Dai Hao was irreplaceable, and Xu Jiawei had originally intended to dig in his heels and refuse to let him go.
But now that their families were becoming related by marriage, he would have to make an exception.
That bastard Dai Hao had now risen in seniority to become his uncle.
His uncle needed to devote himself to watching his brother-in-law grow up.
Could Xu Jiawei refuse?
They were all family, and he was very understanding of Dai Hao.
"Thank you for your permission, Your Majesty!"
"Also, Your Majesty, I intend to hold a banquet at my residence in a few days to celebrate for my son. You simply must honor us with your presence."
Dai Hao produced an exquisite, lavish invitation.
For the banquet meant to build Dai Lingfeng's reputation,
they would invite Shrek Academy and the great noble families of the Star Luo Empire.
They certainly couldn't single out the imperial family by leaving them off the guest list. Wouldn't isolating the imperial family be a blatant act of rebellion?
"A banquet?"
Xu Jiawei's thoughts turned, and he immediately guessed that the White Tiger Lineage intended to build Dai Lingfeng's reputation.
But he had his own considerations.
"Since it's a banquet, it needs an occasion."
"How about this? In name, this banquet will be an engagement celebration for our two families."
"It'll bring the two children some good fortune."
"As for the location..."
"Forget the Duke's Mansion. I'll lend you my imperial palace. Let's hold the banquet there."
The White Tiger Lineage was sure to succeed in building Dai Lingfeng's reputation.
With Dai Lingfeng's talent, he needed only a little help to amaze the world with a single feat and become famous throughout the land.
Xu Jiawei was putting so much thought and effort into this
because he was also riding on Dai Lingfeng's rising influence!
The White Tiger Lineage would build that momentum,
and he would ride it!
By making the banquet an engagement celebration for Dai Lingfeng and Xu Jiujiu, the imperial family would benefit as well.
"That would be perfect!"
Dai Hao readily agreed.
Not only was the engagement settled,
but the Xu Family would publicly endorse Dai Lingfeng and even lend them the imperial palace for the banquet. Why would he refuse such a good thing?
"It's getting late, Your Majesty. I won't disturb you any longer. Please rest. I'll take my leave!"
Dai Hao held back his delight. Now that the banquet had been settled, it was time for him to retreat.
"You really are something."
"All right, hurry home."
Xu Jiawei smiled helplessly.
This Dai Hao...
He had shown off, bragged about his son, resigned, and arranged a banquet. Once he was done with the whole routine, he left immediately, unwilling to stay a second longer.
Still, he understood.
If his own family had a genius like that, his thoughts would probably all be at home too.
"Your Majesty, are we really going to let the White Tiger Lineage do as it pleases?"
After Dai Hao left, a burly man in black appeared in the small hall. He was the Star Luo Empire's Guardian Douluo, Giant Strength Douluo Cheng Gang, who was responsible for protecting Xu Jiawei in secret.
"What else can we do?"
Xu Jiawei shrugged helplessly.
"Once Dai Hao's son grows up, he'll surely threaten your rule, Your Majesty. Why don't we take advantage of his youth and..."
Cheng Gang made a slashing motion across his throat.
His meaning was obvious: they should nip Dai Lingfeng, the White Tiger Lineage's genius, in the bud.
Dai Lingfeng's existence was too great a threat to the imperial family.
"Silence!"
"The Sun Moon Empire's wolfish ambitions are plain for all to see, and the Douluo Three Kingdoms are as precarious as a stack of eggs. His appearance at a time like this is our Star Luo Empire's good fortune!"
"How could I disregard the nation for my own interests, nip a genius in the bud out of jealousy of his talent, and cut off my own arm?"
"Elder Giant Strength, don't say such things again."
Xu Jiawei rebuked him sternly.
Nip Dai Lingfeng in the bud?
If the White Tiger Lineage had hidden him and not asked for Xu Jiujiu's hand, and Xu Jiawei had discovered Dai Lingfeng on his own,
then he might indeed have thought of killing Dai Lingfeng before he could grow.
