Furthermore, there was a rule among the three great families of our Northern Territory: they were not allowed to marry individuals from outside the Northern Territory.
The siblings before him hailed from the Eastern Ning Kingdom. This fact alone meant her sister's affections were destined to be unrequited.
Zhan Xiaojun winked at Yun Xiaojing, "Third Brother, I think we should leave now."
Yun Xiaojing replied, "Indeed, it is time to depart."
They were from the Eastern Ning Kingdom, and it was best not to become too deeply involved with the people of the Northern Territory.
However, Mi Yunhua and his sister could be considered good friends.
Should they meet again in the martial world, they would certainly help if they could.
"No matter what, I cannot marry Lin Ye. Didn't you say Father and Mother were also dissatisfied with the Lin family? When we return to the capital, can we ask them to help me break off the engagement?" Mi Yun'er pleaded urgently to end the marriage.
Mi Yunhua shook his head, "Even if we are unhappy with the Lin family, your marriage to Lin Ye cannot be changed. This betrothal was decided from the day you were born, unless the Lin family ceases to be one of the three great families of the Northern Territory."
The three great families had remained unshaken for centuries. Even with the Lin family's arrogant behavior, it would not change anything.
Mi Yun'er's eyes immediately welled up with tears, her voice filled with grievance, "Brother, are you going to stand by and watch me marry Lin Ye?"
Mi Yunhua helplessly changed the subject, "It's almost time for dinner. Shall we think about going out to eat?"
At this moment, Yun Xiaojing finally spoke, "We have some matters to attend to next and will be departing shortly. Thank you for your hospitality these past few days, Brother Mi. Should you visit the Eastern Ning Kingdom in the future, my sister and I will surely entertain you well."
"You're leaving now?" Mi Yun'er exclaimed in surprise. How could the decision be so sudden?
Hadn't they said they would stay in the Northern Territory for a while longer?
Over these past few days, the four of them had become friends.
Moreover, after the events with the Lin family, she felt they had become close friends who knew each other's secrets, not just chance acquaintances who might meet again by fate.
"Yes, we are leaving now," Yun Xiaojing nodded.
Mi Yun'er's eyes became even redder than before, "But, I don't want to part with... Sun Jun."
Sun Jun was Zhan Xiaojun's alias.
The two of them had adopted the aliases Sun Jing and Sun Jun.
Zhan Xiaojun, a sharp-witted girl, had noticed Mi Yun'er's feelings over the past two days. She realized it wasn't that she didn't want to part with her, but rather she didn't want to part with her Third Brother.
Her Third Brother always managed to leave behind romantic entanglements wherever he went.
It would have been better if she had fallen for her elder or second brother than for her Third Brother. Her Third Brother's charming eyes smiled at everyone, and his silver tongue could twist black into white. Women who hadn't encountered many men would easily be deceived by her Third Brother's appearance.
However, she and her Third Brother were wearing disguised faces, concealing their original appearances. It was truly a testament to her Third Brother's skill that he could captivate Mi Yun'er with an ordinary face.
"I'll miss Sister Yun'er too, but my brother and I must leave now," Zhan Xiaojun expressed her reluctance with a smile.
Mi Yunhua frowned slightly. While initially feeling a bit of reluctance, seeing Mi Yun'er's clearly uncontrollable emotions, and to avoid further entanglement in matters beyond his control, he nodded, "If that is the case, then we shall not detain you any longer. Be careful when leaving the Northern Territory. Although the Lin family is not actively searching for you on the surface, there might still be people watching your every move in secret. Perhaps my sister and I will visit the Eastern Ning Kingdom in the future. We shall meet again if fate allows."
Yun Xiaojing cupped his hands and smiled, "Very well, we shall meet again if fate allows!"
"Let's go," Yun Xiaojing said to Zhan Xiaojun, turning his head.
Zhan Xiaojun stood up.
They weren't leaving without a reason. Considering the time, they should be heading home for their eldest brother's birthday, when the entire family would gather.
They could not miss such an important occasion.
A short distance after they walked away, Mi Yun'er behind them gritted her teeth and rushed towards Yun Xiaojing.
She came to stand before Yun Xiaojing.
"Sun Jing, can you... can you take me with you?" Mi Yun'er's pretty face was filled with anticipation. She thought that if he said he could take her, she would elope with him!
Yun Xiaojing was clearly somewhat surprised.
Mi Yunhua wanted to stop her but was too late. He sighed and hurried after them, "Yun'er, do not act rashly. Do you know what you are saying?"
"Brother, can't you let me be impulsive just this once? I don't like Lin Ye, I don't want to marry him!" Mi Yun'er cried out to Mi Yunhua. She truly did not want to marry Lin Ye!
She then looked at Yun Xiaojing eagerly, revealing her feelings, "Sun Jing, I like you. You must have noticed it these past few days. The moment I met you and your sister that night, I fell for you. As long as you say you like me, I will leave the Northern Territory with you, no matter the cost."
She knew the consequences of eloping; she would be disowned by her entire family.
But she was not afraid!
She would rather never return to the Northern Territory than marry someone she disliked or even detested!
The thought of marrying Lin Ye made her feel as if she would have nightmares every day!
Yun Xiaojing sighed inwardly. He had already restrained his charm, so how could he still have attracted someone? He patiently replied, "I'm sorry, I cannot agree to that."
Upon hearing the answer, Mi Yun'er's body trembled violently, "Why? You don't like me?"
They had gotten along so well these past few days, discussing matters of the south and the north.
They had enjoyed themselves immensely, raising glasses and chatting, so why did it turn into dislike?
"I'm sorry, I like you, but it's only as a friend, not romantic love," Yun Xiaojing gave a decisive answer.
Mi Yun'er's tears streamed down her face as she took two steps back, "No romantic love?"
It was, after all, her own unrequited affection.
"Yun'er, stop this nonsense," Mi Yunhua grabbed Mi Yun'er's arm, preventing her from continuing her irrational actions.
Yun Xiaojing also apologized to Mi Yunhua, "My apologies."
Mi Yunhua shook his head at Yun Xiaojing. This was not Sun Jing's fault; it was his sister who had harbored inappropriate feelings.
People from their three great families had no right to choose their own marriages.
From the moment they were born, their marriages were already decided.
Watching Yun Xiaojing and Zhan Xiaojun leave, Mi Yun'er's beautiful eyes were blurred with tears, "Brother, I truly don't want to marry Lin Ye. Is there really no other choice for me besides marrying Lin Ye?"
Why did their destinies have to be bound by their families?
She couldn't understand.
Everyone in her family knew that Lin Ye was not someone she could entrust her life to, and she would definitely not be happy marrying him, yet they were still watching her leap into a fiery pit.
Mi Yunhua narrowed his eyes, and the scene of him first meeting Sun Jing appeared before him, "Lin Ye and Lin Xiao and the others are unlikely to have only one accident. If the person is dead, then you naturally won't have to marry him."
"Brother?" Mi Yunhua widened his eyes in shock.
"Seeing Sun Jing protect Sun Jun, I realized you are my sister, and I cannot stand by and watch you leap into a fiery pit."
...
After Yun Xiaojing and Zhan Xiaojun left the Mi family mansion, they immediately found a secluded spot.