"What are you thinking?"

Yang Noble Consort asked with a smile.

At first, she indeed resisted Chen Yuan marrying Pingyang Princess. Just saying it made her feel uncomfortable all over, but later when she met Chen Yuan, he suppressed the stubborn illness on her body and cleared her qi and blood. It seemed she accepted the idea.

At that time, she had tried to persuade Chen Yuan to accept it.

But for some reason, his attitude was very firm.

It made her somewhat puzzled.

In her view, being able to form a marriage alliance with the Sima Family was undoubtedly a great thing for Chen Yuan. Refusing it and thereby angering the Emperor obviously seemed to be a loss.

"The Duke Wu'an refused it, what else can I think?" Pingyang Princess feigned indifference, her demeanor still composed, giving no sign of strangeness.

"The Emperor won't let it go. You've heard about the year's agreement. Within a year, Chen Yuan won't be able to achieve the goals set by the Emperor for him, then he'll marry you."

"We'll see then. Maybe something might change."

Pingyang Princess chuckled.

It seemed like casual remarks, but in her heart there was a vague premonition. She feared that on the same day next year, something shocking would occur.

The feeling was indescribable, yet truly existed.

"Hmm... it's good if you have some thoughts. Recently, your mother has also come to terms. Your uncle's issues can't be blamed on the Duke Wu'an. The things I said before are past. If you're truly interested, your mother won't stop you.

Chen Yuan is a good choice. You're also not young anymore. You should have considered this long ago."

Pingyang Princess, rarely, did not confront her mother and lowered her head without a word.

After staying for a while in Chunhua Palace, Pingyang Princess rose to bid farewell, standing outside the palace gates and sighed lightly. Not knowing what she thought, she shook her head.

...

...

After leaving the court, Chen Yuan returned to the Duke Wu'an Mansion and did not immediately rush to depart. Jingtai had already assigned him authority before the civil and military officials.

Overseeing martial affairs in Shuzhou, Blood State, and South State of the Three States.

It's impossible to go back on that.

Perhaps inwardly annoyed, but it must be suppressed within.

The Imperial Decree had not been issued yet, so he was not in a hurry to leave at this moment.

And something he didn't know but could foresee became true.

The matter of defying the decree and contradicting the Emperor in the Golden Throne Hall spread like wildfire in the Capital, creating an enormous stir.

Defying royal authority, disdaining marriage.

The world remains unsettled, how can one establish a household?

These affairs rapidly spread, shaking the populace greatly.

His own reputation was already high, and now being at a recent focal point, the impact was extraordinary.

Many ignored the year's agreement, only discussing his firm confrontation with Jingtai.

A vast majority heard with respect.

Saying Chen Yuan was a true husband, unmatched in the court.

Yet some thought Chen Yuan was too rigid and prone to break. Clearly a good thing, yet he stubbornly refused, simply unappreciative, blessed but unaware.

If it were them, they wouldn't even need the Emperor's marriage decree; they'd directly find a way to propose.

But these people were just a small part.

The real massive stir happened in Jianghu!

The government and Jianghu have always been opposing forces, not exactly water and fire, but certainly not harmonious. In many state capitals below, Jianghu forces disregard the government, sometimes even sabotaging it.

Inevitably, when an individual gains strength, they naturally disdain the law.

Feeling these should not be constraints upon them.

They believe they ought to be outstanding among men.

Thus, many call those who seek allegiance with the government or have deep ties as 'lapdogs'.

But Chen Yuan was one of the few exceptions.

The things he has done in the past two years are not acts of a lapdog but those of a strong leader, a good official. Breaking the Sumeru Illusion Realm in the Capital was a minor matter.

The real thing that made him renowned across the world and respected was the previous battle in Liangzhou City.

After that battle, everyone knew of Chen Yuan's spirited sacrifice, forsaking small righteousness for greater righteousness; how could people not respect him?

His reputation indeed gained recognition from most of the world at that time.

Nowadays, facing off against Jingtai in the Golden Throne Hall further made countless Jianghu experts cheer, feeling this was what a true man should do. Many cursed Jingtai upon hearing of the year's agreement, not allowing others a retreat.

For so many years, the government hadn't reclaimed Blood State, with only two state domains under its banner, yet made Chen Yuan reclaim a third of the territory—is this humanly possible?

Blood State is vast, one of the top ones in the world.

A third of its territory, at least five state domains.

It's extremely difficult to obtain.

Once you take action, you face the united resistance of Blood State, where martial spirit is fierce, gathering much of the world's fiercest figures.

Is it that easily obtainable?

With some adding fuel to the fire, within a few days, the situation escalated to Chen Yuan rebuking Jingtai's incompetence in martial arts in the Golden Throne Hall, and if it weren't for two Dukes' intervention, he might have assassinated the Emperor on the spot.

Those who witnessed the event firsthand didn't know what to say after hearing this.

They knew essentially the meeting was the Emperor being aggressive, while Chen Yuan stood firm; where was his courage to revile the Emperor's incompetence?

No matter how great the merit, it wouldn't allow survival.

Sima Ke originally intended to visit Chen Yuan at the Marquis Mansion after the court to strengthen relations and gain support, but before stepping out, the palace's decree had already arrived.

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