Chapter 98: The Carriage on the Rooftop

“This! Snow Maiden!” Gao Jianli was deeply hurt; the girl he had fallen for at first sight was treating him with such coldness!

Hmph! Yan Le was secretly pleased and looked at the young lady with much softer eyes.

“Jianli,” Yan Dan also spoke to reveal his identity.

Seeing Yan Dan’s attire, Gao Jianli chose not to expose him.

“Snow Maiden, if you agree, I am willing to take you away! This ambassador position—I do not want it!” For the sake of the beauty, Gao Jianli was all in, even ignoring Yan Dan.

“Jianli, do not act rashly!” Yan Dan grew anxious.

“Yan Le, have them clear the stage!” Yan Dan reluctantly removed his hood, revealing his handsome side-swept bangs.

The Snow Maiden smiled bitterly and lowered her head. Fool! Without the ambassador’s status, how else could he protect her? She might even lose her life!

Yan Le nodded and ordered the surrounding men to clear the area.

The noblemen and young masters upstairs, upon seeing Yan Dan, respectfully left. Even the forces behind the Feixue Pavilion withdrew, leaving only the pavilion mistress and the Snow Maiden together.

The more he looked, the more Gao Jianli liked her and patiently awaited her decision.

Yan Le frowned; this matter was indeed difficult to handle.

Sigh! Yan Dan smiled bitterly. He had misjudged Gao Jianli. He was truly unlikely to achieve greatness. He continued to associate with him only to extract imperial secrets—a long-term plan.

With the audience gone, the Snow Maiden grew even more uneasy.

She did not want to go with anyone. She knew men harbored ill intentions.

Years ago, her sister had believed she had found her true love, but in the end, she was merely used and given away. She herself had almost been taken by a man who was like a brother or father figure.

Since then, she saw men’s true nature clearly. Women were merely playthings, garments in this world.

“Ambassador Gao, you should return. Without your ambassador status, what right do you have to stand here?” Taking it one step at a time, the Snow Maiden did not want to drag others down.

Gao Jianli was stunned. Was she also a woman who craved wealth and status, just like the current Empress Yan Fei, who had been like her sister once?

“Ambassador Gao, fortunes and beauties abound. Le will surely make amends, and a beauty will be found for you,” Yan Le said with secret delight. If he grew tired of the game, he could always offer the little beauty to him. Perhaps the ambassador would even appreciate his guidance and development.

Sigh! Gao Jianli glanced at the Snow Maiden and sighed before nodding. Are you just like her?

In truth, he didn’t care about what Yan Le said.

“Heh! They’re all the same!” Seeing Gao Jianli nod, the Snow Maiden smiled coldly. Truly men with beastly hearts behind human faces.

With the matter perfectly resolved, Yan Dan breathed a sigh of relief.

“Jianli, beauties are everywhere under heaven; a man should aspire to roam the world! Such a beauty will naturally come to you!” Thinking of the Yan Fei affair, Yan Dan felt a deep sense of failure. Yan Country was too weak; he was too weak, always no match for that middle-aged man. The best cabbage was always eaten by pigs.

Yan Le frowned. Why hadn’t Gao Jianli stepped down yet? Was he really going to make a move?

Gao Jianli considered himself the most handsome and dashing man in Yan Country, but he kept facing setbacks. The best women chose plain-looking men.

He was resentful, perhaps unwilling to let go, and stood there dazed.

Sigh! Worthless fool! Yan Dan walked toward Gao Jianli, planning to pull him away. He had realized this man was all looks and no use.

Yan Le sneered. If he didn’t want to offend the empire, Gao Jianli would have already become a target.

Everything was about to end. The Snow Maiden smiled faintly at her master, grateful for years of care.

The pavilion mistress was bewildered. She had long been entrenched in the world of pleasure, skillfully relying on and flattering the powerful. Yet, in the end, she couldn’t even protect a young girl. Not a single nobleman who once loved her spared her a glance.

Each character in this drama had their own thoughts; the spectators were moved as well.

“Daddy, they’re all bad people!” Even the usually quiet little Yan’er could no longer bear it.

The Snow Maiden’s eyes held no sorrow but resembled her own past so much.

“Husband?” Jing Ni immediately reminded.

