Volume 1, Chapter 7: Father, You Do Not Understand the Blond-Haired Youth... Heir Apparent

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study of the Great Xia Dynasty’s capital, Emperor Li Zaiyuan reclined in his wooden chair. He exuded an air of supreme authority, yet his expression softened with the unique indulgence he reserved only for his seventh daughter, Princess Li Yunrui.

"Yunrui... what made you change your mind? I thought you were dead set on breaking off the engagement?" he asked. "And why did you slap Long Zhan?"

"Father, he was the one who overstepped his bounds. A mere commander of the Cavalry Battalion, yet he repeatedly showed disrespect to both me and Zhao Wujiang..." Li Yunrui pouted slightly, letting out a soft huff.

Among all the princes and princesses, she had always been the most favored. In the presence of her father, she shed the fear that others held for the sovereign, adopting a more willful, childlike demeanor.

Li Zaiyuan shook his head with a smile. He noticed the tone his daughter used when mentioning Zhao Wujiang. Compared to the past, the disgust was entirely gone, replaced by a hint of gentleness.

"Didn't you used to despise Zhao Wujiang more than anyone?"

"That was before I realized today that Zhao Wujiang is actually quite a decent person!"

"Oh? Tell me more."

Li Yunrui pursed her red lips. As Zhao Wujiang’s image surfaced in her mind, she spoke softly: "He has a method to his actions and possesses his own unique insights. He is not the useless glutton everyone claims him to be. As for being licentious or lecherous, I saw not a trace of it. Father, you didn't see it—the way he looked at me held nothing but simple appreciation; there was not a hint of lewdness. In fact, he even seemed eager for me to call off the wedding..."

As she spoke, Li Zaiyuan interrupted, "He wanted to break off the engagement? My own daughter, looked down upon by him?"

"Father, you don't understand him," Li Yunrui immediately defended him. "He feels that his current situation would only hinder me. Alas, the world has misunderstood him too deeply. Zhao Wujiang can endure what ordinary people cannot; he is deep, subtle, and hides his true brilliance. He is a good man."

"Oh? You mean he is concealing his edge? Why would he do that, and when does he plan to... reveal his true sharpness?" Li Zaiyuan’s smile faded, a flicker of murderous intent quietly stirring in his heart. If anything, he would have preferred Zhao Wujiang to be a foolish, mediocre man.

The Li royal family had always been wary of the Prince of the North, Zhao Tiexiao. When Li Zaiyuan was still the Crown Prince, he and Zhao Tiexiao were sworn brothers. But now that Li Zaiyuan sat upon the throne, the rules of monarch and subject had to be observed. Zhao Tiexiao held the northern borders with a million soldiers and enjoyed the deep support of the people. Coupled with their brotherhood, Li Zaiyuan had never found the opportunity to reclaim that military power.

But now, Zhao Tiexiao was dead. While Li Zaiyuan had mourned for a few days, he felt more relief than anything else. At the very least, the imperial power was now secure.

As for the only son of his sworn brother, Zhao Wujiang, Li Zaiyuan could tolerate him being a lecherous, debauched, and hopeless piece of trash. But he did not want to see Zhao Wujiang become a second Zhao Tiexiao. That was why he had tacitly allowed his daughter to break the engagement today and sent Long Zhan to accompany them—Li Zaiyuan would not grant Zhao Wujiang any capital for a comeback.

Yet now, his daughter claimed this boy was hiding his true self?

"Father?" Li Yunrui sensed the chill in her father's tone and frowned. She was no mere decorative princess; she knew her father’s long-standing fear of the Prince of the North. She never expected that he would be wary of Zhao Wujiang as well.

That made it even more vital not to tell him the secret that the Prince of the North was still alive. If her father found out and acted on impulse to kill Zhao Wujiang, what would happen when the Prince of the North returned...? She did not dare to imagine. In any case, the secret she had learned from Zhao Wujiang’s inner thoughts must never be leaked!

After a moment of thought, she shook her father’s arm and said with a touch of coquetry, "Father, the Prince of the North is already dead; what are you still worried about? Why not be magnanimous to Zhao Wujiang? After all, he is your son-in-law, and his family is gone..."

Li Zaiyuan’s brow slowly smoothed. Indeed, Zhao Tiexiao was dead. What harm was there in bestowing some imperial grace upon Zhao Wujiang to show his subjects his capacity for tolerance? The prerequisite, however, was that Zhao Wujiang must have no ambition, no ability, and preferably, nothing at all.

Li Zaiyuan tapped his desk. "If Zhao Wujiang is to be my son-in-law, he must be worthy of my daughter. Zhenghua!"

A voice responded from outside the study, "This old servant is here."

"Summon Zhao Wujiang to the palace." Li Zaiyuan’s voice was full of majesty, but as he finished, he added, "And bring Long Zhan as well!"

"Understood."

After the Grand Eunuch Chen Zhenghua left to carry out the order, Li Yunrui asked, "Father, why did you summon that annoying Long Zhan?"

Li Zaiyuan looked at his willful daughter and smiled indulgently. "In truth, when it comes to talent, Long Zhan is a capable, courageous, and wise young man with excellent martial arts. I had originally intended for him to be a strong candidate for a son-in-law after you broke off the engagement."

Li Yunrui disagreed. "He deserves it?"

Li Zaiyuan laughed. "I know you have a prejudice against him because of today, but he was only following orders. A slight overstep is understandable."

"Father!"

"Listen to me. Once Long Zhan and Zhao Wujiang are compared, you will see just how mediocre Zhao Wujiang truly is."