Wen Chang looked away, trying his best to make his tone casual, "Well, Mu Yan doesn't like that type."

Feng Jiu looked at her with some confusion, so she explained, "Mu Yan, well, that's the Emperor. He likes the kind of person who is lively, straightforward, and speaks directly without beating around the bush. He also wants someone who is smart enough to know what he needs."

Feng Jiu blinked. "I think I am that kind of person."

Wen Chang looked at her speechlessly.

Feng Jiu chuckled, "Just kidding, you're talking about yourself, right?"

"Of course." She nodded firmly. "Mu Yan said he likes me just the way I am. And he also said that he will only marry me in his life."

Feng Jiu suddenly felt that Emperor Taihao's image had become much more imposing, almost rivaling that of her uncle—the current Crown Prince and future Heavenly Emperor Ye Hua—whose affection was enough to move heaven and earth. At least Ye Hua could directly say "I like you," making him far superior to the stone Emperor Donghua. She sighed to herself for a moment before remembering that she had something to remind Wen Chang of.

"The Emperor's affection for you is indeed rare, but there's something else I heard from my aunt that I must remind you of." She looked around to make sure no one was paying attention before leaning close to Wen Chang's ear. "It's said that the current Heavenly Emperor loves to play matchmaker. Back then, he arranged a concubine named Su Jin for my uncle, which almost cost my aunt her life. Later, Su Jin, driven by love turned to hate, nearly killed my uncle, Lord Ye Hua. That past is truly thrilling and epic, far more dramatic than any mortal story. Now, if he decides to betroth Princess Yu Zhi to Emperor Taihao, I'm afraid the Emperor won't be able to refuse."

"Why?" Wen Chang asked, puzzled. "Didn't Mu Yan already refuse? If he brings it up again, why not just refuse again?"

"The Emperor refused before because he had no intention of marrying the Empress. Now that everyone in the world knows that he wants to marry you, what difference does it make if there are one more or one less?"

Wen Chang wanted to say that there was a big difference between having one more or one less. Loving only one person was being devoted to one person, having one more was being fickle, and having several more was being unfaithful. In short, none of them were good words except for one. However, thinking that the current emperor himself had several concubines, he had to hold back and instead asked Feng Jiu, "Why did the emperor insist on acting as matchmaker for Yu Zhi?"

"It is said that Princess Yuzhi has long admired the Emperor, and the Heavenly Emperor happens to owe the Queen Mother of the West a favor. Therefore, as long as Princess Yuzhi is willing, the Heavenly Emperor will definitely help her."

Wen Chang stared at Yu Zhi, who was standing beside the Emperor, smiling and chatting. He remained silent for a long time, but subconsciously poked at the jade shrimp dumpling on the plate with his chopsticks until the dumpling was riddled with holes. Then he looked away and smiled at Feng Jiu, saying, "I'm afraid the Emperor's face will be in jeopardy."

Seeing that she seemed completely unconcerned, Feng Jiu couldn't help but ask, "So confident?"

“It’s not so much confidence,” she put down her chopsticks and said seriously, “Since Mu Yan said he would only marry me, he made a promise, and I believe him.”

Feng Jiu looked up at the Taihao Emperor in the distance, who was being polite and patiently maneuvering among the celestial officials and fairies. The smile on his face had never changed from beginning to end, polite and distant. Occasionally, his gaze would sweep over her, and although he would only pause for a moment, his eyes would immediately soften, and his smile would reach his eyes. Feng Jiu thought that such a look was perhaps what lovers should have. But that person seemed to have never smiled at her so gently. Thinking this, her heart suddenly felt desolate.

A tall, silver-purple figure blocked her view of Emperor Taihao. Feng Jiu looked up along the robe embroidered with dark cloud patterns and met a pair of indifferent eyes. His long eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his expression was inscrutable.

"You're staring so intently, is there anything interesting over there?" His tone sounded very unfriendly.

Feng Jiu chuckled awkwardly, "No, no, I was just chatting with Wen Chang, just chatting."

"Since there's nothing much to see, come and sit down." The emperor, dressed in purple and with white hair, slightly turned his body, gesturing for her to come over.

“This…” Feng Jiu looked at Wen Chang for help. Wen Chang, who was "experienced" in this regard, could tell at a glance that the relationship between the two was unusual. He sincerely raised his hand to indicate, “Please do as you please.”

Feng Jiu was then slunk away by the purple-robed, white-haired Emperor and placed on a table eight zhang away from Emperor Taihao.

Wen Chang sat alone for a while, feeling rather dejected. Although there were many immortals at the grand ceremony, she knew very few of them, and even fewer she could actually talk to. Bored, she simply left her seat and went to find a quiet spot by the Jade Pool, where she leisurely lay down and closed her eyes to rest. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a familiar voice rang in her ears, "Why are you hiding here?"

She raised her eyelids slightly and said dismissively, "It's crowded inside, and the air is stuffy."

He sat down next to her without hesitation. "Didn't I just see you chatting happily with Feng Jiu from Qingqiu?"

“Yes,” she said irritably, “we talked about some of your scandals.”

"Oh?" he asked, quite intrigued. "What kind of scandal?"

"The scandal, of course, is the news about that woman in red..."

He tilted his head slightly, looking her up and down. "Are you asking me to use this opportunity to reveal my true feelings?"

Hearing this, she sat up, raised a hand and placed it on his chest, pressing it against the spot where his heart was beating. "Okay, tell me."

He took her hand and thought for a moment before slowly saying, "My heart is not a mirror, it cannot be contained. My heart is not a stone, it cannot be turned. My heart is not a mat, it cannot be rolled up."

Her eyes flickered, and she smiled gently, the slight displeasure between her brows vanishing. "I'll let you go."

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