I didn't expect the clan to move this fast. But the moment I handed the decision over, it became their problem—and the elders loved problems they could solve with meetings.
We were in the main elder hall. Me, my parents, both uncles, Grandfather sitting in the main seat. The atmosphere had that usual stiff, serious tone. Everyone sat straight. Scrolls open, tea untouched. Even Tianxu was awake.
"You're sure about this?" my father asked, arms crossed.
"I said what I said," I replied. "Just pick someone with decent bloodline, okay? No troublemakers."
Mother gave me a side glance. "It's not like picking fruit from the market."
"No, it's more like bidding on spirit beasts. Let the elders handle it."
There was a pause.
Tianxu looked down at his scroll. "There are five clans with unmarried daughters of age. Three of them are actively seeking marriage alliances."
"Age range?" asked Uncle Tianjian.
"Seventeen to twenty. ."
I held up a hand. "No chronically ill beauties. No daughters who stab pillows. No fiancées that come with murder attempts."
Changming—who had somehow invited himself to the meeting[ of course he did he's the 4th elder]—cleared his throat. "You do realize you sound like you've done this before?"
"I read a lot of story scrolls."
Grandfather finally spoke. "You want a political marriage. But you don't care who it is. You're leaving this to us."
"Yes. I'm indecisive. And picky."
He looked at me for a long moment, then nodded. "Fine. We'll choose. You don't get to complain after."
"Wouldn't dare."
The next few days were full of rumors.
Apparently, the youngest Ye son was marrying some mysterious highborn girl from a distant province. Some assumed it was love at first sight. Others assumed I'd finally gotten caught doing something stupid.
Hu Ren sent me a letter from Clear Sky City:
Heard you're getting married. Thought you'd die single. I'm betting three mid-grade stones on her being way out of your league. Congratulations.
I sent back a note:
She better be. That's the point.
Most of my old social contacts sent polite, confused congratulations. One or two girls I'd taken on walks through gardens or brought to dinner looked me up and down next time they saw me like I was diseased.
At home, I spent time training, and testing new talismans. The pressure was gone. I didn't have to play games anymore. No need to evaluate every conversation like a courtship.
I did nothing, and the clan did everything.
Two weeks later, they had a name.
Grandfather called me into his study. The moment I stepped in, he pushed a scroll across the desk.
"That's her. Daughter of the Yun Clan. Twilight Shadow Province."
"The province ruled by the Jinwu Sect?"
"Exactly. Her family's strong, politically stable, and wants to reduce internal pressure."
"She trying to escape her clan's drama?"
"That's the implication."
"What's her name?"
"Yun Fei."
"Do I meet her before the wedding?"
He looked at me like I'd grown a second head. "This is a political marriage. You meet her at the altar."
"Fine. Let's do it."
He shook his head, muttering something about reckless grandchildren.
The preparations began immediately.
The house was chaos. My mother personally designed the wedding robes. someone handled the decorations. The unicorn-drawn bridal carriage—yes, actual unicorns—was cleaned, polished, and given new silk banners.
Uncle Tianxu was grumbling over wedding expenses.
"You spent how much on fireworks?"
"Just say It's an investment in public relations."
Changhu kept walking into my room, holding fabrics up to my chest.
"You're not wearing this. This shade of gold makes you look cheap."
"I'm not trying to impress her."
"Yes, you are. this isn't a walk in park".
The week before the ceremony, I stood at the back balcony, watching the lanterns being hung. My brothers joined me, one by one.
Changjian first. "You nervous?"
"More curious. I'm gambling with half my life and never saw the dice."
Changrui arrived next, holding a wine flask. "To no regrets."
We each took a sip. Then another.
I smirked. "Think she'll be pretty?"
"Hope so. But honestly? I hope she's not annoying."
"High bar."
"Realistic one."
Later that night, I sat in my room staring at the wedding robes. Everything was set. The marriage, the ceremony, the whole damn production.
All I had to do was show up.
And if this went well—if she wasn't awful—we'd both get exactly what we wanted.
I wanted a partner. She wanted freedom.
That sounded fair enough, at least for now.