The Crown Prince Chooses a Consort, Xue Ke Departs

Heaven Dou City, Prince's Mansion.

Looking at the mountain of documents piled atop his desk, Xue Qinghe felt exceedingly irritated.

Yet what drove Xue Qinghe the most insane were those files containing portraits and detailed information on noblewomen from the various duchies.

Over the past month, after each morning court session, Emperor Xue Ye had often summoned Xue Qinghe alone to the study to ask him about selecting a consort.

"Qinghe, how have your considerations been going lately? Have you taken a fancy to any young lady?"

"When I was your age, I already had wives and concubines aplenty. Why do you still not know how to hurry up?"

"I know you toil every day over state affairs, but as the Crown Prince of a nation and the future Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, you also bear the responsibility of continuing the royal bloodline!"

"Xue Ke has also told me: cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world. Only by first cultivating oneself and regulating one's family can one govern the state and bring peace to the world in the future!"

Xue Qinghe: Sister, thank you so much!

At that moment, Xue Qinghe paced back and forth through the study with his hands clasped behind his back, thoroughly vexed.

"Your Highness, Princess Xue Ke is here to see you!"

"Bring her to my study!"

Before long, Xue Ke's crisp voice drifted in.

"Brother, I'm here!"

Xue Ke found a seat, sat down, and poured herself a cup of tea.

"Brother, I'm leaving for the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow. I came today to say goodbye."

After closing the door, Xue Qinghe came over and sat beside Xue Ke.

"Xiao Ke, what do you think I should do? Xue Ye has been constantly pressuring me to choose a consort lately. It's giving me a splitting headache," Xue Qinghe complained.

Xue Ke raised a brow and said with a mischievous smile, "Then choose one! Is there any woman you fancy? Want your little sister to help you judge her?"

"Don't be ridiculous! At a time like this, stop making fun of me." Xue Qinghe sighed helplessly.

"You know my situation. If I really married a Crown Princess, wouldn't my identity be exposed?"

"I can't take it anymore, hahaha..." Seeing Xue Qinghe's troubled expression, Xue Ke burst into unrestrained laughter.

Xue Qinghe glared fiercely at the gloating Xue Ke, grabbed her by the neck with both hands, and said through gritted teeth, "You just want to see me make a fool of myself, don't you? You think this is fun, right? Huh? Hurry up and help me think of something!"

With Xue Qinghe gripping her by the throat of fate, Xue Ke gradually stopped laughing. Seeing this, Xue Qinghe released his hands as well.

"Isn't this simple? Spirit Hall must have its own people in every duchy. Just choose the daughter of a noble who has pledged allegiance to Spirit Hall as your Crown Princess. Then you won't have to worry about your identity being exposed!" Xue Ke said with a smile.

"This... I've thought of that too. But... I still feel strangely uncomfortable about it!"

Xue Ke covered her mouth and chuckled, patting Xue Qinghe on the shoulder. "Do you have any other options besides that? You're already over twenty. Sooner or later, you'll have to choose a consort. If you can marry a Crown Princess from a good family and have a son or daughter in the future, your position as Crown Prince will only become more secure."

"A son or daughter? What kind of shameless nonsense are you talking about?" Xue Qinghe was so annoyed by Xue Ke's words that he laughed. This bargain-bin little sister only knew how to tease him.

Seeing that things were going badly, Xue Ke flashed over to the door and left him with one final remark.

"Relax, relax. It's no big deal. Just do as I said, and wouldn't that solve everything? I'm leaving first!"

With that, Xue Ke slipped out of the study in a flash.

"Stupid little sister, all you know is how to make me mad!" Xue Qinghe scolded with a smile.

The next morning.

"Xiao Ke, you have to come back safely!" Bai Chenxiang, dressed as a man, said reluctantly.

Xue Ke and Bai Chenxiang had agreed that once Xue Ke obtained her fourth soul ring, she would send Bai Chenxiang a message. They would then arrange a date by letter and meet in the nearby Liet City.

Liet City was not far from either Heaven Dou City or the Star Dou Great Forest. From Liet City, the two women would only need seven days by carriage to reach Yake City, where the Speed Clan was located.

Xue Ke waved goodbye to Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Bai Chenxiang, Zhu Zhuqing, and the other girls before boarding the carriage. The four Soul Sages sent by Xue Ye naturally accompanied her, riding in the carriage behind Xue Ke's. The two carriages soon departed Heaven Dou City.

As for Xue Qinghe, after discussing matters with Spirit Hall for some time, he finally settled on a candidate for Crown Princess.

Not long afterward, Xue Qinghe told Emperor Xue Ye of the woman he favored. Emperor Xue Ye nodded approvingly and agreed, chose an auspicious date, and issued an edict announcing it to the world.

Thus, news that Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, would soon be married quickly spread throughout every street and alley of Heaven Dou City.

Xue Qinghe had long enjoyed a reputation for virtue in Heaven Dou City. The common people thought highly of this diligent, benevolent, gentle, and refined Crown Prince. Upon hearing that he would soon marry, they decorated their homes with lanterns and colored banners in celebration.

The Crown Princess was named Su Jingwen, the only daughter of Count Su Zhongwen of the Hagen Das Kingdom. Though she could not be called devastatingly beautiful, she was still delicate and pleasing in appearance.

Her father, Count Su Zhongwen, came from a fallen noble family of the Heaven Dou Empire. In his early impoverished years, Su Zhongwen had received favor from Spirit Hall and thus swore loyalty to it. He eventually earned the rank of count through his distinguished military achievements and was granted a fief in the Hagen Das Kingdom.

Over the years, Count Su Zhongwen had secured more than enough benefits for Spirit Hall and could indeed be considered utterly loyal.

Count Su Zhongwen had long ago told his daughter Su Jingwen of his true identity, and Su Jingwen ultimately chose to join Spirit Hall as well. Thus, after much consideration, Qian Renxue ultimately chose Su Jingwen to be the Crown Princess.

Count Su Zhongwen received instructions from Spirit Hall's upper ranks. The instructions stated that Spirit Hall wished for him to marry Su Jingwen to Xue Qinghe as Crown Princess, but they did not tell him Xue Qinghe's true identity, only that Xue Qinghe was one of Spirit Hall's people.

Marriage was no trifling matter, and Count Su Zhongwen was not some feudal-minded parent. Naturally, he asked Su Jingwen for her opinion. After careful consideration, Su Jingwen finally agreed to the marriage.

Seven days later, Su Jingwen arrived in Heaven Dou City with her dowry and Count Su Zhongwen to meet Emperor Xue Ye. At the same time, she met her future husband, Xue Qinghe.

Through her observations, Su Jingwen discovered that this Crown Prince was not only gentle, refined, and approachable, without the slightest trace of a spoiled young master's mannerisms, but was also very good at conversation. Every time she spoke with Xue Qinghe, she felt as though she were basking in a spring breeze.

After several brief days together, Su Jingwen secretly gave him her heart. She no longer felt the slightest resistance toward marrying Xue Qinghe and quietly resolved that from then on, she would fulfill her duties as Crown Princess, bear children for the Crown Prince, and help ease his worries.