Chapter 49: Yun Shangshi, do you really want to break off the engagement with me?

The palace lanterns are bright and the music of stringed instruments gradually rises.

Yun Zhao stood in the corridor of the side hall, her gaze sweeping like a hawk over the delicacies that flowed like water. She carefully tested each dish with a silver needle, her fingertips steady, yet beads of sweat oozed from her forehead—tonight, there was no room for error.

"A Zhao!"

A clear voice called out from behind him.

Yun Zhao turned around and saw King Qin Xiao Heng walking towards him. Even his ordinary prince's clothes could not hide his youthful spirit.

He caught a glimpse of her poison test and tactfully stopped a few steps away, smiling slyly, "So hard? The banquet will start soon. I beg my brother to let you go home and rest for a few days. I'm afraid the Duke will be heartbroken if he sees you."

Yun Zhao retracted the needle, his expression expressionless. "Your Highness, you are joking. Thunder and rain are all grace from the Emperor. The position of Grand Chef was also bestowed by His Majesty. How could it be hard? But how was your experience in the Ministry of Justice?"

She tactfully changed the subject.

Mentioning the Ministry of Justice, Xiao Heng's eyes instantly lit up like stars: "Solving cases! Very interesting! There have been several strange cases in Beijing recently, and I have..." He was very interested and wanted to talk in detail.

Yun Zhao interrupted at the right moment, a faint but sincere smile playing on his lips: "Your Highness, please go to the flower hall and take a seat. Try the delicacies I have prepared and see if they are to your liking."

Xiao Heng took a step closer, lowered his voice, and spoke in a friendly manner, "Don't worry. I'll find an opportunity tonight to ask my brother, the Emperor, about letting you leave the palace. Duke Yun has also been notified."

Yun Zhao's heart was slightly moved. He didn't expect him to move so quickly.

She raised her eyes and looked directly at Xiao Heng. Her voice was clear and calm, each word falling like a stone into a deep pond. "Your Highness's kindness is appreciated, Zhao. But rather than leaving the palace, I would like to ask Your Majesty to cancel my engagement with His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin."

"Cancel the engagement?!" Xiao Heng's smile froze instantly, replaced by undisguised astonishment and a hint of hidden...excitement. He glanced around, his voice lowered, filled with anxious confusion: "Brother Prince Qin, how could he agree so easily? Unless the Emperor issues an order and the Queen Mother approves... Ah Zhao, are you planning to bring it up tonight?"

There was worry in his eyes, as well as a barely perceptible expectation.

Yun Zhao nodded, his eyes firm, "Yes. If Your Highness is not comfortable speaking, please remain silent."

Xiao Heng looked at her deeply, wanting to say something but stopping himself, and finally turned and left. As soon as he disappeared behind the pillars, a light yellow figure flashed out from the side door—it was Cao Yunzhu.

She used the excuse of going to the toilet and walked hurriedly, but her direction was not the toilet, but the side hall where King Qin Xiao Jue was.

Yun Zhao's eyes turned cold. A moment later, her confidant, Xiao Tao, quietly stepped forward and whispered in her ear, "Shang Shi, Miss Cao has indeed gone to see the King of Qin, just as you expected."

"According to the plan, Xiaotao, you must be alert tonight." Yun Zhao whispered, his tone serious.

"Yes!" Xiao Tao obeyed the order and quietly disappeared into the shadows.

The dishes and drinks were finally ready, arranged according to rank and taste. The maids and eunuchs stood by, seemingly offering respectful service, but in reality, they were keeping an eye on everything, their ears alert and their eyes alert, quietly spreading an invisible surveillance network.

The female officials from the four departments of the Imperial Food Bureau stood behind Yun Zhao, and the atmosphere was solemn.

When Yun Zhao saw his parents and brother Yunfeng appear at the entrance to the flower hall, his throat suddenly choked and his eyes instantly became hot. "Three years! My brother has been away at the border, and only today has he returned to Beijing!"

Wu Lingyu, the Grand Chef, observed his expression and stepped forward considerately: "Grand Chef, you've been working hard all day. Why don't you go to the side hall to rest for a while? We'll take care of you here. If there's anything important, we'll call you immediately."

Yun Zhao nodded gratefully, suppressed his surging thoughts, and quietly retreated to a secluded corner of the corridor.

