Son-in-Law

The Holy Empire, the Imperial Palace.

A long-absent hearty laugh echoed from the emperor's study.

"The Dragon of Cathay, the Forbidden Spell Spellcaster, has finally met his end." He waved the letter in his hand and smiled at the children who had come early to hear his admonition. "I thought there was nothing he couldn't do."

When news arrived from the Broken Isles, His Majesty the Emperor was having breakfast. After reading the letter, he happily ate two extra slices of bacon. Nothing is more gratifying than seeing one's enemy's house on fire. He instantly realized the predicament Kang De was facing.

And they decided to do something.

"This Forbidden Spell spellcaster has a grudge against the Empire. I vaguely recall hearing that he wants to kill Alex."

The emperor said this deliberately, then looked at his eldest son standing to the side.

The eldest prince, Alex, was actually the direct planner of the Glittering Sand Incident. He instructed Samuel to attack the Goth delegation, not only to cut off Goth's access to aid, but also because he had designs on Tina.

In fact, Tina has always been sought after and admired by the nobility across the continent. Many noble families consider her the top choice for marriage partners for their children and grandchildren. Even the emperor of the empire has considered the possibility of a marriage alliance. Princess Goth's beauty and wisdom are secondary; the main reason is that many powerful families with sufficient resources have heard of her. As a descendant of Teldrassil, one of the Seven Heroes, Tina is the most special one.

After the Glittering Sand Incident, Tina, under the protection of the Sword Saint Cascading Snow, went to the northern part of the empire to gather volunteer troops and aid Goth. Many nobles also had such ideas, but they were all secretly thwarted or even killed by Tina became increasingly ruthless and decisive, using the military power of Hilmeria. When the news of the great victory in Valentan came, all the schemes and covetousness in the dark corners vanished.

After all, even the most ancient and powerful families cannot withstand the attack of a Forbidden Spell.

While those with ulterior motives were merely deterred by the Forbidden Spell, the feelings and circumstances of the First Prince Alex were undoubtedly far worse.

He had heard of Kang De before the Battle of Valentan and knew that a sudden Cathayan had ruined his plans. He simply ordered a group of followers to search for and kill him, as casually as crushing a fly.

He also downplayed the defeat at Glittering Sand Town at numerous banquets and salons, claiming that the Cathayan Kang De was nothing more than a Joker with some courage, who, despite his hatred for the Empire, posed no threat whatsoever.

As a result, Valentan's forbidden Forbidden Spell felt like they were hitting his face.

During that period, the eldest prince secluded himself at home and refused to see anyone.

The emperor's eldest son was filled with indescribable resentment, panic, confusion, and rage. Who could have imagined that an insignificant ant in Glittering Sand Town could possess such immense power?

He feared his father's disappointment and dissatisfaction more than the hostility and retaliation of the Cathayan.

Not only did he fail to handle the Goth mission properly, but he also brought such a powerful enemy upon the Empire.

At this point, his perception of the Cathayan finally became a reality. Previously, it was only Kang De unilaterally hated and loathed Alex, while the Crown Prince did not take that "Cathay Joker" seriously at all.

Now he finally knows what it means to feel hatred that is etched into one's very bones.

Because he had to meticulously copy the dreadful Valentan Declaration a thousand times, and also copy his previous comments on Kang De ten thousand times.

Each copy of Touhou Eiyashou fueled the raging flames of anger within him.

Every letter written will transform into a vicious curse.

What's even more infuriating is that the entire capital, even the children on the streets, know about the punishment he suffered and his past foolishness. This news must have been spread secretly by his beloved younger siblings.

This incident has cast doubt on his previously assured position as crown prince. His feud with the Cathayan has become public knowledge, causing powerful ministers and nobles to secretly shake their heads in disapproval. Many forces that had previously favored him have become less enthusiastic, while his foolish younger siblings, believing they have a chance, have begun to stir up trouble...

All of this is Kang De's fault.

Therefore, the eldest prince Alex and the Cathayan Kang De were sworn enemies.

Nothing pleased him more than Kang De being humiliated.

The emperor looked at the hatred and pleasure in his eldest son's eyes and smiled to himself.

The eldest son's current awkward situation is entirely his own doing.

