"Who is Nan Yue?" Qin Zhao asked, somewhat awkwardly.
That face gave Qin Zhao a sense of familiarity, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it before.
Nan Yue reached out her hand to Qin Zhao. "Come with me, the ball is about to begin."
Qin Zhao involuntarily walked over and placed his hand on Nan Yue's hand.
With a gentle pull, Nan Yue brought Qin Zhao into her embrace and smiled, asking, "Why are you so dazed?"
Qin Zhao stared at Nan Yue, speechless.
Nan Yue cradled Qin Zhao's face and said, "You've been crying."
Furrowing his brows, Qin Zhao touched his own face and indeed felt the wetness.
But he didn't know why he had been crying.
Nan Yue wiped away her tears and planted a kiss on Qin Zhao's cheek. "Let's go, we still have to dance the opening dance tonight."
Nan Yue led Qin Zhao into the grand hall of the villa. As they opened the door, the brightness inside made Qin Zhao unable to open his eyes.
As soon as they stepped in, enthusiastic applause erupted!
When Qin Zhao opened his eyes again, he saw many familiar yet distant faces: Qiao Lin, Shen Yixuan, Xiao Ning, Pei Fanzhi, as well as Ye Chenxi, Xu Yiyang, and Nan Chenghui...
Everyone looked at them with smiles on their faces.
Nan Yue and Qin Zhao walked to the center of the hall and, accompanied by the symphony music, began their duet dance.
At the end of the song, everyone surrounded Nan Yue and Qin Zhao, offering their blessings.
Shen Yixuan said, "May you grow old together and be deeply in love."
Qiao Lin said, "May you have a beautiful daughter soon."
Xiao Ning said, "Sister Qin and Sister Nan, may you be happy forever!"
Pei Fanzhi said, "The beauty of love surpasses the beauty of spring, and you two are the perfect couple."
Ye Chenxi said, "Settle down and get married soon. Xu Yiyang and I are getting married too."
Xu Yiyang said, "You jerk, why do you bring us up at someone else's engagement party!"
Nan Chenghui said, "You two live a good life. That would be my lifelong regret."
Nan Yue expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you, everyone. We will do our best."
During the party, Nan Yue led Qin Zhao to leave midway and went to the bedroom on the third floor.
Entering the room, they both collapsed side by side on the bed.
Nan Yue turned over and looked at Qin Zhao, asking, "You seemed a bit strange tonight. Are you unhappy? Are you worried about tomorrow's wedding?"
Qin Zhao replied, "I just feel like it's too unreal."
He didn't even know who the person in front of him was.
Nan Yue held Qin Zhao's hand and said, "As long as you believe, everything is real. I will always be with you."
"'Forever' is a weighty word; I only need one lifetime."
"Alright, then I promise you a lifetime."
Qin Zhao frowned, seemingly conflicted. "But..."
Nan Yue asked, "Are you reluctant to leave that world?"
"There's no internet, convenient transportation, or clean bathrooms there. I don't like it at all."
Nan Yue kissed Qin Zhao's forehead. "Then live with me."
Qin Zhao buried his head in the crook of Nan Yue's neck.
Murmuring, he said, "Knowing that this is a dream, yet unwilling to wake up.
I'm truly despicable. I can't remember the things that happened between us, and I've even forgotten what you look like."
He lifted his head and gazed deeply into Nan Yue's face, as if trying to etch her features into his mind. "But I believe that we will meet again."
With that, Qin Zhao drew a dagger from his waist and stabbed it into Nan Yue's chest!
Nan Yue transformed into smoke and disappeared before Qin Zhao's eyes.
As she departed, the room began to crumble like shattered pieces of glass, and the scenery before his eyes transformed into a familiar courtyard.
Qin Zhao walked in and opened the door to the sleeping chamber.
Qi Yan Su Luo, clad in tattered clothes, lay on the raised bed, beckoning to him. "Your Highness, come over here."
Qin Zhao approached the bed, and Qi Yan Su Luo sat up, attempting to remove the last piece of fabric.
Qin Zhao squinted his eyes, tore down the bed curtains, and twisted them into ropes, binding Qi Yan Su Luo's hands and feet.
Qi Yan Su Luo asked, "Your Highness, do you enjoy this kind of play?"
Qin Zhao sat down and said, "Actually, between you and me, besides physical intimacy, we can also do other things.
For example, chatting, admiring the moon, or going out for leisurely walks.
Even if we do nothing but idle together, it's also possible.
This way, our relationship won't be confined to this.
