Chapter 98 Coming of Age Ceremonies for Girls and Boys

of restraint and calmness. However, a deep ink trace could be seen at the end of the character “京” (capital). It seemed that the writer had paused for quite some time after finishing this character, c...Chapter 98 Coming of Age Ceremony for Yun Qianyue and Crown Ceremony for Rong Jing

The days went by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.

This day was when Rong Jing would receive his hat ceremony (crown ceremony) and when Yun Qianyue would undergo her hairpinning ceremony (coming-of-age ceremony).

Since it was on the same day, and both were extraordinary individuals—Rong Jing being the head heir of the Yong王府 and Yun Qianyue being the only legitimate daughter of the Cloud王府—all eyes were set upon them.

The Yong王府 was located in the northern part of the city while the Cloud王府 was situated in the eastern part. With a distance between them, the Ministry of Rites decided to hold both ceremonies at the same location after discussions with both households. They reported this proposal to the elderly emperor, who agreed and chose Fushou Mountain outside the northern city walls as the venue.

Fushou Mountain was located twenty li north of the northern city. The mountain's shape resembled a giant Buddha, hence its name. Spanning ten miles in length, it had an observatory built at the summit that allegedly dated back a thousand years. It was revered by successive emperors as a place for peace and longevity, where they would pray to heaven on joyous occasions.

During his reign, the founding emperor destroyed all remnants of previous dynasties but spared Fushou Mountain and Lingtai Temple. The temple had earned its preservation due to the merit gained from monks donning armor to save the founding emperor; the mountain was preserved for its symbolic meaning.

The founding emperor climbed Fushou Mountain on his hat ceremony day, during his wedding with the empress, and after ascending the throne. This continued a tradition spanning centuries. Since the Tian Sheng era's founding emperor set this precedent, subsequent generations of emperors and their consorts would hold grand weddings or major celebrations at Fushou Mountain, upholding its sacred status.

Though Yun Qianyue and Rong Jing were not imperial princes, due to their unique and prestigious statuses as members of the Four Great Royal Households, the elderly emperor specially approved for them to jointly hold their hat ceremony and hairpinning ceremony at Fushou Mountain.

Afters the edict was issued, common folk flocked to Fushou Mountain.

On that day, it was especially cold. Upon opening her door, Yun Qianyue saw everything blanketed in frost and snow.

Ye Qian had led Yun Muhuan to Fushou Mountain earlier, and Xiyanyue was dragged along by Ye Qian as well.

The Cloud王爺, Yun Li, and the Seventh Princess arrived at Qianyue Pavilion early in the morning. With Ling Lian and Yi Xue assisting her, Yun Qianyue got dressed properly and then headed to the ancestral temple of the Cloud王府 for a ritual.

Old Cloud王爺 was already waiting outside the ancestral temple. Upon seeing Yun Qianyue’s arrival, he ordered the temple doors opened and then instructed everyone present, "Little Li, Seventh Princess, accompany Miss Yue inside!"

"Yes, Grandfather!" Yun Li and the Seventh Princess responded respectfully.

The Old Cloud王爺 led the way in. The Cloud王爺 held Yun Qianyue's hand as they entered after him, while Yun Li pulled along the Seventh Princess. They all entered the temple, and then the great doors were firmly closed behind them.

Inside the Cloud王府’s ancestral temple was much like it had been months ago during Yun Li’s adoption ceremony, but today there were two additional figures inside: a stunning woman and an elegantly dressed man. These two individuals were very familiar to Yun Qianyue—Yuan Qingqing and Nan Lingrui.

Yuan Qingqing's features were not concealed. Her appearance, similar to Yun Qianyue’s, was visible under the temple’s bright night pearls.

Yun Li and the Seventh Princess paused in their tracks, eyes widening slightly as they looked at the two newcomers with astonishment.

"Mother!" Yun Qianyue called out first.

