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"I also hate him, don't I?!" Cloud City suddenly took a gulp of wine, filled with resentment as he said, "Ever since you were sent to the palace, I haven't returned to the Duke's Residence because I'm afraid that if I see him, I won't be able to help but want to kill him. Mother won't let me go back either."
"But in the end, that old man is still living well," Consort Xiang sneered, her lips curling in disdain. "If it weren't for my extreme measures, he would probably still be pretending to be virtuous in front of the Emperor."
"If killing him would bring you back to my side, I would go and kill him right now," Cloud City shouted with a flushed face, then coughed violently a few times. "But Xiang'er, you are now the Emperor's person, still a favored consort. Even if I chopped Yun Jinxiu into minced meat, it would be useless... cough cough cough..."
"City, what's wrong with you?" Consort Xiang suddenly stood up from her chair, her outstretched hand falling limply in mid-air. Her voice softened, "When did you start drinking so heavily?"
Cloud City looked up and met Consort Xiang's sorrowful gaze. After staring for a long time, he quietly said, "After you were sent to the palace."
Consort Xiang's eyes turned red, and she quickly turned her face away, her voice trembling as she said, "I always thought you didn't care."
"How could that be?" Cloud City slightly curled his lips into a bitter smile. "If I didn't care, why would I be in so much pain? Why would I keep enduring your 'control' over me? Xiang'er, it's my fault for you."
"Enough," Consort Xiang quickly wiped away the tears on her cheeks and slowly sat down. "City, I don't hate you anymore. Starting tomorrow, you will be free too. Go get married."
In her calm tone, there was still an unmistakable unwillingness.
"I'm not here for that," thinking of his niece, Cloud City felt a surge of courage. He looked directly at Consort Xiang and stated plainly, "Xiang'er, no matter how much you hate me or how you treat me, I don't blame you. But I hope you can spare my niece Yun Kexin. She doesn't want to marry the Crown Prince; she doesn't want to become Consort Qin."
The tenderness that had just awakened in Consort Xiang's heart instantly turned cold at Cloud City's words.
"Cloud City, watch your words," she suddenly turned around and glared with wide eyes. "What do you mean by 'spare' your niece? What have I done to her? She is someone the Empress Dowager and His Highness have their eyes on; what does it have to do with me?"
"I'm sorry, Xiang'er; I spoke out of turn in my anxiety," Cloud City hurriedly raised his cup in apology. "This cup is my punishment..." He tilted his head back and drank the wine before continuing, "What I mean is, could you please speak to the Emperor? The Emperor is wise; he will listen."
Consort Xiang let out a cold laugh: "Cloud City, you think too highly of me. Why would the Emperor listen to me? Don't you know what 'the Emperor's command is above all' means?"
"But Yun Kexin and Palace Front Commander Qingyuan Marquis have feelings for each other, as solid as a rock..."
"Don't talk to me about 'feelings,'" Consort Xiang interrupted sharply, her scorn even greater. "Weren't we the same back then? You and I never wavered for a moment, but with one imperial decree, we became separated—one in the palace and the other outside. Tell me, what good does 'feeling' do?"
"That's exactly why I don't want them to end up like us back then," Cloud City stood up recklessly, helplessly saying, "Xiang'er, do you know? Actually, yesterday Qingyuan Marquis took his niece and flew far away—"
"What? Palace Front Commander actually dared to elope with Seventh Sister?" Before Cloud City could finish, Consort Xiang's eyes widened in shock, gritting her teeth as she coldly huffed, "What audacity! Doesn't he know this is treason against the emperor, punishable by extermination of nine clans?"
"He knows, but he still resolutely took his niece away," at this point, Cloud City had calmed down considerably. "It's just that later his niece didn't want to implicate me—because she left with my help and didn't want to drag the entire Yun Clan into it, so... they couldn't go and returned."
"Cloud City, you are not as good as Qingyuan Marquis; you don't compare at all!" Consort Xiang muttered to herself as if sulking.
"I am not as good as him," Cloud City said with a self-deprecating smile. "I have his sincerity and persistence but lack his bravery and decisiveness. It is precisely because I saw this that I helped them escape."
Consort Xiang stood up, stood still for a moment, then turned her back and said, "No matter what, this time the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Crown Prince have all taken a liking to Seventh Sister. This is unprecedented in our dynasty, so... I can't help you."
"Xiang'er!" Cloud City could no longer care about anything else. He walked a few steps to Consort Xiang's side, knelt down, and hugged her knees. "I beg you; I truly cannot bear to see them end up with lifelong regrets like we did. Xiang'er..."
Cloud City's sudden action and words caught Consort Xiang off guard and deeply moved her heart. She first pulled away Cloud City's hands and slowly squatted down to gaze at his handsome features. After a moment, she said:
"I am so jealous of Seventh Sister," she said with a bitter smile. "So many people love and cherish her; even you, her Fourth Uncle, came to plead with me for her and even knelt down."
"Xiang'er," perhaps due to having drunk some wine, Cloud City was already tipsy. He boldly grasped Consort Xiang's shoulders and gazed at her affectionately. "I am doing this for his niece and Qingyuan Marquis but also for the regrets we could never mend—Xiang'er, all these years I've missed you so much, but I can't..."
