Chapter 10, Gratitude and Revenge

She could not understand where she had offended him, so she began to recall from the very first moment she saw him... However, the more she recalled, the more heartbroken she became

In the past, when Murong Xue learned to ride, she made several sets of men's clothing, which have now come in handy. After changing into her outfit, she draped a red cloak over herself, simply tied up a bundle, and then stepped out of the room

"I have a face full of pimples, didn't you see?" She was extremely angry, pointing at her face covered in pimples, stamping her foot and saying, "With this appearance, I absolutely cannot be selected; it would shock the royal presence, do you know that?"

Thirty-two women were selected by Yelü Yanzhen to become twelve. Qin Zhi'an informed these women to return home to bid farewell to their parents, make some preparations, and that they would set off for the capital tomorrow

Murong Xue unceremoniously blocked his way, saying, "I have regarded you as a friend with all my heart, yet you are unwilling to even tell me your real name." Her voice trembled slightly. A mix of emotions surged within her—aggrieved, angry, disappointed, and pained, intertwining into a tangled mess that was impossible to unravel.

Atai replied with two sentences, then raised the whip and drove the carriage southward as he exited the city gate

As Yelv Yanbu stepped out of the government office, he immediately spotted Murong Xue, not because he was deliberately searching for her figure, but because she stood out too much in the crowd, her face adorned with a bright red hue, striking and eye-catching

Murong Xue nodded, closed the door, and conveyed to Murong Lin what Yelv Yan had said to her

She blinked, wondering whether she had misheard or if it was just her imagination.

Yixian is a small town, and the gatekeeper recognized Atai as a prominent assistant at the Huichun Medical Clinic, greeting him warmly.

She stared at him blankly, her heart churning like boiling lava. How could he treat her this way? She questioned herself, having given him her sincere heart; he should at least reciprocate with half of his sincerity. Knowing full well that she did not wish to enter the palace, knowing that she was eager to find a husband just to avoid going into the palace, he held great power, and yet, it would have been a mere gesture for him, yet he was unwilling to fulfill her wish

Murong Lin suddenly felt that the situation had become complicated. He looked at his daughter, who wore a face of worry and despair, and said, "A-Xue, in fact, I still have one last resort."

What method?

This prince conducts official business in an impartial manner and will not show favoritism. He remained calm and indifferent, his starry eyes still reflecting an unfathomable detachment.

She smiled with joy, her heart filled with happiness. He must be putting on an act for Qin Zhi'ang and the others, as he certainly cannot let anyone see that he knows her, lest he be accused of favoritism and of doing a favor for her.

He had just made preparations in recent days, and once his daughter was selected, they would head to the capital in advance. Therefore, the carriage and luggage were all ready, and to present gifts, the silver from the ticket office had also been withdrawn. However, he did not expect that circumstances had changed.

As he passed by her, he appeared as if they were strangers, almost brushing past her without acknowledgment

This was precisely the issue that Murong Xue was most worried about during her journey. She had originally thought that even if she were selected, there would still be a way out. However, Yelv Yan's words directly severed that escape route. Zhao Zhenniang not only could not be relied upon, but was also the main culprit leading her into the fire pit.

After he finished speaking, he didn't even glance at her again, his gaze fixed on the directory in his hand, and he made a checkmark on it with his pen

Two fine horses galloped along, pulling the carriage, and after running for a quarter of an hour, they turned eastward

Yelü Yan seemed to not recognize her at all, examining her in a routine manner, his gaze deep and inscrutable, revealing not a trace of emotion.

She heard nothing of what was left, biting her delicate lips, staring straight at him. The grievances and sadness in her heart were about to burst her heart apart. If he were not the person she liked, she would not feel so wronged and sad. If he did not know her thoughts, she would not feel so wronged and sad. Yet he happened to know everything.

Why does he treat her this way

The best strategy among the Thirty-Six Stratagems is to retreat.

Murong Xue was first brought to tears by his remark "too ugly to look at," but then she realized something was amiss; Zhao Zhenniang had actually recommended her to the Emperor! She immediately stopped crying and quickly lifted her skirt to get into the carriage

Next, the master called out the name of Xie Qiujv. A tall and graceful young woman approached, and Ye Luyan's gaze fell upon her, scrutinizing her as meticulously as he had with Murong Xue, before uttering a single word.

Wealth is an external possession. When your mother passed away, the thing she was most worried about was you. Murong Lin gently stroked his daughter's hair and sighed, "I have heard that the Emperor's health has deteriorated; for the past two years, he has relied on elixirs to sustain his life. A father cannot just stand by and watch you jump into the fire pit."

While other girls lowered their heads and cast their eyes down, she, on the contrary, raised her small face adorned with red envelopes, offering a gentle smile to Ye Luyan, her eyes brimming with anticipation and excitement, as well as a hint of tender admiration.

Here, Murong Lin had Atai harness a carriage, taking his daughter and heading towards the city gate

Yuan Chenglie lowered his head in distress; indeed, this would surely startle the imperial presence

This is the illusion that Murong Lin deliberately created for Atai. By tomorrow morning, Qin Zhi'ang will discover that he has escaped with his daughter, and if he sends someone to pursue them, the gatekeeper will inform him that they ran south.