Alex, taking advantage of being the eldest son and possessing considerable talent, has become increasingly cunning and shrewd over the years. He even considers himself the future crown prince and has begun to subtly cultivate his power and win over his subordinates. All of this has become increasingly glaring to the emperor, whose temples are gradually turning gray.

So, taking advantage of this opportunity, he gently pushed Alex's accumulated power, which collapsed by half. The other ambitious children, who were being suffocated by their elder brother, also saw an opportunity and began to flatter and fawn over him even more. The arrogant ministers and nobles also realized that the old emperor's power and prestige were still shining brightly and regained their awe of him.

The current situation is the best possible situation.

Of course, he would occasionally help his eldest son who had fallen into a ditch, maintaining a balance among all parties, with constant internal strife, and everyone having to rely on and revere the supreme emperor—that was the best way.

Alex.

He called on his eldest son, "Tell me, what do you see in this?"

The eldest prince's body trembled, then he quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully and obediently, and a genuine smile appeared on his face. The hatred and pleasure in his eyes earlier had disappeared.

Now it is the emperor's test, and he must answer from the perspective of the crown prince.

"Congratulations, Father, may the Empire be blessed." He chuckled. "Your son has seen the weakness and the opportunity."

What weaknesses? What opportunities?

"The weakness is one that Kang De himself exposed: his Forbidden Spell lacked control over their power and were not as omnipotent as imagined, because it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe—this is a strategy to deal with him."

"And what about the opportunity?" the emperor asked expressionlessly. "The opportunity to eliminate him?"

"No," Alex said respectfully, suppressing all his hostility towards Kang De. "It's an opportunity to sow discord between the Cathayan and Goth, and to win him over."

He was answering questions, answering questions from the Crown Prince's exam paper.

"Oh?" The emperor smiled slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Kang De's current situation is truly a case of shooting himself in the foot."

The eldest prince smiled and said, "After the disappearance of the Dragon Clan delegation, he nearly broke with the Goth court. Before and after the grain price war, he was at odds with the Goth nobles. In other words, the honeymoon period between the Cathayan and Goth has come to an end, and what is about to happen will exacerbate the conflict between the two sides."

"Look at what he's done! He provoked the Broken Isles, trying to reclaim his position as the trade hub, and ended up attracting this ancient beast. Now that behemoth wants to raze Distant Harbor to the ground, and Kang De is helpless. Forcibly using Forbidden Spell would unleash a tsunami that would destroy all the cities and towns on the west coast of Goth, so he had no choice but to ask the Empire for help—what would the Goth People think if they knew about this? I think even Princess Tina wouldn't give Kang De a good look, let alone the other Goth People."

The eldest prince said softly, "And this is precisely our opportunity—the power of Forbidden Spell is a vital national treasure; how can it fall into Goth's hands? Only Father Emperor is worthy to wield such a powerful force of our time."

The emperor smiled and said, "But Kang De should hate you very much."

The eldest prince said solemnly, "There is no such thing as eternal hatred in this world. I am willing to do everything possible to gain Kang De's forgiveness. Besides, Kang De has a blood feud with hundreds of thousands of elves, but hasn't it eased up recently for various reasons? In the end, my grudge with him is just a small matter in Glittering Sand Town. For the benefit of Father and the Empire, I am willing to give everything."

At this point, Alex spoke eloquently, his face radiating selflessness.

--Of course, that was just to sound nice. He knew he would never suffer any hardship, and even if Kang De went mad and insisted on killing him, his father would stop him.

After all, in order to appease and win over the Dragon of Cathay, they actually executed the emperor's eldest son as an apology. How could the emperor, who valued his reputation so much, bear such a reputation?

It has no impact on inheritance rights.

Even if Kang De claimed that he absolutely disagreed with becoming the crown prince, his father would not listen to him. Instead, he would oppose him. After all, the fact that the opinion of the Dragon of Cathay could determine the crown prince's succession was something that his father, who valued his reputation so much, could not tolerate.

Besides, upon closer reflection, he really didn't have any deep-seated hatred for Kang De. He had already accepted the shame of copying the book, and that was it. The little incident in Glittering Sand Town was nothing to mention. Look, Kang De didn't die, and Princess Tina didn't die either. Nobody lost anything. What was the big deal? He had been polite, sincere, humble, and made many amends. He would definitely be forgiven.

If we could even gain their support, that would be even better.

The emperor nodded. "Hmm, after copying for so long, you've indeed made some progress."

