Chapter 409: Chapter 323: Seeking to Marry Yin Weiyin
Li Yingheng is really that bad, a silver spearhead that’s all show, no substance? Obviously not!
The Swordsmith Manor, a top-tier sect in the Capital Region, had risen to prominence through forging swords, producing both famous swords and master swordsmen. Yet, it was defeated in such an effortless manner.
To those who don’t know better, it seemed easy. To those who do, it seemed even easier.
So why was the defeat so crushingly simple?
Isn’t it because your Prince Mansion wanted to choose a son-in-law? Isn’t it because you, Prince Jing, had taken a liking to this former rival—seeing his mastery of martial arts as divine and his future limitless—and wanted to take him in as a son-in-law?
But you worried that simply laughing and letting bygones be bygones would make people think you are spineless, so you conspired with Chen Zunming to perform a two-person act. Everyone knew. Everyone understood.
Chen Yi thoroughly defeated Li Yingheng. Then, from his high seat, the Prince lifts a cup of tea in respect. This act not only displays magnanimity and appreciation for talent but also helps the household find a fine son-in-law. A double blessing—congratulations, congratulations!
So, what’s next? Is an engagement on the horizon?
As people’s thoughts whirled and the chatter grew, the spectators started putting things together. They exchanged knowing smiles. There wasn’t the slightest tension about the host being humiliated, only bursts of applause.
"Great! What incredible martial skill!"
"No wonder the Prince Mansion has chosen him."
"A man of such renown cannot be mere bluff! Truly a fine match!"
......
However, from afar, no one noticed that under the plaque of "Fenggu Hall," Prince Jing’s face had already turned ashen, his hands tightly clutching the armrests.
This...Li Yingheng lost just like that?
Even as a fifth-grade expert, he lost so effortlessly?
Your Swordsmith Manor took Chen Qianhu’s money and staged a show for me, Prince Jing?
Yet, at this point, the truth was clear—everyone witnessed Li Yingheng’s defeat, and what’s said once cannot be unsaid. Prince Jing’s expression was now frozen in sheer disbelief.
Was this birthday celebration really going to end with him offering tea to the thorn in his side?
If he didn’t offer the tea, it would make him seem discourteous; in any ordinary circumstance, Prince Jing would absolutely extend the courtesy. It’s just a cup of tea, after all, and it could show him to be a man of his word, respectful of talent.
But if he did offer the tea, it would symbolize that the Prince Mansion was bowing to this Chen Qianhu—despite their longstanding mutual disdain. Their previous state of peaceful non-interference was already the best outcome. How could he now go so far as to lower his head?
Moreover, Prince Jing suddenly thought of something...
Hadn’t there been rumors recently that the Prince Mansion was considering him as a potential son-in-law?
At this thought, Prince Jing’s eyes bulged like copper bells.
Looking at the crowd enjoying themselves, cheering and celebrating, and seeing that the next step was about to be the raucous encouragement of an engagement, Prince Jing’s face turned deathly pale. He never expected that the matchmaking scheme he had agreed to would backfire on him like a boomerang.
If the two of them were betrothed and they gave their mutual consent,
then, even if there hadn’t been private feelings before, there would certainly be some now!
At this realization, Prince Jing truly wanted Chen Zunming to draw his sword so that he could bash his own head against it!
Let me die right here today! I’ll show you all just how serious this is! Let’s see if you dare continue with your private entanglements!
Since it had come to this, no matter what, that cup of tea could not be offered.
Prince Jing sat rigidly in the seat of honor, motionless. Above him hung the plaque with the golden characters "Fenggu Hall." After a long deliberation, he spoke up:
"Chen Qianhu, your martial arts are truly unparalleled. On any other day, offering you tea in admiration would not be out of the question. But today is my birthday. Could you show me some face and let the matter drop? If you wish to leave, I won’t stop you."
These words caused the harmonious ambiance among the previously cheerful guests to falter. Stirring murmurs rippled through the crowd; no one could make sense of this sudden twist.
The Princess glanced nervously at Prince Jing, while their eldest son stood there woodenly, vacant-eyed and unmoving.
Yin Weiyin’s face had turned slightly pale. She clenched her hands tightly, sensing what was coming.
How could she not understand the shamelessness in her father’s words?
Yet, caught in the middle, she didn’t know how to respond or act in this delicate situation.
Not far away, Yin Tingxue furrowed her brows at Prince Jing’s words, a flicker of indignation in her heart.
One ought to keep their word.
Families that accumulate good deeds will find blessings in abundance; those that accrue wrongdoing will meet with ruin.
