Chapter One Hundred and Seven: Do Not Delay the Auspicious Hour

Shen Nanyuan hesitated slightly, lowering her brows and lashes. Even the light in her eyes dimmed at once, and the restlessness in her heart surged through her entire body.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Everyone had already taken their seats. Several princes and princesses were present as well, and only one seat remained empty, standing out all the more.

She glanced once, then quickly looked away, an inexplicable tension rising in her chest.

At that very moment, a sharp voice rang out from outside: “His Majesty arrives!”

Everyone rose together and bowed in unison.

With her head lowered, Shen Nanyuan caught sight from the corner of her eye of a robe the color of dark gold passing before her. Behind the emperor followed another man dressed in black, his garments woven with dark patterns. Realizing who it was, her heart suddenly tightened.

“Rise.”

A deep voice full of authority sounded. Shen Nanyuan straightened at once, not daring to look about. Only after she had taken her seat did she pause, then could not help glancing sideways toward the princes’ side.

Xiao Yan was seated diagonally opposite her, his hair tied back, the lines of his face sharp and cold. His black eyes were keen and deep, his jaw cleanly defined, his features striking and handsome. An imposing, noble aura she had never seen before seemed to envelop him entirely, as though it had always been there, making him feel like a different person from the Xiao Yan she remembered.

She hastily drew her gaze back, eyes lowered, her heart pounding like a drum.

She had nearly forgotten.

He was no longer the pitiful child from the Hall of Youthful Blossoms. He was a prince of the realm, the future heir, the one who would one day hold the fate of the entire country in his hands.

Who knew how many eyes were watching her from the shadows.

She had to be careful.

Since Xiao Yan had already returned to court, the ministers all knew it. Seeing that the emperor was in excellent spirits, one flattering voice said, “Congratulations to Your Majesty for at last being freed from the obsession that has burdened you for so many years. The Third Prince has safely returned to the palace; truly, this is a blessing for our dynasty.”

“I have heard the Third Prince is formidable in martial skill. In the future, he should spar with General Shen.”

“Indeed. General Shen’s martial arts are exceptional as well. It is truly hard to say which of them would prevail.”

Lowering her eyes, Shen Nanyuan heard Shen Sinian’s voice beside her: “Your Highness is of noble birth. This humble servant would not dare.”

They had not sparred before.

Back then, Xiao Yan had won.

At the time, she had even thought Shen Sinian had intentionally gone easy on him, for she had always been very confident in her elder brother’s skill.

Now that she thought of it, Shen Sinian was not the sort of man who would yield to others in martial arts.

So Xiao Yan truly was extraordinary.

She wondered who would win if they truly fought now.

Xiao Yan’s gaze followed the exchange. His eyes swept lightly and quickly over Shen Nanyuan before settling on Shen Sinian.

His voice was low. “There is no need. If General Shen has time to enter the palace another day, we may spar then.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“...”

This feeling was truly strange.

The banquet officially began. Shen Nanyuan concentrated on the dishes before her. A troupe of dancers was performing in the center, and she had little interest in them. Yet as she ate, she suddenly felt as though someone were watching her.

The gaze seemed to fall tightly over her, but when she lifted her head, it vanished in an instant.

Puzzled, she followed the feeling and looked over, only to meet the gentle, faintly smiling eyes of the Second Prince. Her breath caught, and she quickly looked away.

But in her heart, she could not shake the sense that that gaze had not belonged to the Second Prince.

Xiao Yan lifted the cup before him and drained the wine in one swallow, his hand tightening slightly.

His eyes, however, once again slipped involuntarily toward Shen Nanyuan.

She was still the same as always. Though they were not far apart, there was a feeling as if a thousand li lay between them, as though a deep gorge stretched across the space between them: he could see her, yet do nothing at all.

He could not speak to her, could not go to her, and could not even look at her openly.

He had thought his self-control was strong enough. Yet after seeing her, after seeing her exchange a look with the Second Prince, anger swept over him like a tidal wave and made him unable to sit still for a moment.

Silently, Xiao Yan lowered his gaze without betraying a trace of feeling. Seeing the maid refill his cup, he drank again at once.

Emperor Gu Shengyu’s eyes shifted slightly. He cast a meaningful glance toward one of the ministers below before withdrawing his gaze, his expression calm.

Then another voice sounded.

“Your Majesty, the Third Prince’s return to the palace is a joyous occasion. If the marriage date between the Second Prince and Lady Yong’an were set as well, would that not be double happiness?”

Shen Nanyuan froze at once. Her gaze lifted involuntarily and landed on the minister who had spoken.

A wave of resistance surged through her whole body, and for a moment she felt the urge to curse aloud.

Then several ministers chimed in at once. “Indeed, Your Majesty.”

Shen Yi’s expression darkened.

After thinking for a moment, the emperor looked to Shen Yi. “What does my loyal minister think?”

Xiao Yan’s face remained as calm as ever. He lowered his eyelids, and a flash of ruthlessness passed through his eyes, while even his fingertips seemed to pale.

“Replying to Your Majesty,” Shen Yi said in a deep voice, “this subject believes it would be better to wait a little longer. Although I have returned victorious, the fighting at the border remains tense. I may be called to campaign again at any time. Nanyuan is my only daughter, and I wish to see her married with my own eyes. Once matters at the frontier are less urgent, we may then determine the wedding date.”

That meant no end in sight.

The border had been quiet only briefly in recent years before becoming tense again. If things continued as Shen Yi said, then there was no hope of setting a marriage date in the next few years.

Emperor Gu Shengyu’s expression grew faintly unpleasant.

“If the general would delay the marriage merely because he wishes to see the county lady wed, would that not be to the detriment of her affair with the Second Prince? If you truly have the lady’s best interests at heart, you should not act this way.”

Several ministers close to the Second Prince nodded repeatedly. “Exactly. We must not delay an auspicious hour.”

Shen Sinian smiled. “My lords, your words are not quite right. Nanyuan has been close to our father since childhood. If the frontier remains tense and he cannot see her wed, I fear she would carry regret in her heart for the rest of her life.”

“Yes,” Shen Nanyuan hurriedly echoed.

The emperor’s gaze moved back and forth among them. After a moment, he slowly said, “What Minister Shen says is reasonable. Then let us wait a little longer.”

Emperor Gu Shengyu’s pupils widened in disbelief. Even the ministers who had been pushing the matter fell abruptly silent. After exchanging a few glances, they bowed stiffly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At last, Shen Nanyuan relaxed.

Still, everyone present understood perfectly well why the emperor had not settled the marriage date.

Before, the Third Prince had not yet returned to the palace, and so the Second Prince had been all but certain to be named crown prince. But now that the Third Prince was back—and was even the legitimate son—the emperor would have to see what ability he possessed before making a final decision.