CHAPTER 13: Emperor Wants Luo Fan for His Daughter

RUAN YANJUN

I stood at the top of the stairs while I watched Luo Fan teach Xu Dong how to properly process his inner qi to make it more potent.

They were both seated in the middle of the pentagram, with Luo Fan behind Xu Dong. Luo Fan was pointing at particular spots on Xu Dong’s back where he should channel his inner qi before releasing it into the cauldron. They were both too focused they did not even notice me.

A moment later, the cauldron floated in the air.

Thrilled by what he had managed to accomplish, Xu Dong gasped with a big smile, cutting off the flow of energy.

The cauldron dropped to the floor with a loud thud.

“Focus,” Fan reminded the alchemist. “Do not get distracted or you’ll run out of energy. Do it again.”

I smiled, proud of my A-Fan.

By just looking at that frail priest, no one would believe that he was once the world-renowned Divine Mage, or the best alchemist in the continent. I did not believe it either, but since I had witnessed it with my own eyes, I had no more reason to doubt.

Even without his cultivation, he knew some advance strategy in processing inner qi for maximum effect. With his guidance, even a low-level alchemist could refine like a master.

I suddenly remembered that Shi Tengfei had requested my presence in the palace. I had just dropped by the laboratory to see how things were going, but then I ended up staying longer than necessary.

I did not want to distract them so I quietly turned around and descended the stairs. With Luo Fan in charge of things, I had nothing to worry about.

When I arrived at the gate, Huang Wen and the coachman were both languidly leaning against the side of the carriage, but when they saw me approaching, they immediately stood straight.

*****

“This way, my lord,” Zeng Jie said as he led me to the garden where the emperor awaited my arrival.

I wondered what he wanted from me this time that he even had to postpone his appointment with the prime minister just to have tea with me.

“Lord Ruan, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” Shi Tengfei greeted the moment he saw me approaching. He was standing under a pavilion made of bamboo, with flowering vines all over the top for additional shade from the sun.

It looked too girly to me, and I was sure his favorite daughter had set that up according to her preference, not minding her father’s status.

I nodded casually and we both settled on two chairs by the table.

Shi Tengfei and I had known each other for a long time now that formalities were no longer required between us. In fact, I was even the one who had picked him up for a crown prince when his father was still alive.

The former emperor had favored his eldest son who was excellent in almost everything. However, his head was bigger than what the door to the throne room could accommodate.

At first, I had not objected to his being a crown prince even if he had shown too much arrogance right in front of me, until he had dared tell me that he would be the greatest emperor that Xianru would ever have without my help. So I had shown him what he would be without my help

So of course, he did not become the emperor. Shi Tengfei did.

Although Shi Tengfei’s intelligence could not be comparable to his older brother’s, at least he was willing to learn. He was humble and modest, he listened to those who knew better, but he could also be fierce if necessary. And so far he had done quite well. He was beloved by his subjects and his empire had prospered even more.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The only problem was that he was a bit too soft at times, especially on matters involving his family and relatives. In politics, he was usually skeptical about his decisions. Even if he had excellent ideas, he always felt the need to consult me for validation.

However, I would prefer him that way rather than being reckless. I would not want him to be like the emperor of Wun Empire who believed that he was that capable and had no need of my advice or opinion.

“So what do you want to discuss with me this time?” I asked while Eunuch Zeng poured tea into our cups.

Shi Tengfei sat up straight and cleared his throat as if he were preparing himself for something. “It’s not anything about State affairs, but it’s important.”

“Even your daughter’s birthday is important to you,” I said and I noticed him freeze. I had spoken out of the blue, but it seemed I had hit the nail right on the head. “So it’s about your daughter’s birthday?” I was almost upset that he had called me over for such nonsense.

He cleared his throat again. “That’s one thing, but there’s a more important matter.”

I sighed. “Fine. Tell me.”

“It seems that Priest Luo was not able to come along?”

I picked up the cup of tea and took a small sip.

The messenger who had come to my mansion earlier had told me that the emperor also wanted to meet Luo Fan, but I had decided to leave him behind where he would be safe. “The last time I brought him here, someone tried to kill him. For his safety, it’s best to keep him in my residence where he is well-guarded.”

“That incident was due to the palace guards’ incompetence. I accept responsibility. Rest assured that it will not happen again.”

