Sheng Yuan-yao didn’t know what a single night could change. Her eyes red, she glared at him, “Don’t lie to me.”

“When have I ever lied to you?”

“You’ve lied to me so many times. When we first met, was there a single word that wasn’t a lie? You damn murderer!”

“That was A-nuo…”

“?” A-nuo poked her head out from the house.

Sheng Yuan-yao caught a glimpse, her face burning slightly. She viciously stomped on Lu Xing-zhou’s foot, “Let go!”

Lu Xing-zhou didn’t let go; instead, he embraced her tightly and whispered, “Some things don’t always go according to my plans, especially the emperor’s thoughts, which can be unpredictable… But I can guarantee I’ll do my best. As for the Jiang family, it’s truly just a collaboration, with no romantic intentions. You can rest assured.”

“I don’t trust you,” Sheng Yuan-yao said bitterly. “With Long-huang, you also acted like you were forced, but what was the reality? What kind of person you are, how could I not know? You rode that dragon more eagerly than anyone!”

Lu Xing-zhou: “…”

The conversation couldn’t continue. Lu Xing-zhou lowered his head and directly sealed her lips.

A-nuo, as if she had expected this, covered the little pig’s eyes and dragged it away.

Sheng Yuan-yao’s eyes were wide open, her hands pressing against his chest, trying to push him away. But as she pushed, her strength gradually faded.

They had kissed many times, but there had always been an excuse.

One time it was a charm spell, another time it was to make a “brother” comfortable.

This seemed to be the first kiss without any reason, in the context of no longer being “brothers,” and confronting their relationship as man and woman.

At this thought, Sheng Yuan-yao’s hands lost their strength, slowly softened, and came to rest around his waist.

She felt a considerable amount of shame. All her previous self-deceiving words and actions had completely collapsed after overhearing him today, and she wondered if Lu Xing-zhou was laughing inside.

But thankfully, Lu Xing-zhou didn’t seem to be laughing. He was very gentle, more gentle than he had ever been before.

Sheng Yuan-yao stared with wide eyes for a long, long time before finally closing them.

After an unknown period, Lu Xing-zhou gently pulled away, holding a somewhat softened Sheng Yuan-yao, and whispered, “Wait for me.”

Sheng Yuan-yao bit her lower lip, didn’t answer, and just ran away.

She had cursed so loudly earlier, she wondered if any neighbors had heard. It was so embarrassing.

So Lu Xing-zhou wasn’t unaware before, he was just pretending to be dead?

That stinky scumbag.

The next day, Lu Xing-zhou went to work, and Sheng Yuan-yao was also in her general’s office, writing the unfinished *Yaoyu Jianwenlu* (Records of Things Seen in the Demon Realm). This time, however, her pen hovered over the paper for a long time without writing a single word.

Her divine ability was active, constantly listening for any movement from Lu Xing-zhou’s side.

He said to wait just one night, that damn liar. It was already early morning, he was at work, and there was no movement yet?

Just as she was thinking this, she saw a eunuch rush into the yamen, “Your Majesty summons Assistant Minister Lu for an audience.”

Lu Xing-zhou paused his meeting with his subordinates, calmly stood up as if he had expected it, “Thank you, Eunuch.”

Sheng Yuan-yao was stunned. Did Lu Xing-zhou predict what the emperor would do?

Little did she know, her father, who was currently in court, was even more anxious than she was. Pei Chu-yun’s father was equally anxious.

The two faced each other in the civil and military ranks, each seeing the “pain in the ass” written in the other’s eyes.

The two old men didn’t say it aloud, but they had secretly begun to compete, each viewing the other’s daughter as a rival for their own. Otherwise, why would old Sheng have repeatedly urged his daughter to do this and that, and why would Pei Qing-yan have invited Lu Xing-zhou to dinner? It was all out of fear that the other would get ahead.

But today in court, that son of a bitch Huo Xing-yuan, for some unknown reason, openly proposed that Lu Xing-zhou had already established himself, was of marriageable age, and should not be discussed by ministers regarding whether he had been “squeezed” by Long-huang or not…

Damn it, is this something you can openly discuss in court?

Which minister’s establishment of a career and discussion of marriage is brought up in a court deliberation? Are you crazy?

Yet, Huo Xing-yuan brought it up, and everyone knew he at least had the qualification to do so, being a “father.” He was probably trying to reconcile with Lu Xing-zhou and play the good guy.