Yuan Qingqing and Nan Lingrui had been facing the temple entrance. When they saw Yun Qianyue enter, Yuan Qingqing smiled warmly and replied softly, her voice slightly choked, "Yes, my daughter has come of age today! Time flies so quickly!"

A smile spread across Yun Qianyue’s face as tears welled up in her eyes. Though her mother could not stand by her side to help with the ceremony, Yun Qianyue was certain that her heartache was even deeper than her own. But it mattered little since she was alive and standing before her today. Everything else seemed unimportant; having a mother was far better than nothing.

"You really have many tears!" Nan Lingrui chided, stepping forward to gently wipe the tears from Yun Qianyue's eyes with his finger pads. His tone might be rough, but his actions were tender as he rested his chin on her shoulder and said softly, "Dear little sister, now that you've come of age, try your best to get married soon, or else Brother will never find a wife."

Yun Qianyue, initially touched, quickly pulled back when she heard this, pushing him slightly as she asked, "How does whether I can get married have anything to do with you finding a wife"

"Of course it does! If you leave me alone by getting married, then I'll be able to marry someone," Nan Lingrui said softly.

Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes but didn’t reply.

Nan Lingrui nuzzled Yun Qianyue's shoulder and whispered in a low voice, "Little girl, no matter how many times you call others ‘elder brother,’ remember that I'm your only real elder brother. Understand"

Yun Qianyue felt a pang in her eyes and angrily said, "Look at yourself! Where's the look of an older brother"

"Even if I don’t have the appearance of an older brother, I’m still one! We both share the same blood. Besides me, who else is there" Nan Lingrui proudly declared.

Yun Qianyue couldn't refute him and just huffed in response.

Nan Lingrui pulled his head away from her shoulder, reached out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, and then ruffled her hair messily, causing the bun she had styled to come undone.

"Hey! Why are you messing up my hair" Yun Qianyue grabbed his hand and glared at him.

Nan Lingrui withdrew his hand and pushed Yu Qingqing in front of Yun Qianyue, lazily saying, "I’m giving this woman a chance to style your hair. Didn’t you see that she was about to cry"

"Stinky brat! Where did I say I was crying" Yu Qingqing glared back at Nan Lingrui.

"You were crying in your heart, and tears almost drowned your intestines," Nan Lingrui said.

The color of Yu Qingqing’s face flickered momentarily before she blinked her eyes wetly. "My daughter. Of course I want to style her hair! Stinky brat! Last year when you had your coming-of-age ceremony, it was me who styled your hair!"

"You" Nan Lingrui raised his eyebrows. "Wasn’t it the emperor"

"I begged my brother to transform into him and style your hair for you!" Yu Qingqing said.

"Oh, no wonder I thought that old man’s hands were shaking so much that he couldn’t even hold onto a comb at the time," Nan Lingrui exclaimed in realization. "Why was he so excited"

Yu Qingqing blushed.

The Cloud Marquess laughed and said, "At that time, it’s already great your mother didn’t burst into tears on the spot. She couldn’t be expected to hold onto a comb."

"She’s just a dumb woman; indeed she can’t do anything well!" Nan Lingrui pouted but his slight smile betrayed his joy at knowing about this matter. He waved dismissively at Yu Qingqing and said, "I’ve given you the chance now! Hurry up and style her hair for her so that we may leave early for Fushou Mountain. Yongjing probably has already set out."

Yu Qingqing shot Nan Lingrui a sideways glance before she took out a jade comb from her bosom to restyle Yun Qianyue’s hair.

Yun Qianyue stood quietly, at this moment, the joy and emotion of family love overflowed in her heart but could not be expressed.

