The Eldest Daughter Returns with Power

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yichen's heart trembled slightly, as if a pebble had been thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples to spread.

However, his handsome face still maintained a respectful and humble expression, like a gentle breeze in spring, making people feel extremely comfortable.

He lowered his head, lost in brief thought.

Time passed quietly, and after a short while, Zhuang Yichen took a deep breath and stood up again.

He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, walking steadily and powerfully toward the emperor.

Each step seemed so solemn and cautious, as if the ground beneath one's feet was not ordinary ground, but a staircase leading to a fateful choice.

When Zhuang Yichen approached the emperor, he first performed a deep bow with great respect, his movements elegant and fluid, without the slightest hint of hesitation.

Then, he raised his head, looking at the emperor with a firm and clear gaze, and said slowly, "I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's favor. However, I am naturally leisurely and used to being free. The formalities and rules of the palace are like heavy shackles to me, binding my body and mind."

Moreover, having spent so long wandering the martial world, I've long been accustomed to that carefree and unrestrained lifestyle of seeking revenge and settling scores. As for matters of officialdom, I truly lack the talent and ambition to deal with them.

Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty to rescind your decree and allow this humble subject to continue living a carefree life in the martial world. However, please rest assured, Your Majesty, if you ever have any requests in the future, as long as it is within my power, I will certainly do my utmost and never refuse!

The emperor frowned slightly, a subtle crease appearing between his previously relaxed brows. However, this slight change vanished in an instant, and he returned to his usual calm demeanor in the blink of an eye. His deep, bright eyes still shone with admiration, firmly fixed on the person before him.

"Mr. Zhuang is truly extraordinary! To be so steadfast and unwavering in the face of the temptations of fame and fortune is a rare and admirable state of mind. However..." The emperor paused slightly.

He continued, "I am truly reluctant to see such a talented and virtuous person as you depart. If you were willing to stay by my side, firstly, we could meet often and freely exchange chess skills; secondly, with your wisdom and strategy, you would surely be able to help me solve my problems and bring benefits to the country and its people. Wouldn't such a good thing be a win-win situation?" At this point, a hint of regret appeared on the emperor's face.

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yichen quickly kowtowed again to express his gratitude.

At this moment, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled back into place, and he felt much more relaxed.

At the same time, Zhuang Yichen couldn't help but feel a surge of sincere respect for the emperor's tolerance, magnanimity, and understanding.

He knew that although his words today had politely declined the emperor's generous offer, they had unexpectedly forged a unique and profound friendship between them.

The emperor seemed unconcerned about what had just happened, and instead smiled as he chatted with Zhuang Yichen. The conversation ranged from the exquisite art of chess to mysterious tales of the martial world. The two talked amiably, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant, as intimate as old friends who hadn't seen each other for years.

Then, the emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and wearing a purple-gold crown, slowly stood up from his throne.

Seeing this, Zhuang Yichen quickly followed closely behind.

The emperor strode slowly toward the entrance of the main hall.

When he reached the palace gate, he stopped, put his hands behind his back, looked up into the distance, and his eyes revealed a thoughtful expression.

After a moment of silence, the Emperor spoke slowly: "Mr. Zhuang, the world is like a vast and intricate game of chess. Everyone in it plays a different role, shoulders their own unique mission, and faces all sorts of difficult choices. I sincerely hope that, in your long journey of diligently studying the art of chess, you will occasionally turn your attention to this game of chess that concerns the well-being of all people."

Perhaps one day, I will have the honor of walking side by side with you, sir, on this even broader chessboard, working together to add brilliant chapters to the prosperity of our dynasty!

Upon hearing the emperor's meaningful words, Zhuang Yichen was first slightly taken aback, but then he suddenly realized the profound meaning behind them.

He immediately bowed respectfully and replied, "Your Majesty, I will certainly follow your earnest teachings. Although I am not fortunate enough to serve as an official and cannot directly participate in court affairs, I always cherish a heart devoted to the country and its people, and am willing to do my utmost to contribute my meager strength to the common people."

