His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

Feng Xingyu sat down next to Mo Sangyu and said in a cold voice, "Let him in."

Ya Zi pushed open the door and entered.

Behind him followed a woman dressed in a black outfit.

It was Yueying, the leader of the secret guards who had returned from the capital.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

As soon as Yueying entered the Imperial Study, she knelt down and begged for forgiveness: "Your Majesty and the Empress have returned without orders. Please punish me."

After saying that, he looked up.

Upon seeing Mo Sangyu's stunningly beautiful face, even though she had long heard that the current Empress had silver hair and a different appearance, Yueying was still momentarily stunned by her beauty.

But she didn't show her delight, quickly concealing the amazement in her eyes.

"Get up first."

Feng Xingyu had no intention of punishing anyone.

Yueying had been by his side for many years, and he knew her temperament quite well.

She wouldn't do something like this—unauthorized transfer—unless there are special circumstances.

But she didn't provide any explanation, so there's only one possibility.

It must be related to her private affairs.

Feng Xingyu didn't ask any further questions, only saying, "Now that you're back, stay in Wudu from now on."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

When Yueying stood up, she realized that the Empress was staring at her with a smiling gaze. Although they were two completely different faces, meeting her eyes still gave her that familiar feeling.

This immediately put Yueying at ease.

"Your subordinate takes his leave."

Just as Yueying was about to leave, Mo Sangyu called out to her, "Wait."

Mo Sangyu stood up and walked towards her: "I'll go out with you."

After saying that, she looked at Ya Zi and asked, "Do you have anything else to say? If not, let's go together."

"Slave...I'm fine."

He heard they were back and wanted to come and see them.

Ya Zi bowed to Feng Xingyu and said, "Your subject takes his leave."

Then, he followed Yueying and Mo Sangyu out of the Imperial Study.

Watching the three of them leave, Feng Xingyu thought, "..."

Mo Sangyu and Yueying left the Imperial Study together, with Ya Zi following behind them.

Moon Shadow walked half a step ahead, her back straight and her steps light.

Mo Sangyu looked at her and suddenly asked, "Yueying, how old are you this year?"

Yueying was slightly taken aback, not expecting the Empress to ask this.

She lowered her eyes and answered truthfully, "Your Majesty, I am twenty-four today."

At twenty-four, she was considered an old maid in this dynasty.

Mo Sangyu nodded and asked, "Do you have someone you like? If so, you can tell me, and I'll help you make the decision."

"..."

Moon Shadow almost choked on her own saliva.

The person, who was always expressionless and had a cold demeanor, suddenly blushed slightly, whether because of something she was thinking about or simply because of Mo Sangyu's words.

"Your Majesty, please don't joke with your subordinate."

She tried her best to cover it up, her voice calm: "I have never thought of getting married in my life."

Mo Sangyu observed her expression and roughly understood what was going on.

His sudden return from the capital must be related to Feng Tingye.

Since she was unwilling to talk about it, Mo Sangyu neither exposed her nor pressed her for details.

"Your Majesty, I must go and attend to my duties now."

Yueying bowed, turned and quickly left.

Mo Sangyu withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Ya Zi behind her.

Ya Zi was quietly listening to the drama unfold when he suddenly met Mo Sangyu's gaze, and his steps faltered.

He stood there, a hint of unease on his face.

Mo Sangyu smiled and said, "I've been wanting to ask you for a while now, how's Wanwan been lately? I heard she's been very clingy to you."

Ya Zi lowered her eyes, as if her thoughts had been seen through, and felt inexplicably guilty.

He paused for a moment before speaking, his voice lower than usual: "Miss Wan is very good, she... is very well-behaved."

Mo Sangyu looked at him but didn't reply.

Ya Zi felt increasingly uncomfortable under her gaze. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he added, "I will take good care of Miss Wan."

"Yazi, you are a smart person."

Mo Sangyu gently curved her lips into a smile, her tone mild: "You should understand what I mean, but I'm not forcing you or putting any pressure on you. You have the right to choose, but you absolutely cannot hurt Wanwan."

Ya Zi suddenly looked up and met Mo Sangyu's gaze.

In those shimmering black eyes, there was not a trace of probing or questioning, only concern and a tenderness he could hardly believe.

Miss, it seems to be the same Miss as before.

"Your subject understands."

Ya Zi's eyes suddenly reddened, but his expression was no longer tense. Instead, he solemnly promised, "I will protect her with my life."

"it is good."

Mo Sangyu was satisfied with his attitude: "I believe you."

After saying that, she left first.

Ya Zi stood there, watching Mo Sangyu's figure disappear at the end of the corridor, a smile slowly spreading across her eyes.

into the night.

On the official road outside the city, two caravans arrived one after the other, less than an hour apart.

