King of Creation
Chapter 211 - 208 Astonishing Conditions

Chapter 211: Chapter 208 Astonishing Conditions

"Your Highness, the Ninth Princess is a beauty of heavenly fragrance and possesses both beauty and wisdom. Truly exceptional!"

While saying this, a hint of unease had already flashed across Ye Zhen’s eyes. The Eldest Prince wasn’t foolish—why would he ask Ye Zhen to appraise Princess Huayang’s virtues and flaws?

The purpose behind the Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan’s actions was becoming clear.

Upon hearing this, Princess Huayang’s pretty face turned bright red, and she lowered her head shyly, while the joy in the eyes of Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan thickened.

"Since my younger sister Huayang has caught the eye of Duke Wusan, and Huayang is unwed and Duke Wusan is unattached, I wonder if we might create a beautiful..."

"Your Highness!"

Although Ye Zhen quickly interrupted, the slightly inebriated Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan had already spoken, causing Ye Zhen’s heart to skip. Despite his reluctance, he was ultimately going to hurt Princess Huayang.

"What’s the matter, Duke Wusan in a hurry?"

Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan’s smile deepened, and Princess Huayang’s face blushed like a bright red apple, yet her expression was filled with joy.

Princess Huayang and Ye Zhen first met at Caiyi’s birthday celebration, where Fan Chuyu had laid several traps for Ye Zhen.

Which had been easily resolved by Ye Zhen.

From then on, just a cultivator in the True Essence Realm daring to challenge a disciple in the Spirit Transformation Realm, Ye Zhen had piqued Princess Huayang’s interest.

Latter, at a banquet hosted by Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan, Ye Zhen displayed his divine might by dealing with Lie Kuangsha, and the miracles performed that day completely charmed Princess Huayang.

Gradually, Princess Huayang paid more attention to Ye Zhen and the more she did, the more she was attracted.

This time, coinciding with Ye Zhen capturing the War Soul Blood Flag and becoming a national hero, her admiration grew. Coincidentally, the Royal Family wanted to win over Ye Zhen, leading to the plan of marrying off a princess, hence the scenario at hand.

The straightforward proposal by the Eldest Prince even stunned those present, with several brothers being especially envious.

A marriage bestowed upon a princess.

And not just any princess, but the most cherished one, and a stunning beauty at that. How could they not envy him?

But to everyone’s surprise, Ye Zhen’s expression was troubled.

Yes, troubled!

This troubled look was also noticed by Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan, but he harbored no suspicions.

Instead, he said with a smile, "Is Duke Wusan concerned about family matters? Don’t worry, with Duke Wusan’s status, my sister Huayang marrying into the Ye Family is just like any common daughter marrying and serving her parents-in-law."

This statement gave significant face to Ye Zhen.

The crowd’s astonishment was beyond words. A princess marrying into another family was simply...

"If Duke Wusan agrees, then I will report this marriage to the Emperor tomorrow," said the Eldest Prince.

"Your Highness..." Ye Zhen suddenly stood up.

"I appreciate Your Highness’s kindness," Ye Zhen heartily said, "but I truly do not deserve the princess. Please forgive me!" With gritted teeth, Ye Zhen couldn’t care less anymore. He had to refuse.

Let alone that Ye Zhen’s heart harbored only Caiyi, moreover, Princess Huayang, like Miss Hee whom he had previously rejected, was not the kind of partner who could accompany him on the Martial Arts path.

The cultivation of a martial artist begins from the Blood Training Realm, moving through the True Yuan Realm to the Spirit Summoning Realm, which enhances the body and makes a martial artist a hundred times healthier than ordinary people but contributes nothing to life span.

They live as long as they are meant to, merely a bit longer than ordinary people at best. If an ordinary person lives seventy years, that is considered long life, while a martial artist can only reach eighty or ninety years at most.

However, if the cultivation breaks through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, using spiritual power to temper the body, turning the body into an Acquired Spiritual Body, one’s lifespan can be slightly extended to twenty more years.

