Chapter 152: Senior Sister Huang's Strategy
Standing atop the Flying Heaven Pavilion, Thousand Water Commandery Prince stared down at Huang Yanchen, who was standing beside Zhang Ruochen below, a subtle change flickering in his eyes.
A strange thought surfaced in his mind: Could it be that Yanchen had also taken a liking to Zhang Ruochen?
Thousand Water Commandery Prince did not believe for a moment that Prince Huo Xing had truly been killed by Huang Yanchen. He only assumed that Huang Yanchen was deliberately helping Zhang Ruochen out of a tight spot.
Although Thousand Water Commandery Prince doted on Huang Yanchen greatly, he would not allow her to act recklessly. After all, Zhang Ruochen was the champion of the Sword Discussion Assembly, and he had to be the Thirteenth Princess's consort.
An older sister snatching her younger sister's fiancé—what kind of nonsense was that?
Thousand Water Commandery Prince's expression turned stern, a faint golden light radiating from his body. His pupils seemed to transform into two blazing red-gold fireballs as he spoke coldly, "Yanchen, Prince Huo Xing's death has nothing to do with you. It's best you don't get involved."
But Huang Yanchen remained stubborn, standing straight as a tall, graceful lotus, showing no fear. "I killed him myself, so why can't I be involved? Zhang Junior Brother and I were cultivating together at the time when Prince Huo Xing led his troops to kill us. I killed Prince Huo Xing. The Four Directions Commandery Prince didn't dare seek revenge on me, so they shifted all the blame onto Zhang Ruochen. Many people witnessed this with their own eyes. If you investigate, you'll find the truth quickly."
Thousand Water Commandery Prince furrowed his brow slightly. "Huo Ming, Zhang Ruochen, Yanchen Commandery Princess—I permit you three to enter the Flying Heaven Pavilion and explain this matter clearly."
Below, Zhang Ruochen glanced at Huang Yanchen, a grateful look in his eyes. "Thank you, Senior Sister Huang, for helping me out of this."
Huang Yanchen remained as cold as ice, her bright, beautiful eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen. "Do you think this is over? Winning first place in the Sword Discussion Assembly means you must marry the Thirteenth Princess. Otherwise, Father will never let you off. Unless..."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Unless what?"
Huang Yanchen lowered her voice. "Unless you tell Father that your true purpose in coming to Thousand Water Commandery was to propose to him, asking for my hand in marriage."
Zhang Ruochen took a slight step back, eyeing Huang Yanchen warily. "Senior Sister, is there any difference between marrying you and marrying the Thirteenth Princess? If those are my only two choices, I'd rather..."
Seeing Huang Yanchen's icy glare, Zhang Ruochen didn't finish the sentence, not wanting to offend her. After all, she had just helped him out of a jam.
Huang Yanchen said sternly, "I'm trying to save you. Don't be ungrateful. Haven't you seen Father's intentions yet? He wants to pull you into the royal clan of Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom. If you dare refuse him, he'll definitely crush you in the cradle. Besides, do you really think I want to marry you? I'm only doing this because we have some mutual regard, and I've decided to help you once."
Zhang Ruochen thought it over and found some truth in Huang Yanchen's words.
"How aloof and proud is Senior Sister Huang? And she hates me to the bone—there's no way she actually wants to marry me. Could she really just be trying to help me escape this predicament?"
Zhang Ruochen couldn't think of any other motive Huang Yanchen might have. At the very least, given the current situation, even if Huang Yanchen wanted to kill him, it would be an easy task.
It all came down to his strength being too weak. If he could become an inner palace disciple of the Martial Market Academy, even Thousand Water Commandery Prince would have to think twice before trying to kill him.
Zhang Ruochen urgently wished to grow stronger in his martial arts cultivation and become an inner palace disciple of the Martial Market Academy as soon as possible.
Having made up his mind, Zhang Ruochen no longer hesitated. He looked at Huang Yanchen and said, "In the future, I will definitely repay this debt, Senior Sister."
A strange light flickered in Huang Yanchen's pupils. Her eyes tilted upward as she said proudly, "It's nothing major. Killing Prince Huo Xing has indeed brought great trouble to Yunwu Commandery Kingdom—that's my responsibility. As for those Four Directions Commandery Kingdoms daring to oppose you, Junior Brother, they've taken how much territory from Yunwu Commandery Kingdom? I'll make them pay back tenfold. Let's go. We'll go to the Flying Heaven Pavilion and pay respects to the King."
In the distance, Xun Guihai watched Huang Yanchen and Zhang Ruochen whispering to each other, a flicker of vigilance rising in his heart.
He didn't believe that the cold, beautiful Yanchen Commandery Princess would take a liking to a new student from the Martial Market Academy. Even if Zhang Ruochen's talent was extraordinary, he was still only at the Mysterious Extreme Middle Position, and a prince from a lower commandery kingdom—how could he possibly match the lofty Yanchen Commandery Princess?
In Xun Guihai's eyes, Zhang Ruochen was still as insignificant as an ant, not worth mentioning.
But Xun Guihai had to be cautious. If Zhang Ruochen managed to win Yanchen Commandery Princess's heart first, he would regret it forever.
"Zhang Ruochen, if you dare compete with me for Yanchen Commandery Princess, I won't let you off," Xun Guihai thought, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes. Watching Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen head toward the Flying Heaven Pavilion, Xun Guihai rose from his seat and followed.
He decided to propose to Thousand Water Commandery Prince right then and there, asking for Yanchen Commandery Princess's hand in marriage.
The Flying Heaven Pavilion had already descended back to the ground, transforming into a purple-gold palace twelve zhang tall. Around the palace stood purple pillars, and flickering inscription patterns flowed across the walls.
