Xu Tianran's expression changed rapidly. His originally gentle demeanor was tinged with a hint of helplessness, and he hurriedly scolded: "What nonsense are you spouting! Is your big brother the kind of person who indulges in romance and takes advantage of others? Stop talking nonsense!"
Facing his older brother's defense, Xu Tianhao just smiled without speaking. There was a hint of knowing cunning in his eyes, clearly showing a "I understand everything" expression.
This expression almost made Xu Tianran crack on the spot.
His face darkened slightly, and he waved his hand, feigning severity: "Get lost, get lost, go and cultivate immediately!"
"If you continue to spout nonsense here, I will personally take action to check your cultivation progress. If there is no improvement, see how I punish you!"
Xu Tianhao knew when to stop. He did not tease his older brother anymore, turned around, and walked quickly out of the study.
Only Xu Tianran was left alone in the spacious study, lost in brief contemplation.
In fact, Xu Tianhao was not lacking in tact, nor was he deliberately causing trouble by not recruiting a woman with such outstanding talent and peerless beauty like Zhang Lexuan, but instead trying to match her with his older brother.
His actions were entirely for the sake of Xu Tianran's future and the Sun Moon Empire's realm.
Now that his older brother was the legitimate Crown Prince, the future emperor of the Sun Moon Empire.
Yet Xu Tianran was already twenty-two, but he did not even have a soulmate who shared his heart, let alone having decided on a Crown Princess to spread the royal lineage.
The royal family valued bloodline inheritance and the continuation of descendants above all else. Only by appointing a Crown Princess and giving birth to royal blood could the position of Crown Prince be truly stabilized and the inheritance of the realm be foolproof.
And Zhang Lexuan's identity, talent, beauty, and character were undoubtedly the most compatible candidates for Xu Tianran at the moment.
She carried the Kong Family bloodline and had Kong Deming as her backing. With outstanding strength and a resilient temperament, she was the best candidate for Crown Princess from every perspective.
Moreover, with Xu Tianran's current wisdom, methods, and bearing, it would not be difficult to gradually move Zhang Lexuan and make her sincerely submit.
It was precisely out of such considerations that Xu Tianhao had deliberately designed and intended to match his older brother with Zhang Lexuan.
After all, charity begins at home. Such an excellent woman becoming his sister-in-law and stabilizing the foundation for the Sun Moon Empire was not a loss, no matter how one calculated it.
...
After leaving Xu Tianran, Xu Tianhao returned directly to Haoyu Palace.
As soon as he stepped through the gate of Haoyu Palace and before he could walk into the main hall, several figures surrounded him as if they had been waiting for a long time.
Xiao Hongchen and the others had bright eyes, their faces full of unconcealable curiosity and gossip.
Their gazes fell tightly on Xu Tianhao, their eager appearance as if they wanted to see right through him.
Even Ye Guyi, who was usually cold and self-restrained, and maintained a dignified and solemn appearance no matter what she faced,
at this moment, the rigor in her clear eyes faded, replaced by a bit of curiosity, looking as if she could not wait to hear the story.
Looking at everyone who usually had different personalities but now presented a unified gossiping appearance, especially seeing that even Ye Guyi, who was always serious, had such an expression.
Xu Tianhao helplessly shook his head slightly, a trace of wry amusement flashing in his eyes.
The curiosity of this group of guys was truly more vigorous than their cultivation.
Seeing everyone's burning eyes, Xu Tianhao deliberately straightened his face and said sternly:
"You have quite some nerve to dare to intercept and inquire about the private affairs of the Crown Prince?"
"Discussing the Crown Prince like this, if it spreads out, it is a significant crime."
Hearing this, Xiao Hongchen immediately chuckled, took a step forward, his tone familiar and affectionate, not at all frightened by Xu Tianhao's feigned seriousness:
"You cannot say it like that. In the court, His Highness is the majestic Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire, but in our Haoyu Palace, in private, he is our big brother."
"Family caring for family is only right and proper. How can this be considered discussing right and wrong?"
Meng Hongchen on the side nodded in agreement, her lively eyes blinking, and she said in a charming tone:
"Exactly, exactly. His Highness the Crown Prince said before that we are all his younger brothers and sisters. Family does not speak two languages. Is it wrong to care about our big brother's recent situation?"
Even Long Aotian, who was always straightforward and never beat around the bush, echoed seriously:
"That is right. As younger siblings, it is reasonable for us to care about our big brother's situation. There is nothing inappropriate about it."
