The golden gong sounded three times.
Inside the Grand Ceremony Hall of Da Yi Palace, walls were adorned with red and gold silk embroidered with dragons and phoenixes.
Officials, eunuchs, and palace ladies crowded the chamber, as if witnessing the most important ceremony of the year.
"Announcing the betrothal ceremony uniting two kingdoms: Crown Prince Feng Yuhan of Nanyan and Lady Su Mengyu, daughter of the Su family."
The herald's voice echoed across the hall.
All eyes turned toward the beautiful woman dressed in a crimson wedding robe.
Su Mengyu's eyes glimmered with a cold, victorious gleam.
"You cannot win, Xianlan."
"No matter how cunning you are, in the end, I shall stand beside him—rightfully and ceremonially."
⸻
Before the throne,
Feng Yuhan stood calmly in his five-clawed dragon-embroidered royal robes.
His expression revealed nothing.
Yet his gaze lingered—deeply and unwaveringly—on a quiet corner of the room,
where Xianlan stood in pale white-gold robes.
She was there merely as a "spectator."
But her composed silence was what unsettled Su Mengyu the most.
⸻
The herald stepped forward to invite the Crown Prince to voice his acceptance of the betrothal.
A stillness fell over the hall, as if the entire palace held its breath.
Feng Yuhan took a step forward.
He locked eyes with Su Mengyu for a moment—then turned to Emperor Li Sicheng.
"I have but one request before I accept this ceremony."
A soft murmur rippled through the ranks of court officials.
The emperor's brow furrowed slightly before he nodded.
"If you are confident your request does not breach the royal code… speak it."
⸻
Feng Yuhan turned back to Su Mengyu.
Then, in a voice so calm it was almost surreal in such a grand setting, he said:
"I respectfully withdraw from this betrothal."
"Because to be bound without consent is no different than being shackled with golden chains."
"And I… will not be a prisoner to ceremonial obligations."
⸻
The hall fell into dead silence—like a grave.
Su Mengyu's face turned pale instantly.
She raised her hand, about to protest, but Feng Yuhan continued:
"I apologize to the Kingdom of Nanyan…
But if a bond between nations must be forged with hearts that do not willingly give,
then the longer it lasts… the more it rots from within."
Uproar broke out among the ministers.
Eunuchs retreated in fear of becoming collateral damage.
Emperor Li Sicheng remained silent for a long moment before exhaling sharply.
"Feng Yuhan… you have chosen a difficult path."
"I am aware,"
he bowed.
"But I would rather walk a rough road than end it in a gilded cage."
⸻
Meanwhile, Xianlan stood perfectly still.
Her expression held neither joy nor triumph.
Only calm—serene as a swan gliding over still waters.
But within her chest, something stirred.
Feng Yuhan's words… were more than a blow to Su Mengyu.
They were a declaration of war against those who used ritual and tradition as chains to bind others.
⸻
Later that evening,
the news—"Crown Prince Rejects Betrothal"—spread like wildfire throughout the palace.
Su Mengyu was immediately summoned back to Noble Consort Gui's residence.
And Xianlan became the name on everyone's lips,
despite having done nothing at all.
Wen Yichen walked beside Xianlan on the way back to her residence.
"You won again—without placing even a single piece on the board."
Xianlan turned to him.
"Some enemies are so confident in their own games, they walk onto the battlefield alone."
"And you merely wait… to clap as they enter of their own accord."
Wen Yichen chuckled quietly.
"Oh, how I'd love to see Su Mengyu's face right about now."