strokinit Chapter 76 The Emperor's Blessed Marriage
Chapter 76 The Emperor's Blessed Marriage
Wang Dao frowned slightly, wondering what this woman was up to and where this blind confidence came from.
"This is too big a deal, I need to think about it. My small body can't take this kind of stress."
Wang Dao put down his teacup, neither agreeing on the spot nor blocking the way.
"Of course, Seventh Young Master is a cautious person."
Liu Ruyan rose gracefully, straightened her skirt, and the charm she exuded with every move was enough to stir the heart of even a saint.
She turned and walked away, but after taking a couple of steps, she seemed to suddenly remember something, turned back and smiled, a smile that carried a hint of cunning and meaning:
"However, Seventh Young Master had better make a decision soon."
"After all, I'm not the only one eyeing that lucrative opportunity."
"As far as I know, all the major sword sects have already received word of this, especially the Taihao Sword Sect..."
At this point, Liu Ruyan deliberately drew out her words, her eyes glancing almost imperceptibly at Wang Dao's face:
"I heard that Cui Daoning, who is hailed as the greatest swordsmanship prodigy in the Taihao Sword Sect in a thousand years, will also be going, as will your good older brother Wang Ming."
"Seventh Young Master, this is an opportunity not to be missed!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Ruyan stopped and left behind a string of silvery laughter, which, along with the faint fragrance of orchids, gradually disappeared outside the door.
Wang Dao remained seated, expressionless, but a chilling intent was now surging within his once calm eyes.
"Wang Ming..."
He murmured the name softly, and with a slight tightening of his fingers, the exquisite white jade teacup in his hand instantly turned into a pile of dust with a "crack," and the scalding tea flowed down between his fingers.
"This woman is indeed a master at manipulating people's hearts."
She knew that as long as it wasn't a den of thieves or tigers, if Wang Ming appeared there, he, Wang Dao, would definitely have the idea of going there.
"My dear brother, I heard you searched for me extensively in the Hundred Thousand Mountains during the time I was missing."
"How can we not repay such a great kindness?"
……
In the northern border, the news that the seventh young master of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, who had been missing for several months, had returned alive was like a Category 12 hurricane, instantly sweeping across the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.
The first one to jump out was the Hall of Rebirth.
This notorious assassin organization, abandoning its usual shady practices, actually issued a public statement, every word filled with anguish and a cry for justice, accusing Prince Zhenbei, Wang Shengtian, of acting tyrannically and massacring several of their law-abiding strongholds without any evidence, and demanding an explanation from the Prince Zhenbei's government.
These remarks caused an uproar, but were followed by endless ridicule.
Everyone knows what kind of shady business the Hall of Rebirth is, and no one dares to provoke the evil King of Zhenbei.
……
Inside the command tent of the Langxu Mountain camp, which was frozen solid for thousands of miles, the ground heating was burning brightly, but the air was so cold that it felt like it could freeze an ordinary person into an ice sculpture.
Wang Shengtian, dressed in a black casual suit, sat alone behind the commander's desk.
His figure was as tall and straight as a mountain, with a handsome face. When his eyes opened and closed, golden divine light burst forth, scorching and slightly distorting the surrounding void.
Inside the entire tent, there was no other figure besides him.
However, he slowly opened his mouth, his voice deep and majestic, as if he were talking to some unseen being.
"He's back."
As soon as he finished speaking, a previously still shadow on the ground in front of the desk suddenly began to writhe and slowly coalesce into a blurry, blood-red human figure.
A hoarse, dry voice came from within the blood shadow:
"He's been out of our sight for too long."
"In such a long period of time, no one can say for sure whether something uncontrollable has happened to him."
Wang Shengtian picked up a glass of strong liquor from the table, drank it all in one gulp, and a contemptuous smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Just a stray dog whose spirit has been drained and whose spine has been broken."
"Even if there are some extraordinary encounters, how much of a splash can they really make?"
"Don't be careless." The outline of the blood-red figure became clearer, and it could be vaguely seen that it was the appearance of a middle-aged man. "Don't forget, everything we have today comes from him."
"No one can predict whether he can rise again from the brink of despair."
"Bang!"
Wang Shengtian crushed the bronze wine cup in his hand into powder.
The golden flames in his eyes leaped wildly, and a terrifying aura that suppressed heaven and earth suddenly erupted, causing the entire command tent to shake violently.
"If he behaves himself, I might let him live a few more years. But if he really thinks he can get back on his feet..."
Wang Shengtian slowly stood up, and the contemptuous smile on his lips turned sinister and cruel.
"That would be perfect."
"I will personally go back to see if my good son has truly given me a surprise."
"Hehehe..." The crimson figure let out a piercing, eerie laugh, writhing excitedly. "That's truly... another feast to look forward to!"
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, in the Forbidden City, at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
An old eunuch bowed and reported all the intelligence from the northern border in great detail.
