Looking at the girl's puffed-up expression, Kong Mingan felt a strange emotion well up within him. In his impression, princesses were either spoiled and willful, or dignified and elegant.
How was it that the one in front of him didn't seem to fit either description? Kong Mingan narrowed his eyes slightly, his mental force like invisible threads, continuing to guide the conversation. He asked if she had any dissatisfaction with her Imperial Father's arrangements.
Xu Tianzhen continued as if she was stating a simple fact. She asked what dissatisfaction there could be. She explained that she is a princess. Having enjoyed the treatment of a princess, she naturally has to fulfill the obligations of a princess.
She asked if the obligations of a princess are not to be used for political marriages. She told him not to be so naive. She said this isn't some storybook and that so-called princesses are just like this. She spread her hands with a casual, indifferent air.
Kong Mingan probed for deeper thoughts. He said he heard that she is His Majesty's most beloved princess. Xu Tianzhen's tone was slightly mocking, as if she found him too naive.
She laughed and asked if he truly loved her, why would he send her off for a political marriage. She explained that this marriage matter had been dragging on. She said her Imperial Father had always been hesitant, trying to pick one of her less talented older or younger sisters to be the marriage candidate.
However, a few months ago, Grandpa Kong emerged from seclusion and revealed his ninety-eighth level spirit power cultivation. After that, her Imperial Father immediately decided on her as the marriage candidate.
She asked if he thought this was love. Kong Mingan looked at Xu Tianzhen, who was questioning him, and couldn't help but develop a bit of interest. The girl was far more clear-headed than she appeared on the surface. It was truly rare to see.
He asked if she was just accepting her fate like this and if she was afraid her marriage partner would be terrible. Xu Tianzhen gave Kong Mingan an annoyed look. She repeated that she is a princess. She said this isn't accepting fate but just fulfilling her obligations as a princess. She noted that her aunt was like this, and her older sisters are also like this, so she is naturally the same.
She said that actually, her luck is pretty good. The person she is marrying is quite handsome, and he is Grandpa Kong's grandson. She mentioned that even if this guy is terrible and bullies her, she can still complain to Grandpa Kong. Furthermore, getting engaged this early can allow them to develop feelings beforehand. She asked how that is not better than suddenly marrying a stranger after growing up and becoming an adult.
Xu Tianzhen spoke logically and clearly, unlike a girl her age. Kong Mingan understood. This was a clear understanding based on her real identity and her trust in his grandfather's authority. It was also a recognition of his own good looks. There was no girlish fantasy or resistance, only practicality. It was very rare. A flash of understanding crossed his eyes, and then he silently withdrew the subtle mental guidance.
Almost the instant his mental force retreated, a flicker of confusion passed through Xu Tianzhen's lively eyes, and then she suddenly became fully aware. She looked at the ordinary young man in front of her with suspicion. She finally realized that something was wrong. She wondered how she could have told so many of her innermost thoughts to a stranger. She asked him who he exactly was.
She subconsciously took half a step back. Her eyes were filled with vigilance, yet a possible guess had already flashed through her mind. Her expression was somewhat unnatural. Kong Mingan found her behavior rather amusing.
With a faint smile, he slowly removed the mask he used for disguise. He looked up at the nervous purple-haired girl and chuckled as he answered her question. He told her that he is the fiancé she was just talking about.
Xu Tianzhen froze. She looked at the unusually familiar face, her voice trembling slightly. She asked if he was Kong Mingan. He confirmed that it was him. She was shocked because she thought he was always in the lab. She didn't see him come out. She looked at his face and uncharacteristically swallowed. She thought about how good-looking he was.
Xu Tianzhen's mind raced. After this brief shock, she suddenly realized how inappropriate everything she had just said was. She had called him a strange guy and talked about marriage obligations and complaining to Grandpa Kong.
