"Does Minister Cao have any solutions?"

Jingtai changed the subject and asked.

Cao Zhengxian frowned, about to say he didn't have any good solutions. After all, although he didn't have any personal grudges with Chen Yuan, his adopted son, Yang Yuanqing, had already formed a deadly feud with him.

Naturally, he wasn't too keen on seeing Chen Yuan gain power.

But looking at the emperor's ambiguous expression, a thought suddenly struck him, and he lowered his voice to ask:

"What if we arrange a marriage, Your Majesty? Do you think it's feasible?"

When Chen Yuan was still in the capital, Jingtai had considered this possibility and there had even been rumors circulating, clearly indicating early preparations.

Furthermore, if Jingtai truly disliked Chen Yuan, why would he have urgently summoned him back from Liangzhou?

It was clear that he had already planned something, perhaps even including the earlier talk of suppressing Chen Yuan. This was probably also part of the plan.

It was to make Chen Yuan understand that if he wanted to climb to a higher position, he had to be loyal to the Sima family. Otherwise, how could the emperor refuse the person recommended by Grand Commandant Gu Tianqiong before his retirement?

Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Jingtai's face. Cao Zhengxian's assessment was quite accurate, and it was indeed Jingtai's intention.

He was indeed somewhat irritated by Chen Yuan, feeling an inexplicable aversion, especially since the latter had disrupted his plans.

But Chen Yuan couldn't be entirely blamed. He was acting in the best interests of the country at the time, even putting his own life at risk. Moreover, when Jingtai hoped to see the defeat of the Northern Liang King, Wei Jinfeng, he had never imagined that a mere Dan Realm cultivator like Chen Yuan could accomplish such a feat.

Moreover, given Chen Yuan's demonstrated potential, the imperial family was bound to win him over.

At only twenty-something, he had risen rapidly in just a few years, reaching the Huayang Realm. There wasn't another person like him in the entire world.

He could also mobilize the power of the masses to activate the legendary immortal weapon, the True Martial Immortal Sword.

Extraordinary destiny! Peerless talent!

How could the Sima imperial family ignore such a peerless genius who was on the verge of fully maturing? How could they suppress him? The right path was to bring him over to their side.

Given his trajectory, his chances of becoming an unmatched True Monarch in the future were very high.

And his combat strength was unmatched among his peers. If he became an unmatched True Monarch in the future, he would definitely be one of the pillars of the court. Most importantly, he would be loyal to the Sima family!

He would become Jingtai's sharpest blade in sweeping away the ills of the world!

He now had the qualifications to become the sword in his hand!

"Then, Minister Cao, which of my daughters do you think I should bestow upon Chen Yuan?"

Cao Zhengxian thought, wasn't the emperor asking a question he already knew the answer to?

How many daughters did he have in total?

Moreover, ordinary princesses seemed unworthy of Chen Yuan, who was famous throughout the world and shook the Jianghu. It had to be the eldest princess, Pingyang, who was skilled in both martial and literary arts, with both virtue and talent.

However, he also understood the emperor's intention. Even for a marriage bestowed by the emperor, the subject had to propose it first for the sake of the imperial family's dignity. Therefore, he solemnly said:

"The eldest princess Pingyang would be a suitable match for Chen Yuan!"

"Hmm."

Jingtai narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"Minister Cao's views are quite consistent with mine."

"It is Your Majesty who has deeply considered the matter. This old minister is merely complying with Your Majesty's will."

"Then let's leave this matter to you to handle. Create some buzz in the capital. I value this marriage very much. Oh, and when the time is right, have Zhang Yantong tell Chen Yuan that it would be a great joy if he were to propose the marriage to me first."

Jingtai smiled faintly.

"Yes, this old minister understands."

"Very well, you may leave."

"This old minister takes his leave."

Cao Zhengxian bowed and slowly retreated.

When the imperial study was once again empty, Jingtai reached out and picked up the brush resting on the inkstone, writing the name 'Chen Yuan' on the grassland image of the spring scene he had just painted.

It was somewhat glaring, but it also seemed to fit the scene on the grassland.

A faint cold smile appeared on the corner of Jingtai's lips.

Tying down Chen Yuan with a marriage was only the first step.