Wen Zhixia, accompanied by the Vice Minister of Rites, received them at the city gate.

She changed into a dignified lotus-colored official robe, her hair was neatly styled, and her expression was noble and aloof, yet gentle.

The first group consisted of envoys from the Bai Di Kingdom in the northern frontier.

The leader was a middle-aged man, tall and rugged, with deep-set eyes and a wild air about him.

He dismounted, cupped his hands in greeting to Wen Zhixia, and exchanged pleasantries in somewhat broken Mandarin.

Wen Zhixia responded with a smile, displaying impeccable manners and composure.

The second group consisted of envoys from the Cangwu Kingdom in the eastern border region.

The leader was a young woman, about twenty years old, dressed in a crimson brocade robe. She had a heroic air about her and exuded a sharp and unyielding presence in every gesture.

She introduced herself as the eldest princess of Cangwu Kingdom, who had come to offer her congratulations on the orders of her imperial brother.

In the present-day Da Chen, starting with Wen Zhixia, the status of women is much higher than before. Under Mo Sangyu's strict decrees, women can not only read and write, but also engage in business and take the imperial examinations, and eventually become officials in the court.

Therefore, the officials of Da Chen did not find it problematic that a woman could act as an envoy to visit Da Chen.

Wen Zhixia handled the situation with ease, ordering his men to settle the two groups of envoys in the post stations within the city.

The envoys from both countries were led to two separate post stations, one on the east and one on the west, separated by a street, where they were settled in.

Wen Zhixia instructed the Vice Minister of Rites to treat him well, and then returned to the palace to report back.

Of the envoys from the three kingdoms, only the people from Qingyue Kingdom have not yet arrived.

Late at night, Feng Xingyu returned to Zhaohua Palace after finishing his work.

Mo Sangyu leaned against the headboard, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, a book in her hand.

Hearing footsteps, she glanced up at him, then looked back at the pages of her book.

Feng Xingyu sat down beside her and reached out to take the book from her hand: "It's late, time to go to bed."

The moment the words left his mouth, their eyes narrowed simultaneously.

Someone broke into the palace.

A deep blue light shone from the palace walls, like ripples spreading across water after a pebble has been thrown in.

Several dark figures tried to sneak in through the palace walls, but were violently repelled by an invisible force.

Mo Sangyu put on her coat and flew out.

Feng Xingyu followed behind her.

The two landed on the palace wall, looking down at the outside world.

Several men in black lay sprawled on the ground, some clutching their chests, others rubbing their heads, weapons scattered everywhere, and all of them wore bewildered expressions.

They clearly hadn't expected that there was an invisible wall outside the palace.

One of the men in black got up, gritted his teeth, and tried again.

It had barely reached the palace wall when it was bounced back.

Another person, refusing to believe in superstition, also charged forward and was similarly thrown back.

Mo Sangyu leaned against the wall, watching them try again and again, only to be bounced away each time, a faint smile curving her red lips.

If we can't stop Yun Yihe and his gang, can't we at least stop these nobodies?

However, these people are really impatient.

Feng Xingyu stood beside her, looking at the disheveled figures outside the wall, a hint of coldness flashing in his red eyes.

Neither the couple intended to go down and stop them.

Anyway, they can't get in, so no matter what they do, they won't make any waves.

"It seems the rumors are true. The Great Chen Kingdom is just like Youdu City, both of them have built that mysterious defensive wall."

Below, the low voices of the men in black talking could be heard.

"I've heard that all the important towns and passes in the Great Chen Dynasty have been equipped with these mysterious defensive walls. Doesn't that make the Great Chen Dynasty invincible?"

"Let's go, we'll talk about it when we get back."

The figures quickly disappeared.

But not long after, several more dark figures appeared from the shadows.

This time, it was clearly not with the others from before.

The previous wave was probably from the Bai Di Kingdom, while this wave is from the Cangwu Kingdom.

Several of them were slender, and they were all women.

Their purpose, like that of the Bai Di Kingdom, was to investigate whether the palace truly had an impenetrable transparent wall, as rumored.

The result, of course, needs no further explanation.

Everyone was knocked around, dazed and confused, and fell flat on their faces.

One of them seemed to be of particularly high status. When she fell, the people below reached out to catch her, some even lying down to act as her human cushion.

Oh.

It's no surprise that the eldest princess herself has come.

Mo Sangyu watched with great interest.

Below, the woman was helped up, brushed the dust off her robes, and looked up at the empty wall.

Under the moonlight, she ripped off the black cloth covering her face, revealing a bright and beautiful face with a hint of stubborn defiance in her eyes.

It was none other than Princess Jiang Shiyu of Cangwu Kingdom.

"There's nothing there, so why can't I get in?"

Jiang Shiyu refused to believe it and turned to walk in another direction, preparing to try again in a different place.

