[A Chaotic Morning]
No sooner had Gu Xingyu said "Let's walk this path together," than Luo Ye shot forward like an arrow. Before she could react, he pulled her into a fierce, suffocating embrace.
"I knew it! I knew you didn't dislike me!" he choked out, a mix of relief and triumph in his voice. "I've been worried sick! I thought I'd done something wrong—but you do like me!"
"Hey! You can't just jump the gun like that!"
"That's cheating!"
Sang Qi and Cang Yuan rushed forward instantly. Cang Yuan grabbed Luo Ye by the collar, trying to pull him back, while Sang Qi blocked Xingyu like a protective shield. "You said we were all important! Why does he get the first hug? I want one too, or I won't be able to sleep!"
Xingyu's face was red enough to boil an egg. "Will you all stop? It's early morning—don't you want breakfast?"
Right then, a palace attendant appeared on the stone path, bowing deeply. "Saintess, Messengers of the Five Yao—the Crown Prince has prepared breakfast. Please follow me."
The chaos subsided into awkward silence. Luo Ye rubbed the back of his neck, muttering, "Talk about timing..."
[The Vision at the Table]
The group followed the attendant to the front hall. Crown Prince Si Moyan sat at the head of a long, carved table, looking elegant in his white robes. "Please, sit," he said with a gentle smile. "A meal to welcome you. Soon, once the Emperor recovers, we will hold the official ceremony for the Saintess and the Five Yao."
As they ate, the dynamic remained—Cang Yuan whispered jokes in Xingyu's ear, Luo Ye sulked over his porridge, and Lin Lie quietly served her soup. Si Moyan watched them, amused. "Your relationship with them is... quite unique."
Xingyu set down her chopsticks and looked the Prince in the eye. "Your Highness, I wish to speak of the future of the Yao-world."
The Prince paused. "Oh?"
"I am an outsider, I know. But I didn't come here for power. I came for change," she said firmly.
She began to list her vision:
Lin Lie: His "Yao-Mechanicals" could revolutionize transportation, connecting isolated regions.
Luo Ye: His culinary skills and preservation techniques could end hunger in disaster zones and borders.
Cang Yuan: His control over water could be integrated with engineering to irrigate farmlands and end droughts.
Sang Qi: His medical knowledge and surgical skills could build a healthcare system for the common people, not just the elite.
Li Yan: His talent for construction could build safe havens and sturdy homes for those displaced by war or disaster.
"These five men are not just weapons," Xingyu said, her voice ringing with sincerity. "They possess the talents to heal this land. That is why I am here—to ensure their power is used for the people. And that is why I will walk with them until the end."
[The Seeds of Change]
The hall fell silent. Si Moyan stared at her, moved by a sincerity he had never encountered in the palace. "You don't sound like you're fighting for a throne," he whispered. "You sound like you're offering your heart to this world."
He raised his cup. "If such a Yao-world is possible, I hope to help you build it."
Beside her, the Five Yao were silent, but their eyes told a different story.
Lin Lie thought of his explosions and failures; she saw them as progress. "I can upgrade to version 2.0," he muttered.
Luo Ye felt a lump in his throat. She didn't see him as just a 'cook,' but as someone who could feed the world.
Sang Qi was already mentally drafting a plan for village clinics.
Cang Yuan smirked, realizing she had looked past his playfulness to his very roots.
Li Yan felt his old wounds of losing his home finally begin to close.
Xingyu looked at them—at the subtle shifts in their expressions—and felt a future beginning to take shape. The road ahead was long, but as long as they were together, the Yao-world finally had hope.