Mentioning this matter, Consort Yang couldn't help but flash a hint of panic on her face. It was the first time she had seen such a terrifying thing, and it happened on Jingtai's body.

It brought her a lot of shadows at the time.

Chen Yuan frowned. If what Consort Yang said was true, it seemed that Jingtai was cultivating some kind of demonic art. But he was the dignified Emperor, the Son of Heaven.

What kind of cultivation method didn't he have?

He was actually cultivating a demonic art!

"Your Majesty, you wouldn't be mistaken, would you?"

"No, although it was only for a moment, His Majesty returned to his original state, but this matter is firmly in my mind, and I would never joke about it."

"Then when did Your Majesty see it?"

"About four or five years ago."

Consort Yang recalled the time and said in a deep voice.

"Four or five years..."

Chen Yuan pondered, recalling what he had heard before, and asked suspiciously:

"How long has His Majesty not visited the harem?"

He had heard that Jingtai had become increasingly obsessed with the art of longevity in recent years and had not rested in the harem for a long time, but he was not very clear about the specific time.

Consort Yang pondered for a moment again, and said somewhat uncertainly:

"About five or six years, I think."

Chen Yuan's heart stirred upon hearing this.

This time was somewhat overlapping.

Perhaps that Emperor Jingtai, who was sitting high on the Dragon Throne, really had some problems. Could there be some strange plan, or was there something wrong with his own cultivation?

It was no wonder that he thought so. The situation described by Consort Yang was indeed thought-provoking, with bloodstains all over his body that were so deep that his bones could be seen, and black, inky demonic energy covering his entire body.

If Jingtai wasn't the Emperor, he would definitely be a demonic cultivator.

But he didn't think in that direction, because the Emperor wasn't an ordinary Emperor. He had the protection of the nation's destiny, and those below the True Lord could not get close to him.

Not only were there several True Lord experts sitting in the capital, but there were also immortals hiding here.

If there were any changes, it would be impossible for them not to be noticed.

But this doubt was deeply buried in Chen Yuan's heart. Also, when he first saw Jingtai, he remembered that he had presented the Umbrella of the People to him.

His reaction at the time was also a bit strong.

Just as Chen Yuan's thoughts were spreading, Consort Yang looked at Chen Yuan suspiciously and asked:

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"Nothing, maybe I'm just thinking too much." Chen Yuan shook his head. Even if Jingtai had a problem, it wasn't his turn to take care of it now, and he didn't have enough strength to kill him even if he wanted to.

He could only put it aside for now and talk about it later.

"When does Your Majesty plan to return to the palace?" Chen Yuan asked casually.

Perhaps his words were too straightforward, causing Consort Yang to mistakenly think that he wanted to probe her further. A layer of blush quickly appeared on her face, and she quickly shook her head and said:

"No, no..."

She hadn't recovered from last night.

She would only need to rest for a day or two.

She hadn't done it in too long. She ate too much yesterday, and although she was very satisfied, she also needed time to recover. At the same time, she sighed inwardly at Chen Yuan's terror.

Not only was his talent outstanding, but even his cooking skills were so strong.

"What won't work?"

Chen Yuan frowned, feeling that he didn't seem to be on the same page as the Consort.

"It's nothing... I have to go back now. The backup I left can't last for too long. I must go back as soon as possible. Don't worry,

I'll let you treat my chronic illnesses another day."

Consort Yang said solemnly.

Chen Yuan nodded:

"Your Majesty, rest assured. My medical skills are very good. I guarantee that I can help Your Majesty solve your problems."

No matter who it was, he would definitely help them reduce their fever.

"Yes, yes... I've learned my lesson."

Consort Yang glared at Chen Yuan. After saying that, she supported her waist and opened the door with a limp. She was now dressed as a man, so as long as people weren't staring at her intentionally, they wouldn't think too much.

Moreover, she would avoid people and leave through the back door.

As for her movements, it was mainly because she had done too many fancy tricks when stir-frying pancakes.

Looking at her limping appearance, Chen Yuan smiled faintly and thought to himself:

"So what if she's as fierce as a tiger, swallowing oxen and spitting out leopards, bending her legs to suck up the earth, and capturing the Buddha in the heavens? Under his cooking skills, wouldn't she still have to leave with a limp?"

