Quand l'amour approche, c'est comme la neige

Chapitre 166

Yongye slowly raised his head and saw that Emperor Qi was reclining on a soft chair with a brocade stool next to him. He was very old, with white hair and beard, and his eyes were very gentle.

"Indeed, you are a peerless beauty. I heard that you were frail since childhood and were raised as a boy until you were eighteen? That's why you've always dressed as a man."

"Your Majesty, yes. I'm not quite used to this women's clothing yet. However, I still like it very much."

"Hehe, you speak very directly. I don't like beating around the bush either. Tell me, are you willing to marry the Crown Prince?" Emperor Qi suddenly blinked.

This slightly mischievous act startled Yongye. She slowly said, "Will His Majesty blame me?"

"Won't."

"I don't want to."

"Why? Yan'er is learned and talented. Although he doesn't know martial arts and is a bit frail, he is still a good man."

Yongye smiled and said, "Your Majesty, there are many good men in the world, and I do not have to like every single one of them."

"You like Feng Yangxi? He sent you to the palace, which is clearly a way of letting go. You still like him?" Emperor Qi asked calmly.

Yongye felt a pang in his heart.

He asked her why she was so angry when she heard that he wanted her to marry the crown prince.

He's in the Heavenly Prison, so why does her heart ache whenever she thinks of him?

She easily changed into women's clothing, just to save him?

Did she drink Hongyi's wine just to confirm that Yuepo was a person from Youli Valley and not because she went there for Feng Yangxi?

What's the use of thinking about it anymore? He has already sent her into the Qi palace.

Yongye took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty has misunderstood. Feng Yangxi and Yongye are..." She couldn't even bring herself to say the word "friends."

When did she become his friend? She was the assassin Xinghun he wanted to kill. Later, he didn't kill her, and the two of them teamed up to deal with Youli Valley—it was a collaboration, I suppose.

“Your Majesty, Yongye has no one she loves. Her reluctance to marry the Crown Prince is not because of Feng Yangxi,” Yongye said firmly.

The Emperor Qi smiled, a smile that left a deep impression. He thought for a moment and said, "Since ancient times, marriages have always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. I owe your father a favor, which is why I agreed to this marriage. Your father also promised me that he would do his best to prevent An Kingdom from going to war with Qi while he is still alive. He loves you very much. Therefore, he also made a request: if Yongye cannot fall in love with my son, this marriage will be called off. But in any case, you must leave An Kingdom."

Yongye stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

Emperor Qi smiled slightly: "But I have a condition. If Yongye falls in love with my son, she must enter the palace as the Crown Princess. I think that's fair."

What does this mean? If she falls in love with Prince Yan, she will naturally enter the palace to become his crown princess. What kind of condition is this? Yongye was a little confused.

The Emperor Qi continued, “I want to thank you for solving a major problem for me. The An family has always controlled Qi's finances. I'm not afraid of their wealth, but I'm afraid that the court officials are all obsessed with money, speaking on behalf of the An family. If this continues, imperial power will be undermined. I noticed signs of this twenty years ago and have been troubled ever since. I wanted to use the An family, but I also wanted to eliminate them. I would be happiest if the An family fell. Therefore, I'm being frank with you, letting you choose for yourself. I'll ask you one more time: do you really not like Feng Yangxi?”

Yongye lowered her eyes, hiding her sorrow. He threw her into the palace; in the end, he still gave her to Murong Yan. "Yongye has no one in mind."

"You don't want to marry Yan'er either?"

"Yes." Yongye replied without hesitation. This was incredible news; from now on, she wouldn't have to deal with Crown Prince Yan while bearing the title of Crown Princess. He was a good person, but she just couldn't bring herself to like him.

Emperor Qi asked, "No regrets?"

"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty. You are a wise and virtuous ruler," Yongye said sincerely.

