Chapter 18: Marriage Alliance
Chunchao slightly turned her gaze.
For the disciples of the noble and powerful families in the Imperial Capital, they would fight tooth and nail just for a single spot to enter the Dragon-Tiger Institute to cultivate.
But Shen Yanzhou was the exception among them.
Even the Demon Suppression King had no intention of letting him enter for cultivation.
Of course, Shen Yanzhou had no interest in entering the Dragon-Tiger Institute at all.
In the eyes of others, this Institute was a sacred place that cultivated countless outstanding geniuses for the Great Qian Dynasty, endlessly sending fresh blood to the empire.
But in his eyes, this was nothing more than a fat sheep pen, a field of leeks.
Not to mention how much presence these so-called geniuses had in the original work, just their background and talents alone meant they were destined to become future Martial Saints, Sages, or Military Saints.
Compared to teasing Chunchao and occasionally plucking a little wool from her, Shen Yanzhou preferred to wield the sickle directly and harvest.
“Dragon-Tiger Institute, dismissal!”
A shout rang out, accompanied by the deep toll of a bell.
In front of the simple yet elegant Institute gate, one after another, young men and women dressed in luxurious robes and embroidered garments walked out together.
Every one of them exuded vitality; some even radiated faint divine brilliance.
In their eyes shimmered divine light, and in every movement there was a sense of extraordinary bearing.
Looking at these young scholars, Shen Yanzhou felt a slight stir in his heart, recalling some scenes from his previous life.
But for now, he had no time for sentiment.
Very quickly, among the young men and women exiting in pairs, Shen Yanzhou’s gaze settled on one person.
It was a handsome young man in spotless white robes, looking refined and scholarly, with bundles of scrolls in his arms.
His companion was another young man wearing a brocade robe and jade belt, radiating the air of a wealthy heir.
He tapped the folding fan in his hand, looking graceful and at ease.
The two walked side by side, conversing harmoniously.
“The hostage prince of Qi, Qi Haoran.”
“In the original story, he was the strategist of the protagonist’s group, blessed with a Heaven-bestowed Literary Heart. When he entered the Literary Institute of the Dragon-Tiger Institute, the rites and music resonated with him. Upon stepping into the Seventh Rank of Investigation, he gained the Book of Spring and Autumn and was highly valued by a great scholar.”
Countless pieces of information about this person flashed through Shen Yanzhou’s mind.
The Qi Kingdom was one of the small vassal states on the Great Qian border.
Its national power was weak, and to seek peace and avoid war, it sent tributes annually and dispatched royal princes to the Imperial Capital as hostages.
But the founding Emperor of Great Qian, Zulong, was open-minded and magnanimous.
As long as the hostage princes had sufficient talent, they too could enter the Dragon-Tiger Institute to study, learning the various systems of the Great Qian.
They could even earn degrees and titles, and enter the court as officials.
“In the original plot, because of the marriage alliance between the Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence and the Demon Suppression King’s Mansion, this guy would hold a grudge against me.”
“Though only a hostage prince, he secretly admired the daughter of the Marquis of Divine Might.”
Characters with significant roles like him naturally had plenty of wool to pluck.
Shen Yanzhou smiled faintly, and without hesitation, he strode down the long street toward the gate of the Dragon-Tiger Institute just as classes were dismissed.
Chunchao was stunned for a moment before quickly following him, suspicion rising in her heart.
A notorious playboy like Shen Yanzhou had never gotten along with these favored geniuses.
In the past, not to mention meeting face to face, even catching sight of each other from afar would make them take detours.
“This playboy…”
“What is he doing here, looking so ill-intentioned…”
At the gate of the Dragon-Tiger Institute, the chatter and laughter of the young men and women immediately ceased.
Many frowned, their gazes fixed on the proud young man walking toward them.
Thanks to Shen Yanzhou’s fame in the Imperial Capital, there was no one on Vermilion Bird Street who didn’t recognize him.
The students of the Dragon-Tiger Institute were themselves the scions of nobility in the capital.
How could they not know him?
Even those prodigies from provincial towns and counties, after staying long enough in the capital, had come to know the name of the “Great Qian’s Number One Playboy” and avoided him whenever possible.
Negative emotions from Wan Su +3+3+4+5…
Negative emotions from Lu Yao +1+3+4+4…
Negative emotions from Kang Bochen +1+2+3+4…
In an instant, Shen Yanzhou received waves of negative emotions from those around him, many from people whose names he didn’t even know.
He quickly estimated: just by walking to the gate of the Dragon-Tiger Institute, he had harvested nearly 50 points of negative emotions.
And as more and more students poured out, the inflow of negative emotions only grew.
