CHAPTER 666: CHAPTER 646 CALAMITY

"Ayu?" Xie Xun looked at her in astonishment, feeling deeply uncomfortable. He was not someone who lusted after beauty. If one were to speak of beauty, few could rival Fengyu in this world. Agreeing to let the Beiman Princess enter the palace was for the sake of border peace, yet his first choice had never been to allow her into the palace.

"Zhixu, I’m not angry. We’ve shared life and death, weathered hardships together. We both know how arduous this journey has been. I won’t let petty jealousy ruin the grand matter of Beiman’s surrender. If Dugu Jing is truly willing to lead Beiman into surrender, then let the Princess enter the palace!" Fengyu’s voice was calm. "I despise the idea of you having three wives and six concubines. Yet in reality, there are many things beyond your control. Ruling as Emperor does not mean I can be your sole focus. If the clans wanted to send women into the palace purely for balancing clan power, I would never agree. For we are capable of balancing wealth and authority without compromising here. But the Beiman Princess is an exception. Beiman concerns the peace between two nations and the lives of the soldiers. If two Princesses entering the palace can lessen even two of our soldiers’ deaths, then I am willing." Fengyu understood that Xie Xun had no intention of indulging in the Beiman Princess’s beauty. A man who desired a woman’s favor, especially an Emperor, would be unstoppable if he made the choice—she couldn’t hold him back if she tried.

Moreover, the Beiman Princess’s entry into the palace was no trivial matter. It could not be taken lightly, and she too wished to avoid giving others the opportunity to reproach her.

She couldn’t help feeling heartache, but it wasn’t overwhelming, because she understood Xie Xun’s desire for a stable frontier.

"By this afternoon, my cousin has already updated me on the progress of Beiman’s surrender negotiations. He and the High Priest are still hammering out the details. By the time final terms are presented, it isn’t certain they’ll even need to enter the palace." Xie Xun stroked her face tenderly. Putting himself in her place, if Fengyu were the Empress bringing Dugu Jing into her life, he’d surely have chopped Dugu Jing into pieces.

To now ask her to force a smile and agree to the Beiman Princess entering the palace—wasn’t it cruel of him?

"Alright!" Fengyu’s eyes grew slightly red. There was a trace of grievance, but she chose to trust Xie Xun. "As long as you discuss it with me and show consideration, I won’t feel too heartbroken."

What she feared most was Xie Xun silently giving his consent without involving her. That, surely, would have truly shattered her heart. No matter how fiercely she wanted him all to herself, how strongly she yearned for exclusivity, she understood the boundaries and wouldn’t allow herself to lose reason in matters of Beiman’s surrender.

"Ayu, I’m sorry!"

"You fool, you’ve done nothing wrong to anyone!" Fengyu replied with a gentle smile. "This matter isn’t all that hard to bear. As you said, let them live in the West Palace after entering the palace. Just forbid them from bearing offspring."

"Ayu, the only woman who will mother any child of Xie Zhixu’s blood is you. No one else. If I ever betray this vow, may I die without peace, becoming a lonely ghost, unworthy of burial in the family temple."

"Zhixu!" Fengyu was taken aback and quickly covered his mouth. Compared to the threat of divine punishment or bolts of lightning, his oath was much harsher—it was a venomous vow for both Xie Xun and Xie Jue.

"There’s no need for oaths. I believe you!"

"Alright!" Xie Xun embraced her tightly, silently vowing in his heart. He would handle the matter of the Beiman Princess’s palace entry with the utmost care. If it could be avoided, he would ensure it didn’t happen. Yet Beiman’s surrender had to occur!

He knew he was being greedy!

So what?

To have both the empire and the woman he loved in his grasp—why not indulge in this greed?

Xie Jue was taken aback upon learning that Fengyu had agreed to the Beiman Princess entering the palace. He couldn’t help but probe, "You didn’t purposely use clever words to trick her, right?... Forget it, you’re not that cunning. If anything, it would be her fooling you. So, Ayu truly agreed?"

"Second Brother, why do you belittle me every day? Ayu truly agreed. But if we can negotiate so that the Beiman Princess doesn’t enter the palace, that would be even better. Since you’re so fond of Ayu, why don’t you take the Princess yourself?" Xie Xun, unwilling to let himself take the blow, now began scheming to push the burden onto his Second Brother.