Girl, There's Something Wrong With You - Chapter 36

The dishes were served, filling the room with a delightful aroma.

However, Cheng Jinyang felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

The Iron Giant is a heavy weapon of war; it cannot be moved lightly.

Zhongshu Yu’s proposal to exchange it for the princess sister, was a considerable offer.

But there were two problems:

First, piloting the Iron Giant is not something that can be done at will; it requires the right timing. Of course, with Miss Wang’s mental imprint, this aspect could be managed. But would Miss Wang help me pilot the Iron Giant just so I could marry the princess?

Ridiculous!

Second, I can at most form the head of the Iron Giant. Who would form the arms, the torso, the eyes?

Without Miss Qingqing’s metal manipulation, the Iron Giant cannot be built.

Without Ah Zhi’s mass effect, the Iron Giant would collapse under its own weight.

Without Xiao Wangshu’s signal currents, the Iron Giant wouldn’t be able to sense the outside world.

Without Miss Wang’s telepathy, the internal CPUs of the Iron Giant couldn’t integrate.

Without Teacher Li’s physical activation, the Iron Giant would overheat and stop working shortly.

Without Cui Xiaoniang’s antimatter annihilation… oh, we can skip that part.

Of course, the most crucial aspect is Xiao Li’s provision of supernatural bloodline grades, but Xiao Li listens to me, so that’s not a problem. The challenge lies with the other girls. If any one of them is unwilling to join, the Iron Giant cannot be operated as intended.

Of course, I could hide my true motive for piloting the Iron Giant, which is to marry the princess sister, or be completely honest and force the integration… but that would be too despicable!

Although I, Cheng Jinyang, may be occasionally unscrupulous, I absolutely refuse to be a scumbag on major issues!

“Uncle!” As he hesitated and wrestled with his thoughts, the princess sister once again came to his rescue, reproaching him gently, “How can you use a marriage proposal to bargain? My relationship with Jinyang is a personal matter; don’t forcibly bind it to state affairs.”

These words caused Yu Yuangui to blush. After all, Princess Nankang was still a princess. Using her marriage for political exchange could be discussed in private, but how could it be said directly in front of those involved? It made her seem like a commodity.

“The relationship between Nankang and you was once approved by the late emperor,” Yu Yuangui said after a moment, regaining his composure. “But now, the Shendu Cheng family has no fifth-grade supernatural, which causes some concerns for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

“If you can act as a stabilizing force in the war, the notion of ‘the Cheng family having no fifth-grade supernatural’ would be an ungrounded joke. Conversely, if others use this as leverage, the Empress Dowager might reconsider the late emperor’s decision based on the situation.”

“Uncle!” Princess Nankang’s face changed dramatically.

Yu Yuangui sighed, ignoring her reaction, and continued sternly, “If you have no intentions towards Nankang, then forget I said anything. However, Nankang, you should know that your marriage cannot be delayed indefinitely.”

The room fell silent.

The princess sister lowered her head, not speaking. Yu Yuangui watched them silently, and Cheng Jinyang stared at the steaming dishes, lost in thought.

Do I like Sister Xinnan? The answer is simple. If I didn’t, I would have pushed her away when she climbed into my bed that night.

However, she is not the only one I like…

That being said, one shouldn’t give up a forest for a tree, but should one cut down a tree for a forest? If the princess sister has someone else she likes, I would give up.

But she doesn’t!

Yu Yuangui’s message was clear. The late emperor’s promise of making me a consort, though half in jest, was remembered by both him and the Empress Dowager.

But political marriages always have political purposes. If I can’t pilot the Iron Giant, I don’t meet the conditions for marriage, and the Sima family won’t allow it. This is a broken promise, but it’s reality.

The princess sister is already in her twenties, a suitable age for marriage. The Sima family has her as a bargaining chip and won’t leave it unused. If she refuses to be matched, she will conflict with her mother and uncle. All this because she likes me, yet I don’t want to be with her… thinking further in this direction, isn’t that being a scumbag?

What is a scumbag? It’s someone who lets down a girl who loves him.

If someone likes you and you don’t like them, just reject them outright so they can give up. If you like them, then be with them and give them a proper commitment. If you clearly like someone and can win them over, but you drag it out, making them face pressure from their mother and uncle, what does that make you but a scumbag?

He felt increasingly at a loss, his brows furrowed, his mind in a tangled mess. Choosing this wasn’t right, choosing that wasn’t right either. What was he supposed to do? Wasn’t this putting him in a tough spot?

“Uncle.” Princess Nankang spoke again, her tone firming up, “If I am to marry, it must be someone of my choosing. Otherwise, no one, neither you nor mother, can stop me from doing as I wish.”

So, Yu Yuangui’s expression turned sour.

But these words struck Cheng Jinyang like a bolt of lightning. Sister Xinnan knew his difficulties and proactively made the decision, bearing the hardest part herself.

Yet he was still hesitating over choosing one tree or a forest. What kind of behavior was that?!!

“Lord Zhongshu.” He picked up his chopsticks and said calmly, “Although I am unworthy, I understand the importance of the state and am willing to contribute to humanity. However, there are two conditions.”

“Jinyang?” The princess sister asked in disbelief, but was interrupted by Yu Yuangui, “Speak.”

“First, this matter has nothing to do with Her Highness. Please respect her wishes and do not use her as a pawn for marriage alliances.”

“Agreed.” Yu Yuangui nodded somewhat unexpectedly, “I will discuss this with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

“Second, this matter has nothing to do with my family. Since I am making an effort for this, no further tasks should be imposed on my family during the war.” Cheng Jinyang said solemnly.

This was the crux of the matter!

Yu Yuangui, holding the banner of righteousness, could impose arbitrary demands on the Shendu Cheng family as long as they wanted to stay within the imperial rules. It was too troublesome.

Yu Yuangui raised his eyebrows, knowing that the other party was referring to the previous incident of “forcibly retaining the Shendu Cheng family,” and nodded in agreement: “Naturally.”

So, the two reached an informal agreement.

Throughout, there was no mention of the Iron Giant. Everyone understood: Zhongshu Yu would not force the Princess Nankang into marriage; Cheng Jinyang would pilot the Iron Giant, joining the war at critical moments to turn the tide.

Though there was no binding contract, if Cheng Jinyang backed out at the last minute, Yu Yuangui could find another suitor for the princess without much loss. Conversely, if Yu Yuangui broke the agreement, the direction of the Iron Giant’s cannon might change, which was what truly troubled the Zhongshu.

Even if the agreement was honored, Yu Yuanrui felt he would greatly benefit.

After all, his niece would have to marry eventually. Who she married didn’t matter. Following this agreement, whether she delayed marriage or eventually married Cheng Jinyang, they would gain an Iron Giant for free.

As for Cheng Jinyang, he would have to fight on the battlefield to earn the princess as his wife. Though he didn’t directly demand to be the prince consort, cloaking it under “respecting Her Highness’s wishes,” Yu Yuangui saw it as merely a façade.

If Nankang chose for herself, who else would she choose but you? It was obvious.

Turning a political marriage of interest into a goodwill gesture, you really are a political talent.

Yu Yuangui thought to himself, and any previous biases against Cheng Jinyang vanished instantly.

Of course, if he knew Cheng Jinyang didn’t directly ask to be the prince consort not to gain favor with the princess, but to buy time to achieve “I want it all,” he might feel as if he had swallowed a fly.