"How have you considered this matter? Do you think the two of you can be together?"
Jia Xingtian looked at his great-granddaughter's face, his eyes filled with indescribable emotions.
"Naturally, I considered everything comprehensively."
Princess Yaoye casually planted her spear into the ground, took out a handkerchief from her Storage Ring, and wiped the sweat from her neck. Her bright eyes shone as she explained, "I have seen Zhang Yuan's portrait. He is very handsome and my type."
"With one scheme, he resolved the Xiao Clan's rivals, the Jia Lie Clan and Ao Ba Clan. He also dealt with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, whom even a Dou Wang-led force from Northeast Province could not eradicate, and earned the esteem of Commander Qin Zhendong. That shows intelligence and strategy."
"Having achieved what he has today, he is still wholeheartedly planning for the Xiao Clan despite being only an in-law. That shows good character, loyalty, and righteousness."
"At sixteen, he is already a Five-Star Great Dou Shi and has the combat strength to confront a Nine-star Da Dou Shi head-on. That shows talent."
"Though he can be considered half a member of the Xiao Clan, his surname is Zhang after all. He is his own person, without complicated factional ties."
"If our royal family promises to nurture him, he can break through to the Dou Emperor realm within ten years at the latest, surpassing Yun Yun's achievements."
"By then, if he and I have descendants, the position of our royal family will remain as solid as a rock."
Princess Yaoye's analysis was clear and orderly.
She had begun considering this matter six days ago, when she received Qin Zhendong's urgent message.
As an imperial princess of the empire, someone destined to become an empress, she naturally could not be careless when choosing her other half.
Her great-grandfather Jia Xingtian was still alive. As a Peak Dou Emperor, he could temporarily keep the royal family's position secure, but no one knew whether tomorrow or an accident would come first.
They had to find someone among the younger generation capable of bearing the burden.
Originally, she had not had a suitable candidate. Even finding someone merely acceptable had been difficult.
Then Zhang Yuan entered her sight. He was practically the perfect choice.
As he watched his great-granddaughter analyze the matter with such high spirits, Jia Xingtian's expression grew increasingly strange.
Only after Princess Yaoye finished did he speak. "Yaoye, it seems you have misunderstood what I meant."
"I was not asking whether Zhang Yuan is worthy of you. I was asking what makes you think Zhang Yuan would be willing to marry into the royal family?"
Princess Yaoye's smile froze. ???
What did that mean? She was the future empress of the Jia Ma Empire. If she took the initiative and brought an unknown amount of dowry, could she still fail?
Were you my great-grandfather or Zhang Yuan's great-grandfather!?
"Yaoye, you still need to broaden your horizons." Jia Xingtian sighed and said gravely, "Yun Potian, the founder and first sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, once made a name for himself across the entire continent. He was only one step away from becoming a Dou Zun."
"After him, although the Misty Cloud Sect never produced even a Dou Zong, and its strongest members had always only been Peak Dou Emperors, its foundation had continued to deepen."
"Yun Yun is Yun Potian's direct descendant. It is said that her talent is enough to rival Yun Potian's in his youth. Since childhood, she received the guidance of Yun Shan, a Peak Dou Emperor, along with the full support of the Misty Cloud Sect's countless resources. Yet she was only a Da Dou Shi at sixteen, a Dou Ling at nineteen, a Dou Wang at twenty-three, and broke through to the Dou Emperor realm at twenty-seven."
"Zhang Yuan's current cultivation speed has already surpassed hers. Do you know what that means?"
Princess Yaoye frowned instinctively, vaguely grasping something.
Before she could think further, Jia Xingtian continued, "If there is no one behind Zhang Yuan, yet his cultivation speed already exceeds Yun Yun's, then his talent surpasses ordinary imagination. Some factions on the continent with Dou Zongs in command, or even Dou Zun experts, may invite him to join them. He could also take the initiative to enroll in Jia Nan Academy. When that happens, he will be like a hidden dragon emerging from the abyss, soaring straight into the sky."
Princess Yaoye's expression changed sharply. She finally understood Jia Xingtian's meaning and summarized, "If there is someone behind Zhang Yuan who could make him surpass Yun Yun at sixteen, then the force behind him is at least no weaker than the Misty Cloud Sect, perhaps even stronger!"
