Girl, There's Something Wrong With You - Chapter 46

After reflecting on the entire morning’s events, Cheng Jinyang believed he had roughly understood Xing Yuanzhi’s feelings.

The Emperor had suddenly passed away, and the Crown Prince Shigen ascended to the throne with astonishing speed, indicating that the officials within the Taicheng palace had already reached a collective consensus:

After the Wang Chuzhong Rebellion, the Jiankang court could not withstand another upheaval. Therefore, it was necessary to quickly re-establish imperial authority, consolidate the hearts of the Empire, and nip any potential unrest in the bud.

However, Crown Prince Sima Shigen was only six years old and lacked the maturity to wield imperial power. Thus, the Emperor’s edict ordered the reinstatement of Wang Maohong of the Taiyuan Wang clan to govern alongside the Zhongshu, Yu Yuangui, to assist the young Emperor in managing state affairs.

In essence, this was a joint regency.

However, the noble families knew that Yu Yuangui was domineering and power-hungry, unwilling to share power with Wang Maohong. Moreover, it was obvious where Empress Yu Wenjun would stand.

When the Emperor was alive, the Empress was merely a figurehead. However, after the Emperor’s death, half of the political influence went to the Empress and the other half to the Crown Prince. With Yu Yuangui leveraging the Empress’s influence, Wang Maohong would naturally be at a disadvantage and might gradually cede some power.

As for Zhongshu Yu’s disdain for the Shendu Cheng clan, it was evident at the end of Wang Chuzhong’s Rebellion. Thus, both the Cheng and Xing clans felt a significant sense of crisis. Their negotiations in the morning subtly hinted at forming a “self-protection alliance” to jointly resist the new court’s pressure and strengthen relations with the Cui and Lu families.

However, there was no mention of Xing Yuanzhi’s marriage engagement.

If enhancing cooperation was truly the goal, fulfilling the marriage engagement would be a natural starting point. The Xing clan’s avoidance of the topic might mean they were still observing or holding out for a better offer.

The former would be understandable, but what if it were the latter?

For instance, marrying Ah Zhi to a promising fourth-grade son of the Cui or Lu families?

Although it risked turning the Xing clan into an appendage of the Five Great Families, if the court’s pressure intensified, this might not be impossible.

Thinking of this, Cheng Jinyang gently said to Xing Yuanzhi:

“Yuanzhi, don’t worry. With the new Emperor on the throne, Zhongshu Yu will not act recklessly in the short term. Although the Hejian Xing clan hasn’t mentioned our engagement, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have ulterior motives. In a few months, as our bloodline grades continue to rise, our influence within our families will greatly increase.”

Xing Yuanzhi: ?

She was stunned for a few seconds before realizing what Cheng Jinyang was talking about. She felt both amused by the misunderstanding and a bit sweetly warm inside.

“The clan leader has already discussed the marriage with me,” Xing Yuanzhi said softly. “As long as I can reach the sixth grade before turning thirty, he will follow the example of your grandfather Cheng Benhe and retire early, allowing me to inherit the position of clan leader.”

For a woman, getting married before thirty wasn’t too late. Becoming the clan leader meant deciding her own marriage, but the condition was quite harsh.

Reaching the sixth grade before thirty meant surely reaching the fifth grade by forty. Xing Yuanzhi’s talent was for “aiming for the fifth grade,” not “guaranteed fifth grade,” so achieving this goal without external assistance would be quite challenging.

However, since Xing Shuhe had promised this, it meant she wouldn’t be forced into marriage before thirty. With the aid of dream realm training, there was no longer any worry about this matter.

So, Cheng Jinyang smiled and nodded, though he wondered inwardly:

Then why are you unhappy?

He then saw Xing Yuanzhi’s hesitant expression. After a while, she gathered the courage to say softly:

“Jinyang, tonight is the sixteenth. Not quite the Mid-Autumn yet, but I’ve heard the sky will be clear, perfect for moon-gazing.”

Cheng Jinyang: ???