Listening to everyone speaking one after another, righteously using the excuse of "caring for their older brother" to fish for gossip, Xu Tianhao could not help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Xu Tianhao could not help but secretly complain in his heart that this group of people had a truly gifted talent for gossip.
They found such high-sounding reasons that made it impossible for anyone to refute.
Seeing everyone looking as if they would not stop until they achieved their goal, Xu Tianhao finally spread his hands, made a gesture of compromise, and said helplessly:
"Alright, alright, I give in to you all. I cannot out-talk you."
"You want to listen? Fine. I can tell you the general ins and outs, but you must promise me that these words can only stay in Haoyu Palace and absolutely cannot be spread outside."
"If it spreads outside and causes unnecessary trouble, the consequences are not something everyone can bear."
Seeing that Xu Tianhao finally relented, everyone nodded repeatedly like pounding garlic, their eyes full of joy, and replied in unison: "Hmm! We promise! We will absolutely not spread it!"
Each of them patted their chests to guarantee, looking extremely serious, afraid that Xu Tianhao would change his mind and stop talking the next second.
Seeing that everyone had promised solemnly, Xu Tianhao slowly began to speak, recounting how Zhang Lexuan was brought back, how the teacher Kong Deming treated her, and that Zhang Lexuan's identity was a close descendant of Elder Kong.
As for the little thoughts and schemes he and Xu Tianran had discussed to use a strategic retreat to trap Zhang Lexuan, he naturally said nothing about it, only selecting the content he could tell everyone.
As Xu Tianhao narrated, the expressions on everyone's faces changed from initial curiosity to surprise, and in the end, they could not help but gasp, their faces full of shock and disbelief.
Plus the Shrek conspiracy theory, the fact that under Zhang Lexuan's seemingly talented appearance, there was such a tragic life story hidden...
And when they heard that after Zhang Lexuan woke up, facing such earth-shattering changes and choices, she neither cried nor made a scene, nor questioned or resisted.
Instead, she was emotionally stable, handled it calmly, had already figured out all the facts, and chose to stay in the Sun Moon Empire and by Xu Tianran's side,
everyone widened their eyes completely, revealing stunned expressions, and could not come back to their senses from the shock for a long time.
Everyone looked at each other, and the same thought was in their hearts.
Zhang Lexuan's ups and downs, legendary experience, was truly enough to be written into a book.
This experience was too bizarre and too amazing.
Just as everyone was immersed in the shock, Xu Tianzhen, who was standing on the side, suddenly smiled and spoke, reaching out to everyone, her tone with a bit of triumph:
"I said before that this gossip would definitely be shocking. Now you all believe it, right? Losers pay up, give me the money!"
Xu Tianzhen, who was present at the time, already knew a little bit about this information, but she did not tell everyone the news immediately.
Instead, she deliberately used this shocking gossip as a bet, waiting for Xu Tianhao to come back and tell the whole story.
Now that the dust had settled, she naturally wanted to cash in on the bet and ask for the winnings from everyone.
Everyone looked at the triumphant Xu Tianzhen, all smiling helplessly, but also willingly taking out small items as bets.
For a time, Haoyu Palace was filled with a relaxed and lively atmosphere.
After the gossip was finished and the playfulness gradually subsided, Xu Tianhao retracted the smile on his face and looked at Xu Tianzhen on the side.
Xu Tianhao's tone became a bit more serious, and he slowly urged: "Fourth Sister, you are a girl, your mind is delicate. If you have nothing to do in the future, you might as well go to Zhang Lexuan's place more often to chat and talk with her."
"She has just arrived here, is in a strange environment, and is surrounded by us men, so she will inevitably feel lonely and constrained. With you accompanying her, she will be able to adapt to life here faster."
After a pause, Xu Tianhao added: "Anyway, the teacher has been staying there to take care of her personally during this time, so there is no need to worry about any problems."
In fact, Xu Tianhao knew in his heart that although Zhang Lexuan's current performance was calm and appropriate, and her emotions were very stable.
But she had just experienced many changes after all, and there would inevitably be anxiety and struggle in her heart. Even if she was calm on the surface, she might not have completely let go inside.
Letting Xu Tianzhen visit often could, on one hand, relieve her loneliness, and on the other hand, keep an eye on her state to prevent any problems.
This was exactly the deep meaning of Kong Deming staying by Zhang Lexuan's side; it was both protection and observation.
It was also to make her feel completely at ease and truly integrate into life in the Sun Moon Empire.
Hearing Xu Tianhao's instructions, Xu Tianzhen nodded gently, a gentle smile appearing on her face, and she readily agreed:
"No problem, leave this matter to me. I will definitely visit her often in the future to keep her company."