Free Web NovelChapter 131: Chapter 131: How Could It Be Her?
Shen Daoxing and the Ninth Princess walked through the palace in silence. Without a word, they moved forward together in a shared, unspoken understanding.
The Ninth Princess knew Shen Daoxing was about to marry Princess Anyun.
Still, just being able to quietly walk by Shen Daoxing’s side for a while longer was enough to make her content.
Worried for her safety, Shen Daoxing stayed with the Ninth Princess all the way back to Hening Palace.
TAP TAP TAP TAP!
Just then, they heard the sound of hurried footsteps.
Shen Daoxing turned toward the sound and saw Eunuch Li hurrying over from a short distance away.
"Your Highness, the Ninth Princess, His Majesty has an important matter to announce. He requests that all the princes and princesses proceed to Jingxin Hall."
Eunuch Li bowed deeply before the Ninth Princess.
Then, he turned to Shen Daoxing. "Young Master Shen, His Majesty has requested that you attend as well."
The Ninth Princess guessed what her Father-Emperor was about to announce. Though she had prepared herself, she still felt a pang of disappointment.
In the end, the Ninth Princess followed Eunuch Li away, her expression utterly dejected.
By the time the two of them reached Jingxin Hall, all the other princes and princesses were already gathered in the great hall.
A gracefully curvaceous woman stood smiling at the entrance, waiting for them.
"Your Highness, the Eldest Princess!"
"Aunt!"
Shen Daoxing and the Ninth Princess went forward and bowed respectfully.
"Today is a joyous occasion. Weiya, why do you look so glum?"
The Eldest Princess looked at the Ninth Princess and smiled meaningfully.
The Ninth Princess glanced at Shen Daoxing and forced a smile.
Nearby, the Eldest Prince and the Seventh Prince were whispering to each other.
"Eldest Brother, why do you think Father-Emperor has summoned us this time?"
The Seventh Prince leaned close to the Eldest Prince and asked quietly.
The Eldest Prince pointed toward the entrance. "Look, Shen Daoxing is here too."
"Why is he here?"
The Seventh Prince glanced at Shen Daoxing at the entrance, and a look of sudden realization crossed his face. "Don’t tell me Father-Emperor is planning to announce Shen Daoxing’s identity as his illegitimate son today?"
It turned out the two still mistakenly believed Shen Daoxing was the Martial Kingdom Emperor’s illegitimate son.
"But I heard Father-Emperor is going to betroth Princess Anyun to him,"
the Second Prince said as he slowly stepped out from nearby.
The Eldest Prince and the Seventh Prince exchanged a stunned, utterly bewildered glance.
Nearby, the Second Prince turned to look at Shen Daoxing by the entrance, his expression complex. He had once been the most likely candidate to obtain the Dragon Vein, yet he never imagined it would ultimately choose an outsider.
’But it’s precisely because Shen Daoxing is an outsider that I still have a chance.’
"Hmph! I will never marry that Shen Daoxing!"
Princess Anyun stepped forward indignantly, shooting a look of disgust toward Shen Daoxing at the entrance.
"My husband can only be a one-in-a-million talent! Only a genius like Xia Junze is worthy of me!"
Princess Anyun declared arrogantly.
Hearing Princess Anyun’s words, the Eldest, Seventh, and Second Princes exchanged an odd glance.
Finally, the Eldest Prince spoke slowly. "Eighth Sister, that one-in-a-million genius you mentioned, Xia Junze... he died at Shen Daoxing’s hands in the Trial Land."
"What!"
Princess Anyun froze, staring at Shen Daoxing in disbelief. ’Could I have truly misjudged him?’
The events in the Trial Land involved the secret of the Dragon Vein, so the Martial Kingdom’s emperor had not made them public. Since Princess Anyun had not participated in the Dragon Vein Trial, she was unaware of what had happened.
"Hmph, so what? Regardless, I will not marry that country bumpkin!"
Princess Anyun said this to save face, but inwardly, her resolve was already starting to waver.
At this moment, Eunuch Li slowly walked to the center of the great hall, holding an imperial edict in his hand.
