Farewell Flower Festival

After reading Chaoyan's proposal, Emperor Mu nodded with appreciation. Emperor Mu said that she wrote well and asked her what reward she wanted. Chaoyan bravely asked, "The emperor said before that after I learn to ride a horse, I can make a request to the emperor. Does it still count?"

Emperor Mu smiled and said, "I am the Son of Heaven, my words are my bond. Tell me, what do you want to ask of me?"

Chaoyan encouraged herself in her heart, don't be scared!

"Your Majesty, can I decide my own marriage?"

When Eunuch De heard this, his expression changed, and he was a little surprised by Chao Yan's bold request. Chao Yan was also very nervous, and she was in a state of anxiety. Success or failure depended on this one move, so Yue Lao must help her~

Emperor Mu did not reply immediately, but asked, "Do you have a crush on someone?"

Chao Yan nodded.

Emperor Mu picked up the teacup, scraped it, took a sip of tea calmly, and said, "If I grant you a marriage, will you disobey my order?"

Chao Yan was stunned for a moment, unsure of how to answer this question.

At this time, Eunuch De tried to smooth things over by saying, "It is a great honor for the Emperor to grant you the marriage, and the princess should be grateful for it."

Asagao: “……?” This marriage hasn’t happened yet. . . . .

"I notice that you look a little haggard. Ask the imperial physician to come over and take a look later. Your health is very important." Emperor Mu advised like an elder.

Asagao thanks you.

Eunuch De led Chao Yan back out. When they were almost at the door, Chao Yan stopped and suddenly turned back to kneel in front of Emperor Mu and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. The man I love is the Fourth Prince. Please grant my blessing."

Eunuch De was shocked again and thought that this little princess was really brave.

The air seemed to stagnate for two seconds, and it was so quiet that even the sound of a pin drop could be heard.

All Chaoyan could hear was the sound of her own violent heartbeat, echoing in her ears.

When Emperor Mu spoke again, Chaoyan's heart tightened so much that it almost jumped out of her throat.

"I understand, let's go down."

Chaogao: “……?” Does this mean you agree or not? . . . . .

After coming out of the imperial study, Chao Yan couldn't help but quietly ask Eunuch De whether Emperor Mu agreed or disagreed just now.

Duke De explained, "Princess, don't think too much. The Emperor should also consider the marriages of the three princes carefully. The Emperor likes you from the bottom of his heart and will definitely find you a satisfactory marriage."

After the imperial physician came and examined Chaoyan, he said that she was fine, just a little stressed out recently, and asked her to have a good rest for two days.

After the morning court session the next day, Emperor Mu summoned Shen He, Prime Minister Shang and Minister Liu to the Imperial Study and showed them the plan written by Chao Yan.

After reading it, Prime Minister Shang nodded and praised it, saying it was feasible. However, Minister Liu was nitpicking and pointed out one, two or three shortcomings. Shen He did not comment because he knew it was written by his daughter.

Emperor Mu thought it was feasible and there was no need to make any further changes.

Minister Liu immediately changed his tune and agreed.

Emperor Mu then handed the matter over to Prime Minister Shang.

Chaoyan stood in the yard, staring at the sky in the distance, and Eunuch De led Shen He over. Eunuch De called out "Princess", and Chaoyan came back to her senses.

After Duke De announced his retreat, Chao Yan hesitated for a while and told Shen He what happened yesterday, which also surprised Shen He.

"Dad, should I not tell anyone about the Fourth Prince?" Chao Yan was a little worried, afraid that her impatience would cause trouble.

Shen He said: "Dad has also sounded out the emperor's opinion before. The emperor is also very hesitant about the marriage of the three princes. Dad dare not promise you anything, but he will do his best for you."

Chao Yan was a little worried and asked, "Will the emperor be unhappy?"

Shen He smiled and said, "Don't worry, Dad knows what to do."

Afterwards, Liu'er and Dong'er packed up their luggage, and Chaoyan followed Shen He back.

……

In the evening, Chaoyan thought about it and felt that she should meet with Mu Tianling.

The next day the sky looked gloomy, with dark clouds gathering from afar, and it looked like it was going to rain.

Chao Yan asked someone to prepare a carriage and went out. As soon as he arrived on the street, raindrops began to fall from the sky. After a while, the raindrops turned into big raindrops. Pedestrians on the street ran to the eaves of the shops on both sides to take shelter from the rain.

The coachman also stopped the carriage in front of a teahouse to shelter from the rain. Chaoyan got off and entered the teahouse, and then three or four more people ran into the lobby to shelter from the rain.

There were no empty tables in the lobby, so Chaoyan went to the second floor and stood by the window, watching the heavy rain outside. There was no one on the street, and people could be seen everywhere taking shelter under the eaves.

Chaoyan stood by the window, listening to the crackling sound of rain in a daze. When she came to her senses, she borrowed an umbrella from the waiter, and hurried into the heavy rain with the umbrella. Her figure soon disappeared in the rain.

When the door of Prince Ling's Mansion was knocked, the servant who opened the door was surprised to see the person coming. He didn't expect that someone would come in such a heavy rain, and come alone.

"Is Your Highness here?" Chao Yan asked.

The servant nodded hurriedly and led Chaoyan towards the study.

Mu Tianling was sitting on a chair behind his desk practicing calligraphy. The crackling sound of rain outside the window kept reaching his ears, which was a bit noisy. His brows furrowed slightly, and his pen strokes became a little heavier, so the words he wrote seemed a bit heavy.

