Engagement

Anything else?

The gathered ministers were all taken aback.

Marquis White Robe Luo Li had been granted the title of King and territory. By all rights, that should have fulfilled the purpose of this victory banquet. Why was there more?

Only Luo Li, Qian Renxue, and Ning Fengzhi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's leader who had remained silent all along, stirred inwardly. They knew the true focus had arrived.

They all understood clearly that there had to be a reason Xue Ye had so generously honored Luo Li by granting him the title of King and territory.

And that reason was most likely related to what Xue Ye was about to say.

A kindly smile appeared on Xue Ye's aged face, making him seem like an ordinary old man.

He looked at Luo Li and slowly said,

"King Frost Extreme, you are seventeen now, aren't you?"

Hearing Xue Ye's words, the ministers were momentarily dazed.

Their gazes toward the white-robed figure seated below became complicated.

That was right. His brilliance was simply too dazzling, so much so that they had forgotten he was only seventeen!

At seventeen, he had been granted territory and the title of King, already surpassing the highest rank of minister. How terrifying was that?

"Yes, Your Majesty." Luo Li nodded slightly, feeling puzzled. He did not understand what Xue Ye was plotting.

Xue Ye soon revealed his purpose.

He seemed to sigh with feeling.

"Seventeen. Seventeen is a fine age. It is time to start a family and establish oneself."

"King Frost Extreme, you have already established yourself. Have you considered starting a family?"

Luo Li paused, roughly guessing Xue Ye's intention.

He set down his wine cup and softly replied, "Your Majesty, I have not considered such matters for the time being."

Yet Xue Ye smiled and shook his head. "How can that do? King Frost Extreme has rendered great service to the Empire, but you cannot neglect such an important matter in your own life!"

"How about this? I have a match in mind. What does King Frost Extreme think?"

Xue Ye's gaze fell upon Princess Xue Ke, who was seated among Qian Renxue's group at the banquet.

Feeling her father's gaze and recalling Xue Ye's earlier words, Xue Ke could not help forming a guess.

A flush immediately spread across her snowy-white face.

It couldn't be that, could it...

Xue Ke lowered her head, her heart pounding, yet she could not suppress the anticipation in her heart.

Xue Ye continued,

"My youngest daughter, Xue Ke, has long admired King Frost Extreme."

"Since King Frost Extreme does not currently have a suitable candidate for marriage, I might as well arrange this match for you."

"If King Frost Extreme does not dislike my daughter, let us set the engagement today."

"What do you say, King Frost Extreme?"

As soon as Xue Ye spoke those words, everyone understood why he had been so generous in granting Marquis White Robe Luo Li territory and the title of King.

So this was his true purpose!

This was the decision Xue Ye had made after receiving news of Luo Li's triumphant return.

Luo Li's military achievements were immense. His merit overshadowing the ruler had already become a fact.

Xue Ye had no way left to restrain him.

Luo Li commanded the White Robe Army and held actual control over nearly a hundred thousand soldiers. Behind him stood the Luo Family, one of the Seven Great Soul Master Families, and he himself was a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse.

Trying to make a move now was no longer possible.

Even if he perfunctorily dealt with Luo Li's rewards this time, what about next time?

Did Xue Ye truly trust that Luo Li was utterly loyal and harbored no other ambitions?

Of course not.

Emperors were naturally suspicious. How could Xue Ye possibly have such naive thoughts?

Thus, he had been extremely troubled.

He had racked his brains over how to deal with Luo Li, this dangerous factor he could no longer restrain and who was already capable of threatening the Xue Family's throne.

In the end, inspiration struck him, and he came up with this idea.

Since he could not restrain him, then he would not restrain him!

Not only would he refrain from doing so, he would even personally push Luo Li completely to the pinnacle of imperial power.

And there was only one condition.

Luo Li would marry Princess Xue Ke.

This would ensure that the Empire's throne remained in the hands of the Xue Family bloodline in the future, rather than relying solely on Princes inheriting it.

If Luo Li married Xue Ke, their children would also carry the Xue Family bloodline.

That way, so long as he made it known that Luo Li would support a child born to him and Xue Ke in inheriting the throne, he would no longer need to impose any obstruction.

Luo Li and Xue Ke had always gotten along well. He did not believe Luo Li had any reason to refuse a proposal that offered nothing but benefits.

Though Xue Ye did not say it outright, he knew Luo Li would certainly understand his meaning.

And that was indeed the case.

The moment Xue Ye spoke, Luo Li had already understood his intentions.

His silver eyes narrowed slightly as Luo Li considered it inwardly.

He knew this was a signal Xue Ye was sending him.

If he agreed, the granting of territory and the title of King would proceed, and the royal family would no longer obstruct or interfere with his affairs.

If he refused, the decree granting him territory and the title of King had already been issued, so Xue Ye could not take it back. However, Xue Ye would certainly remain uneasy, and there would be no shortage of trouble afterward.

Beneath the table, Xue Ke's small hands clenched tightly. Her bright, beautiful eyes were fixed on Luo Li, who sat silently in the seat below.

The gazes of the ministers and Ning Fengzhi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's leader, also gathered upon him.

Everyone in the great hall was waiting for Luo Li's answer.

Xue Ye was in no hurry. He simply watched Luo Li quietly.

Time passed second by second.

About a minute later, Luo Li finally spoke.

"Yes."

Luo Li did not refuse. He accepted Xue Ye's proposal for a marriage alliance.

He did not care much about it.

He and Xue Ke could be considered childhood friends. He held some affection for the girl, and he had seen her feelings for him.

Since that was the case, just as Xue Ye had thought, he had no reason to refuse.

That single, simple word caused a tremendous emotional upheaval among everyone in the hall.

"Good, good!"

A radiant smile appeared on Xue Ye's aged face as he said "good" several times in succession.

"Then I shall draft an edict and announce this joyous occasion to the people of the Empire!"

Luo Li's agreement dispelled the Emperor's final concern, and the great weight in his heart finally fell away.

The corners of Princess Xue Ke's lips, beneath her lowered face, could no longer be kept from lifting.

Just as Xue Ye had said, she had long been deeply enamored of Luo Li.

It was simply that Luo Li was too dazzling. Even as an imperial Princess, she felt inferior to him and had never dared reveal her feelings.

Now that Luo Li had agreed to become engaged to her, Xue Ke's joy was simply beyond imagination.

If the occasion had not been inappropriate, Xue Ke would likely have leaped up in excitement.

Ning Fengzhi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's leader, wore a somewhat helpless expression instead.

He rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on.

Aside from Princess Xue Ke, his own little demon's feelings for Marquis White Robe were not exactly normal either.

Now that Luo Li and Princess Xue Ke were engaged, there was no telling how heartbroken his little demon would be.

He also thought highly of Luo Li and greatly hoped that he and his little demon could end up together. He had planned to discuss the marriage privately later, but he had not expected Xue Ye to act first.

Qian Renxue pressed her red lips together, an indescribably strange feeling stirring in her heart.

She did not know what it was, but it did not feel pleasant.