"At that time, I was a subject and he was an emperor. I had no control over my own marriage, nor did you have any choice."

  "Is it still the same now?" Mu Jun's reply left Peng Lan speechless.

  "My father has passed away, my mother has also left, I don't need to compromise myself for anyone else, nor do you."

  "But I don't feel humiliated about being married to you."

  Peng Lan's hands were clenched tightly in her sleeves: "I am the eldest daughter of the Peng family, and I have a responsibility and obligation to the Peng family. At the same time, I also appreciate Si Lang's talents, and I hope that Chu Guo can move towards national peace and prosperity under the leadership of a wise ruler. Moreover, for you, marrying into the Peng family means gaining another strong supporter."

  "But... " Mu Jun looked at Peng Lan: "I don't like you."

  Peng Lan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "Is Fourth Brother muddled? This marriage between two noble families wasn't supposed to be about these things anyway."

  Peng Lan said with downcast eyes: "Fourth Brother, this is a girl who has a crush on you, isn't it?"

  I didn't make a sound, longing for you.

  Peng Lan blinked: "I understand, if you have a crush on a girl, just go ahead and like her, I won't stop you."

  I was shocked when I heard the news - she didn't realize that she had been locked in that cage for so long, and even her legs and feet were gone.

  Peng Lan's expression was as usual, with a serious attitude: "Fourth brother, if you start something, my Peng family will be considered treasonous. My father needs you to give him enough confidence and sincerity. Besides, isn't it true that in this world, if you want to gain something, you must sacrifice something?"

  She didn't say it outright, but she said everything that needed to be said.

  I was watching her and wanted to persuade her again, but when I glanced at the sky outside, I suddenly lost interest.

  They don't see eye-to-eye and are not on the same wavelength; they probably will never be able to have a clear and straightforward conversation.

  "It's getting late, I'll come back another day to discuss further."

  "Fourth Brother, slow down." Peng Lan heard this and quickly stood up, no longer staying behind. He neither condescended nor showed arrogance as he bowed his knee in farewell, then lifted the door curtain and left.

  "Master, I'll see you off." Rouge's enthusiastic sendoff was accompanied by the creaking of the stairs as they were trodden on. The calm and faint smile that Peng Lan had maintained on her face completely disappeared.

  Her beautiful eyes had only resentment and venom in them.

  ……

  In the study of the master of the house, Tang Lei and Tang Shiqi were whispering about some arrangements at the desk.

  Two people were talking enthusiastically when suddenly the door was pushed open and someone walked straight in.

  Someone burst in, Tang Lei was naturally furious, but as soon as he saw the person who came, his anger disappeared instantly, and he stood up with a serious and solemn expression.

  That person handed a rolled-up silk fabric directly to Tang Lei without saying a word.

  Tang Lei seemed to have already gotten used to it, and after taking the silk fabric and opening it, he hurriedly said in a low voice: "Pass on the message to the master, please reassure him that with ten years of hard work, success is guaranteed."

  He nodded and bowed, then immediately turned around and walked out, not saying a word from start to finish. Cop Tang Shiqi followed him to the door, watched him walk far away, closed the door, and came back: "Is it about the trial?"

  "Hmm, Master has repeatedly emphasized that this time we absolutely cannot afford any mistakes, or else..." Tang Lei let out a sigh.

  "I know that we've made mistakes three or four times already and the master is not satisfied. This time, we absolutely cannot fail. I'll remind them again in the next few days."

  "Just reminding them with a light is not enough, what's most important is our precious daughter."

  Tang Shi Qi heard this and rolled her eyes, coldly smiling: "Don't worry, I was actually worried that if she teamed up with Tang Xiao, we might be in trouble. But yesterday, she cried to me, telling me that Tang Xiao had refused to team up with her."

  Tang Lei hummed gloomily: "He can't even look up to my daughter, and I don't think he's worthy of being my son-in-law either! Tonight, call Fei Yan over, it's time for her to know what she should do."

  ……

  Peng Lan put the letter she had just written into an envelope and ordered Luo Cheng: "Send someone to rush back quickly, and be sure to hand it over to my father personally."

  "I understand." Luo Cheng received the letter and went out of the house. Yan Zhi looked at Peng Lan with concern: "Miss, what if Master finds out that Young Master has thoughts of breaking off the engagement, then you..."

  Peng Lan glanced at her: "Don't you also think that I and Qi Wang must not get married?"

  Rouge immediately knelt down and shook her head: "I don't dare! I'm just worried that Master will shift his anger to Miss..."

  "Don't worry, his and my engagement will definitely come true!"

  Rouge heard this and looked up in surprise.

  In Peng Lan's eyes flashed a determined and majestic aura: "He, will become my husband! And can only be the husband of me, Peng Lan!"

  ……

  At dusk, the sky has lost its radiant sunlight, only a vague near-blackness remains.

  Tang Shi Qi pulled her daughter Tang Fei Yan into Tang Lei's bedroom and immediately closed the door.

  Tang Feiyan glanced at her tense mother, then looked at her serious father, pouting and taking two steps forward to sit down at the table: "What's going on again?!"

  Tang Lei picked up his teacup and took a sip before saying, "You're grown up now, there are some things I should tell you."

  Tang Fei Yan raised her eyes and swept a glance at them: "Speak."

  "For this trial, actually I and your mother have secretly prepared for ten years."

  Tang Feiyan heard this and just slightly raised an eyebrow, apparently she was not interested in this matter.

  Tang Shi Qi saw that his daughter didn't care at all and hastily asked: "Fei Yan, do you know what's the use of obtaining a token in the trial?"

  "Swap secret manuals!" Tang Feiyan's face was full of impatience - this question, anyone who has been a disciple in the Tang Sect for more than three years should know!

  "No, it's almost useless." Tang Shi Qi said with a smile, and this remark finally made Tang Fei Yan's eyebrows suspicious.

  Tang Lei put down the teacup in his hand: "Only after collecting all ten tokens can you understand the true essence of the trial!"

  "What's that?" Tang Feiyan finally showed some interest.

  Tang Shi Qi leaned down and started whispering in her daughter's ear, Tang Fei Yan's expression didn't fluctuate much, except for occasionally opening her mouth in surprise, but no matter what she didn't say anything.

  Tang Shi Qi had said enough, and Tang Lei started talking non-stop again in front of his daughter.

  He spoke with flying eyebrows and changing expressions, sometimes frowning in displeasure. Finally, after finishing everything, they stared at Tang Feiyan together, waiting for their daughter's reaction.

  Tang Fei Yan fell silent for a moment before speaking in an even tone, "Father, Mother, although the preparations and expectations you've had for the past decade have left me extremely surprised, and the secret behind this token has also left me speechless, but that's not what I care about."

  Tang Lei and Tang Shi Qi's faces fell, and Tang Lei became even more agitated: "Fei Yan..."

  Tang Feiyan raised her hand to stop them: "You don't need to say so much to me, for me, Tang Xiao refused me, no matter what, I won't let him get a single token!"

  Tang Feiyan's eyes became resolute: "I swear!"

  Tang Xiao, I will definitely make you kneel down and beg for mercy! You just wait!

  Seeing their daughter like this, Tang Lei and Tang Shiqi exchanged a glance and immediately nodded in agreement.

  Different paths lead to the same destination. Although the daughter didn't truly understand the importance behind it, as long as she was willing to control Tang Xiao, they wouldn't have to worry anymore.