Chapter 29
The tinkling sound of the zither was like a clear stream, continuously resonating through the air.
Recently, the Prime Minister’s residence had been bustling with activity. The upcoming marriage of the Prime Minister’s daughter to the only prince of the Yan Kingdom had caused quite a commotion. The entire city of Lu had seen an influx of new faces, and as the wedding day approached, the excitement only grew.
Although the Prime Minister’s daughter’s marriage was primarily a matter for the Yan Kingdom, and despite the grandiosity of the event, it was the marriage of Prince Ye that had caused a stir across the Ten Kingdoms.
Shangguan Ye was not just the only prince of the Yan Kingdom; he was also one of the Four War Gods of the Ten Kingdoms, known as the War God of the battlefield. With a decade of war experience and numerous influential connections, the number of people eager to curry favor with him was countless.
As a result, despite the four gates of Lu City being open, traffic jams were frequent, and the court had to send troops to maintain order.
The once quiet Prince’s residence was now filled with visitors, bustling with activity.
However, this liveliness seemed to avoid the peaceful courtyard where Murong Qiufeng resided.
Since leaving the Prince’s residence nearly ten days ago, Murong Qiufeng had not seen Shangguan Ye again. The preparations for the wedding in the Prime Minister’s residence did not require his involvement, and his parents were too preoccupied with other matters to focus on him. They had only introduced him to a young lady and suggested he spend time with her.
Sometimes, Murong Qiufeng wondered if his father was considering arranging a marriage for him and his sister together.
As for Shangguan Ye, his absence from Murong Qiufeng’s sight was not due to a deliberate avoidance but rather his own overwhelming schedule. He took the wedding very seriously, paying close attention to every detail and attending numerous social events. Furthermore, hearing that Murong Qiufeng was getting closer to a certain young lady made him somewhat frustrated.
This frustration felt like a petty quarrel. He wasn’t worried that Murong Qiufeng would develop feelings for the young lady, as he had learned Murong Qiufeng’s character over a few days. Although Murong Qiufeng appeared friendly, he was distant towards those he considered outsiders—cold and aloof, to put it bluntly.
Moreover, Shangguan Ye sensed that Murong Qiufeng, while not outwardly displeased with the marriage arrangement, was internally resistant, merely resigned to the situation.
Under this psychological influence, Murong Qiufeng would not only not develop any affection for the arranged woman but would likely grow increasingly averse, unless she was extraordinary enough to captivate him at first sight.
Listening to the melodious and lingering zither music, Murong Qiufeng, who had a deep love for music, found himself lost in thought, reminiscing about the carefree days on the mountain.
“Feng, how is it? Is there any mistake?” The sweet, melodious voice of the young lady broke his reverie, tinged with a hint of shyness and anticipation.
Murong Qiufeng snapped back to reality, offering a faint smile as he nodded. “Yes, it’s good. You’re improving quickly.”
“Really? Then I’ll play it again for you.” The young lady’s face lit up with joy, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes filled with shyness as she prepared to play again.
Murong Qiufeng sighed inwardly, feeling quite impatient. However, he maintained a calm exterior. “No need. You’ve been playing all day. You should rest for a while. How about you go spend some time with Yun’er?”
The young lady, misinterpreting his subtle dismissal as an encouragement to bond with Murong Qiufeng’s sister, blushed even more, already imagining herself as his future wife. Murong Qiufeng had been treating her well these days, seemingly without any dissatisfaction.
After she left, he sighed deeply, moving to sit at the zither table. His fingers lightly touched the strings, playing a tune of “Clear Wind,” but it was filled with a sense of melancholy and unfulfilled ambition, like a hero facing his decline, trapped like a caged beast, until he could play no more.
Though this place was his home, everything here felt alien, as if he did not belong. His father’s arrangements made him feel like a valuable tool without any autonomy, drifting aimlessly.
A sudden sense of fear gripped him, a fear of being trapped like a cornered beast.
From now on, he would have to live this way, without the freedom of the martial world, unable to roam the mountains and rivers, or be with his fellow disciples. He would be stuck in the hypocritical court, possibly losing himself just like those around him.
He suddenly thought of Shangguan Ye, remembering the military stories he had shared. Despite the harsh and dangerous life of a soldier, it seemed to offer a certain honesty.
This thought led him to wonder what Shangguan Ye was doing at that moment. In Lu City, he had only Shangguan Ye as a friend, and he wished he could confide in him about his frustrations.
As the night grew late and the Prime Minister’s residence was bathed in a red glow with lanterns everywhere, the atmosphere was festively charged. In three days, the wedding would take place.
Just as Murong Qiufeng was falling asleep, a sudden noise woke him. As a martial artist, he could easily identify the sound and its source.
In the dead of night, someone had stealthily entered the Prime Minister’s residence. The intentions were clear—they were up to no good.
Murong Qiufeng quickly got up, quietly slipping on his clothes and using lightness skills to track the intruder.
He saw the shadow moving swiftly across the rooftop and eventually land. Murong Qiufeng paused, then noticed with alarm that it was Yun’er’s courtyard—the intruder must be a thief.
Alarmed, he rushed over but saw the shadow quickly leaping away, now accompanied by another person in the thief’s arms.
Murong Qiufeng’s expression darkened as he moved to intercept. He shouted, “Put her down!”
The shadow seemed startled but did not comply. Instead, it lashed out with a whip, creating distance between them before swiftly heading in another direction.
Murong Qiufeng hesitated for a moment before quickly giving chase.