Cloud Li and Princess Seven stood nearby without making a sound. When Cloud Li saw Yu Qingqing’s face and the ancestral tablet bearing her image in the temple, he understood everything when he saw her again now. Although Princess Seven was unaware of what had transpired between them, she naturally deduced some of it since she was already well-informed. The Cloud Manor deceiving the emperor was a capital offense. As a princess, she wasn’t excluded from this either. Yet today, knowing that something would be revealed in front of her, they still allowed her to enter the ancestral hall. She truly felt like part of their family rather than an imperial daughter or Ming Fei’s daughter. While touched by this, she also thought that marrying into the Rong Manor and becoming Cloud Li’s wife was perhaps the best decision of her life. It made her experience warmth from a home she had never known before; to them, she wasn’t a princess but instead, a wife of the Cloud Manor.

"Cloud Li, even when no one is around, you must still call me brother!" Turning his head towards Cloud Li, Nan Lingrui said seriously, "I’m her real older brother."

Cloud Li understood and nodded obediently, bowing slightly before respectfully addressing him as, "Brother!"

Nan Lingrui immediately smiled and patted Cloud Li on the shoulder. Smiling, he said, "The position of the Young Lord of the Cloud Manor was probably destined to be yours from birth. Neither of us can stay in this place for long. Once I left, a fake Yun Muhuan arrived in my stead. Now that he’s gone as well, you have taken his place. May you hold it longer."

"What nonsense! He will naturally hold it longer!" Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes at Nan Lingrui.

"Not necessarily, Little Sister. The sky is about to turn chaotic soon. Whether or not the Cloud Manor will exist in the future remains a question. As for you becoming its Young Lord, that’s even more questionable." Nan Lingrui said matter-of-factly.

Yun Qianyue no longer spoke because what he was saying was factual.

"Little Sister, do you remember when you fell in the Imperial Garden at three and cried on the ground" Nan Lingrui turned to look at Princess Seven.

The princess’s eyes widened suddenly as she stared at Nan Lingrui in disbelief. After a moment, she nodded hesitantly, softly saying, "I remember!"

Nan Lingrui laughed immediately. "Ten years ago I was called Yun Muhuan and later changed to South Ningyu. But this identity is probably one that I’ll carry until my death. Since you have married Cloud Li, we are brother and sister-in-law now. You’re not a princess of the imperial family but rather a wife of the Cloud Manor. In private, call me Brother from now on!"

"Yes, Brother!" The Seventh Princess also called out respectfully, just like Yun Li.

Nan Lingrui immediately smiled with satisfaction. He reached into his chest and pulled out two candies, handing one to each of Yun Li and the Seventh Princess: "Good boys! Brother treats you to candy!"

Yun Qianyue had a black line on her forehead as she looked up at the sky. She really didn't want to know this person.

Yun Li and the Seventh Princess took the candies, exchanged glances, seemingly finding it somewhat laughable yet tearful, but still said in unison: "Thank you, Brother!"

"Smelly brat!" Jade Qingqing laughed and scolded.

"What kind of parents produce what kind of children! This smelly brat has learned this from you two!" The Old Prince Cloud, who had been silent all along, said with displeasure as if he couldn't bear to look at them anymore.

"Old bastard, you finally got one thing right!" Nan Lingrui was delighted.

"Don’t talk to me. Just seeing you makes my heart troubled! I don’t know what kind of karma I’ve accumulated in this life that I can’t retain a son or grandson. Just when I had an awful granddaughter by my side, she’s growing up and will soon get married." The Old Prince Cloud scolded Nan Lingrui with a face full of sorrow.

"Grandpa, it was all me who wasn’t good enough; I’ve caused you trouble!" Jade Qingqing looked at the old prince regretfully.

"That’s enough. What’s the point in saying these things My Prince Cloud’s ancestral hall would have been filled with green smoke if you were his granddaughter-in-law. What more could I wish for" The Old Prince Cloud waved his hand, "Although all of you aren’t by my side, I’m content as long as each one of you is alive and well. How much longer can I live The important thing is that your days are still ahead."

"Grandpa, may you live to be a hundred!" Jade Qingqing’s eyes were slightly red.

