174: A sickly beauty princess? The emperor's scheme is rife with cunning!

First, there were the connections; surely Liu Jie's father relied on his own father to do as he pleased!

Second was information.

Where there were Spiritual Veins, where there were precious herbs—all of this was controlled by those at the top.

Wasn't this faster than painstakingly killing people and looting their goods?

Wouldn't his evolution value soar rapidly?

As for the downsides... it was nothing more than being drawn deeper into the whirlpool of power.

Also, what if that Seventh Princess, whom he had never met, looked like a dinosaur or was a spoiled and overbearing shrew?

But on second thought, for a product of the imperial family, the genes shouldn't be too bad.

Besides, for the sake of evolution and becoming stronger, what did sacrificing a little bit of his looks matter?

Ancient emperors had three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines; having one more wife didn't seem like a big deal.

The pros far outweighed the cons!

This deal wasn't a loss!

Having thought it all through, the refusal that Li Qing had been ready to blurt out was forcefully swallowed back down.

He slowly stepped down from the ruins.

Coming before the Emperor of Great Xia, he knelt on one knee and cupped his fists in salute.

“This commoner, Li Qing, thanks Your Majesty for your grand grace!”

His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly spread throughout the entire Martial Arena!

He had accepted the decree!

“Hahaha! Good! Good! Good!”

Seeing this, the Emperor of Great Xia was overjoyed; he personally stepped forward to help Li Qing up and patted him heavily on the shoulder.

“From now on, you are my Consort and the Marquis Wuan of my Great Xia!”

“Li Qing obeys the decree!”

Looking at this scene of fatherly affection and filial piety...

No, this scene of harmony between ruler and subject, the Crown Prince on the Viewing Platform had a look of heartfelt ecstasy on his face!

It was done!

It was completely settled!

From this moment on, Li Qing, this top-tier Prodigy, was tied to him!

Because his seventh sister was his full-blooded sister!

Li Qing was his Brother-in-law!

This bond was even more solid than that of a Guest Elder!

He glanced at his sister beside him, whose face had completely lost its color and whose delicate body was trembling slightly; the smile at the corners of his mouth became increasingly triumphant.

Dear sister, are you surprised?

Is it unexpected?

Meanwhile, Grand Princess Xia Qingyue was currently gripping the armrests of her Phoenix Chair tightly. Within those cold phoenix eyes, there was no more anger or humiliation.

Only a bone-chilling coldness remained, like ten-thousand-year-old ice!

Bestowing a marriage?

Her innocent seventh sister, marrying this man she hated to the core?

Moreover, since the seventh sister was the full sister of her rival, wouldn't Li Qing be completely in the Crown Prince's camp?

Fine!

Very well!

Crown Prince, Li Qing, do you two really think this is a cause for great celebration?

A scheme quietly took shape in her heart.

At this moment, surrounded by countless looks of envy, jealousy, and hate, Li Qing was inwardly complaining wildly.

“Damn it, I feel like I've been played by this old fox.”

He looked at the joyful emperor and felt that this marriage didn't seem as simple as it appeared on the surface.

The Martial Selection came to a close in a way no one could have imagined.

But the storm it brought had only just begun.

Li Qing, Marquis Wuan, Consort of Great Xia.

These three titles, as if they had grown wings, spread to every corner of the Royal Capital within a mere half-day.

The entire Royal Capital was in a total uproar!

As the center of the storm, Li Qing, after politely declining the emperor's royal banquet and the Crown Prince's enthusiastic invitation...

Returned alone to his newly purchased estate—Guanhai Garden.

Just as he stepped through the door, he was startled by the scene before him.

The estate that had been empty was now decorated with lanterns and streamers, with people coming and going in a bustling atmosphere.

Dozens of maidservants and attendants in uniform were busy cleaning the courtyard and arranging the rooms.

The courtyard was also piled high with various congratulatory gifts sent by the major powers of the Royal Capital, a dazzling array that almost formed a small mountain.

“Welcome back to the manor, Marquis!”

Seeing Li Qing return, a middle-aged man who looked like a head Steward hurriedly led a group of servants to greet him, bowing respectfully.

Li Qing's brow furrowed slightly.

He didn't like this clamor.

“Who told you to come?” His voice carried a hint of displeasure.

“In... in response to the Marquis...”

The Steward's heart skipped a beat at Li Qing's gaze, and he quickly explained.

“It... it was His Highness the Crown Prince who sent us. His Highness said that since you now hold a noble status, the manor cannot be without servants to attend to you.”

The Crown Prince again.

Li Qing sighed in his heart.

He knew this was a gesture of goodwill from the Crown Prince.

“I see.” He waved his hand, his voice indifferent.

“You may all leave. Without my orders, no one is permitted to set foot in the back courtyard.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

The Steward didn't dare to disobey in the slightest and hurriedly led the servants away.

The entire Guanhai Garden returned to silence once more.

Li Qing crossed the front courtyard and came to the edge of the cliff in the back courtyard.

He looked at the boundless East Sea and felt the salty sea breeze, and the irritation in his heart gradually subsided.

He now needed some peace and quiet.

Too many things had happened today, and it was too chaotic.

Especially that sudden marriage.

That Seventh Princess he had never met, Xia Ningshuang.

What kind of person was she?

Why was the Old Emperor so eager to marry her to him?

What kind of trickery was hidden in this?

Just as he was pondering, a figure appeared silently behind him.

“Young Master Li, you're in a fine mood for scenery.”

It was Elder Xuan.

“Elder Xuan.” Li Qing turned around and nodded slightly to him.

“Did His Highness the Crown Prince send you?”

“Hehe, His Highness was worried about you being alone.”

Elder Xuan smiled and handed over a Storage Pouch.

“His Highness said these are congratulatory gifts for you, as well as your reward for being the champion of this Martial Selection.”

Li Qing took the Storage Pouch, and as his Divine Thought swept through it, his heart couldn't help but stir.

Inside were exactly three thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, along with a pile of Heaven And Earth Treasures and rare Medicinal Pills emitting startling energy fluctuations.

What a generous hand!

The Spirit Stones for his Clone's evolution were now complete!

It seemed this Crown Prince really considered him one of his own.

Of course, he also knew that the Seventh Princess was the Crown Prince's full sister.

He hadn't expected that after his Transmigration, he would actually become the Brother-in-law of the future emperor!

“Thank His Highness for me.”

Li Qing calmly put away the Storage Pouch.

“You're too kind, Young Master.” Elder Xuan looked at him, the smile on his face becoming somewhat meaningful.

“This old servant knows that you must have doubts regarding His Majesty's bestowed marriage.”

“Please enlighten me, Elder Xuan.” Li Qing got straight to the point.

He knew that Elder Xuan had definitely come for this matter.

“Sigh.” Elder Xuan sighed and slowly said.

“His Majesty's move is both a recruitment and a kind of... entrustment.”

“Entrustment?” Li Qing's brows rose.

“Indeed.” Elder Xuan's eyes became somewhat complex.