The next morning, Murong Xue and Yun Lang were up early.
Murong Xue, fully dressed, examined herself in the mirror and smiled with satisfaction.
"Wow! So beautiful! Xue'er, you look stunning like this!"
"Yun Lang, this is my most beautiful look! Do you like it?" Murong Xue asked with a smile.
"I think this is the real Xue'er. Before, you only suited plain long dresses. No matter what you wore, you looked a bit old-fashioned, but today you are truly beautiful!" Yun Lang praised sincerely.
"Heh heh! Thank you, Yun Lang!" Murong Xue said with a smile.
"Xue'er, since we've decided to be together, we need to act quickly. Otherwise, those other women will really be everywhere!"
"I know. Let's go find Father King to discuss it! I can't wait!" Murong Xue said excitedly.
"Then let's go now!"
Yun Lang finished speaking and led Murong Xue towards the Emperor's imperial study.
Inside the Imperial Study
"Father King, do you really intend for me to be with Murong Xue?" Yun Lang asked directly.
"Yes! You two grew up together, and you love each other. This matter is settled!" the Emperor stated firmly.
"Father King, could I have a few days to consider this?" Yun Lang asked tentatively.
"Yun Lang, don't you want to be with Xue'er anymore?"
"That's not it! Father King, I feel our relationship hasn't reached the point of marriage, so I want to think about it for a few more days!"
"Alright, think about it for as many days as you wish! However, you must make a decision soon!" the Emperor said solemnly.
"Yes! Father King! I understand!" Yun Lang replied respectfully.
"Then you may withdraw now. I have something to say to Xue'er!"
"Then your son takes his leave!" Yun Lang said and left the imperial study with Murong Xue.
"Xue'er! I want to chat with you alone!" Yun Lang said.
"Okay! Wait for me!"
Murong Xue turned and went into the inner chamber.
Soon, Murong Xue came out with a bottle of wine. "Yun Lang, let's talk while we eat!"
"Okay!"
Each holding a wine glass, the two sat on chairs and slowly savored the fine wine and delicacies.
Yun Lang drained his glass and handed it to Murong Xue.
Murong Xue took the glass and took a sip.
"Xue'er! Have you been wronged at home these past few days?"
"I... I haven't!"
"Then... is Yun Haoyu treating you well?"
"Quite well!"
"Xue'er! Let's get married as soon as possible. You can't always be taken advantage of by Yun Haoyu!"
"Yun Lang!" Murong Xue called out playfully. "Yun Haoyu is not that kind of person!"
"Is he? Only you know what kind of person he is!"
Yun Lang's words carried hidden meaning, which Murong Xue understood. She knew Yun Lang had misunderstood.
"Yun Lang, I haven't! We..."
"Who are you?" Just as Murong Xue was about to explain, a roar came from the doorway, followed by a figure who rushed in and struck towards Yun Lang's neck with an open palm.
"Ah!" Murong Xue screamed in fright.
"Xue'er..." Yun Lang tried to protect Murong Xue, but it was too late. He was about to be struck.
"Bang!" With a heavy blow, Yun Lang was sent flying.
"Cough, cough..." Yun Lang spat out a mouthful of blood, struggled to get up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, "Yun Haoyu, what are you doing?"
"What am I doing? How dare you betray me! I'll kill you!"
"You... are you crazy? Xue'er is your sister!" Yun Lang said loudly.
"Sister? Hmph..." Yun Haoyu snorted coldly, "She's not worthy of being my sister! The only sister I, Yun Haoyu, have is Yun Ling'er!"
"Yun Ling'er? Who is she?" Murong Xue looked at Yun Haoyu in confusion.
"Murong Xue, you've even forgotten Ling'er?" Yun Haoyu exclaimed in surprise.
"Ling'er?" Murong Xue furrowed her brow, racking her brain.
"Xue'er, have you really forgotten me?" Yun Haoyu shouted, unwilling.
"You are..." Murong Xue examined him carefully, and then suddenly realized, "You are Yun Haoxuan?"
"That's right, I am Yun Haoxuan! We've known each other for so long, and you have no memory of me?"
"I didn't forget on purpose!" Murong Xue explained.
"Yun Ling'er is my sister, my own sister, the only child of our Yun family, the apple of the Yun family's eye!"
"Yun Ling'er!" Murong Xue murmured.
"Yun Ling'er! Yun Ling'er..." Yun Haoyu kept muttering, "Yun Ling'er, our destiny is truly wonderful. You are the only child of the Yun family, the future hope of the Yun family. I am truly fortunate!"
"Yun Haoxuan! Can you let Yun Lang go?" Murong Xue pleaded.
"Let him go? Impossible!"
"Are you really so heartless? Yun Lang is your son!"
"So what? He is not worthy in the first place! I, Yun Haoxuan, was destined to inherit the throne from birth! And I have no son!"
Yun Haoxuan's words made Murong Xue feel a little disappointed. He's not worthy? Why is he not worthy? He is clearly more outstanding than Yun Lang, so why doesn't he have the right to be Emperor?
"But Yun Lang is the future hope of the Yun family!"
"Although Yun Lang is intelligent, his mind is not mature, and his temperament is not steady! I worry that he might ruin the entire Yun family, or even the entire Great Yan Kingdom, out of momentary impulse. We must seize the opportunity. While he is young, we must immediately crown him Crown Prince! This way, his status will be noble, and he will no longer be bullied like before!"
Yun Haoxuan's words plunged Murong Xue into silence.
"Xue'er, what are you thinking?" Seeing Murong Xue looking absent-minded, Yun Haoyu couldn't help but ask.
"Oh! Nothing... nothing! Just thinking about some things!" Murong Xue replied perfunctorily.
"You don't want to marry me? Or are you afraid I'll hurt Yun Lang?" Yun Haoyu said coldly.
"Of course I'm not afraid!" Murong Xue answered without hesitation.
"Heh! Good. Since you're not afraid, then I'll let Yun Lang go!" Yun Haoyu sneered.
"Thank you!" Murong Xue said gratefully.
"Yun Lang! Are you alright?" Murong Xue asked with concern.
"I'm fine! But Yun Haoxuan, you'd better be gentle with Xue'er in the future! Otherwise, I will never forgive you!" Yun Lang said angrily.
"Xue'er, I don't like you being too close to other men!"
"Yun Lang, I just regard him as a brother!"
"You have no relationship at all!" Yun Lang said impolitely.
"You..." Yun Haoxuan wanted to retort.
"Enough! Stop arguing!" Murong Xue interrupted.
"Hmph! Let's go back to the palace!" Yun Haoxuan snorted coldly and left with a flick of his sleeve.
After Yun Haoxuan left, Murong Xue finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yun Lang, thank you for saving me just now!"
"Xue'er, you really are my silly girl. Why do we need to thank each other? I just won't allow my fiancée to have intimate contact with other men!"
"What do you mean by that? I'm getting more and more confused!" Murong Xue said with a confused expression.