“That's nonsense!” The Old Prince waved his hand at her and said: "It's the day of joy. No crying allowed! Quickly braid the hair for this girl and send her off to Mount Fortune and Longevity after that. I think Jing must have already left, so don’t let him monopolize all the good fortune and longevity. Make sure there’s some share for this girl.”

"She is your own granddaughter after all! For a moment there, I thought Rongjing was yours!" Nan Lingrui said.

The Old Prince Cloud snorted and glared at him: "He's much better than you. If possible, I’d rather have Jing as my grandson instead of you."

"What a pity! Who told you that Rong Grandpa was so fortunate" Nan Lingrui deliberately tried to irritate the old prince: “Even if I’m just a cabbage, you still need to count me.”

“You little brat!” The Old Prince swung his cane at Nan Lingrui.

"Rui’er, don’t make your grandpa angry," said the Prince Cloud as he stopped the old prince's cane and scolded Nan Lingrui: "Father, how many years have passed Why haven't you changed this habit of hitting people with a cane"

The Old Prince snorted, “It’s too late to change! If I knew you were like this back then, I should’ve sent you back into your mother's womb and wouldn’t there be such an annoying brat. A whole bunch of little rascals who won't give anyone peace.”

The Prince Cloud immediately fell silent.

Nan Lingrui pursed his lips and didn’t say anything anymore.

Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes. It was hard to doubt that these three old men weren't related when they were together like this. Some things must be passed down in the bloodline. A father’s flaws are sure to be mirrored in his son, but it seemed as though the old man didn’t understand.

Jade Qingqing finished braiding Yun Qianyue's hair and looked at her with satisfaction: "It's done!"

"Quickly pay homage and then hurry off to Mount Fortune and Longevity!" The Old Prince ordered.

Yun Qianyue had been planning on pulling her mother aside to foster some emotional bonding but was stopped short by this order. After the ancestor’s dark person made an appearance, first reading out the family genealogy before leading her through a round of homage to all the ancestors.

The entire ritual took half an hour.

By the time they exited the ancestral hall, it was already in the morning. Yun Qianyue was accompanied by the Seventh Princess and Yun Li as she went to the main gate of Cloud Manor.

The carriage had been prepared at the front gates of Cloud Manor long ago. Accompanied by the Seventh Princess and Yun Li, Yun Qianyue entered the carriage. The Old Prince Cloud didn’t go up Mount Fortune and Longevity due to his advanced age, only the Prince Cloud and the rest of Cloud Manor’s personnel followed Yun Qianyue there.

About the unusual quietness of the capital city’s streets, it was likely due to the citizens all heading to Fushoushan.

Cloud Qianyue reached out and pulled back the curtain to glance outside. On the main street, every household door was tightly shut; there were only a few scattered figures walking on the road. She let down the curtains, thinking that before any major event happened, it would likely be quiet like this. Some of these signs might be coincidental, while some were inevitable. She sighed softly to herself, wondering what kind of upheaval tomorrow would bring.

"Sister, your complexion isn't very good. Are you feeling unwell" Princess Seven asked softly.

Cloud Qianyue shook her head, "No, I just feel that fifteen years have passed so quickly. It feels like I grew up in a flash."

Hearing this, Princess Seven covered her mouth and laughed teasingly, "You think it's quick In my opinion, there are probably some people who always feel it’s slow! That day when I chatted with the Jing Shizi for a bit, he actually said that after waiting so many years, he finally came of age, as did you. If things hadn't progressed any further, he wouldn’t have held on."

Cloud Qianyue blushed and laughed, "How shameless! To be able to say such words casually."

"It's said that the Jing Shizi has a deep mind; no one can guess his thoughts. In my opinion, it’s actually quite easy to guess. His goal is singular: he wants to marry you," Princess Seven remarked with amusement.

"I also want to marry him; we understand each other very well. It's supposed to be simple, but unfortunately, this is the hardest thing." Cloud Qianyue smiled too, her tone somewhat indifferent.

