Chapter 243: The Storm Over the Bestowed Marriage

The hunting grounds.

An arrow, with a *whoosh*, shot out and struck a small deer that was running.

The small deer kicked a few times, then died.

"The Emperor is mighty!"

"Heaven blesses Longyan!"

"An auspicious omen, an auspicious omen!"

"Our Longyan Dynasty shall surely have favorable weather and a peaceful, prosperous nation!"

The group of civil and military officials who had come out hunting with Xie Tianyao immediately began to sing his praises and flatter him in every way.

The Prince of Qin, standing to the side, also praised: "The Emperor's archery is as good as it was in the past; you are truly as vigorous as ever!"

Xie Tianyao laughed heartily.

The Prince of Qin took the bow and arrow from his hands and hurriedly offered him a cup of wine.

Xie Tianyao said indifferently: "If not for my health, I would certainly go to the Western Regions for a tour to see the face of that Xie Lao'er!"

The crowd laughed along.

With the Western Regions Protectorate rebuilt, the old vow of not leaving the Imperial Palace for fifty years was naturally abolished.

For these many days, Xie Tianyao had been wandering about, truly not wanting to return to that suffocating Imperial Palace.

Empress Zheng Fu also said with a charming smile: "The Emperor may go next year."

The crowd echoed her words again, as if this old Emperor could still live for another dozen years.

Xie Tianyao gave a cold laugh: "If I can live peacefully until the Imperial Examination benefits the world, then it would truly be Heaven blessing my Longyan."

These words caused the expressions of the entire group to freeze.

The Prince of Qin deliberately winked at Zheng Fu; Zheng Fu coughed and said softly: "Emperor, that Prefect Liu has long since reached adulthood. People say one should establish a family and a career. Now that Prefect Liu is deeply favored by the Emperor and famous throughout the world, and this time has promoted the Imperial Examination System, it is a great merit. Your concubine believes that since Prefect Liu is young and vigorous, further rewards might not be in accordance with the rules."

"How about the Emperor bestows a marriage upon him? That would count as the Emperor's greatest favor, would it not?"

Once these words were spoken, the others nodded in agreement.

Nowadays, this Prefect Liu's reputation is astonishing; he has become the representative figure among the young talents of the entire Longyan Dynasty.

He constantly produces world-shaking poetry, governs ungovernable lands, and subsequently conquered the Western Regions and promoted the Imperial Examination.

Every major event has been unheard of for hundreds of years.

And...

Regarding this Imperial Examination, the Emperor's attitude is clearly biased toward this Prefect Liu.

What kind of signal is this?

Could it be that the Emperor intends to bring this young lad to the fore? Intends to let him stir up the political scene of the Longyan Dynasty? If that is the case, then it really needs to be carefully planned.

Whether it is the Noble Class or the Scholar-official class.

The level of tension is no longer what it was before, but several times more intense!

At this moment, what Prefect Liu represents is not just one of the Nine Regional Commanders, but the one with the most momentum among the nine!

If you don't win him over now, when will you?

Xie Tianyao smiled faintly, noncommittal.

The Prince of Qin tried even harder: "Emperor, the Prince of Yue has a daughter who has just reached the age of marriage; she is beautiful, talented, well-read, and virtuous. She is surely the perfect candidate!"

Other Feudatory Kings and Nobles all nodded, praising this daughter of the Prince of Yue as peerless in the world.

Zhu Zhen, listening from the side, grew a bit anxious.

"Emperor, this humble official has also screened some suitable candidates. The daughter of Wang Ping, the Vice Minister of Rites, is also well-known. If she were to marry this Prefect Liu, it would surely be a story for the ages!"

The Prince of Qin snorted coldly: "Minister Zhu, since when can a mere Vice Minister of Rites be mentioned in the same breath as a Feudatory King?"

Zhu Zhen's expression changed, and he stubbornly replied: "Prince of Qin, Prefect Liu is also but the son of a Regional Commander; the Minister of Personnel is a match in social status, so why not?"

Suddenly.

The Noble Class and the Scholar-official class began to argue fiercely.

One side claimed their candidate was good, the other side claimed theirs was suitable.

In short.

No one wanted to yield to anyone else.

Xie Tianyao laughed coldly.

In his heart, he was well aware of this situation.

He chuckled and said: "Logically speaking, marriage is a matter of the parents' command and the matchmaker's word. If I were to bestow a marriage upon this Prefect Liu, it would be imperial favor. However, now that the Western Regions Protectorate is newly established, the specifics depend on future developments. If the Western Regions are stable, what would it matter if I later bestow a County Princess or Princess upon this Prefect Liu?"

"But if not..."

A sharp, murderous aura flashed in his eyes.

The crowd all shuddered and looked at one another.

It seems the Emperor does not truly favor Prefect Liu after all...

Is he also conflicted right now?

Or rather...

Since this Imperial Examination System came out...

In reality, is the Emperor waiting to discard the donkey once the grinding is done?

For several days in a row.

The Western Regions Protectorate remained very busy.

The first report of victory was sent out.

Ling Chen!

With the status of Civil Scholar, he is directly appointed as the Sima of the Western Regions Protectorate!

When this news spread throughout the entire city, everyone was shocked.

This Prefect Liu...

Is he truly following through on what he promised? Was there no malpractice involved?

It is said that when Ling Chen took office, he was pulled by a carriage with eight horses, showing infinite splendor, with firecrackers going off incessantly. Ling Chen's carriage even specifically circled the small courtyard where Cui Gong was staying three times, which was enough to make Cui Gong furious.

At this moment.

Xie Chan and her maid Xiao Tao were also invited to the Protectorate.

Today, Xie Chan made everyone's eyes light up.

Especially Liu Zheng.

She could truly be called breathtaking.

The beauty of this woman was perhaps the most stunning anyone had ever seen in their lives; according to Liu Zheng's judgment, she was a full one meter sixty-eight tall, with a slender yet powerful figure, an oval face, eyebrows like spring, and eyes like autumn water—aloof and clear. Today, there was no longer any dirt on her face, so even though she was wearing plain clothes, that proud and peerless temperament was still displayed to the fullest before everyone.

Liu Zheng was stunned.

It was indeed so.

He could not help but take a deep breath.

Because the woman before him fit his aesthetic perfectly.

Even...

She felt exactly like the girl of his dreams from his past life.

"Miss, this scoundrel is too hateful! He is staring at you without stopping!"

Xiao Tao sensed Liu Zheng's gaze and was instantly furious.

At this time, Reguli was also by the side, clicking her tongue in praise: "What a beautiful girl."

Xie Chan felt very smug in her heart, the corners of her mouth curling up as she secretly glanced at Liu Zheng, thinking to herself that this scoundrel had some taste after all! Her own appearance should not be any worse than that Empress Dowager of Loulan!

"Hey, you called us here just to look at my Miss?"

Xiao Tao would not have it.

Liu Zheng then snapped out of his trance and laughed, "Miss Xie, I invited you here this time to let you choose a position... It is the custom of the Longyan Dynasty that there has never been a woman serving as a general, so our Protectorate is in a difficult position. How about..."

"Let me choose?"

Liu Zheng chuckled and took out a booklet.

Xie Chan looked at it, very surprised.

"General of the Women's Army?"

"General of the Western Expedition for the Western Regions Enemy-Rear Guerrilla Force?"

"The Protectorate has the Palace Guard!"

"Feathered Forest Army, Yulin General!"