Ye Zhen’s cultivation had already reached the peak of the Spirit Summoning Realm and he was not yet eighteen. As long as he could endure, the chance to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm was still very significant.

How could an ordinary woman accompany Ye Zhen on this long journey of Martial Arts?

Moreover, Ye Zhen truly had no feelings for Princess Huayang, so how could he agree?

However, if Caiyi were an ordinary person, Ye Zhen would give up martial arts just to be with her till the end of time!

Upon Ye Zhen saying this, everyone was astounded.

The guests today were first astonished by Ye Zhen’s luck, and then stunned by his audacity.

He dared to reject a royal marriage—did he no longer wish to get ahead?

The Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan was stunned; he hadn’t anticipated that a seemingly secure plan would inexplicably fail.

The one who experienced the greatest emotional upheaval was undoubtedly Princess Huayang.

Initially brimming with joy and bashfully awaiting her expected happiness, she never imagined she would be publicly rejected.

The color drained from her pretty face as tears silently streamed from her beautiful eyes.

"Ye Zhen, I hate you!"

Amidst her tears, Princess Huayang ran out of the hall, leaving Ye Zhen awkwardly standing there.

Ye Zhen felt awkward, but Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan felt even more awkward.

This incident, although caused by him, couldn’t be blamed on Ye Zhen.

"Duke Wusan, this matter... was indeed rash of me. Ah... Come, let’s drink!" Under his dejection, Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan again raised his wine cup.

The accompanying guests were again stunned.

Is it over just like that?

Rejecting the princess and leaving the Royal Family without face, just like that?

Although it was hard for everyone to believe, indeed, the matter ended just like that.

Not just refusing the marriage publicly, even if Ye Zhen had gone further, the royal family probably wouldn’t have pursued it.

Of course, Ye Zhen had no intention of relying on the War Soul Blood Flag. Even without the War Soul Blood Flag, he would have firmly refused.

....

Due to the plan devised by Guo Qijing and Chu Taiping, these past few days Ye Zhen had to remain in Black Water King’s City, deliberately making public appearances to show that the War Soul Blood Flag had been handed over.

One day, while Ye Zhen was silently cultivating at Black Water Dao Field, the deacon Liu Neng suddenly came to report that an inner attendent from the Imperial Palace had come to see Ye Zhen.

"Lord Duke Wusan, this humble one is specially ordered by the supervisor to request Lord Duke Wusan go to the Inner Residence to have the Golden Register and Jade Seal custom made, and to take over the affairs of Duke Wusan!

A middle-aged eunuch without a single facial hair fell to his knees as soon as he saw Ye Zhen.

"Hmm, lead the way!"

In addition to making public appearances these few days as a smoke screen, Ye Zhen was waiting for this event. Once this was over, he could return to his sect and quietly take Caiyi home to fulfill his parents’ wish.

Thinking of this, a smile unconsciously floated to Ye Zhen’s lips.

The vehicle that came for Ye Zhen was a luxurious carriage from the palace. Although Ye Zhen didn’t like the slow carriage and preferred riding a horse, he had to endure it and not trouble the servants unnecessarily.

"Lord Duke Wusan, we’ve arrived!"

When Ye Zhen stepped out of the carriage, he was stunned. This place was not the Inner Government of the Palace at all, but instead it was a residence that combined the essence of nature and beauty.

Little bridges and flowing water, lush with greenery, it appeared extraordinarily serene.

"Where is this? Where are the people?"

As soon as Ye Zhen disembarked, the figure of the eunuch who brought him had disappeared, and Ye Zhen’s expression immediately turned stern, his mind alert and cautious.

"Hahaha, Lord Duke Wusan, please do not be angry. It was the young prince who instructed him to do this. It’s only because Lord Duke Wusan has been so hard to invite. The young prince had no choice but to resort to this!"

Amidst laughter, the figure of Third Prince Zhu Kun suddenly appeared in the courtyard.

Ye Zhen’s expression immediately looked displeased.

