Firmament Sword

Befitting her status as the Lady of the House of a Military General Clan, Xu Jie’s mother was direct and to the point.

”Mother, Huangfu Shishi and my third brother… they have very deep feelings for each other. It wouldn’t be right for you to ask me to get involved, would it?”

Xu Jie said to his mother, his face pained, ”Especially since he isn’t back yet. If word of this gets out, how could I ever face him?”

”Do you really think His Majesty would marry his daughter to that boy Xu Luo? Don’t be foolish; it’s impossible between them! Although you are brothers, and I have never opposed you associating with Xu Luo, something like this comes down to a person’s own opportunity!”

Madam Xu said earnestly, trying to persuade him, ”If you could really marry the Seventh Princess, then our Xu Family... might one day surpass his...”

”Mother!” Xu Jie was displeased to hear this. He frowned and said in a low voice, ”My father and Grand General Xu Ji may be known as the Twin Pillars of the North and South, but their friendship is just as unbreakable. You must never say such a thing again, Mother, and especially don’t let Father hear it!”

”Alright, alright, you silly boy. Let’s just say your mother misspoke.” Madam Xu knew she had gone too far and said with a smile, ”In any case, even if you’re helping your brother, you must do your best to prevent anyone else from winning the Princess’s favor!”

In the Liu Family’s residence, Liu Feng vehemently shook his head. No matter how his father, the Duke, tried to persuade him, Liu Feng refused to pursue the Seventh Princess.

”This has nothing to do with her being disabled. She and Third Brother are the ones who belong together! What? Third Brother isn’t back? So what?”

”You think guys like Wei Ziting and Leng Ping can actually catch the Seventh Princess’s eye? You’ve got to be kidding!”

”The Seventh Princess isn’t just beautiful; she’s also incredibly intelligent! Do you think people are just flattering her when they say she has both beauty and brains?”

”Dad, cut it out. Do you really need to worry about my marriage prospects? As for you... I heard the other day you were at...”

”Alright, alright! I’ll drop it, but you can’t talk about me either!”

”The two of us, we’ll each have our own fun. Yes, that’s settled!”

In contrast, Sui Yan’s reply was much simpler, consisting of just one word: ”No!”

Madam Sui could only shake her head and sigh, wondering when this Little Stone of hers, who only ever opened up around his brothers, would finally see the light.

「Night fell.」

「Inside the Imperial City.」

The Royal Family’s largest state banquet hall was ablaze with lights and bustling with excitement.

Nearly every noble of status in the Imperial Capital had arrived, all gathered in one place!

This was a truly grand event for the highest echelons of society!

Everyone was dressed in their finest attire!

Wei Ziting, son of Prime Minister Wei Feng—one of the Nine Ministers—was dressed in a magnificent black long-robe embroidered with a Black Tortoise, the symbol of a Civil Servant. Standing tall and elegant, he looked like a dragon among men, his bearing exceptionally noble.

Leng Ping, the eldest son of Lord Leng—a First Grade official and also one of the Nine Ministers—wore ornate white robes with cuffs embroidered in gold thread. A golden coronet held up his hair, and his face was as handsome as polished jade. A crowd of people flocked around him.

”Young Master Leng, it seems Young Master Wei is... putting on quite a show today, isn’t he?” someone whispered beside Leng Ping, glancing toward Wei Ziting in the distance.

”Heh.” Young Master Leng gave a faint smile but said nothing. A flash of disdain flickered in his eyes as he thought, ’Wei Ziting? You think *you* can marry the Princess? Dream on!’

Wang Ziweng, from another family of high court officials, was a bit portly but still looked rather dapper in a blue long-robe.

Zhao Mo of the Zhao Family wore a purple long-robe and stood amidst the crowd with an aloof, arrogant expression, disdainful of everyone around him.

Sun Donghai of the Sun Family, dressed in a cyan long-robe, was all smiles as he chatted and laughed with some other young nobles. This young master of the Sun Family had always been low-key, rarely participating in the circles of the Imperial Capital’s elite scions. Nevertheless, he was in a league of his own, and no one dared to cross him.

Countless young ladies from noble families were also in attendance, dressed to the nines. They gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing vivaciously.

Lianyi sat in a corner, her expression placid, but inwardly... she was filled with a sense of unease.

This was the first time she had attended such a grand banquet in her capacity as a Commandery Princess. Though she wasn’t one to be intimidated by the scene, she couldn’t help but worry about Xu Luo.

Xu Luo should have been back days ago; the Young Master wasn’t one to be unpunctual. But now, with the banquet about to begin, there was still no sign of him!

Right now, the Master was at the front lines, as was the Eldest Young Master. The day after the Young Master left, the Madam had returned to her sect to fulfill a promise.

Now, in the entire National Guardian General’s Mansion, Lianyi was the only one left in charge.

Therefore, even though Lianyi had no desire to attend the Seventh Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony, she had no choice but to be here.

’My dear young master... my little overlord, please, just show up!’ Lianyi prayed in her heart.

Huangfu Chongzhi, Xu Jie, and the others were also gathered together.

”I’m afraid Old Third won’t make it back in time. Alas, he and Xiaoqi...” Huangfu Chongzhi didn’t finish, letting out a sigh instead.

”Maybe Third Brother will give us a surprise!” Liu Feng said.

Xu Jie frowned slightly and said nothing, though he wasn’t very optimistic. Many unexpected things could happen when one was out gaining experience; no one could say for sure if Xu Luo would make it back in time.

”In the Jianghu, your fate is not your own,” Sui Yan said succinctly.

”If everyone could please be quiet!” At that moment, a resonant voice suddenly echoed through the hall.

The palace’s Grand Ceremony Officer appeared on the stage. He surveyed the crowd with a faint smile and announced in a loud voice, ”The auspicious hour has arrived! The Seventh Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony will now begin! Let us welcome... the Seventh Princess!”

As the palace musicians began to play, two beautiful Palace Maids wheeled the Seventh Princess slowly onto the stage. She was magnificently dressed and so beautiful it was breathtaking.

”Wow, she’s so beautiful!”

”I haven’t seen the Seventh Princess in years. I can’t believe how much more captivating she’s become!”

”She’s truly gorgeous!”

”It’s such a pity...”

”I have to marry her!”

Below the stage, the crowd was almost universally stunned. The beauty of the woman in the wheelchair was intoxicating; a single glance was enough to make one’s very soul tremble.

Those young noblemen who had originally been reluctant to marry a disabled princess all changed their minds in that instant!

For a peerless beauty whose looks could topple nations, so what if she couldn’t walk?

Even the ever-proud and aloof Young Master Leng couldn’t stop a fervent glint from flashing in his eyes.

’Seventh Princess, I will make you mine!’

The stage was high, so even though the Seventh Princess was seated in her wheelchair, she could still see everyone in the hall.

A hint of anticipation shone in her eyes. She seemed deaf to the waves of admiration from below, her gaze searching for just one person.

In the end, however, she was disappointed.

She saw her eldest imperial brother. She saw Xu Jie, Liu Feng, and Sui Xiaoshi. She even saw Lianyi.

And yet... that one person hadn’t come.

A faint mist immediately clouded the Seventh Princess’s eyes.

She... was heartbroken.