Chapter 519: Fighting Over a Woman
Yue Tianchen's face was gloomy and ugly, his gaze fixed firmly on Lin Feng. Just a single shout from Lin Feng had made him lower his arm, causing him to lose face in front of everyone.
Lin Feng, however, had a calm expression. He withdrew his killing intent and looked at Yue Tianchen with a gaze full of intense sarcasm.
"Did I say something wrong calling you cowardly and incompetent? A waste?"
Lin Feng sneered coldly. Yue Tianchen's face grew even uglier, but he couldn't refute the words. Lin Feng had scared him into lowering his hand with just one sentence—what right did he have to argue with Lin Feng?
"Lin Feng, is it fun for you to bully Tianchen?"
Yue Tianming, sitting beside Yue Tianchen, finally spoke, glancing at Lin Feng.
"Please distinguish who started the insults first. If I bully him, it's because he brought it upon himself." Lin Feng said coldly. "Older than me, yet lacking the courage to talk back—a complete waste. And yet he dares to call me a lowborn, shamelessly. How does someone like this even deserve to sit here and call himself a member of the Yue Clan? He's nothing but a disgrace to the Yue family."
Lin Feng's words were sharp as blades, leaving Yue Tianming and Yue Tianchen speechless. Yue Tianchen was older than Lin Feng, yet there was nothing he could compare to Lin Feng. His cultivation was far inferior, and he still dared to insult Lin Feng verbally. Besides saying he brought shame upon himself, what else could be said?
"Even so, I still need to clarify one thing. Xinye and I do have a marriage contract. The two of you being too close is not good and damages Xinye's reputation."
Yue Tianming spoke again, causing Lin Feng's gaze to darken. "Who acknowledges your marriage to Xinye? Xinye herself? It's just your Yue Clan's wishful thinking."
"I came to the Imperial Palace tonight precisely for this matter—to propose marriage to the Imperial Family."
Yue Tianming's gaze clashed with Lin Feng's, neither yielding. This was why he had come.
Lin Feng's eyes turned cold. "You? Propose marriage? To whom?"
"Of course, not just me alone. The Emperor is currently in seclusion and rarely sees outsiders. The Crown Prince is also in seclusion and doesn't handle external affairs. The Second Prince is Princess Xinye's full brother—an elder brother is like a father. I came here to explain to the Second Prince that my grandfather, the Yue Clan Patriarch, will personally come to discuss this matter... and it will be tonight."
Yue Tianming said slowly, causing Lin Feng's pupils to contract. His gaze flickered for a moment before turning to Duan Wuya.
It seemed that Duan Wuya inviting him to bring Xinye here had a deeper meaning, likely related to tonight's events. Yue Qingshan, the Yue Clan Patriarch, was coming to the Imperial Palace to propose marriage—for Yue Tianming to Princess Duan Xinye.
Would Duan Wuya agree to this marriage?
"Xinye doesn't agree. Who can force her?" Lin Feng snorted coldly, his gaze icy.
"I will never agree to this marriage, and my royal brother won't either." Duan Xinye also spoke, looking toward Duan Wuya with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
She was, of course, aware of the marriage contract between the Imperial Duan Clan and the Yue Clan. But now, her heart belonged only to Lin Feng. How could she agree to this marriage? No matter what, she couldn't agree—even if the Imperial Family agreed, she herself would never consent.
"Princess, why must you be so absolute? Tianming has been exceptionally talented since childhood and has endured hardships to earn his current reputation. As the second of the Eight Young Masters of Snow Moon, he is the perfect match for you."
A distant voice came from afar, slowly reaching the ears of the crowd.
Then, at the foot of Wuyashan Mountain, a figure slowly ascended. His hair was white, and he was none other than Yue Qingshan, the Yue Clan Patriarch.
Yue Qingshan arrived outside the Star-Gazing Pavilion and first nodded slightly to Ruo Lanshan, who was seated at the head, saying, "Ruo Lanshan of Dragon Mountain Empire, Yue Qingshan intrudes upon your presence. Please do not take offense."
"It's fine. Since this is your personal matter, feel free to proceed. Just pretend I'm not here."
Ruo Lanshan said indifferently, his tone calm.
Yue Qingshan nodded slightly, then looked at Duan Wuya.