Those complaints were one thing, but she actually revealed her true thoughts about the imperial family. If this got out, she would be in trouble. She asked if he remembered everything she said. With a last flicker of hope, she stared pleadingly at him.
Kong Mingan nodded and did not deny it. He said he remembered some of it. Just as Xu Tianzhen was about to sigh in relief, she saw him pull out a silver metal chip from his pocket. It was the size of a fingernail. He waved it in front of her. He told her that most of it had been recorded. He asked if she needed to play it back to confirm. He mentioned the parts about being a strange guy and marriage obligations.
Xu Tianzhen instantly became upset and forgot her princess demeanor. She lunged forward, jumping to snatch the metal chip. She pleaded pitifully for him to delete it. She said if he deleted it, she would even warm his bed. He had only intended to tease her, but this sudden surrender made Kong Mingan instinctively take a step back. Even with his calm heart, hearing those words made the corner of his mouth twitch slightly.
However, Xu Tianzhen showed no sign of shyness. Her eyes remained fixed on the metal chip. She looked as if she had thrown caution to the wind. Kong Mingan paused briefly, but his thoughts quickly re-adjusted. With a flick of his wrist, the metal chip instantly vanished. He looked at Xu Tianzhen's pitiful expression and thought for a moment.
He leaned in slightly, close to her reddened ear. He whispered softly in a voice only they could hear. With a hint of a faint smile, he asked how he could give it back to her. He told her that he would savor her secret for a lifetime. After speaking, he straightened up and smiled. He no longer looked at the petrified girl. He walked past her and headed outside.
He was going to find his old man and ask about this political marriage. Behind him, Xu Tianzhen stood alone. Her mind was buzzing. Only the phrase about savoring her secret echoed repeatedly in her head. She was upset because she hadn't even married in yet and he already had a handle on her. She wondered how she was supposed to handle this now.
She thought she should have been able to easily manipulate the dull, handsome young man who only knew how to research. She expected to develop feelings and live a simple, happy life. She wondered why it wasn't following her script. She worried that after she married in, she would be bullied terribly every day.
Her mind was in a whirl, but she quickly snapped back to reality. She turned her head to search for him. She saw him about to disappear around the corner in the distance. Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Tianzhen made a choice. She immediately chased after him. At the very least, she had to destroy the leverage he had on her first.
The sun was shining down on the imperial palace grounds. Kong Mingan walked with a steady pace. He thought about the girl he just left behind. She was certainly different from what he expected. Most princesses he knew were either too proud or too quiet.
Xu Tianzhen was practical and honest in a way that surprised him. He wondered if Yu Xiaogang would have any advice on such matters, though he doubted it. This was a matter of the heart and politics, not just spirit power.
As he walked, he could hear the sound of her running behind him. Her footsteps were light but hurried. He smiled to himself. It seemed the peaceful life he had in the lab was over for now.
This marriage arrangement was becoming more interesting than he thought. He needed to talk to his grandfather about why the Emperor suddenly changed his mind. A ninety-eighth level Spirit Douluo was indeed a powerful force to have on your side. In this world of Spirit Masters, power changed everything.
He reached the grand hall where his grandfather usually stayed. The guards bowed as he passed. They recognized him as the young master of the Kong family. He didn't stop to talk to them. His mind was focused on the conversation he was about to have. He wondered if his grandfather had planned all of this. It wouldn't be the first time the old man had manipulated things behind the scenes.
Xu Tianzhen was still following him. She didn't care about the guards or her dignity as a princess right now. She only cared about that recording. She couldn't let him keep it. If anyone else heard those things, it would cause a huge scandal. She pushed herself to run faster, hoping to catch him before he entered the private rooms.
Kong Mingan heard her getting closer but didn't slow down. He wanted to see how far she would go to get what she wanted. It was a test of sorts, and she was passing it with flying colors. The political marriage might not be so boring after all. He turned a corner and prepared to meet his grandfather, while the princess was right on his heels.