Inside the banquet hall.

Yang Liu was naturally bewildered, but sensing the unusual atmosphere, he remained silent.

Zhao Wuyan was still carefully considering the maritime situation and did not speak rashly.

Zi Shu, completely unconcerned with the affairs of the world, noticed that the people across from her were acting strangely.

At this seafood feast, male and female guests sat on opposite sides. On her side, Jiang Wuyou sat at the head of the table, followed by Zhao Wuyan, and then herself.

Jiang Wang, the host, sat opposite Jiang Wuyou, followed by Xu Xiangqian opposite Zhao Wuyan, Li Longchuan opposite her, and Yang Liu alone at the end—who told him to shamelessly stick around?

When that wealthy young master with a tranquil demeanor entered, Zi Shu noticed an instant change in Jiang Wang, Xu Xiangqian, and Li Longchuan across from her.

Their postures became more upright, their expressions more serious, and they all sat up straight, appearing as if it were none of their concern, yet their eyes all held the same… excitement?

What were they excited about? Zi Shu couldn’t understand at all.

However… the Palace Lord of Huaying was so dashing!

Jiang Wuyou, seated at the head on the left, rested one hand on her knee, her phoenix eyes slightly tilted, her chin raised, glancing sideways at Yan Fu, who had abruptly entered the hall.

She exuded a powerful, condescending aura: “You ungrateful rogue, you dare show your face before me?”

Yan Fu, being so intelligent, immediately understood the situation upon seeing this stance. He realized he had been set up by his mischievous friends.

He was already cursing inwardly, but on the surface, he could only explain with a wry smile: “Your Highness, it’s been too long! I have already apologized to Miss Liu, and she has expressed her forgiveness. This matter is truly…”

Of course, he couldn’t say it wasn’t his fault.

If it wasn’t his fault, then it was his grandfather Yan Ping’s fault.

So he could only endure whatever scolding Jiang Wuyou gave him. He had even sought peace and quiet by fleeing overseas, but he didn’t expect… he couldn’t escape.

“Xiuzhang is kind and forgiving, and doesn’t hold it against you. But I cannot stand to see her bullied!”

Jiang Wuyou unleashed her full aura, her phoenix eyes filled with authority: “If Liu Shentong were still alive, would you dare come to her door to break off the engagement? Yan Fu, answer me yourself!”

Zi Shu felt waves of excitement in her heart. This princess of the Great Qi royal family was so imposing!

Those present were either geniuses or from famous families, but she, with her every move, possessed the air of overwhelming all heroes, truly a member of the imperial family!

But the matter of Yan Fu breaking off the engagement was, in itself, a complete mess.

What Jiang Wuyou said was correct, but Yan Fu was indeed unable to control the marriage. Behind it was the long-term planning of the entire family, not based on his personal honor or disgrace. Even if he was just called an ungrateful man, if the time came for him to make even greater sacrifices, it would be difficult for him to say “no.”

He was born enjoying the glory brought to him by the entire “Yan family” and had to bear the responsibilities entrusted to him by the family.

Not only Yan Fu, and not only the Yan family, were like this.

Even a peerless genius as undoubtedly strong as Chongxuan Zun had to face the challenge of Chongxuan Sheng because he defied the will of his family.

“Alas!”

Faced with Jiang Wuyou’s questioning, Yan Fu’s personality could only lead him to sigh and remain silent.

He had already scouted out the location, ready to slip away at any moment.

But unexpectedly, Jiang Wuyou suddenly waved her hand: “Enough, for the sake of Jiang Qingyang today, I’ll let you off this time. Go cool off wherever you please!”

Jiang Wuyou always did what she said, having said she would beat him every time she saw him, she had never been ambiguous before.

Yan Fu glanced at Jiang Wang in some surprise, not expecting Jiang Wang to have this much influence, but he didn’t say anything. After all, it was normal for Jiang Wuyou to be in Jue Ming Island on behalf of Huaying Palace, and for Jiang Wang to be on a case at sea as a Green Badge Constable—he didn’t realize he had been sold out in Linzi long ago.

The Sanwei Manor’s servant girls brought another table and placed it below Yang Liu’s seat.

Yan Fu sat down with a bitter face, even more lonely than Yang Liu, the only disciple of Fishing Sea Tower present.

