Ep 2:- His pov

At Northern Military Territory:

The northern wind was sharp, cutting across the training grounds as soldiers moved in perfect formation.

Steel clashed. Orders rang out. Discipline ruled everything.

At the center—

Zhao Yanzhou stood unmoving, watching.

Cold. Composed. Untouchable.

“Marquis,” a familiar voice called lazily.

Zhao Zixuan approached, hands behind his back, clearly in no hurry.

“Master wants you back at the Zhao Manor.”

Yanzhou didn’t even turn.

“Why? Is there an important event?”

Zixuan circled him slowly, like he was inspecting something entertaining.

“More like it.”

A pause.

“But Master ordered me not to tell you.”

Yanzhou finally glanced at him.

A glare.

“Speak.”

Zixuan replied immediately dramatically.

“If I do, Master will kill me.”

“Then I’m not going.”

Zixuan turned as if to leave, smirking.

“Alright. Don’t blame me if you miss your life-changing moment.”

That made him pause.

Yanzhou turned fully this time.

“…What? Life changing moment?"

Zixuan grinned.

“That’s why congratulations in advance, my lord.”

Yanzhou glared.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s better you don’t know.”

Thud

Zixuan clutched his shoulder.

“You hit me again?!”

“Stop spouting nonsense. Get my horse. I will go myself then.”

Zixuan laughed.

“Yes, yes. As you command.”

Back at Zhao manor:-

The moment Yanzhou stepped into the main hall, the atmosphere changed.

Formal. Controlled.

His father, Zhao Guangming, stood waiting.

“Why did you call me back?”

His father glanced at Zixuan.

“You didn’t say anything, did you?”

Zixuan immediately raised three fingers.

“I swear on my life, master.I didn’t.”

“Wait outside.”

Zixuan obeyed but left after giving Yanzhou a very teasing look.

Then—

Silence.

His father turned back to him, smiling.

“Why wouldn’t I call you back? Especially when your wedding is approaching in few days.”

Yanzhou froze.

“…What? My wedding?”

“Yes, your wedding.”

“I refuse.”

His father laughed.

“You cannot refuse. It is an imperial decree.”

Before Yanzhou could respond

A gentle but excited voice entered.

“Finally!”

His mother stepped in, beaming with joy.

“Heavens have truly blessed us. Xu Yuexin, what a perfect daughter-in-law.”

Yanzhou’s expression darkened slightly.

“I am not interested.”

His father crossed his arms.

“You rejected every proposal before. Now the Emperor himself has granted this marriage. It's a golden opportunity.”

His mother nodded eagerly.

“I heard she is elegant, virtuous, and incredibly beautiful. Really perfect for you.”

Yanzhou exhaled slowly.

“…Rumors are unreliable.”

His father smirked.

“So are your excuses.”

A pause.

Then—

“Don’t even think about going back north.”

Silence.

Yanzhou’s gaze shifted slightly.

Then he nodded.

“…Understood.”

And turned to leave.

Outside the Hall

Zixuan was already waiting. Of course he was.

He leaned casually against a pillar.

“Well?”

Yanzhou walked past him.

“I will be serving a new Marchioness soon,” Zixuan added, clearly enjoying himself.

“Be quiet.”

“Oh? Are you nervous?”

No response.

Zixuan smirked wider.

“I heard she’s beautiful. Maybe you’ll finally—”

Yanzhou stopped walking.

Zixuan froze.

Slowly, Yanzhou turned his head.

“…Finish that sentence.”

Zixuan raised both hands.

“Nothing, nothing. I value my life.”

Later that night:-

Yanzhou stood alone in the courtyard.

The moonlight fell across the stone floor, quiet and distant.

Marriage.

A political alliance.

Xu Clan. Zhao Clan.

Southern and Northern military combined.

He understood the reason.

Of course he did.

This wasn’t about him.

Or her.

It was about the empire.

A faint pause.

“…Xu Yuexin.”

He spoke the name once.

Testing it.

No emotion.

Just acknowledgment.

Zixuan Interrupts Again.

“Thinking about your future wife already?”

Yanzhou didn’t turn.

“You’re noisy.”

Zixuan stepped closer, grinning.

“I’m just curious. What kind of lady could actually match you?”

A pause.

Yanzhou finally replied—

Calm. Flat.

“She won’t.”

Zixuan blinked.

“…That confident?”

Yanzhou walked past him.

“She’ll either be troublesome…”

A slight pause.

“…or irrelevant.”

Zixuan laughed.

“Oh, I can’t wait to see which one she is. But who knows she might be opposite of both.”

Two people.

One imperial decree.

Neither willing.

Neither aware—

That their lives were about to become…

completely entangled.

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