On the dragon throne, the Great Zhou Emperor Ji Wudi wore a simple black dragon robe and a twelve-tassel crown. Her face was obscured by a hanging beaded curtain, making it difficult to see clearly. Only her eyes, which seemed to contain the sun, moon and stars, calmly gazed at the void before her.
After listening to all the reports, Ji Wudi remained completely calm. He remained silent for a long time, until the old eunuch's forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, before he slowly spoke and uttered a nonsensical sentence.
"Some beings are born like the blazing sun. Even if they are temporarily obscured by dark clouds, once the clouds are torn apart, their light is unstoppable."
Upon hearing this, the old eunuch bowed even lower, not daring to reply.
Ji Wudi's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne, producing a rhythmic sound. After a moment, the sound stopped abruptly.
"By imperial decree, I hereby bestow upon you the marriage of Wang Dao."
The news of the Emperor's bestowal of marriage spread like wildfire throughout the land, and Wang Dao's name once again came into everyone's view.
Ji Xuankong frowned deeply as he stood in an extremely luxurious mansion.
He was completely baffled. His younger sister, Ji Mingyue, was a top-tier woman in the world in every respect.
No matter how outstanding Wang Dao is, he is definitely not worthy of Ji Mingyue now. He can't understand why his father would make this decision.
The First Princess, swaying the flowers and plants nearby, teased, "That Wang Dao is truly incredibly lucky! Our Mingyue is the most beautiful woman in the Great Zhou Dynasty; countless people are eyeing her!"
"It may not be a good thing. The Prince of Zhenbei already commands a large army and is one of the top warriors in the world. Father's move is probably to restrain the Prince of Zhenbei."
Ji Xuankong's analysis was very logical. He said that while there may be affection within the royal family, the country and its people must take precedence. As a qualified emperor, he would never consider issues from his own personal perspective.
"Our father is a man of great talent and ambition. He has his reasons for doing things this way. We should just do our own jobs well."
Ji Xuankong took a sip of tea and said no more. The Human Emperor was in his prime and it was far too early for him to be vying for power.
The world was in turmoil because of the Emperor's bestowal of a marriage. Undercurrents were flowing among the major powers. Even before the decree was delivered to the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, the world was already in turmoil.
Inside the True Dragon Pavilion, Wang Dao stared wide-eyed at the exquisite, dignified, and impeccable face before him, seriously doubting whether he had misheard.
"What? A marriage bestowed by the Emperor? Me... with Princess Ji Mingyue?"
Wang Dao's voice even changed slightly, which felt even more absurd than when he realized he had suddenly become invincible.
This is simply a fantasy!
What is Wang Dao anyway? He's just a powerless, crippled seventh son of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion who has been ridiculed by the world for over a decade.
Ji Mingyue was the most honored woman in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the apple of the Emperor's eye.
More importantly, he had absolutely no connection with that high and mighty Emperor Lao Deng, and had never even met him. How could he suddenly issue such an absurd imperial edict?
In a flash, a scene flashed through Wang Dao's mind.
Several months ago, just before the news of the discovery of the secret treasure of the Ten Thousand Mountains spread, the aloof and noble princess, who was like a goddess in the moon, did indeed personally visit the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.
At the time, he thought it was just a routine royal visit and didn't think much of it. Now, however, he realizes that it was all very strange.
Wang Dao's gaze instantly sharpened like a knife, suspiciously scanning Zheng Wanqing's exquisite face.
Stared at like that by him, a rare blush appeared on Zheng Wanqing's fair cheeks. She turned her head away somewhat awkwardly and softly scolded him:
"Dao'er, why...why are you looking at me like that?"
"Did the Princess already know?" Wang Dao's gaze was intense, his tone carrying a hint of interrogation.
Zheng Wanqing raised an eyebrow, instantly regaining her composure and poise, and turned to meet Wang Dao's gaze, saying confidently:
"Of course I have no idea! The Emperor's mind is as deep as the ocean; who knows what that old man is thinking?"
Zheng Wanqing sighed softly, then changed the subject: "However, this imperial edict may be a great thing for you."
She paused, her beautiful eyes sparkling with wisdom, and said only five words.
"Leave the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion!"
These five words, like a thunderclap, exploded in Wang Dao's heart.
He instantly understood what she meant.
In fact, ever since he realized Wang Shengtian's almost perverse desire for control, he had been thinking about escaping this huge cage all the time.
But he knew all too well that his every move was under that man's watchful eye. He was in the tiger's den; how easy would it be to escape?
Wang Dao subconsciously glanced around to make sure no one was there before lowering his voice, leaning forward slightly, and asking the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time:
"What kind of person is he... the Prince of Zhenbei?"
A complex smile appeared on Zheng Wanqing's gentle face. She shook her head slightly and said, "He's hiding it too well."
"Dao'er, listen to me, don't confront him unless you're absolutely certain."