Once the wedding ceremony was complete, with the bonds of cause and effect established, he could rightfully include Chen Yuan in the Sima clan and force him to make a vow to Heaven and Earth, pledging lifelong loyalty to the court and the Sima imperial family!

Once the Grand Dao oath was sworn and the karma of Heaven and Earth was formed, Chen Yuan would no longer be able to betray the Sima family if he had any aspirations in the future, and he would have to obediently listen to orders.

Naturally, he wouldn't need to, nor would he deserve such a large price to plan and use spiritual objects to make a vow.

But Chen Yuan was different. He had a very broad future.

Moreover, he wouldn't be at a loss. As long as he loyally served the Sima family, he would still be given many things: power, status, spiritual objects, everything he could desire.

He would also be fully supported by the vast resources of the Sima imperial family to improve his cultivation.

As long as he was a smart man, he wouldn't refuse.

And if he really refused... hehe.

Chen Yuan had been to Sima Ke's old home many times, and it was indeed a nice place.

He hadn't expected that the usually dignified and noble Consort Yang actually enjoyed a very famous dish in the Jianghu: stir-fried chicken with black bean sauce.

As a subject, Chen Yuan naturally had to showcase his culinary skills.

He used all his skills to prepare this dish.

It wasn't until dawn that he finally finished.

The entire room where the cooking took place was messy and filled with a strong fragrance of *Spiraea thunbergii*.

The scorching sunlight streamed through the window. Sensing someone approaching, Chen Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, emitting a sharp glint. His physical body was strong, so his recovery was naturally fast.

He put on his clothes one by one. When Chen Yuan looked back, he saw that the satisfied Consort Yang, who had eaten the dish, hadn't woken up yet, her face slightly flushed and her long hair disheveled.

Next to her was an ornamental fish tank. The fish in the tank were floating belly up, as if they were dead, but that was normal.

Because Chen Yuan clearly saw that the fish's mouth was swollen like a peach.

He didn't know what it had eaten by mistake.

Chen Yuan shook his head and stopped paying attention. As he stood up, his lower back was still a little sore. That dish had really drained his culinary skills.

Supporting himself against the wall as he walked out of the room, Chen Yuan closed the curtain. The dead fish's mouth couldn't be seen by outsiders, or it would be easy for something to happen. As soon as he closed the door,

The old butler of the manor greeted him and bowed:

"Lord Marquis."

"What is it?"

Chen Yuan asked with a normal expression.

"Someone from the palace has arrived."

"To deliver an imperial decree?"

"Yes, they are holding an imperial decree in their hands."

"Okay, let's go receive the decree."

Chen Yuan nodded, not feeling surprised. This was obviously still related to yesterday's conferral of the marquis title. Jingtai's other rewards were still to come, so there was nothing surprising.

The palace eunuch was a young eunuch dressed in official robes, holding a spiritual tea and shaking his head with an air of self-importance, seemingly arrogant and silent.

But when he saw Chen Yuan approaching, his face immediately changed, and his arrogance turned into obsequiousness. He quickly put down the spiritual tea and stepped forward, bowing:

"This humble servant Liu Yong greets Marquis Wu'an."

The current Chen Yuan was different from before. A marquis with ten thousand households was definitely a top-level noble. As a small eunuch, even relying on the emperor's power, he didn't dare to put on the slightest airs.

That was just courting death.

"You've worked hard, Eunuch Liu."

"Not at all, not at all. It's an honor for this humble servant to meet the world-renowned Lord Marquis. Before coming, His Majesty also said that the Lord Marquis had been working hard last night and told this humble servant to come later."

Liu Yong said with a forced smile.

Normally, most imperial decrees were delivered in the morning, but the emperor had specifically told him to come later, which showed the favor this newly appointed marquis enjoyed.

Chen Yuan's expression was a bit strange. How did Jingtai know he had been working hard? And he even specially sent someone to come later?

"How does His Majesty know?"

"This humble servant doesn't know either, but I suppose it's because of the princes' banquet for the Lord Marquis yesterday. You must have drunk a lot of wine," Liu Yong said in a low voice.

Jingtai was really thoughtful.

Chen Yuan shook his head and chuckled, then said:

"Then please announce the decree, Eunuch."

"Yes, whatever the Lord Marquis says."

Liu Yong bowed and then, with a serious expression, picked up the imperial decree wrapped in yellow cloth. He coughed a few times to clear his throat and said loudly:

"Marquis Wu'an, Chen Yuan, listen to the decree."

