Peace, Su Wan Wants to Marry into the Eastlyn Empire
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"What happened?"
The Emperor jumped up from the dragon throne in shock. The Crown Prince, royal sons, and all the ministers looked terrified as well. Only Ninth Royal Uncle stood calmly in the hall, as if even if the sky fell, it had nothing to do with him. But only he knew that inside, he was unsettled...
What was this about now? Did Serena Feng have another trick up her sleeve? Didn't she say she wouldn't use the same method twice?
Serena Feng did have a backup plan, but this loud boom had nothing to do with her...
The deafening boom interrupted not only Ninth Royal Uncle’s ceremonial greeting, but also the Emperor’s questioning. After what happened this morning, everyone was deeply afraid of any sudden noise, worried that they might be the next Liam Li.
The Emperor had no mood to speak with Ninth Royal Uncle either. He just sat quietly on the dragon throne, waiting for someone below to report what had happened.
When the palace servants finally reported that the loud boom was just a bolt of lightning that struck and killed a plough ox in the outskirts, everyone—including the Emperor—let out a long sigh of relief.
The princes and officials exchanged glances, and for a long time, not one of them said a word.
Say something? What was there to say? Everything that happened today was too bizarre—Liam Li’s death, the auspicious omen over Feng Manor, and now this random bolt of lightning.
No one would believe these events aren’t connected. But if they truly are linked, that’s even more terrifying.
Could Liam Li really have been a demon? Was the land of Feng Manor truly cursed before, dooming the Feng clan to ruin? And what about that plough ox—was it about to become a spirit, only to be smitten by Heaven?
The more everyone thought about it, the more chilled they felt. Each looked to the Emperor, hoping he would decide what to do.
The Emperor sat steadily on the dragon throne, as dignified as ever. But the eunuchs serving nearby saw the exhaustion in his eyes—and the slight tremble in his hands.
That morning, the thunderous explosion in the palace had jolted the Emperor straight out of his dreams.
Good heavens—someone was murdered right under the Emperor’s nose. How could he sleep soundly after that? Investigate! He ordered an immediate investigation. But what did they find?
No outsider had approached Liam Li’s quarters, and nothing out of place was found. In such a large palace, packed with people, only Liam Li was killed—those nearest him were merely injured. How could the Emperor not be afraid? Was Liam Li really a demon?
The Emperor immediately summoned the elderly director of the Imperial Astrologers’ Office and gave him Liam Li’s birth-data, without revealing the name—just asking for a reading of the person’s fate.
The old astrologer studied it for a long time, then frowned and declared: the person tied to this fate had already died half a year ago.
The Emperor was startled, jumping in fright when he heard this.
Half a year ago? The Emperor remembered that Liam Li’s records showed a sudden change in personality half a year ago—from a simple, honest youth to a cunning, crafty man.
The Emperor didn’t say anything out loud, but in his heart, he was convinced: Liam Li must have been a demon. Otherwise, how could he have invented such a weapon as the thunder-blast grenade?
It took the Emperor a long time to recover. He waved the old astrologer away, who quietly withdrew, face unchanged but heart heavy with silent apology to Liam Li: "Don’t blame me. Blame yourself for angering the wrong people. I may be director of the Imperial Astrologers’ Office, but I’m just an ordinary man—I have to think of my son and grandson."
My only son is talented, but without a powerful family’s support, he’ll be nothing but a minor official all his life. To rise high is just a dream.
My beloved granddaughter has a large birthmark on her face. She’s already fourteen—if it can’t be removed, she’ll never marry and will have to become a nun.
All I have to do is say this one thing to the Emperor, and the Wang clan will arrange for my son to enter the bureaucracy, and Miss Feng will remove my granddaughter’s birthmark. Even if I don’t think of myself, I must think of my descendants!"
The old astrologer’s steps were heavy, but his resolve was unshakable.
If you don’t look out for yourself, Heaven and earth will destroy you!
No one else knew it, but because Liam Li died so strangely—and thanks to the astrologer’s one sentence—the Emperor had already decided not to investigate the cause of Liam Li’s death. If he dug too deep and uncovered something terrible, even he might be blamed for using the wrong people.
So when he heard that a bolt of lightning had killed the plough ox, the Emperor was shocked, but also felt a strange sense of relief. He’d found a scapegoat.
The Emperor gave a meaningful look to one of his ministers, who, being clever, immediately started flattering him: declaring the Emperor a Heaven-blessed, virtuous ruler; Heaven’s Fire had already destroyed the demon, and Eastlyn would surely prosper.
The others quickly followed suit, all flattering the Emperor and claiming that the plough ox struck by lightning was the real demon. As for Liam Li, everyone acted as if he had never existed.
Ninth Royal Uncle’s eyes narrowed slightly. He understood that Serena Feng must have set this up, ensuring the Emperor wouldn’t investigate Liam Li’s death.
In fact, if the Emperor was wise, he really shouldn’t investigate Liam Li’s death. Even if he found out the truth, what then? Seek revenge for Liam Li? What a joke—Liam Li was just a weapon. Who would avenge a weapon?
A weapon like Liam Li, falling into the Emperor’s hands, was his fortune. He failed to protect it, but at least it wasn’t snatched by someone else—it was destroyed outright. That was good for everyone.
Because of the lightning-struck ox, the Emperor’s anger toward Ninth Royal Uncle lessened a bit. He only scolded him lightly.
Ninth Royal Uncle stood motionless, not even responding, like a statue. The Emperor soon lost interest and was about to assign him to handle the affairs with Eastlyn, Southern Lyn, and Lyndaria when a eunuch announced: Prince Terrence of Lyndaria, Su Wan of Southern Lyn, and Prince Quentin of Northlyn request an audience.
Well, speak of the devil. The Emperor was annoyed, but couldn’t show it. Before, with the thunder-blast grenades, he had nothing to fear from a three-kingdom alliance. Now things were different—he had to appease the other kingdoms. Looks like the marriage alliance is back on the table.
"Ninth Brother, stay. Everyone else, you may leave." The Emperor looked as if he had aged decades in just one morning; the ambition he’d shown at his birthday was worn down by the endless affairs of state.
Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t need to think to know that Prince Terrence and the others were here to take advantage of the situation. He didn’t care for their schemes, but as Eastlyn’s Ninth Royal Uncle, he couldn’t let them bully Eastlyn in front of him.
The three arrived near lunchtime. The Emperor generously ordered a palace meal for them, and after lunch, invited Prince Terrence, Su Wan, and Prince Quentin for a stroll in the gardens, with Ninth Royal Uncle accompanying.
During the walk, Prince Terrence and Prince Quentin repeatedly probed about Liam Li, but the Emperor skillfully deflected every question. When they brought up marriage alliances, he just laughed and dodged, neither agreeing nor refusing.
As the sun was about to set, the three grew anxious. They knew something had happened in the palace, but couldn’t confirm the details. The Emperor’s tough stance made them suspect that Liam Li might have left behind the method for making thunder-blast grenades.
Prince Terrence and Prince Quentin found no opening, but Su Wan’s eyes flashed with cunning. Using her status as a woman, she looked toward Ninth Royal Uncle and spoke directly: "Your Majesty, I came to Eastlyn on a mission of friendship between our two kingdoms. My Emperor hopes I can remain here to continue the peace—but I’ve been here for days, and you haven’t mentioned it even once. May I ask what Your Majesty means by this?"
She was just short of saying: I, Su Wan, am here by imperial order to marry into Eastlyn. If you don’t arrange it, that’s breaking our alliance—and if that happens, the two kingdoms could go to war...