The eldest prince looked excited. "Thank you for your praise, Father!"

"But you've overlooked one point. What needs to be divided is not just the relationship between Kang De and Goth's families, but something else that I find particularly irritating."

"This... please enlighten me, Father."

The Emperor's voice rose slightly. "Send down the order: our spies planted in Distant Harbor, including those withdrawn from the Broken Isles, must begin spreading the news."

"It's said that Kang De was greedy, wanting to plunder the wealth of the Broken Isles and seize it entirely. He inadvertently released an ancient beast sealed within the Broken Isles, and now that beast is heading towards Distant Harbor. It's all Kang De's fault! Everyone should flee for their lives, because Kang De's Forbidden Spell will not only kill the beast, but the resulting tsunami will also destroy the entire Distant Harbor..."

"This message should be spread throughout the entire Goth coast."

The old emperor paused, then said calmly, "Kang De was too kind to those commoners, so kind that it baffled and made me uncomfortable. He should have recognized the ugly nature of those commoners. He has noble blood and great power, and should be where he belongs, as a nobleman, standing with us."

The intelligence minister and the spy chief, who were waiting in the shadows, bowed and accepted the order.

"Then, inform the newly appointed Ambassador Goth to inform the nobles of Danfeng Lucerne of the news about the Broken Isles, and to meet with Archduke Goth to inform them of the situation and present the Empire's terms."

"Just say that I can activate the Mirror of Firmament Light, dispatch the Radiant Sun Imperial Guard, or even order the Royal Mage Guards to cast a strategic-level joint spell. In short, the great Holy Empire will destroy the invading enemy for Goth."

But Goth had to pay a price.

"I hereby request that Goth formally join the Holy Empire as a duchy, with its military and diplomatic affairs brought under the Empire's control. I will appoint the next Grand Duke. Reknos's second daughter will marry my fifth son; I will send someone to propose marriage. In addition, Goth must pay 60% of its annual tax revenue to the Empire, provide the Empire with no less than 10,000 elite soldiers each year, and give priority to the Empire in all trade. As for the things that Kang De discovered in that underground world at Qilin Cape, I want half of them."

At this point, the emperor revealed a slight smile.

"Then tell Reknos that if he's reluctant, he and his beloved daughter should persuade Kang De to agree to my conditions—if Kang De agrees, I will help Goth free of charge."

His smile grew increasingly smug.

"Then issue instructions to Colonel Henry Baker, ordering him to secretly propose new conditions to Kang De, under strict secrecy, and not to let the elves or the Council's messengers know."

"Tell him that I admire him and am willing to be his friend. The empire will not only help him but also provide him with all the support he needs. Whether he wants to retake Cathay, build a career, or whatever else he desires, I will try my best to satisfy him—as long as he agrees to become my son-in-law."

As soon as the words were spoken, the expressions of the two princesses, who were entitled to stand in the study and listen to the emperor's admonition, changed simultaneously.

The other princes glanced sideways at the two sisters and almost burst out laughing.

The emperor glanced at them discreetly, then said, "Tell him that I have many daughters, all beautiful, no less than Princess Tina. He can choose whichever he likes, or even have them all."

"I only ask for his promise: that he will love my daughter as Princess Tina, respect me as he respects Reknos, and protect my country as he protects Goth. And I promise that my country will treat it with the same love, respect, and support, sworn in the name of our ancestors and the gods."

"Tell him that I am the ruler of the empire and never easily trust others, but with just one promise from the Dragon of Cathay, this agreement will be fulfilled."

"I will give him my full support and ample reward, and I will not be stingy with my words. After he agrees to my proposal, I will grant him the title of Grand Duke and carve out a duchy for him from my empire. That duchy will be more fertile than Goth, with a more pleasant climate, a larger population, and certainly more Goth People Goth. I have only one requirement: the child who inherits this duchy must have my blood flowing through his veins."

"As for the betrothal gifts, I only want 20% of what he found beneath the Qilin Cape, and I won't take it for free—of course, these are secondary. As long as he agrees to my proposal, everything is negotiable."

Upon hearing this, the study fell silent.

The princes and princesses, along with the powerful ministers, remained silent, their eyes lowered, their hearts churning with turmoil—it was truly the first time in their lives that they had seen His Majesty the Emperor so honest.