At this moment, there was a knock on the study door.

He paused and frowned even deeper.

"Your Highness, the princess is here."

He was slightly stunned and his brows relaxed.

After entering the house, Mu Tianling found that Chaoyan's skirt was wet by the rain, and her sleeves and hair were also wet by the rain, so he asked someone to take her to change her clothes first.

The clothes were still in Chao Yan's original residence, neatly folded in the closet. Since the day Chao Yan left, the furnishings in the house had not been moved, and not a speck of dust had fallen. Eunuch Wu would have someone come over to clean it every day.

After Asagao changed her clothes, she felt a little warmer.

After she changed her clothes, Mu Tianling came over with a cloak in his hand. He put it on her and carefully tidied her hair. He asked her if she was still cold, and Chaoyan shook her head.

"Your Highness," Chao Yan looked into his deep dark eyes and asked softly, "Can you answer a question for me?" Mu Tianling smiled and said, "Go ahead." Chao Yan took one of his hands and wrote two words on his palm. Mu Tianling's expression changed slightly, his eyes dim and unclear. Chao Yan looked at him and asked, "Your Highness, do you want it?"

Mu Tianling looked into her eyes and didn't speak for a long time. He seemed to be looking for something in them, or trying to verify something.

During the long wait, Chao Yan's eyes gradually became dim.

Still don’t trust yourself enough?

"Why do you ask about this?"

Mu Tianling tried his best to keep his tone calm, but Chaoyan still heard a hint of vigilance and temptation. He still couldn't completely trust her. Suddenly, she remembered what Han Lie had said before. Even the person next to you has to be on guard. Her heart suddenly turned cold.

"Nothing, just asking casually." Chao Yan forced a smile, "Your Highness, please go ahead and do your work. I'll go back first." She left the house as if escaping. When Mu Tianling wanted to turn around and chase her, he stopped. He clenched his fists so tightly that they made a creaking sound, and slammed his fist heavily on the door frame.

When Qian Fenglai brought the cloak back, Mu Tianling looked at the cloak as if he saw something that was about to be lost. At this moment he no longer hesitated and rushed into the rain.

Qianfeng showed a gratified smile and silently cheered him on.

When running out of the palace, Mu Tianling did not see Chao Yan. He was so anxious that he wanted to slap himself. When he saw an umbrella placed by the wall and there seemed to be someone behind the umbrella, he rushed over immediately.

When Mu Tianling saw Chao Yan sitting on the ground with her hands on her knees and her head buried in them, getting wet in the rain alone, he felt so distressed that he squatted down and hugged her tightly in his arms, admitting his fault in a low, hoarse voice, "It's my fault." He leaned against her ear and whispered, "Yan Yan, I want to avenge my mother and vindicate my uncle. I swore that none of the culprits would be able to escape. I wanted that position before and made those who bullied and humiliated me pay the price, but now you are by my side, and I will never take risks with you no matter what."

Chaoyan raised her head from his arms, her eyes still a little watery. Mu Tianling lowered his head, and Chaoyan gently hooked her arms around his neck. The kiss was deep and long, and all his concerns disappeared at this moment.

……

Two days later, Emperor Mu went to Heng Garden and asked Yu Chen to tell his fortune.

Then the next day Emperor Mu summoned Shen He to the palace. After he came back, Shen He had Chao Yan called to the study and revealed to her that her marriage to Mu Tianling was almost certain. He told her not to tell anyone else, not even Shen Cheng, for the time being.

In the following days, Chaoyan was very happy every day. Shen Cheng was puzzled to see her happy every day, and curiously asked her the reason. Chaoyan said that the store's business was very good recently, and generously took out 500 silver notes for her brother, asking him to save them for marrying a wife. When Shen Cheng heard about marrying a wife, he found an excuse to slip away.

As the days passed, Chao Yan suppressed her desire to see Mu Tianling. If some people with ulterior motives noticed something, there would definitely be trouble.

As long as the imperial decree granting the marriage is not issued, the cooked duck may be snatched away at any time.

In order to turn down those social engagements, Chao Yan pretended to be sick, stayed at home, and counted the days every day waiting for the arranged marriage.

And so we waited until New Year’s Eve.

Shen He brought his family into the palace for the banquet.

At the New Year's Eve dinner, Emperor Mu granted marriages to Mu Tianqi, Mu Tianchen and Mu Tianling one by one.

When Emperor Mu granted marriage to Mu Tianqi and Han Min, Chao Yan was surprised. She really didn't expect that the two would become a couple. The last time Han Min took the initiative to invite Mu Tianchen, the Third Prince, to the flower viewing party, Chao Yan asked her where she and the Third Prince had been together, and she blushed a little.

Watching the two of them kowtow and express gratitude, Chao Yan felt a little distressed. They clearly had someone else in their hearts, but she still could not disobey the imperial edict.

If it were her, would she disobey or obey?

Then Emperor Mu granted marriage to Mu Tianchen and Wen Xue.

This pairing was also beyond Chao Yan's expectations.

After Mu Tianchen and Wen Xue kowtowed to express their gratitude, Emperor Mu called out Mu Tianling.

Chaoyan's heart suddenly jumped into her throat. She had never felt that time passed so slowly. Just a few seconds seemed as long as a century of waiting.

When her name was called, the heavy stone in Chaoyan's heart finally fell to the ground. She felt light and her feet seemed to be stepping on soft clouds. She was even worried that she would fall and make a fool of herself.

Fortunately, she walked to Mu Tianling safely and kowtowed with him to express her gratitude.