The crowd immediately fell silent, holding their breath in anticipation.
Princess Anyun suddenly felt that perhaps marrying Shen Daoxing wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Eunuch Li opened the imperial edict and solemnly read it aloud.
By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
We have learned that the Sword Institute disciple, Shen Daoxing, is a heaven-sent prodigy, a peerless talent in the kingdom, and a man of outstanding character and appearance. We are greatly pleased by this news.
The Ninth Princess has now come of age and is ready for marriage. It is time to select a worthy husband to be her match.
Given that Shen Daoxing is yet unwed, he and the Ninth Princess are a match made in heaven. To bless this union and ensure their happiness, We hereby decree this marriage, an expression of Our most sincere wishes.
By Imperial Decree.
’What? It’s not me?’
However, when Eunuch Li announced the Ninth Princess’s name, Princess Anyun froze in place. She felt utterly humiliated, as if she’d been dealt a vicious slap in the face.
Though she had been vehemently against marrying Shen Daoxing just moments before, hearing that it wasn’t her after all, Princess Anyun couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment.
’On what grounds? Why that ugly hag? How am I in any way inferior to her?’
People truly are strange creatures.
While Princess Anyun reeled in shock,
the Ninth Princess stood rooted to the spot, a dazed expression on her face. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard, certain she must have misheard.
Seeing this, the Eldest Princess beside her smiled. "What are you still standing there foolishly for?"
The Ninth Princess finally snapped out of it. She bit her lip and lowered her head, her cheeks flushed with shyness.
"Congratulations! Congratulations!"
The Eldest Prince, the Seventh Prince, and the others came forward one by one to congratulate Shen Daoxing.
Overcome with shyness, the Ninth Princess took the Eldest Princess by the hand and hurried back to Hening Palace.
According to the traditions of the Martial Kingdom, Shen Daoxing and the Ninth Princess would now have to visit the Imperial Mausoleum together to receive the blessings of the Royal Family’s ancestors before selecting an auspicious date for their wedding.
Until then, the two were not permitted to meet.
After accepting the princes’ congratulations, Shen Daoxing left Jingxin Hall and headed straight for the Treasure Pavilion to continue his cultivation. This new development didn’t change his plans in the slightest. ’In his eyes, women were merely an ornament in life; no woman would be allowed to interfere with his cultivation.’
’He didn’t actually have deep feelings for the Ninth Princess. This was, at most, a way to repay his debt to her.’
...
Time passed. A cool breeze drifted through the study in the imperial palace, where the Emperor of the Martial Kingdom sat at his desk, diligently reviewing official reports.
Suddenly, the candlelight on the desk flickered a few times.
A light breeze drifted through the room.
As if materializing from thin air, a withered old man appeared before the Emperor of the Martial Kingdom.
"Ancestor, I thought you were in seclusion. Why have you come out?"
The Emperor of the Martial Kingdom was taken aback by the old man’s sudden appearance.
"Hmph! If I hadn’t come out now, you would have given away our Gu Family’s entire kingdom!"
The withered old man snorted, his voice frigid.
"Ancestor, what do you mean by that?"
The Emperor of the Martial Kingdom looked up, puzzled.
The withered old man did not answer immediately, but instead waved his hand, gesturing for the emperor to give up his seat.
The Emperor of the Martial Kingdom stood up.
The withered old man nonchalantly took the emperor’s seat.
Only then did the withered old man speak, looking down his nose at the emperor. "Tell me, is it true that our Royal Family’s Dragon Vein has fallen into the hands of an outsider named Shen Daoxing?"
The Emperor of the Martial Kingdom nodded.
SLAM!
The withered old man slammed his hand on the desk, which instantly disintegrated into dust. "You fool! How could our Royal Family’s Dragon Vein be handed over to an outsider?!"
The Emperor of the Martial Kingdom paused, then hesitated before speaking. "Ancestor, it was the Dragon Vein’s own cho—"
But before he could finish, the withered old man cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"Say no more! Kill that boy and retrieve the Dragon Vein!"
the withered old man said coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
