In the Kong Family mansion, within the garden pavilion.
Clear tea emitted wisps of white mist from the stone table, yet it couldn't dispel the obvious helplessness on Kong Mingan's face.
He put down his teacup, looked at his composed elder across from him, and his tone was filled with undisguised complaint:
"So... you just 'priced and sold' your own grandson without a word?"
Kong Deming sat upright in the main seat, his silver moon robe impeccable, and he calmly took a sip of tea. His gaze swept over the ticulously trimd flowers and trees outside the pavilion, his voice steady and unruffled:
"I told you about this matter in advance, it was just put on hold. Now it's rely being brought up. Moreover, His Majesty is clearly serious this ti, with ample sincerity. Furthermore..."
His gaze returned to Kong Mingan, carrying a detached understanding of everything, "I see you don't seem to object either."
Kong Mingan was slightly speechless.
Object? He couldn't really say he did. He was just a little caught off guard by this sudden, uncontrollable situation. What's more... he subconsciously glanced beside him—
Beside him, Xu Tianzhen sat primly... or so it seed.
She pretended to be a well-behaved listener to the elders' conversation, but in reality, all her attention was on Kong Mingan. A small hand was stealthily, trying to pull at his clothes pocket with the smallest possible movent, her target clear:
That damned recording tal chip!
Her small movents were cautious, and she tried hard to maintain an innocent expression of "I didn't do anything," but her sparkling purple eyes and slightly puffed-out cheeks completely betrayed her.
Kong Mingan's lips couldn't help but twitch slightly.
This feeling was really strange.
Xu Tianzhen's behavior, by rights, already constituted a severe lack of boundaries, enough to cause displeasure.
However, she did it so directly, even a bit clumsily, combined with her 'clear-headed slacking' princess theory and her current determined focus on stealing, it was difficult for Kong Mingan to feel any ill will.
Perhaps... this was two negatives making a positive? This thought inexplicably popped into his head.
Kong Deming took in the small movents between the two, his eyes subtly moving, but he didn't point it out. He simply continued the previous topic, saying earnestly:
"The matter of marriage, for you, is ultimately an extra layer of insurance.
"Your capabilities, young man, are stronger than mine, an old man, and among His Majesty's many princes, none are promising... Hmm, Crown Prince Xu Tianran is passable, but his intentions are not right, his desire for control is too strong, and he is prone to going to extres.
"If Crown Prince Xu Tianran ascends to that position in the future, and I am no longer here, and you are still of this character that is too lazy to manage anything, he will inevitably be wary and guard against you, then test you, until..."
"Until he touches my bottom line?" Kong Mingan finished his elder's unspoken words.
"It seems you have a clear self-awareness," Kong Deming nodded slightly, then spoke:
"At that ti, it might lead to another bloody storm. If you have thoughts of it, don't bear too much burden; just take that position. My only request is that the emperor after you must be your and Tianzhen's child, ensuring the Bloodline of the Sun Moon Imperial Family continues."
These words were spoken calmly, yet they weighed a thousand pounds. The air in the pavilion seed to solidify a bit.
Xu Tianzhen, who was diligently 'committing the act,' suddenly froze, her fingers pulling at the pocket instantly retracting.
Are you kidding , buddy?!
Was she even supposed to hear these words?!
What 'bloody storm,' what 'that position,' what 'Bloodline continues'... this completely exceeded her policy scope of "peacefully being a tool for marriage, cultivating feelings in advance, and finding a backer"!
She imdiately sat up straight, her small face taut, her eyes darting around, looking left and right but not daring to look at Kong Deming and Kong Mingan. She wished she could turn into a pillar in the pavilion on the spot, or slip into a crack in the flagstones beneath her feet, her face filled with the tension of "I didn't hear anything," "I don't exist," and "don't silence ."
Kong Mingan glanced at the uneasy young girl beside him, looking at his elder with so helplessness.
Kong Deming understood, but he smiled.
It seed his grandson truly didn't dislike Tianzhen... Kong Deming's expression showed a hint of satisfaction, then he changed the subject, naturally moving past it.
With a flip of his wrist, a special, ancient-looking, thread-bound booklet appeared in his hand. On the cover were two archaic ink characters—Kong Clan Genealogy.
"Alright, since this matter is settled, there's no need to say more." He pushed the genealogy towards Kong Mingan, "This is what you asked to investigate over a year ago. I had Zhou Ping's son return to the Kong Family ancestral ho to sort everything out, and there was indeed a discovery.
"Indeed, as you said, there is a branch Bloodline on the Heaven Soul Empire side that has long been out of contact, related to a Kong Family woman who married out many years ago."
Kong Mingan calmly took the genealogy, not imdiately flipping through it, but simply asked, "What if there are descendants?"
"If there are still descendants, and they are willing, then bring them back. If they are unwilling, there's no need to force them.
"But if a Legacy Spirit appears among their descendants..."
Kong Deming's eyes sharpened a bit, "Either bring them back, or kill them. The Sun Moon's Legacy Spirit is not allowed to be outside."
"Understood. If I et soone I can't defeat, I'll call you then."
"Hmm?" Kong Deming frowned, then realized sothing, "There really is one?"
"Yes, at Shrek."
"This..." Kong Deming's brow furrowed even deeper.
If it were anything else, it would be easy to say, but if it's Shrek... it's easy to cause a chain reaction... "Don't worry, I'll try to see if I can poach them." Putting the genealogy into his storage spirit tool, Kong Mingan gave his elder a reassuring look, then stood up:
"If there's nothing else, I'm off."
"You... Sigh, alright, you handle it yourself." Kong Deming's tone was slightly helpless.
Kong Mingan nodded, then turned and walked away.
Xu Tianzhen, still trying to act invisible, was stunned. She looked at the departing Kong Mingan, then at the imposing Kong Deming, quickly stood up, and hastily bowed:
"Grandpa Kong, then I will also take my leave!" After speaking, she almost tiptoed, quickly chasing after Kong Mingan.
Catching up to Kong Mingan, Xu Tianzhen reverted to her eager look, as if afraid of losing him, following closely half a step behind him, her eyes occasionally glancing at the pocket that might contain the 'evidence,' wanting to speak but hesitating.
Kong Mingan naturally noticed her gaze, finding it strangely amusing.
With a thought, he checked ng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen's real-ti status using his spirit tool communication device.
"They're all Cultivating..." Kong Mingan murmured to himself, dismissing the idea of going to find them.
Suddenly, Kong Mingan stopped, then turned around.
Xu Tianzhen, who was following closely behind him, almost ran into him. She quickly slamd on the brakes, looked up with her small face, her purple eyes filled with confusion and a hint of nervousness.
Looking at the young girl in front of him, Kong Mingan felt a bit of interest. He leaned down slightly, looking levelly into Xu Tianzhen's bright eyes, and asked:
"Is it very boring always staying in the palace?"
"Huh?" Xu Tianzhen didn't react for a mont, subconsciously replying, "It's alright..."
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Kong Mingan's mouth.
"Then, would you like to... go out for a stroll?"
Xu Tianzhen blinked.
"Ah?"
(End of Chapter)
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