novelraw Chapter 725 - 705: Bestow Marriage 2
Chapter 725 - 705: Bestow Marriage 2
Lan Ningzhen’s heart surged with a thousand emotions, her clenched fists trembling slightly. She couldn’t tell whether she longed to hear Xie Jue’s refusal or hoped for his agreement. For the first time in her life, she experienced a whirlwind of conflicting feelings, where no answer seemed to truly fulfill her wishes, yet every answer seemed to echo her deepest hopes.
The Beiman King’s hawk-like eyes fixated on Helian Feng with an oppressive intensity characteristic of a seasoned soldier. His icy gaze sharp and displeased, he hoped this lowly youth from Qianling Town would recognize his place and reject the marriage proposal in public, preserving the dignity of the Imperial Family. After all, if word got out that his son was deemed inferior to a mere boy from Qianling Town, how would he bear the humiliation?
Xie Jue cared little for what the Beiman King thought or plotted. His own feelings were as tumultuous as Lan Ningzhen’s. The royal decree of marriage had shattered all their plans—and disrupted his strategic deployments in Beiman. Yet the person before him... Xie Jue’s fingertips trembled imperceptibly as he softly asked, "Regardless of our identities, even if the world condemns us, are you still willing to marry me?"
He wasn’t sure why he asked such a question; the words simply followed the desire in his heart.
"Yes!"
Lan Ningzhen resolutely answered, "Even if the world rejects us, I am willing to walk this path with you for the rest of my life."
The Beiman King’s expression darkened. At this point, there was no retreat. The youth and the Goddess kneeling below would not allow him to backtrack. The marriage was thus finalized. Beyond the couple and those within the Second Prince Manor, few would rejoice over the matter. Even though the Goddess did not marry Dugu Jing, there were plenty of eligible Princes within the Imperial Family for her to wed. After all, it wouldn’t be right for the opportunity to benefit another, and General Lan did not object to the marriage, even thanking the Beiman King for granting it.
Xie Jue’s disaster had been swept beneath the rug of this arranged marriage. Dugu Jing’s gaze was dark as he stared at them—resentful and furious—yet he ultimately said nothing, tacitly acknowledging the arrangement.
During the banquet that followed, Xie Jue sat distracted, drinking wine in solitude. His tolerance for alcohol had always been poor; he rarely touched a drop in the manor, and even if he did, it was never more than a single bowl. His humble status meant that while he benefitted from the Beiman King’s favor, he remained isolated and avoided by others who dared not associate closely with him. Amidst the cold detachment, he quietly drank, his gaze frequently drifting toward Lan Ningzhen.
Lan Ningzhen, gravely injured, was promptly escorted away by General Lan not long after the marriage was decreed.
Xie Jue endured until the banquet concluded. As he departed the Imperial Court with the Second Prince’s family, the Second Prince laughed heartily, "I never expected you and Anning to truly forge a meaningful bond. What happened tonight anyway? Why did Xiao Jiu suddenly clash with Anning?"
"It was a scheme of my own design."
"I knew it!" The Second Prince admired Xie Jue’s cunning, a look of eager anticipation on his face.
Xie Jue said, "The King summoned me to the Imperial Court intending to publicly announce the marriage between the Ninth Prince and Anning, cutting off any prospects between Anning and me. He likely planned to take my life as well but lacked an appropriate pretext. If Anning refused the marriage at court, he could charge me with tarnishing royal dignity and execute me, eradicating future threats. The Ninth Prince couldn’t contain himself and revealed the King’s intentions to us. For self-preservation, I had to orchestrate a confrontation between Anning and the Ninth Prince, ensuring that Anning would be gravely injured by him. In this way, the Ninth Prince, surrounded by witnesses, would find himself unable to defend his actions, effectively nullifying the marriage arrangement. General Lan, unwilling to see his daughter humiliated, would demand justice for her. As for me... that was of no consequence. As long as the marriage between the Ninth Prince and Anning failed, the King would no longer worry that the Lan Family might aide the Great King or Sixth Prince. I never expected the King would grant us a marriage instead."
Xie Jue’s tone was flat, as if he were recounting a trivial matter rather than a dangerous gamble with life-and-death stakes. The Second Prince, however, listened with a tense expression, understanding how a single misstep could have led to catastrophic consequences.
Luckily, Xie Jue had bet correctly.
"Because of Anning and Xiao Jiu’s marriage troubles, Father has been troubled for quite some time. Moving forward, he likely won’t interfere in matters concerning the younger generation anymore. This issue has been resolved, and you’re right—so long as Anning doesn’t marry Xiao Jiu, it benefits our manor. Rest assured, now that you’ve wed Anning, I won’t allow you to suffer unjust treatment." The Second Prince vowed to Xie Jue, "From now on, we are one family. I will treat you with complete sincerity, holding no secrets."
"Thank you, Prince." Xie Jue’s heart sank slightly. He knew the Second Prince trusted him, yet remained cautious of him. This was only natural, as Xie Jue’s time in the Prince Manor had been brief, making it impossible for the Second Prince to disclose everything to a new advisor. Though Xie Jue noticed the concealed strengths the Second Prince kept hidden, he chose not to probe deeper. Impatience would only lead to missteps. With Lan Ningzhen now bound to him, the Second Prince’s trust in Xie Jue would undoubtedly deepen, giving Xie Jue greater leverage to disrupt their plans.
"Was Xiao Jiu’s strike serious? How badly is Anning hurt? Tomorrow, bring gifts and pay a visit to the Lan Family."
"Yes!" Xie Jue readily accepted, eager for the chance to see her.