Jun Xiyan went silent.
“Besides, Elder Sister Mo’er threw herself into the sea for the West Duke. Just by this act alone, if the West Duke was still able to forget her after that, I would lose all respect for him. How would anyone be able to entrust the rest of their life to him?”
Jun Xiyan looked at her little sister. She had never been an ordinary girl and had always been extremely intelligent.
Perhaps that was the reason why besides Tang Mo’er, Qingqing was the only one the West Duke treated differently. How was it possible to not love this Qingqing?
Jun Xiqing’s red lips slowly curved upwards as he looked at the full moon in the sky. “All of you keep saying that the West Duke shouldn’t love Elder Sister Mo’er, but don’t you also love the deep relationship I have with her?
“The West Duke made his name known when he was very young and has always had one person in his heart. He loved her utmost devotion so as you spend time with him, you’ll gradually be attracted to him, your heart will start beating faster around him, and then in the end… you’ll fall for him.
“I loved him as well. Even though our love came to a terrible end, I don’t regret ever loving him.
“I would even go as far as to say that my heart will no longer move for another man now that I’ve been with him. There are so many men in this world but I’ll be hard pressed to find one who could even compare to him. And even if I were to find someone like that, I’ve already been involved in the story of Elder Sister Mo’er and him, and seen his deep love for her. Whoever I find eventually may never be capable of such an intense, pure love. And even if he was, so what? The West Duke was the first person I liked when my youthful heart started understanding what love was. My heart is full of memories of him, and he has left a permanent and beautiful mark on my life.
“So you say that I shouldn’t love him but… I think that loving someone… is just making the best out of a situation.
“Elder Sis,” Jun Xiqing said as she clutched her sister’s hands, exposing the vulnerable side of herself as she pleaded, “I don’t love Brother Zhu and I don’t want to just settle on him. We’re sisters of the same blood, so let’s not let this drive us apart. Please stop forcing me.”
Hearing Qingqing speak so reasonably and baring her raw emotions like that, there was absolutely nothing Jun Xiyan could say at all.
The Jun Family had always been intelligent, the youngest daughter being the brightest one of them all.
It was then that Jun Xiyan thought back to the words Monk Xuanyi said all those years ago before he went off on his journey.
Monk Xuanyin had said that Qingqing was the Empress Star and her fate was tied to the lonely Emperor Star. But their love was fated to be one-sided and would never work out.
This relationship would rob Qingqing of her ability to love anyone else.
Jun Xiyan grabbed Jun Xiqing’s small hands and said gently, “Alright, I won’t force you then. I’ll help you talk to Zhu Qing.”
“Elder Sis, thank you,” Jun Xiqing said as her red lips curved upwards and her bright eyes slowly swirled with colors. “Don’t worry about me. My greatest love is still this country. Women don’t just live for men. I’ll make sure I live my life to its fullest potential.”
This Qingqing was the one whom Jun Xiyan knew and loved, who was bright and dazzling.
“I believe you Qingqing. I’ll take my leave first then.” Jun Xiyan left.
…
Outside.
Zhu Qing looked at Jun Xiyan. “Elder Sis, what did Qingqing say?”
Jun Xiyan shook her head.
Zhu Qing’s eyes flashed with disappointment but he recovered quickly and smiled, saying, “Qingqing has always treated me like a brother. I’m the one who read too much into our relationship. From now on, Qingqing will be my sister.”
Hearing this, Jun Xiyan breathed a sigh of relief but her eyes quickly turned cold and she asked, “No matter what Qingqing just said, she still has strong feelings towards Lu Yeming. What are you going to do about it?”
“Lu Yeming is merely a b*stard when it comes to Qingqing. He hurt her feelings and I will make sure that he can never have a relationship with Qingqing again. I’ll never let her return to his side!”
…
After she finished reading the document, Jun Xiqing returned to her room to take a bath filled with rose petals. Then she put on a white chiffon dress and dried her hair with a towel.
At this moment, someone knocked on the door and her handmaiden Ping Ping’s voice floated in from the outside. “Your Excellency.”
Jun Xiqing lifted her eyes. “Yes?”
Your Excellency, Country A’s diplomat, Wei Yan, is here. He said he’s here on the orders of the West Duke.”
The West Duke?
He had sent his diplomat over?
Why?
His coronation was tomorrow.
Jun Xiqing stopped drying her hair and spoke up. “Please get him to wait a little while. I’ll be there in a little while.”
“Yes ma’am.”
…
The diplomat, Wei Yan, was a young scholar with a gift for writing and Lu Yeming regarded him highly.
He had originally been settling some work overseas when he had received the West Duke’s call, asking him to head over to Country Z.
Wei Yan had heard that the third daughter of the Jun Family was extremely pretty but had always felt that this was an exaggeration.
How would she compare to women of history who also had guts and brains, like Zhaojun and Xishi? Wei Yan didn’t believe that she was that beautiful at all.
“Diplomat Wei, Her Excellency has arrived,” Ping Ping .
Wei Yan quickly turned around. There was a screen in front of him and he saw a figure approach him from behind it. At first sight, all he could make out was her graceful figure which was as delicate as a fairy.
Wei Yan quickly said, “Your Excellency.”
“Diplomat Wei, please take a seat.”
Her voice was clear and soothing to his ears.
“Your Excellency, I’m here on the orders of the West Duke. As it is his coronation tomorrow, he sent me here to give you the invitation,” Wei Yan said as he handed a gilded gold invitation to Ping Ping.
Ping Ping went behind the screen to pass it to Jun Xiqing.
Jun Xiqing didn’t accept the invitation, she only said lightly, “Diplomat Wei, Country Z is extremely busy right now. I won’t be able to make it but please help me send a word of my congratulations to him.”
Wei Yan’s ears perked up and he said, “Please speak, Your Excellency.”
“I wish for the West Duke… to have a long life.”
Wei Yan froze, not knowing what to say.
She really liked saying shocking things. Was she truly wishing him well or cursing him? His Highness would probably be really angry if he were to pass on this message.
“Diplomat Wei, I’m busy, so I’ll be taking my leave soon. Ping Ping will attend to you. Thank you.”
Jun Xiqing left.
Curious, Wei Yan lifted his eyes and caught her jade-like beauty through the screen. She walked off gracefully, her gold-threaded white chiffon dress floating gracefully behind her.
Wei Yan felt as though his soul had just been snatched from him and all he could do was stand and stare in shock.
So the rumors of her spectacular beauty had been true after all.
…
The next day.
Great joy and festivity was in the air as today was the day of the West Duke, Lu Yeming’s coronation.
The path was lined with blooming flowers on both sides as the paparazzi, reporters and crowds of people surrounded the area from behind the barricade. They were all standing on their toes and trying to get a glance at the next Emperor.
Armed guards patrolled the area, maintaining order. The entire scene was solemn and full of grandeur and there were a few bullet-proof limousines already on stand-by.