Lin Shu smiled and nodded: It seemed Gao Jianli and the Snow Maiden had just met. Without any emotional foundation, the Snow Maiden naturally wouldn’t trust him simply because he was handsome.

“Heart Shadow, please invite our protagonists up for a conversation.”

[Order acknowledged.] Heart Shadow’s voice carried a hint of secret joy.

Yan Dan was about to pat Ambassador Gao but stopped mid-motion—the most terrifying thing happened again.

“Ah—Master! Master!” Without any visible rope, the Snow Maiden suddenly floated up. Having endured it for some time, she lost her composure and tears began to fall.

The young lady panicked and looked around; dozens of people nearby were floating as well.

“This! It’s the Great King!” Gao Jianli smiled bitterly. Unexpectedly, he was once again treated this way.

Could it be...? Could it be... even without speaking? Yan Le began to suspect something. This was the work of the Shadowless Master.

There was no one on the skylight, yet drawing near revealed four people and a small carriage!

“How is this possible?” The Snow Maiden blinked hard. How did a carriage get onto the rooftop?

Sigh! Yan Dan lowered his head and sighed. Truly father and son alike—both abilities and carriage were strange.

Little Dragon Horse, Big Dragon Horse! Could they be of the Dragon Horse clan? Or was this the greatest secret and support of the Yan-Huang royal family?

By the skylight sat a family of four, watching as if it were a play; the only man held a teacup.

“Greetings, young master!” Once steady, Gao Jianli immediately bowed, thankfully remembering to keep things secret.

It was indeed him! Yan Le knew this time trouble was big.

“Yan Dan, greetings to young master Lin!” Yan Dan had no choice but to show respect.

Finally, the time to act had come. Yan Le hurriedly knelt and bowed deeply: “Please pardon me, young master! I beg for your punishment!”

What kind of young master was this to make even the Crown Prince and heir apparent so fearful? The young lady was stunned—this was a true big shot!

Yan Le’s subordinates began to slowly withdraw, finally relieved. They understood the empire’s terrifying power. Even if Yan Le ordered it, they dared not harm Ambassador Gao.

Lin Shu nodded to everyone.

“Yan Le, your father is impressive. As for this Snow Maiden, don’t think about her anymore. Are you willing?”

Yan Le was both joyful and shocked, bowing again quickly: “Thank you for your kindness, young master!”

“Please have the Snow Maiden atone as well!” Yan Le hastened to apologize to her, fearing that if she gained power in the future, his position would be in danger.

Yan Country now had 300,000 able-bodied men and tens of thousands in land and naval forces, but just the empire’s navy alone could wipe them out.

Yan Le deeply felt the empire’s strength.

“It’s nothing, heir apparent!” The Snow Maiden dared not show attitude; she understood her position.

Lin Shu nodded in satisfaction. “Good! Like father, like son! The world is vast and beauties are many. Yan Le, Yan Dan, I won’t detain you.”

“No need!” Yan Dan did not want to stay with this man. Even speaking a word around this father and son was impossible.

“Sending the Buddha all the way west!” Lin Shu waved his hand, sending Yan Dan and Yan Le floating back to the edge of the stage.

“Yan Le takes his leave.” After another bow, Yan Le slipped away, relieved to have escaped disaster.

Sigh! We’ll leave too! Yan Dan led two subordinates away, once again feeling powerless before the empire.

It seemed he could not defeat the Northern King, nor his son—despite clearly being taller and more handsome.

The matter was settled, but the young lady dared not speak or act more, only waiting for the marquis.

With fewer people around, Jing Ni no longer needed to be discreet. “Today’s meeting proves that the dances of Feixue Pavilion truly can move Snow and Moon. The empire is newly established and lacks music and dance. If the pavilion mistress doesn’t mind, you’re welcome to settle and prosper in the Royal City at Liao River’s mouth. I guarantee no man will force you.”

After speaking, Jing Ni glanced at her husband.

Lin Shu nodded in agreement.

The Snow Maiden was charming yet still a young girl. With so many beauties around him busy enough, he had no desire for more romance.

Too many feelings lead to excess; in the end, his relationship with Jing Ni and little Yue would only grow distant.

The most heartless are those of the imperial family! He did not want to become a true lonely ruler.