The matter of Chen Yuan being conferred a marquisate did not develop as he had expected in the following days. Instead, it had a strange and increasingly intense trend.

It was as if someone was deliberately promoting Chen Yuan's name.

Even Chen Yuan, the person involved, felt a little strange.

The capital was the center of the world, gathering the most elite and powerful people in the Central Plains. It didn't seem necessary to cause such a long-lasting disturbance just to confer a Thorough Marquis, right?

The capital was so large, with a population of over a million, and countless major events happened every day. How could people keep focusing on this matter?

Chen Yuan gradually felt something was wrong.

Sure enough, after a few days, the direction of public opinion in the capital began to change slightly, talking about Chen Yuan's marriage, saying that he had achieved fame and success, and it was time for him to get married.

In this era, which was very similar to the ancient times he was familiar with, men married at a very young age. Poor families often became fathers and mothers at the age of eleven or twelve.

Those from better families, such as officials and wealthy merchants, would postpone it until they were seventeen or eighteen years old before starting to prepare.

But even so, being over twenty years old was considered late.

Often, not being married would give people a feeling of unreliability.

Among Jingtai's adult princes, such as the First Prince, Sima Qian, and the Second Prince, Sima You, had already married noble women from the capital to become princess consorts.

It was rare for someone like Chen Yuan, who was already in his twenties, to not be married.

This matter seemed to have attracted the attention of many people, causing a small tremor in the noble class of the capital.

Countless noble ladies felt their hearts stirred and had secret affections for him.

There was no other way, Chen Yuan was just too outstanding!

He was not yet thirty years old, but he had already become a world-renowned peerless genius, a Huayang True Man. Without even thinking about it, one knew that his future achievements would be extraordinary.

At the same time, he had repeatedly made great contributions, and he was even favored by the Emperor. He skipped the Inner Marquis and was directly conferred the title of Thorough Marquis, with a fief of ten thousand households. As long as he didn't fall in the future.

There was a very high chance that he could become a top figure comparable to Duke Wei, Gu Tianqiong, and Grand Marshal Duke Zhenguo, Li Kuangxiu.

A duke with a fief of one hundred thousand households was comparable to a prince with a different surname, and was granted a gold medal and wielded a golden whip. He was a terrifying existence that ordinary nobles could not reach. Naturally, countless people wanted to climb onto this chariot that was about to take off.

Even before anyone had mentioned it, some people already had ulterior motives.

Now that there was such a big impact, it was naturally even more exciting.

But then the question arose, who in the capital was worthy of such an excellent person?

Those who weren't qualified weren't even worthy of fantasizing about it.

This also made the young ladies from countless wealthy families feel sad.

Chen Yuan had set the bar too high. Compared to Chen Yuan, the marriageable officials in the capital were simply worlds apart.

There was no comparison at all.

When Zhang Wanshu heard this news, her heart stirred, and she ran to Zhang Yantong, hoping that he could probe Chen Yuan's intentions.

If possible, it would be good for Zhang Xuan to meet his brother-in-law.

They were very familiar with each other, so there wouldn't be any awkwardness.

Zhang Yantong thought for a long time, but couldn't resist his daughter's request, so he nodded in agreement, telling her that she could see what Chen Yuan's attitude was, since he had accepted the divine talisman before.

Of course, he wouldn't fall out with Chen Yuan no matter what.

Today was different from the past. When Chen Yuan first entered the capital, he was only in the Void Core Realm. With his strength, it would be fine to intimidate or lure him.

The other party might even agree happily.

But Chen Yuan was now a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, a Huayang cultivator, and a strong contender for the title of Heavenly Envoy. Except for being one level higher in official rank, the rest was almost the same.

He was on an equal footing with him.

He couldn't intimidate him, he could only persuade him with kind words.

For example, Zhang Xuan was Chen Yuan's good friend, and they were close friends. He had also taken care of Chen Yuan many times. Although his daughter couldn't be considered a beauty, she was gentle and virtuous.

It was just right for her to be his first wife.

He could also give him a lot of help.