But unfortunately, you bear a deep-seated grudge, and I have ambitions for revenge.
Two burdened souls cannot engage in lighthearted affairs."
Qi Yan Su Luo spoke, "Your Highness, I will accompany you in whatever you wish to do."
Qin Zhao turned to look at Qi Yan Su Luo and said, "With you being so obedient, how could you be the one?"
Without hesitation, she raised her hand, brandishing the knife, and Qi Yan Su Luo and the white mist dissipated together.
Qin Zhao returned to reality.
Wei Chen's voice came, "Your Highness, I finally waited for you."
"No, Your Highness." Wei Chen knelt before Qin Zhao, "I should address you as my lord.
The illusionary formation you just experienced, only the Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star can pass through it."
He continued, "Originally, my name was Kong Wei Chen. I am a descendant of the LuCun Star Clan."
Qin Zhao looked down at Wei Chen and said, "You promised to tell me the truth that day, speak."
Wei Chen said, "My lord, you are the Purple Forbidden Enclosure Star, the future king of Yue Country."
Qin Zhao raised an eyebrow, "If I am the next emperor, why did my father want to harm me?
And why didn't you stop it?"
Wei Chen looked up and asked, "My lord, how old do you think I am?"
His face was already covered in wrinkles, and Qin Zhao casually guessed, "Seventy years old."
"Hehe." Wei Chen laughed self-mockingly, "I just turned thirty in early March this year, just reached adulthood."
He looks like this at thirty?!
Qin Zhao was somewhat surprised.
Wei Chen said, "His Majesty envied the favor you received from above.
I had no power to interfere with his actions.
But for you to descend into this world, it cost me forty years of my life!"
Sensing the host's trembling emotions, 502 spoke to explain, "Although the host chose this mission voluntarily, after entering this world, it belongs to the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Dao here.
The Heavenly Dao will arrange suitable background settings for each character."
"Understood."
Qin Zhao, with a heart full of shock, helped Wei Chen up and said, "You've worked hard."
Tears flowed from Wei Chen's eyes, "I am willing to devote myself to my lord until death!"
When others say this, it's just a formality, but he truly means it.
Qin Zhao nodded, deeply moved, "I am fortunate to have a subordinate like you."
Wei Chen asked, "I wonder if my lord has any plans to contend for power?"
Qin Zhao still hadn't fully trusted Wei Chen and replied, "Before I ascend, I still have several imperial brothers who may vie for the throne. It might not be easy to seize power."
"I will do everything in my power to help the lord ascend the throne, otherwise the Yue Country will suffer!"
These words piqued Qin Zhao's interest, and he asked, "What do you mean?"
"The lord is the king chosen by the heavens. If he cannot take his rightful place, the heavens will bring down divine punishment!"
So, it seems that the fate of the downfall of the Yue Country in the original book is truly related to Princess Zhaoyang!
Qin Zhao said, "Since that's the case, I will do my best for the people of Yue Country and give it a try."
Wei Chen knelt down again and said, "I will represent the common people and express my gratitude for Your Highness's benevolence!"
After that, Qin Zhao and Wei Chen discussed their plans for the near future and left the Imperial Observatory.
On Tai Ping Street, they encountered the three top-ranked individuals appointed by the emperor, dressed in crimson dragon robes and riding horses with golden saddles and crimson manes, parading through the streets!
The crowd was massive, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air.
And among the top-ranked individuals was Liu Yu!
Qin Zhao sighed inwardly, realizing that he hadn't misjudged her!
After returning home, Qin Zhao received a letter from Liu Yu, delivered by Nangong Ling, on the third day.
Qin Zhao opened the letter and read: "I am Liu Yu, inviting Miss Qin to a small gathering at the Drunken Fragrance Tower. Would you honor me with your presence?"
Although it was something she should attend, Qin Zhao asked Nangong Ling to decline on her behalf.
As a newly ranked top-three contestant, Liu Yu was currently in the limelight.
Every move she made was under the watchful eyes of the important figures in the capital.
Meeting at this time would be like inviting trouble.
She would have to wait for another opportunity.
On May 20th, the emperor announced that he would go on a hunting expedition to Long'an Commandery on June 3rd!
The Second Prince would stay in the capital to govern, while other members of the imperial family, as well as officials from the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of War, would accompany him.
In preparation for this event, the noble families in the capital invited each other to practice horsemanship and archery.
Qin Zhao was also on the guest list.
"Your Highness, will you be going? Do you need me to prepare your riding attire?" Linglong asked.
