World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 476 - 251: The princess is deeply affectionate! Suo Lun’s biological daughter! (Important)_2

Chapter 476: 251: The princess is deeply affectionate! Suo Lun’s biological daughter! (Important)_2

In terms of mere appearance, Yan Nai’er and Gui Qinshao were half a notch below Princess Zhi Yan.

Such a woman willing to marry Suo Lun was completely out of his league.

Now, with the marriage bestowed by the King and the Princess’s willingness, Suo Lun actually refused.

What position does this put her in, as a girl?

"I’m sorry," Suo Lun said.

Princess Zhi Yan shook her head without speaking, her expression somber.

Suo Lun said, "I will still do my utmost to assist Her Highness the Princess."

Princess Zhi Yan nodded, then suddenly her beautiful eyes fixed on Suo Lun, staring at him intently for a good while without moving.

Suo Lun rarely made direct eye contact with Zhi Yan, and now, under such a gaze, he could hardly withstand it after just a short moment.

Because her face seemed to gather all the spirituality of heaven and earth, so exquisitely beautiful that it made one’s heart tremble.

That unearthly beauty, that peerless delicacy, was truly something Gui Qinshao could not match.

"Do I really... disgust you that much?" Princess Zhi Yan asked.

"You’re too divine, I dare not defile you," Suo Lun said.

"It’s not like that," Zhi Yan said. "It’s just that I’ve been immersed in another world for too long at Dragon Temple, removed from the mundane world as well, I am not a person who shuns the things of life. With time spent in this earthly world, I will become just like any other woman."

Suo Lun said nothing.

Zhi Yan continued, "Suo Lun, if I fail to seize the throne, then naturally all bets are off. But, if by great fortune we succeed, I will eventually have to marry someone, even if just to produce an heir to the throne, I must marry. Then, who would you have me marry?"

Suo Lun was silent and once again prostrated himself on the ground.

...

Hours later, Suo Lun led the Cavalry to the outskirts of the city to welcome Prince Zili, treating him entirely with the courtesy due to a royal from the Nobles and Lords.

And Zili, too, displayed the posture of a member of the royal family visiting the territory of a lord. What carriage he rode, how many guards he brought, and which officials from his residence—all conformed to ritual propriety.

And Suo Lun, too, greeted him with the respect due to a lord, and brought along his sister Suo Ningbing and his fiancée Yan Nai’er.

It looked completely like a scene of deference to the virtuous and submission to the sovereign.

But everyone knew that just a few days earlier, the two sides had fought a fierce battle for several days, each wishing to put the other to death.

This facade of a grand play lasted for over an hour until Suo Lun finally entered into private conversation with Prince Zili at the City Lord’s residence.

In the entire council hall, there were only Suo Lun and Zili.

Chief Eunuch Li Chenglian, and Yan Nai’er, serving as bodyguards for both sides, stood outside the hall.

At that moment, both Suo Lun and Zili had removed all pretenses.

Suo Lun no longer observed the propriety of a subject, standing face to face with Zili in silence.

"Suo Lun, I truly did not expect to be defeated so miserably," Zili said. "Tens of thousands of troops, utterly annihilated, while your forces suffered negligible losses. Even if immortals waged this war, the outcome would be the same. Suo Lun, you have truly amazed me."

Suo Lun shook his head and said, "It was just a fluke, discovering a new type of oil."

"I know, it’s black oil," Zili said. "Ashi Luo sent word saying that it’s black oil, hidden beneath the ground, inexhaustible and unending."

Suo Lun shuddered; the secret of crude oil had been uncovered so quickly.

Being from the Demon Continent, this Ashi Luo really did seem to know everything.

"It’s a pity that Ashi Luo did not join the war; otherwise, we wouldn’t have been defeated," Zili said.

Suo Lun did not respond.

Zili said, "Suo Lun, you realize that this defeat means that any hope of using military force to resolve the situation with Tianshui City has become utterly impossible."

Suo Lun nodded, unless Zili obtained full allegiance from the Hai Family of Yingzhou or Yan Mo the Great King. Otherwise, no other power could gather tens of thousands of Naval forces to play the role of pirates and attack Tianshui City.

With the King still alive, it was impossible to attack Tianshui City from the land.

Although abandoned by Nobles and Lords, the King remained the King, holding supreme authority.

Perhaps, if he issued an order to a certain lord or noble, they might not listen. But his Dragon King’s scepter could kill anyone who offended the kingdom’s system.

Any attempt to lead an army against Tianshui City would lead to immediate execution by Gao Yin’s scepter.

Thus, while Suo Lun was wholeheartedly assisting Princess Zhi Yan, King Zhi Bian was also protecting Tianshui City at all times.

Without King Zhi Bian’s protection, in less than half a month, Tianshui City would be reduced to ruins, and the Suo clan would be completely extinguished.

Suo Lun could only hope that his rejection of the marriage would not leave a bitter taste in King Zhi Bian’s heart.

...

"Your Highness Prince Zili, your visit to our Tianshui City surely isn’t just to indulge in sentiments," Suo Lun said.

Zili said, "Suo Lun, how do you see the balance of power between me and Zhi Yan after this great battle?"

Suo Lun shook his head and said, "It hasn’t changed. You still stand with all the Nobles and Lords behind you, even many of the common elite, commanding over a million troops. And behind Princess Zhi Yan, there is still only Tianshui City. Of course, the King also has the Forbidden Army at his disposal."

Zili said, "Right, because His Majesty wishes to place a woman on the throne as the monarch, which has angered all the Nobles and Lords throughout the land—none will stand by him. Moreover, when His Majesty took the throne, he committed a mass slaughter, offending countless Nobles and Lords. After ascending, he then vigorously promoted the common elite, suppressing the noble class; their conflict has become irreconcilable. Now, he wants to support a woman as the monarch, breaking the tradition of the Human Kingdom for thousands of years; it’s simply a fool’s dream. Even those common elites he has raised will oppose him."

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