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

Her voice was cool and clear, yet it possessed a comforting power.

"His Majesty..."

Li Qingcang wanted to say that His Majesty's decree was too absurd, but he swallowed the words back.

A ruler is a ruler, and a subject is a subject.

"Your Majesty, I simply do not understand what His Majesty's deeper meaning is."

That was all he could say in the end.

Li Qingluan gently shook her head.

She walked to the window, looked at a wintersweet tree in the courtyard, and suddenly asked:

"Father, how is His Majesty's health?"

Li Qingcang was taken aback, not understanding why his daughter would suddenly ask this question.

He answered instinctively:

"Your Majesty is in good health and at the peak of your life. If you could break through to the Dragon Transformation Realm one day, you could gain several hundred more years of lifespan."

Li Qingluan nodded and then asked:

"Has Father ever considered taking sides with any of the imperial heirs?"

Li Qingcang's brows furrowed immediately, and he shook his head resolutely.

"Nonsense! Your father is loyal only to His Majesty! I would never in this life side with any prince or participate in the struggle for the throne!"

This was his bottom line, and the foundation upon which he stood as the General of Chariots and Cavalry.

A faint smile appeared on Li Qingluan's lips.

"In that case..."

She turned around, her clear eyes gazing quietly at her father.

"Then, Father, what is there to worry about?"

Li Qingcang was completely stumped by the question.

Li Qingluan continued:

"Anyone with eyes can see that this marriage arranged by His Majesty is an injustice done to my daughter and to the General's Mansion."

"Your Majesty, do you think he wouldn't know?"

"Since you know this, yet still act in this way, it means that in His Majesty's heart, this grievance is necessary."

"And in the future, he will surely make up for this grievance to his father in other ways."

Every word was clearly transmitted to Li Qingcang's ears.

This invincible general on the battlefield had a completely blank mind at this moment.

He stared blankly at his daughter, as if he were meeting her for the first time.

Li Qingluan walked to the magnificent wedding dress, stretched out her slender fingers, and gently stroked the exquisite embroidery on it.

"This marriage is not a humiliation for my daughter."

"As far as my father is concerned, this is not a reprimand from His Majesty."

"It is simply... His Majesty's advance payment to the Li family—an incredibly generous and incredibly secure future."

After Li Qingluan finished speaking, the boudoir fell into a long silence.

Meanwhile, deep within the distant imperial palace, in the imperial study.

The terrifying atmosphere that had oppressed the entire palace for six days and six nights was slowly receding in a strange rhythm.

As Zhao Daoting sat cross-legged on the dragon bed, a roar like a surging river emanated from within his body.

Golden rays of divine light replaced the original true essence throughout the body.

It flows freely through his meridians, each cycle cleansing his body and soul.

This is the mystery of the Heavenly Grade Cultivation Technique, "Nine Revolutions True Dragon Technique".

It's not about repairing the existing structure, but about completely tearing it down and rebuilding it!

The cultivation techniques that had been passed down for hundreds of years by the Great Zhou royal family were completely abolished.

Then, in a more domineering and profound way, the foundation of the Dao was reshaped!

boom!

Zhao Daoting suddenly opened his eyes, and two beams of golden light, as if they were real, shot out from his eyes, piercing through the air in front of him and making a hissing sound.

He slowly got up, and his joints crackled and popped like popping beans.

An unprecedented sense of power filled his entire body.

Peak of the Four Extremes Realm!

Just one step away from breaking free from the shackles, evolving the dragon vein, and stepping into the realm of dragon transformation!

At that time, he will have a lifespan of over eight hundred years, enough to personally push the Great Zhou Dynasty to the throne!

"A Heavenly-grade martial arts technique... truly wondrous and unparalleled."

Zhao Daoting opened his palms, feeling the surging golden power within his body, and a long-lost excitement appeared on his face.

This was the incredible opportunity brought by his good-for-nothing son, Zhao Chen'an!

The heavy doors of the Imperial Study slid open silently to both sides.

The chief eunuch, Wei, who had been waiting for six days and six nights, was startled and immediately knelt down, his voice trembling slightly.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Daoting strode out, his powerful aura completely concealed.

He appeared no different from usual, but Eunuch Wei could sense that the emperor before him seemed to be more in harmony with the world.

Get up.

Zhao Daoting's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

As Zhao Daoting walked into the hall, he casually asked:

"Has anything significant happened in the court during my days in seclusion?"

Eunuch Wei followed closely behind, head bowed, and respectfully reported back.

"Your Majesty, everything is peaceful in the court. However... before the Third Prince returned to his residence and was placed under house arrest, he visited Yonghe Palace."

"These past few days, Consort Shu has been coming to the Imperial Study every day to request an audience, presumably to plead for the Third Prince."

Zhao Daoting did not pause in his steps.

"Anything else?"

"The officials in the court have been discussing His Majesty's decision to bestow a marriage between the sixteenth prince and General Li's daughter."

"However... General Li has not made any move at the General of Chariots and Cavalry's residence, but has been quietly preparing the dowry for the young lady."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Daoting finally stopped in his tracks.

it is good.

very good!

A satisfied smile slowly appeared on Zhao Daoting's face.

Li Qingcang was brave but lacked strategy, but his strength lay in two words—loyalty!

His daughter, Li Qingluan, however, was a clever and insightful person.

With such a daughter, it's not surprising that Li Qingcang could suppress all his dissatisfaction and obey my decree.

My son is not allowed to cultivate himself.

Then I will pave a broad road to heaven for him!

Li Qingcang is the first cornerstone I chose for him!

Originally, the "Nine Revolutions True Dragon Technique" was a secret kept by the royal family and was never to be leaked.

But rules are rigid, people are flexible.

For An'er's future, for the sake of the Great Zhou Dynasty, what harm is there in breaking a few ancestral rules!

One Li Qingcang at the Dragon Transformation Realm is far more valuable than ten Li Qingcangs at the Dao Palace Realm!

This is not just a reward, but also a shackle, a shackle that completely binds the Li family to the royal family and Zhao Chen'an!

Having thought of this, Zhao Daoting no longer hesitated.

He sat back on the dragon throne, his fingers lightly tapping the table, his aura becoming unfathomable at that moment.

"deliver an imperial order."

Eunuch Wei immediately bowed and stood at attention.

"It is hereby announced that General Li Qingcang, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, is to come to an audience."