Princess Seven sobered and whispered, "I think you and the Jing Shizi are perfectly matched. In fact, nowadays everyone thinks so. But there's your engagement to the royal family; Father Emperor has placed that on Prince Seven’s shoulders. If it were anyone else, things would be easier for both of you. Because it’s Prince Seven, who is deeply entangled with you, this makes everything difficult."

Cloud Qianyue made a sound of assent.

The expression on Princess Seven's face darkened as if she was thinking about something; she then whispered to Cloud Qianyue, "Sister, do you think my second brother and fourth brother will die today"

Cloud Qianyue was taken aback and looked at Princess Seven.

The princess pursed her lips slightly and said, “I truly don’t wish for them to die. Is that chair really so good In all these years, I’ve thought of myself as the clearest-minded person, watching everyone struggle inside and outside the palace, including Father Emperor. He sat on that supreme position with a life full of decisiveness and influence, but in old age isn’t he still left empty-handed upon death A hundred years later, he will merely be a title recorded in history. Living every day without rest and calculating all over, I truly didn’t see anything good about his position.”

"We may not have seen its worthiness, but the hearts of men are different from those of women," Cloud Qianyue said calmly.

Princess Seven looked at her with puzzlement and waited for an explanation.

"Women's hearts can be small enough to only contain one man; men’s hearts can be big enough to hold the entire world, including women. That is their distinction," Cloud Qianyue said in a cool tone, "A thousand miles of mountainous rivers painted beautifully, singing through centuries with an enduring legacy—how many men don’t want to call the shots from the peak and leave behind a grand story for history There’s probably very few who wouldn't."

Princess Seven frowned and hesitated before asking, "What about the Jing Shizi Everyone knows how he feels toward you."

Cloud Qianyue suddenly smiled and tilted her head to look at Princess Seven, teasingly asking, “Sister-in-law, what are you trying to say”

Princess Seven shook her head, "I just don’t understand. In this world, there must be exceptions among men Among the people I know—my second brother, fourth brother, and all my brothers and younger brothers—I’ve seen no one not striving for that position, with capable ones vying to become emperor while those without hope support others in their quest for it; ultimately hoping to secure a title of royalty. Even Yè Qingran from the Deqin王府, Leng Shaozhuo from the Xiaoqin王府, and even Yun Li—all aim to preserve their respective royal houses as much as they can. I understand all this clearly but with the Jing Shizi, I can’t figure him out."

"How do you not figure him out" Cloud Qianyue asked smilingly, "Didn't you just say his intentions are easy to guess"

"His intentions being easy to guess and me not figuring him out are two different things," Princess Seven shook her head slowly, saying: "It's a feeling I can’t describe. Father Emperor and Prince Seven don’t plan for you to leave the royal family; he loves you and fights for you, which makes sense. His mind is clear on it, daringly showing good favor toward you in front of Father Emperor and Prince Seven, ignoring imperial authority, even elevating his nobility above it all, making everyone look up to him. Not because he’s the Shizi of Rong王府 but just because he's Yong Jing himself. Because everything is out there plainly, that makes him hard to read. Sometimes I wonder what else does the Jing Shizi want besides you."

Cloud Qianyue’s eyes flickered as she smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, do you think there’s anything he wants beyond me"

Seeing her smile, Princess Seven thought for a moment then quickly added, “Sister, I don’t mean to offend; I just want to share my thoughts with you. If what I say is inappropriate and displeasing to your ears, consider it never said."

Cloud Qianyue chuckled softly, "Sister-in-law speaks well. Your words are not displeasing to me. We’re family, no need for formalities."

Princess Seven let out a sigh of relief and continued, “I just think that the simpler something appears on the surface, the more complex it could be behind the scenes. Sister, you understand everything well; about the Jing Shizi, you know him better than I do. Perhaps my words today are redundant. But still, I want to say: What the Jing Shizi wants is not just you."

