The Demon Prince

Xiao Xingyue's words caused an uproar in the martial arts academy.

Following their young master's instructions, Zhao Yuanbao and Chen Manfu laid out the wedding candies, red dates, phoenix coronet, and wedding robes one by one.

The noble sons in the stands all stood up, even the Imperial Guard captains couldn't hold back anymore, and the storyteller in the teahouse was writing so hard his notebook was almost smoking, constantly muttering something like "write it down quickly, hurry up and write this part down."

"Holy crap, is the Ninth Prince going to strike while the iron is hot and marry the Eighth Princess right here? That's too much!"

"This isn't a proposal; it's taking advantage of the Eighth Princess's defeat to put her in a very difficult position!"

Xu Huaiyong lay prone under the ring, half his face pressed to the ground, surrounded by laughter. Every laugh felt like a slap in the face.

His chest and shoulders ached all over, and he desperately shouted onto the ring, "Eighth Princess, don't agree to him! Don't let him have it so easily!"

He spoke through gritted teeth, but no one paid any attention; all eyes were fixed on Li Shunhua and Xiao Xingyue on the stage.

Li Shunhua stood opposite Xiao Xingyue, her eyes filled with deep anger.

That bastard Xiao Xingyue, he wasn't proposing, he was blocking her way in public.

If she refuses immediately, having lost twice in a row yesterday and today, and still refusing to admit defeat, the royal family's reputation will be ruined.

But if she complies... her life will be ruined!

A dilemma!

Thinking of this, Li Shunhua gritted her teeth: "Xiao Xingyue, I will not marry you! Not even if it kills me!"

Xiao Xingyue unfurled the red silk and gestured towards the Eighth Princess's figure, seemingly judging the wedding dress: "A marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers, and besides, you are a member of the royal family, so you should naturally set a good example. Or, why don't you ask His Majesty to simply annul the engagement and break the contract?"

"You! How could my father break his promise?"

"That's it then. Besides, we are mutually in love. To be honest, Eighth Princess, last night the rain was sparse and the wind was strong. I slept soundly but couldn't shake off my longing. Ever since I met you, I have never been able to forget you..."

Last night, the rain was sparse and the wind was strong, and even a deep sleep couldn't dispel my sorrow... Li Shunhua blushed, having never heard such a moving confession before, but reason prevailed. "Don't talk nonsense! What mutual affection? It's just that Father Emperor has agreed to the marriage! I... I haven't agreed yet..."

Li Shunhua was interrupted because the crowd started making a fuss again.

"That's it then! His Majesty's word is law; all princesses shall marry into the Prince of Zhenguo's mansion! Eighth Princess, you should agree!"

"Yes, I think the young master is quite good-looking too. He's incredibly talented, handsome, and dashing. There's a hint of untamed spirit and a touch of melancholy in his eyes. He's absolutely captivating!"

Xiao Xingyue watched as Li Shunhua's expression changed, turning red with anger one moment and ashen the next.

He glanced at Yuanbao again and saw that he was indeed exchanging glances with the people who were talking.

Goodness, this kid not only knows how to hire online trolls, he also knows how to hire accomplices?

Xiao Xingyue smiled. "The people's hearts are with you now, Eighth Princess, why don't you give in?"

A blush kept rising on Li Shunhua's pretty face.

But just when she was in a difficult situation...

Suddenly, a horse neighed outside the martial arts garden.

The sound was so loud that it instantly drowned out the clamor of the entire hall.

Immediately afterwards, the ground trembled slightly. The newcomer was not a horse, but a troop of cavalry, which parted the crowd from the outside in.

The clanging of armor was deep and majestic as an old general slowly entered the arena on a black warhorse.

He was clad in black iron armor, his cloak billowing in the wind, his hair gray, and an old scar on his face that stretched from his brow bone to his chin, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

Li Shunhua's eyes lit up: "Grandpa!"

Xiao Xingyue frowned slightly, recognizing the person as General Qin Zhenyue, the General Who Guards the West!