But the White Tiger Lineage had been sufficiently frank
and had asked for Xu Jiujiu's hand.
That had completely dispelled such thoughts from Xu Jiawei's mind.
The Star Luo Empire also needed a pillar of white jade to hold up the heavens, standing tall between heaven and earth. As long as Dai Lingfeng could grow up and withstand the pressure from the Sun Moon Empire,
even returning the reins of government to the White Tiger Lineage was negotiable.
After all, the country had been theirs to begin with.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Cheng Gang scratched the back of his head, a little puzzled as to why his well-intentioned warning had earned him a scolding from Xu Jiawei instead.
Was Xu Jiawei really going to stand by and watch the White Tiger Lineage grow stronger?
Forget it.
As subjects, they only had to do their own jobs. Why agonize over what their leader was thinking?
"Someone, go summon Princess Jiujiu."
Xu Jiawei was no longer in the mood to sleep, his drowsiness gone. He decided to have a palace maid fetch Xu Jiujiu out of bed.
The matter was of great importance.
He had to tell her about the engagement at once.
"Imperial Brother, why did you call Jiujiu here so late at night?"
Eight-year-old Xu Jiujiu rubbed her large, sleepy eyes, her voice full of complaint.
She had already been asleep for a while
when a palace maid had dragged her out of bed, dressed her, washed her face, and brought her over.
"Jiujiu."
"You know that when you're born into an imperial family, your life is rarely your own. We often can't decide our own marriages."
Xu Jiawei sighed.
Hearing that, Xu Jiujiu's heart skipped a beat. This was bad!
Had her imperial brother promised her to someone in marriage?!
"I discussed it with White Tiger Duke Dai Hao. We intend to have you get engaged to his son."
Sure enough,
Xu Jiawei's next words made Xu Jiujiu's little face fall.
"Dai Hao's son?"
"Dai Huabin? Or Dai Yueheng?"
"Aren't their sons supposed to marry daughters of the Zhu Family?"
"Why come after me?"
Xu Jiujiu thought of Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin, and her brows immediately knitted.
Dai Huabin was two years younger than her, and ever since he had awakened his Martial Soul half a year ago, he had been getting along famously with Zhu Lu of the Zhu Family.
Dai Yueheng was much older than her, and she liked neither of them.
Besides, the Dai and Zhu families had been intermarrying for generations.
Why were they butting in?
"Not Dai Yueheng or Dai Huabin, but Dai Hao's third son. You certainly haven't met him."
"When a tigress bears three cubs, one is bound to be a fierce beast."
"Dai Hao's third son is quite the fierce beast, just right for our little princess."
Seeing the miserable look on Xu Jiujiu's little face, Xu Jiawei couldn't help feeling a mischievous urge and spoke with a chuckle.
"A fierce beast?!"
Xu Jiujiu pictured someone stout and ferocious-looking and immediately shuddered.
She had at least met Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin, and they looked presentable enough, both handsome young men.
But she had never even met this third White Tiger son, and Xu Jiawei had described him as a fierce beast. Her little self was instantly distraught.
"No!"
"The men of the White Tiger Clan are all big lecherous tigers, and that third son is a fierce beast too. I won't marry him!"
Xu Jiujiu immediately protested.
"Is that so?"
"That's a shame."
"Dai Hao's third son is a super genius with Twin Martial Souls, the White Tiger and the Hell Spirit Cat. He can even perform the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Hell White Tiger, all by himself."
"Dai Hao wanted to arrange the marriage, but since you're not interested, let's forget it."
Xu Jiawei spoke with feigned regret.
"Wait!"
Xu Jiujiu hurriedly stopped him.
Then again!
A genius with the White Tiger and Hell Spirit Cat Twin Martial Souls, who could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill all by himself...
Xu Jiujiu felt they could discuss the matter some more.
The Star Crown was a Martial Soul suited to both power attacks and support.
Although she was young, her future standards for a spouse were similar to those of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect: she would only choose a powerful Power Attack System Soul Master.
Such an outstanding favored son of heaven-
if she weren't a princess, she wouldn't even have had a chance.