Cloud Qianyue smiled without answering.

Princess Seven looked at her and noted that beyond a deeper smile, Cloud Qianyue hadn’t shown any other expression. She sighed softly and whispered, "Yè family’s rule for a hundred years will eventually come to an end. Whether someone else takes the throne has nothing to do with me. Even if the country falls into chaos and power changes hands, it would mean that Yè’s dynasty's luck is at its end. But I still hope my brothers can live well."

"It's a good idea. Let's pray for them together today!" Yun Qianyue said softly.

The Seventh Princess nodded and sighed, "Maybe it’s just hope; how can there be no bloodshed What they did was a major crime of rebellion against the throne. Father Emperor won't forgive them. With Seventh Brother and Dian Xiao Rong Wang around, they are not their match and have no chance to survive!"

Yun Qianyue remained silent.

"Unless... Young Master Jing saves them," the Seventh Princess added.

"I won’t save them. Whether Rong Jing will or not, I don’t know!" Yun Qianyue shook her head.

The Seventh Princess didn't speak anymore and a look of pain appeared on her face.

Yun Li had been sitting opposite the two all along, quietly listening. Seeing the Seventh Princess's expression now, he reached out to hold her hand, "Don’t think too much about it. Everyone has their own choices that no one can control. You were long ago abandoned by Emperor, and if Yun Wang Fu collapses, you won't escape beheading on a future day either. So, let’s hope for the best outcome!"

"Mm," the pain on the Seventh Princess's face eased somewhat as she raised her head to give Yun Li a gentle smile.

The three of them no longer spoke.

The carriage passed through Beicheng smoothly and headed towards Fushou Mountain. The road outside the city was also eerily quiet.

After an hour, the carriage stopped at the foot of Fushou Mountain.

Yun Li lifted the curtain to take a look out and then turned back to Yun Qianyue, "Sister, so many people and carriages have gathered here today. I’m afraid all the commoners in Jing City are here."

Following the gap in the curtain, Yun Qianyue looked outside and saw that the mountain foot was packed with dense crowds of black figures that filled up almost the entire Fushou Mountain. Carriages from various mansions had arrived earlier; everyone wore splendid or simple clothes but every single face showed a consistent expectation. A pair of eyes in each set hid excitement and anticipation, making her think there were over ten thousand people here watching Rong Jing and her come-of-age ceremony—probably the largest ever for an adult initiation.

"They’re late!" Rong Jing’s voice suddenly rang out.

Following his voice, Yun Qianyue saw a black carriage parked on the left side of her vehicle. In front of it stood Rong Jing in a moon-white brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist and a clear white jade pendant hanging from it. He had no other decorations but he shone exceptionally stunningly among the crowd.

Yun Qianyue recalled that line, "A person like jade on the roadside, this young master is unparalleled."

Just as Yun Qianyue was lost in thought, Rong Jing had already arrived at her carriage and held out his hand to her.

Yun Qianyue placed her hand into his palm which immediately clenched it tight. With a gentle pull, she was hauled off the carriage before her feet could stabilize. Then he pulled her up the mountain.

The Seventh Princess and Yun Li exchanged looks and got out of their carriages to follow behind them.

Holding an adulthood ceremony on Fushou Mountain was already extraordinarily rare throughout history, let alone such a pair of young man and woman who were rumored to have mutually pledged eternal love to each other—this was even rarer.

At this moment, everyone's gazes fixed on the two individuals.

This moment made all the rumors about Yu Zishu and Yun Qianyue’s romantic affairs or his shifting affections fade away into oblivion. The only things people could see were those two people, and remember was that "one person is heavier than the entire world" as well as “this lifetime will be devoted to this one wife; I won’t marry without you”.

Rong Jing held Yun Qianyue's hand as he walked up the mountain calmly yet steadily. His face remained beautiful like jade and poetic but today’s Rong Jing was different from days past—there was no casualness, nor aloofness. The aura around him wasn’t indifferent anymore; there was only a sense of importance emanating from his heart.

