"Your Majesty, as I have stated, I already have a fiancée. I hold no romantic feelings for the Ninth Princess. The Ninth Princess is innocent, romantic, lively, and lovable; she will surely find someone much better than I. I implore Your Majesty to withdraw this decree!"
"Insolent! My imperial decree has been issued. If I were to retract it, would that not invite ridicule from all under heaven?"
"Then I can only ask the Ninth Princess to bear with me."
"Bear with you? You truly regard Little Jiu as the apple of my eye. If you dare to treat Little Jiu poorly, I will exterminate your entire clan."
Song Xiuyuan bowed his head upon hearing this. "Even so, I cannot feign affection for someone I do not love. Doing so would not only deceive the Ninth Princess but also Your Majesty."
"You..." The Jade Emperor snorted. "You certainly know how to speak. Are you implying I am forcing an unwilling union?"
"I dare not!"
The Jade Emperor looked at Song Xiuyuan. Even in his fury, Song Xiuyuan remained composed, standing tall and elegant, exuding an air of nobility. He did not resemble a subject at all, but rather a monarch. With this thought, his gaze grew increasingly cold.
As a ruler, he detested anyone who resembled an emperor more than he did.
"If you dare not, then marry Little Jiu," the Jade Emperor said coldly.
"I cannot do it!"
"If you cannot, then die," the Jade Emperor exclaimed in exasperation.
"If I have offended Your Majesty, I beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
The Jade Emperor, hearing this, was angered to the point of laughter. "You fear death as well?"
"I am but a mortal. How could I not fear death?"
"If you fear death, then become my consort. I will marry my beloved Little Jiu to you. From this moment forth, you will be the consort of the Jade Kingdom. Such good fortune is something others would beg for, yet for you, it is a crime punishable by death."
"I do not like the Ninth Princess. If I were to marry her under such circumstances, I cannot guarantee that I would treat her well."
"You are truly audacious. You cannot guarantee you will treat Little Jiu well? Do you believe I would have you drawn and quartered?"
"When the sovereign commands death, the subject must obey," Song Xiuyuan replied indifferently.
"You..."
At this moment, a voice interrupted the Jade Emperor. "Imperial Brother, you still possess your sharp wit! Still so overbearing."
The Jade Emperor glanced at the person entering and sneered, "Are you implying I am old?"
"Imperial Brother, it's just a saying, why take it so seriously?"
The Jade Emperor snorted, "What brings you here?"
Prince Minnan smiled and said, "If Imperial Brother has finished your lesson, then this younger brother has something to consult the Prime Minister about."
The Jade Emperor waved his hand. "You may withdraw."
"Your subject (younger brother) takes his leave!"
Upon exiting the imperial study, Song Xiuyuan bowed to Prince Minnan. "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Prince Minnan extended his hand to help Song Xiuyuan up, then pulled him to a more secluded spot and asked, "Xiuyuan, do you recognize this?"
Prince Minnan took out a sachet from his sleeve. Song Xiuyuan's eyes widened. He stepped forward and took the sachet, his voice laced with a hint of alarm. "Your Highness, where did you obtain this sachet?"
"When I arrived, I encountered Miss Xue. Her bodyguard seemed familiar, so I paid closer attention and discovered this sachet."
Song Xiuyuan's gaze turned cold. He clutched the sachet tightly, then bowed. "Your Highness, I must take my leave. I will express my gratitude later...!"
"No need for thanks. Hurry along, but don't forget to help me get rid of that lunatic woman." Prince Minnan said.
"Your subject takes his leave!" Song Xiuyuan eagerly departed the palace.
The official guesthouse was where foreign envoys were received. Wei Ziyang resided in the innermost courtyard, a compound with three sections. Upon entering, Wei Ziyang ordered the guards to secure the area, forbidding anyone from entering.
"Let's go." She would rather die than be intimate with the murderer of her father and mother.
He did not leave, but instead held her hand. The once burning heat became comfortable with the touch of coolness. Yet, she still struggled with all her might to push his hand away, but in his eyes, her resistance was like a kitten's playful scratch, only further stirring his desires.
"Miss Xue, I love you, I..."
"Go... get away from me." She tried to sit up, but it was in vain.
"Miss Xue, I want to possess you." His gaze was filled with lust and heat. He untied his robes.
She shook her head, wanting to escape.
Han Wei stood in the courtyard, feeling conflicted. Qi Yuan had instructed him to look after Sister Xue if he encountered her. He was unsure if this was the right thing to do, as she had been drugged with the charm aphrodisiac, and without intimacy with a man, she would die. However, Miss Xue hated Qi Yuan. He was truly at a loss.
Suddenly, Han Wei sensed a peculiar aura from directly ahead. He instinctively looked forward and saw a figure in snow-white robes slowly descending from the sky, as if an immortal had arrived. He looked down upon all beings from above, and an oppressive feeling surged from the depths of his heart.
On his ordinary face were a pair of extremely cold eyes, clear and alluring, with a sharp intensity directed straight at Han Wei.
That aura of authority instantly erupted, as if he were a born king, holding the power of life and death.
Han Wei's heart faltered slightly. This Song Xiuyuan...
"Move aside." Accompanying the clear voice was a biting chill that instantly solidified the surrounding air.
"Prime Minister, this is the official guesthouse. Is the Prime Minister planning to trespass?" Han Wei asked coldly, his gaze sharp.
Song Xiuyuan curved his lips, his words laced with icy coldness. "This is indeed the official guesthouse. Then I must ask, why is my fiancée here?"
"Is Prime Minister mistaken? How could your fiancée be here? If Prime Minister's fiancée is lost, you can tell me, and I can lend my humble efforts to help Prime Minister search."
Song Xiuyuan cast a cold glance at Han Wei. "Where my fiancée is, I already know. The rest depends on whether Commander Wei is willing to cooperate."
"Cooperate how? If Prime Minister wishes to barge into my room, I regret to say I cannot comply." Han Wei lifted the corner of his robes and took a step forward, blocking Song Xiuyuan's path.
"Is that so? Since Commander Han Wei is unwilling to cooperate, then I shall search myself."
"Insolence! This is my room, Prime Minister. Are you overstepping your bounds? Or is this the hospitality of the Jade Emperor?"
Song Xiuyuan stared coldly at Han Wei, his gaze colder than it had ever been, as if it were the depth of winter. The very air around them changed. "Hospitality? I only know that those who harbor my fiancée are not within the scope of my hospitality."
"You..." Han Wei had not expected Song Xiuyuan to be so arrogant. He thought that even if Song Xiuyuan were to take action, he would consider the State of Qi behind him. But now, it seemed Song Xiuyuan would not back down.