Seeing Yan Fu sitting down unharmed, Xu Xiangqian sighed with some regret. Of course, only the other two mischievous friends could understand this regret.

Speaking of which, among this group, only Chongxuan Sheng had truly seen Yan Fu get beaten up, which was truly due to luck and was the cause of envy.

However, the reason they tacitly tricked Yan Fu into coming back was certainly not just to see him make a fool of himself. Wanting to see Yan Fu get beaten up was true, but wanting to help resolve the conflict between the Palace Lord of Huaying and Yan Fu with a group of friends was also true.

Otherwise, how could a dignified young master of the Yan family be chased and beaten by the Palace Lord of Huaying all day long?

“Ahem.” Xu Xiangqian cleared his throat: “I heard that there is a type of bird at sea with three wings on its back, capable of flying thousands of miles. This type of bird can only mate with other three-winged birds for life. Once it becomes intimate with ordinary seabirds, it will immediately lose its balance and lose its ability to fly. The result is naturally only death.”

He looked at Yang Liu: “I wonder if this is true?”

Involving overseas knowledge, Yang Liu naturally didn’t want to be outdone: “Brother Xu is truly learned and knowledgeable. This bird is called Dongze, and its entire body is snow-white. It is a migratory bird. There is no winter near the sea, and the winter solstice is often known by seeing this bird. You can’t see it at this time.”

Xu Xiangqian smiled and asked Jiang Wuyou: “What does the Palace Lord think of this bird?”

He was clearly speaking of the Dongze bird, but in reality, he was referring to Yan Fu and Liu Xiuzhang.

A three-winged bird can only mate with a three-winged bird, and cannot pair with a two-winged bird. Just as the direct line of the Yan family could no longer marry into the Liu Xiuzhang line of the Liu family.

This was not something that could be decided by their own wishes.

Jiang Wuyou naturally understood.

But she only asked: “Birds and beasts are unfeeling, only following the instincts of life. Are humans also unfeeling? The Dongze bird loses its balance, but if another bird loves it and feeds it food, can it die?”

She asked again: “If a bird is wrongly paired and loses its balance, does a person lose their life when wrongly paired? Why compare them!”

Her series of questions left Xu Xiangqian speechless. He was usually not easily at a loss for words, but these were emotional questions, and with Zhao Wuyan present, he couldn’t bring himself to say those rogue and glib words.

Hearing this far, Zhao Wuyan and others understood that there was more to the story. So they all shut up and watched silently.

Li Longchuan placed his hands on his knees and looked at Jiang Wuyou: “Your Highness, even if another bird loves it and feeds it food, it may not die. But is not being able to flap its wings the Dongze bird’s wish? Who can live a life of crawling?”

He spoke righteously, based on ideals, annotating the future, his clear voice ringing like the clash of gold and stone.

Jiang Wuyou only sneered: “Birds have no promises, but people do. Is crawling considered living in degradation, but breaking one’s promise is not?”

Liu Shentong was a genius she had invested in, and Liu Xiuzhang was her close friend. For both emotional and rational reasons, she needed to stand up for Liu Xiuzhang and vent her anger.

Otherwise, as the dignified Palace Lord of Huaying, she would be very busy, and wouldn’t have so much time to chase and beat an ungrateful man all day long.

Li Longchuan also fell silent.

Jiang Wang sighed and, sitting in his seat, cupped his hands towards Jiang Wuyou: “What the Palace Lord says is all reasonable and irrefutable. But the Palace Lord also knows that a three-winged bird pairing with a two-winged bird is a mismatched pair. Life is long, year after year. Life is short, like a white colt passing through a crack. If one can avoid making a mistake, why make it?”

Jiang Wuyou was silent for a moment before she opened her lips: “Whether it is right or wrong, only the parties involved know. But since you, Jiang Qingyang, have spoken, I will no longer interfere in this matter.”

She looked straight ahead, not looking at Yan Fu, but said: “Yan Fu, take care of yourself.”

Yan Fu drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

This famous idle rich man of Linzi ultimately stood up, bowed to Jiang Wuyou, and sighed: “I am ashamed!”

It was unclear whether he was speaking to Jiang Wuyou, or to Liu Xiuzhang.

Or perhaps, to himself.