Never-before-seen reverence and significance.

Yun Qianyue tilted her head to look at Rong Jing.

Rong Jing’s gaze continued towards the mountain. His eyes were calm but sensing Yun Qianyue's glance, he turned his head slightly and looked at her when seeing she was staring at him. He gave a gentle smile and spoke in a warm spring breeze tone: "Yun Qianyue, we grow up together and mature together. Today’s coming-of-age ceremony, I will hold your hand all the way to the mountain top. From now on, you belong to me for this lifetime, and I will belong to you."

Yun Qianyue was moved in her heart but didn't want to be charmed by his words alone. She averted her eyes and grumbled, "Was there honeyed sugar in the breakfast at Rong Wang Fu this morning"

With a light laugh, Rong Jing leaned close to her ear and said, "You're right. Put honey on it!"

Yun Qianyue pushed him away with her hand and said, "Keep your distance! There are so many people watching us."

"I'm not afraid," Rong Jing laughed as he shook his head and pulled her hand to walk up the mountain.

Yun Qianyue didn't say anything more and followed him. No matter how many gazes came from those on the mountainside or below, she let him hold her hand. This behavior was unbecoming of them; it went against societal norms, and they were both unmarried. However, these conventions had long been broken by them. Even this Fushou Mountain that symbolized imperial power didn't matter to them, as it only bore witness to their mutual love.

Yun Qianyue did not want to think about why the old emperor would agree for Rong Jing and her to hold the coming-of-age ceremony on the mountain that symbolized royal power. She also did not want to imagine what sort of plots and schemes Rong Jing had orchestrated in secret during these days to come to this moment where he held her hand as they walked up Fushou Mountain together. Nor did she wish to think about what role Rong Jing played when Crown Prince Ye Tianqiong rebelled against the old emperor today—whether it was helping, encouraging, or merely observing. She didn't want to think about who among Yi Lanqing, Qing Ran, Leng Shaozhuo, Feng Rong and others were present today, whether they were on the mountain or in the city...

She did not need to think about any of these things...

If there was no path for her to follow in this world, she would forge one. That path would be named Rong Jing.

She wouldn't think about how many emperors and empresses had walked down that road.

She wouldn't ponder on how much imperial power was buried along that path.

She wouldn't consider how the journey today would alter so many people's destinies.

And she wouldn't contemplate who would still be alive tomorrow as the stars shifted and heaven and earth changed colors...

There was no need to think about these things...

"What are you thinking" Rong Jing seemed to sense Yun Qianyue's unprecedented silence, so he suddenly turned his head to ask her.

Yun Qianyue smiled at him, her smile radiant and dazzling. With a tone soft as gossamer in the cold mountain breeze, she looked up at the man beside her with jade-like features and asked, "I'm thinking that I've grown up, and you have too!"

Rong Jing's eyes flickered briefly before he smiled softly at her. He murmured gently, "So"

"Therefore, tomorrow I need to prepare a pair of diamond rings," Yun Qianyue said.

"Diamond ring What is that" Rong Jing looked at her.

"I'm not telling you!" Yun Qianyue raised an eyebrow in triumph and turned away from him, pulling him forward with a quick step.

Rong Jing glanced up the mountain and said with a smile, "If I go ask someone on the mountain, he'll definitely know."

Yun Qianyue knew who he was referring to. She immediately turned around and sternly said, "No asking! If you do, I won't make them!"

Rong Jing smiled helplessly and conceded, "Alright then. But please show me those diamond rings as soon as possible."

Yun Qianyue nodded with a hum.

* * *

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I've seen all of your votes and gifts of diamonds and flowers, thank you so much for your support!ed paper or parchment for writing, this one was pasted together with purple bamboo leaves; each leaf carried some script.The moment she saw the first page of the journal, she was surprised to read: "L...