After a long silence, Tian Yu could feel Zhao Moyan's grip on her shoulders tightening. She endured the pain, staring coldly at him. Zhao Moyan was clearly angry, staring at her for a long time. Tian Yu, impatient, shook off his hand, wanting to leave quickly because she couldn't hold on any longer. But the next second, Zhao Moyan pinned her against a tree and forcefully kissed her. Tian Yu was initially surprised, then reacted and tried to push him away, but no matter how she pushed or slapped, it was useless. Zhao Moyan only held her tighter, grabbing her flailing hands and pinning them down. For the first time, Tian Yu felt his anger, and it was the first time he had treated her so roughly. Tian Yu felt wronged, tears streaming down her cheeks, but Zhao Moyan didn't care. He simply pulled away slightly and said to Tian Yu, "I don't believe it! You're not that kind of person. Tell me why?" Tian Yu refused to speak. Enraged, Zhao Moyan kissed her lips again, and Tian Yu couldn't escape.
Feeling Zhao Moyan's large hand roaming behind her, Tian Yu was startled and bit Zhao Moyan's lip hard. Taking advantage of his loosening of his grip, she broke free from his arm and ran back to her room without looking back. She locked the door, then squatted down and cried pitifully.
Standing under the tree, Zhao Moyan watched Tian Yu run away but didn't chase after her. He reached out and touched his bitten lip, his eyes darkening. He thought to himself that he had lost control just now and scared her. Angered, he punched the tree hard. He would find out what happened and why Tian Yu was like this. Ever since he was released from prison, she had been avoiding him. He didn't believe that their relationship would end like this.
The next day, a victory banquet was held in the palace. Unfortunately, Tian Yu was once again specifically requested by the Emperor to attend, and Li Xingyun was also invited. Before leaving, the eunuch who delivered the message whispered in Tian Yu's ear, "Mr. Tian, the Emperor asked me to tell you not to forget your agreement with him, otherwise this victory banquet might be a trap."
After hearing this, Tian Yu smiled wryly and said, "Please tell His Majesty that Tian Yu will not break the contract."
After dawdling at home for a long time, Tian Yu finally got into the carriage after everyone urged her repeatedly. When they arrived at the palace gate, Tian Yu pushed Li Xingyun to stand in front of the gate and said, "Are you ready?"
Are you ready?
"No! Can I not go?"
"What do you think?" Li Xingyun also sensed that something was wrong, but he didn't want to press Tian Yu for answers. However, he would help her no matter what she did, since he was her brother!
"Forget it! Let's go inside and talk about it!"
Tian Yu noticed that there were many more guards around the palace than usual, and couldn't help but sneer. They really took her too seriously.
The main characters at the banquet were Zhao Moyan and several deputy generals. The emperor bestowed gifts upon them in public, and the atmosphere was filled with singing and dancing. Tian Yu and Li Xingyun hid in a corner. Tian Yu prayed that the emperor would forget her and that Zhao Moyan would stop looking at her. But things always turned out the opposite. Zhao Moyan's eyes never left her from beginning to end. After the beauties finished dancing and left, the emperor called out her name.
Tian Yu wanted to back down and pretend she hadn't heard, but when the eunuch's loud voice called her a second time, everyone looked at her. Tian Yu forced a smile, bowed her head, stepped forward, and performed the kowtow. The emperor smiled and said, "Mr. Tian, there hasn't been any progress on your book lately?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I've been busy with spring plowing lately and have been a bit lazy. I'll make up for it later."
"Does Mr. Tian still live in the thatched cottage in the suburbs?"
"Yes! It's a great place, and very convenient."
"I heard before that Mr. Tian and our Marquis divorced and haven't reconciled. Is that true?"
Tian Yu thought to herself for a while, "What is this old fox up to now? Don't you already know? Why are you asking when you already know? Is there some kind of conspiracy now?" At this moment, Zhao Moyan stood up, knelt down beside Tian Yu, and said, "Your Majesty, although Tian Yu and I divorced before, we have long since reconciled. We haven't been living together because I wanted to give her a proper wedding, which is why I've been delaying it. Now that we have achieved a great victory in suppressing the bandits, I would like to humbly request Your Majesty to grant us a marriage."
The Emperor laughed and said, "Good! That's a good thing! But we should ask Mr. Tian what he thinks first, shouldn't we?"
A thousand curses ran through Tian Yu's mind. How could the emperor be so treacherous? He asked her if she was willing. If she said yes, would Zhao Moyan still be able to leave the palace alive? If she said no, what would happen to Zhao Moyan? She really didn't want to hurt him. Heaven should just make her disappear at this moment, even if it's just unconsciousness.
Tian Yu lowered his head and remained silent for a long time. The Emperor asked again, "Mr. Tian, would you be willing to rekindle your romance with the Marquis?"
"Me!?...I don't want to!" Tian Yu said resolutely, her eyes closed and head held high.
"Why?" the Emperor asked, and Zhao Moyan also looked at Tian Yu, waiting for her to explain.
“My fate with the Marquis has long been severed. I do not wish to rekindle our past relationship. The Marquis is now of a prominent status, and I, a mere commoner, dare not presume to be worthy of him! The Marquis should seek another woman!” Tian Yu said, bowing her head.
"Tian Yu!" Zhao Moyan called out to Tian Yu beside him. This call of Tian Yu made Tian Yu feel as if her heart was about to break. Suppressing the sadness in her heart, Tian Yu bowed her head to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty! I am no longer husband and wife with the Marquis of Zhenbei. I do not want to marry the Marquis of Zhenbei. Please do not force someone else just because the Marquis of Zhenbei has rendered meritorious service. And please, Marquis of Zhenbei, do not make things difficult for me anymore."
The Emperor smiled, but said with some difficulty, "This!? My lord, you've seen it yourself, Mr. Tian is unwilling. Even though I am the Emperor, I cannot force him! How about I help you find another suitable person?"
"Your Majesty! I want no one else but to marry Tian Yu."
"My lord, it's all over between us long ago. Please stop pressuring me. Tian Yu already has someone else in her heart. Please, my lord, let me go." Tian Yu finally understood why the emperor insisted on having Li Xingyun come today—it was to publicly force her to sever all possibilities with Zhao Moyan! Anyone can act. Today, she'd put on a good show for them. As long as the people she cared about were safe and sound, she'd do whatever they wanted. So what if it was a breakup? Who was afraid of who!
The two sides were deadlocked in the main hall. The emperor insisted on playing the peacemaker, and Zhao Moyan refused to accept the imperial order again and again. Tian Yu knew that the emperor had already endured it all, and she was anxious to end this farce as soon as possible. She forced herself to say, "Your Majesty, I do not want to be with the Marquis of Zhenbei. I beg Your Majesty not to make things difficult for me."
"Marquis of Zhenbei, although you have made meritorious contributions in suppressing bandits, since Mr. Tian already has someone he admires, I cannot force him to marry her. In this way, I think the eldest daughter of Minister Cui is very suitable for you. I will bestow marriage upon you today. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Moyan immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty! No!" Tian Yu was also stunned; she hadn't expected the Emperor to pull this stunt.
The Emperor finally stopped smiling and said sternly, somewhat angrily, "Why not? Is the Marquis going to disobey the imperial decree again?"
"Father, I also think it's inappropriate!" The princess also stepped forward and knelt beside Tian Yu, pleading.
"What's wrong? What does Ling'er mean? Do you still want to marry Zhao Moyan?!"
"No! Your Majesty, I just feel this is a bit too hasty. We should at least ask the Cui family and have their horoscopes checked," the princess explained, and some people nodded in agreement.
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