Eat Soft Rice with a Hard Stance

Because his father and mother, Qian Yuhan, were also the result of a political marriage.

According to his grandfather:

The church at that time was in an extremely dangerous situation and was in urgent need of powerful allies to stand with them.

In order to win over a powerful hidden sect for cooperation and achieve the strategic need for a long-term win-win situation between the church and the sect, a deal was struck.

The old man used him, Qian Yuhan—a future Pope who had not yet been born—as a gesture of sincerity, promising that he would possess the bloodline of that hidden sect, and thus entered into a marriage alliance with them.

History... has always been a circle.

"Your Majesty, may I understand this as a political exchange? By offering a princess and providing me with protection and cultivation, you are investing in a future Guardian Douluo to safeguard the Sun Moon Empire."

After a long silence, Qian Yuhan slowly raised his head, looking at the old emperor with his deep, golden eyes as he spoke.

"As expected, you are a clever child; you understand what Imperial We mean."

The old emperor's eyes also flickered with a profound light, though now, his tone held not only the decisiveness of an emperor but also a... clearly perceptible sense of helplessness:

"This world is just like this, existing through all kinds of exchanges. Even Imperial We must 'exchange' with ministers to gain their support and ensure the execution of Imperial We's decrees."

"Therefore, Imperial We are now making an investment in the future of the Sun Moon Empire as an emperor, in exchange for a promise and guarantee from you to the Sun Moon Empire!"

Old Qian, agree to him! Although you have to sell your looks and labor, this deal is very cost-effective for us.

The Rakshasa Phantom calculated this account very simply. With Qian Yuhan's current talent, coupled with the fact that He could slightly ease the burden—unlike the stingy god trials Bibi Dong endured for decades without any rewards other than the ninth trial—the outcome would be different.

Even if Qian Yuhan became a god late, it would only be between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five.

Even if he worked as a beast of burden for the Sun Moon Empire, how many years could he possibly work?

Selling a few years of hard labor in exchange for a sweet, comfortable life is an absolute steal.

As for the time needed to repair the Angel God position... stop joking. By the time he needs to repair the Angel God position, Qian Yuhan will have already inherited at least one first-tier god position. Even if he did nothing but walk around the gates of the Bright Capital a few times, he would achieve the effect of a top-tier strategic deterrent.

"..."

Qian Yuhan did not rush to answer the old emperor. Instead, he slowly lowered his eyes in thought and said to the Rakshasa Divine Sense:

I know this political transaction is very cost-effective for us, and I am clear that if we don't agree, they likely won't let us leave. But... I... do not like this kind of one-sided transaction proposed by others. If a deal must be made, I only do the kind that I propose, I lead, and I control the initiative.

Oh, oh, oh! ﾟДﾟ I get it, you want to eat soft rice with a hard attitude! You truly are yourself, Old Qian! Amazing! Old Qian!

The Rakshasa Divine Sense suddenly realized (･д･).

The Rakshasa Divine Sense was greatly shocked (O∆O).

The Rakshasa Divine Sense was filled with awe (꒪⌓꒪).

And the facts were indeed as such.

In this great hall, the person more anxious than Qian Yuhan was none other than the old emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Kun, who appeared to be in control of everything.

He looked at Qian Yuhan, who was deep in thought with his eyes lowered, and felt incredibly uncomfortable:

No, what exactly are you struggling with! Is the condition I offered not good enough? I'm providing resources for your cultivation, sending people to protect you, and even marrying a precious princess to you so you can have the status of imperial kin.

Is this condition not good enough?

Please, just agree!

Even if you want to add more conditions, it's not like I can't accept them.

Finally, under the old emperor's anxious gaze, Qian Yuhan raised his head, nodded, and said in a deep voice: "I can swear by my martial soul that I am willing to accept the protection of the Sun Moon Empire and your 'cultivation and support,' Your Majesty, and I am also willing to shoulder the corresponding responsibilities after accepting this gift."

"However, feelings cannot be forced. I can understand your grandeur as an emperor willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the nation, and I can also empathize with your difficulties as a father. Therefore, as for becoming the Prince Consort, I think we should discuss that later."

At this moment, the aura radiating from Qian Yuhan was not only not suppressed by Xu Kun's imposing imperial presence, but it even showed signs of pushing back.

Yet, Xu Kun had no time to care about such trifles. He only knew that after waiting here until the middle of the night, he had successfully recruited an incredible young genius for the Sun Moon Empire.

But what that kid said, while sounding fine, always made him feel a bit strange.

What did he mean by "feelings cannot be forced" and "discuss becoming the Prince Consort later"?

In your eyes, kid, is our Sun Moon Empire's princess just an optional add-on that can be discarded?

Too much! Although my Tianzhen is a bit willful, a bit hot-tempered, a bit lazy in her cultivation, a bit spendthrift, a bit stubborn, and sometimes... a bit naive... but, she...

The more he thought about it, the less confident Xu Kun felt. His eyelids twitched a few times, and he thought:

Damn it, it seems that aside from the status of a princess, my Tianzhen really is a bit unworthy of this kid... But if I don't bind this kid to my royal family through marriage, it just doesn't feel secure enough!

Thinking of this, Xu Kun's bronze-colored old face couldn't help but twitch. Then, he laughed it off in a tone that was almost like a negotiation:

"Hhh, if you ask me, feelings... are actually something that can be cultivated slowly. I heard that most young people's first relationships happen during their school days. It just so happens that my Tianzhen is almost at the age to attend school. Why don't you go to the academy together and cultivate some feelings?"

"Academy?"

Mentioning the unfamiliar word "academy," Qian Yuhan, who had been trained one-on-one by his elders since he was a child, couldn't help but feel a spark of interest, and his golden eyes briefly lit up with a faint glow.

Eh, there's a chance!

Qian Yuhan's subtle change in expression naturally could not escape Xu Kun's sharp, experienced eyes. As long as he was willing to go to the academy, the difficult first step had been taken.

My dear daughter, Father has tried his best to help you; the rest can only be left to you.

"May I ask, which is the premier academy of the Sun Moon Empire?" Qian Yuhan asked.

"Naturally, it is the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Back in the day, even Imperial We graduated from the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy with the status of an 'all-excellent student,'" Xu Kun replied with a guilty conscience.

"Very well, I understand."

"Yawn~ Imperial We are truly getting on in years; We can no longer stay as spirited as you young people until the middle of the night. If We keep burning the midnight oil, We shall surely be dozing off during court tomorrow."

"I imagine you and Xu Yan are exhausted after traveling all day, so go back and get some rest. For a trivial matter like enrollment, just go and ask Xu Yan for help!"

As the words fell, the old emperor let out a lazy yawn, picked up his teacup, and struck a pose signaling for his guests to leave.