Chapter 4
Even the most well-mannered person will feel a surge of anger when their facade is torn away. He hurriedly observed the expression of deep affection, and in a hushed tone reprimanded Lingbo Xian, "You must be quiet! Do not act recklessly in front of the deity!"
"This seat has never harbored prejudice, treating all mountain spirits and wild creatures equally." She was eager to teach a lesson to this indiscreet carp spirit, but she was reluctant to damage Yun Yue's reputation, so she had no choice but to reluctantly engage in conversation with her, saying, "Not everything in this world must yield a result; it is also common for thoughts to linger without echo." After speaking, in an attempt to ease the atmosphere, she pretended to be generous and laughed twice.
Therefore, those who lack ambition truly put the people around them in a difficult position... However, the scene just now was quite exhilarating, with hot tears streaming down, painfully stinging the eyes, it was real; the monarch's eyes, sometimes cold and heartless, sometimes filled with despair, were genuine... The coordination was seamless, causing the Dragon Source deity to flee in panic.
With a lingering farewell, "No, Chang'an City needs me."
"Great prohibition!" He slightly raised his voice, successfully silencing the words of the merchant. Turning to the direction where Changqing had disappeared, he murmured softly, "The time is almost up; I should also leave this place..."
As the music came to an end and the crowd dispersed, she turned to gaze at the clouds and the moon. He took two steps back, stumbling slightly, and in his fluster, he leaned against a nearby rock for support. It seemed he was too embarrassed to face her, awkwardly avoiding her gaze. Changqing rushed over, noticing that his ears were slowly turning red, the flush gradually spreading, coloring half of his profile.
"I am speaking nothing but the truth, where have I been presumptuous?" Ling Bo Xian said with a cold smile, enunciating each word, "I have always believed that Lord Yuan Hai is a man of his word, after all, when you confided in me, you did not conceal anything. You told me with your own mouth that your heart belongs to someone else, and even if we were to marry, that person would still occupy your heart. At that time, I was young and thought that over time, you would eventually change your mind, but I never expected..." She stared blankly at the still-dazed deity, "The person you think of day and night has actually appeared on the day of our grand wedding. With this occurrence, do you still have the heart to live a good life with me? Will you continue to gaze into the distance for a thousand years or ten thousand years? In the future, if we have children, and they ask me why their grandfather always looks at Long Shou Yuan, how am I supposed to explain that to him?"
The merchant understood in his heart that all this effort was not merely to express love to the Dragon Source Deity. He quickened his pace, recalling the amusing incident at the earlier wedding banquet, "The Deity actually said that the Monarch seems easy to bully..."
"You are crazy..." Yun Yue trembled her lips and said, "You are insane, I do not know what nonsense you are talking about..."
The Lord of the Abyss also needs you, but the deity does not permit it. Is it because they discriminate against us, the demons, believing that he is unworthy of you
He tucked his wide sleeves and walked back, casually saying: "There is no rush for the time being, let us wait a little longer, and naturally, there will be other opportunities."
Both pairs of eyes were fixed on her, with Lingbo Xian's gaze filled with indignation, while Yun Yue appeared somewhat flustered, awkwardly saying, "Don't listen to her nonsense."
Changqing glanced at his hands, which were indeed tightly clenched, and he appeared to be on the verge of collapse. She felt a sudden chill run down her spine; having known him for only a couple of hours, a whimsical thought after a long slumber had led her to this farce. The person he mentioned, whom he did not wish to disturb, was actually her? She continued to feel dazed, finding everything too inexplicable. She had merely had a cup of celebratory wine, so why had all the contradictions converged upon her? The person he mentioned, whom he did not wish to disturb, was actually her? She continued to feel dazed, finding everything too inexplicable. She had merely had a cup of celebratory wine, so why had all the contradictions converged upon her?
The merchant did not quite understand, "Why? Shouldn't a woman be very happy to know that someone admires her?"
Changqing was so entangled by her that he felt dizzy; after failing to force her into marriage, he even wanted to place a heavy label on her, using the term discrimination, while he himself was utterly innocent
The person gazing upwards with a heavy heart regained a sense of tranquility, as the corner of his garment drifted away, ultimately disappearing into the boundless river. He let out a gentle sigh, "If she were not cold-hearted, there would always be some trace left in her heart. The young deity, even if lacking in romantic understanding, remains a deity; one can only approach indirectly, without being reckless or offensive."
Yun Yue smiled lightly, "She has just woken up, and I am afraid of startling her. If she runs away without following me into the abyss, it will be difficult to see her again next time."
Lingbo Xian blocked her path, "Would the deity like to come in and sit for a while?"
He raised his hand slightly and said, "A fish cannot manage matters over there, I will not listen."
She smiled anxiously, "I originally intended to be a negotiator, but it seems I am no longer needed. As for your situation... it would be best for each of you to calm down before discussing it further! It is getting late, I shall take my leave now"
Lingbo Xian was perplexed and said, "I am willing to step aside for your happiness, so why are you not together yet? Lord God, Yuanhai Jun truly loves you; do you intend to make him wait endlessly?"
Yuan Hai Jun fell silent, "After a long time in the great banishment of the lower realm, I have also become somewhat nagging. If I am to perform again, it depends on when the Dragon Source Deity will accept me. If she is not inclined, the tragic play may have to turn into a genuine performance, and by then, I will be riddled with wounds..."
Yin Shang could only swallow the remaining words back, sometimes he could not see through the Emperor. The Emperor's thoughts were profound; even when he was often by his side, he could not glimpse into his heart. Perhaps in this world, the Emperor truly just wanted to love sincerely, and a person and a book could become powerful to a certain extent, making it quite novel to occasionally receive kindness from others. Being saved, one gritted their teeth and wanted to repay the kindness; if that benefactor had desires for worldly matters, it would be quite simple to resolve. But if it were like the Dragon Source Deity, who was indifferent and slept day and night, aside from finding ways to accompany or sleep with them, there would probably be no other means of repaying the kindness.