Chen Yuan's expression turned solemn, and he cupped his hands in a bow.

"Marquis Wu'an, Chen Yuan, has won My heart. He is young and accomplished, not arrogant or impetuous. Therefore, I...specially bestow ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand bolts of brocade, a manor with spiritual tea..."

In terms of individual items, these things weren't much, but when added together, they were definitely not a small amount. They even specially bestowed an excellent marquis's residence to Chen Yuan.

In short, they had to show it on the surface.

"Lord Marquis, please accept the decree."

Liu Yong quickly stepped forward, bowed, and presented the closed imperial decree to Chen Yuan.

"Thank you."

"You're too kind, Lord Marquis."

"Someone, see Eunuch Liu off," Chen Yuan smiled.

"No need, no need. This humble servant can leave on my own."

With that, he bowed again and quickly left with his entourage, not even daring to accept the usual customary silver.

But that was understandable. Chen Yuan's reputation wasn't just good; he also had many fearsome reputations, earned through hard fighting with swords and spears.

The little eunuch didn't dare to accept the silver.

Chen Yuan casually handed the imperial decree to the butler beside him, stretched, and rested in the backyard for a while before changing rooms again to rest.

As the news spread, the news of Chen Yuan being conferred as a marquis with ten thousand households also began to spread outside the capital. Under the vast intelligence network of the Ascending Immortal Tower, it spread to several surrounding prefectures in a very short time.

For a time, Chen Yuan stirred up a not small commotion in the Jianghu and the officialdom.

Marquis Wu'an!

A fiefdom of ten thousand households!

Ping'an County as his territory!

Every piece of news was huge. And Chen Yuan caused an even greater stir in Qingzhou and Tangshan, after all, this was his home ground and the place where he rose to prominence.

When Magistrate Wu Qingfeng of Ping'an County received this news, he was so frightened that he couldn't hold the teacup in his hand steadily, and images from a few years ago flashed through his mind again.

At that time, Chen Yuan was still bowing respectfully in front of him, not daring to offend him in the slightest.

But now, the other party had become famous in Qingzhou, and the entire vast Ping'an County had become his territory. In theory, he could take away his position with just a word.

After taking a few deep breaths and calming his mind, Wu Qingfeng immediately ordered people to summon all the officials in the county government, especially Constable Wang Ping, to see where they could build a large mansion for Marquis Wu'an.

Whether he came back or not was his business, but if he neglected him, he would lose his official hat.

In those days, the entire Ping'an County became lively. Everyone knew that a great man had emerged in the county, a marquis with ten thousand households in the imperial court, with high status and great power.

Wang Ping's position rose unprecedentedly.

Although he was a mere constable, even the magistrate and the county military commander had to look at his face and even fawn on him.

Of course, Wang Ping also knew the stakes involved and didn't dare to show off, but rather behaved steadily and laid a good reputation for Yuan-ge'er.

The thing that the neighbors on the street talked about the most was Chen Yuan, this esteemed marquis, saying that Xiao Fang didn't have the fortune to become a lady of the court, which was a pity.

After hearing this, Zhao Nanshan stroked his beard and laughed, saying that he hadn't misjudged him in the first place.

In just a few short years, he had achieved such accomplishments.

How many people in the world could do that?

And the most lively place was none other than the brothels of Ping'an County. Many girls had once received Chen Yuan in his early years and were proud of it.

They even deliberately raised their prices because of this.

After Wang Ping found out, he directly ordered a rectification.

He couldn't let these filthy places tarnish Yuan-ge'er's reputation.

The reaction in Tangshan Prefecture was similar to that in Ping'an County, and it was very lively.

They felt honored by Chen Yuan's achievements, and his prestige reached its peak.

Even the government was actively promoting it. Some restaurants and merchants who had benefited from Chen Yuan's rectification at that time offered huge discounts or even free services.

It was also a spectacle.

The reaction in Liangzhou was the same.

After all, the foundation of Chen Yuan's conferral as a marquis was laid in that battle in Liangzhou City. However, no one felt jealous or bad about it. Instead, they felt that this was the glory that Chen Yuan deserved.

The youngest marquis of the Great Jin.

Even Chen Yuan himself didn't expect that a marquis title, which he didn't care much about, would cause such a huge shock.

