Xue Qinghe's Defense Breaks

Xuan Qing felt as if he had been granted a reprieve; he jumped straight off the arena stage and returned to the VIP seating area, where he collapsed into his chair and let out a long sigh.

Exhausted to death. This is even more tiring than fighting; that woman is truly terrifying.

Xue Qinghe leaned in, seizing the opportunity to pester him.

"Are you weak? You're this tired after just two matches? Do you want me to introduce you to an imperial physician? One who specializes in this area—don't worry, the person I know has absolutely superb medical skills."

Xuan Qing rolled his eyes at him.

"You are talking pure nonsense. I haven't even held a girl's hand yet; I'm as clean as they come. Truly, thank you very much."

"But you should worry about yourself. You're not young anymore; it's time to take a wife."

He had a sudden realization, his eyes widening as he stared at Xue Qinghe.

"You're at such an age, yet there isn't a single woman around you. Aside from your maids, I'm afraid you can't even find a female creature nearby? You... could it be that you have a preference for the love of Longyang?"

He asked this with such sincerity that the others in the VIP area could no longer remain calm.

Xue Qinghe was nearing thirty, and aside from his maids, there really wasn't a single female in his company.

The women he spent the most time with, other than his younger sister Xue Ke, were few enough that even Ning Rongrong could make the list.

This... was indeed a bit abnormal.

Could the Crown Prince really have some special predilection?

Xue Qinghe's complexion shifted from white to red, red to green, and green to black. The speed of these changes was such that even a professional face-changer would have to give him a thumbs-up.

"Xuan! Qing! Do you believe I won't strangle you right now!"

Xuan Qing hurriedly hid behind Zi Ji.

"Don't get excited, don't get excited! People age faster when they get angry. I'm just concerned about you; I'm afraid you'll end up lonely in your old age."

"Look at me, I'm only ten, and people are already starting to consider my lifelong affairs. You're already thirty—aren't you in a hurry?"

Pfft!

Another blade pierced Xue Qinghe's chest. He clutched his heart, feeling as if he were truly about to vomit blood.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Qing stifled their laughter, their shoulders shaking.

Even Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin struggled to maintain their composure.

The look Emperor Xue Ye cast toward Xue Qinghe was also somewhat unnatural.

Dugu Bo slapped his thigh and laughed heartily.

"You really are something. You're the first person to ever make the Crown Prince this angry."

Xuan Qing shrugged with an innocent expression.

"I'm just telling the truth. Isn't it strange that he hasn't taken a wife at his age? Could it be... that there really is some kind of problem?"

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to strangle Xuan Qing. She swore that one day, she would sew this bastard's mouth shut.

Emperor Xue Ye finally couldn't help but speak up.

"That... Qinghe, you wouldn't really..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear: You don't really have some special predilection, do you?

Otherwise, why would he be nearly thirty without a wife, not even touching a woman?

Xue Qinghe's face turned into a palette once more, shifting from black to red, red to cyan, and cyan to white. She felt as if she were about to explode.

She wanted to cast off her disguise right here and now, reveal her true self, and grab Xuan Qing by the collar to make him take a good look.

I am a woman, damn it! A woman! It's only normal for me to like men! It would be abnormal if I liked women! You big, straight-laced man, you don't know a thing.

But she couldn't say it. She could only hold it in, hold it in. Her heart ached, her liver ached, everything ached. This feeling was even more unbearable than being stabbed.

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to flip the table. She explained, word by word, in as calm a tone as she could muster.

"Father, your son simply hasn't met the right person yet. Marriage is a major life event; how could it be child's play?"

"I want to find a partner who is of one mind with me, someone to spend my life with, rather than just marrying any woman and having a child just to complete a task."

"That would be unfair to me, and unfair to that lady. Furthermore, as the Crown Prince and future Emperor, I must be responsible for the Empire."

"If I were to just marry someone for the sake of continuing the bloodline, and it led to unrest in the harem and turmoil in the court, wouldn't that be a disaster for the nation and the people?"

He spoke with high-sounding, righteous words, but inside, he was cursing—cursing Xuan Qing, cursing this damn mission, and cursing this wretched world.

Emperor Xue Ye heard this and felt relieved. At least his son didn't have any strange predilections; he just had high standards.

That was understandable, after all, he was the Crown Prince and the future Emperor.

"Then you must hurry. The royal line is withering, and you are the only Crown Prince left. If you... heh, what will happen to the royal succession? You aren't young anymore; we can't wait too long."

Xue Ye spoke with earnest concern. He knew that the deaths of his other sons had something to do with him, but such was the nature of the struggle for power.

He was truly afraid now—afraid that his son would never marry, and if that happened, to whom would the throne pass? To Xue Beng? That brat was even less reliable.

"Your son understands. Once the Empire is stable, I will naturally consider it."

But inside, she was sneering.

Consider?

Consider my ass!

Once the plan succeeds and Martial Soul Hall unifies the continent, she would restore her female identity. By then, she could marry whoever she wanted, and whoever she wanted could marry her; as for the rest of you, go to hell, this lady is done serving.

Xuan Qing, listening from the side, knew when to quit while he was ahead.

"Let's end the jokes here. However, there is one thing the Crown Prince said that is absolutely correct: if two people cannot be of one heart and share in each other's hardships, they are destined to be a disaster."

"As the future Emperor, the Crown Prince naturally has to consider more in this regard. To take a wife is to take virtue; to take a concubine is to take grace. Below the Crown Princess is the Empress, and the mother of the world cannot be chosen lightly."

"Moreover... matters of the heart cannot be rushed. When fate arrives, it will come naturally; when fate has not arrived, forcing it is useless."

"His Highness the Crown Prince holds the world in his heart and has aspirations in all directions. It is understandable to set aside the romance of children for now; it is not too late to discuss marriage after the world is at peace."

These words were beautifully spoken, providing a graceful exit while flattering Xue Qinghe.

Xue Ye nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, feeling that Xiao Qing was sensible; although his tongue was a bit sharp, his mind was clear.

Xue Qinghe was also stunned, not expecting Xuan Qing to speak up for her. Although the words he said just moments ago made her want to kill him, these current words truly made her feel at ease.

"Brother Xuan Qing is right. This Palace truly has no heart to consider these things right now. The Empire is in a troubled autumn, with Martial Soul Hall eyeing us like a tiger, facing both internal and external threats."

"This Palace only wishes to stabilize the Empire as soon as possible and resist foreign enemies. As for marriage... it will not be too late to discuss it once the world is at peace."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Xuan Qing with a serious gaze.

"It just so happens that I would like to ask Brother Xuan Qing for his advice: what kind of scene is the world peace in your eyes?"

This was a probe, and also curiosity.

Xuan Qing's attitude was very clear: those who should be killed would be left with none. But she wanted to know, what exactly was this bastard thinking? What did the peace he spoke of look like?

Xuan Qing thought for a long time. He recalled the books he had read in his past life and thought of those idealistic worlds. Although they were unrealistic, they could serve as a goal.

"The elderly have a place to end their days. The strong have a purpose to serve. The young have a way to grow. The widowed, the lonely, and the disabled are all cared for."

Once these words were spoken, everyone in the VIP seats was stunned. They looked at Xuan Qing with complex expressions. These words were too idealistic, and also too difficult.