As she spoke, her tender eyes gazed at Wang Dao, and she said softly, "If you leave, I'm also planning to go out for a walk. This palace is too stifling."
Wang Dao took a deep breath, his heart involuntarily racing a few times.
He gazed at the stunningly beautiful face so close to his own and asked the question he cared about most, yet dared not ask.
"Why...did you become a princess back then?"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Wanqing was first taken aback, then smiled gently, a smile that carried a hint of relief and self-deprecation:
"What else could it be? It's a family alliance, of course."
"However, that's all there is to it, only the relationship on the surface."
She didn't elaborate, but Wang Dao already understood.
Zheng Wanqing stood up, walked to the window, looked at the sky outside, and her voice carried a hint of anticipation and slyness:
"See you next time, I might surprise you!"
"When the time comes, don't forget that you promised me you would repay me."
Looking at her malicious smile, Wang Dao felt inexplicably uneasy, but more than that, he felt an indescribable flutter in his heart.
He mustered his courage, stood up, walked behind her, and said in a slightly teasing tone:
"Rest assured, a gentleman's word is as good as his bond."
"If I can't meet your demands when the time comes, I'll just... repay you with my body for the rest of my life."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Wanqing slowly turned around. Now, both of them had forgotten about her status as a princess.
She smiled, and in that instant, it seemed as if all the flowers in the courtyard had lost their color.
Her smile was more radiant than a hundred flowers in full bloom, and her alluring figure was revealed in full under the moonlight, breathtakingly beautiful.
She extended a slender, jade-like finger and gently touched Wang Dao's chest, her eyes sparkling with natural allure:
"Okay, you said it yourself."
"You mustn't go back on your word when the time comes."
……
The next day, the sky was bright.
Wang Shengtian returned ahead of schedule before the Emperor's decree had officially arrived.
He sat upright in the main seat, the symbol of the palace hall, his handsome face, which could drive women mad, was now as gloomy as the sky before a storm.
The emperor's decree of marriage abruptly disrupted his plans.
Inside the main hall, Wang Dao, Zheng Wanqing, the second wife Liu Mei, the third wife Ye Ningxiang, and Wang Long, among others, were already waiting.
Wang Shengtian's gaze bypassed everyone else and landed directly on Wang Dao.
This was the first time in so many years that he had looked at his seventh son so intently and without any pretense.
He simply sat there, and the aura around him stirred the void, making the air in the entire main hall thick as mercury and dimming the light, as if an ancient deity had descended upon the place.
"Seventh Brother".
Wang Shengtian spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a terrifying power to suppress everything.
What are your thoughts on the Emperor's bestowal of a marriage?
After many years, when facing his nominal father again, Wang Dao felt an unprecedented pressure.
At this moment, the Xuan Turtle Breath Concealing Technique within his body was activated to its limit, locking all his blood and power deep within his flesh, with only a faint trace of the aura of someone who had just entered the Dragon Spine Realm emanating from his body surface.
He bowed deeply, his posture extremely humble, not even daring to look up into those pale golden eyes.
"Father, it is my honor to be favored by His Majesty the Emperor, and it is also the highest recognition of your merits in guarding the northern border for thousands of years."
"This...is naturally a wonderful thing."
This answer was watertight, putting all the credit on Wang Shengtian, and adopting an extremely humble posture.
Wang Shengtian tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, his pale golden eyes still fixed on Wang Dao, as if trying to see through him completely.
For the first time, the situation spiraled out of his control.
"Oh?" Wang Shengtian drawled, a hint of coldness creeping into his otherwise calm voice. "What if I... don't agree to this marriage?"
Wang Dao felt as if those two burning gazes were about to pierce through his flesh and bones. He lowered his head even further, his voice carrying just the right amount of fear and obedience.
"Marriage has always been arranged by parents and matchmakers."
"I will naturally follow Father's arrangements in everything."
He was like a cowardly teenager who had been terrified and had no opinions of his own, completely surrendering his fate.
Wang Shengtian fell silent. He scrutinized Wang Dao for a long time but could not find the slightest flaw in him.
This son is still the same cowardly and incompetent good-for-nothing. Even if he embarks on the path of cultivation again, he is no different from the one he remembers.
Zheng Wanqing, who was standing to the side, kept her eyes down and remained silent.
She knew very well that at this time, any word she said would only backfire and arouse Wang Shengtian's deeper suspicion.
Just as the eerie silence was about to break everyone's nerves, the Second Madam Liu Mei's charming voice slowly rang out, attempting to break the frozen atmosphere.
"Your Highness, in my humble opinion, it is an extremely joyous occasion that the Seventh Prince has been granted a marriage by His Majesty the Emperor, and is to be united with the Eldest Princess!"
"This is not only a blessing for the seventh prince, but also an honor for our entire Zhenbei Prince's Mansion..."
Before she could finish speaking, a loud announcement came from outside the mansion.
"Imperial edict has arrived!"