420: The trip to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty yielded some results

Xie Weilou shook his head, “If such a treasure truly existed, His Majesty would have already entered the Divine Court and wouldn’t need to wait for Dragon Yuan Phoenix Blood.”

The Xia Emperor smiled faintly, “You know quite a lot, young man. However, the treasure I spoke of does exist. I haven’t used it because I was waiting for this moment. If there were no bargaining chips, how would you agree to this matter?”

Xie Weilou pondered, “If I don’t agree, Your Majesty would still announce the engagement, wouldn’t he?”

The Xia Emperor said, “Exactly! Your strength can break free from restraints, but as you are now, it’s difficult for you to overturn this Great Xia! If you don’t enter the game, how will you know what the chessboard looks like? Trust me, that treasure will definitely not disappoint you!”

In Great Xia, as long as there is the Saint Academy, no one can overturn it. A single Fourth Mr. can suppress everything.

Xie Weilou sighed softly, “Fine! Since Your Majesty has said so much, I can’t refuse. But let’s be clear, the final decision rests with me.”

In truth, he was also curious about what the Xia Emperor’s so-called game truly was. Given the Xia Emperor’s foresight, the game he set up certainly wouldn’t be some minor affair.

This game was about to surface.

As for the engagement with Yan Ruyu, the Xia Emperor hinted that he could break free from its restraints.

In other words, this was just an engagement and wouldn’t bind him. If he wasn’t interested, he could ignore it when the time came.

“Good! As long as you agree! I won’t sit on this throne for long. Once I leave, you can go to the Qintian Bureau to retrieve that item.”

The Xia Emperor smiled and nodded.

“Understood!”

Xie Weilou bowed to the Xia Emperor.

Not long after.

The news of Xie Weilou’s marriage to Yan Ruyu spread throughout Tianqi City.

“By His Majesty’s decree, Xie Weilou and Princess Yan Ruyu are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. Therefore, Xie Weilou and Yan Ruyu are granted an engagement. The Imperial Preceptor has already divined that the eighteenth of next month is an auspicious day, and the two must complete their marriage as scheduled!”

Eunuch Huang, holding the imperial edict, personally went to the Zhenxi Marquis Manor and the Princess’s Residence to announce the decree.

“Have you heard? Marquis Zhenxi is getting married to the Princess?”

“I think this is perfect. Xie Weilou saw the Princess bathing, and now he’s going to marry her. Isn’t that great?”

“If it were the old Xie Weilou, I’d say he wasn’t worthy of the Princess, but the current Xie Weilou is the Marquis Zhenxi and a formidable character. He and the Princess are a perfect match.”

“I heard some rumors before, so hearing this now, I’m not surprised at all.”

In Tianqi City, this matter was being discussed in every street and alley. Some things, once rumored, become true.

From the initial rumors to the actual announcement, it had subtly permeated, and no one felt anything out of the ordinary.

——————

Lin Manor.

Lin Qinghuang had returned and was sitting on a stone stool, sipping fragrant tea.

Xie Weilou entered the courtyard with a lazy expression. He looked at Lin Qinghuang, his eyes lighting up, “Oh! My Lin Qinghuang has advanced to the mid-Profound Manifestation Realm! That’s impressive!”

Qinghuang smiled softly, “The trip to Eastern Zhou had some gains.”

Her Profound Manifestation was unique, and it wasn’t easy to break through. Being able to break through a minor realm this time was already very good.

Looking at Xie Weilou, he also seemed to have made a breakthrough, which was perfect.

“……”

Xie Weilou sat beside Lin Qinghuang, picked up a teacup, poured himself some fragrant tea, and slowly took a sip.

Lin Qinghuang smiled and said, “Your engagement with Yan Ruyu, did you agree to it personally?”

Xie Weilou nodded slightly, “Yes! There’s the Xia Emperor’s calculation in this, and I also want to see what he intends to do.”

Lin Qinghuang whispered, “It’s just an engagement; it can’t bind you, nor can it bind Yan Ruyu. I’m starting to vaguely guess what the Xia Emperor wants to do.”

“Oh?”

Xie Weilou looked at Lin Qinghuang.

Lin Qinghuang kept him in suspense, smiling, “Next month, the result will be known.”

Yan Ruyu couldn’t possibly agree to this engagement, yet the Xia Emperor wanted to announce it. There could only be one purpose: not to bind Yan Ruyu, but rather to allow her to break free from restraints.

Great Xia was inherently a set of shackles, especially for those of the Imperial Family, where the shackles were even heavier.

Perhaps the Xia Emperor had high expectations for Yan Ruyu and wanted her to walk a broader path!

“Then let’s wait and see!”

Xie Weilou smiled indifferently, not paying too much attention to the matter.

He couldn’t truly fulfill the engagement, and Yan Ruyu couldn’t marry him.

As for the final outcome, they would just have to wait and see; the answer would be known soon enough.

Xie Weilou glanced at Lin Qinghuang’s beautiful legs and chuckled, “Lin Qinghuang, it’s been a while, and our feelings have grown a bit distant. How about I touch your beautiful leg to strengthen our bond?”

“Touch your own.”

Qinghuang rolled her eyes and continued to sip her fragrant tea.

She seemed to have thought of something.

She then said, “What do you think of my Lin Manor?”

Xie Weilou said, “It’s quite nice.”

A smile appeared on Lin Qinghuang’s face, “I’ll give it to you then!”

Xie Weilou immediately felt bored. He sighed, “The more you talk, the more disheartening it gets.”

After a cup of tea.

Lin Qinghuang put down her teacup, “Wait a moment, I’ll go get something to eat.”

“Okay!”

Xie Weilou smiled and nodded.

On the other side.

The Princess’s Residence.

“The engagement…”

Yan Ruyu stood by the window, her face deep in thought. The thing she had worried about had still happened.

Marrying her to Xie Weilou?

Only over her dead body!

“Your Royal Highness, what should we do next?”

The maid asked in a low voice.

If it were before, she might have dared to say something about killing Xie Weilou, but now, she didn’t have the confidence to say such a thing.

Yan Ruyu came back to her senses and said calmly, “Let’s wait and see; the result will be known in a month!”

She had already thought of a fallback plan; West Chu was her escape route. Nightingale had returned to West Chu, and everything that needed to be prepared must have been ready. She only needed to go there and could take over everything.

Now it depended on whether that opportunity would arise within a month. If it did, she would naturally fight for it.

As for that marriage, to hell with it!

——————

Next month.

The third day.

Imperial Palace, Imperial Garden.

Fine wine and delicacies were prepared. The Xia Emperor summoned the Empress and many concubines to share the wine and food. All the surrounding guards had dispersed.

The Xia Emperor, dressed in a dragon robe, raised his wine cup, looked at Dugu Buzheng and the others, and whispered, “My dear consorts, My health is deteriorating day by day, and I’ve been extremely fatigued recently. I plan to go out for a stroll. Is there anyone among you who wishes to accompany me?”

“……”

Dugu Buzheng and the others fell silent upon hearing this.

During this period, the Xia Emperor had gradually relinquished power. They had already sensed the subtle shifts in the court’s situation, and a struggle for power was certainly imminent.

At this critical juncture, it was the perfect opportunity for their children to compete. If they stood behind them, they could significantly increase their children’s chances.

Conversely, if they followed the Xia Emperor out for a stroll, they would miss a golden opportunity!

Dugu Buzheng instinctively asked, “Where does Your Majesty plan to stroll? And for how long?”

The Xia Emperor chuckled, “I want to go to the southern regions and recuperate there for three to five months…”