The smile on Shen Yanzhou’s lips deepened.
“These little cuties are truly adorable…”
He made no extra moves.
Hands clasped behind his back, he simply stood under a hibiscus tree, his gaze slowly sweeping over the young scholars.
Whenever he saw a somewhat familiar face, he would nod with a slight smile under their frowning stare.
The other party would be stunned, with a look of disbelief on their face.
Even their companions were puzzled: “Brother Zhao Che, why is that playboy smiling at you? Did you offend him recently?”
“I haven’t even run into him lately, how could I have offended him?”
“The smile of that playboy makes my heart uneasy…”
Some of the more attractive girls instinctively wrapped their cloaks tighter when they felt Shen Yanzhou’s gaze upon them.
His reputation for lust and debauchery was well known.
Even the daughters of high-ranking ministers, if he fancied them, he would send his lackeys to seize them.
If one provoked him, it would not end well.
Thus, several girls with anger in their eyes forcibly suppressed their emotions, squeezing out strained smiles in response.
Negative emotions from Song Yun +3+3+3+3.
Negative emotions from Chen Xiao +6+6+6…
“Shen Yanzhou, what are you doing here? The Dragon-Tiger Institute does not welcome a playboy like you.”
Just as Shen Yanzhou, all smiles, was counting the flow of negative emotions, a dissatisfied voice rang out.
It was the young man in brocade robes beside Qi Haoran.
He tucked his folding fan at his waist and rolled up his sleeves, looking ready to stand up for the students.
“Zi’an, there’s no need.”
Qi Haoran shook his head slightly, tugging at his companion’s robe.
“I just don’t like him. If it weren’t for his father, the Demon Suppression King, he wouldn’t dare to be so arrogant and lawless. Isn’t it just having a good father?” the man named Zi’an sneered.
He was from the Duke’s Residence.
His ancestors had fought alongside Emperor Zulong to expand the empire, making his family one of the foremost noble households of the capital.
Others might fear Shen Yanzhou’s power, but he did not.
“Liu Zi’an, what did you just say?”
Following the voice, Shen Yanzhou recognized this acquaintance—one of the few people in the original body’s memory he had dealt with.
Dealt with literally, since every time it ended with a bunch of servants beaten down while the original Shen fled in disgrace.
Liu Zi’an, the young son of the Duke’s Residence, looked like a pampered noble, but in truth he cultivated martial arts.
It was said he was born with divine strength—by the age of three, he could lift a tripod weighing three stones with one hand, hailed as a reincarnation of an ancient hegemon.
“Hmph, I’ll beat you up if you don’t leave the Dragon-Tiger Institute,” Liu Zi’an snorted.
Shen Yanzhou paid no heed to his rudeness, smiling: “Not that sentence.”
Liu Zi’an frowned, surprised Shen Yanzhou wasn’t afraid today.
“I said you just have a good father, didn’t I?”
Only then did Shen Yanzhou nod with satisfaction: “Yes. That’s why I know you’re jealous. Your father can’t compare to mine. He’s already old and still only a fourth-rank official. Back then, the old Duke was a top-ranked minister. Why is it that in your generation, you’re falling further behind?”
Negative emotions from Liu Zi’an +8+9+11+12…
“What do you mean?”
Liu Zi’an’s expression turned ugly.
It was true that the Duke’s Residence was in decline, but even a withered camel was larger than a horse.
Who in the capital dared to belittle them? Even the Demon Suppression King usually treated the Duke’s Residence with respect.
Yet Shen Yanzhou, who once would flee at the sight of him, now dared to mock him openly.
Especially in front of his close friend—his pride couldn’t take it.
The surroundings grew silent at once.
It was just dismissal time at the Dragon-Tiger Institute.
No one expected Shen Yanzhou and the young Duke to clash right at the gate.
Many of the capital’s noble youths looked on eagerly, as if watching a show.
“Exactly what I said.” Shen Yanzhou kept smiling.
“Brother Zi’an, why lower yourself to his level?”
Qi Haoran quickly grabbed his friend’s arm, trying to keep him calm.
“Brother Qi, don’t stop me today. I must teach this playboy a lesson. Rude, arrogant, thinking he can do whatever he wants just because he has the Demon Suppression King backing him?”
Heat rushed to Liu Zi’an’s face, especially with all the watching eyes of the noble youths.
He felt humiliated, his cheeks burning.
Shen Yanzhou’s words had stabbed straight into his heart.
The decline of the Duke’s Residence was real.
The duty of reviving its glory weighed on his shoulders, which was why he trained so hard.
And yet Shen Yanzhou, a useless drunkard who lived off his father’s achievements, dared to mock him?
“Chunchao, can you beat him?”