Upon hearing this, the emperor nodded in satisfaction.

Then, he turned around, his deep, ocean-like eyes fixed on Zhuang Yichen, a faint smile appearing on his face.

After a brief pause, the emperor spoke again: "Mr. Zhuang, I do have a few important matters I would like to entrust to you for handling. What do you think?"

Without hesitation, Zhuang Yichen raised his head to meet the emperor's gaze and solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, please speak freely whatever you command. As long as it is within my power, I will do my utmost and dare not slack off in the slightest."

"I know that Mr. Zhuang and his wife have always treated Ruo'er as their own daughter, and I also care about and love my niece very much! Ruo'er will be having her coming-of-age ceremony next year. I have been thinking about letting Ruo'er choose a suitable husband from among my sons, so that someone can take good care of her and protect her in the future."

"As for the specific candidates, I hope you, sir, can help me conduct a private investigation and evaluation. During this time, while you remain in the palace, I will be summoning these princes to the palace one after another. I will need your help then." The emperor said these words sincerely, looking at Zhuang Yichen with eager eyes.

Zhuang Yichen's heart skipped a beat when he heard the emperor's words.

He was well aware that this matter was of utmost importance, and if handled improperly, it could very well cause a great uproar in the palace, or even trigger a fierce struggle.

However, now that the emperor had spoken, how could he simply refuse?

So, Zhuang Yichen pondered how to respond while carefully choosing his words and replied, "Your Majesty, I am truly terrified! All of you princes are of noble birth and extraordinary character, while I am merely a commoner. How could I possibly be qualified to presumptuously assess and evaluate the princes?"

Moreover, marriage is a crucial matter concerning the lifelong happiness of one's children, and I, a humble citizen, am truly worried that my abilities are limited and I am unable to shoulder such an important responsibility.

The Emperor waved his hand gently, a kind smile on his face, and said loudly, "Mr. Zhuang is far too modest! I have always had unwavering faith in your character and wisdom. In this matter, among all the officials, you are the most suitable candidate! So please do not refuse. Speak your mind freely, and I will do my utmost to support you in your endeavors!"

Seeing that the emperor had already made up his mind, Zhuang Yichen knew that further words would be futile, so he could only nod helplessly and reply, "Since that's the case, then this humble subject will respectfully comply. However, this humble subject has one more thing to say, and hopes that Your Majesty will consider it carefully. Marriage is a major event, and it should be based on the mutual love and understanding between the man and woman."

Therefore, when I was assessing the princes, I paid special attention to whether their personalities were compatible with Ruo'er's. I wonder if Your Majesty has any other thoughts or opinions on this?

The Emperor nodded slightly in agreement: "What you say is absolutely right, sir! I naturally hope that Ruo'er can find a suitable husband and have a happy marriage. I entrust this matter entirely to you, sir. If you have any needs or difficulties, just tell me, and I will do my best to meet your requirements."

Zhuang Yichen hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed to express his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! This humble subject will do his utmost to live up to Your Majesty's boundless grace."

However, after getting up, he began to ponder in his heart what methods he should use to successfully complete this difficult and crucial task.

After all, the court is a place of unpredictable people and complex relationships, with each prince backed by a powerful faction. Therefore, this assessment must be approached with utmost care and caution, leaving no room for error and ensuring that no one with ulterior motives has any leverage over you.

"Then I shall take my leave. I will also go back and discuss this matter with my wife." Zhuang Yichen bowed to the Emperor and left the Imperial Study.

"Desheng, have Xiaxia escort Mr. Zhuang back to the Liuli Palace," the Emperor instructed the chief eunuch, Li Desheng.

Zhuang Yichen followed closely behind Xia Xiazi, passing through numerous palace gates and pavilions, until they returned to the magnificent and beautiful Glazed Palace. Upon entering the palace, he didn't stop for a moment, heading straight for the Lan Yue Pavilion, where Lady Yu Luo resided.

