"Alright, let's go first! Let Zhu Zhuqing be alone for a while!"
"Mm."
Late at night—
Zhu Zhuqing quietly walked in from outside the courtyard, her figure elongated in the moonlight.
Just as she reached the corridor, a soft sound came from behind her. Su Yu stood there unnoticed, reaching out to gently pat her shoulder.
"Who?!"
Zhu Zhuqing reacted extremely quickly, almost instinctively turning around. Her fist shot out with a sharp whistle, the movement clean and decisive without any hesitation.
Su Yu was prepared, slightly sidestepping to nimbly dodge the punch while speaking softly:
"It's me."
The moment her fist missed, Zhu Zhuqing finally saw who it was. Her tense body immediately relaxed, a trace of apology flashing in her eyes:
"Teacher Su? Sorry, I didn't notice."
She withdrew her fist, her fingertips still trembling slightly—clearly she had used real force in that strike.
Su Yu looked at her somewhat pale face, his brow slightly furrowed as he asked:
"You're back so late, have you eaten?"
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes casting small shadows under her eyes, her voice as light as dandelion seeds scattered by the wind:
"I've eaten."
As soon as she finished speaking, a distinct "gurgling" sound came from her stomach, particularly loud in the quiet night.
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks instantly flushed with a faint red. She subconsciously pressed her hand against her stomach, her head bowing even lower, the roots of her ears turning warm with obvious embarrassment.
Seeing this, Su Yu couldn't help but cough lightly, his tone softening:
"Don't force yourself. Rongrong and Xue Na came back wanting midnight snacks. There's still some left in the kitchen—have some to fill your stomach!"
Without saying more, he turned and went to the kitchen, returning with a bowl:
"Eggplant with minced pork over rice. Try it—I made it. Rongrong and Xue Na both said it was delicious!"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at the bowl of rice, the aroma of minced meat wafting to her nose, her stomach betraying her with another rumble.
She hesitated for a few seconds before finally reaching out to take it. The warmth at the edge of the bowl made her tense body relax slightly.
"Thank you, Teacher Su."
"Mm, no problem. Eat quickly before it gets cold!"
"Mm!"
Zhu Zhuqing picked up a spoon nearby and began eating in small bites. Though very hungry, her movements remained elegant.
Soon, the food in the bowl was finished!
Zhu Zhuqing felt much more comfortable in her previously empty stomach, a warm sensation spreading throughout her body.
"Teacher Su Yu, it was delicious. Thank you. I'll be going now!"
Zhu Zhuqing slightly bowed and was about to return to her room when Su Yu suddenly called out to stop her:
"Zhu Zhuqing, wait a moment. Sit down and let's talk?"
She looked back at Su Yu somewhat confused, a trace of puzzlement in her eyes, but still sat down on the stone bench nearby as told, placing her hands properly on her knees.
Su Yu looked at her and slowly began: "Tonight, those words Rongrong said—did they affect your relationship with Dai Mubai?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked up, her tone calm and even: "Teacher Su, I don't quite understand what you mean."
"Dai Mubai and I are just classmates."
"Zhu Zhuqing, you might fool others, but you can't fool me." Su Yu gently shook his head. "Have you forgotten? Both Rongrong and I are from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
He paused, his gaze resting on her. "Your Martial Soul is the Netherworld Cat, while Dai Mubai's is the Evil Eye White Tiger."
"These two Martial Souls are the hereditary spirits of the Zhu noble family and the Dai imperial family of the Star Luo Empire respectively—this is an open secret there."
"Although our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's operations in the Star Luo Empire aren't as extensive as those in the Heaven Dou Empire, we're still well-informed about certain details regarding the Dai and Zhu families."
"For instance, in the current generation of the Dai family, there are only three princes. The second prince passed away early, and the eldest prince is the closest to the crown prince position—he would never come to a place like Soto City."
"That makes Dai Mubai's identity obvious—he's the third prince of Star Luo."
"As for the eldest prince's consort, her name is Zhu Zhuyun. Your name is Zhu Zhuqing, sharing the same surname Zhu, and your Martial Soul is also the Netherworld Cat. With just a bit of deduction, your identity becomes clear."
Su Yu's voice wasn't loud, but each word was distinct, like a key gently unlocking the corners Zhu Zhuqing had deliberately sealed away.
Her hands resting on her knees tightened imperceptibly, fingertips turning pale. After a moment of silence, she slowly raised her eyes, the calm in them finally showing a crack: "What does Teacher Su wish to say?"
"What I want to ask is, Zhu Zhuqing, do you want to break off the engagement?"
Su Yu's words fell like a stone thrown abruptly into the calm lake of Zhu Zhuqing's heart, startling her into momentary stillness.
Break off the engagement! Did she want to?
Of course she did! But she couldn't!
The engagement between the Zhu and Dai families was a millennium-old covenant between the two clans—she had no power to dissolve it!
"Teacher Su, what if I want to break it off? What if I don't?" Zhu Zhuqing's voice carried a slight tremor, as if emotions suppressed for too long had finally found an outlet.
"The decision regarding this engagement has never been in my hands. A thousand-year agreement between the Zhu and Dai families isn't something I alone can overturn."
"I'm a daughter of the Zhu family, born bearing the responsibilities of my clan."
"Dai Mubai is a prince of the Dai family—his marriage has always been tied to power and interests."
"We're like pieces on a chessboard, every move predetermined long ago."
"Zhuqing, you only need to tell me whether you want to or not."
"Wanting or not wanting is the answer in your heart. Whether it can be done is another matter altogether."
Zhu Zhuqing fell silent.
Did she want to?
Of course she did.
She wanted to shed the label of "Dai Mubai's fiancée," to live once for herself!
She wanted the right to choose, rather than being pushed forward by her family and engagement.
Taking a deep breath, her voice was hoarse yet clear: "I do."
These two words were spoken softly, yet they felt like lifting a thousand-pound weight off her shoulders, causing her tense posture to slacken slightly.
Moonlight fell across her face, and Su Yu saw turbulent emotions swirling in her eyes:
Relief, confusion, and a trace of anticipation she didn't dare examine too deeply.
"Good, Zhuqing. I can help you break off the engagement, but not now!"
"Teacher Su Yu?"
"You only know that Rongrong and I are from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, but do you remember the Spirit Incantation Rongrong chants each time she uses her Martial Soul?"
"Nine Treasures Manifest?"
"Yes, Rongrong is the young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the only current possessor of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in the world."
"You should know that six years ago, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School formed a marriage alliance with the Spirit Hall!"
After Su Yu finished speaking, Zhu Zhuqing recalled an event that had shaken the entire continent six years ago—the engagement between the Spirit Hall's Holy Child and the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's leader!
If she remembered correctly, the renowned Spirit Hall Holy Child from back then was named Su Yu!
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