Emperor Murong stood before the wide windows of his chamber, his gaze fixed on the sprawling garden beneath the palace walls. The wind carried the soft scent of winter flowers, but there was no peace in his mind.
Jin Yue,this ...saint was a wildcard. Her sudden ability to control lightning at the moment she was "exposed"had unsettled the court. To some, it was a divine sign. To others, a manipulation of powers beyond understanding. To Emperor Murong, it was an opportunity ....and a risk.
"She must be bound to the royal family," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the rustle of the wind. "If her power is allowed to roam freely, it could spark rebellion. But if it's in my hands…"
The idea of engaging Jin Yue to one of his sons had crossed his mind more than once. During the morning court the ministers' suggested the candidates who they sided with,
"Marry her to the Crown Prince. It will cement his authority. Marry her to the Second Prince, the warrior, and she will be his most valuable asset on the battlefield".
Yet a knot of anxiety twisted in his stomach.
The Crown Prince, Murong Jian, was ambitious...too ambitious. If Jin Yue's power became his to wield, his influence would surpass even the Emperor's. And the Second Prince, Murong Zhen… he had enough support among the military to command loyalty. Giving him Jin Yue would only deepen the divide between court and army, making him too formidable.
Emperor Murong clenched his fists behind his back, his face drawn with tension. He could feel the shadow of his own father's reign creeping up behind him, the endless paranoia of keeping power in check.
If either Jian or Zhen becomes too powerful… they may think themselves above the throne. He had seen it before: the greed for power tearing apart empires.
His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to balance his ambitions with the need for control. Murong Yezi, the Third Prince, flitted across his mind. The least threatening, the most scholarly of the three. Intelligent, yes but not one to seek open conflict.
"Yezi…" he muttered, turning away from the window. Could he trust Yezi to remain loyal, to wield Jin Yue's power without letting it consume him? Of all his sons, Yezi had the least support in the court, the least connection to the military. If Jin Yue were engaged to him, it would prevent either of the others from growing too powerful.
And Yezi—he was sharp enough to see the value in such a match but lacked the drive for open ambition. He had no military backing, no legion of ministers vying for his favor. He would need her power to rise, but he would still be dependent on me.
A small smile tugged at the Emperor's lips as the pieces fell into place. Murong Yezi, with his calm demeanor and scholarly detachment, was the perfect choice to bind Jin Yue to the imperial family without upsetting the delicate balance of power.
He strode across the chamber and summoned his head eunuch with a curt gesture. "Come! take this imperial eddict to the imperial advisor Lin's Manor, The saint, Jin Yue, will be engaged to the Third Prince, Murong Yezi. Make the necessary arrangements."
As the eunuch bowed and left the chamber, the Emperor's expression hardened.
"Yezi may have her power," he murmured, "but he will never forget where true power lies."
With that, he turned back to the window, watching the sun sink lower on the horizon, casting long shadows over the palace grounds.
____
Murong Yezi who was spoken of,sat in his private chamber, his posture rigid and his expression as cold as ice. The dim light from the oil lamps flickered, casting harsh shadows on the walls, but his presence made the room feel even colder. He exuded an aura of complete control, his movements minimal, his gaze distant as if everything around him was of little consequence.
His most trusted subordinate, xiaoyi, knelt before him, head bowed. The air between them was silent. It was rare for Murong Yezi to call upon anyone directly, and xiao yi knew that whatever had happened earlier was significant enough to warrant this discussion.
"Master," xiao yi finally spoke, his voice low and respectful, "I heard there was lightning today at the Emperor's court. Some are calling it a miracle..."
Murong Yezi's eyes flickered, barely acknowledging the words. He remained silent for a moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, detached, and precise.
"I was there," he said, his tone flat, as if the event held little importance. "I saw everything."
Xiao yi's brow furrowed slightly, though he kept his head bowed. "You were there, Master?" he asked cautiously. "The mortal realm is not easily breached... how did such an event unfold without your intervention?"
Murong Yezi's expression remained emotionless, though his gaze darkened slightly. "The lightning," he said slowly, "was not of mortal origin. It had the markings of something... more. But it wasn't a cultivation breakthrough.
Xiao yi raised his head just enough to meet his master's eyes, careful not to overstep. "But, Master, the energy—it was similar to what happens when one breaks through in the immortal realm. How could such a phenomenon occur in this realm?"
Murong's lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes narrowing. "That's what concerns me," he said, his tone colder now, though it betrayed no outward frustration. "This world is cut off from the immortal realms by a barrier. Spiritual energy cannot flow freely here. Mortals cannot cultivate. And yet..." He paused, his gaze distant as he recalled the moment. "Yet I felt something akin to a breakthrough. But it wasn't complete."
Xiao yi waited silently, sensing that Murong Yezi was thinking deeply about what he had witnessed.
