Chapter 2

Imperial Study Room

"Consort Li greets Your Majesty …" Ling Ziyan's pale face was almost transparent, and her half-lidded beautiful eyes held a trace of anger. It was only a few steps from her Jade Pear Palace to the Imperial Study, but Ling Ziyan's forehead was already soaked with sweat!

"What is it?" The Emperor's cold voice was filled with disgust, Duan Chen didn't even raise his head to look at the woman in front of him!

"This Consort asks Your Majesty to retract his order … Mu Yan, she … loves Yuxuan, not Jin Feng... And that Jin Feng has already a wife..." <Cough, cough!> Ling Ziyan covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed out blood. Even if she had to sacrifice her life, she would strive for her daughter's happiness.

"Love? Ling Ziyan! Are you even worthy of talking about love!? You who are about to die? Do not sully my dragon eyes! Step back …" Duan Chen slightly raised his gaze. His handsome face was filled with a domineering aura!

"Your Majesty … this lowly Consort begs you …" Ling Ziyan's teary eyes rippled like a wave as she abruptly knelt on the ground, looking at Duan Chen with an imploring gaze!

"Someone come!"

"Drag Consort Li out for me …" As Duan Chen's hazy eyes swept over the woman on the floor, she laughed maniacally in her heart. Ling Ziyan, you made me wish I was dead. Now, I want you to die with everlasting regret! I want you to see for yourself that your daughter has married into a concubine and has been humiliated.

In the sky, wisps of clouds floated above. Sometimes they were like pieces of floating cotton, sometimes they were just like rounded towers, and some even resembles cauliflowers! They kept on coiling then surging slowly to the open space, changing constantly.

Duan Mu Yun gently swayed her body as she squatted beside a pond lined with fake rocks. She took out an embroidered sachet from her bosom and carefully pinched some fish food inside before sprinkling it into the Lotus Pond!

The calm surface of the water suddenly became dark. The colorful carp fought over the food. The water in the pond was rippled and it made the dew on the lotus leaves roll down. The dew was as clear as a pearl.

Duan Mu Yan couldn't help but be mesmerized by the beautiful scenery as she stared dazedly at the falling dew. Although the scenery was beautiful, it couldn't rival even a thousandth of Duan Mu Yan's beauty.

Her skin was as smooth as jade, her eyes were bright and white, and her cherry lips were unblemished. The tiny dimples at the corner of her mouth which always appear whenever she smiles, even at the slightest, added an alluring charm to her appearance. With such an unparalleled beauty, along with her grace and elegance, it was believed that she's the most beautiful in the Kingdom and some even say even beyond. She was after all, the Third Princess of the Mo Dynasty — Duan Mu Yan!

The wind was calm, and she was like a painting.

The golden carp leapt up as cold droplets of water splattered onto Duan Mu Yan's face, breaking her train of thought. She giggled. The light in her eyes turned slightly as a resplendent light flowed out from the bottom of her eyes, causing her heart to feel slightly warm. In this lotus pond, there was once a handsome and carefree boy who saved her from drowning… Xiao Yuxuan, this name had been firmly engraved in her heart ever since Duan Mu Yan was ten years old.

As she thought of this, a gentle breeze seemed to blow in the depths of her heart, causing ripples to form on the surface.

Right at this moment, the sound of hurried footsteps came from afar. Duan Mu Yan saw her brother walking over with quick steps, and a solemn expression appeared on her face.

"Mu Yan... Why are you still here?"

"Do you not know, something big happened …" The deep voice contained a trace of worry and unease. Duan Jingyang's eyes were apprehensive as he stared at his little sister!

"Did something happen to Mother?" Duan Mu Yan was stunned for a moment. A trace of fear flashed in her eyes, and the embroidered sachet in her hand clenched tightly.

"No …"

"That's good …" After hearing Duan Jingyang's reply, her originally tensed heart calmed down. In this palace, there seemed to be nothing more serious and important than the illness of her mother.

"It's about you... Royal father has bestowed you to Xiao Jin Feng! " His brows were tightly knitted together as he looked worriedly at Duan Mu Yan. To be honest, Duan Jingyang's appearance could be considered elegant and handsome, but due to the soured relationship between their Imperial Father and their mother, he had never been treated seriously. As time passed, he developed a submissive personality, even though he was the only prince of his father in the palace! Perhaps… Not the only one.

At this moment, her heart felt as though it was being torn apart. Layers of chilliness slowly rose from the bottom of her heart until her fingertips. Duan Mu Yan's pupils constricted as his mind went blank. Impossible... How could it be Xiao Jin Feng?

Her tender jade-like fingers absentmindedly sprinkled up the fish food within the embroidered sachet as her throat tightened. Suddenly, Duan Mu Yan pursed her lips and smiled faintly.

"Brother… In the future, you need to be more careful with your actions, now you can even hear the wrong names. How can royal father be at ease in handing over great matters to you … " Duan Mu Yan's eyes started to be filled with tears and mist as she stared fixedly at the golden carp in the pond. She would rather believe that there was a mistake than believe that her royal father would betray the both of them.

"Sister... It's true! The imperial edict had been passed down! I saw it with my own eyes! Even if my ears aren't working, and write in a black and white, could it be that I'm blind too? Royal father, he really… " Before Duan Jingyang could finish speaking, Duan Mu Yan had already stood up and fiercely pushed him away, rushing towards the Imperial Study!