Chapter 143: Marry Me

"My lady," Peach-red cried out in deep distress, hurrying to support Liu Yan'er while glaring fiercely at Chu Junhan.

Liu Yan'er stood up unsteadily, swallowed hard, and stammered, "I... I had always heard that Young General Chu's archery could pierce a willow leaf at a hundred paces. Witnessing it today, it is truly extraordinary. It commands my utmost admiration."

"Hmph," Chu Junhan grunted. Picking up another arrow with a cold, indifferent expression, he said, "Step aside."

Liu Yan'er shifted her feet in embarrassment. For reasons unknown, the colder the young man was toward her, the faster her heart beat. Her face burned with heat, and she shyly lowered her head, nervously twisting the corner of her dress.

Silence fell across the courtyard, broken only by the whistling sound of the youth's arrows cutting through the air. Even Yun Yi sat motionless nearby, holding back his words. *Such a lovely young lady, why is this handsome brother so utterly devoid of tender affection?*

"Junhan," Liu Yan'er murmured after the space of an incense stick, feeling her legs grow numb. She massaged her calves, swaying slightly as she gazed at the archer with a pitiful, delicate expression. "I..."

"What brings you here?"

"I... I wanted to see you." With that, the young maiden lightly bit her lower lip and lowered her head once more.

Chu Junhan let out a cold laugh, lowering his bow and arrow. "Is that your only purpose?"

"Yes!" A brilliant light flashed in Liu Yan'er's eyes. But as she met Chu Junhan's gaze, she hurriedly looked away, stammering, "N... no."

Peach-red, watching anxiously from the side, gritted her teeth, stamped her foot, and stepped forward. "Young General Chu, my young lady is, after all, the Prime Minister's daughter. To treat a guest in this manner—are you not afraid of becoming the laughingstock of others?"

"Peach-red, hold your tongue!" Liu Yan'er immediately shot her a severe look, pulling the maid back.

"Even a maid knows her mistress's status; surely Lady Liu cannot be ignorant of it!" The youth smiled faintly, stepping a fraction closer. "Lady Liu is the designated Crown Princess. I trust you will conduct yourself with dignity!"

With a grievance-stricken expression, Liu Yan'er retreated, bumping into Peach-red, who caught her firmly. "That is my father's wish! Yan'er has no such intention!"

*Is that so?* the youth thought bitterly. *When you took it away in my past life, you looked pleased enough!*

At this recollection, the young man narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the maiden. "What game is Lady Liu playing here? As the foremost talented woman of Pingzhou, can you truly be foolish enough to know nothing of the bigger picture?"

"That, too, is my father's wish," Liu Yan'er said weakly, losing conviction with every word. Suddenly, she raised her head sharply, looking at the youth with absolute earnestness. "My father intends to deal with you alongside the Crown Prince. They plan to use the Governor of Pingzhou to do it!"

"Your father and the Crown Prince?" The youth offered a mocking smile, his tone brimming with arrogant skepticism. "Is it truly the wish of your father and the Crown Prince, or is it the Emperor's will? Lady Liu, tell me, what kind of performance is this? Chu cannot fathom it!"

She still remembered how, when the Emperor of Tianwu died, he had dragged her father down with him, slapping him with charges of treason and enemy collusion, only to have him torn apart by five chariots within the palace walls.

Driven backward step by step under the intense interrogation, Liu Yan'er was momentarily struck dumb. Finally, as if reaching a resolute decision, she closed her eyes and blurted out, "No, it is the wish of my father and the Crown Prince. His Majesty merely wishes to divide and weaken the Chu family, but the Crown Prince refuses to wait; he wants to resolve it all at once."

"So, Chu should thank Lady Liu for the warning, and conclude that Chu had no business coming to Pingzhou in the first place?" Arrogance and disdain were written all over the youth's face, his eyes overflowing with mockery. "Does coming here mean there is no return?"

"No. Junhan still has another path."

"Oh? I am all ears!"

"Marry me. Naturally, my father will stand with the Chu family, sharing life and death, adversity and triumph together!" The maiden spoke with righteous conviction, though her face was drenched in crimson.

To think—the proud daughter of the Prime Minister reduced to forcing a marriage in such a manner. It was truly unspeakably humiliating!