168: Chapter 168 Clearly... I was the one who started it.

"An imperial marriage decree?"

Chen Shanzhi froze on the spot, feeling as if someone had struck him hard with a blunt club; his head was buzzing.

What was going on?

Why did the current Emperor suddenly grant him a marriage? And with Murong Zhaoling, of all people?

The Chen Family, also known as the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion, had been stationed at the border for years to resist the Demon People, holding significant military power.

As for the Murong Family, they were a noble lineage that had inherited a Legacy of over a thousand years, with even deeper foundations than his own Zhenguo Marquis Mansion.

They held immense influence and military authority at the Barbarian border.

The two of them were the most powerful nobles in the Great Jiang Dynasty, controlling the largest border military forces.

If they truly formed a marriage alliance, it would be a colossal union of power!

Was the current Emperor crazy, or did he think his throne was too secure, that he would actively tie these two families together?

For a moment, Chen Shanzhi felt his intelligence was severely lacking, unable to keep up with the Great Jiang Emperor's train of thought.

However, with this Imperial Decree, Chen Shanzhi suddenly understood something.

No wonder the last time he was invited to the Murong Manor as a guest, Murong Zhaoling, who was usually poised and heroic...

...had shown an indescribable awkwardness and shyness in her every move.

Not only did she personally pour tea for him, but even the way she looked at him was filled with a tender affection that she seemed hesitant to voice.

At the time, he had vainly thought his misplaced charm was simply too great, captivating this heroine among women.

Looking at it now, damn it, his charm really was the only explanation.

Otherwise, he couldn't understand why the Emperor would bestow her upon him, a playboy famous throughout the Capital City.

Thinking of this, Chen Shanzhi instinctively glanced at Tang Xiaowu, who was standing behind Chen Rou with her head bowed.

This explained everything.

No wonder Xiaowu had been hiding in the back just now, her eyes flickering.

She looked exactly like a concubine who hadn't yet entered the household, fearfully watching the expressions of the primary wife.

An imperial marriage decree!

This news had likely already taken flight and spread throughout the Capital City, becoming common knowledge to everyone.

Murong Zhaoling was really going to become Chen Shanzhi's officially wedded primary wife!

Chen Shanzhi's heart couldn't help but start thumping; he felt a bit apprehensive.

Although he had met Murong Zhaoling a few times, and her eye-catching long legs and straightforward personality were very much to his taste...

...ultimately, the two of them still weren't very familiar with each other.

This was a female Dragon who dared to fight in the border armies, cutting people down like vegetables.

If she were married into the Family and used her status as the primary wife to keep him on a tight leash...

...wouldn't his grand "Harem Plan" be declared bankrupt before it even began?

One had to remember, this was an adult game world!

Each of those stunning female leads was tied to an incredibly vast main storyline, and they hid top-tier fortuitous encounters that would make anyone envious!

Publicly, it was to increase his strength to survive in this chaotic world; privately, it was for... cough, cough.

In short, it was absolutely impossible for Chen Shanzhi to give up on these fortuitous encounters!

He swore to the heavens that as a man with a strong career drive, his calculated efforts to get close to those female leads...

...were purely for the encounters and treasures they possessed, definitely not because he lusted after their bodies!

At the thought of the marriage decree, Ouyang Wanqing's exquisite face suddenly popped into Chen Shanzhi's mind.

Just now in the sickroom, before that woman left, she had given him an extremely fierce glare.

In that long illusion just now, the two of them had also been granted a marriage by the Emperor's words at a poetry gathering, subsequently living together in harmony for decades.

He wondered what she would think when she returned to the Prime Ministers Mansion and heard the news of this real-world marriage decree.

Given Ouyang Wanqing's stubborn nature in the illusion...

...if she really hadn't moved on from it, on the day of the wedding, would she come charging in with that Aqua Blue Longsword to snatch the groom?

"Shan'er? Shan'er?"

Seeing Chen Shanzhi staring blankly ahead and not speaking for a long time, Chen Rou reached out her fair hand and waved it in front of his eyes with concern.

Chen Shanzhi suddenly snapped back to his senses.

Turning his head, he saw Murong Zhaoling sitting by the bed; her cheeks, which had been blushing, had now turned somewhat pale.

She pursed her red lips tightly, and a hint of indiscernible disappointment flashed in her eyes that were usually full of spirit.

Seeing Chen Shanzhi finally look at her, Murong Zhaoling took a deep breath, suppressing the gloom in her heart.

Although her voice was a bit strained, her tone was entirely gentle, showing her consideration for Chen Shanzhi:

"If Husband Chen... already has another woman in his heart..."

At this point, Murong Zhaoling turned her head and gave a complex look at Tang Xiaowu, who was standing in the back with her head down and silent.

She bit her lower lip hard, as if she had made a great resolution, and turned back to continue:

"You can tell me directly. I... I will find a way to enter the palace and beg the Emperor to withdraw this imperial marriage decree."

Hearing this, Chen Shanzhi realized he seemed to have caused the beauty to misunderstand!

Did she think his silence just now meant he was unwilling to accept this marriage?

Looking at Murong Zhaoling, who was not only beautiful and powerful but also so reasonable...

...Chen Shanzhi's male chauvinist vanity was instantly satisfied.

He Without any hesitation， He quickly denied it.：

"Miss Murong, you've misunderstood!"

Chen Shanzhi spoke earnestly, shaking his head frantically: "My daze just now was absolutely not because I was unwilling!

You know full well what kind of reputation I, Chen San, have.

I was only worried that you didn't actually like a playboy like me and were only forcing yourself to be with me because the imperial command was hard to disobey and for the sake of the Family's interests.

If that were the case, no matter how rascal I, Chen Shanzhi, am, I couldn't ruin a lady's lifelong happiness!"

These words immediately threw the question back at her, not only resolving the awkwardness but also portraying himself as a responsible rogue.

Sure enough, hearing this, Murong Zhaoling's pale complexion instantly warmed up.

A brilliant flush, like glowing sunset clouds, quickly climbed up her heroic and beautiful face, spreading all the way to her translucent earlobes.

She lowered her head slightly, not daring to look Chen Shanzhi in the eye, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz, yet carrying the unique decisiveness of a heroine:

"Husband Chen worries too much... If I were truly unwilling, even with an Imperial Decree, my Murong Family would certainly not accept it.

The news wouldn't have spread then."

These words were undoubtedly a disguised confession in front of everyone!

Standing nearby, the roast chicken Jiang Feiyu had just picked up fell to the ground again as his eyes widened.

Shen Lingfu gritted her teeth secretly, thinking to herself that this woman with long legs and a large chest was truly skilled.

Meanwhile, Tang Xiaowu, who had been standing silently in the back, felt a mix of emotions listening to their harmonious conversation, as if she had overturned a jar of vinegar.

A feeling that she was actually an outsider instantly surged into her heart.

Clearly... clearly, it was she who was with Chen Shanzhi first!