Could Not Restrain Myself

This time, he left under the pretense of visiting his mentor.

"He's doing well, thank you for your concern, Prime Minister," Evan Xiao replied.

"A lot has happened since you left. General, are you aware of it all?"

Evan Xiao nodded, "I've heard everything from the Imperial Advisor."

Minister Zhuo smiled and asked, "So, General, what do you think about it all?"

"Which aspect are you referring to, Prime Minister?"

"Your marriage, of course."

"Tomorrow, I'll enter the palace and speak with His Majesty. I'm willing to sign a military pledge and help him wipe out the Vermilion Kingdom," Evan Xiao said. "But since my fate is uncertain, it's best not to delay their futures."

"You want to call off the engagement?"

"I never accepted the imperial decree—so how can there be an engagement to call off?"

The Prime Minister raised an eyebrow. "So, General, what brings you here today?"

"I'd like to see Grace."

"Grace, hmm..." The Prime Minister's eyes flickered. "Forgive me for asking, as her father—what do you want to see Grace for, General?"

"I heard her heart meridian was injured. I know a technique for repairing meridians, so I came to help heal her."

"Heh..." The Prime Minister chuckled, then said, "General, Grace has become a Spirit Practitioner with the Celestial Five-Element Root. That... about the understanding we had before..."

Evan Xiao looked at the Prime Minister and asked calmly, "Did we have some sort of understanding?"

The Prime Minister looked a little embarrassed. "Well... Grace was supposed to be your concubine. I agreed because you’re a great benefactor to our Zhu family, and mainly because she wasn’t a Spirit Practitioner. But now, not only is she a Spirit Practitioner, she has the Celestial Five-Element Root..."

"What are you trying to say, Prime Minister?" Evan Xiao asked.

"It was you who saved Grace's grandfather," Minister Zhuo said. "As long as you’re willing, I’ll always be glad to marry Grace to you. But... now that her talent is so outstanding, making her a concubine would be such a waste. So..."

The Prime Minister was truly conflicted.

He didn’t want to go back on his word, but... giving such a talented daughter to someone as a concubine—he just couldn’t accept it.

"Prime Minister, I never agreed to make her my concubine," Evan Xiao said.

"Huh?" Minister Zhuo looked at him.

"Whether she's a Spirit Practitioner or not, I want her as my wife," Evan Xiao said. "I hope you'll agree, Prime Minister."

Minister Zhuo was silent for a moment. "General, do you really want to marry her as your wife?"

"Yes."

"You should think carefully," Minister Zhuo said. "You know Colin Gu is a traitor—he killed his brother, seized the throne, and slaughtered a hundred thousand soldiers. As long as he's alive, my father can never come home! So..."

"So, Prime Minister, you've always wanted to win me over, to join forces and overthrow Colin Gu?"

Such a major topic spoken aloud made Minister Zhuo glance nervously at the door, saying nothing.

"I agree."

"Agree?" Minister Zhuo was momentarily in disbelief.

Evan Xiao nodded. "Grace is already mine. Her father is my father, her grandfather is my grandfather. As your son-in-law, I'll help you fulfill your wishes."

Minister Zhuo's expression instantly became... complicated.

Already his?

Son-in-law?

"What did you say? Grace... she's already yours?"

Evan Xiao replied calmly, "Yes."

"How could you?" Minister Zhuo was furious. His daughter had actually been...

"Sorry, you gave her to me before, and I just... couldn't resist. But rest assured, I, Evan Xiao, swear to heaven—I'll protect her with my life and never let her be harmed."