Chapter 468: Honesty (Fourth Update)

Chu Liuyue and Elder Ye looked up simultaneously!

Not far behind them, the standing heads of the various families also fell silent and looked over in unison!

A figure walked out from among them.

It was Rong Xiu.

His cold and noble countenance was calm at this moment, showing not a hint of emotion.

However, the heads of the families waiting outside could not help but feel a sense of dread.

Having witnessed this man's strength, they no longer dared to treat Rong Xiu with their previous attitudes.

The crowd became even quieter.

Chu Liuyue took a step forward.

"Your Highness, how are you?"

Rong Xiu met her faintly worried gaze, and his heart warmed.

The fatigue and weariness of these past days seemed to vanish in an instant.

No matter what, there was still one person who had always stayed by his side.

"Let us go home."

Rong Xiu took her hand and spoke softly.

Overnight, a heaven-shaking upheaval occurred in the Kingdom of Yaochen.

First, Rong Jiu raised an army in rebellion, captured the imperial capital, and directly forced the palace.

Then, Situ Xingchen, the Eldest Princess of the Xingluo Kingdom, devoured an eerie power and underwent successive breakthroughs in an attempt to slay Chu Liuyue, but was ultimately possessed and killed in return.

Finally, Prince Li, Rong Xiu, fought Emperor Jiawen to reclaim the belongings of his biological mother, Consort Wan, and emerged victorious with a single sword strike!

Too many things had happened this day, and news spread rapidly throughout the entire imperial capital.

No one thought to suppress the information.

In reality, with such a massive commotion, trying to pretend nothing had happened was nothing more than a dream.

Moreover, the struggle for the imperial throne involved immense stakes; the heads of the great aristocratic families had witnessed everything with their own eyes and would inevitably inform their clans so they would know how to respond to the subsequent situation.

For a time, everyone in the imperial capital was discussing these matters.

Soon, the latest news arrived.

The Third Prince, Rong Jiu, had ascended the throne as Emperor, while Prince Li, Rong Xiu, chose to return to the Mingyue Heavenly Mountain.

As for Emperor Jiawen, he was made Retired Emperor and sent to the Chengye Palace to spend his remaining years in peace.

Opinions were divided regarding this outcome.

After all, everyone now knew that Rong Xiu had not actually been suffering from an illness.

On the contrary, his cultivation talent was extremely high, and his strength was incredibly formidable!

Many people had previously speculated that he and Rong Jiu would fight for the final throne.

They hadn't expected him to actually return to the Mingyue Heavenly Mountain.

As for Emperor Jiawen...

Having been forcibly driven from the throne, what good end could he possibly have?

On the other hand, after Situ Xingchen died, the Xingluo Kingdom showed no reaction at all, as if they had simply moved on.

***

Prince Li's Manor, Bamboo Forest.

Chu Liuyue and Rong Xiu sat facing each other, with a half-finished chessboard placed between them.

A gentle breeze brushed past, making the bamboo leaves rustle.

Rong Xiu set down his chess piece.

"Does Yue'er feel that this Prince is being too heartless?"

Chu Liuyue looked up and asked with some surprise

"Why would Your Highness say such a thing?"

Rong Xiu paused for a moment.

Chu Liuyue suddenly understood.

Was he talking about Emperor Jiawen?

"Your Highness doing this naturally has his own hardships and reasons." Chu Liuyue shook her head gently. "As long as Your Highness feels that doing this is not wrong, then it is not wrong."

The corners of Rong Xiu's thin lips curled slightly. He suddenly leaned in closer, staring intently into her eyes, and asked teasingly

"Does Yue'er mean that no matter what this Prince does, you will always stand on my side?"

His voice was low and languid, with a hint of a nonchalant smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Of course."

Chu Liuyue looked into his deep eyes and spoke with a firm tone.

Her expression was so serious and sincere.

It felt as if something had struck Rong Xiu's heart, and a dark light flashed in his eyes.

"Your Highness is my person; naturally, I will protect Your Highness."

Chu Liuyue laughed, her eyes curving like crescents. It seemed as if she were joking, but the look in her eyes was undeniably resolute.

Rong Xiu knew she meant it.

He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Actually, that statement isn't quite accurate."

"Hmm? Why?" Chu Liuyue was stunned.

Rong Xiu's long fingers tapped lightly on the chessboard, wearing a half-smile.

"This Prince... is not yet Yue'er's person."

His voice grew exceptionally low, the end of his sentence trailing off slightly. As it fell upon her ears, it felt like something was lightly scratching at her heart.

Chu Liuyue suddenly reacted, and she couldn't help but curse inwardly—*Monster!*

"I am afraid I must disappoint Your Highness! I am going to the Tianling Empire now, and Your Highness is returning to the Mingyue Heavenly Mountain. I fear we won't see each other for a while!"

Rong Xiu's sword-like eyebrows twitched slightly

"It seems Yue'er is in a hurry?"

Chu Liuyue said gloomily

"That is nothing compared to how Your Highness has already prepared everything for our grand wedding!"

At this, Rong Xiu felt a bit of regret.

"This Prince did indeed plan the wedding long ago, but... too many things happened in between. I didn't expect it to be delayed until now."

Now, both of them had matters to attend to; a grand wedding was certainly impossible for the time being.

Seeing that Rong Xiu seemed truly quite disappointed, Chu Liuyue's heart stirred

"Since the engagement exists anyway, whether the wedding is a day early or a day late doesn't actually make much difference, does it?"

Rong Xiu gave her a meaningful look and smiled faintly

"Naturally, there is a difference. This Prince has waited for far too long."

A flicker of doubt crossed Chu Liuyue's mind.

It had only been a few months since they first met; why did Rong Xiu's words make it sound as if he had truly waited for a very long time...

"But as long as it is Yue'er, this Prince can wait forever."

Sensing Rong Xiu's deep and tender gaze, Chu Liuyue let out a soft sigh.

In truth, this journey ahead was perilous and fraught with difficulties; she didn't know how long it would be before they could meet again.

"Your Highness, are you truly going back to the Mingyue Heavenly Mountain?"

"The matters in the imperial capital have all been resolved. There is no need to stay any longer."

If he didn't find time to go back, he feared the thirty-six Elders of the Ming Dynasty would come to hunt him down personally.

Additionally, there were other matters he needed to return and handle.

He gently caressed Chu Liuyue's hand—soft and slender—with a lingering, reluctant affection.

Chu Liuyue felt as if her heart had been struck by something soft, a sensation both bittersweet and tender.

Almost without hesitation, she spoke

"Then, when I return from the Tianling Empire, let us hold our wedding. How about it?"

Rong Xiu's expression tightened slightly.

These were the very words he had intended to say.

But he hadn't expected her to take the initiative.

He looked into her eyes, his deep gaze feeling as though it could drown her within it.

After a moment, he leaned down and kissed the space between her brows.

"Alright."

The words were light and simple, yet they contained so much.

Patience, tolerance, waiting, love, and trust...

Chu Liuyue lowered her eyes, lost in thought for a long time, before finally appearing to make a certain decision

"Your Highness, there is something I want to tell you."

Rong Xiu nodded, adopting a listening posture.

Chu Liuyue pressed her lips together, remaining silent for quite a while.

Rong Xiu did not urge her; he simply waited quietly by her side.

After an unknown amount of time, Chu Liuyue finally steeled her heart.

She looked into Rong Xiu's eyes and said, word by word

"My trip to the Tianling Empire this time... the return date is undecided."

"My enemy is there."