Chapter 19: The Dragon Banquet and Bei Chenyi

The golden octagonal incense carriage adorned with sculpted cranes was exquisite and magnificent. The driver was exceptionally skilled, guiding the carriage at breakneck speed; in the blink of an eye, they traveled from the Yun estate to the imperial palace road in Chu capital.

“Driver outside, I’m not rushing to be reborn—slow down,” Yun Feiyue’s languid voice drifted from within the carriage.

Yun Hai’s face darkened. He, the dashing and unparalleled second young master of the Yun family, had already resigned himself to acting as a coachman, but being ordered about like this was too much. “Yun Feiyue, you’re too much!”

Yun Feiyue sighed dramatically. “Fine, then get off. I’ll let Yun Dao drive instead.”

Yun Hai instantly deflated, his mouth twisted in frustration as he silently cursed Yun Feiyue. Just wait—I’ll deal with you later, you little brat!

“Alright, alright, I’ll go slower.” For the sake of the beautiful Princess Ye Qi, he could only endure.

Yun Feiyue struggled to keep from bursting out laughing. “That’s better! If you want to pursue a beauty, you’ll have to endure some humiliation. Second Brother, this is for your own good. When you marry the princess and become her consort, you’ll probably be treated like a little wife every day. Being a coachman is good for your character. Besides, if you don’t look the part, the guards at the palace won’t let you in.”

Yun Hai's face remained gloomy as he silently slowed the carriage.

They entered the palace through the Noon Gate, their passage unhindered, and soon arrived at Longhua Hall. Longhua Hall was dignified and grand, with eight imposing dragon pillars before the entrance, displaying the majesty of the royal family of Chu.

The Dragon Banquet was the most important feast for the new emperor, attended by the top ten figures on Chu’s Qingwu List and several exceptionally talented experts from the Golden Lance continent.

Although Yun Hai was the legitimate second son of the Yun family, he didn’t specialize in martial arts and thus hadn’t received an invitation.

Yun Feiyue had barely taken a few steps when she saw her third brother, Yun Feng. She hurried over and waved. “Third Brother, shall we go together?”

Yun Feng turned at the sound, catching sight of Yun Hai in servant’s attire. His mouth twitched noticeably. “You!” He looked as if he could hardly stand it. “Second Brother, you’re too much!”

Yun Hai, unable to dodge, turned his head and composed himself, flamboyantly tossing his hair. “I’m experimenting with disguise today—what, got a problem?”

Yun Feng coldly turned away. “No.” He then strode off.

Watching Yun Feng’s resolute retreat, Yun Feiyue covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Yun Hai shot her a glare and sighed. “Ah, Yue’er, if you keep this up, the Yun family will have to pay so much dowry that you’ll never... get... married!”

Damn! “You filthy!” Yun Feiyue punched toward Yun Hai.

Yun Hai took off running. “Face reality!”

……

Just as Yun Feiyue was fuming, Little Bean bounced over with a smile. “Miss, you’ve arrived! His Highness sent me to fetch you. Please, come in with me!”

Yun Feiyue took Little Mumu’s hand and stepped into Longhua Hall, her eyes scanning the surroundings—yet she did not see Mo Feiyuan. Wasn’t he supposed to meet her here?

“When will Lord Shen Yin arrive?” Yun Feiyue asked Little Bean.

Little Bean shook his head. “I don’t know, but... perhaps we could ask His Majesty.”

His Majesty? Yun Feiyue looked up to the dragon throne, where the new emperor of Chu, Bei Chen Yi, sat in a bright yellow dragon robe, a golden crown of dragon scales on his head, his dark hair tied in a topknot. He lacked the usual imperial dominance, exuding instead a cold, sinister aura. Even the vibrant robes could not diminish his delicate, almost androgynous presence.

His face was sharply pointed, with fine brows and narrow, upturned eyes, thin lips, and an air of refined fragility.

He looked at Yun Feiyue and smiled, his sickly pale face suddenly radiant. He raised the wine cup before him and drained it in a toast to Yun Feiyue. He smiled, though there was a hint of sorrow in it.

A trace of red wine clung to his lips; he wiped it away, but his gaze never left Yun Feiyue.

Yun Feiyue turned aside, took a cup from Little Bean, and drank it down in one motion. Their reunion was calm, the first in more than three years, and unexpected in such a setting. Even if these memories didn’t belong to this soul, a touch of melancholy lingered.

Yet Yun Feiyue quickly shook off the emotion. What did it matter to her? She set her cup on a tray and was about to sit when a splash of violet appeared before her.

“Sister!”

Gongsun Ziyan, must you be so annoying? Yun Feiyue eyed her with boredom.

Ziyan smiled sweetly, as if she had forgotten all past grudges with Yun Feiyue, behaving exceptionally docile. “Sister, regarding the matter of the Butterfly Buddha, it was entirely my fault. I apologize to you. Yi has already said he put it behind him long ago, so I won’t dwell on it either. But, don’t you think it’s pointless to cling to fleeting things?”

After speaking, Gongsun Ziyan’s smile grew even brighter, almost blossoming.

Yun Feiyue coldly uttered a single word. “Scram!” She was a nuisance!

Ziyan’s smile froze instantly. Yun Feiyue’s command was loud enough to draw every gaze in the hall; Yun Feng rushed to stand before Yun Feiyue protectively.

Ziyan bit her lip and turned to look at Bei Chen Yi, her face full of grievance. He merely lowered his eyes, swirling the liquid in his cup, his expression unreadable. The pitiful eyes turned toward him seemed to pass unnoticed.

Ziyan grew anxious. “Your Majesty!”

Only then did Bei Chen Yi slowly raise his head, glancing at Ziyan, then at Yun Feiyue, his misty gaze betraying no emotion.

After a long pause, he finally spoke. “Sister Yue, she is my future empress.”