Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing

"Zhu Zhuyun greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The young woman had a gentle air, skin like mutton-fat jade, and an unusually full figure. She bowed respectfully to Dai Xuanyu, who sat in the seat of honor.

Her voice was soft and sweet, making her instantly likable.

She was, of course, Zhu Zhuyun, Dai Weisi's former fiancée.

For now, she was only thirteen.

"You may rise." Dai Xuanyu's expression turned a little strange.

He had learned not long ago that both Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing had become his fiancées.

But only now were the three of them meeting formally.

Because of Dai Xuanyu's special circumstances, both engagements remained secret for the time being.

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuyun stole another glance at Dai Xuanyu from the corner of her eye, careful not to let anyone notice.

She was deeply curious about her new fiancé.

At first, Zhu Zhuyun had wondered what could possibly have prompted it.

Why had the Star Luo Emperor secretly decreed that she and her younger sister, both already engaged, should have their betrothals changed and be promised to Dai Xuanyu instead?

Before long, however, Zhu Zhuyun learned something that left her dumbfounded.

Dai Xuanyu had been named crown prince, though the appointment had remained secret for special reasons.

She and Zhu Zhuqing had learned of it only because they had become his prospective consorts.

Once Zhu Zhuyun understood that, everything clicked into place. But it only made her more curious about Dai Xuanyu.

What had allowed Dai Xuanyu to become crown prince outright, breaking rules the Star Luo Imperial Family had upheld for thousands of years?

At the same time, Zhu Zhuyun felt immensely fortunate.

Becoming a prospective crown princess outright was wonderful.

Not only had the Star Luo Imperial Family's cruel rules of competition been suspended for their generation,

the Zhu Family had suspended them for its generation as well. After all, both she and her sister had become the crown prince's fiancées.

That was good. She and her sister would no longer have to turn on each other.

Just look at their relative Zhu Piaopiao. How pitiful she was!

As for competing over who would ultimately become the Star Luo Empress, however fiercely the sisters fought, surely neither would lose her life over it.

Things had changed so much for the better that Zhu Zhuyun felt as though she were dreaming.

"Zhu Zhuqing..."

Lost in thought, Zhu Zhuyun noticed that her younger sister had not moved and hurriedly tugged at her sleeve.

Though Zhu Zhuqing was only six, she had already begun to develop her cool, reserved air.

"No matter, no matter. You are both my fiancées. We're family, so there's no need to be so formal," Dai Xuanyu said with a smile.

"Zhu Zhuqing greets Your Highness the Crown Prince." Zhu Zhuqing seemed a beat late as she bowed.

It was no wonder Zhu Zhuqing seemed so dazed today.

The changes of the past few days had been like a second chance at life for her.

Ever since she was born, she had heard from those around her and the elders of her family about the Zhu Family's cruel competition.

Facing a vast gulf between herself and her sister, Zhu Zhuqing refused to give up and had worked hard since childhood.

Everyone around her doubted her and believed she was destined to become a stepping-stone.

One thing, however, had filled her with despair: the fiancé she had never met was a spineless good-for-nothing.

Even so, Zhu Zhuqing had not given up. She had kept trying.

Then, just a few days ago, her fate had suddenly changed.

Her fiancé was no longer the third prince, Dai Mubai, but the fourth prince, Dai Xuanyu.

And her elder sister Zhu Zhuyun's fiancé had changed from the eldest prince, Dai Weisi, to the fourth prince, Dai Xuanyu.

At first, Zhu Zhuqing had not understood. But when she learned that Dai Xuanyu had become the Star Luo Empire's crown prince, she was delighted.

At only six years old, Zhu Zhuqing did not understand the deeper reasons.

But she knew that becoming a prospective crown princess had changed her fate for the better.

As for two women sharing one husband, both Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing accepted it easily.

Even ordinary nobles had more than one woman at their side. Why would the crown prince be any different?

He was the future Star Luo Emperor. He would have an imperial harem.

How many women dreamed of becoming a prospective crown princess?

For women of the Zhu Family's direct line especially, the goal was to become empress.

Two prospective crown princesses. That was a first in the Star Luo Empire's history.

As the sisters secretly studied Dai Xuanyu, he studied them in turn.

According to the message from his imperial father,

the two sisters were now his fiancées. Dai Xuanyu would decide which of them would ultimately become the Star Luo Empress.

For now, however, that information could not be made public.

Just as the news that Dai Xuanyu had become crown prince could not be made public. It had to remain secret.

Dai Xuanyu understood.

The two would be staying by his side from now on anyway. They could take their time getting to know one another.

At most, they would have to avoid seeing too many people in their daily lives, lest their identities be exposed.

"I know you have many questions, but you don't need the answers just yet."

"For now, what you need to know is that the Zhu Family's cruel rules of competition no longer apply to your generation."

"Someday, those rules will be abolished altogether."

"All you two need to do is live without worries. You don't have to be as tense as you were before..."

Dai Xuanyu beckoned the sisters closer, took one by each hand, and spoke gently.

But his words raised stormy waves in their hearts.

Abolish the rules of competition the imperial family and the Zhu Family had maintained for thousands of years?

How could that be possible?

Yet Dai Xuanyu had become crown prince outright, and both sisters had become his fiancées.

That made them somewhat willing to believe him.

"Thank you, Your Highness. You're so kind," Zhu Zhuyun said in a sweet voice, beginning to act coy.

Zhu Zhuyun adapted to her new position quickly, slipping into her role at once.

As for worrying about her former fiancé, Dai Weisi?

Or wondering whether Dai Xuanyu would mind that she had once been engaged to someone else?

Neither thought crossed Zhu Zhuyun's mind.

Although she had held the title of Dai Weisi's fiancée for years, their relationship had never gone that far.

It was partly because Dai Weisi's talent was fairly ordinary, but even more because he was preoccupied with dealing with the second prince.

So the bond they had built was hardly deep.

They had not even had a chance to try cultivating a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

The Star Luo Emperor must have looked into all of that and told Dai Xuanyu.

Otherwise, she could never have become Dai Xuanyu's new fiancée so readily.