"Very well!" King Li was very satisfied with Jingyi's answer. "Guards, convey my decree: I wish to personally bestow a marriage upon the Holy Maiden and Young Master Jingyi!"
Huan Juntian has been preparing troops in the military camp these days, and will soon head to the border of Li Kingdom to fight against Xiye Kingdom.
Qu Surou lay in Huan Juntian's tent, passing the time by reading the storybook Jing Yi had bought for her, but after flipping through a few pages she found it boring.
Lu Pianpian left a letter and took Huan Changming to seek medical treatment. As a doctor, Qu Surou was well aware that Huan Changming's illness was incurable.
But Lu Pianpian is stubborn, and she will not come back so easily if she cannot find a way to cure Huan Changming.
Qu Surou missed her blockhead junior brother quite a bit, so she sat in Huan Juntian's chair, holding a storybook and sighing.
"Holy Maiden..." A soldier hurriedly lifted the curtain and ran in. Seeing Qu Surou's casual posture, he quickly turned his back. "Holy Maiden, please forgive me!"
Qu Surou quickly tidied her appearance and sat up straight. "What is it?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, His Highness sent me to inform you that Young Master Lu of the Fu Xilang family has returned home."
"Really!" Qu Surou, no longer caring about maintaining her dignified demeanor, suddenly stood up from her seat and chased after the soldier, asking, "When did he return?"
"Just half an hour ago."
"Okay, okay, I understand..."
"Your Majesty, His Majesty requests your presence." A palace attendant from the Prince of Li's side walked in with a smile. "Please accompany me back to the palace for an audience."
The king summoned him not earlier or later, but at this very moment.
Huan Juntian returned to the camp at that moment. The two siblings exchanged a glance, and Qu Surou sighed inwardly, "Thank you for leading the way."
Huan Juntian said, "See you at Lu Mansion later."
Qu Surou said, "Okay."
Upon hearing that his son had brought the Ninth Princess back to the mansion and had printed the final imperial edict for His Majesty, Lu Zhong hurriedly rushed home.
Arriving at the door of Lu Pianpian's bedroom, they saw their son and the Ninth Princess sitting in front of the bed, talking and laughing about something, a rather harmonious scene.
Lu Zhong was satisfied and slowly walked in, saying, "Your humble servant Lu Zhong greets Your Highness the Princess."
Huan Changming was startled and quickly helped Lu Zhong up with both hands, "Lord Lu, there's no need for this. I'm really no princess..."
"Your Highness, please don't say that... It is a blessing that my son is fortunate enough to be married to the Ninth Princess, a fortune accumulated by the Lu family over many lifetimes!"
Huan Changming's status in the royal family was nothing more than that of a convicted slave. Even ordinary people looked down on him, not to mention the civil and military officials in the court.
Huan Changming had originally thought that his marriage to Lu Pianpian would greatly increase Lu Zhong's dissatisfaction with him, but it seems that this is not the case now.
He sniffed, tears welling in his clear, dark blue eyes. "Being able to enter into a marriage contract with Shaoyan is the greatest fortune of my life..."
Lu Pianpian felt a surge of warmth in her heart upon hearing her junior sister's words.
"I am deeply gratified that the princess and my son are so in love. It is truly a double blessing!"
Lu Pianpian asked in bewilderment, "Father, what is the other piece of good news?"
His marriage to his junior sister was, at most, a cause for celebration.
Lu Zhong explained to them, "Just now, His Majesty personally bestowed the marriage upon the Holy Maiden and Young Master Jingyi of the Prime Minister's family. I delivered the imperial seal, and the decree should be arriving at the Prime Minister's residence soon..."
Huan Changming had underestimated Jing Yi's swift actions, not expecting them to be so quick. He smiled and said, "Congratulations to Senior Sister Qu and—"
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Pianpian suddenly rushed out of the room.
"My son, where are you going!"
Huan Changming's eyelids twitched, and he followed after him, saying, "Lord Lu, there's no need to worry, I'll go take a look."
"Senior Brother! Senior Brother Pianpian!" Huan Changming called out as he chased after her, but Lu Pianpian didn't even turn her head and walked away quickly.
As Lu Pianpian walked out of the mansion gate, a carriage stopped at the gate. Jing Yi got out and immediately saw Huan Changming, who had come out to chase after Lu Pianpian.
