"It's alright. Let's see how skilled he is. If he can seize the Linglong Pearl, I will reward him handsomely, haha."
I breathed a sigh of relief, my eyes fixed on Yunzhou. The arrow in his hand had already left the bow like a shooting star. At the same time, the people on the other dragon boats also began to shoot arrows at Linglong Pearl.
An arrow pierced the sky, soared up the bridge railing, and stabbed straight into the cable!
Several exclamations rang out on the river.
"It's gone, it's gone."
The exquisite bead fell from the railing, its seven-colored ribbons swirling and dancing like a shooting star, bright and dazzling, captivating the heart.
Three figures leaped from the dragon boat simultaneously to snatch the exquisite pearl. One was a burly man with a thick beard, one a young boy, and the third was Yunzhou!
Both hands simultaneously grasped the exquisite pearl; it was Yunzhou and the young man. Yunzhou's lightness skill had always been among the best in the Xiaoyao Sect.
The burly man with the bushy beard was slightly outmatched. He was only half a foot away from the exquisite pearl when he couldn't pull himself up and fell straight down.
Neither Yunzhou nor the boy let go, and they both landed on the dragon boat. I almost cried out in surprise because the boy stood firmly on the bow, while Yunzhou was only standing on the tip of his foot. It was extremely dangerous!
The burly man with a thick beard thrust both palms forward, aiming straight for the boy's chest. His palm strikes were fierce and powerful, like a whirlwind, clearly the renowned Vajra Palm technique. The boy, clutching the exquisite pearl in one hand and parrying with the other, was no match for the attack and retreated two steps to dodge. Yunzhou, standing behind him, was already on tiptoe and was about to be pushed into the water. I was extremely anxious, but could only silently bite my lip.
The burly man with a bushy beard lunged forward and grabbed the exquisite pearl with one hand. None of the three were willing to let go, and the situation was extremely urgent as they squeezed together in the narrow bow of the boat.
Yunzhou struck the burly, bearded man with a palm strike, but the man dodged, using the momentum to push Yunzhou's arm and redirect the force of the strike towards the boy. He then followed up with a sweeping kick. Caught between attacks from both sides, the boy slumped and fell into the water. Immediately, a chorus of sighs of regret erupted.
As the burly man swept his leg, before he could even regain his footing, Yunzhou struck him under the armpit with a palm strike called "Hidden Dragon Emerges from the Abyss." The burly man loosened his grip, and Yunzhou snatched the exquisite pearl, leaping backward onto another dragon boat.
He held the exquisite pearl in one hand, standing calmly and proudly at the bow of the boat, dressed in white, spotless.
Cheers erupted like a tidal wave along the riverbank, and even those atop the Star-Picking Tower couldn't help but exclaim and discuss in admiration.
I breathed a sigh of relief; my palms were completely wet.
Yunzhou leaped onto the Magpie Bridge and, holding the Exquisite Pearl, stepped onto the Star-Picking Tower. All eyes followed him.
The emperor's laughter rang in his ears: "Haha, indeed, heroes emerge from among the young, and like father, like son. Minister Yun, I am so happy for you to have such a son."
"Your Majesty flatters me."
Yunzhou walked onto the red carpet and knelt down, and the exquisite pearl was presented to the emperor's desk.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Emperor said loudly, "Excellent skills, excellent courage! How about I bestow upon you the title of Imperial Guard of the Four Books?"
Yunzhou kowtowed to express his gratitude and said, word by word, "Your Majesty, I wish to request a marriage decree from you."
Yunzhou's clear and resolute request was like a thunderclap, startling me and instantly filling me with a strange and unsettling premonition. On the Star-Picking Tower, it seemed as if a mountain rain was about to fall, and a storm was brewing.
The moment he finished speaking, my hand suddenly throbbed with pain! The pain instantly made my heart, which had been in my throat, leap into my throat. Jiang Chen was gripping my hand tightly, with astonishing strength, and with a do-or-die determination.
His hands and mine were both covered in damp sweat, making it impossible to tell which was his or mine.
The Emperor laughed heartily again: "Haha, truly a dashing young man, even official titles and rewards cannot compare to a beautiful woman. I am curious, given the Yun family's status, whose daughter would only agree to marry if I were to arrange the marriage?"
My hand was gripped even tighter, as if it were being embedded into Jiang Chen's palm, becoming part of his very being. I felt increasingly flustered and nervous.
"Your Majesty, she is..."
"Your Majesty, I have something to report." Before Yunzhou could say who it was, his father's voice rang out urgently, abruptly interrupting him.
"Minister Yun, speak."
"My son is being naughty; Your Majesty, please do not pay him any mind."
"Hey, Minister Yun, a man who isn't romantic in his youth is wasting his life. Yunzhou, if you fancy any girl, just tell me, and I'll grant you your wish. In the future, this will become a romantic tale in the Dragon Boat Festival."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. What I wish to request is..."
I was so nervous that I almost fainted, but before Yunzhou could finish speaking, his father interrupted him again: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please allow me to report something privately."
"oh?"
A moment of silence.
After a moment, the Emperor sighed and said, "Yunzhou, I hereby appoint you as a Lieutenant General. Recently, Japanese pirates have been rampant along the coast. You will assist your father in returning to Fujian to suppress them. Once you have rendered meritorious service, I will arrange another beautiful woman for you in the future."
Yunzhou cried out urgently, "Your Majesty!"
The father of Yunzhou shouted sternly, "Why aren't you thanking me!"
A moment later, I heard Yunzhou express his gratitude in a low voice.
I felt the strength in my hands suddenly loosen, and I realized that I had been unconsciously holding my breath and tensing my body. As the support in my hands weakened, my body suddenly went limp.
In the short span of an incense stick's time, I felt as if I were sitting on a small boat, experiencing raging torrents and towering waves. After twists and turns, there was no light at the end of the tunnel, and the small boat unexpectedly drifted into a stagnant pool.
The fact that Yunzhou's father went to such lengths to obstruct the emperor time and time again could only mean one thing: he knew who Yunzhou was seeking help from, and he absolutely could not back down now, even if the emperor himself acted as matchmaker.
Thinking of this, my heart was filled with bitterness and sorrow, and my eyes welled up with tears, feeling extremely uncomfortable. I had finally witnessed and heard firsthand the resolute and unwavering attitude of Yunzhou's father. My master's worries were not without reason; entering the Yun family was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Faced with such a strict father, should I regret that Yunzhou didn't speak out, or should I be glad that he didn't speak out? After the ups and downs, my heart is blank and empty, a numbness devoid of joy or sorrow.
The crowd slowly descended from the Star-Picking Tower, and the Emperor rode directly to his imperial carriage from the east side of the tower, where he was escorted back to the palace by the Imperial Guards. Officials and their families returned to their residences via the Magpie Bridge.
Jiang Chen held my hand tightly the whole time, not letting go for a moment. I didn't have the strength to pull my hand away. In front of everyone, in public, I let him hold my hand and silently followed behind Madam Qi, feeling completely powerless.
Lady Qi and General Qi walked ahead, speaking in hushed tones.