The merchant looked at him in horror, and he suddenly smiled, "This is indeed the moment when my true tribulation has arrived"
With a long-lasting affection, I shake my head, "The joke has gone a bit too far. I am here to officiate the wedding, not to steal the groom. Please do not misunderstand me, Lingbo Xian. You should continue with your marriage; matters of love and romance have nothing to do with me. After I return this time, I plan to continue sleeping. If you let Yuanhai Jun go to me, that would truly be a waste of him."
Lingbo Xian smiled sadly, "Isn't this just nonsense? Only Yuanhai Jun knows the truth in his heart. Isn't Longyuan Shangshen your savior? Naturally, one should repay a life-saving grace with gratitude, so you cannot let go; you have been thinking about her for five hundred years. In fact, the one you wish to marry is her, not me at all"
Changqing truly does not understand what all of this has to do with her. Even if it is about repaying a debt of gratitude, there is no reason to stake an entire lifetime on it
He wanted to say something else, but after taking two steps, he ultimately did not speak it out.
Yin Shang was momentarily taken aback, quickly regaining composure and saying: "Your Majesty, I have received a report from the Azure Cloud Sky..."
Yun Yue glanced at him and said, "To the fullest extent? Only a fish brain could come up with the idea of hastily bringing together a fiancé and a rival in love"
After going in circles, she still ran away. I originally thought she would be willing to help, at least to first marry the emperor before discussing anything else, but unexpectedly, she did not fall for it. It seems that we need to think this over carefully. " Ying Shang shook his head, feeling quite disappointed. After a moment of sighing, he suddenly leaned forward and asked him, " Your Majesty, did I perform well earlier? Did I portray the pain of Lingbo Xian's unrequited love vividly? "
It seems that our plan has fallen through..." said Ying Shang helplessly, "The Dragon Source Deity feels no remorse and has no intention of alleviating your urgent predicament. If I had known she would react this way, it would have been better to directly invite her to marry.
Changqing suddenly found herself at a loss for words, seeing that frail back trembling slightly, which truly tugged at her heart. She began to regret this trip, "Had I known it would be like this, I should not have come today... I do not wish for your gratitude; such a trivial matter is not worth your prolonged appreciation. You should return to the Abyss, and I should also go back to Longshouyuan." After turning around and taking a few steps, she looked back at him. He stood there, dazed, watching her leave, his eyes filled with sorrow. Changqing waved her hand, "There may never be another opportunity for us to meet again, take care, Lord Abyss."
Ah? Changqing pointed to his own nose and said, "Are you talking about me?"
He was very happy, and like the Lord, he was in quite a good mood. Acting had become an addiction for him, and he eagerly asked: "My Lord, shall we wait for the right moment and perform another tragic play?"
He did not respond to him again, walking alone with his hands clasped behind his back. Deep within the river, there were hidden currents that stirred the flower calyx of the Udumbara, causing the silvery-white pollen concealed within to scatter and drift, creating an overwhelming atmosphere akin to a rain of flowers falling from the sky. The water shimmered under the moonlight, and the flowing light also adorned his white robe, imbuing the dark depths of the river valley with a unique and unrestrained power.
That smile was truly like sunlight penetrating through the sea, pure and harmless, not tainted by even a speck of dust. However, Ying Shang still shivered involuntarily, awkwardly bowing his head, "I have misspoken, please forgive me, Your Majesty"
The merchant murmured: "Isn't Your Majesty in this world just like a fish..."
She drifted away with the current, leaving him standing alone in place. The door of the Lingbo Fairy Water Mansion opened a narrow crack, and that red figure squeezed out, transforming before him from a delicate young girl into a tall man
At this point, Lingbo Xian no longer clung to her feelings. She cast a sympathetic glance at Yuanhai Jun and said, "Since the deity already knows, the one in your heart is her. Your marriage today has fallen through entirely because of her. I will withdraw from this matter; everything is no longer related to me. You should not come to the Ling River anymore. If we cannot be husband and wife, let us live our lives without further contact. The grievances of these past few hundred years will be settled today."
Yun Yue's gaze was sorrowful, yet he maintained his composure, softly saying to Ling Bo Xian: "Alright, you have made enough of a scene. Do not involve the deity in this matter. This marriage is hereby annulled, and from now on, the affairs of men and women shall remain unrelated."
Longingly watching Lingbo Xian gracefully leave, the gate of the Water Palace slammed shut with a bang. The river clam lazily spat out a couple of mouthfuls of water, stirring up a few specks of silt, and then twisted its long tongue to bury itself.
Lingbo Xian couldn't help but laugh through her tears, "Do you really not know? Just look at yourself; whenever you get nervous, you clench your fists. If I hadn't hit the nail on the head, what are you so nervous about?"
However, the way of heaven cannot be violated. Disguising oneself as the Immortal Lingbo today without being recognized has already exceeded the capabilities of ordinary aquatic beings. Ying Shang hesitated and asked: "Your Majesty, are you truly determined to break the Dragon God's barrier?"
The teasing that is worth pondering elicited a fleeting smile from Lord Yuanhai, who asked, "What? Does the Grand Forbidden think otherwise?"
"Your Excellency," Ling Bo Xian bowed to her, "The little demon knows that this matter cannot be blamed on Your Excellency. My engagement with him ends here. From now on, he is a free man. The words he dares not speak, I will speak on his behalf. He has admired Your Excellency for a long time. If Your Excellency shares this sentiment, there is no need to hold back due to the little demon."