He felt that his conditions were quite attractive to Chen Yuan.

But just as he was hesitating for a day or two and preparing to visit Chen Yuan in person, a new rumor appeared, causing him to feel as if he had been splashed with a bucket of cold water, and he completely calmed down.

Because what the message conveyed was...

The only person in the entire capital worthy of Marquis Wu'an was a woman. That person was accomplished in both literary and martial arts, virtuous and talented, and deeply loved by the Emperor.

She was the best match for Chen Yuan.

That's right, it was Princess Pingyang!

Apart from her, there was no one else in the capital or even the world who could match a remarkable man like Chen Yuan.

If it were just a rumor, Zhang Yantong wouldn't have cared, because there were too many rumors in the capital, and it was difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. But he happened to think of the wind that had blown up before.

It seemed to echo the present situation.

And most importantly, Zhang Yantong, the cunning old fox, sensed something was wrong from it. The discussion at the level of the capital's nobility seemed a bit abnormal.

It was like a step-by-step build-up...

And who would be the one building up this matter?

Zhang Yantong quickly thought of an existence with a grim expression.

The current Emperor, Emperor Jingtai!

Only he had such means and would use such means to win over a peerless genius like Chen Yuan. At the thought of Jingtai, Zhang Yantong couldn't help but think of Chen Yuan's conferral as a marquis earlier.

Was the Thorough Marquis with a fief of ten thousand households really just a display of the court's recognition of his military achievements?

The wind in the capital was blowing faster and faster, with a tendency to turn into a prairie fire. Naturally, Chen Yuan, who was paying close attention to this matter, also heard about it.

His expression immediately became a bit serious.

He even rejected several banquets from old nobles in the capital.

He didn't have the mood for that now.

What Zhang Yantong could think of, Chen Yuan, as the person involved, naturally also sensed something was wrong, like a big hand that was gradually enveloping him.

But, what was the purpose?

Marriage, it seems...it doesn't have any impact on me, right?

Just as Chen Yuan was thinking about this matter, the housekeeper who had moved to the new Marquis residence respectfully walked forward and said something in his ear:

"My Lord, the Fourth Prince has arrived."

"Well, let him in."

Chen Yuan tapped his fingers on the table and said indifferently.

The relationship between him and Sima Ke had spread throughout the capital, so there was no need to avoid suspicion. In fact, the other party didn't come very often. Since the last gathering at the First Prince's residence, he hadn't shown any sign of his whereabouts.

Chen Yuan was also happy to have some peace and quiet. After lending his reputation to the other party, he began to visit friends and win over relationships. Chen Yuan didn't miss the banquets of several nobles with good reputations.

Even if it was just to sit down, it was good as long as the attitude was there.

Chen Yuan's old subordinates in the Eastern Imperial City Division, such as Tao Qingyuan, had also come to the Wu'an Marquis residence to congratulate him and deepen their relationship.

He had become a big shot within the Sky Patrol Division, and he was gradually becoming stronger, so naturally people would want to join him.

Guo Peng, the Langguan, and Li Hongshuang, who only lived for four words in his life, had all met with Chen Yuan in these few days to get closer.

Of course, there were also the First Prince, Sima Qian, and the Second Prince, Sima Ke.

Chen Yuan's support for Sima Ke had become a foregone conclusion. Since it was unavoidable, they could only gradually reduce it. They didn't show any hostility, but instead, they were relentlessly wooing him.

Before long, Sima Ke, wearing a light yellow robe with python patterns, walked up with a smile, looking rather pleased with himself.

With Chen Yuan's almost open support, Sima Ke's power had grown rapidly. Although it was still far inferior to Sima Qian and Sima You, he had at least made a good start.

Many officials wanted to take another gamble.

This also increased Sima Ke's power.

Under Chen Yuan's guidance, Sima Ke abandoned his former arrogance and turned his external arrogance into internal arrogance. Even when facing ordinary people, he adhered to etiquette and never oppressed the people.

He treated talented young officials with courtesy.

And when facing some old foxes in the court, he was calm and composed, no longer flamboyant.

Such changes brought him a lot of virtuous reputation. Perhaps it was a prodigal son's turn, but in short, his previously not-so-obvious virtuous reputation had made more people start to focus on him because of his previous appearance.

