You don't want your secret to be revealed by others, right?-Chapter 157 - 3. Arrange a marriage

Lin Yue listened carefully.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

"The Emperor said..."

Duke Heng reiterated, "The Twenty-four Heavenly are complete, the Crown Prince has overseen the kingdom for years, and whether he wishes to ascend the throne is entirely up to him. Even if he hands over the position of the Eastern Palace to another prince, it matters not."

Lin Yue was slightly stunned.

"The Twenty-four Heavenly refers to the Emperor’s progeny."

Duke Heng continued, "Currently, the Xiahong family has seven princesses and sixteen princes. Counting Your Highness, the Seventeenth Prince, it makes exactly twenty-four."

"So, I am the Emperor’s last progeny," Lin Yue understood.

To be exact, it was Xia Lie.

Duke Heng said, "In the forty-nine years since the Emperor toured the human world, sixteen princes and seven princesses have been born... but these offspring all were born in Di Hong City."

He looked at Lin Yue, "Yet Your Highness was born in the wilderness as the last prince, which suggests unusual circumstances."

Lin Yue remained silent.

The last prince, born in the wild, perhaps really had something special about it.

Moreover, Xia Lie’s birth mother seemed to have connections with Eternal Night, returning there from the northwest Heroic Pass after giving birth to Xia Lie.

However... what was special was Xia Lie.

And not him.

This gave him, the false prince, additional, heavy pressure in his heart.

"What about the Crown Prince?"

Lin Yue asked, "Great Yong clearly has a Crown Prince, so why allow so many princes to form factions and engage in conflicts?"

Duke Heng slowly said, "When His Majesty announced, the Crown Prince also explicitly stated, he could give up the position of the Eastern Palace. As long as someone could match him by passing the twelve tests set by His Majesty, he would immediately establish a new Crown Prince."

"Twelve tests?"

Lin Yue slightly raised an eyebrow and could not help but say, "Interesting, the Crown Prince has held that title for so many years, overseeing the kingdom for His Majesty, he is already like half of the Emperor, right? Yet at such a time, he is willing to give up the Eastern Palace’s position?"

Duke Heng pondered for a moment and said, "Though he is the Crown Prince, his status is rather extraordinary, so perhaps he does not care about the throne."

"Has anyone passed the twelve tests?" Lin Yue asked.

Duke Heng slowly shook his head and said, "The strongest prince has currently passed the tenth test, and no one, but the Crown Prince, has managed the eleventh test."

"The gap is indeed significant."

Lin Yue slightly nodded and asked again, "What about the Twelfth Prince? How many tests has he passed?"

"Prince Cheng has passed eight tests, and has been stuck at the ninth test for a century," Duke Heng said.

"What about the Second Prince?" Lin Yue inquired.

Rumors said the Second Prince had never acted, which assured him, and he was very interested.

"The Second Prince hasn’t passed a single test," Duke Heng shook his head and said, "I’ve never seen the Second Prince take action."

Lin Yue fell into contemplation.

After a long while, he said, "So, Lord Qi believes I, the last prince, am unique, and thus stakes Duke Heng’s future on me?"

"Precisely."

Duke Heng said, "For a prince, as long as one is strong enough personally, power? Background? It will come sooner or later, so judging only by temporary destitution has little meaning, offering help in need is better than decorating in splendor. Besides, Your Highness has saved the lineage of my Duke Heng’s residence, what do you think?"

Lin Yue coughed a few times and said, "Then I thank Duke Heng in advance."

"Is Your Highness unwell?" Duke Heng asked.

"It’s nothing, just hit by the Twelfth Prince’s Heartless Qi," Lin Yue slightly shook his head.

The Fourteenth Prince clearly hadn’t mentioned this to Duke Heng.

"Heartless Qi?" Duke Heng said, "Though painful, it does have some benefits for Your Highness."

He continued, "Your Highness, the path you’ve taken on the Ancient God’s Way follows Primordial Power and the Physical Body route. It seems you are also dual-cultivating martial arts?"

"Indeed," Lin Yue nodded.

Duke Heng slightly pondered and said, "If Your Highness returns to the royal family, during martial arts cultivation, the Xiahong family would invite a Martial Arts Grandmaster to teach. Since Your Highness intends to reside at my Duke Heng’s residence temporarily, this old man will not let Your Highness suffer."

He slightly turned his head, glanced at the tall, lean, sword-carrying man behind him, and said, "Nu-er, you’ll teach Your Highness martial arts from now on."

The tall, lean, sword-carrying man immediately cupped his hands and said, "Yes, foster father."

The sword-carrying man looked at Lin Yue with a smile, and asked, "May I know Your Highness’s preferred weapon?"

"Blade," Lin Yue said.

"Coincidentally, I also favor the blade," the sword-carrying man smiled.

Duke Heng smiled as he introduced, "Your Highness, this is my foster son, Wu Nu, who has some skill as a Martial Arts Grandmaster, feel free to learn from him."

Bearing the name Wu Nu, enslaved by martial arts, evidenced his determination in martial arts.

"Alright," Lin Yue nodded, and said, "My trusted aide has great martial arts talent, too. Could you also assist in teaching her?"

Baili Fengzhi was slightly taken aback.

Duke Heng looked at Baili Fengzhi, a hint of surprise appearing in his cloudy old eyes, and he softly said, "Baili Fengzhi? What an astounding Fire Spirit, truly a prodigy."

He promptly said, "Your Highness has such a trusted aide, who should indeed be nurtured. Let Wu Nu teach alongside."

"Then I must thank Lord Qi," Lin Yue nodded.

Baili Fengzhi also cupped her hands in salute, saying, "Thank you, Lord Qi."

"Additionally, there is another matter I wish to seek Lord Qi’s assistance with," Lin Yue said, "Is Lord Qi aware of the Household Blood Covenant of the prince?"

"Naturally," Duke Heng said, "Does Your Highness require it now?"

He subtly glanced at Baili Fengzhi.

"I have yet to establish my princely status, is the Household Blood Covenant useful?" Lin Yue asked.

"Of course," Duke Heng said, "The Household Blood Covenant is to be witnessed by the Eye of Heaven. As long as one is a prince, it can be used."

"Then I trouble Lord Qi," Lin Yue said.

"It’s a mere trifle."