Silence. Absolute silence filled the room. After listening to Tian Weilong's proposal, Feng Wangshu's expression hardened and his attempts at maintaining composure rapidly slipped away. He could no longer hold back his anger. "Who do you think you are?" His voice, low and simmering, filled the room with a rumble that echoed off the walls. All pretenses of cordiality had evaporated. "You walk into my home, cancel your engagement with my eldest daughter, and now dare to propose marriage to my younger daughter? Am I hearing this correctly, Crown Prince?"
"Yes." Tian Weilong replied with a calm smile, his composure unshaken by the Prime Minister's rage. His curt response was so unbothered it almost made Feng Ruyi, who sat silently nearby, stifle a laugh. That small sound was enough to catch Tian Weilong's attention, and his gaze flicked toward her briefly before shifting back to the irate Feng Wangshu.
Feng Ruyi glanced at her father and saw the deepening red of his face, his expression clearly on the verge of eruption. It was only a matter of time before he lost his temper completely.
"Never in a million years!" Feng Wangshu's voice boomed as he turned sharply, his back to the Crown Prince in an overt sign of disrespect.
Tian Weilong remained unfazed. He calmly lifted his teacup to his lips, his demeanor as regal and composed as ever. "Prime Minister, forgive me for being blunt, but you have no say in this matter," he said, his voice smooth, yet tinged with an unmistakable arrogance. "I am here to inform you of my decision. Imperial Father will surely approve."
Tian Weilong's words hung in the air, his self-assuredness palpable. As the Crown Prince of Qilin, the heir to the Dragon Throne, he could do as he pleased. To him, the Prime Minister's objections were mere formalities—he would have whatever he desired.
"What about me?" Feng Qingqing's voice pierced the tension, sharp and clear. "Don't I have a say in this?" She stood, eyes flashing as she addressed Tian Weilong directly.
"And me," Feng Ruyi thought to herself jokingly but decided to hold back her words.
For the briefest of moments, Tian Weilong's composed expression faltered—his eyes narrowed slightly before he regained his charming smile. But that fleeting vulnerability did not escape Feng Ruyi, who, though appearing to be distracted by the grapes in her hand, was intently watching the exchange. She couldn't tear her attention away; after all, there would be no second chance to witness such drama.
Where's my camera when I need it? Feng Ruyi thought with an inward sigh. The restrictions of this ancient world were already starting to wear on her.
"And what do you think, Qing'er?" Tian Weilong addressed Feng Qingqing with an unsettling familiarity, a tone that caught everyone off guard. His gaze briefly shifted toward Feng Ruyi, as if seeking her approval or expecting some reaction, but she remained silent, her expression impassive.
Feng Qingqing's response was swift and decisive. She stood, walking purposefully toward her father, her movements graceful yet firm. "One, don't call me Qing'er. We're not so familiar. Miss Feng Qingqing will do," she declared, her voice unwavering. "Two, I agree with my father. I won't marry you." She stared directly into the Crown Prince's eyes, daring him to challenge her.
The audacity of it all struck Feng Qingqing like a slap. After Tian Weilong had canceled his engagement with her sister, now he had the gall to ask for her hand? Did he think her some consolation prize? The sheer nerve of him made her blood boil.
Feng Ruyi, meanwhile, was completely thrown off course. Wait, wait, wait... timeout, she thought, confused. In the novel, Feng Qingqing should have responded shyly, accepting the proposal with a glance toward me, almost as if I had lost. Shouldn't Feng Wangshu have agreed to the Crown Prince's proposal as well? Why isn't this following the storyline? Could my presence have already disrupted everything? She wanted to rip her hair out in frustration.
But why?! she thought again, exasperated. I was just a bystander. I haven't even done anything yet!
Feng Qingqing looked towards Feng Ruyi and furrowed her eyebrows when she noticed her older sister mumbling unknown things under her breath, making strange gestures as if she were a lunatic. "Jie jie?" Everyone diverted their attention to Feng Ruyi, "What do you think?"
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Feng Ruyi, waiting for her input.
Feng Ruyi hesitated. She wanted Feng Qingqing to marry Tian Weilong if only to keep her own life intact, free from the cruel fate of the original Ruyi. The thought of dying so young—so tragically—had haunted her. I just want to eat, sleep, and enjoy life in this beautiful, ancient world. Is that really too much to ask?
Her heart won over her mind, and she suddenly found herself rushing to stand beside her sister. She had already confessed to Feng Qingqing that she was not the original Ruyi, and she believed her sister would not harm her... at least for now.
For now, I'll just go along with her decision, Feng Ruyi told herself, steeling her resolve.
