"Don't tell me you care about this piece of paper."

  You have a cold and stern expression, with a distant and chilly gaze that seems even more pronounced.

  "What does it matter whether I care or not? We're both just pawns on the chopping board, unable to control our own fate..."

  "No, I don't think so!" Mu Junwu's expression changed: "I've put down that identity, you can also start anew..."

  "Give it to someone else again, still as a pawn?" Peng Lan suddenly interrupted Mu Junwu's words with excitement, her expression filled with resentment, indignation, and bitterness, like a helpless and bitter duckweed.

  "Regarding the engagement, I owe you an apology. You and I were never meant to be, but alas..."

  "Now that it's come to this, what's the point of saying all this!" Peng Lan put her hands on the table and stared at Mu Junwu's eyes with concern: "You and I are inseparable, unless you clearly and unmistakably die in front of him, otherwise, you will always be a threat to him, and my dad will never give up on you."

  "When the time comes, he will naturally give up." Mu Junwu said and got up to leave.

  "What about Chen Zhaoyi?"

  She had always hoped I would be well.

  "What about her safety?"

  "My disappearance is my withdrawal, I don't even want the throne, they have no reason to disturb my mother's queen again."

  "It's not necessarily so." Peng Lan slowly shook her head: "You disappear, and Chen Zhaoyi loses a supporter. Will Yuan Defei give her good days?"

  "The Empress Dowager is an intelligent person and will not take action against her."

  "Is Ke Da Wang a clever person?" Peng Lan sneered, "Now that he's already sitting on the throne, he's no longer just a prince and won't only listen to Empress De's words. If those people..."

  Peng Lan paused for a moment, pushed the table and stood up beside Mu Junwu: "What if those people want to cut off all means of retreat in order to protect themselves?"

  Longing for you, I remain silent and speechless, with a worried look in my eyes.

  "Fourth brother, I know you don't like these struggles, neither do I. But we can't escape this vortex after all. You care about your mother, I care about my dad, for their sake, we have to do some things."

  Peng Lan said, walking to Mu Junwu's front from the side: "Actually, when I went to Zhen Nan to see you before, it was originally to convey my father's intention. He hoped that you would pretend to be missing and secretly cultivate power with him. When that person in charge is overthrown, he will have a way to let you ascend to the throne smoothly..."

  "Thank you for your favor, but I have no interest in royal power, I just want to be an ordinary person." Mu Junwu's eyes had a hint of worry dissipate, only leaving coldness.

  "You are the King, the only one in the state of Chu who was appointed by the previous king as the praying king. You were born not to be an ordinary person, you are destined... either become a king or a defeated prisoner!"

  Admiring you, I looked at Peng Lan and sighed: "Don't you understand? When I wrote to tell you that we wouldn't be married, I had already chosen to be a defeated general."

  I bypass Peng Luan and move forward.

  "Do you really want to break your promise?" Peng Lan turned around and stared at Mu Junwu's back: "Isn't the harm that the world has given us enough? Do you really want to give me another stab?"

  "In those years, Father Emperor made a marriage arrangement for us, in order to let your esteemed family gain a foothold in Chu land. I didn't oppose it, only because I once resigned myself to fate just like you."

  I turned around to look at Peng Lan: "You and I are not willing to be controlled by others, let's take our own happiness. Now... the former king has passed away, Qi Wang is missing, your father doesn't have to guard me, this marriage contract also doesn't exist anymore. I wish you a happy marriage with someone else, happiness for the rest of your life."

  Mu Junwu finished speaking and turned to push the door away, the rouge outside looked at Mu Junwu in shock after he left, and hastily entered the house: "Miss!"

  "Get out!" Peng Lan's calm and dignified demeanor was gone, her face flushed red, her eyes gloomy as she clenched her fists.

  Breaking off our engagement would be the end of me, I won't give you that chance, absolutely not!

  ……

  After leaving the wine house, Mu Jun felt that his freedom and joy had vanished into thin air. He walked aimlessly along the street with a gloomy face, and when he came to himself, he was already at the bustling dock.

  The dock was crowded with merchants and travelers, as well as relatives and family members, making it exceptionally lively. Near the riverbank, many tea houses and wine shops were open. Feeling suffocated, Mu Jun walked into one of the wine shops at random.

  "What can I get for you, sir?"

  "Give me a jug of clear water."

  The young master's answer made Xiao Er stunned: "Sir, this is a wine tavern, we have many good wines..."

  I put the money on the table and said to Qing Shui: "Charge me by wine price."

  Since it was a good deal, Xiao Er naturally wouldn't say more, took the money and left, placing a jug of clear water and a cup in front of Mu Junwu: "Sir, this is the clear water you wanted."

  I poured a cup for you and drank it all in one gulp. The water was clear and cool, refreshing like a drink that quenches thirst.

  His engagement with Peng Lan originated from the migration of Peng's family power.

  At that time, as a newly established Ma family, it was no different from other vassals, relying solely on the military to claim kingship and dominance.

  However, the vassal state has changed into a country, and governance is naturally different. Everywhere, it is treated as a country, it not only needs strong troops, but also good strategies to make people live and multiply, let alone a large amount of money, silk and grain.

  At this critical moment, Peng Lan's father, Peng He, brought a group of Jizhou soldiers and loyal households to surrender. The king could not refuse, lest he turn friends into enemies, so he naturally welcomed the talented individuals and gave Peng He the position of Governor of Xiangzhou. At the same time, in order to secure their "partner" relationship, he arranged for Peng He and Peng Lan to be engaged.

  At that time, he was still young and indulged in books all day long, touring the sea of books day and night. He had never understood the meaning of love affairs and marriage proposals, let alone being appointed by his father king, so he naturally followed suit.

  However, as I grew older and read more books, I came to realize that these engagements were merely a manifestation of "alliances", which didn't sit well with me.

  He had expressed dissatisfaction to his mother, but she told him that he had to accept everything. After all, it was difficult to disobey the emperor's orders. Moreover... The Peng family's power grew steadily with the years, and Peng Huan was no longer just the governor of Chenzhou, but also the military governor of Langzhou, and had been promoted to inspector of the Imperial Guard, and had been enfeoffed as Duke of Kaiguo.

  Such a powerful future son-in-law made others jealous beyond compare, and yet he couldn't be begged to stay; the Empress Dowager thought it was unreasonable for him to refuse.

  But only he himself knew how much he loathed and despised the regime's machinations for their enthusiasm, of course, what he hated even more was that he had become a pawn.

  He had thought of breaking off the engagement, but his mother firmly forbade it, repeatedly emphasizing that if he did so, he would hurt the girl's heart and damage Peng He's reputation, which might bring disaster.

  So he didn't bring it up even though he had the idea, until he coincidentally stumbled upon that scene and finally made up his mind.

  That was two years ago on Qixi Festival, Empress De invited the unmarried ladies from the prominent officials' families to enter the palace and attend the Hairpin Flower Meeting.

  Peng Jialang's eldest daughter, Peng Lan, was naturally invited, and he had deliberately avoided these dull banquets, but because of his second brother's words, he couldn't help but go to the scene.

  "He said: 'Don't you want to see what your future wife will look like?'"