Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 435 Declaration Of Love!

The Emperor did not get angry.

Instead, he smiled.

It was a calm, measured smile-one that carried neither warmth nor hostility, only authority tempered by calculation. ”This Emperor is well aware,” he said slowly, his voice echoing through the silent hall, ”that the engagement between Bai Zihan and you exists.”

A faint pause. ”As far as this Emperor knows,” he continued, ”that engagement was formed for the sake of an alliance between the Bai Clan and the Chu Clan.”

The Emperor stated this plainly. It was clear that he was trying to undermine the engagement.

No matter the reason, an engagement was still an engagement.

The Emperorʼs gaze shifted-briefly, subtly-toward Chu Ziyan. ”However,” he said, his tone softening just a fraction, ”this Emperorʼs Ninth Daughter has already fallen in love with Bai Zihan.”

The hall stirred.

Love?

The Emperor continued calmly, as if speaking of something entirely reasonable. ”She admires his merit and his resolve even in adversity,” he said. ”Such feelings are not something this Emperor can simply ignore.”

His gaze returned to Chu Ziyan. ”Therefore, this Emperor hopes that you can understand,” he said evenly, ”and voluntarily dissolve this engagement.”

A breath passed.

Then- ”This Emperor will not allow the Chu Clan to suffer losses,” he added. ”Generous compensation will be provided.”

Resources.

Territory.

Imperial favor.

Even future protection.

The meaning behind those words was obvious.

The Emperor was not requesting.

He was negotiating from a position of overwhelming authority.

The hall was in chaos though outwardly they also maintained their decorum.

Many thought it was a good proposal from the Emperor. Chu Zlyan no longer need to marry a cripple.

If this had been before, many would not have thought the same-but now that Bai Zihan had become crippled, marrying him was akin to being shackled.

So to be given an opportunity-not only to break off cleanly, but to receive rewards from the Emperor as well-was an added bonus.

Everyone was having similar thoughts and calculations.

However, Bai Zihanʼs thoughts were completely different. (What is this Emperor playing at?)

His expression remained calm, but his mind was racing.

Bai Zihan tried to understand why the Emperor would want to marry the Ninth Princess-specifically Qin Lingxiao-to him. (Is he truly the Emperor?)

The thought surfaced.

Before today, Bai Zihan would never have doubted it. There were many experts capable of discerning deception easily.

But having already learned about Qin Lingxiao and her abilities, it was not far-fetched to think that the Emperor himself might also have been replaced.

If so, he might be working together with the impostor Ninth Princess to do something to him-or to the Bai Clan.

However, he could not determine that easily yet. If even Immortal Realm experts could not detect anything wrong, then he obviously could not.

There were still two possibilities.

One-the Emperor was real, but had been influenced or persuaded by Qin Lingxiao.

Two-the Emperor himself had been replaced, just like Yu Feiyan.

Either way, whether it was the Emperorʼs intention or Qin Lingxiaoʼs, it was clear that they wanted to infiltrate the Bai Clan.

And neither was something Bai Zihan could afford to test.

He shifted his gaze-just slightly-toward Qin Lingxiao.

She stood calmly, her expression gentle, dignified, flawless.

As if the entire situation were unfolding exactly as she expected. (What do you gain from this?)

Bai Zihan asked silently.

Infiltrating the Bai Clan?

Using marriage to bind herself to him?

Getting closer to him?

Or- (Taking my place?)

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

She had every ability to do so, and by already taking Yu Feiyanʼs place, she had proven just how easily she could accomplish it.

He was not arrogant enough to believe he could deal with a Golden Immortal Realm cultivator whose intentions he could not discern.

Marriage was out of the question.

Binding himself to someone whose intentions he could not see-someone powerful enough to erase him without effort-

That was suicide.

Yet outright rejection?

It was not a good option either-but it was still better than being tied to someone as dangerous as her.

Then-

Chu Ziyan stood up and protested the marriage. !!! (Chance!)

He thought. ”To bestow another marriage upon him,” she said calmly, ”would be inappropriate-and unfair.”

Chu Ziyan spoke firmly.

The Emperor did not immediately respond.

He studied Chu Ziyan for a long moment, his gaze deep and inscrutable, as though weighing far more than just her words.

Then-he sighed.

A soft sigh. ”One could say,” the Emperor said slowly, ”that what this Emperor proposes is indeed... somewhat inappropriate.”

A ripple of surprise passed through the hall.

To hear the Emperor acknowledge impropriety so openly was rare. ”But,” he continued, his tone shifting, carrying the weight of a father rather than a ruler, ”this matter was not initiated by this Emperor alone.”

His gaze shifted-gently-toward Qin Lingxiao. ”My daughter,” he said, ”insisted.”