Yin Tingxue wanted to chastise Prince Jing for his behavior, but as a mere handmaiden, she couldn’t speak out unless Chen Yi said something first.
And as for Chen Yi, standing a short distance away with an unreadable expression, he strode forward, sword in hand, until the tip of his blade pointed directly at the "Fenggu Hall" plaque overhead:
"To speak without honor—for the Prince Mansion to claim no understanding of integrity—why bother to prominently display it for everyone’s ridicule?"
"You!"
Prince Jing’s face darkened instantly with fury.
At these words, the crowd erupted into a storm of astonished murmurs. Why did it feel like the atmosphere had turned so tense, as though the sword had been drawn? Surely, there were no intentions of betrothal or engagement here?
Prince Jing coldly chuckled at this show of disrespect. "Good, good, good... Very well! So everyone says you’re an excellent match, a fine son-in-law—good, good indeed..."
This tone alone told Chen Yi all he needed to know.
In truth, from the beginning, he had already discerned the subtle hints of this charade.
The music from earlier—when Yin Tingxue brought it up—gave him the first inkling, though he hadn’t thought much of it at first. The poetry that followed, however, had been carefully orchestrated, forcing a reaction from the participants...
And as for this supposed "matchmaking and admiration of talent," only an outsider unaware of the true dynamics would believe it. If Prince Jing genuinely intended to select a son-in-law, Yin Weiyin’s reaction wouldn’t have been so muted.
Even if the female crown wanted to conceal things, once the proverbial floodwaters rose, everything would have been exposed.
Ultimately, all this was simply a deliberate ploy stemming from the rumors about him and Yin Weiyin.
Chen Yi’s lips twisted into a cold smile.
Yin Weiyin was his concubine, a catalytic vessel. All the authority rested with him—not with the Prince Mansion.
That said, given her current docility, Chen Yi wouldn’t humiliate her unnecessarily. He had promised her that in front of others, she would still be the revered Taichua Goddess.
But he also wouldn’t let the Prince too easily save face...
So Chen Yi’s lips moved faintly as he murmured something under his breath.
Prince Jing stared daggers at him, his face as gloomy as a stormy sky. Slowly, he spoke:
"There will be no discussion of tea offerings, but other matters—this prince can consider them."
The Princess looked on with confusion. Why was Chen Yi remaining silent for so long—what was he planning?
Since you don’t want me proposing a marriage alliance...
Chen Yi spoke lightly: "If the Prince doesn’t wish to offer the tea, then how about an apology—and granting me your daughter’s hand in marriage?"
At these words, Prince Jing’s eyes widened furiously, his face brought to an unnatural, suffocating pallor as his tightly clenched fists trembled.
The thing he feared most had come to pass...
Could it be...this scoundrel truly had a private affair with...Weiyin?
At this thought, Prince Jing felt utterly nauseated, as though he’d swallowed poison.
The Princess blinked in surprise, a faint flicker of delight flashing through her eyes.
Yin Weiyin froze briefly, her gaze flickering like fireflies in the dark.
The reactions of the parties involved were mixed, but as the words echoed through the hall, the less-informed guests erupted with applause.
What "tension" or "standoff"? In the end, wasn’t this all just part of the proposal process? Why make everyone so nervous? Now it was all clear—just engagement and celebration, a double blessing!
Just like the dramas in the storybooks—what a show! Everyone had been thoroughly entertained and gotten their fill of excitement.
With the atmosphere this lively, the crowd didn’t hesitate. If they didn’t cheer and extend their well-wishes now, they’d seem out of place!
The Prince may have felt awkward about this, but to act like a comedic foil and give him an out was better for everyone. And who knew? Maybe gratitude and future rewards lay in store.
"Wonderful! A hero and a beauty—a perfect match!"
"He truly is an excellent son-in-law. There’s no better candidate in the entire Capital City!"
"I think the Prince can stop pretending now. Everyone knows the Prince Mansion has been eyeing Chen Qianhu for some time!"
As these comments poured forth, how could Prince Jing not realize what the guests were intending?
Did they seriously believe the Prince Mansion was grooming him as a son-in-law?
His face grew paler and paler. At this moment, there was no way to explain himself, no way out. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined things would spiral this way, completely reversing on him.
The Prince Mansion, grasping at straws, bellowed:
"N-No! We still need to hear my daughter’s opinion! The girls of the Prince Mansion are not like ordinary women—they have their own agency!"
As he spoke, Prince Jing directed an imploring gaze toward his eldest daughter, Yin Weiyin.
As long as she refused, this fiasco would end, and everything would return to normal.