Emperor Qi shook his head: "I am old. I have entrusted all the affairs of the country to the Crown Prince. I will abdicate to him soon and live as the Retired Emperor without worrying about politics. The Crown Prince has long been too powerful. Even I have to be wary of him."

"How could that be? It's a good thing that His Majesty is in good spirits and can take things in stride."

"Hehe, you are quite pleasing to me. However, you should go and speak to the Crown Prince yourself. Yang'er! Come out now," the Emperor Qi called out from inside the palace.

A handsome young man descended the stairs slowly, tall and imposing, wearing a black robe with dragon motifs and a golden crown.

When his face appeared before Yongye, she blinked blankly. His scent was so familiar, those thick eyebrows, and the sharp, alluring eyes beneath them. His lips were slightly upturned, his jawline sharply defined. Completely different from Prince Yan's delicate features, he possessed a masculine flamboyance and charm. If he still had a full beard, instead of the bluish-white stubble around his chin revealing a shaved area, he would be…

Startled, Yongye slipped and fell off the brocade stool to the ground. She scrambled to her feet, stammering, "No...you wouldn't be...Feng Yangxi, would you?"

"Murong Yangxi greets Princess Yong'an." His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion. His lips moved slightly, and his face came to life, revealing a clear smile.

Yongye gasped. Was he Feng Yangxi, the one with the unkempt beard, who looked dirty and only wore a black cloth robe?

Seeing Yongye so frightened, Feng Yangxi tried his best to close his mouth, which was about to open wide, but he couldn't help but let his smile grow brighter and brighter. He touched his freshly shaved chin and thought smugly, "Compared to that kid surnamed Yue, I shouldn't be any worse, right?"

Yongye stared blankly, thinking, "Five years ago, my father arranged this marriage. Did he know I was marrying him all these years ago? And what about Murong Yan? Who is Murong Yan? Can he just replace the crown prince of a country like that? Aren't the court officials surprised? Aren't the censors gossiping? Aren't the people terrified?"

"Youli Valley and the An family are inextricably linked, yet they've stirred up a storm in An Kingdom. I've been learning martial arts from my master since childhood, and it's always been my younger brother Yan who has been the Crown Prince. My younger brother Yan has no interest in politics. So I secretly investigated, making Youli Valley and the An family believe that the Emperor of Qi is ill and the Crown Prince is weak, which makes it easier for me to act." Feng Yangxi said calmly. In just a few words, he sketched out the delicate situation in the court.

Yongye looked at Feng Yangxi, and his mind went blank for a moment.

"Yongye, will you marry me now?" Feng Yangxi overheard the entire conversation from upstairs. He thought it was his fault for bringing Yongye into the palace and upsetting her. He didn't believe Yongye's dependence on him was fake, nor did he believe her weakness in front of him was an act. She would marry Murong Yan for him, and she would enter Youli Valley to find him. However, he wasn't sure if she still had that other person in her heart.

He kissed her in the bamboo house by Sunset Lake, and she slapped him.

He saved her at the An Mansion and impulsively asked her to marry him for the first time, but she said that she wanted to wear women's clothing for the first time to see Yue Po.

Her dress was truly moon white, embroidered with silver stars and moons.

When they found her in the cave in Fubao Town, her gaze was unfocused because of Yuepo.

Feng Yangxi wasn't sure. What if she was willing? His heart started pounding. But she wasn't willing; she still thought about that boy. Feng Yangxi's hands involuntarily tightened their grip.

According to Father Emperor's wishes, everything should be done according to Yongye's will. On what grounds? Feng Yangxi was unaware of the involuntary changes in his facial expressions, which were quite fascinating.

A familiar yet unfamiliar face, hawk-like sharp eyes, an aura emanating from him—he was destined to be a king. Yongye lowered his head and whispered, "To be manipulated like this, is it pleasant? Hmm?"

Feng Yangxi felt as if he had been slapped in the face; he hadn't expected Yongye to react this way. He hurriedly protested, "Yongye, that's not what I meant!"