Chapter 356: Out of Control (Third Update)

“A political marriage? With whom?”

Elder Zongye froze for a moment, but seeing Situ Xingchen's expression, he suddenly understood.

“With you!?”

Situ Xingchen nodded slightly.

“That is my Father Emperor's intention.”

Elder Zongye was utterly astonished.

The Yaochen Kingdom and the Xingluo Kingdom had not had much interaction previously; why was there suddenly a sudden push for a political marriage?

And they were actually targeting Situ Xingchen!

“What on earth is your Father Emperor thinking? This Rong Jin person has nothing remarkable about him. Moreover, from what you just described, he is narrow-minded and lacks the potential for greatness. He is simply not worthy of you!”

Even if it wasn't Rong Xiu, it should have been some other talented young man, but how could it be Rong Jin!?

Situ Xingchen seemed unconcerned and smiled.

“He is, after all, the Crown Prince of the Yaochen Kingdom. He didn't reach this position without some level of ability; perhaps you have underestimated him. Furthermore, although this matter has not yet been finalized, my Father Emperor is very insistent. He must have his reasons, don't you think?”

“In any case, I do not favor this marriage!”

Elder Zongye snorted coldly.

“If it truly goes through, won't you have to stay in the Yaochen Kingdom from then on? Since that Rong Jin has committed so many absurd acts, it proves he is unfit to shoulder great responsibilities! Although he is still the Crown Prince now, that position may not last long! Xingchen, rest assured, when that brat arrives tomorrow, I will certainly obstruct this marriage! With me here, your Father Emperor won't dare to force you!”

Situ Xingchen's eyes flickered slightly.

“Elder Zongye, Xingchen knows you are doing this for my own good. But the reason I told you so much today is actually... because I hope you can agree to this marriage tomorrow.”

“What!? You really intend to marry that brat Rong Jin?!” Elder Zongye looked at Situ Xingchen in disbelief. “You... you aren't doing this just out of spite because Rong Xiu is marrying someone else, are you?”

Situ Xingchen burst into a chuckle.

“You are overthinking it. How could I do something like that? I truly support this marriage. As you know, not many people were aware of this matter before. If it were announced suddenly, there would certainly be much opposition. But if you can state your position tomorrow and express your agreement, then others certainly won't say much more.”

Elder Zongye held an extremely high status in the Xingluo Kingdom. As long as he spoke, the matter would surely proceed smoothly.

“Xingchen, have you truly thought this through?”

“Yes.”

Looking at Situ Xingchen's determined expression, Elder Zongye couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

“Fine! Since that is the case, I shall agree!”

Situ Xingchen's smile deepened.

“Thank you, Elder Zongye.”

***

Yaochen Kingdom, Imperial Palace.

The night was deep, yet the Empress and Rong Jin were still in the room discussing something.

“You are leaving for the Xingluo Kingdom tomorrow. This political marriage must succeed.” The Empress's expression was very solemn. “This is your best opportunity. Once missed, there is no telling how long you will have to wait.”

Rong Jin nodded. “Your son understands. Please rest assured; I have already exchanged letters with Situ Xingchen. There will be no issues with this matter.”

The Empress relaxed slightly, leaning back into her chair, a trace of a satisfied smile appearing on her face.

“That is good. I thought it would be difficult to find a way to deepen your feelings with her, but I didn't expect it to go so smoothly.”

Rong Jin also smiled, looking quite self-satisfied.

“They say Situ Xingchen is the most dazzling pearl of the Xingluo Kingdom. Since her coming-of-age ceremony, countless people have sought her hand in marriage, yet she has never agreed to any. I originally thought she would be quite difficult to approach, but I didn't expect that after just one letter, she would...”

“Perhaps she already had feelings for you.”

The Empress studied Rong Jin and smiled.

“For a woman, matters of love are the most unpredictable.”

It was said that Situ Xingchen had high standards, but when encountering a "dragon among men" like Rong Jin, it was naturally easy for her heart to be captured.

Rong Jin originally had no special feelings for Situ Xingchen, but having such an exceptionally outstanding beauty favor him naturally greatly satisfied his vanity.

Because of this, his attitude toward this marriage had undergone a massive shift.

He had been somewhat reluctant before, but now, thinking that he would see Situ Xingchen tomorrow and finalize the engagement, he felt a strange sense of anticipation.

“In short, you have done well. Once you arrive, try to finalize this matter as quickly as possible. Once the engagement is set, your position as Crown Prince will be secure.” The Empress let out a long sigh. “That way, even if your Father Emperor finds out about Zhenzhen's matter, we will have a bargaining chip.”

Rong Jin asked with some concern, “Has she still not been found?”

“Not a single trace. It is as if she has completely evaporated from the face of the earth.”

If not for the fact that there was still no movement within the palace, she would have thought Rongzhen was dead.

But clearly, she was not.

Rongzhen had simply been secretly hidden somewhere by someone, and despite their long search, they still hadn't found her.

The Empress didn't even know how she had survived these past days in such constant terror.

Last time, when Emperor Jiawen proposed to go see Rongzhen, he suddenly received a letter from the Xingluo Kingdom, which caused a delay.

And she suspected later that the content of that letter was related to the political marriage.

Because not long after, Emperor Jiawen lifted Rong Jin's house arrest, and his attitude toward him had clearly improved.

“You are leaving tomorrow. Because of this, your Father Emperor even specifically mentioned letting Zhenzhen see you off today, but I stopped him. Your Father Emperor is busy with your matters and Situ Xingchen's, so he cannot attend to Zhenzhen for the time being. However, he is already suspicious; this cannot be hidden for long. As long as you can resolve the marriage quickly, your Father Emperor will weigh the pros and cons and certainly won't do anything to us mother and son.”

Rong Jin nodded.

“Your son understands.”

***

Prince Li's Manor.

Rong Xiu sat in the study, writing something.

Yan Qing and Yu Mo waited by his side.

The light from the eight-cornered glazed lamp reflected upon Rong Xiu's jade-like countenance.

His eyes were lowered, his long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath his eyelids, like a wisp of blue smoke drifting across the bright moonlight—cold and noble.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally stopped his pen.

Both Yan Qing and Yu Mo perked up and looked up.

Rong Xiu picked up what he had written, read it once more, and then placed it upon a clear, lustrous square piece of jade.

The moment the two made contact, a faint phosphorescence suddenly emanated from the square jade.

It turned out that the surface of the square jade was recessed, containing a very shallow pool of water.

The substance dissolved upon contact with the water, transforming into ripples of light upon the water's surface.

A moment later, the light dissipated, the water surface returned to being calm, and it gradually seeped into the interior of the jade, vanishing completely.

At a glance, it seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary piece of jade, with nothing extraordinary about it.

Rong Xiu pushed the object forward and said indifferently

“Send this back.”

Yan Qing stepped forward and carefully picked up the object.

However, at that very moment, he saw a cluster of golden light suddenly appear at the tips of Rong Xiu's fair, long-sleeved fingers!

He cried out in shock

“Master—”

(End of Chapter)