Upon seeing Madam Yu Luo, Zhuang Yichen quickly stepped forward, gently took her soft hand, and together they walked to the warm and comfortable couch and slowly sat down.

Zhuang Yichen looked at his gentle and beautiful wife with a solemn expression and said softly, "Madam, I have already declined the Emperor's offer of recruitment today, but at the same time, I have also agreed to another matter for the Emperor. During my short stay in the palace, I need to help test the character of several princes, and also choose a husband for our Ruo'er from among them."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yulu was slightly taken aback, her beautiful eyes widening as she looked at her husband with surprise.

She asked anxiously, "Husband, is this what the Emperor intends? To betroth Ruo'er to a prince?"

Zhuang Yichen nodded, gazing at his beloved wife with tender yet firm eyes, and said slowly, "That's right, my wife. I know what you're thinking, and I understand your concerns."

At this point, Zhuang Yichen gently grasped Madam Yulu's slightly trembling hand and continued, "Ruo'er has been by our side since she was a child, and has never experienced the scheming and treacherous struggles among women deep in the palace."

With her current naive nature, she would probably find it difficult to handle the situation properly. Although she has now been recognized by the Emperor and returned to the royal family, and has been granted the incomparably noble title of princess and a generous fief.

But in the end, she was still just an innocent and kind-hearted child. Whenever I think of this, I am truly worried, fearing that she might suffer even the slightest injustice in this treacherous and unpredictable palace!

Upon hearing this, Tang Yulu frowned, her face showing worry. She sighed softly and said, "Alas... what my husband says is absolutely right. I only hope that Heaven will bless our Ruo'er so that she can find a suitable husband and live a peaceful life."

Zhuang Yichen gently raised his hand and patted his wife's slightly nervous hand tenderly, softly comforting her, "Madam, do not worry. Since I have already promised the Emperor this, I will do my best to find the most suitable husband for our Ruo'er. I will observe carefully and weigh those princes from many aspects, and I will never let Ruo'er be placed in a difficult situation."

Hearing her husband's comforting words, Tang Yulu felt slightly relieved, but her brows still betrayed her worry. She nodded slightly and then asked, "So, husband, how exactly do you plan to test these princes? After all, they are all of extremely high status and have grown up in the inner palace since childhood. They must all know how to hide their true selves. To truly understand their inner nature and character will probably not be an easy task."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yichen frowned slightly, pondered for a while, and then slowly said, "In my opinion, we might as well start with small things and begin with some trivial matters in daily life."

For example, observe their words and actions in daily life, as well as the manners and attitudes they display towards others. For instance, can they be kind, gentle, and compassionate towards the servants in the household? And when faced with unexpected situations, can they remain calm, composed, and handle them rationally and appropriately? In this way, perhaps one can gradually peel back their facade and glimpse their true character.

"Yes, these details can indeed reflect a person's true character as clearly as a mirror." Tang Yulu nodded slightly, indicating her sincere agreement.

Her beautiful eyes sparkled with wisdom as she continued, "Also, my husband, you must pay close attention to how people treat our Ruo'er. You must discern whether they genuinely love Ruo'er for who she is, or merely covet her noble status and outstanding beauty. After all, only true feelings can withstand the test of time."

Hearing his wife's words, Zhuang Yichen nodded in deep agreement and replied, "What you say is absolutely right, madam. This point is extremely important! It concerns Ruo'er's happiness for the rest of her life, and there is no room for carelessness." His gaze was firm and full of concern, as if he had begun to carefully examine everyone who might cross paths with Ruo'er in his mind.

At this moment, Tang Yuluo moved slightly closer to her husband and whispered, "Husband, for now, do not reveal a single word about this matter to Ruo'er. With Ruo'er's simple and kind nature, I'm afraid she won't be able to bear such a practical consideration. I'm really worried that she will be troubled by this. Therefore, it's best if we observe secretly and act cautiously." After saying this, she couldn't help but sigh softly, her eyes revealing deep affection for her disciple.