He instantly felt all his resentment and longing vanish, quickly alighted from the carriage, and happily walked towards Huan Changming, "Chang..."
Lu Pianpian reached out to stop him, and only then did he notice her. "I came to see if Changming is alright. What are you doing here, Young Master Lu?"
He had just gotten engaged to his senior sister, and now he's barging into his home, trying to take advantage of his junior sister!
Lu Pianpian tried her best to suppress her anger, "Didn't I tell you to stay away from my senior sister?"
Jing Yi was already extremely dissatisfied with Lu Pianpian because of her marriage to Huan Changming. Now that Lu Pianpian was constantly obstructing him and Huan Changming, his expression turned somewhat unpleasant. "Miss Qu and I are already engaged. His Majesty's word is law, and you have no right to interfere."
Unable to bear it any longer, Lu Pianpian punched Jing Yi in the stomach, sending him staggering back several steps. "You rude and arrogant scoundrel! How dare you attack me in the street!"
"I, Lu Shaoyan, am here to beat you up today!"
Lu Pianpian punched Jing Yi in the face again. Jing Yi, a mere scholar, was immediately struck and coughed up blood. His coachman, seeing the situation was turning against him, rushed forward to shield Jing Yi. "You're the young master of the Fu Xilang family, right? You dare to hit even the young master of the Prime Minister's mansion! Are you out of your mind!"
"Get out of my way! Anyone who dares to protect him today, I'll beat them all to a pulp!"
Lu Pianpian pushed the coachman away and was about to attack Jing Yi again when Huan Changming grabbed him from behind, crying, "Senior brother, please don't!"
"Any misunderstandings you have about Jingyi can be resolved, so why resort to violence?"
Huan Changming found it utterly baffling why Lu Pianpian, who was usually so gentle, was so violent towards Jing Yi today.
"Changming, is this the good husband you chose?" Jingyi's masculine spirit was also aroused, and he kicked Lu Pianpian. "Such a violent and cruel person dares to hit me in the street today, and tomorrow he will beat you up!"
Because of the loss of her spiritual bone, Lu Pianpian was as if she had suffered a serious illness. At this moment, she was even worse than an ordinary person. She was unable to dodge Jing Yi's kick and her stomach churned as she was kicked, causing her lips to turn white immediately.
Seeing this, Huan Changming narrowed his eyes. Lu Pianpian shook off Huan Changming's hand, grabbed Jing Yi's collar with both hands, and pushed him to the ground. She punched Jing Yi in the head again and hissed, "Cancel your engagement with Qu Surou immediately, and get as far away from her as possible! Otherwise, I'll make you pay with your life!"
Jing Yi laughed in exasperation and said to Huan Changming behind him, "Changming, did you hear that clearly! All your devotion to him has been for nothing, but he doesn't care about you at all. He only has his Senior Sister Qu in his heart!"
"You shameless scoundrel, how dare you slander me?" Lu Pianpian's eyes reddened with anger. "Who on earth is it that, having just been betrothed, dares to overstep the bounds and visit my fiancée?"
"You're a disgrace to be a scholar! You've wasted all your knowledge of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame!"
"Lu Pianpian, you're so vulgar!" Jing Yi had never suffered such humiliation. Seeing that he couldn't break free from Lu Pianpian's hold, he hardened his heart and took out his dagger for self-defense, slashing Lu Pianpian's arm. "Get out of my way!"
Lu Pianpian's arm immediately bled. Jing Yi was about to stab again when Huan Changming suddenly rushed up and grabbed his hand. "Changming?"
The tension within Lu Pianpian's body was shattered by Jing Yi's sudden stabbing. Her vision went completely white, and she closed her eyes and lost consciousness.
Huan Changming quickly hugged Lu Pianpian from behind, and seeing that the wound on his arm was bleeding profusely, he glared at Jing Yi and said, "Who told you to hurt him?!"
Jingyi was helped up from the ground by the coachman. "He was the one who started the fight without any reason, and now you're blaming me?"
He gave a wry smile. "Your Highness... have you truly fallen for him?"
He deliberately approached Qu Surou and Huan Juntian for Huan Changming's sake, and now he is even engaged to Qu Surou. However, Huan Changming questioned him for Lu Pianpian, which made Jing Yi feel a sharp pain in his heart.
Huan Changming's gaze softened slightly. "I'm only doing this for the greater good."
"You should know what I'm thinking."
