Yan Feng sat alone in the Imperial Study, staring at Sonorous in front of him. His eyes when looking at the qin wasn’t sad as they used to be, but instead laced with a faint smile. He recalled Murong Zhining’s graceful posture when she played the qin, and her sulky pout when she was unwilling to abide by his requests. Yan Feng thought the time was ripe. He couldn’t wait to go to Shangxia and ask for her hand in marriage.

“His Majesty the Retired Emperor has ...