I've announced that I'm destined to have many children, and my father has bestowed upon me

Joyful music rang out again, jarring and abrupt, forcefully tearing apart the deathly silence that had settled over the imperial city.

The magnificent phoenix palanquin slowly started moving again amidst countless complex gazes.

Zhao Chen'an sat upright on his tall horse, his body ramrod straight, but his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the phoenix carriage beside him.

He couldn't see Liu Ruoshuang inside, but he could imagine what kind of expression that cold and beautiful face must have at that moment.

Is it liberation?

Or is it just tragic?

Perhaps, it's both.

This woman, with her entire life, paved all the escape routes for the Jixia Academy.

Win, the academy shows goodwill, in exchange for peace.

If they lose, the academy will submit to them, thus preserving its incense offerings.

Now, Zhao Daoting has won.

The submission of Jixia Academy is now a foregone conclusion.

Just then, the departing Jixia Academy procession suddenly stopped.

Several senior members of the academy helped the old dean stand up a little straighter, despite his already exhausted body.

He neither looked at Zhao Daoting, the victor in the sky, nor at the courtiers on the ground with their varied expressions.

His cloudy and unfocused gaze passed through the crowd and finally landed on the slowly moving phoenix carriage.

Everyone held their breath.

The old dean coughed up a mouthful of blood mixed with black clots, his breath barely audible, yet every word he uttered resonated clearly in everyone's ears.

"In my capacity as the eighth abbot of the Jixia Academy, I hereby announce..."

He paused, then, with the last of his strength, uttered a resolute declaration.

"From this day forward, the Holy Maiden Liu Ruoshuang will succeed me as the ninth Dean of the Jixia Academy!"

"This is... the Dean's order!"

As soon as he finished speaking, it was as if his last bit of energy had been drained away. He collapsed and fell silent.

"Dean!"

The students of Jixia Academy let out a mournful cry, their sobs shaking the heavens.

The entire imperial city fell into an even more complete and utter silence than before.

The ninth generation... Dean?!

Everyone is stunned!

Those courtiers who had initially looked at the imperial carriage with some sympathy and pity were now in a daze, barely able to think.

The Dean of Jixia Academy!

What does that mean?

It was a behemoth that existed independently of the dynasties, had a history of thousands of years, and supplied talent to various dynasties and imperial courts!

Although it was defeated today and forced to submit to the Great Zhou, its foundation and influence are still immeasurable!

Liu Ruoshuang married the sixteenth prince as a concubine of the Prince of Wei.

But now, she has another identity.

The ninth headmaster of Jixia Academy!

This is not a dowry; it's practically the entire Jixia Academy.

It was given to the Great Zhou as part of their dowry, and to the sixteenth prince who was unable to cultivate!

Zhao Chen'an was completely stunned.

He turned his head sharply to look at the imperial carriage, his heart churning with turmoil.

He had considered countless possibilities, but he never imagined that the old dean would make such a shocking decision before his death!

He's... paving the way for Liu Ruoshuang with his own death!

This transformed her from a victim of a forced marriage into someone who controlled the entire academy and could engage in equal dialogue with the Great Zhou royal family!

What a grand gesture! What a deep scheme!

In the sky, a hint of surprise flashed across Zhao Daoting's domineering and majestic face, but it quickly turned into a broad smile.

He got it.

Old man, this is giving him a tremendous gift, and it's also giving Liu Ruoshuang, and even more so, it's giving the entire academy a future!

With this new identity, the Great Zhou royal family could no longer treat Liu Ruoshuang as an ordinary concubine, nor would they dare to treat the disciples of the Jixia Academy with disrespect.

That was a brilliant move!

Amidst the mournful cries of the people at Jixia Academy, the sorrowful procession carried the old abbot's body slowly away from the imperial city.

A momentous incident seemed to have come to an end.

On the ground, Lin Haitao, the Minister of Personnel, looked at the domineering figure in the sky, and the last trace of color drained from his face.

He gave a bitter smile and gave up all struggle.

"This guilty subject... Lin Haitao, is willing to submit to the law."

His voice was hoarse and filled with despair.

Zhao Daoting's figure silently descended from the sky and stood in front of him.

The Xuanjia soldiers immediately surrounded the area, isolating it from the outside world.

Zhao Daoting looked down at him, his face devoid of any victor's joy, only a deep, unfathomable calm.

