Zhao Xin received the news half an hour later.

When she rushed to the front hall, she sensed a tense atmosphere.

His own father looked terrible, and Lord Wen's expression wasn't much better.

"Qingyu is my son now, and he's a good match for your daughter!"

"Besides, His Majesty has praised Qingyu. Given time, when the imperial examination is held, Qingyu will surely be on the list. Moreover, the two children are of one mind. This is an excellent marriage. Why don't you agree?"

Zhao Ze ignored him, which made Wen Yuan so angry that he jumped up and down.

Ning Yao sat to the side, leisurely sipping her tea, while Lin Qingyu looked pale and uneasy.

He only refrained from speaking after Ning Yao said it wasn't a big problem.

Zhao Xin came in and immediately knelt down before Zhao Ze, startling Zhao Ze.

"Xin'er, what are you doing? Get up and let's talk this out."

Zhao Xin remained unmoved and said, "I understand why Father disagreed in the past; you were afraid I would suffer. I also understand why Father disagrees now. If I were to marry, the Zhao family would have no heir, wouldn't it?"

After Zhao Xin spoke, everyone in the room fell silent, while Ning Yao looked at her with great admiration.

Everyone present knew about the Zhao family's situation: their son, on whom they had placed great hopes, would never see them again, and their capable daughter was about to marry someone else.

No one would want to be in this situation.

Wen Yuan calmed down and sighed softly.

“Originally, the older brother was the father’s hope, but now that the older brother has made a mistake, the father’s hopes are now on his daughter.”

Zhao Heng softened his tone and stood there somewhat dejectedly.

“You’ve been intelligent and sensible since you were little, and you’ve never caused your father any trouble. Compared to your brother, you’re more like the eldest son in the family, but now your father…”

"Even after we get married, our daughter will still be a daughter of the Zhao family. Qingyu and I have agreed that the first child we have after marriage, regardless of whether it's a boy or a girl, will take my surname, Zhao, and inherit the Zhao family name!"

Zhao Ze was stunned, and after a long while said in disbelief, "Don't talk nonsense. How can a child born to a married daughter take the mother's surname?"

Lin Qingyu stepped forward, knelt beside Zhao Xin, and raised three fingers with his right hand: "I, Lin Qingyu, swear before the Netherworld Divine Tree that our first child after marriage will bear the surname Zhao and be named by you, and our second child will bear the surname Wen and be named by the father! If I break this oath, I will not have a good end!"

Not only was Zhao Ze stunned, but Wen Yuan also froze on the spot.

He never expected that Lin Qingyu and Zhao Xin would go to such lengths.

Zhao Xin said, "Qingyu and I have already considered the concerns of our elders. We are still young and have plenty of time to arrange matters concerning the Zhao, Wen, and Lin families. I believe Qingyu and I will definitely succeed!"

After saying that, she pulled Lin Qingyu and kowtowed heavily, saying, "I beg Father to grant my request!"

Now that things had come to this point, Zhao Heng's worries were dispelled, but he still didn't budge.

At this moment, Ning Yao spoke up and said, "Lord Zhao, how about this? You have seen our sincerity today, and I'm sure you can't bear to separate the two of them again. If you are still worried, then let's postpone the wedding and wait until Lin Qingyu passes the imperial examination with flying colors before we come to marry Zhao Xin. How about that, then we'll have double happiness?"

Ning Yao's words gave both sides a way out, leaving Zhao Heng with no further reason to object.

"Miss Ning's method is excellent. Qingyu, if you want to marry Xin'er, you'd better work hard!"

Lin Qingyu quickly declared, "Qingyu will certainly live up to everyone's expectations and marry Xin'er in a grand and glorious manner!"

After reflecting on everything, Zhao Heng finally relented: "In that case, I will no longer stop you. I will listen to Miss Ning. Once you have achieved success, I will betroth my heart to you!"

Although the marriage was not yet finalized, it was now out in the open, and everyone felt relieved.

When Ning Yao suggested returning to Licheng, Hua Yan said she wouldn't go with her.

"I need to go to the capital. After I've dealt with things, I'll go to Licheng to seek refuge with you."

Ning Yao asked, "Now that your wish has been fulfilled, why do you still want to come to me?"

Hua Yan said mysteriously, "I know you have a treasure, it must be something extraordinary. I've figured it out, following you will definitely make me live a life of luxury, and my future wife might even depend on you."

"I just have some business to attend to in the capital temporarily. Once I'm done, I'll still be working for you. Don't even think about getting rid of me!"

Ning Yao remained noncommittal. Hua Yan wasn't a bad person; although not a good one, she was kind to her and her family.

Moreover, Hua Yan is quite skilled in martial arts and is one of Hong Yuan's people, so she doesn't mind having more friends.

"Alright, you go ahead with your business. Since you're going to the capital, please send a message there for me. Please wait a moment."

Ning Yao wrote several letters and handed them to Hua Yan: "To His Majesty, and to the Prince Duan's residence."

Hua Yan received the letter, said nothing, simply waved to Ning Yao, and then turned and left.

After parting ways with Hua Yan, Ning Yao set off back to Licheng.

I've been away for half a year; it's time to go back.

As soon as Ning Yao left Nanjiang City, she saw Ning Que Linyu, who had been missing for several days.

Are you going home?

Ning Yao nodded, and the two rode straight to Licheng.

In comparison, Hua Yan arrived in the capital much faster.

He went straight to the Prince Duan's residence and gave the letters Ning Yao had given him to the corresponding people one by one.

Since Shen Ce couldn't see him, he could only have Prince Duan deliver it.

Then he went to see Yun Xiangnanxi, and the two talked privately for an hour before Hua Yan left the Duan Prince's Mansion.

Some were happy to receive Ning Yao's letter, while others were sad.

Shen Ce, Prince Duan, Ning Shaoyuan, and others were all delighted.

Only Shen Ci'an was both happy and worried.

He has now been appointed as a deputy general and is serving in a military camp on the outskirts of Beijing.

Furthermore, after his triumphant return from Moon City, he was accompanied by the divine beast Bo, which made him famous overnight.

His status as the heir of the Prince Duan's mansion was even more talked about.

After the unrest was quelled, the capital city returned to its previous peaceful life.

Shen Ce acted ruthlessly, dealing with the Zhang and Lin families, cutting off their branches, and carrying out a major purge of the aristocratic families in the capital, promoting many noble families and commoners.

The situation in the capital city has changed again and again.

Now that Princess Consort Duan has reappeared, the Duan Prince's Mansion is receiving a constant stream of visiting cards.

They came either for Shen Ci'an or for Yun Xianglingyu.

Although Yun Xianglingyu's identity is unknown, the surname Yun Xiang is extremely rare, and there is no other family with it besides Yun Xiang City.

Secondly, her status as a cousin of Prince Duan's family was enough to attract young talents in the capital.

Yun Xiangnan missed her daughter's wedding and didn't want to miss her son's, so she accepted all the guest invitations.

He spent all his time dragging Yun Xiangnanshan and Yun Xianglingyu along, either meeting this girl or attending banquets for that young lady.

It was only after Yun Xiangnanshan mentioned it that she gave up the idea.

Seeing that Yun Xiangnanxi didn't believe her, Yun Xiangnanshan asked, "Have you ever seen him so distraught?"

"Did he start acting like this the day he received the letter?"

"Was that letter delivered by Yao Yao that day? Aren't you curious about what it said that made him like this?"