Imperial Palace, Phoenix Empire;
Shang Wei was waiting outside the inner quarters with a bunch of guards behind him, not for security but to keep an eye on him.
After waiting there for atleast half an hour, Lin Xue ca out with a eunuch accompanying her.
That usual cold deanor Shang Wei used to see in her was gone and replaced by a blank look on her. She completely seed like soone devoid of emotions.
Even her greeting was like a simple, "hello" without any expression on her face. No one could understand whether she was annoyed, sad, or happy.
Shang Wei inwardly sighed and spoke, "Sister Xue, I want to talk to you about sothing."
"What is it?" She asked.
Shang Wei turned his head, "Can you give us privacy?"
One of the guards replied with a bit of hesitation, "But, his majesty ordered us not to leave our sight on you even for a second. Even the palace is not safe for His Highness."
It wasn't the first ti Shang Wei heard this nonsense during the past few days. He could only co to a bit of compromise and ask, "Then, can you move away? Or does His Majesty also order you to not let even talk to my friend?"
They could only follow his request and slightly increased their distance. As the eunuch also left them alone, Shang Wei then said to Lin Xue who looked like she wasn't interested at all, "Look, I know that this isn't how I want to ask you but it is the only way I can think to protect you. Of course, I also don't want to take advantage of the situation, and I also don't want you to think like…"
"Get to the point," Lin Xue interrupted him in a plain tone.
Shang Wei took a deep breath and grabbed her pale hands, "Will you marry ? I swear that I won't take any concubine or even show remote interest in another lady for all my life. I will protect you as long as…"
"Yes," Lin Xue once again interrupted him but this ti with a positive reply, and surprisingly, she neither retracted her hands from his grip at all. Shang Wei was stunned for a mont and a big smile appeared on his face, "really?" He couldn't even believe his ears for a mont.
"Are you really agreeing to be my wife?" He asked once again in disbelief.
This ti, Lin Xue gave a bit of a long reply, "Yes, but don't ever think I'm going to love you or I'm doing this for my survival. I have discarded my emotions, Your Highness. I'm nothing but a killing machine, right now. So, it doesn't matter who I marry. But, since I'm long aware of your feelings, I will give you a warning.
The mont I believe I gained enough strength, I'm going to leave everything behind and start hunting down the people that are directly or indirectly responsible for my parents death. Those who co in my way will die, even if it is you. Just keep it in your mind if you want to marry ."
Shang Wei felt pain in his heart and that pain reflected in his eyes as he softly spoke, "Lin Xue, I promise that I will be on your side no matter what you do."
Lin Xue didn't have much reaction to it and simply nodded, "Good. You can go and begin your preparations. Now, if you excuse …" She turned around and walked away from there.
anwhile, the leader of those seven guards, who had been watching it from afar but could still hear it clearly due to his high cultivation level (high-6-circle) thought, "His Highness is getting married into Lin Clan? I need to inform Lord Cao."
By the end of the day, the news of their marriage not only reached Shang Jun but also the citizens living in the capital city.
The next day morning;
"Your Highness" "Your Highness, please wake up" "Your Highness, You are being summoned by His Majesty"
The servants woke up Shang Wei in a hurry.
The pri minister of the empire looked very haggard with his reddened eyes and tired-looking face as he was forcefully woke up and got readied.
Shang Wei didn't know why he was summoned but the civil war made him wonder whether there was an urgent situation that required his assistance. Despite being house-arrested, he is still the pri minister and loyal to the throne.
The prince reached the Emperor's study room in a hurry, only to see a dignified-looking stranger sitting opposite Shang Jun while they were having tea.
"Your Majesty." Shang Wei greeted his cousin with a deep bow and observed the stranger.
In the next instant, sweat beads ford on his forehead while his legs shivered a bit. "This fellow has a profound cultivation level, stronger than even Song Tai. My bloodline instincts are telling to run away. He shouldn't be a supre being. Don't tell he is a demigod."
"Pri Minister Shang, this is Saint Fu, the Dragon Empire's forr Imperial Sovereign. He is also the junior brother of Lan Gengxin, your grandfather," Shang Jun introduced the gentleman to a nervous Shang Wei, taking him by surprise.
"Shang Wei greets the elder," The prince cupped his fists as he greeted him with a bow. The fact that the emperor addressed with the title Saint only confird his suspicions. Still, he addressed him as an elder because this person is a junior brother of his grandfather, which makes him more or less the sa as a real granduncle.
However, Fu Sheng had developed a frown on his face, "Hold your tongue, Emperor Shang. He awakened your family's Phoenix bloodline, just like yourself. I hope you don't link him to the Lan Clan or Lord Lan Gengxin for that matter."
Shang Wei doesn't know how to deal with the situation other than staying silent. In front of a demigod, he is nothing more than an insignificant existence.
As a result, Shang Jun could only apologize to Fu Sheng and go directly to the matter, "Anyway, Pri Minister Shang. Saint Fu is here to take away Miss Lin Xue with him. Since you are going to marry her, if you are willing to sacrifice your holand and go with her, I won't stop you from leaving."
"Eh? Lin Xue?" Shang Wei was taken aback. This ti, he couldn't stay silent and fearlessly spoke to the demigod, "I'm sorry but why do you want to take her way?"
"Shang Wei…" Shang Jun hissed at him in urgency, taking a glance at Fu Sheng's face. The demigod didn't seem like he was angry and it relieved the young emperor a little bit.
Shang Jun then took the initiative to give an explanation to Shang Wei, "Saint Fu is a friend of Lu Zhen, and Lady Song Yue is worried about her friend who lost her family. The rebel forces are powerful enough to carry out such assassinations in one night, toppling down the entire imperial city. So, their worries are not unfounded. Along with this, Lu Zhen has another ssage for three other people.
You, Prince Shang Bo, and Supre Commander Bai Xun. The three of you are also invited to live at Western Moon until everything becos normal here. Lu Zhen was supposedly doing this as a way of repaying Uncle Shang Fu and Queen Consort Lan."
Fu Sheng then further added, "However, you have a choice of not taking up this offer too. It doesn't matter. The only one that is of significance is Miss Lin Xue."
Shang Wei stayed silent for a while, seeming as if he was pondering on the offer. But, when he opened his mouth, he responded with a question, "If this matter is actually linked to Lu Zhen and Sister Yue, then, as long as they are convinced that she is safe here, then, you should have no problem with it. Am I correct?"
Fu Sheng briefly stared at him and firmly nodded, "Yes."
Shang Wei turned toward his cousin and knelt while cupping his fists, "Your Majesty, I request you to send as an official envoy to Western Moon. The Western Moon is strong and even if we aren't allies, Lu Zhen is still a businessman who loves money. I can go there on your behalf to hire his services using funds as well as with an official letter of giving up our legitimacy over Western Yan.
We can end the civil war in a jiffy. Since we are paying him, there is no favor we have to fulfill later on, too. It will be like using a tool to beat up our enemies without injuring ourselves. If you give an hour, I can draft a plan that you won't refuse."
Fu Sheng: "…"
Shang Jun: "…"
Reviews
All reviews (0)