Third Prince Zhu Kun indeed had invited him four or five times, but he had ignored all of them.

Due to his despicable performance in the Battlefield of Demon Souls, Ye Zhen had grown thoroughly disgusted with Third Prince Zhu Kun. It wasn’t too much to call the Third Prince ambitious but untalented, completely irresponsible.

Moreover, Ye Zhen could guess the intention behind the Third Prince’s invitations, so how could Ye Zhen attend his banquet?

"Lord Duke Wusan, since you’ve come, why not come in and talk? After all, we have fought side by side before!"

"Very well!"

Since Third Prince Zhu Kun had gone through such effort to set up this place just to see him, Ye Zhen felt it wouldn’t be right to be too unaccommodating. He gave him this chance!

A tea room, exceptionally quiet, containing only an incense burner and two cups of hot tea.

"Presumably Lord Duke Wusan knows what I have in mind. If Lord Duke..." Third Prince Zhu Kun did not stand on ceremony but got straight to the point.

"Third Prince, if you are talking about that matter, then save it!"

What else could the Third Prince be referring to, if not the throne?

Especially since Emperor Yuankang had no hope of breaking through to the Spirit Transformation Realm and was indulging in pleasures day and night, his days seemed numbered, and the princes below him were naturally anxious.

Previously, with the support of Lishui Sect, Third Prince Zhu Kun could still hold his own against Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan, and Emperor Yuankang’s position as Crown Prince was always hanging over their heads.

Originally, after successfully reclaiming the War Soul Blood Flag at the Five Countries Conference, Third Prince Zhu Kun wanted to use this merit to suppress Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan and seize the position of Crown Prince.

But the situation turned dire unexpectedly. The War Soul Blood Flag had to be forever held by Ye Zhen, who happened to be very close to Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan and was from Qiyun Sect.

This allowed his elder brother Zhu Xuan to quickly gain an advantage, and within the palace, rumors even spread about establishing Zhu Xuan as Crown Prince.

What made Zhu Kun helpless was that Lishui Sect, which had previously firmly supported him, now no longer did, and he had sought an audience with Master of Lishui Sect, Chu Taiping, several times without success.

Not only did Chu Taiping refuse to see him, but also Lik Shi, the elder in charge of foreign affairs at Lishui Sect, no longer met with him.

Having lost Lishui Sect’s support, Third Prince Zhu Kun fell out of favor overnight.

Third Prince Zhu Kun did not know that it was because of his poor performance in the Battlefield of Demon Souls that the senior members of Lishui Sect were completely disappointed in him, thinking that putting him in power would only harm the country and the people; they simply stopped caring.

But, Third Prince Zhu Kun was in a panic!

He had struggled for that position for half his life, how could he give up halfway?

After much deliberation, he thought of Ye Zhen!

If anyone could trigger a dramatic turnaround for him, it was Ye Zhen!

The Ye Zhen who possessed the War Soul Blood Flag!

As long as Ye Zhen supported him, the military faction of Black Water Kingdom would collectively back him, and even Qiyun Sect might switch their support to him. There were many princes, but there was only one War Soul Blood Flag.

After failing to meet with Ye Zhen several times, Third Prince Zhu Kun concocted this scheme.

"Lord Duke Wusan, since you are here, please let me finish speaking, shall we?"

Ye Zhen glanced sideways at Zhu Kun, not knowing what trick Zhu Kun was playing, but still nodded his head.

"Ye Zhen, I will not play coy this time, let’s speak openly!

All I do is for the throne. If you help me ascend to it, once I am enthroned, I will appoint you as a hereditary Prince Iron Hat."

Ye Zhen’s gaze shifted slightly, but Zhu Kun’s statement was meant to be shocking.

"Not only will I make you Prince Iron Hat, but also out of the thirteen states and eighty-one counties in Black Water Kingdom, you can choose one-third of the counties as your fiefdom! How about that?" (To be continued. If you enjoy this book, welcome to vote and support on qidian.com). Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)