Chapter 426: Chapter 287: Got Proposed To
When Ye Beiming was in a bad mood, he wouldn’t lash out like most people.
Due to his childhood years spent in the Cold Palace, he would more often choose to remain silent when displeased.
Long Huo had followed Ye Beiming for quite some time, and he could sense that his master’s mood was very foul at the moment.
"Everyone, leave," Ye Beiming, who was feeling irritable, ordered everyone around him to withdraw.
Dugu Xiu!
Red light tinged the grey pupils of Ye Beiming’s eyes. Without any hesitation, he immediately went to the Wuxuan Wuji Hall.
In the Medicine Hall, Yun Sheng was frowning as she examined the remaining Demon Beast Amniotic Fluid Poison confiscated from Yun Cangxue.
She furrowed her brows in thought, apparently unaffected by Dugu Xiu’s earlier marriage proposal.
Hearing footsteps, Yun Sheng didn’t even raise her head; she was very familiar with Ye Beiming’s pace, and could tell it was him just by listening to his breathing.
"Dugu Xiu proposed at the Yun Residence?" The restless Ye Beiming felt calmer upon seeing Yun Sheng.
Yun Sheng, when fully focused, looked wonderful, unlike ordinary women who liked to use rouge and face powder.
Her neck was slender, a few strands of black hair fell along her cheeks into her clothes, and her long fingers flipped through the Medical Book.
Upon hearing Ye Beiming’s question, Yun Sheng casually replied, "Hmm."
"You rejected him?" Ye Beiming unconsciously moved closer to Yun Sheng.
She had a unique scent about her, which irresistibly tickled his nose.
"Hmm." Yun Sheng didn’t pay attention to Ye Beiming’s words; she had already looked through most of the Medical Book, and all the information indicated that there was only one way to completely neutralize the poison of the Demon Beast Amniotic Fluid, which was to find the Elves’ treasure, the Life Water.
"If I were to propose to you, would you agree?" Ye Beiming found himself unconsciously standing right beside Yun Sheng.
"Hmm." Yun Sheng habitually responded.
By the time she realized what had happened, a pleased smile had already spread across Ye Beiming’s face.
Wait, what did she just say?
Did she just agree to something with Ye Huli?
"Then it’s settled. Tomorrow, I’ll enter the Imperial Palace and ask my father the Emperor for a marriage blessing," Ye Beiming said, smiling brilliantly.
Yun Sheng’s face immediately flushed red.
"Ye Huli! You tricked me," she hadn’t clearly heard what he said earlier.
Yun Sheng admitted that, compared to the Dark Crown Prince, Ye Beiming was slightly better, just slightly indeed.
But essentially, they were the same.
This was evident just from seeing Chen Lianlian’s infatuated look towards Ye Beiming.
Both were of the Royal Family, and in the future, both would have wives and concubines.
Essentially, there was no difference except that the Dark Crown Prince’s harem might have a few more Concubines than Ye Beiming’s.
"Little Wildcat, it’s either me or Dugu Xiu; you can only choose one of us," Ye Beiming stretched out his arm and leisurely picked Yun Sheng up, nuzzling the tip of his nose against her neck.
Yun Sheng felt a chill run down her neck. Just as she was about to slap the other person, Ye Beiming reacted even faster, enveloping her hand in his.
His words left Yun Sheng stunned, not understanding what he meant.
What did he have to do with Dugu Xiu?
In the meantime, Ye Beiming had already gathered her petite body into his embrace, gently and persuasively saying, "Do you think Dugu Xiu would just let it go? What kind of person is he? The Crown Prince of Hou Qin, always haughty and arrogant. If his marriage proposal is rejected, he won’t just give up. If I’m not mistaken, he’ll propose again at the Imperial Palace tomorrow."
Yun Sheng had indeed refused the marriage, but that didn’t mean Dugu Xiu would give up.
In Great Zhou, most marriages were determined by a few paths: ordinary people mostly married according to their parents’ will and the matchmaker’s words, but for the children of noble families, there was also the decree of the Emperor.
The words Yun Sheng used to refuse Dugu Xiu were actually theories from her modern perspective.
To most people in Wuji Continent, such ideas sounded utterly absurd.
"You mean if the Emperor of Great Zhou decrees the marriage, I have to marry?" Yun Sheng’s face showed her daze.
"A subject must die if the Emperor wishes, likewise, a concubine must marry if the Emperor commands. You might not have been acknowledged by your clan, but you are still part of the Yun Residence. If you refuse the marriage, with a single charge of defiance, Emperor Zhou could have the entire Yun Residence executed," continued Ye Beiming: "Dugu Xiu is unyielding and will surely request a marriage decree under the pretense of fostering good relations between the two nations. With Ye Chengtian’s personality, he will certainly not refuse. Thus, willing or not, you’ll have to marry."
After hearing this, Yun Sheng felt a heavy weight settle in her heart.
She had forgotten that this was not the modern era, where everything is based on the rule of law.
In Wuji Continent, there were not only powers but also imperial edicts.
She was no longer alone and destitute; she carried the blood of the Yun Residence, the obligations of the Sky Hunting Corps, and the goodwill of Xiao Ci’en Hall.
All these relations intertwined like a spider web – a tug on one strand affected the whole web.
Seeing the frown form on Yun Sheng’s forehead, Ye Beiming felt a pang of heartache and gently massaged her brow with his long fingers.
Feeling the coolness of his skin, Yun Sheng looked up, her eyes meeting Ye Beiming’s. She felt a slight stir in her heart, suddenly understanding the intention behind Ye Beiming’s earlier marriage proposal.
The only way to stop Dugu Xiu’s proposal at this moment was to beat him to it by securing a marriage agreement first.
If she were betrothed, even someone as forceful as Dugu Xiu would be helpless.
Not to mention, her prospective partner would be Ye Beiming, a fellow Prince.
Even if Ye Beiming were out of favor, he was still a Prince of Great Zhou, and Dugu Xiu would have no say over his intended.
As her frown eased, Ye Beiming saw Yun Sheng’s eyes clear up, understanding that someone as smart as she would have grasped his intention.
"Cough cough, Ye Beiming, are you truly willing to help me?" Yun Sheng saw her own reflection in Ye Beiming’s grey eyes, and a small ripple touched her heart, a subtle feeling quietly taking root.
This was no small favor, but a matter that affected Ye Beiming’s entire life.
"Of course, I’m willing. After all, I am your servant," Ye Beiming said, adoringly gazing at Yun Sheng while silently vowing that he was willing to take her as his wife, for a lifetime of togetherness.
"Then there’s no time to lose. Go propose at the Imperial Palace right now," Yun Sheng’s eyes sparkled.
She didn’t notice the pause when he echoed, "Now?" This time it was Ye Beiming who was taken aback.
"Yes, immediately. We must act before Dugu Xiu beats us to it. I would rather be engaged to you than him, the sooner the better," Yun Sheng couldn’t predict what madness that sick man, Dugu Xiu, might stir up next.
To avoid more problems as time passed, she urgently pressed Ye Beiming to propose at the palace.
The unusual expression that flickered across Ye Beiming’s face as she readily agreed.
Ye Beiming smiled like someone who had triumphantly succeeded in a scheme.