Murong Xue did not expect her escape to go so smoothly, and she felt extremely joyful and fortunate in her heart

Most of the women who were not selected return home joyfully with their families, while very few of those who were selected express happiness; the majority weep sorrowfully in the arms of their loved ones, as if facing a life-and-death separation. There are, however, a few families of selected women who are extremely pleased with their daughters' selection, as exemplified by the Zhao family, who transformed from a fallen household to one that flourished and prospered.

Murong Xue deeply felt that she had encountered the best father in the world, and with tears in her eyes, she said: "Daughter does not want to implicate you. If caught, I will be imprisoned in a large jail"

You have been selected

"Why did you choose me?" Her beautiful eyes were filled with grievance, and the redness on her face was shining with anger, each one filled with righteous indignation

Murong Lin said: "There is no time to delay, you should change into a set of men's clothing, and we will leave the city immediately"

This word, like a biting north wind in the depths of winter, instantly froze the faint smile that flickered on Murong Xue's face. She looked at him in disbelief, almost rushing forward to make him say it again

Yelü Yan felt a bit regretful, clearly seeing that his eyes were red, yet he did not shed a single tear

Murong Xue can be said to have pioneered a new era for the Great Zhou Dynasty

Murong Xue had always contemplated escaping, but she was reluctant to implicate her father. Now that she found herself in a desperate situation, she increasingly felt that fleeing was her only option

This feeling is akin to having a steel knife suddenly plunged into the heart by the person closest to and most trusted by you, leaving one unprepared and in excruciating pain

Murong Lin had already concluded that his daughter would not be selected, but when he saw her expression, he suddenly felt that something was amiss. If she had not been selected, she should have been bouncing in through the door by now.

When her name, Murong Xue, was called, she stood gracefully and elegantly in line

She gazed at his thin lips with a lingering look, yet she heard a faint and simple word, "stay"

The daughter is unaware. However, with this, the father no longer needs to think about going to the capital to seek her out

At this moment, thirty-two young ladies had already lined up in the order of their entry, with the clerk calling out names, and the young ladies stepping out from the line to stand before the table for selection by Prince Zhaoyang

At this moment, the crowd in front of the county office has gradually dispersed, but Murong Xue remains at the entrance, waiting for him to come out. She has always been a straightforward person, and if she does not clarify today's matter, she will feel uncomfortable for the rest of her life

"Miss, please stand over here." The assistant pointed to the remaining group, and only then did she realize that she had not misheard; he had indeed said the word 'remain'.

Murong Lin was greatly astonished, "Why would she repay kindness with enmity"

At this moment, she had completely disregarded his beauty, and all she saw in his eyes was indifference

Throughout history, no selected beauty has ever dared to run away. Even if they are unwilling in their hearts, crying until their hearts break and grinding their silver teeth, they will still brace themselves and respond to the summons to enter the palace. Therefore, the authorities have never anticipated that selected beauties would escape, nor have there been any precedents for sending troops to guard against such occurrences. This is especially true for the small town of Yixian.

He smiled and said, "In fact, I find your appearance truly unbearable to look at. However, before my departure, Consort Zhao recommended you to the Emperor, stating that you are intelligent and kind, and have a good reputation. Therefore, I have no choice but to select you." After casually finishing his words, he was pleased to see two large, round tears fall from those sparkling, beautiful eyes, and only then did he leave with satisfaction

Why

Father has lived for half a lifetime, what is there to fear? Father cannot bear to see you spend your whole life in the palace growing old. If it is to be like this, it is better to take a risk and carve out a path for yourself. To live a life is to live freely and joyfully; otherwise, how can one do justice to this splendid youth? Murong Lin has a bold personality, travels far and wide, and possesses a certain degree of courage.

Murong Xue exclaimed, "Father, this is the legacy you have built through a lifetime of hard work; I find myself somewhat reluctant to part with it."

"This prince has his reasons for choosing you." He remained indifferent to her expression of surprise, still speaking in a calm and unperturbed tone

At the age of sixteen, she fell in love with a man at first sight for the first time, wholeheartedly seeking to please him, preparing medicine, brewing tea, and washing her hands to make soup for him. However, he did not appreciate her efforts and even personally pushed her into the fire pit.

Yuan Chenglie did not expect her to be so bold as to question this prince, who was as cold as ice. Furthermore, she did not anticipate that the prince would actually stop and seriously inform her: "My name is Yelv Yan"

Upon exiting the government office's main gate, the family members of thirty-two women surrounded them, resulting in a moment filled with both tears and bitter laughter

In the carriage, Murong Xue removed her women's cloak, let her hair down and styled it like a man's, tying it with a green scarf on top, instantly transforming into a youthful boy, with a face radiating youthful exuberance.

Yelv Yan was still dressed in a plain brocade robe, his appearance striking and his stature tall, making him look good in anything he wore. As he gracefully passed through the crowd, everyone else seemed like mere dust.

Is your heart made of stone? You know my wishes..." She could not continue, biting her lip, and with a tilt of her head, she forced the tears back.