The moment Zhang Ruochen stepped into the Flying Heaven Pavilion, he felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him.
The deeper he walked into the hall, the stronger the pressure became. If an ordinary person who had never cultivated true qi tried to enter, they would likely be crushed to the ground by the force.
Inside the Flying Heaven Pavilion, Thousand Water Commandery Prince sat at the highest position, wearing a crown and a golden robe, exuding an aura of majesty and sanctity.
Any ordinary martial artist who saw Thousand Water Commandery Prince would likely think a divine emperor sat before them, and the invisible power radiating from him would force them to their knees.
Besides Thousand Water Commandery Prince, the Ten Powerful Ministers were also present in the Flying Heaven Pavilion, seated on the left and right sides.
At the heads of the left and right rows sat the Left Chancellor and Right Chancellor, representing the two most powerful figures under Thousand Water Commandery Prince.
Minister Ning sat in the third position on the right.
Any one of the eleven people in the Flying Heaven Pavilion could make the entire Thousand Water Commandery Kingdom tremble with a single stomp of their foot, and a single word from them could annihilate a lower commandery kingdom.
Even Huo Ming, a martial artist on the Xuan List with formidable cultivation, found his legs trembling as he entered the Flying Heaven Pavilion. He didn't dare lift his head to look at the Thousand Water Commandery Prince seated above.
"Paying... paying respects to Thousand Water Commandery Prince!" Huo Ming reached the center of the hall, unable to bear the overwhelming pressure any longer. His legs gave way, and he knelt, bowing to Thousand Water Commandery Prince.
Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen both appeared composed, walking side by side past Huo Ming and stopping only nine zhang away from Thousand Water Commandery Prince.
"Paying respects to Thousand Water Commandery Prince!" Zhang Ruochen did not kneel, only cupping his hands in a bow.
"Paying respects to Father." Huang Yanchen stood casually, not even bothering to bow.
Watching the three young talents in the hall, the Ten Powerful Ministers nodded slightly.
Huang Yanchen was Thousand Water Commandery Prince's most beloved daughter, born of the queen, and had been doted on since childhood. Naturally, she felt no fear before her father.
Even the Ten Powerful Ministers had to yield to Huang Yanchen.
Zhang Ruochen, a martial artist at the Mysterious Extreme Middle Position, remained calm and composed before Thousand Water Commandery Prince—a rare sight among young people. His cupped-hand salute was a gesture of respect toward the prince.
In contrast, Huo Ming, whose cultivation had reached the Mysterious Extreme Great Perfection, was far inferior in bearing despite his higher martial arts level.
Thousand Water Commandery Prince's expression was stern. "Who killed Prince Huo Xing? Explain clearly. Huo Ming, since Prince Huo Xing was your younger brother, you should know best who killed him, shouldn't you?"
Thousand Water Commandery Prince's voice rang out like thunderclaps in Huo Ming's ears.
Huo Ming broke out in a cold sweat. Before Thousand Water Commandery Prince, he dared not lie. His voice trembling, he said, "In... in reply to the Commandery Prince, I... I heard my father mention that... that Huo Xing was indeed killed by... by Yanchen Commandery Princess. But... but we have absolutely no complaints. Huo Xing brought it upon himself, not knowing his place. Yanchen Commandery Princess killed him—it was an act of divine justice."
Thousand Water Commandery Prince smiled faintly. "If that's the case, then why did the Four Directions Commandery Prince use avenging Prince Huo Xing as a pretext to attack Yunwu Commandery Kingdom?"
"This... this..."
Under the immense pressure from Thousand Water Commandery Prince, Huo Ming fainted on the spot, his eyes closing as he collapsed in the center of the hall.
Thousand Water Commandery Prince shook his head in disappointment, then turned his gaze to Zhang Ruochen. "Since Prince Huo Xing was killed by Yanchen Commandery Princess, the trouble originated from her. I will certainly give Yunwu Commandery Kingdom an explanation. But today is the Sword Discussion Assembly. You won first place, so you must marry the Thirteenth Princess. There are no excuses. Do you understand?"
Huang Yanchen coughed dryly, signaling Zhang Ruochen with her eyes.
Zhang Ruochen looked up at the seated Thousand Water Commandery Prince, standing tall and composed. "In reply to the Commandery Prince..."
Just then, the Thirteenth Princess hurried in from outside, kneeling before Thousand Water Commandery Prince. Sobbing, she said, "Father, I don't want to marry Zhang Ruochen. Please revoke your order. I'd rather marry a dog than marry him!"
Hearing the Thirteenth Princess's words, Zhang Ruochen let out a long sigh of relief.
Of course, he then realized something was off. What did she mean by "marry a dog rather than marry him"?
Thousand Water Commandery Prince's face turned ashen at the Thirteenth Princess's words. "This is not for you to decide! Before the Sword Discussion Assembly, I already gave you the privilege to screen the candidates first. It was your idea to let Zhang Ruochen participate. Now that Zhang Ruochen has won first place, you must marry him unconditionally. There are no arguments. Do you understand my meaning?"
The Thirteenth Princess had never seen Thousand Water Commandery Prince so stern. A flicker of fear rose in her heart, and she immediately fell silent, not daring to say another word.
If she truly angered Thousand Water Commandery Prince, even as a princess, she would face severe punishment.
Since that was the case, she had no choice but to accept her fate.
"Thousand Water Commandery Prince is too domineering!" Zhang Ruochen thought, looking at the kneeling Thirteenth Princess. "If I refuse him, I won't leave the Flying Heaven Pavilion alive today. Do I really have to use Senior Sister Huang's plan?"
Thousand Water Commandery Prince was in a foul mood, not a trace of a smile on his face. His voice was deep and low, "Zhang Ruochen, have you made your decision?"