The two were strolling leisurely down the street when they heard some shocking news: the marriage alliance between Linwei and Tianmo had been moved up, and the wedding would take place in seven days!
Upon hearing this news, Shen Qianmo felt as if her ears were playing tricks on her. How could this be?! There was clearly still a month left, how did it become seven days?! How could Situ Jingyan agree to this?!
Impossible! Jingyan would never betray her. There must be some reason! She had to find out.
"Where did you hear this news from!" Shen Qianmo grabbed the person who was talking about the news. Because of her nervousness, she used a lot of force, and the person grabbed by Shen Qianmo cried out in pain, looking at Shen Qianmo in pain.
"What are you doing! The invitations from the emperors of Tianmo and Linwei have already arrived! Everyone knows that!" The man glared at Shen Qianmo, then frowned and pushed away Shen Qianmo's hand that was tightly gripping his shoulder.
"How is this possible!" Shock and disbelief flashed in Shen Qianmo's eyes. What on earth had happened? How could Jingyan marry that Princess Anya before she even got back?!
Seeing Shen Qianmo's overly excited expression, the person who was grabbed by Shen Qianmo looked regretful. Such an elegant and peerless young master, how could he have a problem with his brain?
Shen Qianmo, however, was completely unaware, her brows furrowed tightly together.
"I'm leaving this to you! I'm going to find him!" Shen Qianmo gave Xuan Lou an apologetic smile and immediately ran towards the inn.
Even at top speed, it would take seven days to travel from Li Kingdom to the capital of Tianmo. There was no time; she had to return to Tianmo capital within seven days. She absolutely could not allow Situ Jingyan to marry another woman! Absolutely not!
Her lightness skill was unparalleled. She darted across the street. Everyone looked up at the fleeting figure, thinking they were seeing a celestial being. But Shen Qianmo had only one thought at that moment: to rush back to Tianmo.
Xuan Lou stared intently at Shen Qianmo's hurried departure. Couldn't she wait even a moment longer?
Situ Jingyan, if you dare to do anything to betray Qianmo, I will absolutely not let you get away with it. Even if I am no match for you, I will give it my all. Xuanlou thought to himself, looking in the direction Shen Qianmo had left.
Over there, Shen Qianmo returned to the inn and hurriedly led out her horse, mounted it, and without paying any attention to the crowds on the street, rode away like a madman.
"Where is the Palace Master going?" Just as they were about to reach the city gate, a figure blocked Shen Qianmo's path.
Shen Qianmo tightened the reins, coldly looking at Nalan Rong who had stopped her, and said impatiently, "I have my own things to do. Don't forget our agreement!"
“Of course I haven’t forgotten. But this is a crucial moment. What could be more important than the affairs of Li Kingdom?” Nalan Rong looked at Shen Qianmo and asked with a curious expression.
He knew that the Demon Palace Master and the Blood Demon Lord, who was also the Emperor of Tianmo, had a close relationship. Could it be to attend the Tianmo Emperor's wedding?! It was just a marriage alliance; was it really worth all this trouble?!
"My man is going to marry another woman, isn't that important enough?! Get out of my way!" Shen Qianmo's eyes were filled with three parts anxiety and seven parts impatience. He lashed the riding whip in his hand with internal force without mercy towards Nalan Rong.
Nalan Rong quickly dodged the whip, and when she turned around to speak, Shen Qianmo had already ridden away in a cloud of dust.
Nalan Rong frowned, watching Shen Qianmo's retreating figure. Could the rumors in the martial world be true?! The Demon Palace Master is actually a woman?!
Such an exceptionally intelligent and composed person was actually a woman?!
Nalan Rong stared at Shen Qianmo's retreating figure in disbelief. She hadn't expected the usually composed Shen Qianmo to be so anxious and lose her composure; love truly could make one lose their mind.
If the Demon Palace Master is a woman, then the relationship between Emperor Tianmo and her must be even more extraordinary. In fact, Emperor Tianmo had begun to suspect something when he abandoned the capital city of Qiyue because of the Demon Palace Master. However, seeing how well the capital city of Qiyue was governed, he simply attributed it to Emperor Tianmo's foresight. Now, it seems that it's not that simple.
The Demon Palace Master's trip must be to stop the marriage alliance between Tianmo and Linwei. At that time, the relationship between Tianmo and Linwei will be at a stalemate, and his Li Kingdom will have some breathing room.
