Chapter 93: The Man Tang Wanzhuang Will Never Get

Chapter 93: The Man Tang Wanzhuang Can Never Have

Zhao Changhe knew that Tang Wanzhuang and other perceptive people had already largely locked their suspicions of being the prince onto him.

Originally, two people had survived the Luo Manor massacre, and Xia Chichi was also a suspect. Since she was a woman, everyone had initially assumed the prince was male and hadn't paid much attention to her, focusing instead on investigating Zhao Changhe first.

At first, they didn't think he was the prince—there were too many discrepancies. For one, his age didn't match; Zhao Changhe claimed to be twenty, while the prince should be around seventeen. Moreover, the Chaos World Book had confirmed he had only recently begun martial arts training, which wouldn't make sense for a prince. Cui Wenjing initially thought he wasn't the prince and felt it would be fine if he just died.

But the more they investigated, the more he seemed to fit. Deep down, he was a scholar, which was far too cultured for a rural youth—that was highly suspicious. Add in his miraculous cultivation technique and his affinity with the Dragon Sparrow, and the evidence seemed conclusive. Any other flaws didn't matter; they had already filled in countless explanations on his behalf.

For example, his age was likely a deliberate lie—he didn't want to be the prince, so he claimed to be three years older, using his mature appearance to mislead others. As for his martial arts training, he probably intended to live an ordinary life, but after the Zhao village was massacred by Luo Zhenwu and the Luo Manor was wiped out, he realized that in this chaotic world, strength was the only truth, and he resolved to cultivate. And so on... This actually explained why he was such a genius, training so well in just half a year—after all, he had the world's finest bloodline. Understandable.

Now, Xia Chichi was completely overlooked. Even Cui Wenjing directly referred to her as that demon cult witch, which said it all. Apart from her age and surname—coincidences common everywhere—she had nothing that matched the prince's profile. Her cultivation technique was entirely demonic, likely planted by the Four Symbols Sect in the Luo Manor years ago as an inside agent. That seemed more plausible.

Zhao Changhe could roughly guess what they were thinking and found it deeply ironic. No one could fathom Xia Longyuan's thoughts except Xia Longyuan himself. Xia Chichi's inherited White Tiger Divine Art from her mother was the greatest evidence... But since he didn't speak, no one knew.

He felt as if a pair of mocking eyes were watching him from afar, as if asking: Hey, I know you're not my son. Want to call me Dad?

Was Xia Longyuan also among those looking down from the clouds, amused by the monkeys' antics?

But Zhao Changhe was troubled.

He coveted Xia Longyuan's inner cultivation technique.

Though his current aptitude limited him from using it as his main practice, he knew its potential was boundless.

Even now, it was immensely helpful—boosting his external martial arts, amplifying his blood and qi in battle, suppressing his episodes, and speeding recovery afterward. He couldn't go a day without it. Every time he fought above his level, it seemed like the Blood Fiend Art was doing the work, but half the credit went to this inner technique. Without it, he wouldn't have been able to pull off those feats; using even a Divine Buddha Dispersion would have left him drained.

He also coveted the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow. As a blade master, he loved that sword dearly, unable to put it down. He knew carrying the Dragon Sparrow was risky and would cause trouble, but he couldn't bear to part with it.

He wasn't an immortal cultivator; he couldn't be free of greed and desire.

Since he had taken Xia Longyuan's things, he had to bear the consequences. Now, he couldn't plausibly explain the inner technique and the Dragon Sparrow to others, nor could he betray Xia Chichi, who genuinely hated Xia Longyuan and had no desire to be a princess.

When Tang Wanzhuang brought up the matter, he didn't know how to evade it.

Seeing Zhao Changhe's prolonged silence, Tang Wanzhuang sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Is it... that you've been hating His Majesty all these years?"

Zhao Changhe twitched the corner of his mouth. You guessed right, but that person is Chichi.

Tang Wanzhuang was silent for a long time, as if hesitating. Finally, she seemed to make up her mind and whispered, "Though it's not obvious on the surface, His Majesty's cultivation must have gone awry. Many have guessed it, which is why there's so much unrest and turmoil now... So it's not that he ignored everything; he might have been powerless to intervene."