Jia Xingtian nodded. "Exactly."
"Great-granddaughter, you cannot hold on to a prodigy like him."
Princess Yaoye bit her lip hard, her heart filled with unwillingness and frustration, but she also knew Jia Xingtian was right.
Zhang Yuan was not merely a genius. He was a monstrous prodigy. He would absolutely never become a live-in son-in-law for the Jia Ma Empire Royal Family.
Among the powerful figures of the Dou Qi Continent, whether for marriage alliances or for descendants with even greater talent, who did not have multiple wives and concubines?
"I understand, Grandfather." Princess Yaoye took a deep breath. "Since there is an opportunity, we only need to befriend him, invest in him early, and offer enough benefits."
At that, Jia Xingtian shook his head again. "Those are the two most likely possibilities, but they are still only our guesses. Perhaps he merely had the good fortune to obtain an inheritance from a predecessor and would not mind accepting the goodwill of our royal family?"
Princess Yaoye:?
What exactly did you mean, Great-grandfather?
"I think you should first get to know Zhang Yuan before making a decision." Jia Xingtian smiled. "Perhaps he is so outstanding that you would be willing to become merely one of his women?"
"Perhaps, Yaoye, your charm is enough to make him fall for you and willingly marry into the royal family?"
"There are still far too many possibilities. You may consider them in advance, but you cannot decide in advance."
"Great-grandfather is merely telling you not to belittle yourself, but neither should you look down on others from too lofty a position. Otherwise, you will miss people you originally had the chance to befriend."
Princess Yaoye understood that Jia Xingtian was teaching her the principles of making allies and commanding subordinates.
"Yaoye understands, Imperial Great-Grandfather."
At the same time, this was also happening within the Imperial Capital.
At the Mu family, the head of the Mu family finished reading Mu Kun's letter and immediately wrote to his disappointing son.
For a loyal and righteous prodigy like Zhang Yuan, if he were a mortal enemy, the Mu family head would personally move to kill him.
But this was only a youthful dispute. Investing in him early and forming good relations was the proper course.
The same scene occurred in the Mittel Family. The clan head directly sent word to Ya Fei.
They had to establish a good relationship with a prodigy like this!
The atmosphere within the Nalan family, however, was somewhat subtle.
Nalan Yanran had thought she would be harshly scolded and had already prepared herself.
Yet Nalan Su only asked, "How far has your relationship with Zhang Yuan progressed?"
"Ah?" The bewildered Nalan Yanran's pretty face turned red, but she still said softly, "We should be a little closer than ordinary friends."
Nalan Su frowned. "A little closer is not enough. Since you like him, pursue him openly and boldly. Do not burden yourself. As for your Three Year Agreement with Xiao Yan, since the two of you have already discussed a solution, carry it out as agreed. I will personally deliver part of the compensation after some time. If you lose, I will send the remaining part."
Nalan Yanran:?
Nalan Yanran: ""
She understood. They valued Brother Zhang Yuan's talent and wanted to use her as an investment. It would not even count as breaking the vow made back then, and Grandfather's reputation could still be preserved.
Grandfather and Father ultimately loved the family more.
Nalan Yanran felt bitter inside, but she did not resist.
Besides, this was exactly what she wanted!
For a time, many of the Jia Ma Empire's top factions turned their attention to Zhang Yuan.
Meanwhile, he was in secluded cultivation atop a high mountain near Qingyun Town.
With Ling Ying guarding him, he had no worries at all.
In the blink of an eye, another three days passed.
On a sheer cliff amid the white clouds, Zhang Yuan opened his eyes and extended a finger before him.
Crackle.
A bolt of purple lightning emerged from his fingertip, crossing dozens of zhang in an instant before wildly spreading outward in a violent frenzy.
Not only that, lightning gathered in the heavens above and sent down nine bolts several zhang thick.
Those bolts empowered the purple lightning, making its thunderous force erupt and spread even more violently.
In the end, the nine bolts converged and swept across the surrounding area with the movement of Zhang Yuan's finger.
In only a few breaths, the clouds within a hundred-zhang radius were completely cleared away.
Ling Ying, secretly protecting him: ???
With this kind of power, few Dou Lings could withstand it.
An Earth Tier Dou Technique?
When did he learn it? How did I not know!?
(End of chapter)
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