He suddenly leaned down and spoke softly in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Lin Haitao, to be fair, what crime have you committed?"

Lin Haitao looked up abruptly, his expression one of utter astonishment.

Zhao Daoting continued in his calm tone:

"You come from Jixia Academy and aspire to study at the Imperial Academy, which is perfectly understandable."

"Your attempt to win over Chen Yu and support a prince who is close to the academy to ascend the throne is nothing more than seeking benefits for the academy."

"In fact... I should thank you for sending that good-for-nothing Chen Yu to Great Xia."

Thank me?

Lin Haitao's mind completely went blank.

He couldn't understand Zhao Daoting's words at all.

Sending a prince to an enemy country is a heinous crime of treason! The emperor didn't kill his entire family, and even thanked him?

Zhao Daoting seemed to see through his doubts, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"An incompetent prince, if left in the capital, will only cause internal strife. But if sent to Great Xia, he can become a useful pawn."

"Hasn't the Great Xia always coveted the borders of my Great Zhou? Now that they have a 'legitimate' prince of Great Zhou in their hands, what do you think they'll do?"

Lin Haitao shuddered as an incredibly absurd yet perfectly logical thought surged into his mind.

He stared at Zhao Daoting in horror, his lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

"It seems you understand."

Zhao Daoting straightened up, his voice regaining its imperial majesty and indifference.

"However, in order to reassure the scholars of Jixia Academy and to convince the Great Xia Dynasty of our 'sincerity' in cooperating, you, this pawn, must die."

"Only with your death can I legitimately eliminate the influence of the academic faction in the court and completely take control of the Jixia Academy."

"Only when you die will the Great Xia feel that they have gotten a huge bargain, and only then will they value Chen Yu as a pawn even more."

"So, Minister Lin, you still have to die."

His words were devoid of any emotion.

But it made Lin Haitao feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his whole body chilled to the bone.

He finally understood.

From beginning to end, he was just a piece on the chessboard.

The Third Prince Zhao Chenyu is a pawn, the Jixia Academy is a pawn, and Lin Haitao... is also a pawn!

This emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty is playing a grand game!

He schemed against everyone, even... his own son, whom he abandoned without hesitation!

"Haha...hahahaha!"

Lin Haitao suddenly burst into wild laughter, his laughter filled with sorrow and self-mockery.

"I see... I see!"

He laughed until tears streamed down his face, pointed at Zhao Daoting, and roared with all his might.

"Zhao Daoting... how cruel you are! How utterly cruel you are!!"

"You even scheme against your own son... You... truly deserve to be called emperor!"

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Lin Haitao suddenly raised his hand and slammed his palm hard on the top of his head.

"Bang!"

Life was cut off.

He fell straight down, his face still frozen with that crazy and sorrowful smile.

Zhao Daoting stared coldly at his corpse, then turned and waved his hand.

"Drag him away and give him a proper burial."

The farce has finally come to a true end.

The imperial carriage set off again, traveling smoothly all the way, and finally arrived at the Prince of Wei's residence under the awe-inspiring gaze of countless people.

However, when Zhao Chen'an dismounted and saw the scene at the entrance of the Prince's Mansion, he was still stunned for a moment.

In front of the Prince's Mansion, carriages and horses were bustling, and guests came and went in an endless stream.

Almost every official of any rank in the court and every prominent family in the capital sent someone to attend!

Those faces that usually avoided him, this "useless prince," were now all beaming with enthusiastic smiles, vying to offer their congratulations.

"Congratulations, Your Highness Prince Wei! Congratulations!"

"Your Highness and Dean Liu are truly a match made in heaven, the envy of all!"

"I hope Your Highness will continue to guide and mentor me in the future!"

Looking at these ever-changing faces, Zhao Chen'an understood perfectly.

He knew these people weren't after him.

They came for his concubine, who had just taken office as the "Dean of Jixia Academy"!

A useless prince who can't cultivate is not worth mentioning.

But the husband of a future master of Jixia Academy is enough to make anyone flock to him!

Zhao Chen'an walked to the front of the imperial carriage and personally lifted the curtain.

A face, cool and serene like the moon, breathtakingly beautiful, appeared before him.

Liu Ruoshuang looked at him quietly. In her eyes, which were like autumn water, there was neither joy nor sorrow, only a deep calm.

Zhao Chen'an extended his hand and smiled gently at her.

"We're home, my queen."