A subordinate quickly pulled her back: "Princess, let it go, don't hurt yourself and make us late for tomorrow night's palace banquet."

Another subordinate also advised, "Princess, don't forget our purpose this time. We must win over the Emperor of Da Chen. I've heard that the Emperor of Da Chen is very handsome. If we marry him, we won't lose out."

"Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving."

Jiang Shiyu glanced back at her subordinate, her tone laced with arrogance: "Let's see him tomorrow night. If he's not that good-looking, this princess won't marry him."

Upon hearing these words, Mo Sangyu's smile widened, and she turned to look at Feng Xingyu beside her: "It's for you."

In the darkness, it was impossible to see the expression on Feng Xingyu's face.

All I could feel was the coldness emanating from him, like a sudden gust of wind on a winter night, chilly and breezy.

"Let's go."

Feng Xingyu grabbed her waist and brought her back to Zhaohua Palace, his knuckles still taut when he let go.

"You seem quite happy that you came for me?"

His red eyes stared intently at her, his tone cool and detached.

Mo Sangyu looked up, the smile still lingering in her eyes, and gently brushed her fingers against his sleeve: "Are you angry?"

"You don't care at all that others are after your husband."

Feng Xingyu frowned, his expression serious: "Shouldn't I be angry?"

"I did care."

Mo Sangyu reached out to pull him, but he dodged her, his tone resentful: "Ayu, aren't you worried at all that someone else will take me away?"

"You won't."

"What if?"

"Then... we don't need it."

Feng Xingyu: "..."

My heart feels even more heavy.

He turned to leave, but Mo Sangyu grabbed him: "I know you won't be taken away by anyone, and I'm not indifferent. What are you angry about?"

Feng Xingyu looked at her and sighed softly.

Even if he knew that Ayu wouldn't be taken away, he wouldn't be able to remain so calm if someone had designs on her.

She just doesn't care about him that much. If she were to lose him one day, she would probably... be able to accept it.

"Never mind, let's go to sleep."

Feng Xingyu forced himself not to think about this problem. Ayu was just like that, always clear-headed and rational. It wasn't like they had just met...

Are you still angry?

Mo Sangyu looked at him with bright eyes, which softened his heart.

"Not angry."

He simply lacks a sense of security.

"alright."

Mo Sangyu pulled him to sit down on the bed and reached out to pat his head: "This is a sign that I trust you. You should be happy. If two people are together and don't even have basic trust, then I don't think there's any point in being together."

Feng Xingyu carefully considered her words.

Makes sense.

It's his own problem.

Abandoned and disliked from a young age, he is sensitive and suspicious deep down...

But he has gotten much better since he met Ayu.

"I see."

"good."

The next morning, the envoy from Qingyue Kingdom finally arrived.

The convoy slowly entered the city gate, its banners fluttering and its ranks orderly. At a glance, it was clear that it was different from the Bai Di and Cangwu of yesterday.

The leader was a young man, dressed in a moon-white robe, with a handsome face and a sickly pallor between his brows.

He sat on his horse, his back ramrod straight, his gaze calmly sweeping across the streets of the foggy city, as if he were surveying it, or perhaps just casually glancing at it.

Wen Zhixia still stood at the city gate to greet them.

She was busy until very late last night, but she was still in great spirits and her manners were impeccable.

The young man dismounted and nodded slightly to Wen Zhixia.

"Shen Hanzhou, the envoy of Qingyue Kingdom, has come to offer congratulations on the orders of the King."

Wen Zhixia returned the favor.

"Lord Shen, you have come from afar and must be tired. Please follow me. The inn is ready. You may rest here for now. There will be a banquet in the palace tonight, and someone will come to escort you."

Shen Hanzhou nodded without saying anything more.

The few followers behind him were also quiet and silent, unlike the rough and rugged Bai Di Kingdom or the flamboyant Cangwu Kingdom.

The entire team exuded an indescribable composure, like a sword hidden in its sheath, its sharpness concealed, yet commanding respect.

Wen Zhixia ordered someone to lead them to the post station before returning to prepare for the wedding the next day.

Inside Zhaohua Palace, Mo Sangyu lay on a recliner, drinking tea.

Feng Xingyu sat next to her, holding a memorial in his hand, but he didn't really look at it, his gaze occasionally glancing at her face.

"What are you looking at?" Mo Sangyu asked without looking up.

"The people from Qingyue Kingdom have arrived."

Feng Xingyu put down the memorial: "The envoy's name is Shen Hanzhou. During the morning court session, Ya Zi found out that this person is the eldest disciple of the Grand Preceptor of Qingyue Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Mo Sangyu put down his teacup: "Tonight's banquet is likely to be quite spectacular."

We can look forward to it.