"Second Prince, the marriage contract between Tianming and Princess Xinye was set by our ancestors. I believe you are well aware of this. Moreover, you knew I would come to propose marriage. Yue Tianming is my direct grandson, inheriting the bloodline power of our Yue Clan, possessing a bloodline martial soul. He is exceptionally gifted and has trained hard since childhood, pursuing the martial path. Now, at twenty-three, he is of marriageable age. The Princess has also come of age and is as beautiful as a fairy. Tianming is deeply fond of her, so he specially asked me, an old man, to come to the Imperial Palace to propose marriage. I hope you will forgive my presumption. And I, Yue Qingshan, believe that the Prince will naturally uphold the ancestral contract and fulfill the matter between Tianming and Princess Xinye."
Yue Qingshan spoke eloquently, using the ancestral contract to block Duan Wuya's mouth, leaving him no reason to refuse the marriage.
Raising his head, Duan Wuya glanced at Lin Feng, his gaze flickering. Then he smiled slightly and said, "Patriarch Yue, please take a seat first. Let's discuss this slowly."
"No need. I, Yue Qingshan, am merely following the ancestral contract to complete this matter. Since the Prince and Princess Xinye are both here, you only need to give me a definite answer, and I will immediately prepare for the grand wedding to welcome the Princess."
Yue Qingshan's words were pressing, repeatedly invoking the ancestral contract as if the matter was already settled. The implication was that if Duan Wuya refused, he would be defying the ancestors' agreement and showing disrespect to his forebears.
None of those present were fools; they all understood Yue Qingshan's meaning. They watched Duan Wuya, waiting to see how he would respond.
"Since Senior Yue has come to fulfill the contract, I, Wuya, naturally have no objections. As long as my imperial sister agrees and has no issues, the Patriarch may immediately prepare for the wedding."
Duan Wuya said with a faint smile. He was also very tactful, directly shifting the responsibility to Duan Xinye herself. The crowd's eyes narrowed—Duan Wuya was truly clever. Yue Tianming had used the ancestral contract to restrict him, making it hard for him to refuse. But if he agreed, it would be disregarding Duan Xinye's feelings. So what would Duan Xinye mean then? And what about Lin Feng?
Thus, Duan Wuya kicked the choice back to Duan Xinye, letting her decide for herself.
In fact, there was no need to say it—Duan Xinye had someone in her heart. How could she possibly agree?
Sure enough, after hearing Duan Wuya's words, Yue Qingshan continued, "The Princess is still young. Matters like marriage contracts should naturally be decided by the elders. Prince Wuya, as the Princess's royal brother, you can certainly fulfill the contract on her behalf."
"This matter concerns Princess Xinye's lifelong happiness. Even with the ancestral contract, it cannot be decided by my word alone. As I said before, only if the Princess has no objections will I never refuse."
Duan Wuya continued to evade, not directly responding to Yue Qingshan, still being evasive.
"What does Prince Wuya mean by this delay?" Yue Qingshan would not ask Duan Xinye. A single glance at who she was sitting with now was enough to understand—Duan Xinye would not agree to marry Yue Tianming. If he asked, wouldn't that give Duan Wuya an easy way out?
"It means he's rejecting you. Can't you understand that?"
At this moment, Lin Feng spoke. With a light clink, he set his wine glass heavily on the table, his gaze cold and displeased, fixed on Yue Qingshan.
Yue Qingshan was, in a sense, his maternal grandfather.
Yue Qingshan was also Yue Tianming's grandfather.
But now, Yue Qingshan was helping his grandson Yue Tianming try to take away his grandson-in-law's woman. It sounded somewhat absurd, but that was the reality.
"Hmm?" Yue Qingshan frowned, glancing at Lin Feng with displeasure. "Who asked for your opinion here?"
"What you're discussing is Lin Feng's future woman. Of course, I have the right to speak. You, Yue Qingshan, can come here today to propose marriage, and I, Lin Feng, can also have my mother come here anytime to propose marriage. When that happens, I'm afraid you'll be left in an awkward position."
Lin Feng said coldly. If Yue Menghe also came to propose marriage, Yue Qingshan and his daughter would be fighting over a daughter-in-law—that would indeed be embarrassing and a laughingstock if it got out.
Hearing Lin Feng's domineering words, Duan Xinye's face actually showed a hint of a smile. Lin Feng had now admitted that she was his future woman.
"If you really want to compete, let your grandson compete with me. Using power to pressure others is useless." Lin Feng sneered again, emphasizing the word "grandson" heavily.
"Good, very good. Truly worthy of being Menghe's son." Yue Qingshan's hair fluttered, his emotions unreadable. He continued to ask Duan Wuya, "Prince Wuya, I, Yue Qingshan, only ask for one sentence. This ancestral contract—will you break it or fulfill it?"
PS: Oh my god, I just wanted to rest for a minute, but I ended up falling asleep! Still too tired. We'll continue another day.