Xiao Tao was smart and had quietly led Yun Zhao's mother Zhao Yuanying and brother Yun Feng over.

In a dark corner, mother and her two children reunited. Thousands of words were stuck in their throats, and only their tightly clasped hands conveyed silent longing and excitement.

"Brother...are you having a safe journey?" Yun Zhao's voice trembled slightly.

Yunfeng was covered in dust, but his smile was still bright: "Very good! We rode at full speed all the way south, everything went smoothly! And you," he looked at his sister carefully, his eyes full of heartache, "are you... okay in the palace? I received the letter. Did His Majesty summon you to the palace?" He lowered his voice very low.

Yun Zhao nodded, trying to keep his tone light. "Don't worry, brother. Everything is fine. Everyone respects me as 'Shang Shi' now, and His Majesty trusts me. I believe... I will be able to go home soon."

Zhao Yuanying held her daughter's hand tightly, and finally couldn't help but roll down her tears: "How long will it take? Three years! Your brother finally came back, but you can't even go home! My daughter who was raised in pampering should be a mistress to be served by others, but now she has to serve others and do this hard work..." She choked with sobs, full of heartache.

"Mother, please be careful with your words!" Yun Zhao felt sad, but she had to be alert. "Thunder, rain and dew are all the grace of the emperor. Serving His Majesty is also the duty of the Yun family. As long as my father, brother and mother are safe and healthy, that is A Zhao's greatest wish." She glanced around and confirmed that there was no one around.

Yunfeng's expression grew serious, and he asked in a low voice, "What about your marriage to the King of Qin... since you have entered the palace as a court lady, this engagement..."

Yun Zhao took a deep breath. "Before he left the capital to help with the disaster relief, I had already proposed to him to break off the engagement, but he flatly refused. Tonight... will Father bring it up in front of the Emperor?"

Yunfeng exchanged a glance with his mother and said in a deep voice, "That's inappropriate. The King of Qin has just returned from disaster relief and has made great contributions. To propose a breakup now would be like publicly slapping him in the face and would probably draw his wrath. It would be safer to wait until I return to the border and make military achievements before asking for permission from His Majesty. Perhaps my father will soon win military merits while traveling south to Jingxiang!" His eyes were earnest. "Azhao, please be patient tonight and attend the banquet with peace of mind. Your safety is the most important thing."

Zhao Yuanying nodded with tears in her eyes: "Listen to your brother! I will find a chance to talk to your father later. A safe family is better than anything else!"

Time was running out, so we said goodbye in a hurry. Xiao Tao appeared again to urge us.

Yun Zhao watched his mother and brother leave, and the tears he had been holding back almost burst out.

In the dark, Xiao Jin heard the entire conversation between the mother and her two children.

Zhang Fuan whispered at the right moment: "Your Majesty, the Yun family's loyalty is undeniable."

Xiao Jin's lips curled up slightly, with the satisfaction of an emperor's scrutiny: "Duke Yun has taught his daughter well. He's sober and knows when to advance and retreat. Yunfeng is not bad either. How about arranging a marriage for him tonight?"

They are smart and have a broad perspective. Xiao Jin feels that the brother and sister will be his capable assistants!

Zhang Fuan responded with a smile: "Duke Yun is a good commander of the army and has a loyal and honest character. He is truly the pillar of the country."

"Yes." Xiao Jin glanced at the list in his hand. It was Yu Cheng who recommended him. "Although Mr. Yu has been unemployed for many years, he has a clear understanding of the current situation. Bai Qi is also good at managing money. This time, the military pay has been saved by more than 30%."

He was about to move when Zhang Fuan caught him by the corner of his eye and lowered his voice even lower: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin... has intercepted Yun Shangshi behind the pavilion pillar."

Yun Zhao quickly tidied his appearance, took a few deep breaths, suppressed the waves in his heart, and prepared to return to the hall.

As soon as I turned the corner, a tall and stern figure stood in front of me like an iron tower, carrying a strong sense of oppression.

"Yun Shangshi." Qin Wang Xiao Jue's voice was low and cold, as if it had been tempered by ice. His eyes were as sharp as a knife, piercing straight at her. "Hide here and discuss how to cancel this engagement?"

Xiao Jin said, "Keep listening. I want to see what my good brother can say."

Zhang Fuan whispered, "I'm afraid His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin is going to use the Imperial Chef..."