First, a weather forecast popped into his mind, then Soseki Natsume’s “The moon tonight is beautiful,” and then… the night he embraced the princess suddenly surged from his memory.

Ah Zhi… could she know about what happened that night?! Is she hinting at something?

Trying to steady his nerves, Cheng Jinyang tentatively asked:

“The moon is indeed beautiful, but the night is cold and dewy, so we should wear more clothes.”

In such cold weather, how could I go out at night (to secretly meet with the princess), right?

Xing Yuanzhi blinked, biting her lower lip.

More clothes? Is he hinting I should make clothes for him?

That’s right.

A lady’s honor lies in dressing her beloved. I should know my future husband’s measurements.

So, she nodded and said:

“I’ll go get the measuring tape.”

Cheng Jinyang: ????????

Immediately, an image popped into his mind:

Xing Yuanzhi holding a measuring tape with an indifferent expression, dragging him by the neck across the floor.

No way, right?

Just for holding her for one night, without even kissing or going any further, she’s going to strangle me?

Wait, calm down.

Why would someone use a measuring tape to strangle someone? It’s more likely she’s making clothes for me. But why would she make clothes for me?

Could it be… a burial shroud?

By this time, Xing Yuanzhi had already left the library archive, and Cheng Jinyang walked to the window, contemplating whether it was still possible to escape by jumping out.

Then he thought, even if Ah Zhi really turned evil and wanted to kill him, she probably wouldn’t do it in the Cheng family’s territory. It would be more successful to lure him out first.

So he calmed down again, thinking it might be wise to call Brother Huaiyan over. That way, if Ah Zhi turned evil, his cousin could save him. If she didn’t, he could just pretend nothing happened.

He quickly sent a text to Cheng Huaiyan, saying he had some algorithm questions to ask and asking him to come to the library as soon as possible.

His cousin’s reply was succinct:

“Okay”

As if saying one more word would cost him money.

Despite the brief reply, this cousin was reliable in his actions, soon arriving with Xing Junmo in tow.

“Your cousin thought it might be hard to explain, and since I was also at the Tianluo base, I came along to help,” Xing Junmo said with a hearty laugh.

Cheng Jinyang quickly said it was no problem, thinking that with his cousin’s economy of words, he was better at teaching practical skills than explaining theoretical knowledge.

He then took out some pre-prepared questions and began to ask his two cousins for advice.

“Hey, isn’t this a seventh grade algorithm?” Xing Junmo was astonished. “Have you reached the seventh grade?”

“I just broke through last week,” Cheng Jinyang replied humbly.

Xing Junmo looked incredulous.

If he remembered correctly, just this past May, Cheng Jinyang, from a humble background, was only at the ninth grade, with a bloodline concentration just over 100 Ma.

In just over half a year, he had already advanced to the seventh grade, with a bloodline concentration surpassing 10,000 Ma?

That’s an average natural growth of 1,500 Ma per month!

And he’s only eighteen!

When he reaches twenty or thirty, with further enhanced natural growth, what does that imply?

At least the fifth grade, maybe even the fourth grade!

(Normally, family scions progress one grade every ten years. If Cheng Jinyang reaches tge seventh grade by twenty, he’ll stabilize at the sixth grade by thirty and the fifth grade by forty. In another six or seven years, he’ll be at his bloodline peak, making to the fourth grade breakthrough highly likely.)

“Jinyang, with your current potential, I don’t think the clan leader has any reason to interfere with your engagement to Qingfeng anymore.” Coming to his senses, Xing Junmo congratulated him.

“Looking forward to your wedding,” Cheng Huaiyan added with a rare smile.

“Jinyang, do you prefer a coat or a robe…” Xing Yuanzhi’s voice came from outside.

When she walked into the library with a measuring tape, she saw the two cousins turn their heads and look at her in surprise.

Then they both had an “Oh~” expression: the bride-to-be was already designing the groom’s attire.

Xing Yuanzhi’s face turned red instantly.