With a sudden, dramatic flourish, Feng Ruyi spoke, her tone dripping with mock sorrow. "Your Highness, don't you think you're being extremely disrespectful? My heart is utterly shattered by your words. I was under the impression we would make a wonderful match, but now, you have tarnished my reputation."
She paused, her voice quivering with feigned distress. Her acting was superb, but the irony was not lost on her. The tears simply wouldn't come. Damn it, I need my onions.
"I agree to your wish to cancel the engagement with me," Feng Ruyi said, her eyes flashing with determination. "But I will not allow you to force my sister into an unwanted marriage!"
The room fell into stunned silence. Even the usually stoic Yangmi was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise. The maids exchanged glances, unable to believe what they were witnessing. Was this really the Eldest Miss? Wasn't she deeply, madly in love with the Crown Prince and forced the Prime Minister to ask the Emperor for the engagement? How come she's letting him go this easily? Is the sun finally rising from the west?
Feng Qingqing felt a small, reluctant sense of understanding. So she wasn't lying when she said she wasn't the original Feng Ruyi, she thought. A small part of her guard went down, though she remained cautious.
Tian Weilong, his usually calm demeanor now tinged with frustration, gave a tight smile. "I understand my words may have hurt you, Feng Ruyi, but my feelings for your sister are genuine," he said, trying to regain his composure.
"No need to apologize, Your Highness," Feng Ruyi shot back, her voice steely. "Your words haven't hurt me at all. But I do believe, as Crown Prince, you should respect a woman's decision. My sister has clearly stated she doesn't wish to marry you. I trust you understand her wishes?" Her gaze was unwavering, and there was no room for argument in her tone.
She glanced at Feng Qingqing, and the look they exchanged spoke volumes—a silent pact between them.
"I originally would not have the courage to reject your proposal. However, you have to remember that Your Highness and my Jiejie were once engaged. It wouldn't look too good for the public to see if we were to marry. It would not only tarnish my sister's reputation but mine as well," Feng Qingqing said, backing Feng Ruyi up.
Feng Qingqing spoke up again, her tone just as firm. "Originally, I might not have had the courage to reject your proposal, Your Highness. But considering the history between you and my sister, it would be scandalous for us to marry. It would ruin not only my sister's reputation but mine as well."
Tian Weilong's eyes narrowed. This was not going the way he had expected. Feng Ruyi and Feng Qingqing were always at odds, like fire and ice. But now, they were united. This new dynamic was completely foreign to him.
Feng Wangshu listened in silence. He originally did not want the engagement between Feng Ruyi and Tian Weilong to happen because of the fierce battle for the throne. He wanted to remain neutral, refusing to take any sides. Although Tian Weiling was the Crown Prince, his position was fully secured. Furthermore, the inner turmoils of the harem were not as grand as it appeared to be. He did not want his daughters' lives to be at risk. Being present in the royal courts for over 20 years, Feng Wangshu knows that it's not all fun and games, especially with the current state of the country.
It was only a few selected higher-ups that fully grasped the slow brewing war that was about to encapsulate Qilin country.
As he pondered the deeper implications, a bead of sweat appeared on his brow, his expression growing even more serious. His mind finally made the connection, and the weight of the situation hit him fully.
"I understand now," he muttered under his breath, his voice cold and calculating.
"Everyone, leave. I have something to say to the Crown prince." Feng Wangshu said, his extremely calm voice causing the people in the room to subconsciously frown. Seeing that Feng Qingqing was about to open her mouth to refute him, he added, "Privately."
Feng Ruyi noticed the shift in her father's demeanor—his earlier rage had faded, replaced by an unsettling calm. Something was happening beneath the surface. She didn't know what, but she knew she had to step back.
"Come on, mei mei," Feng Ruyi said, her voice soft yet firm as she grabbed her sister's hand. "Let's leave Father and the Crown Prince to their private discussion."
Once the room had emptied, leaving only Feng Wangshu and Tian Weilong, the atmosphere grew tense. Feng Wangshu didn't waste any time with pleasantries.
"I know you don't love Qing'er," Feng Wangshu said bluntly, his eyes boring into Tian Weilong. "So tell me, what is your true intention?"
Tian Weilong, who had been seated with an air of nonchalance, slowly stood, his height casting a shadow over the Prime Minister. The smile he had worn throughout the exchange was now gone, replaced by an expression that was both colder and more calculating. His eyes, once warm with charm, now burned with the steely resolve of a ruler.
"Who says I don't love Feng Qingqing?" Tian Weilong countered, his voice low, but with an undeniable edge. "However, you already know the answer to your own question, Prime Minister. But, for the sake of amusement, I'll indulge you."
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Laohu Army," he began, his words slow and deliberate. "I want it."