Chapter 142: Final

Lyca couldn't help but wonder why this man would actually challenge her. Was he planning to embarrass her or perhaps… he was planning to involve her in his political ambitions? She looked at the emperor wondering if he would actually agree.

If the emperor would agree, Lyca wouldn't hesitate to show her skills to everyone. When she saw the Emperor nod, Lyca pursed her lips and focused her attention on the man wearing white in front of him.

"So? What do you want?" she asked the man.

"Well, if I win… how about you have some tea with me?" his words made everyone speechless. The heir of the Xu Family was asking the second princess for a date? This was something crucial to the politics of the whole empire. 

Everyone knew that the second princess had always shown her support to the Emperor. This was the reason why even if all of the princesses were already engaged to other young masters, the second princess doesn't have any engagement yet. Rumor has it that the Emperor was actually letting the young princess decide which gentlemen she would like to marry instead of marrying her off to someone for political reasons.

Now, once the second princess would get the Xu Family's support through Xu Ke, it would mean that the emperor would also get their support. As expected, the faces of those people who are currently opposing the crown turned dark. Everyone here knew that the Xu Family was very influential In the southern part of the empire. They are rich and have a lot of resources.

"Tea?" she lifted an eyebrow as she smiled at Xu Ke. "Such a simple request. I can give you more your highness… are you certain that a simple tea is the only thing that you want?"

Xu Ke's nodded inwardly. As expected of a female general. He was certain that not many women could utter such words in front of him. Then he smirked. "Tea and I want the second princess to accompany me for a few days while visiting the beautiful places in the Empire. What do you think?"

"Fair enough. If you win… However, If I win." Her eyes bored into his before her gaze lowered towards his long beautiful nose then towards his lips. And neck. "That one. That necklace."

Xu Ke squinted his eyes but said nothing.

"I want that necklace if I win." She reiterated. "What do you think, Young Master Xu?" Lyca was smart enough to know that this Xu Ke was actually trying to use her as a shield. Xu Ke knew that the Xu Family had incurred enough enemies which would easily make him the target of many assassinations.

With the princess by his side… the people would surely think twice in attacking them. As expected this man was still as cunning and sinister as before.

"The necklace is very important to me, your highness."

"That makes me want to have it." She sneered inwardly. She didn't hesitate to show the little evil glint in her eyes, making him think that she only wanted it because she knew it was important to him. "That would make you take this bet seriously."

"Then… can I still change my previous bet?"

"Of course." She lifted an eyebrow. "Tell me what you want."

Everyone couldn't help but applaud the princess' guts. Who would have thought that beneath the princess' silver hair and gentle appearance was a bold and brave woman? Many officials couldn't help but shook their heads as they watched Xu Ke smile at the princess. Of course, they didn't miss the interest that Xu Ke was showing to the Princess.

It seems that an engagement would soon follow.

"I want… you to become my main wife."

Silence followed his words as everyone looked at the emperor, waiting for him to say something to the young man. Everyone was expecting him to fume in anger and asked his guards to send the young man out of the hall.

Instead, the king let out a soft chuckle. Shaking his head, the Emperor's chuckle soon became a burst of full-blown laughter. His laughing voice echoed inside the room. He then looked at Xu Ke. "What a brave young man. To actually use this bet to make an engagement, this is the first that I have encountered such a thing."

Xu Ke gave a small bow. "Thanks to the emperor's generosity in his praises."

The Emperor smiled. "So… an engagement if the second princess would lose." The Emperor gave Lyca a meaningful glance. Of course, this man would want her to lose so she could have an engagement with Xu Ke. Too bad for him, Lyca wasn't going to have another engagement with a man like this.

Plus… she was already a married woman. 

She shook her head inwardly. She really should stop thinking about Shen Qui in the middle of the chaos she was currently in.

"Alright. As long as the second princess would agree to the bet. Then… I can approve an engagement." Amusement flashed in the Emperor's eyes as he continued to stare at Lyca. 

"Well then… do you agree?"

"Just so you know…" Lyca suddenly uttered, she lifted her chin and stared at Xu Ke. "I don't like you." The people around them who heard her words let out a surprised gasp. What's not to like? Was the second princess actually blind? Xu Ke was handsome, and this engagement would definitely help the emperor in his plans to conquer some of the smaller kingdoms in the south. "I will only agree to marry you. If you promise that you won't take any other woman in your household."

"Of course." Despite the gasps and whispers of other people, Xu Ke didn't hesitate to nod at her words. "I would never marry another woman… aside from you."

Lyca smiled as she nodded. Isn't that what this man told her before? He actually used the same script to fool another woman? Rage started to boil inside her as she quickly turned her head towards the target board, hiding the disgust and anger in her eyes.

That's it. It is final.

Xu Ke needed to die.