I am an incredibly handsome man, and my fiancée refuses to call off the engagement even at the cost

The white jade steps are carved with various phoenix totems, and lifelike stone carvings of auspicious beasts stand on both sides of the road. The palace gates are towering, and the glazed tiles shimmer with iridescent light under the sun. Jade bells hanging from the eaves tinkle softly in the wind, their clear sounds lingering.

Above the sea of ​​clouds, the clear sound of chime bells drifted through the air.

Dugu Xun led Gu Yan and Jiang Shuo to a secluded spot where various exotic flowers were planted. Jiang Shuo smiled at Dugu Xun: "The Crown Prince is about to ascend the throne, and you still want to stroll around with us? Isn't this interfering with your business?"

Three days before Dugu Xun's coronation ceremony, almost all the monarchs and envoys from other countries had arrived and were accommodated in the villas and inns outside the palace.

Of the other four empires, the representatives of Tianxing, Tianji, and Tianqiong have not yet arrived. However, even if the three Spirit Emperors do arrive, Dugu Yeli will not personally greet them.

He personally greeted Jiang Qian today because Jiang Qian had come.

As for other countries, they simply let their officials handle the arrangements.

As the soon-to-be emperor, Dugu Xun shouldn't have been entertaining guests here. Theoretically, the emperor's status is actually above that of the retired emperor.

For example, in the Tianyang Empire, theoretically, Emperor Jiang Huan is the most esteemed person in the entire empire. Of course, in reality, the retired emperor Jiang Qian holds a higher position. But regardless, the emperor represents the face of a nation, and every action he takes affects the entire country.

This is also why Jiang Shuo was unhappy with Dugu Xun.

Although Dugu Xun's strength was far inferior to his, his status had already surpassed his. Furthermore, Dugu Xun was millions of years younger than him—a Spirit Venerable over a thousand years old! This pressure was immense. Once this guy ascended the throne, he would have to pay his respects to him.

hateful!!

If Dugu Xun were merely a member of the Tianyin royal family, then even if they beat him up and severely injured him, the Tianyin Empire couldn't do anything about it. But attacking the emperor was a serious matter; it was something that could never be resolved peacefully. Injuring the emperor was tantamount to declaring war on an empire.

"The preparations have already been made. I don't have anything too important to do right now, so why don't I accompany Zirong for a walk around?" Dugu Xun said, then looked at Gu Yan tenderly.

Gu Yan asked with a smile, "Has Senior Yue learned about my brother's ascension to the throne? Why doesn't Senior Dugu invite Senior Yue and the others over?"

"My father and the others, my great-grandfather said that it wouldn't be too late to bring them over after I ascend the throne," Dugu Xun said.

"The Crown Prince is truly lucky. He's taken over the entire empire as soon as he returned," Jiang Shuo said with a smile, though there was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

What is he being sarcastic about?

Logically speaking, he should have been named crown prince long ago, but he is still a prince.

Dugu Xun met his gaze, his eyes slightly upturned, and the color of his deep phoenix eyes deepened to dark purple, as if there were whirlpools in them, capable of sucking in one's soul.

His thin lips were now curved into a smile that was neither a smile nor a smile: "Why should Your Highness Prince Jing worry? As the eldest prince of the Tianyang royal family, who else but you can inherit the throne in the future?"

Jiang Shuo could tell that there was a barb in his words.

Who's worried?

That bastard!

"You flatter me, Crown Prince. Who will inherit the throne in the future is my father's business. Why should I worry about it? Besides, I only enjoy traveling and sightseeing. Being an emperor is not as carefree as I am now." Jiang Shuo unfolded his folding fan.

Dugu Xun smiled:

"In that case, congratulations, Prince Jing. Your father is in the prime of his life, so Your Highness should be able to enjoy a carefree life for a long time."

This is tantamount to saying that it's no use thinking about it; your father has no intention of passing the throne to you in the first place.

