The captain of the guards behind Jing Hongchen heard this and didn't dare delay for even a moment.
As the Hongchen Family's chief steward, he was also a Soul Sage, and his efficiency was naturally far beyond that of an ordinary person.
In just a few minutes, a graceful figure slowly entered the hall under his guidance.
In an instant, the hall, which had been somewhat noisy moments before, fell silent as if by unspoken agreement.
The newcomer was none other than Meng Hongchen.
A light-red dress outlined the girl's curvaceous figure to perfection. Her wine-red hair fell like a waterfall to her waist, gleaming alluringly in the light of the hall.
Most striking of all were her clear, azure eyes, bright as a lake. Her delicate, flawless face held the lively, pure beauty unique to a young girl.
Though she was still young, she already possessed the faint beginnings of breathtaking beauty.
Many ministers seeing Meng Hongchen for the first time couldn't help marveling to themselves.
As expected of the Hongchen Family's most dazzling jewel of this generation.
Her looks, bearing, and talent were all one in ten thousand.
Yet Meng Hongchen seemed completely unaware of it.
On the way here, she had already learned what happened from the captain of the guards.
So she was well prepared by the time she arrived.
After entering the hall, Meng Hongchen followed protocol, walked to its center, and gracefully bowed to the old emperor seated high upon the throne.
" Meng Hongchen pays her respects to Your Majesty."
"May Your Majesty enjoy boundless longevity."
The girl's voice rang clear and sweet, like pearls dropping onto a jade plate. A kind smile immediately appeared on the old emperor's face.
"Good, good girl. Rise."
Meng Hongchen rose gently, and her gaze instinctively fell to one side.
Xu Tianyao stood there quietly.
The instant their eyes met,
she saw the nervousness, anticipation, and unease in the young man's eyes.
Meng Hongchen was taken aback for a moment, then the corners of her mouth lifted into a faint smile.
That smile might not have meant much to anyone else, but to Xu Tianyao, it was as radiant as the warm spring sun.
Seeing it, he finally felt most of the tension leave his heart.
The old emperor naturally hadn't missed the little exchange between them.
His smile grew even broader. "Meng Hongchen."
"I heard from Tianyao that you've known each other since childhood and have feelings for one another."
"You've even privately pledged yourselves to each other. Is that true?"
At his words, the eyes of every court official instantly turned to Meng Hongchen.
Though she had been prepared for this, facing so many people's gazes still brought a faint blush to the girl's fair cheeks.
The old emperor continued with a smile, "Today, the crown prince has even asked me to arrange a marriage between you and Tianyao."
"I'd like to ask you personally what you think."
"If you're willing, I'll establish a marriage pact for the two of you here and now, before all the civil and military officials."
"Are you willing?"
As his words fell, the entire hall fell silent.
Everyone waited for the girl's answer.
Meng Hongchen pressed her lips together slightly, then instinctively looked toward Jing Hongchen nearby.
Jing Hongchen was giving her frantic looks, as if to say, "Girl, keep your head. You can't rush into something like this!"
Seeing her grandfather so anxious warmed Meng Hongchen's heart. But soon, she turned her gaze to Xu Tianyao.
She looked at the boy who had been by her side since they were children.
Memories of all their years together surfaced in her mind.
Training together, getting into trouble together, sneaking out to stroll the streets together.
And everything that had happened by the lake yesterday...
Remembering his sudden confession and kiss, the tips of the girl's ears turned scarlet.
Her heart, too, began to race beyond her control.
At that moment, she suddenly realized that without her even noticing, this boy had already claimed an irreplaceable place in her heart.
At that thought, the hesitation in Meng Hongchen's eyes gradually faded, replaced by unwavering resolve and earnestness.
She lifted her head slightly to meet everyone's gaze and answered in a clear, firm voice:
"I'm willing!"
Just three short words.
Xu Tianyao clenched his fists, and the heart that had been suspended in midair finally settled completely.
Then an indescribable joy and happiness surged through him like a rising tide.
He gazed quietly at the girl standing in the middle of the hall.
At the girl who, knowing she would face pressure from her family, had still chosen to stand by his side.
At that moment, Xu Tianyao silently swore to himself:
In this life and the next, he would never let her down.
On the other side, when Jing Hongchen heard those three words, it was as though every ounce of strength had drained from him.
His vision went dark, and he nearly collapsed. His expression had become indescribably complicated.
He looked at his granddaughter, beaming with happiness.
Then he looked at Xu Tianyao, who was grinning like a fool.
His chest tightened.
The precious granddaughter he had cherished in the palm of his hand for so many years—
now really was going to be stolen away.
And the person stealing her was none other than the little prince, currently the most favored in the Empire.
He couldn't hit him, and he couldn't scold him.
Whenever he thought of this, Jing Hongchen couldn't help letting out a long sigh in his heart.
At that moment, he finally understood the shared anguish of fathers-in-law everywhere.
The cabbage they had painstakingly raised had, in the end, been devoured by a pig.
On the dais, the old emperor saw how readily Meng Hongchen had agreed and was instantly delighted.
"Excellent!"
"Truly a match made in heaven, with talent and beauty in perfect harmony!"
He immediately rose to his feet, his dignified voice resounding throughout the hall.
"By my imperial decree!"
"Meng Hongchen, daughter of the Hongchen Family, is both virtuous and beautiful, and possesses outstanding talent."
"I hereby grant her in marriage to the Empire's fourth prince, Prince Ming Xu Tianyao."
"When they come of age, an auspicious date shall be chosen for their wedding!"
"This decree takes effect immediately!"
At his words, all the civil and military officials bowed in unison.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Their grand voices echoed through the hall.
And there, in the center of the hall, Xu Tianyao and Meng Hongchen formally sealed their marriage pact before countless witnesses.
For the two of them, this day was destined to become an unforgettable memory.
After the awakening ceremony ended, the princes and ministers all departed.
The old emperor, however, kept Xu Tianyao behind alone. It was one of the few times father and son had been alone together in all these years.
The current ruler of the Sun Moon Empire was, in truth, a man of contradictions.
In his early years, he had been renowned for his diligence, iron will, and wisdom. But in his later years, after surviving several assassination attempts, his temperament changed drastically.
Not only had he adopted a more cautious policy toward foreign military affairs, but he had also become increasingly unable to keep the princes and ministers in check.
Though the Sun Moon Empire and the original Douluo Three Kingdoms had enjoyed years of peace, whenever war or conflict broke out, the Empire had generally held Star Luo firmly in check.
Yet despite holding such an advantage in strength, the old emperor had grown timid.
Of course, without that change, perhaps he wouldn't later have stood by helplessly as the princes slaughtered one another, allowing Xu Tianran to seize complete control of him.
Xu Tianyao had assumed his father had kept him behind to reward him with something, perhaps a Soul Bone, pills, or a Soul Tool. But he hadn't expected that someone else was the one who wanted to see him.
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