But what good guy do you need to be? Does Lu Xing-zhou even acknowledge you? Won’t he be even more annoyed?

Huo Xing-yuan hadn’t even finished speaking when Pei Qing-yan directly stepped forward to object, “Your Majesty, Lu Xing-zhou is not a royal relative. How can his marriage be discussed in court? If Zhenyuan Hou truly cares for the young man, he should discuss it behind closed doors. Bringing it to court makes state affairs seem like child’s play!”

Sheng Qing-feng secretly gave a thumbs-up.

Old Pei is reliable!

Huo Xing-yuan leisurely said, “Prime Minister Pei, are you unaware of the widespread rumors about Lu Xing-zhou and Long-huang’s relationship? Whether this matter is true or just idle gossip, we should not let a young minister be subjected to such discussions. We should quell public opinion. Bestowing a marriage upon Lu Xing-zhou would both silence the gossip and cut off the hope of the Demon Emperor, killing two birds with one stone.”

Sheng Qing-feng stepped forward, “Street rumors, why take them seriously? The streets also say that Zhenyuan Hou beat his concubine’s son to death, yet Zhenyuan Hou hasn’t cared about it for so many years.”

Huo Xing-yuan’s old face didn’t even blush, “This proposal is also related to that, showing that this Hou is not entirely unconcerned.”

Pei Qing-yan said calmly, “Does the person concerned know? Zhenyuan Hou should not act on his own.”

“Enough, what are you arguing about?” Gu Zhan-ting called from the throne, “Since that’s the case, summon the person concerned to ask.”

Pei Qing-yan’s heart skipped a beat. He exchanged glances with Sheng Qing-feng, both muttering “not good.”

You’re actually summoning the person concerned for such a trivial matter. It seems the emperor really intends to bestow a marriage; otherwise, he would have directly reprimanded Huo Xing-yuan for messing around.

What’s going on? Why is there no hint of this at all?

Before long, Lu Xing-zhou entered the hall, bowed deeply, and saluted, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Gu Zhan-ting said, “Lu Xing-zhou, Zhenyuan Hou intends to arrange a marriage for you. What is your opinion?”

Lu Xing-zhou said, “That depends on whose family’s marriage it is.”

Lu Xing-zhou was certain of two things from the start:

Firstly, Huo Xing-yuan wouldn’t antagonize him, Lu Xing-zhou, for a Jiang Yuan whom he didn’t particularly desire. On the contrary, he would be very happy to use this matter to “ease relations,” a win-win situation.

Secondly, as long as he and Gu Zhan-ting were not “family,” Huo Xing-yuan couldn’t directly push Jiang Yuan onto him. To do so, he would first have to involve Shen Tang. Involving Shen Tang would also allow Lu Xing-zhou to “bury the hatchet,” and the Huo family would then leap to become the imperial in-laws. Huo Xing-yuan would definitely spare no effort to promote this matter.

Since it involved a princess’s marriage, it genuinely wasn’t something to be discussed behind closed doors; there was a high probability it would be discussed openly in court.

Indeed, everything proceeded as he had guessed, and Huo Xing-yuan was even more eager than he was.

However, Gu Zhan-ting’s thoughts were hard to predict. He might not want him to marry Shen Tang—he had given him a platform to build power and bestowed the title of Danxia, his original intention should have been to deliberately alienate him and Shen Tang, wanting to create a rift between them, so it was unlikely he would change his mind just because Huo Xing-yuan said a few words.

These things weren’t certain; it depended on Gu Zhan-ting’s specific thoughts. The emperor had always been somewhat contradictory on issues concerning his daughter; it was hard to say whether he truly wanted to bestow a good marriage.

But there was still a high probability of some trickery.

Huo Xing-yuan was saying, “Does Xing-zhou himself have a preferred candidate?”

Lu Xing-zhou smiled, “If I like her, then it’s acceptable?”

Huo Xing-yuan said, “Xing-zhou is a charming man, a fifth-rank official at a young age, controlling a department, with boundless prospects. Which lady would refuse?”

“That’s hard to say…” Lu Xing-zhou said, “Since it’s being discussed in court, at least His Majesty must agree, right?”

Gu Zhan-ting, seeing the young man’s little scheme, said calmly, “Speak.”

