, be married to Liu Qingyou, the youngest son of Grand Councilor Liu, on the third day of next month. It is hoped that you two will be of one heart and create a beautiful story together. Respect this decree."

  Arranged marriage!

  The third day of next month!

  Zi Ruoye took the imperial edict, her face slightly gloomy, "Zi Yanran..." The sound of gritted teeth came from her mouth, she didn't expect it to be an arranged marriage! Did she think life was too boring or what? Why did this emperor have to bother with her marriage affairs.

  When the newcomer saw Zi Ruoye's face with a hint of anger, this was the first time seeing the king's angry look. Qing cleared his throat, "The emperor also asked me to pass on a message to the king..." Presumably the emperor had already guessed this outcome...

  "King's servant, please speak." Zi Ruoye smiled very warmly, and even the usual three-point drunken look was gone. Only a faint light in her eyes made King's servant feel a little frightened.

  What's with the king's expression today... it's a bit frightening?

  "The Emperor said that she has been in good health recently, so there is no need for the Prince to come and visit. The Prince should still make early preparations, although the date is on the third day of next month, he also needs to go and pay his respects to Chancellor Lord." After finishing speaking, he hastily bid farewell, he always felt that the Prince's gaze was cold and piercing, it's better to retreat earlier, the Emperor's entrusted matters have also been settled.

  Zi Ruoye held the imperial edict in her hand, but this yellow and orange golden edict made her feel unusually hot to the touch. "Next month on the third day?" Her eyes once again regained a slightly drunken look. "Housekeeper, I'm getting married! Quickly bring over some good wine, that plum blossom brew will do. Send it to my chambers right away. It turns out there really is someone in this world willing to marry me..."

  Ziyan... You gave me such a big gift, I should go thank you in person.

  At this time, Liu Chengxiang and his family were also waiting for the imperial edict, but Liu Qingyou knelt on the ground, refusing to accept the imperial edict with both hands.

  "Yu'er, quickly accept the imperial edict." Minister Liu looked at his son who had changed so much in just one night, his face worried and gloomy, as if he had lost his soul. His heart was also filled with pain. But they could not disobey the imperial edict.

  Trembling, he received the imperial edict, but a hint of mistiness appeared in Liu Qingyou's eyes. "Liu Qingyou... thanks to the emperor's great kindness." He took the edict and left without looking back.

  The servant looked at Liu Qingyu's appearance and also comforted Liu Xiang, "Xiang, you shouldn't be too sad. After all, she is marrying the prince and becoming a princess. This is something that many people can't even ask for... You should just wait for the prince to come and take her away."

  Liu Chengxiang's stiff smile, ordered the servants to reward the silver and also returned to his room alone. Today, at the early court session, he wanted to ask Wang Ye, if she was unwilling, perhaps there would be a turning point, but today he didn't even see the person.

  "I didn't expect Prince Wang to get married next month. I heard that Liu Chengxiang's youngest son is already 20 this year..."

  Downstairs, people chattered incessantly, chatting with gusto, but forgot that Yun Cong, whom they were serving, was in the house, her heart shattered into a thousand pieces, into powder, into foam...

  Is this irony? He was summoned to the imperial palace yesterday, and today he received news that she is getting married... The son of the prime minister, compared to him, is simply worlds apart. He is a bright moon, while Yun Cong is just a floating duckweed...

  Digression

  Today... something unexpected happened... TAT... Fish apologizes to everyone...