Shen Yanzhou asked casually over his shoulder.
Chunchao glanced at the young son of the Duke’s Residence, saw through his realm—it was the Seventh Rank, Blood-burning Realm.
“I can beat him.” She nodded.
“Brother Zi’an, don’t be reckless. You’re no match for that girl in red. She’s very strong.” Qi Haoran hurried to hold his friend back.
With his Heaven-bestowed Literary Heart, he could sense the strength of the red-dressed girl.
If Liu Zi’an charged recklessly, he would surely suffer.
“So you have a backer. Consider yourself lucky today.”
Liu Zi’an clenched his fists in frustration but stopped himself.
Negative emotions from Liu Zi’an +11+12+14+15.
Seeing Liu Zi’an restrain himself, Shen Yanzhou felt a bit disappointed, but his thoughts also became clearer.
Though Liu Zi’an’s talent and strength were inferior to Chunchao, as a member of the protagonist’s faction, even slightly provoking his mindset could yield large amounts of negative emotions.
It seemed that being part of the protagonist’s camp gave one an invisible blessing of fate.
Their strength might be lacking now, but that didn’t mean it would remain so in the future.
As Liu Zi’an held back his anger, many noble youths watching nearby sighed in regret.
Though they disliked Shen Yanzhou as well, they weren’t about to confront him directly.
“Qi Haoran, do you like Zhao Qingchan of the Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence?”
Shen Yanzhou didn’t keep plucking from the same sheep.
He shifted his attention to Qi Haoran and asked with a smile.
Qi Haoran was stunned.
He never expected Shen Yanzhou to suddenly ask him that, and froze on the spot.
As a scholar, he cultivated his Literary Heart daily, observing proper conduct and etiquette.
Even if he truly had feelings for Zhao Qingchan, he kept them hidden, never daring to express them—not even to his friend Liu Zi’an.
Now that Shen Yanzhou asked him outright in public, his first instinct was to deny it.
But then he realized that failing to face his true feelings might damage his Literary Heart.
The words stuck in his throat.
Very soon, with countless surprised and curious gazes falling on him, Qi Haoran’s face flushed red, tinged with shame.
“Zhao Qingchan of the Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence? The first of the younger generation to be granted the title of Princess with a different surname by His Majesty, and allowed to enter the Dragon Transformation Pool of the Dragon-Tiger Institute?”
“This Qi Haoran, though a hostage prince of Qi, with decent talent—how could he not realize her future? Even the Crown Prince is said to have shown favor, wishing to take her as his consort…”
At the Institute gates, Shen Yanzhou’s words caused an uproar among the young scholars, whispering and discussing.
After all, Zhao Qingchan’s name was widely known in the capital.
She was even counted among the Three Absolutes of the Imperial Capital.
Her “absolute” was absolute beauty.
Stunningly beautiful, with extraordinary talent.
She cultivated both Confucianism and Martial Arts.
Years ago, she had already broken into the Sixth Rank in both paths and entered the inner Institute.
She was a role model whom many respectfully addressed as Senior Sister.
“A fair lady is a gentleman’s desire. Senior Sister Qingchan is the model for all students of the Dragon-Tiger Institute. If I admire her, what of it?”
Qi Haoran, though shaken, quickly steadied himself, took a deep breath, and answered Shen Yanzhou head-on.
“I only want you to let go of your delusions. Don’t dream of being a toad lusting after a swan.”
“The Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion and the Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence are preparing for a marriage alliance. If nothing unexpected happens, I will be marrying Zhao Qingchan.”
Shen Yanzhou said with a smile, not at all concerned about Qi Haoran’s rapidly changing expression.
In the original plot, the Demon Suppression King had indeed intended to form a marriage alliance with the Marquis of Divine Might.
But the alliance was only for show—to wring the last bit of value from him, the fake heir.
On the wedding day, the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion would purge all the spies of enemy factions hidden within the capital.
“What?”
“The Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion is marrying the Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence?”
“When did this happen?”
As Shen Yanzhou dropped this explosive news, the gate of the Dragon-Tiger Institute fell into dead silence.
The noble youths of the capital looked shocked, hardly able to believe their ears.
Zhao Qingchan was the secretly chosen consort of the Crown Prince!
Some even wondered if this was just another rumor Shen Yanzhou the playboy had overheard.
If such a marriage alliance were truly happening, there was no way the court would remain silent.
The Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence was also a family of heroes who had followed Emperor Zulong in his conquests, granted the title of Tiance Martial Marquis.
Its foundation was deep and illustrious.
Would the one in the Hall of Virtuous Enlightenment really allow the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion and the Marquis of Divine Might’s Residence to form such an alliance?