Most of his previous reputations, whether it was the Demon Blade or the first place on the Hidden Dragon List and the Wind and Cloud List, were basically in the Jianghu.

There was a barrier between them and ordinary people. Most of them didn't even know the division of martial arts realms. They only knew that Chen Yuan was a very powerful martial artist.

But a marquis was different.

The saying "a good man should be conferred as a marquis and general" had long held a great position in the hearts of the people. They had such expectations for their descendants, and now that Chen Yuan had done it, his reputation naturally rose greatly.

This was true fame throughout the world.

Compared to the Jianghu, the base of hundreds of millions of common people in the world was even larger.

Those who win the hearts of the people win the world!

Chen Yuan was gradually building a solid foundation for himself step by step.

However, these things were all later developments.

Chen Yuan, who had been working hard all night, didn't know that there would be such a huge shock. He had also anticipated it, after all, he had had many experiences before, and he was used to shocking the world.

But the commotion caused this time was something he hadn't expected before.

Chen Yuan was awakened from his sleep by the Heavenly Book. Obviously, the several Dao Lords of the Dao God Palace had also received the news in a very short time.

Mainly to congratulate him.

On the other hand, they asked if there were any other rewards besides the marquis title.

When Chen Yuan said before that he wanted to be enfeoffed in Shu Prefecture, when would he start planning? They could secretly remove the Jin envoy in Shu Prefecture.

But Chen Yuan told them to wait a little longer.

The enfeoffment matter should be put on hold for a while. After becoming the Heavenly Character Divine Envoy, then they would start planning this matter with all their strength.

Upon hearing this, the others also began to discuss this matter.

But the focus was on Gu Tianqiong's retirement as the Grand Commandant of the Sky Survey Division.

They were all smart people and could see the plan behind Jingtai's actions, saying that this was deliberately being guided toward Chen Yuan.

Otherwise, in terms of major events, Gu Tianqiong's matter was obviously bigger.

Several Dao Lords spoke, and even Jiang He said that Jingtai's plans were probably not small in the future, and advised him to leave the capital as soon as possible to avoid being affected.

But the only strange thing was that Su Ziyue, who was usually very active, wasn't online.

Her unique starlight was very dim.

Chen Yuan sent her a message, but didn't receive a response.

The other Dao Lords said that there was no need to worry too much. Su Ziyue should still be cultivating, and even if something really happened, she would contact them.

The purpose of the Dao God Palace was equivalent exchange, but they had all been old friends for decades or even hundreds of years, and they owed each other countless favors.

Exchanging favors for the Dao Lords to take action was often unnecessary.

Personal relationships were the most important!

Seeing that none of them had any major reactions, Chen Yuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help but think of what Su Ziyue had said when they last contacted.

She told him to help her, but he didn't know what it was about.

He chatted with the Dao Lords in the room for a while, and when the time was about right, he ended the contact. He settled himself and walked to the front door of the main room where he usually stayed and knocked.

Yang Guifei's faint voice came from inside:

"Enter."

Chen Yuan pushed the door open and entered. Yang Guifei had completely woken up and had changed into Chen Yuan's clothes. She didn't have to worry about anything.

Chen Yuan was a cautious person and wouldn't expose her.

He must have left a restriction.

She was right. Chen Yuan had instructed the servants in the manor not to go to his room, and had also left a restriction to guard against others.

"Is Your Ladyship awake?"

Chen Yuan asked with a smile.

Yang Guifei looked at her rosy face in the bronze mirror and glared at Chen Yuan, scolding:

"This is the first time this palace has gotten up so late."

"This can't be blamed on this subject, at that time it was"

"Don't say it."

Yang Guifei snorted a few times.

Chen Yuan coughed a few times and stopped joking, saying seriously:

"Your Ladyship hasn't forgotten what you said before, right?"

"What did I say?"

"About a secret of His Majesty's."

Chen Yuan stared at her intently.

Yang Guifei frowned, thought for a moment, and said in a deep voice:

"This matter was also discovered by this palace by accident."

"Hmm?"

"Once, this palace accidentally entered the imperial garden and saw His Majesty cultivating. His body was full of bloody wounds, so deep that you could see the bone. There was also a faint black aura surrounding him. Although it was only a glimpse, this palace was still very impressed."