"You must be wondering why I've never been so generous to you before."

No one dared to speak.

Because if anyone says "I dare not" or "That's not true," they are implicitly admitting that they are the one who finds it strange that the emperor has never been so generous.

"I have no ulterior motives, nor do I intend to go back on my word. If there is a purpose, it is indeed there: I want to leave Kang De's power, secrets, and alchemical skills in the Empire to strengthen our national power."

"The reason you don't receive this kind of treatment..."

The emperor said calmly, "Because you are not worthy."

That's the best thing about being an emperor—you can have your way with anyone you want.

After he finished, he waved his hand and said, "Go on, you two. Get ready, don't look so sad. To be honest, marrying Kang De doesn't necessarily mean you're out of the throne—it depends on your abilities."

As soon as the words were spoken, the two proud daughters of the empire raised their heads in disbelief, their fear and unease instantly transforming into a blazing fire.

They instantly understood their father's meaning.

If Kang De could be transformed into a true imperial man, made entirely for the empire's use and to act in its interests, it would mean that her husband would become the best ally in the struggle for the throne...

The two princesses exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with a cold, menacing light.

The princes, who had almost burst out laughing as they watched their sisters instantly fall out of the competition for the throne, changed their expressions in an instant, their faces showing a mixture of surprise, fear, and calculation.

The emperor gazed upon the diverse faces before him, at this magnificent mime performance.

Very satisfied.

The empire began to act.

Meanwhile, in Tula Xiaye, the Starry Sky Council.

"You stupid idiot!"

"You are!"

"Still denying it! Now is clearly the best time to do Kang De a favor and mend our relationship! We'll have to face that behemoth sooner or later! Why not join forces with Kang De and do him a favor!"

"You fucking want to suck up to Kang De that badly? The Cathayan are the enemy! The enemy! Don't you realize that? He and we can't coexist peacefully! He insulted us, and we're supposed to help him?"

"The situation has changed! Now that behemoth is even threatening our trade and shipping!"

"Look at his face when he rejected us! He's even having an affair with the Phoenix King! Let that behemoth shatter his empire!"

"You're just afraid that Kang De's alchemical weapons will squeeze your family business out of the market!"

"You'd lick Kang De's eggs for the sake of his sugar!"

Fuck you! Take this!

"Damn it! Go to hell!"

Nothing happened at the Arcane Council.

At the Distant Harbor Airport, in the temporary camp, inside the large tent, Kang De opened the Phase Gate and returned.

He slowly exhaled.

"Father, your plan is somewhat insane. I prefer to find a suitable solution in another world..." Horus's voice was tinged with unease, "... it's too unpredictable..."

Kang De nodded and said, "I know that's the last resort, but we still need to be prepared..."

He sighed and said, "Come on, let's reconsider the possibility of Mass Projection. That method is too risky; the consequences of a failure would be too severe. I'm a little scared..."

Just then, the Dragon Girl's voice rang out from outside. "Kang De, you're back? Where did you go? That female elf came looking for you... Hmph."

The tent flap opened, Dragon Girl poked her head in, her face showing some concern. "Are you alright?"

Kang De gently shook his head.

Then, Dairila came in.

The Queen entered the tent, lowered her hood, and turned to gaze at Lily, who had followed her in.

The elf and the dragon stared at each other for a long time, then the Dragon Girl snorted, "For the sake of this matter..."

Then she turned and left, leaving Dairila and Kang De staring at each other.

The Phoenix King whispered, "Kang De, I have something to tell you, don't be angry..."

Seeing the other person's evasive gaze, Kang De sighed softly, "There's no need to feel guilty. You have no obligation to help me. Besides, it's a difficult situation for you too, given your country's position and the constraints imposed by the Silver Moon Council..."

"No, no, no, it's not, it's not..." Dairila's face flushed red, and she turned her head away. "I, I've thought of a way, and, and... Anyway, don't take it seriously, it's just a lie!"

Kang De exclaimed in astonishment, "What?"

The Queen whispered, "I have a way to persuade, or even bypass, the council to directly intervene and deal with that behemoth, but it has to be a performance, a performance..."

She snorted a few times, then scratched her head in frustration, her smooth hair becoming disheveled. "Sigh, never mind, I'll go talk to Princess Tina."

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PS1: Update... Woke up and checked Gamescom, what awesome games are there?