The words landed quietly, yet they struck harder than any thunderclap. ”She has never asked anything of this Emperor,” he continued. ”This is her first love.”

The hall fell into an even deeper silence.

Some expressions softened.

A few scoffed inwardly, yet none dared voice it. ”As her father,” the Emperor said calmly, ”how could this Emperor refuse her?”

His gaze returned to Chu Ziyan. ”For the alliance between the Chu Clan and the Bai Clan,” he said, ”there are countless other ways.”

Marriage between other members.

Political agreements.

Resource exchanges. ”But my daughter cannot simply replace her feelings.”

Chu Ziyanʼs fingers trembled slightly beneath her sleeves.

Her composure cracked-just a little. It was clear that the Emperor wasnʼt going back off easily.

Well, in the eyes of others it was she who was not easily backing off when offered such a generous condition for breaking off an engagement that she didnʼt want.

Chu Ziyan took a step forward. ”Your Majesty,” she said, her voice tightening despite her effort to remain calm, ”I also-”

But before she could finish-

A figure moved.

Bai Zihan stepped forward.

He moved closer to Chu Ziyanʼs side, close enough that the space between them vanished.

His hand lifted calmly and wrapped around her arm, fingers firm yet gentle, drawing her toward him.

Chu Ziyan stiffened. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

Her breath hitched as she was pulled half a step closer, her shoulder brushing against his chest.

To anyone watching-

It was an unmistakably intimate gesture.

Bai Zihan placed himself slightly in front of her, shielding her presence as he raised his gaze toward the throne.

Only then did he speak. ”Your Majesty,” Bai Zihan said clearly, his voice steady and resolute, ”this junior must reject the imperial bestowal.”

The hall exploded inwardly. ”The truth is,” he said calmly, ”Ziyan and I are already in love.”

Chu Ziyanʼs pupils shrank violently.

It was as if the words themselves had struck the hall.

Just as everyone believed the engagement was merely one of convenience-as many already knew-Bai Zihan made a bold declaration.

Chu Ziyanʼs heart pounded wildly.

Her face flushed-with embarrassment and shock.

She turned sharply to look at Bai Zihan. ”You-!”

But Bai Zihanʼs grip tightened slightly around her sleeve.

A silent signal. (Trust me!)

His eyes seemed to say that or at least he thought.

Anyways, the only flaw in this plan is if Chu Ziyan didnʼt cooperate with him.

Though judging by her earlier attitude, he didnʼt think that he needed to worry much about that.

The Emperorʼs expression finally changed.

Just a little-tinged with surprise. ”Do you really like each other?”

The Emperor asked. ”Yes!”

Bai Zihan replied without hesitation.

His voice did not waver.

Chu Ziyan couldnʼt help but blush at the shameless words coming from Bai

Zihan. She was certain that everything Bai Zihan was saying right now was complete nonsense. As if he could really change just like that.

She assumed that Bai Zihan was simply trying to avoid being betrothed to the

Ninth Princess-using her as a shield, just as she herself had once intended to use the engagement to ward off others.

But still...

She couldnʼt help but blush.

Bai Zihanʼs bold declaration of love-spoken before so many people, spoken before the peror himself-while holding her arm so firmly protectively... After all, no matter how tough or strong a girl was, deep inside, they all harbored a similar fantasy.

A prince.

A public declaration of love.

Standing against the world.

And Bai Zihan was acting exactly like that-right in front of the Emperor.

So, one could say that this scene was every girlʼs dream.

Gasps rippled through the Grand Ceremonial Hall-

Like countless hearts being struck at once.

Among the younger cultivators-especially the women-there was a visible stir.

Some covered their mouths.

Some stared wide-eyed at the scene before them. Some felt their hearts pound uncontrollably.

A bold declaration of love-before the Emperor himself.

If not for Bai Zihanʼs ruined cultivation....

This would have been a perfect legend. ”A sworn life bond...” ”To declare that so openly...” ”He even shielded her...”

One young woman clenched her sleeves unconsciously, her eyes shining. ”If only Bai Zihan wasnʼt crippled...” ”Then this would truly be a dream pairing”

Many shared the same thought.

A pity.

A tragic romance. Strong love shackled by fate.

Yet-

Not everyone was moved. The elders.

The schemers.

The Emperor.

They saw through the surface.

The Emperorʼs gaze remained fixed on Bai Zihan-deep, calm, and assessing.

He did not look angry.

Nor pleased.

Only thoughtful.

He could clearly see what Bai Zihan was doing.

Avoiding the imperial marriage.

Using Chu Ziyan as both shield and anchor.

And yet-

Chu Ziyan had already spoken.

Bai Zihan had already spoken.

For the Emperor to now forcefully separate them would be-

Too ugly.

Too blatant.

Especially in front of so many people. The Emperor understood this clearly.