Tuoba Feiyuan snatched the imperial decree from Lu Fengjin's hand. She glanced at it, and for a fleeting moment, she too was stunned.
It was an imperial decree from the Emperor annulling their engagement!
"You..." Tuoba Feiyuan stared at Chu Yueli, utterly speechless for a long moment.
Hadn't Chu Yueli coveted the position of Princess Jin for years?
Begging the Emperor for an annulment? How could that be possible!
"What on earth... do you want?" Lu Fengjin glared at Chu Yueli, his voice seeming to force its way out between clenched teeth.
When he spoke of calling off the engagement before, it was merely to frighten her into accepting the condition of entering the manor on the same day as Tuoba Feiyuan.
He had never truly thought of ending the engagement.
He had set his heart on marrying her many years ago.
Back then, she was an eight-year-old girl, as exquisite as carved jade, and he had fallen for her at first glance.
Later, she gradually blossomed into a graceful young woman, like a lotus emerging from the water, or a tranquil orchid in a secluded valley—the sacred lotus in the hearts of every man in the capital.
If the engagement were broken off, this flawless maiden might well marry someone else.
If she married another, Lu Fengjin would feel as though something belonging to him had been defiled.
He would rather keep her in his own manor for the rest of his life.
Yet now, she had actually obtained an imperial decree from Imperial Father.
"So, when General Chu entered the palace to have an audience with the Emperor today, it was for this decree?" Lu Fengjin's voice was bone-chillingly cold. "Chu Yueli, just how many things about you are still unknown to this prince?"
Expecting Chu Yueli to offer an explanation, he was surprised when she merely smiled faintly. "There are still plenty of things the Prince doesn't know about."
"Ali!"
"You think she actually wants to break off the engagement with you?" Tuoba Feiyuan refused to believe it. Could there really be someone in this world as devoid of desire for fame and fortune as herself?
Most women in the world were utterly shallow! If Chu Yueli didn't care about fame or fortune, why else would she not shed a single tear or make a fuss when another girl appeared by the side of the man she loved?
Her silence was simply because she had thought of an even more ruthless tactic!
"You blind fool, she is only using this to force you to bow your head to her! To think you are the God of War of Dongling, yet you can't even see through a trick like this!"
Lu Fengjin's face flushed a deep, embarrassed red at her words.
"I've seen plenty of women like her. Don't think you can pull your tricks on me! I'm not one of those infatuated fools who would be bewitched by you!"
Tuoba Feiyuan let out a cold snort and suddenly hurled the imperial decree onto the ground with force.
"Audacious!"
"Yuan'er!"
This action caused the expressions of the two people in the side hall to change drastically.
Lu Fengjin tried to stop her, but Tuoba Feiyuan had already thrown the decree to the floor!
"Guards!" Chu Yueli snapped to her feet.
Lu Fengjin's expression shifted, and he cried out in alarm, "No one is allowed in!"
He hurriedly picked up the imperial decree himself, looking at Tuoba Feiyuan—who still wore a defiant expression—wanting to scold her, yet not knowing where to begin.
Finally, his angry gaze landed on Chu Yueli. "She is a pugilist from the martial world, she knows nothing of these things! Why must you stoop to her level!"
"I am not stooping to her level, but I will report this matter to the Emperor and let His Majesty make the personal judgment."
Being a martial artist from the rivers and lakes was no talisman to save Tuoba Feiyuan from death; destroying an imperial decree was a crime punishable by execution!
She wanted to see just how many heads Tuoba Feiyuan had to spare before the Emperor had them all chopped off.
Seeing Lu Fengjin's expression, and watching the way he carefully and reverently picked up the imperial decree, Tuoba Feiyuan likely realized what a grave mistake she had made.
Yet, she refused to admit it.
"You pushed me so hard and used every means possible simply because you're afraid I'll take revenge on you, aren't you? Chu Yueli, you are nothing but a hypocritical wretch!"
"You are that eager to take revenge on me?"
Chu Yueli narrowed her eyes, and the anger burning within them could no longer be concealed.
"Fine, I will give you a chance to do it yourself!"