Should he cooperate with Tianmo or not? Nalan Rong began to reconsider this question.
The Demon Palace Master's intervention in the internal affairs of the Li Kingdom was presumably at the behest of Emperor Tianmo. Therefore, Emperor Tianmo certainly didn't truly intend to establish a marriage alliance with Linwei, and Emperor Linwei's marriage alliance was likely a strategic move made knowing that Emperor Tianmo had his own ambitions.
If the Emperor of Tianmo refuses the marriage alliance, the Emperor of Linwei will have a reason to wage war. Given the relationship between Yan Xiuling and Situ Jingyan, she must have been certain that Situ Jingyan would not accept the marriage alliance before taking this step. This shows that Situ Jingyan's feelings for the Demon Palace Master must be very deep.
Nalan Rong's lips curled into a smile. If he could control the Demon Palace Master, wouldn't that be equivalent to restraining Situ Jingyan?! If he could restrain Tianmo and give the Li Kingdom some breathing room, he would definitely be able to gradually stabilize and strengthen the Li Kingdom.
"Shadow." Nalan Rong smiled knowingly and called out to the shadows.
"Rong." A black figure appeared like a shadow. This was an extremely strange martial arts style that could hide oneself very well. Even a master like Shen Qianmo did not notice that someone had been following Nalan Rong all along.
"Are you willing to take the gamble? If you win, the Li Kingdom can share the world with Tianmo and Linwei. If you lose, the country will be destroyed!" Nalan Rong looked at the beautiful figure in black, a tender feeling appearing in her eyes.
"I am your shadow. I will always follow you," the woman veiled in black said slowly, her voice filled with tenderness. Since falling in love with him, she had always been by his side. Knowing full well that someone like him couldn't experience love, she still steadfastly remained by his side, willing to do anything for him. At least, he showed her more warmth than he showed others, didn't he? That was enough! She was willing to silently stay by his side, his shadow.
On the outskirts of Liguo leading to Tianmo.
A woman and a horse galloped wildly through the countryside like madmen. The woman on horseback whipped the horse mercilessly, and the horse, in pain, ran even more wildly.
The horses' hooves kicked up clouds of dust.
The woman on horseback had jet-black hair that flew in the wind, dusty and thick. Her dark eyes were filled with stubbornness and resentment, her crimson lips were tightly clenched, and her beautiful brows were deeply furrowed.
She looked travel-worn. Her face showed signs of exhaustion and weariness, but her dark eyes shone with an astonishing light, as if sustained by a stubborn force.
Six days have passed. Tomorrow, tomorrow is the day Emperor Tianmo will marry Princess Anya of Linwei. It's the day Situ Jingyan will marry Princess Anya! No. She absolutely cannot allow such a thing to be discovered. That's her Jingyan, she absolutely will not allow any other woman to touch him.
"What if you hurt me?"
"Mo'er, do as you please, I will not retaliate."
My words still ring in my ears. Situ Jingyan, don't let me down. No matter the reason, if you really dare to marry Princess Anya, I will absolutely, positively never forgive you.
Shen Qianmo whipped her horse fiercely, whether out of urgency to reach Tianmo or inner turmoil, each lash seemed to strike her heart. The pain was intense and urgent. A suppressed fear and anxiety flickered in Shen Qianmo's eyes.
The seventh day. A sleepless seventh day. Shen Qianmo finally arrived at the capital of Tianmo.
The capital of Tianmo was as prosperous and beautiful as ever. It was even more prosperous and beautiful than when she last visited, because the streets were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers to celebrate the grand wedding of the Tianmo Emperor, the Emperor of Tianmo, to Princess Anya of Linwei.
Everywhere she looked was festive red. It was a color she had once loved because of her affection for her ex-husband. But now, this red hue appeared ironic to Shen Qianmo. Situ Jingyan, was he really going to marry another woman?! Was he really not even going to wait for her, not even for a little while?!
No, no. That's her Situ Jingyan. How could he possibly deceive her?!
Jingyan had said that in this lifetime, he would only ever be with one person. He would never betray her. Absolutely not. There must be some reason behind this, and she had to find out.
With this belief, Shen Qianmo, despite not having rested for seven days, rushed towards the main hall where the marriage alliance was currently taking place.
---Aside---