Jiang Shuo exerted force, and cracks appeared on the white jade ribs of the folding fan.

You brat, you're provoking me!

Jiang Shuo was furious, but he dared not lay a hand on Dugu Xun.

"Cough cough..."

Gu Yan cleared her throat twice and came out to interrupt their tense standoff: "Look, these flowers are blooming so beautifully."

Not far away, a tree of exotic flowers was in full bloom, with dozens of flowers the size of bowls. The white petals were layered on top of each other, resembling flowing clouds, with faint purple edges, as if lightly tinged with a purple moon halo.

At the center of the flower are a few golden stamens that emit a cool and mysterious fragrance that brings peace to the mind.

Dugu Xun glanced at Gu Yan, chuckled, and picked the most beautiful flower from the bouquet, handing it to Gu Yan: "A beautiful flower for a beautiful woman."

Gu Yan: "..."

With a snap, Jiang Shuo's fan finally broke.

Gu Yan couldn't very well refuse the flower, so he reached out and took it. His fair, jade-like hand looked even more delicate against the backdrop of the flower. He held it up to his nose and gently sniffed it.

A gentle breeze stirs, causing the petals to tremble. The young man, dressed in white, flutters in the wind, his graceful figure resembling a peerless immortal smiling as he plucks a flower.

Dugu Xun and Jiang Shuo were both stunned.

Not only the two of them, but everyone around them was stunned.

The Peerless King...

So beautiful!!!

After regaining his senses, Jiang Shuo found Dugu Xun even more displeasing.

Damn it!! He actually seduced Ayan right in front of me, it's absolutely despicable.

"I've heard that His Highness the Crown Prince is not yet married. After His Highness ascends the throne, he will surely get married soon, right? I suppose Senior Dugu has already chosen an empress and concubines for His Highness the Crown Prince," Jiang Shuo said with a smile.

"I'm not in a hurry to get married, but I've heard that His Highness Prince Jing has collected quite a few beauties in his household, with a whole bunch of concubines, but he still doesn't have a principal wife. When His Highness Prince Jing takes a principal wife, I will definitely send him a grand gift." Dugu Xun also smiled.

Before meeting Gu Yan, Jiang Shuo was a completely straight man. How could someone millions of years old remain chaste? He would have already ruined countless beautiful women. He didn't inherit his father's strong fertility; he had many concubines, but none of them could produce a single child for him.

In his early years, some of his concubines became pregnant, but unfortunately, one of his concubines was skilled at abortion, so none of the pregnancies resulted in a healthy pregnancy. Later, due to his growing power, he struggled to have children, and without the interference of the abortion experts, no more of his concubines became pregnant.

Jiang Shuo glanced at Gu Yan and said to Dugu Xun, "Where did the Crown Prince hear such rumors? I don't have a bunch of concubines, only about a hundred."

Dugu Xun laughed loudly: "A hundred or so concubines are indeed not many. How about I send a few beauties to Prince Jing? Although the women of Tianyin cannot compare to the charming and passionate beauties of your Tianyang, they are still quite good at playing musical instruments and singing."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Crown Prince, but I am not fond of refined music and am just a common man. I cannot appreciate your elegant pursuits," Jiang Shuo said.

Dugu Xun sighed and glanced at Gu Yan: "That's a real pity. I thought His Highness Prince Jing was a refined person like Zi Rong."

"By the way, Zirong, my great-grandfather gave me several guqin (a seven-stringed zither), one of which is called 'Ancient Echoes,' which I really like. Would you like to see it, Zirong?"

Gu Yan looked at him and said, "Okay."

"Let's go to the waterside pavilion in front."

Dugu Xun smiled and made an inviting gesture. Gu Yan looked at the waterside pavilion in front of her, smiled and walked forward. Dugu Xun followed him and walked beside him, leaving Jiang Shuo behind.

Jiang Shuo watched their retreating figures, gritting his teeth in anger.