"The energy was raw, unrefined," Murong continued, "as though it was being held back. The lightning struck, yes, but there was no shift in the flow of spiritual power. No aftermath, no sign that the heavens had truly responded."
Xiao yi kept his tone respectful but dared to ask, "Could it have been a mortal trick, Master? A ruse to imitate the power of the immortal world?"
Murong Yezi's eyes flicked toward his subordinate, sharp as blades. " it has been a long time since any mortal in this world possesses the knowledge or ability to conjure such power. The barrier is too strong. The energy was real, but it was...Twisted."
There was a long silence before Murong yezi spoke again, his voice as cold and unforgiving as ever. "That girl... Jin Yue. She was at the center of it."
Xiao yi stiffened slightly at the mention of her name. "Jin Yue? The one they call the 'Saint'? But she is just a mortal girl. How could she be connected to such a phenomenon?"
Murong's gaze darkened, the chill in his voice deepening. "That's what I intend to find out. She may appear ordinary, but the timing of the lightning was too precise to be a coincidence. She was moments from death, and then the heavens responded. Whether by her doing or by something else, it is no accident."
Xiao yi hesitated, then asked, "Master, if this girl is somehow connected to the immortal world, does that mean she poses a threat?"
Murong Yezi's expression didn't change, but his eyes glinted coldly. "A threat? Perhaps.
He rose from his seat, his cold demeanor unshaken. "But I will not act until I am certain. She will be watched, closely. If she shows any sign of knowing more than she lets on, I will deal with her myself."
Xiao yi bowed deeply. "Of course, Master. I will ensure she is kept under surveillance.
___
After his conversation with Xiao Yi ended, Murong Yezi stood in silent contemplation, his cold gaze fixed on the darkening horizon.
As Murong Yezi's thoughts sharpened, a sudden voice echoed from beyond the doors.
"Your highness, the Imperial Eunuch brings an edict from His Majesty, the emperor.
the loud, clear announcement, followed by the sound of doors sliding open. The eunuch, clad in the resplendent robes of the imperial court, swept into the room and immediately knelt, his head bowed low.
Murong Yezi's cold eyes flickered for the briefest of moments, but his face remained impassive.
"Rise," Murong Yezi said, his voice smooth but devoid of warmth.
The eunuch straightened his posture and unrolled the imperial edict, holding it up with both hands. His voice was practiced, carefully respectful, as he read aloud the Emperor's words.
"By the command of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Murong, it is decreed that Jin Yue, the Saint of the Heavens, be engaged to none other than His Majesty's most esteemed and trusted royal subject, Lord Murong Yezi."
Murong Yezi did not react outwardly. His cold expression remained untouched, his hands clasped behind his back, as though the arrival of the emperor's message was of little consequence to him. Inside, however, the sharpness of his mind immediately cut through the implications of the visit.
An imperial edict was not something to be taken lightly, and Murong Yezi knew the emperor had a vested interest in the recent events surrounding Jin Yue.
The eunuch unfurled the scroll, his head still lowered. He spoke clearly and with the practiced voice of someone used to reading the emperor's orders aloud. "By the command of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Murong, it is decreed that Jin Yue, the Saint of the Heavens, be engaged to none other than His Majesty's most esteemed and trusted royal subject, Lord Murong Yezi."
Still, he allowed no hint of his true thoughts to surface. Slowly, his expression shifted. The sharp coldness in his eyes softened into the calm and composed demeanor of a refined scholar, as though he were an esteemed gentleman of the court. A gentle smile tugged at the corners of his lips graceful, warm, and polite.
The eunuch continued, "Her unparalleled beauty and heavenly destiny align with your esteemed self, Lord Murong, and the engagement is intended to bring fortune to the empire and strengthen the bonds between the heavens and the imperial family. The ceremony will be arranged at His Majesty's discretion."
He stepped forward, his movements now deliberate and refined, as if to reflect the weight of the emperor's favor. "The emperor's will is supreme," he said, his tone now gentler, almost amiable. "I am honored to be granted such an alliance."
The eunuch, who had dared not raise his head, seemed visibly relieved. He lowered the scroll, his hands still trembling slightly. "I shall inform His Majesty of your acceptance, your highness."
Murong Yezi nodded, his smile remaining steady and elegant. "You may go."
The eunuch bowed low once more before hurriedly making his exit, his footsteps barely audible as he slipped out of the room.
Once the doors closed behind the imperial messenger, the smile vanished from Murong Yezi's face. The refined, scholarly appearance faded as if it had never existed.
He remained still, allowing his thoughts to settle. The engagement was clearly part of the emperor's ploy to strengthen ties between jinyue and the imperial family, but Murong Yezi had no intention of allowing himself to be bound by mortal politics. Jin Yue's supposed miracle was far more significant than the emperor could have realized, and if she held the key to breaking through the divine barrier that trapped him here, this engagement might just serve his purposes.
Murong Yezi allowed the frost in his eyes to return. He had no need for distractions. He would play along with the emperor's game—for now.