The Great Xia Western Border War God, who was on par with his dead father!

He was also Li Shunhua's maternal grandfather.

Qin Zhenyue dismounted, and as soon as his boots touched the ground, he leaped onto the arena.

Zhao Yuanbao's chubby face turned pale, but he instinctively stepped half a step in front of his young master, his voice trembling, "Young master, can we beat this guy?"

Xiao Xingyue shoved Zhao Yuanbao aside: "How dare you! General Qin and I are both patriotic and loyal ministers. What nonsense about fighting and killing, General Qin?"

Xiao Xingyue swallowed hard, seeing Qin Zhenyue already standing in front of him.

Although he was old, his eyes were sharp and piercing, like a blade whose blood had just been wiped clean.

"Young master Xiao, you certainly know how to play favorites. Didn't you just force Shunhua to marry you?"

Before Xiao Xingyue could speak, Li Shunhua was about to step forward and complain, "Grandpa, Xiao Xingyue, he..."

But Qin Zhenyue suddenly raised his hand, "You were in the wrong in this matter. What, are you blaming the young master?"

Li Shunhua paused for a moment, then said, "Grandpa..."

"Your father and the Ninth Prince had an agreement that whether he could marry you would depend on the vote a month later. But you challenged him before and have now lost to him again. Naturally, the prince misunderstood and thought you had objections to the marriage agreement."

As Qin Zhenyue spoke, a deputy general stepped forward and presented a booklet.

"Xiao Xingyue, don't blame Shunhua for her nonsense. I have prepared a thousand warhorses, a thousand sets of armor, and a hundred guards to give to your palace as an apology on Shunhua's behalf."

Xiao Xingyue narrowed his eyes slightly. The old general was indeed an old general. With just a few words, he turned the important matter of marriage into Li Shunhua's nonsense and settled it.

Moreover, Qin Zhenyue's move, while ostensibly an apology, was actually a warning.

Either take the compensation and leave, or go against Qin Zhenyue.

Xiao Xingyue was not stupid. With this old general around, it was obviously impossible for him to force Li Shunhua into marriage. Moreover, Qin Zhenyue had offered a lot of compensation. Now, with the death of Xiao's elite troops, the Zhenguo Mansion had fallen apart.

Although the Xiao family's core businesses still exist, Xiao Xingyue really doesn't have many people left to use.

The strong army that Qin Zhenyue sent can help him plan his next self-preservation strategy, so it's not a bad deal.

Moreover, while it's only temporarily impossible to make Li Shunhua back down, she will have completely lost face after today.

Thinking of this, Xiao Xingyue immediately put on a sorrowful expression: "General, you are too kind. We are all family, why be so polite?"

Zhao Yuanbao glanced at his young master's expression and muttered, "Young master... try to suppress your smile..."

Seeing Xiao Xingyue's smug, secretly delighted look as he gained an advantage.

Li Shunhua suddenly realized that this bastard's confession was all a lie.

What love at first sight, what marriage, what "last night's rain and wind were fierce, and I couldn't sleep soundly to dispel my sorrows"... all of these are just lies he spouts off!

Men's words are lies!

Li Shunhua was even more annoyed, her heavy breathing making her tight-fitting top look like it was about to burst.

Qin Zhenyue glanced at the crowd of onlookers and said, "Let's call it a day and disperse."

Qin Zhenyue turned to leave, with Li Shunhua following behind him.

Seeing this, Xu Huaiyong immediately struggled to his feet, preparing to follow: "Princess, let's go back and plan again! We'll definitely make sure Xiao Xingyue..."

Qin Zhenyue suddenly stopped, his gaze turning icy cold. He then kicked out at Xu Huaiyong with a powerful kick that shot out like an instantaneous cannonball. Xu Huaiyong had no chance to dodge. With a ripple of air around his chest, Xu Huaiyong was sent flying several feet into the air, crashing into a stone pillar in the martial arts garden. The pillar cracked, and after landing, he remained motionless.