As she spoke, she seemed to realize it was a weak excuse—after all, it had been over a decade, and sending someone to retrieve mother and child didn't require extraordinary cultivation.

So she lowered her head, silently poured tea, and said no more.

Zhao Changhe simply said, "I'm not him anyway. Telling me this is pointless."

If his earlier denial had been genuine, now it sounded like "saying it in anger" to anyone listening. Tang Wanzhuang couldn't even be bothered to expose him and directly said, "If Your Highness refuses to acknowledge it, will you just watch the Great Xia dynasty have no heir and the kingdom fall?"

Zhao Changhe said, "What's that to me?"

Tang Wanzhuang sighed. "Even if you're not, since you've inherited the Six Harmonies Divine Art and the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow, shouldn't you do something?"

Zhao Changhe's first thought was: So that's the name of the Xia Jiba Lian technique. Six Harmonies Divine Art... Might as well call it the Eight Desolates and Six Harmonies, Uniquely Honored Art.

Then he sighed. "It's true I owe him for taking his things. As long as you don't force me to be the prince, I'm willing to do something for him in return."

Tang Wanzhuang fell silent again.

If you won't be the prince, what tasks do we have for you? Send a fourth-level Xuan Pass martial artist out to fight?

Then Zhao Changhe suddenly said, "Hey, me not being the prince is good for you too, right? If I were, wouldn't it be awkward? We just apologized to each other—would the next step be discussing marriage? I haven't even brushed my teeth yet."

Tang Wanzhuang was taken aback. Her usually calm and elegant demeanor visibly flushed.

She hadn't been angry when compared to a courtesan, nor when told to wash up and wait. But now that it was getting real, she blushed, her eyes showing clear annoyance: "Even if you were the prince, what does that have to do with me? Why would we discuss marriage? Don't listen to idle gossip. Who told you that marriage negotiations could be transferred to another person?!"

Zhao Changhe lowered his head to sip tea. "I know you're anxious. Don't be."

That only made her more anxious. Tang Wanzhuang's chest heaved with agitation, looking like she might start coughing again.

Zhao Changhe said, "I saw the Chaos World Book rankings someone compiled. You're third on the Earth List?"

Tang Wanzhuang caught her breath and said weakly, "So what?"

"Though it doesn't say your age, given your cultivation and your position as a high official, you can't be young. Over thirty?"

"...Twenty-eight."

Zhao Changhe was stunned. Impressive.

He wondered if she had entered the Human List before twenty-five, still within the Hidden Dragon List age. If she entered the Human List at twenty-five, then in three years... No, her ranking was from a year ago, meaning she went from the bottom of the Human List to the top three of the Earth List in two years? That was terrifying.

With such potential and strength, no wonder she became a high official so young.

A frail strategist, a mature lady... Hmm.

He admired her inwardly, but what he said was, "So you're twenty-eight, and I'm twenty... According to your guess, the prince is actually seventeen. That's almost a decade difference. Don't graze on young grass, okay?"

Tang Wanzhuang nearly ground her teeth. "I said, I don't need to discuss marriage with you!"

Zhao Changhe snorted. "You might think that, but your family might not. Otherwise, why would you send Yangyang to Beimang? Do you think I'm stupid?"

Tang Wanzhuang breathed lightly and fell silent.

"So," Zhao Changhe poured himself another cup of tea and said leisurely, "I don't want to be the prince, and you don't want to marry a prince. Aren't we natural allies? Help me cover it up, say I'm not him, and give me some tasks to repay the debt for the technique and the Dragon Sparrow. Everyone's happy, isn't that good?"

Tang Wanzhuang's face was expressionless.

Did you know how childish your proposal was?

But then again... If he acknowledged it, he could not only inherit an empire but also have a good chance of winning her, Tang Wanzhuang.

Tang Wanzhuang wondered how many people in the world could resist such temptation, but here was one.

Suddenly, one of Zhao Changhe's many flirtatious remarks came to mind: "The man Tang Wanzhuang can never have..."

It seemed that line was sincere.