Lu Xing-zhou bowed deeply, “When this humble subject was on Danxia Mountain, I fell in love with Shen Tang, the Sect Master of Tianxing Jianzong, and wish to be husband and wife.”

The court erupted in gasps.

The public didn’t know Shen Tang’s identity, but that was the public. How many of those qualified to stand in court didn’t know? The ministers who had just thought discussing Lu Xing-zhou’s marriage here was inexplicable now understood everything. No problem, it should be discussed here.

This young man wanted to marry the princess!

Only Pei Qing-yan and Sheng Qing-feng’s faces were as black as the bottom of a pot.

If you let Lu Xing-zhou speak for himself, he could only name Shen Tang, otherwise, he would be ungrateful and disloyal.

But something was wrong… Logically, Gu Zhan-ting wouldn’t easily agree to such a thing. They were all old foxes, who didn’t know that Gu Zhan-ting intended for Lu Xing-zhou to establish his own power? Just a few days ago, Pei Qing-yan was still discussing this with his son! How did it turn into a marriage?

Then they heard Gu Zhan-ting say, “Shen Tang is merely a third-rank sect master of the Sword Sect, residing in the countryside. Your prospects, dear minister, are boundless, and I fear you two are not a suitable match.”

Everyone looked sideways.

Are you serious? Your daughter isn’t worthy… Uh, no, this was the first time Gu Zhan-ting publicly distanced himself from Shen Tang’s identity.

It meant that if the young couple wanted to be together, they could, provided she renounced her princess status and her right to inherit the throne.

Lu Xing-zhou also showed a hint of anger in his eyes. He had originally intended to make a public move, but this old man was so merciless in distancing himself.

But it didn’t matter. At least he had established her presence, and those present were not ordinary people; they should understand perfectly. If you, Gu Zhan-ting, don’t acknowledge her, that’s fine. Someone will acknowledge her when you’re dead.

So he replied very calmly, “As long as it is her, no matter what her identity, be she a princess or a beggar, Lu Xing-zhou is determined to marry her.”

Imperial Censor Xiao Ting and others showed joyful expressions, already drafting in their minds the reports they would send home to Shen Tang.

Gu Zhan-ting then said, “You think so, but what about her?”

Lu Xing-zhou stated firmly, “She is naturally willing.”

Gu Zhan-ting finally revealed a faint smile, “Since that is the case, I grant your request and bestow Shen Tang, the Sect Master of Tianxing Jianzong, to be your wife. Do you have anything else to propose?”

Lu Xing-zhou said calmly, “Then this subject truly will propose something.”

“Speak.”

“This subject, along with Pei Xiang’s daughter Chu-yun and Sheng Shou-zuo’s daughter Yuan-yao, have all stood shoulder to shoulder and faced hardships together. Our affections are inseparable, and I wish to seek them both as wives.”

The court buzzed with murmurs. Gu Zhan-ting looked stunned, while Pei Qing-yan and Sheng Qing-feng remained expressionless.

Huo Xing-yuan hadn’t expected Lu Xing-zhou to pull such a stunt. His mouth hung half-open for a long time.

Damn it, you just asked to marry the princess, and then immediately turn around and want to marry two more? Do you think the emperor doesn’t care about his reputation? How can there be a *fuma* (imperial son-in-law) who can have a harem?

And do you think Pei Qing-yan and Sheng Qing-feng don’t care about their reputation?

These are all top-tier powerful figures. You want them to marry all their daughters to you? Who are you to be so arrogant!

But Gu Zhan-ting quickly reacted, secretly realizing that this young man wasn’t stupid; he came prepared.

Hadn’t he just distanced himself from the princess’s identity? Then there was no way to accuse Lu Xing-zhou of disrespecting the royal family. He had called her “a mere third-rank sect master from the countryside,” so what business was it of Gu Zhan-ting’s if Lu Xing-zhou wanted to marry a few more?

As long as the Pei family and the Sheng family were willing, the matter was settled!

Pei Qing-yan and Sheng Qing-feng also came to their senses. The two old foxes were both stunned. What now?

Refuse?

Would their daughters fight them to the death when they got home?

Agree?

In broad daylight, where would their reputation go?

Just then, a voice announced from outside the hall, “The Grand Tutor seeks an audience.”

The two old foxes simultaneously let out a long sigh of relief. Perfect timing!