Consort Xiang was stunned again. Soon after, tears burst forth like a flood breaking through a dam. She disregarded everything and embraced Cloud City tightly; the emotional knots built up over the years were instantly washed away by the tears of emotion...
Three days later, Yun Yang returned to the Duke's Residence from the Palace, looking weary. As soon as Fu Lianyin saw him enter the Third House, she couldn't help but ask, "Master, forgive me for being nosy, but I heard rumors that the Seventh Young Lady is about to be established as Consort Qin. Is there any truth to this?"
This question had troubled her for several days, and she ultimately couldn't hold back any longer.
"Where did you hear such 'news'? How come I am unaware of it?" Yun Yang casually sipped his tea, feigning ignorance before changing the subject. "Just manage the inner courtyard; as for court affairs, it's not something a woman like you should concern yourself with."
In fact, after receiving the "news" from Fourth Brother, Yun Yang had gone to see the Emperor. He recounted everything that needed to be said, and Emperor Qin Yan expressed understanding but requested to meet Second Madam Yue Ziyun to hear her personal account regarding the Brocade Box. Yun Yang dared not disobey and agreed, intending to return home to discuss it with the Yue Clan. However, he did not want to involve the Fu Family in the matter concerning "Noodles and People Depart."
"Master, please don't be angry," Fu Lianyin exclaimed in surprise, rolling her eyes and nodding. "The Consort is not overstepping; she is merely concerned about the Seventh Young Lady. It is said that the Empress has always intended for her niece Nalan Princess to become Consort Qin. The Consort fears that Kexin may not be favored by the Empress and feels wronged."
The Fu Family's calculations were the same as years ago; they did not support Yun Kexin marrying into a high-ranking family to avoid future complications that could affect them. Now that the royal family seemed interested in Yun Kexin and intended to establish her as Consort Qin, how could she bear it? This led her to subtly probe Yun Yang for information, only to find his indifferent and dismissive attitude infuriating.
"I have warned you multiple times," Yun Yang coldly stated, "Do not discuss royal matters in private. Walls have ears; if this leaks out, it could lead to imprisonment. Have you forgotten?"
This statement truly frightened the Fu Family, prompting repeated apologies: "Master, please calm down. The Consort has made a mistake again. Don't worry; with you here, the Seventh Young Lady will certainly not be wronged."
While they spoke this way, they secretly contemplated asking Second Brother Fu Yueheng for information. As Deputy Minister of War and a close official, he would surely have heard about this matter already, saving them from having to endure Yun Yang's anger while still facing his threats.
Just thinking about it made them furious.
Seeing that the Fu Family had fallen silent and were sitting properly in their seats without speaking up again, Yun Yang decided not to reprimand them further. "Madam, I know you care about the Seventh Young Lady, but this matter indeed involves court affairs. I cannot say much. If the Empress Dowager and Sovereign are determined on this course of action, it is beyond our control."
Fu Lianyin forced a smile and said, "Master is right; I was being foolish. Alright, I won't ask anymore and will just observe how things unfold." After a brief pause, she added insincerely, "In fact, if it really happens, it would be a great fortune for the Third House and an unparalleled honor for the Yun Clan, wouldn't it?"
The Fu Family thought this flattery would earn them Yun Yang's approval and response; however, all he gave was a noncommittal "hm" before stating he had urgent matters to attend to and left his seat.
Yun Yang went to the Second House to find the Yue Clan. When he conveyed the emperor's intentions to Yue Ziyun, the Yue Clan showed a troubled expression, and Willow Brows furrowed in deep thought.
Yun Yang said, "If Second Sister-in-law finds it inconvenient, I can report back to the emperor again and see if we can—"
"No, Third Brother. Since the emperor has made this clear and you have also agreed, we must follow through. Tomorrow, I will accompany you to the palace to meet the emperor."
Yun Yang did not expect it to go so smoothly and smiled lightly, saying, "I appreciate Second Sister-in-law's understanding."
The Yue Clan replied calmly, "Everything I do is for Seventh Young Lady. Fortunately, I have already informed her of the important matters beforehand, so there should be no mistakes. Third Brother just needs to remember to keep it confidential."
Yun Yang nodded in understanding. The next day, after the two met with the emperor and exchanged pleasantries about Yun You's past, the Yue Clan briefly described the "mysterious" Brocade Box matter to the emperor. The emperor listened with great interest and praised Yun You's unique way of deciding her marriage. At the end, he brightened up and said, "Lord Yun, Second Madam, this Brocade Box does not specify which family it belongs to. In that case, my son also has a chance, doesn't he?"
"Your Majesty is wise," Yue Clan respectfully replied. "Noble Lady Kexin is fortunate to have gained Your Majesty's and the Empress Dowager's and Crown Prince's favor. However, Master’s last wishes are difficult to defy; I hope Your Majesty can understand."
"It’s no trouble. Since it concerns Wei Qihou's last wishes, we must not be careless," the emperor said calmly. "I must also thank him for using such a method that does not put everyone in a difficult position. Now it only depends on whether my son and Seventh Sister have this fate."
Qin Yan's rare open-mindedness surprised both Yun Yang and Yue Clan.
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