Marriage Proposal

As the legitimate eldest son of the Cui Clan, merely growing up immersed in such an environment taught him a great deal.

This was the inherent advantage of upbringing—learning through osmosis.

Moreover, Shangguan Yuan was far too shrewd, as slick as a loach.

Slippery and impossible to grasp; just when you thought you had him, he would twist away and escape.

You might believe he was on your side, only for him to turn his back on you one day without warning.

But Luo Yanchen didn’t seem concerned about any of this.

His face still bore that careless expression, even more relaxed than before.

"Whether it’s real or fake, we’ll know once we try."

Cui Zilong was stunned for a moment.

His brow furrowed, forming a shallow crease between his brows.

He didn’t quite grasp Luo Yanchen’s meaning.

Try? How?

Test whether Shangguan Yuan was genuinely defecting or merely putting on an act?

If they guessed wrong and pushed Shangguan Yuan, who might have been on their side, into the opposite camp, wouldn’t that be a loss greater than the gain?

But Luo Yanchen’s expression told Cui Zilong he was overthinking.

"Go back and find your father. Tell him you want to marry Shangguan Yunying."

"Have him go to Shangguan’s residence to propose. Your father won’t refuse."

The carriage fell silent.

So quiet that you could hear the wind scraping against the city wall outside the curtain, the metallic clang of weapons as guards changed shifts in the distance.

You could hear the entire process of Cui Zilong’s breathing—shifting from steady to rapid, then from rapid to nearly stopped.

Cui Zilong’s eyes widened.

His pupils contracted slightly, his lips parted a little, as if something had frozen him in place.

As if someone had used a key to unlock a door he had never thought to open.

Behind that door lay a path he had never walked before.

A kind of bewildered hesitation, unsure whether he should step inside.

It wasn’t that Cui Zilong had never considered marrying Shangguan Yunying.

As the legitimate eldest son of the Cui Clan, their status and position were a perfect match.

But he was not favored, not beloved by Cui Shifan.

Being released from house arrest in Qinghe Commandery had only been possible because Luo Yanchen had pulled him out.

And Shangguan Yunying—

Shangguan Yuan’s own daughter, the chief female official of the Crown Princess’s palace, the person closest to Luo Zhao.

And also Gu Chengyin’s woman.

This last identity wasn’t widely known in the court, but the Cui Clan knew.

Cui Shifan’s intelligence network was denser than anyone imagined, especially regarding the affairs between Gu Chengyin and Shangguan Yunying.

The Cui Clan possessed at least three separate intelligence sources, all leading to the same conclusion.

Shangguan Yunying belonged to Gu Chengyin.

Not an ordinary superior-subordinate or colleague relationship.

But the kind of intimate bond between a man and a woman.

If Cui Shifan proposed to Shangguan’s residence, seeking Shangguan Yunying’s hand in marriage—what would happen?

Cui Zilong’s mind began to race.

How would Shangguan Yuan react?

Would he refuse?

If he refused, it would mean he was indeed tied to Gu Chengyin.

And their so-called falling-out had just been an act for outsiders.

Then the Prince’s faction would know exactly how to deal with him.

But what if Shangguan Yuan agreed?

If he agreed, then Shangguan Yunying would have to marry into the Cui household.

Shangguan Yunying was Gu Chengyin’s woman, the chief female official of the Crown Princess’s palace, and Luo Zhao’s trusted confidante.

If she married into the Cui Clan, Gu Chengyin would lose one eye, one ear, one of his most capable hands.

At the same time, Shangguan Yuan and the entire Shangguan Clan would be peeled away.

The Crown Princess’s faction would be dealt a devastating blow.

And the noble clans would gain the Shangguan family’s support.

Not the vague, surface-level loyalty that could be betrayed at any moment.

But a solid bond, sealed by marriage, one that entailed sharing glory and ruin—a deep tie.

Moreover, this would be the first marriage alliance between the noble clans of the divine capital and those of Luo capital.

The significance was immense, far beyond imagination.

This was killing two birds with one stone.

No—three birds with one stone.

First, test Shangguan Yuan’s sincerity.

Second, weaken the core strength of the Crown Princess’s faction.

Third, secure a powerful ally for the Cui Clan.

For the Prince’s faction, anything that weakened the Crown Princess’s faction was good news.

And striking a direct blow against Gu Chengyin was even better.

Cui Zilong’s eyes lit up.

A glimmer breaking through the gloom, like a rift torn in dark clouds, letting sunlight stream through the gap.

He looked at the faint, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of Luo Yanchen’s mouth and suddenly realized this Second Prince was more terrifying than he had imagined.

Not the kind of terror that bared its claws and teeth, but the terror of an undercurrent beneath still waters.

You never knew when it would sweep you away; by the time you noticed, you were already at the bottom.

"Your Highness, do you mean…"

Cui Zilong’s voice was a little tight, not from nervousness, but from excitement.

The kind of excitement a hunter feels when catching the scent of prey—the thrill that makes even his fingers tremble slightly.

Luo Yanchen did not answer.

He merely smiled and lowered the carriage curtain again.

As the curtain fell, the last gleam of twilight was sealed outside, leaving only dimness inside.

In that dimness, his eyes glowed like two polished colored-glass beads, reflecting a cold, eerie light.

"Enter the city."

The carriage began to move.

The wheels rolled over the gravel of the official road, letting out a creaking groan, as if keeping time for a scheme that had just been born.

The carriage swayed, the curtains swayed, and even the two characters "Divine Capital" on the city wall, flickering in and out of the torchlight, seemed to sway.

Luo Yanchen leaned back against the carriage wall, his eyes closed, the faint smile at the corner of his lips never fading.

Gu Chengyin, you want to be Minister of Rites?

Dream on.

I will not allow the Crown Princess's faction to grow any stronger. That useless Crown Princess, Luo Zhao.

Aside from her good looks, what use is she?!

Luo Yanchen was confident in this plan, because no matter the outcome,

he would get what he wanted.

This also presented an opportunity for Cui Shifan.

Luo Yanchen didn't believe Cui Shifan would so readily step aside and let the position of Minister of Rites go.

As long as there was someone to cooperate with him, Gu Chengyin wouldn't find it so easy

to take the seat of Minister of Rites.

Cui Zilong sat across from Luo Yanchen, his heart pounding like a drum.

He was thinking about Shangguan Yunying.

He had seen Shangguan Yunying more than once, but the most memorable time was at a banquet.

Shangguan Yunying wore a set of crimson female official robes, standing half a step behind Luo Zhao.

Her back was straight, her hair perfectly coiffed, and between her brows was a tenderness as gentle as water.

This tenderness was not feigned but grew from deep within her bones.

Just standing there, she made people want to reach out and touch her, to possess her.

And if Shangguan Yunying were to marry into the Cui Clan and become Cui Zilong's lawful wife,

then he would surely become the next head of the Cui Clan.

Even if Cui Shifan disliked him, he would have no choice.

Cui Zilong now finally understood why Luo Yanchen had pulled him out of trouble.

This Second Prince was using him as a blade to strike at Gu Chengyin.

But even knowing this, Cui Zilong did not care.

Because if he won, he would gain everything,

including Shangguan Yunying.