Hearing this, Jingyi's doubts and speculations vanished. "I only came to see you. I'm glad you're alright. Let's go..."
Jingyi, supported by the coachman, turned around and left.
The guards of the Lu residence all knew Jingyi's background, so when the two of them made their move, they didn't dare to step forward and only dared to watch from a distance.
Huan Changming glanced at them and said, "What are you all standing there for? Go and fetch a doctor! Don't you all want to die?!"
"Yes, yes..."
After Huan Juntian finished his official business in the military camp, it was already late at night.
All the soldiers' provisions and rations are ready, and they will be able to set off for the border soon.
He figured he wouldn't have time to say goodbye to his senior brother tonight, and could only see him tomorrow morning. But then he heard rumors that Lu Pianpian was fighting with Jing Yi at the entrance of the Lu residence.
He was still worried, so he came to the Lu residence without alerting anyone. He concealed his presence and knocked on the door of Lu Pianpian's room, but it was Huan Changming who opened the door.
"Senior Brother Huan?"
Huan Juntian nodded to him, "I've heard about what happened between Senior Brother and Jingyi. What exactly happened? Is my Senior Brother inside?"
Huan Changming opened the door and let Huan Juntian in, showing him Lu Pianpian sleeping soundly on the bed. "Senior Brother Lu fought with Jingyi because of me."
Huan Juntian lowered his voice slightly, "What happened between you and Jing Yi?"
Huan Changming's eyes instantly filled with tears. "I dare not hide it from Senior Brother Huan. When Young Master Jing heard that Senior Brother Pianpian and I had returned to the Lu residence, he wanted to come and visit me. He was caught by Senior Brother Pianpian when he arrived, and perhaps because he was somewhat displeased, he attacked me..."
"Was it my senior brother who struck first?" Huan Juntian was somewhat skeptical.
“Yes…” Huan Changming raised his eyes and glanced at him cautiously, “When I lived in the Cold Palace before, Young Master Jing took care of me and there was some… romantic feeling between us.”
Given his gentle nature, the fact that his senior brother would take the initiative to attack Jingyi shows how important Changming is to him.
"But since Senior Brother Pianpian and I have already made our engagement, Changming will only have Senior Brother Pianpian in his heart from now on, and will never have any involvement with anyone else!"
Huan Changming distanced himself from Jing Yi completely. Huan Juntian remained silent for a long time before asking only one question, "Are you truly sincere towards my senior brother?"
Huan Changming nodded with tears in his eyes, "It is from the bottom of my heart."
"Since you are sincere, then cut off all contact with Jingyi from now on." She was also afraid that her senior brother would be saddened by this.
"good……"
Huan Juntian walked to his senior brother's bedside, looked at his senior brother's sleeping face for a moment, and said, "Tomorrow I will lead the army to the border. Before I leave, I will ask my father for permission to arrange your marriage with my senior brother as soon as possible."
"Then thank you very much, Senior Brother Huan. Swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield. Although you have cultivation to protect you, Senior Brother Huan, please take good care of yourself. I will wait for your triumphant return with Senior Brother Pianpian..."
Huan Juntian withdrew his gaze and responded with a sound of agreement, saying, "Please pass on my message to Senior Brother after he wakes up."
"good."
After Huan Juntian left, the cat jumped from the tree outside into the room. Seeing Huan Changming sitting on the edge of the bed staring at the wound on Lu Pianpian's arm, it whispered, "Huan Juntian will leave tomorrow. Your plan can begin."
Huan Changming didn't reply. The cat jumped onto the bed. "Changming, what are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking, it feels so good to have the plans under my control."
Huan Changming reached out and pressed on Lu Pianpian's wound, applying some force. The unhealed wound immediately gushed blood, soaking the white cloth red.
Lu Pianpian, with her eyes closed, remained oblivious and continued to sleep soundly.
"Huan Juntian's love for you is truly as deep as the sea, Lu Pianpian." A contemptuous smile appeared in Huan Changming's beautiful blue eyes. "What a pity, what a pity..."
"He's a terrible womanizer."
"I'll just pull it out for you."
Seeing this, the cat felt a sense of unease. Lu Pianpian had fought with Jing Yi because of Qu Surou, and Huan Changming had deliberately deceived Huan Juntian. Lu Pianpian had fought with Jing Yi because of him, in order to ensure the implementation of the plan.
Now it seems there's more to it than that. Could there be another reason?
A note from the author: