<strong>The royal palace, Lunaris city, Western Moon kingdom;</strong>
"You can't be serious, my daughter," spoke the King as he was flabbergasted by Shen Ling's sudden decision about her marriage. "I didn't expect a smart woman like you to make such a decision in haste."
After Mark left the city without informing them, Shen Ling talked with her father to fix her marriage with him while mending ties with the Phoenix Empire.
It was indeed a piece of shocking thing for Shen Niu who just reclaimed his throne 15 hours ago. He felt like his daughter's intelligence had fallen because of love. After all, Mark is young, handsome, and very strong. It's natural that a girl falls for him.
But, behind those obvious things, a lot of complicated issues were hidden. He wanted her to rethink carefully and take everything into consideration.
As he knew that his daughter would be stubborn on her decision unless he made her realize it, he listed out the issues, "Look. I know that Lu Zhen is a powerful Spirit Warrior and I owe him my life. But, marriage cannot be taken lightly. You know what happens if a female member of the royal family marries into a household of a commoner. You will lose all the privileges of a princess and become a commoner. Can you accept such a fate?
Adding on top of this, he had several enemies in Imperial City, and along with us, he offended the Church of Doom. If he hadn't killed that elder, the Church would have only tried to take revenge on us. Once you were married into a powerful noble family of an Empire, at the very least, you will not be harmed.
However, if you marry that guy, along with his other enemies, the Church will also hunt the two of you down. Knowing that, how can I accept your request?
Okay, even if you are ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of love, what about your father? I only have you. If you marry a noble, I can pin my hopes on my grandson but if you lose your status, the next in line is nephew Shen Zhi. Do you want me to hand over the throne to him? Do you want your father to die in unhappiness?
And if Lu Zhen was truly powerful or suddenly turn out to have a secret powerful background that can evade all these troubles, why would he marry you and form such a close relationship with a weak kingdom like ours?
My daughter! If you have answers to these questions, please do enlighten this old father of yours.
While the King used his entire knowledge to remove the possible blindfold from her daughter's eyes and drag her to reality, Shen Ling simply let out a smile, "Father, your daughter was a disciple of Supreme Realm expert. My master might not lift a finger even if our kingdom is destroyed but if I was killed, he won't sit around. Not to mention, I was given life-saving scrolls to protect myself from tough situations."
"Eh? Supreme Realm?" The King was taken aback by shock. This is the first time he was hearing it. Neither his daughter nor the Prime Minister mentioned it until now. So, it will take a while before digesting such a fact.
Meanwhile, Shen Ling nodded and continued, "Yes, the scroll I gave you earlier would actually summon a demon from the hell. Since my cultivation realm is low, I can only control a demon with a strength of 7-circle. On the other hand, you can summon an 8-circle one. Honestly, I planned to let you use it if Lu Zhen hadn't ambushed that legendary realm expert.
But, thankfully, everything went alright. Now, if Father can make a breakthrough, then, we will get a 9-circle realm demon as a guardian. You don't need to fear the Church of Doom's retaliation at all.
As for my status, if I can marry him and convince him to shift his home to this kingdom, as the King, you can give him the status of honorary nobility. I'll still be a member of the royal family. Our kids will become full nobles, having the right to inherit the throne.
And if Lu Zhen stays here and sides with the royal family for eternity, you will have double protection. What will you have to fear?
As for the possibility of a hidden background, if Lu Zhen's status is really greater than us, then, I just need to make him fall in love with me. Well, I'm not sure whether I can accomplish such a difficult task but giving up without even trying is cowardice. Anyway, we'll think about the process when the time comes.
But, before all that, atleast Lu Zhen should know what my intentions are. As far as I know, people like him cannot be won over by clever schemes. Only by being honest and straightforward, one can attain respect from him. At least, that's what I think."
The King didn't speak for a while, not knowing what to say.
<strong>Sometime later;</strong>
<strong>Song Yun guest house, Imperial City, Phoenix Empire;</strong>
All the elders of the Song Clan were completely silent as they started at the imposing Song Tai who passed the order, and then, a cherry red-faced Song Yun who couldn't agree on the decision.
"Grandfather, you can't do this to me." Song Yun grew up in the presence of his grandfather and was close to him. So, he could use such speech. He further said as he clenched his fist, "Because of that bastard Lu Zhen, I have lost all the respect and status in the kingdom. This is the only way for me to get back."
Song Tai stared at him for a while in silence and said, "If you really suffer injustice and if even Shang Fu is helpless in the matter, you would have come to me. That itself explains that you know that you are wrong. In this case, only an arrogant fool will choose the path of revenge. An intelligent person will put the pride aside and make peace with the enemy instead and turn them into friends."
"There's no way I will ever make peace with that commoner," replied Song Yun with his heart filled in anger. But then, as he saw Song Tai frown in response, he quickly controlled himself and said, "Grandfather, please return my daughter. If she has a problem with the marriage, then, I will convince her, okay?"
However, Song Tai wasn't calmed down. If anything, his expression turned hard as he got up on his feet and spoke loudly, "Song Yue will return to this house but the marriage will be on hold until I make the decision. And Song Yun, if you have any respect for your grandfather, then, you'll not only accept my decision but also will not put any force on her until she was ready for marriage and volunteers for it.
If you reject my decision and do as you wish, I will also do what I want."
After announcing his decision, Song Tai walked away from there without bothering to listen to anything from his grandson.
Upon leaving the house, he started flying without the help of any flying sword or any other artifacts. His speed was also so fast that the guards stationed outside only managed to take a glimpse of his back and he disappeared already.