She Is Unwilling

"Sister, why are you looking at me like that?" Feng Ruoyu said, shrinking her neck uncomfortably.

"Little girl, don't you think the stories your Brother Qi Bei tells are also exaggerated? Isn't he being childish?" Feng Ruoyun said.

"But I don't think he's exaggerating," Feng Ruoyu retorted.

Looking at her sister's clear, big eyes, Feng Ruoyu smiled. Perhaps she was overthinking it. Although her sister was mischievous and knew everything, knowing didn't mean understanding.

"You know, don't you, that Qi Bei is also going to his fief after his engagement? If you want to hear stories, you can hire a bard to tell them to you," Feng Ruoyun said, affectionately stroking her sister's hair.

Feng Ruoyu mumbled a couple of times, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "Sister, look quickly, Brother Qi Bei and Sister Mingyue are here."

Qi Bei, holding Princess Mingyue's hand, stepped down from the carriage. Behind them, two rows of palace maids and the Nord family's maids held the long wedding sash draped on Princess Mingyue. Flower petals rained down, and the guests erupted in warm applause.

The engagement ceremony officially began.

The High Priest of the Temple of the Goddess of Life emerged from the temple. The guests gathered around Qi Bei and Princess Mingyue, with the two protagonists naturally becoming the focus of everyone's attention.

Facing the sincere or feigned congratulations from the crowd, Qi Bei maintained a faint smile throughout, returning greetings with impeccable etiquette. At this moment, he truly embodied the demeanor and grace expected of a scion of a noble family.

Princess Mingyue also smiled demurely, her gaze occasionally flicking to Qi Bei's smiling face. For some reason, as she watched his display of grace, she felt a sense of unease. He was clearly a scoundrel, yet he was acting like a gentleman.

At this point, the High Priest, holding the divine scripture, turned towards the statue of the Goddess of Life and began reciting blessings.

The High Priest's slightly hoarse voice chanted the incomprehensible blessings with a peculiar rhythm. The entire plaza, including the onlookers beyond the barriers, fell silent.

Each syllable seemed to physically enter Qi Bei's ears, giving him a strange sensation, as if his consciousness had pierced through time and space, reaching a mysterious realm.

There, a pair of eyes, like autumn water, gazed at him gently, with a hint of surprise.

Who was that? How could there be such beautiful eyes in this world, like a brilliant starry sky embedded within them? At a single glance, one felt their soul being sublimated.

Qi Bei strained his eyes, trying to see more clearly.

But just then, Qi Bei's entire body trembled, and his consciousness felt as if it were being forcibly pulled back.

"What are you spacing out for? The High Priest wants us to come forward," Princess Mingyue said, looking at him inexplicably. It was as if his soul had just left his body.

"Oh, I was just a bit sleepy," Qi Bei shrugged and walked hand-in-hand with Princess Mingyue to the front of the High Priest.

The High Priest was a kindly old man with an immaculate appearance and clear, vibrant eyes filled with life.

"You are both children of the gods. The Goddess of Life bestows her blessings upon you, and the continuation of life shall endure forever," the High Priest said, extending his hand and tracing the foreheads of Qi Bei and Princess Mingyue from a distance. Instantly, a faint radiance swept over the two.

Both Qi Bei and Princess Mingyue felt as if their bodies had been infused with extra vitality, every pore opening in comfort.

This must be the legendary Life Magic, which only a few High Priests of the Temple of Life can perform. It truly is extraordinary.

Next, the High Priest held a jade bowl of a vibrant green hue, containing a faintly glowing liquid. This was the Holy Water of Life, coveted by many believers, capable of prolonging life and dispelling all illnesses.

Qi Bei had drunk it once since birth. Having been born into the most prominent noble family of the Golden Leaf Dynasty, he always had privileges.

During engagement or wedding ceremonies, the couple was meant to drink the Holy Water of Life together.

For ordinary people, the engagement or wedding ceremony at the Temple of Life would be officiated by a regular priest, and the Holy Water of Life they drank was actually just plain water.

"Beneath the statue of the Goddess of Life, Qi Bei Nord, do you pledge to be eternally bound to Mingyue Jinye, never to leave or forsake her in this life?" the High Priest asked, looking at Qi Bei.

"I do," Qi Bei replied, though he felt somewhat uncomfortable with the question.

"Beneath the statue of the Goddess of Life, Mingyue Jinye, do you pledge to be eternally bound to Qi Bei Nord, never to leave or forsake him in this life?" the High Priest asked, looking at Princess Mingyue.

"I..."

"She does not!" Just as Princess Mingyue was about to answer, a somber voice suddenly rang out.

The guests erupted in a commotion. Following the sound, they saw a handsome young man in a purple magic robe walking over proudly.

Qi Bei narrowed his eyes, a cold curve forming on his lips. As expected, this engagement ceremony wouldn't be peaceful.

"I have no intention of blaspheming the great Goddess of Life. I am merely speaking the truth. Lying before the Goddess of Life is the greatest disrespect to her. Princess Mingyue personally told me that she was only forced into this engagement with this brat," Fentian declared loudly.

"Who is this? He's got some nerve. Even wearing a mage's robe, he doesn't know this is an important occasion."

"Could he be Princess Mingyue's true love?"

"You guys know nothing. Let me tell you, he's a disciple of Tongtian Mountain, one of the Five Great Holy Lands. He's counting on His Majesty and the Nord family not daring to do anything to him."

The guests chattered amongst themselves. Driven by human nature's flaws, they were not worried at all but were instead incredibly excited.

Emperor Hanmos and the head of the Nord family, seated at the head table, remained expressionless, as if this sudden turn of events had nothing to do with them.

"I do. I am willing to be engaged to Qi Bei Nord," Princess Mingyue said at this moment. Her voice was not loud, but she used magic to amplify it, causing it to echo across the plaza.

Fentian's expression froze. He suddenly felt like an idiot. He had made a scene with all his effort, only for everyone to ignore him.

The High Priest smiled and handed over the jade bowl containing the Holy Water of Life.

Qi Bei, his face showing no emotion, took the bowl, drank half of it, then mischievously spat some back before handing it to Princess Mingyue.

Princess Mingyue took the bowl and was about to drink when she heard Fentian say, "Junior Sister, you've only just joined Tongtian Mountain. Perhaps you don't know that disciples of Tongtian Mountain cannot get engaged privately without their master's permission."

Princess Mingyue was taken aback. Katie had never mentioned such a rule to her, nor had she informed her about the engagement.

However, Princess Mingyue only hesitated for a moment before drinking the Holy Water of Life from the jade bowl.

"Junior Sister, you..." Fentian exclaimed in disbelief. This move was supposed to be his trump card. He hadn't come to disrupt the ceremony unprepared, but he had anticipated the reactions of the royal family and the Nord family, yet he had completely underestimated Princess Mingyue's response.

Qi Bei glanced at Princess Mingyue in surprise, then at Fentian, whose face had turned a mixture of green and white. He suddenly felt a bit of sympathy for the guy.