"The eting is adjourned," Fang Yuan declared, his tone calm but decisive.
One by one, the elders rose from their seats. Robes rustled, heads bowed low in respect, and they filed out of the chamber in solemn silence until the vast hall was nearly empty.
Only when the last elder slipped through the door did Lin Zhaoyue rise gracefully. Her steps were light but purposeful as she crossed the room, her silk sleeves trailing like flowing water.
"Husband," she purred softly, slipping her arm through his with practiced familiarity. Her lips curved in a teasing smile as she leaned against him. "Do you and the elders always waste ti like this?"
Fang Yuan blinked at her, head tilting ever so slightly. His eyes were steady, his curiosity genuine as he asked, "What do you an?"
"In our Lin family," Zhaoyue began, her tone light but edged with authority, "the elders only convene if it’s truly a matter of life and death. And if it isn’t, if it’s sothing that rely threatens the family’s livelihood then they would gather, discuss, and hamr out a solution together."
Her fingers idly traced the sleeve of Fang Yuan’s robe as she spoke, her voice steady. "After that, they present the matter formally to the Clan Head, along with a representative elder to explain it. That way, the discussion isn’t weighed down by the Clan Head’s presence. They can speak freely, even criticize if necessary."
Her eyes flicked up at him, keen and deliberate. "Think about it. It saves ti. And it spares the Clan Head from listening to every petty squabble while still making sure the real problems and your own flaws are brought to light."
Fang Yuan drew in a long, asured breath before speaking. "I’ll consider it," he said evenly. Then, almost as an afterthought, he glanced at her. "Would you like to accompany to see the cultivation caves?"
"Yes!" The word burst out of Zhaoyue like an arrow loosed from a bow. Her eyes lit up, her entire body leaning into his as though she might drag him there herself.
And then, in the next heartbeat, she caught herself. Her lips pressed together, her lashes lowered, and she softened her tone into sothing carefully demure. "...I would love to."
But the act couldn’t hide the truth from Fang Yuan.
Her grip on his arm had tightened, trembling with suppressed excitent, the faintest shiver betraying how desperately she wanted to go with him.
Inwardly, Fang Yuan allowed himself a small thought. I suppose I should make the effort to know her better. She’s certainly trying her best. As long as she doesn’t harm anyone in the clan...
With that quiet resolution, the two of them set off.
Walking.... because Lin Zhaoyue had firmly shaken her head when Fang Yuan suggested they fly to the Eastern Ravine.
Her hand tightened on his arm, her smile sweet and unwavering.
"Flying would make us arrive too quickly," she had said, tone light and innocent.
As the two left the Fang family pavilion, the noise of a quarrel drifted through the street.
A crowd had gathered around a small stall, their faces tense with nervous curiosity.
Fang Yuan’s gaze flicked over, sharp and assessing.
It wasn’t hard to see what was happening. The local gang, swaggering in worn armor and crude weapons, was circling the stall like wolves around a rabbit.
Their so-called "protection" was nothing more than extortion.
At the heart of it, an old stall keeper knelt on trembling knees, clutching at the hem of a rough cloth sack.
His face was wet with tears, his voice raw as he pleaded, "Please... I have to feed my family at least... my grandchildren, they’re still so young... just give a few more days..."
One of the goons sneered, jabbing the butt of his spear into the ground inches from the old man’s hand. "Days don’t feed us, old man. Pay up, or we’ll take it outta your hide."
The stall owner flinched, shoulders shaking as he pressed his forehead to the dirt.
Lin Zhaoyue, walking beside Fang Yuan, noticed the direction of his gaze.
She tilted her head slightly, her voice soft and laced with sothing almost eager. "Husband... do you want to go over?"
Fang Yuan’s eyes lingered on the scene for a mont longer before he exhaled, his voice low and steady. "As much as I dislike it, I can’t prevent it from happening. If I stop them this once, they’ll only co back with more n tomorrow. People like that... they’re cockroaches. Hard to be rid of completely."
At his side, Lin Zhaoyue’s head tilted ever so slightly, a soft smile curving her lips as her grip on his arm grew tighter, almost clinging.
"Husband," she murmured, voice velvet over steel, "I don’t know this cockroach you speak of... but you and I, we are in the Nascent Soul realm. If you willed it... if I willed it..."
Her eyes darkened, that gentle smile sharpening into sothing dangerous.
"No one would even dare to breathe without our permission."
Before Fang Yuan could even form a response, Lin Zhaoyue’s voice cut in, low and fervent, her eyes shining with an unsettling light. "Husband... you want to be the kind king, the benevolent ruler who leads with love and fairness. That’s who you are."
Her grip on his arm tightened, trembling. "But even a kind king needs soone beside him, soone who can be cruel when he cannot. Soone who can do what must be done."
She leaned closer, her tone soft, almost reverent, yet edged with a dangerous promise.
"Let be that queen for you. Let be the tyrant in your shadow. So when you stretch out your hand to help them... they will weep with gratitude, because they’ll know just how rciful you truly are."
Fang Yuan reached out and flicked her forehead with a sharp snap.
"That’s manipulation," he said evenly.
Lin Zhaoyue winced, her free hand flying up to rub the sore spot.
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