Chapter 253: Change
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
In the blink of an eye, Yuan Shu was already 15 years old. General Yuan felt that he couldn’t let his daughter grow up like a tomboy anymore. She was going to get married in the future, so she still had to learn many rules. Thus, he sent her to the palace to learn them.
In the beginning, Yuan Shu was very unwilling and even escaped from the palace several times. It was only when Yuan Shu’s mother passed away that Yuan Shu seemed to have matured overnight. The outgoing and playful Yuan Shu instantly became sensible and her mischievousness disappeared.
Yuan Shu was very smart. No matter what she learned, she mastered it very quickly.
Learning royal etiquette wasn’t difficult for her at all. In addition, the emperor and the empress doted on her, so it didn’t take long for Yuan Shu to be conferred the title of princess.
Everyone knew that Yuan Shu was doted on, and they also knew that Yuan Shu’s status was noble. Many people proposed marriage, but they were all rejected by Yuan Shu. The Yuan family’s mansion began to close its doors and refuse guests.
Yuan Shu never went to the military camp again.
Since Yuan Shu didn’t come to the military camp, Mu Zhou could only look for her personally.
As Mu Zhou sat on the wall of the Yuan family’s house, he threw a rock at Yuan Shu’s window.
After Yuan Shu opened the window and saw that it was him, she sat on the windowsill and chatted with him like before.
But this courtyard signified the difference in status between them.
When they were in the military camp, Yuan Shu was a tomboy, so they could chat side by side. Now, one of them was a princess, and the other was a soldier. They could only look at each other from afar.
Mu Zhou asked Yuan Shu, “I heard that many people want to marry you?”
Yuan Shu nodded.
Mu Zhou asked again, “Then have you thought about who you want to marry?”
Yuan Shu stared at the leaves in the courtyard that were stirred by the wind as she said, “My marriage isn’t up to me to decide. When His Majesty conferred me the title of princess, he had already decided to use me as a tool to consolidate his power, so they’ve already decided who I’ll marry for me.”
Mu Zhou stared at Yuan Shu and neither of them spoke. After a long time, Mu Zhou asked, “What kind of person will the emperor let you marry?”
Yuan Shu’s expression was calm and a faint smile appeared on her lips as she replied, “The top scorer.”
The top scorer in the country.
Mu Zhou didn’t say anything else after hearing this. He turned around and jumped off the wall.
After Mu Zhou left, General Yuan walked into the courtyard and came to Yuan Shu’s side. Then, he said, “Why didn’t you tell him that not only is there a literary subject on the imperial examination this year, but there’s also a martial arts subject? The emperor hopes that you can marry the martial arts scholar and let him inherit our family’s army.”
Yuan Shu just stared at the wall where Mu Zhou had just sat. The crescent moon hung in the sky.
General Yuan continued, “I know that the two of you are in love. If you’re willing, I’ll get Mu Zhou to become the martial arts top scorer.”
Yuan Shu said, “There’s no need. Father, we both know very well that Mu Zhou isn’t cut out to be a general.”
General Yuan sighed. “But I can’t bear for you to marry someone you don’t love.”
Yuan Shu comforted her father with a smile, “Your daughter is ambitious and will only marry the most outstanding person. The person who can obtain the title of top scorer must be the most outstanding person. As for who the top scorer is, it’s not important.”
Mu Zhou thought that the so-called top scholar of this year was the literary scholar. From that day onwards, he started studying poetry diligently so that he could obtain the title of top scorer and marry Yuan Shu.
It wasn’t until he finished the exam that he realized that there was a martials arts subject on the exam this year.
In the court, he and the top scholar of the martial arts examination walked into the magnificent hall at the same time and accepted the emperor’s reward. At the same time, Mu Zhou heard with his own ears that the emperor bestowed marriage to Yuan Shu to the top scholar of the martial arts examination.
Mu Zhou watched Yuan Shu walk into the hall with his own eyes. She was wearing lavish clothes and golden and jade jewelry on her head. She symbolized the prosperity of this dynasty as she walked to the top scholar of martial arts elegantly.
At that moment, Mu Zhou felt like he was a joke.
He barged into Yuan Shu’s mansion to ask what was going on, but he was rejected.
Yuan Shu refused to see him, so he waited outside the door. The heavy rain drenched him, but he still stood there.
After an entire day and night, General Yuan couldn’t bear to see him like this anymore. He walked to Mu Zhou and said, “Go back. Yuan Shu won’t see you.” Mu Zhou refused to leave.. Instead, he asked, “Why?”