I smirked. “What did you want to see him for?”

“My… daughter…”

“Your dearest Princess Xinnu, I suppose?”

“That’s correct.”

I sighed. This man had dozens of beautiful daughters, but for some reason, he especially favored that spoiled brat that he even refused to have her married. She was getting old. Soon, they would refer to her a leftover.

“What about her?”

“I believe she may have seen Priest Luo one time and…”

“She’s attracted to him,” I finished his statement.

“That’s correct. Eunuch Zeng assured me that Priest Luo is a very handsome man with a gentle personality. It’s the first time my daughter is smitten by a man, so I wish to meet this Priest Luo personally.”

“Are you thinking about marrying her off to Priest Luo?”

“That’s the idea. Unless Lord Ruan does not think he can make a good husband for my daughter.”

I smirked. “Of course, he will. Priest Luo will make a perfect husband for a very lucky woman. However, I don’t think that your daughter is worthy of a fine man like him. He deserves someone better.”

Shi Tengfei’s face turned red. As the emperor, he was not used to being rejected or his family being insulted right before his face, but any word coming out of Ruan Yanjun’s mouth was a bitter pill that he had learned to swallow since he was a young man.

A moment later, he cleared his throat again. “I understand Lord Ruan’s predicament. I admit that my daughter has been spoiled. Her mother’s untimely death was my fault, so I had probably pampered her too much just to ease my guilt. But if Lord Ruan thinks she’s not worthy for a good man’s wife, then we can probably remedy that. My daughter is very obedient. She will listen to me. I’ll make her change her ways.”

“Do you think you can change a person in just a few days?” I returned. “Shi Tengfei, your daughter is getting old. It will take you years to change her ways. She’d be a leftover woman before she matures.”

“Lord Ruan, what I’m trying to say is that… we can arrange for Priest Luo and Xinnu to get married, and while in that marriage, I shall send someone competent to teach my daughter to be a proper wife.”

I chuckled. “Shi Tengfei, you have not even met Priest Luo, yet it seems you’ve already made up your mind about this marriage. Why would you want a commoner for your precious daughter?”

“I haven’t met him yet, but I’ve already looked into his person… and he’s not an ordinary man.”

I squinted. Although this man lacked confidence and was too soft for a leader, he was more clever than he seemed. He had probably found out the truth about Luo Fan, and that was why he was that enthusiastic to marry his daughter to him.

Who would not? If I also had a daughter, I would definitely marry her to Luo Fan, as well.

“I’m neither a parent nor a relative of his, so I’m not in the position to discuss his marriage.”

“Then perhaps Priest Luo might want to entertain me as his audience?”

I smirked. This man who used to be a boy that I could just control with a flick of my finger was learning to outwit me. As the emperor, he was even willing to be the one to go to Luo Fan. “Priest Luo is preoccupied trying to find a cure for your dying son. Do not bother him with those matters for the time being.”

“Don’t worry, I will not. But my daughter is celebrating her twenty-first birthday in two days. I hope that Lord Ruan and Priest Luo will grace the occasion with their presence?”

“Tengfei, your son is dying and here you are throwing a birthday banquet?”

“It’s not a banquet, my lord. It’s just a simple celebration with only family members and close relatives. The occasion shall be held in the residence of my daughter’s grandparents.”

I sighed. “If that’s the case, I have no objection. However, I will not be able to attend. Priest Luo requires some plants I have to assign people to look for them.”

“Then perhaps Priest Luo might be able to lend a little of his time?”

“Like I said, Priest Luo is preoccupied trying to find a cure for your dying son. The crown prince’s life is more important than your daughter’s birthday celebration. Leave him be for now. And whatever you have found out about him, keep it to yourself. He is still not aware of anything about his real identity.”

Shi Tengfei’s jaw dropped. “He… he does not know?” he asked. He was about to say more but he suddenly sealed his lips tight.

I narrowed my eyes. I wasn’t sure how much he had found out about Luo Fan, but I’d rather not discuss it. “Not a thing, and it’s not yet the time for him to know.”

After a moment of contemplating, he nodded. “I give you my word. The information stays with me.”

I believed he would. For many years, Shi Tengfei had never once broken his word to me, not because he was trustworthy, but because he feared the consequences.