And all of this was Chen Yuan's guidance. Therefore, when facing Chen Yuan, although Sima Ke wasn't humble, he was a bit like facing a stepfather.

Respectful and polite!

"Brother Chen."

Sima Ke smiled with a gentle temperament.

If someone didn't know, they might really think of him as some kind of handsome young man.

"Just sit down since you're here."

Chen Yuan waved his hand.

"Thank you, Brother Chen."

Although he knew that the relationship between Chen Yuan and him was very complicated at the moment, Sima Ke thought about it and decided to call him "Brother Chen", otherwise, it would always seem awkward.

"Brother Chen, that matter...how is it going?"

Sima Ke lowered his voice and asked.

Chen Yuan returned to his residence that night, and he guessed that they had established a relationship, but in the past few days, he was busy with things and didn't visit his mother, so he didn't know the truth.

Seeing Chen Yuan at this moment, he always subconsciously wanted to ask.

Chen Yuan looked at Sima Ke's curious and strange smile, pondered for a moment, poured himself a cup of spirit tea, and nodded after a moment:

"Well, she has entered the Dao."

"Entered the Dao...entered what Dao?"

Sima Ke didn't understand the meaning of Chen Yuan's words and only felt very strange. Wasn't this a matter of cultivation? That wasn't what he was asking about.

"It's nothing."

Chen Yuan then shook his head again.

"Brother Chen, what I mean is, my mother..." Sima Ke paused and continued.

"Well, very moist."

After carefully pondering the words "very moist", Sima Ke suddenly understood, and a smile flashed in his eyes.

As long as the plan wasn't in vain, that was all that mattered.

Then from now on, they were allies on the same rope.

Not only were they friends, but they were also from the same hometown.

And looking at Chen Yuan's appearance, he seemed very satisfied, which made him admire him. He admired his mother's methods and Chen Yuan's methods.

"That's good, that's good..."

"Your Highness, why are you free to come to the Marquis residence today instead of being courteous and recruiting talents?" Chen Yuan smiled, stopped talking about this topic, and directly got to the point.

Sima Ke's eyes flickered for a moment, but he still asked in a deep voice:

"Brother Chen, do you know about the rumors outside?"

"What rumors?"

"It's just...the rumors about Brother Chen's marriage."

"I've heard a little about it, but it's just a rumor. I'm focused on the Dao and have no intention of starting a family now." This was Chen Yuan's answer, and it was a very serious answer.

He was a man who was going to rebel, and it would be completely inappropriate to marry Princess Pingyang.

With his status, he was completely worthy of Princess Pingyang, but he didn't have this intention. She was a clever woman and a member of the Sima family. Chen Yuan didn't want to have too much contact with her.

After all, when you think about it, Chen Yuan went to not only Sima Ke's hometown, but also happened to pass by Princess Pingyang's hometown once after another.

"Doesn't Brother Chen really consider it? Although the Imperial Sister's personality is a bit aloof, she is definitely a rare woman in the world. Usually, I don't know how many talented young people in the capital admire her."

Sima Ke couldn't help but say.

"Are you being asked by someone to do this?"

"Uh, that's not the case. I just think that Brother Chen and the Imperial Sister are a good match." Naturally, he didn't have much of the real purpose. Relying on his mother, a woman whose beauty was fading, wasn't enough.

He also wanted to be more closely tied to Chen Yuan and have a deeper relationship.

"I really have no intention of this matter."

Chen Yuan shook his head.

"But, I guess that this matter is probably being promoted by the Emperor in secret." After thinking about it, Sima Ke still said his own not-so-accurate guess.

Chen Yuan picked up his teacup and took a sip:

"Your Highness is overthinking it. His Majesty is busy with state affairs and won't focus on these things. It should just be that well-meaning people in the capital are doing it intentionally.

When the limelight passes, it will naturally disappear."

"What Brother Chen said is not without reason."

"Hehe..."

"By the way, Brother Chen, I just got news that tomorrow, the Emperor will hold a family banquet in the palace, and all the princes and princesses will have to attend. Do you think it will have something to do with this rumor?"