"Good morning, Lord Xiao."
"Good morning, Lord He."
"Congratulations, Lord Xiao!" Lord He clasped his hands in a gesture of celebration.
"Congratulations? What for?" Xiao Mochi responded with a smile.
Lord He explained, "Xu Ming and Xu Pangda were both your students, weren't they? Back in the Zhi Xing Academy, you were the one who enlightened them. Now, one has become the top scholar, and the other the second-ranked. Isn't that worth celebrating?"
Xiao Mochi shook his head lightly. "Xu Ming and Xu Pangda have achieved what they have today entirely through their own efforts. My early teachings were hardly significant."
Lord He chuckled. "That may be so, but the bond between you runs deep."
Xiao Mochi understood the implication in Lord He's words but maintained his calm smile. "I only hope that they serve as honest officials and remain true to themselves. If we can enjoy a few cups of tea together in the future, that would be the greatest joy."
Lord He paused for a moment, then nodded. "Lord Xiao speaks the truth. After you, Lord Xiao."
"After you, Lord He."
The two entered the palace together.
Inside the Hall of Heaven and Earth, the officials gradually gathered.
"Did you hear? His Majesty granted a marriage to Xu Ming yesterday."
"How could I not? I was at the Xu residence when the top scholar declined the Emperor's offer with my own eyes."
"They say Xu Ming wrote a memorial to the throne that resonated deeply with both civil and martial paths."
"I'm also curious about what exactly he wrote in that memorial."
"Regardless of its contents, rejecting the royal marriage will undoubtedly offend His Majesty's honor."
The court buzzed with hushed conversations about the events at the Xu residence the previous day.
Unsurprisingly, news of the incident had already begun to spread across the capital. If the reasoning in Xu Ming's memorial lacked justification, it could lead to serious trouble.
Listening to the discussions, Xiao Mochi remained composed.
Though Xiao Mochi had hoped Xu Ming would marry the princess and strengthen the royal lineage by producing imperial heirs, Xu Ming's refusal only made Xiao Mochi regard him even more highly.
Xu Ming must have his own reasons for refusing. At the very least, it showed he was not the type to compromise for power.
"His Majesty arrives!"
At the sharp call of Eunuch Wei, the officials instantly fell silent.
"We humbly welcome Your Majesty!" the officials chorused.
"Rise, my loyal subjects." Emperor Wu adjusted his sleeves. "Before today's court session, there is a memorial that I would like all of you to review."
---
Meanwhile, Xu Ming had already risen and was practicing his Heaven-Opening Fist in the courtyard.
Having grown up, Xu Ming now adhered to the principle of male adults avoiding their mothers and had moved out of the family courtyard to live with Xu Pangda.
"Fifth Brother, you're up early," Xu Pangda said as he stepped out of his room and saw his younger brother practicing in the courtyard.
Xu Pangda glanced at the time—it was barely past dawn.
"I got used to this in the Blood Asura Battalion." Xu Ming replied as he finished a set of movements. "Why don't you sleep a bit longer, Third Brother?"
Xu Pangda laughed heartily. "I've long been accustomed to waking up early to read. Don't mind me, Fifth Brother. Continue with your training."
Xu Ming nodded and resumed his practice. Xu Pangda took a book and sat in the courtyard to read, though his gaze frequently drifted toward Xu Ming.
After burning a stick of incense, Xu Ming finished his morning routine, took a deep breath to calm the martial energy coursing through him, and noticed Xu Pangda staring. With a smile, he asked, "Third Brother, is something on your mind? You've been looking at me this whole time."
"It's nothing much," Xu Pangda chuckled. "I was just wondering if the reason you gave in your memorial for declining the marriage was really the whole truth?"
Xu Ming smiled, not hiding anything. "Not entirely."
Xu Pangda's curiosity was instantly piqued, and a hint of gossip gleamed in his eyes. "Could it be that you're waiting for Qin Qingwan?"
Xu Ming froze for a moment, then shook his head. "No."
"If not Qin Qingwan, then it must be Zhu Cici from Qi Kingdom? Miss Zhu?" Xu Pangda continued his guesses.
Xu Ming looked puzzled. "Why would you bring up Miss Zhu, Third Brother?"
"Didn't you write a poem titled Longing as a birthday gift for her? I even sent it to her for you," Xu Pangda said matter-of-factly.
"You sent that poem, Longing?" Xu Ming asked, startled.
"Of course," Xu Pangda nodded. "Didn't you ask me to send something over? I saw the poem on your desk and figured it was meant for her, so I included it."
"…" Xu Ming didn't know what to say.
That poem, Longing… surely it wouldn't cause any trouble, right?
Especially with someone like Zhu Cici, a literary prodigy—such a poem might leave a significant impression.
"You really like Zhu Cici, don't you, Fifth Brother?" Xu Pangda took Xu Ming's silence as confirmation and exclaimed in surprise, "Fifth Brother, you need to think this through. You and Zhu Cici would face a lot of difficulties."
As the top scholar of Wu Kingdom, Xu Ming had earned the Emperor's favor and was destined to become a leader of the literary circle. It was impossible for him to marry into Qi Kingdom.
On the other hand, Zhu Cici, a once-in-a-millennium literary genius, was a prized talent of Qi Kingdom. They would never allow her to marry out.
No matter how one looked at it, Xu Ming and Zhu Cici seemed destined for heartbreak.
"Third Brother, you're overthinking it." Xu Ming chuckled. "I don't have feelings for Zhu Cici."
Xu Ming's decision to decline the marriage had nothing to do with either Qin Qingwan or Zhu Cici.
Qingwan had likely forgotten him by now.
As for Zhu Cici, it was even more impossible for her to elope with him—such a move would have the entire Qi Kingdom hunting him down.
While Xu Ming did feel a certain fondness for Wu Yanhán—they had spent a lot of time together, and she was indeed beautiful—he didn't think he was ready to settle down. In two years, when the Beauty Rankings were updated, Wu Yanhán would surely make the list.
But deep down, Xu Ming knew he wouldn't stay in Wu Kingdom forever.
Wu Kingdom, though one of the ten great human dynasties, still felt too small in the grand scheme of the world. Xu Ming wanted to explore.
He wanted to see the immortal sects outside.
To witness how warriors from other lands unleashed their power.
To visit the thousands of demon kingdoms in the Southern Territories.
To face the barbarian tribes of the Northern Desolation.
To seek the truth behind the path of immortality.
If he became the Princess's consort, leaving would become nearly impossible. He would have to wait until they had children—specifically, a son—before even considering it.
And who knew how many years that would take?
Once he had a child, would he even still want to leave?
"Third Brother, I actually have my own—"
"Fifth Young Master! Fifth Young Master!"
Before Xu Ming could finish his sentence, Chunyan rushed into the courtyard.
"Fifth Young Master, quickly, to the front hall! The Princess—the Princess has arrived!"