Resisting the Wind and Splendor

Chu Yue felt a tightness in her chest.

Chu Xiaohe was so shocked he could barely sit still.

Tuoba Liuli clutched the hem of her clothes, lowered her head, and remained silent.

After a moment of surprise, Tuoba Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

This dead man has finally decided to speak!

The Emperor and Empress were also shocked and their eyes widened.

Consort Rui is not here today. Since her son injured his leg, Consort Rui has been keeping a low profile, spending her days in her room eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist prayers for her son's speedy recovery.

With Consort Rui absent, and no other concubine daring to argue with the Empress, the banquet was much quieter today.

But at this moment, the Empress was so shocked that she couldn't utter a single word.

After a long pause, the emperor's face suddenly darkened, and he said unhappily, "Do you know what you're saying!"

Although Ah Li is indeed wonderful in every way, before this, she had known Prince Jin for many years. In the entire Eastern Mausoleum, who did not know about their relationship?

Now that Chu Yueli and Prince Jin have broken off their engagement, she is now trying to get involved with his other son. If this behavior gets out, won't it become a palace secret? What will the people outside think?

“Father, I have admired A-Li for many years. Nine years ago, A-Li promised to marry me when she grew up, and I have always kept that in mind.”

Lu Beimo stood ramrod straight, showing no fear even in the face of the Emperor's angry glare.

"Throughout these years, I have been campaigning in the east and west, and I have never forgotten Ali. I thought that after I pacified the northern frontier, I could return to marry Ali, but who knew..."

Even if he didn't say what came next, everyone understood.

King Mo has indeed been fighting on the frontier for many years, especially after the recapture of the northern border, he has not returned to the capital for five whole years.

In fact, the emperor felt somewhat guilty towards this son.

Therefore, when the Prince of Mo mentioned the war in the northern frontier, the Emperor's gaze immediately softened.

Lu Beimo continued, "Father Emperor once promised that as long as I recover the Northern Frontier, he would give me a reward! Now, I hope that this reward is Father Emperor's promise to let me marry Ali."

He didn't want to force Chu Yueli to marry him in this way. He had said that he would wait for Chu Yueli to agree in person before asking his father for her hand in marriage.

Who would have thought that Tuoba Yi, that scoundrel, would cause such a scene?

He also clearly understood that if he didn't step forward, even if Tuoba Yi was in a very difficult position, he wouldn't dare to refuse the marriage to his face.

If he refuses the marriage now, he will be unable to explain himself to the people of both countries, and may even harm Ali.

He had no choice.

"This...this needs to...hear Ali's opinion." The Emperor was not actually in a difficult position. Chu Yueli's marriage was nothing to him; it was just an imperial decree.

However, Chu Yue's past relationship with Prince Jin...

The Empress grasped the key point: "Mo'er, you said that Ali agreed to marry you nine years ago?"

Although the banquet was small, all the people who were supposed to come were there, and the surrounding area was filled with important officials of the imperial court.

Whatever happens at today's banquet will be the talk of the entire capital by tomorrow morning.

Everyone is waiting for King Mo to explain.

Chu Yueli was also looking at him.

Nine years ago... something stirred within her, but she didn't know it, nor dared to be sure.

After all, those things happened a very, very long time ago, so long that just thinking about them makes one's heart clench.

Nine years ago, was it really as she predicted today?

They've known each other for a long time, haven't they?