My Brother's the Protagonist? Good Thing I Awakened My System!



Chapter 173 Proposal From The Fifth Princess?

There was a moment of silence after Wang Zhiqing finished saying those words.

This was a lot for the elders of Feng Clan to digest.

For one, Central Domain has never interfered with the Azure Sky Empire and another is just how Feng Chen's parents are related to such powerful people.

Feng Chen also thought for a while.

Most information was already something that he thought about but the Fifth Princess confirmed it.

(After the Dragon and Phoenix Competition, perhaps I should go to the Central Domain.)

Feng Chen thought to himself.

Now that he was in the Spirit Severing Realm, it wasn't difficult for him to go to the Central Domain.

Of course, going to Central Domain and finding his parents were two different things. (Perhaps I might need to rely on the System Store after all.)

"That's all I know!"

Wang Zhiqing finished talking while her eyes never left Feng Chen,

Judging from his expression, Wang Zhiqing knew that her information wasn't very useful.

"Thank you for your help."

Feng Chen thanked her.

Although the information wasn't particularly helpful, it did confirm his suspicions and significantly increased the likelihood that his parents were still alive.

There shouldn't be any reason to send a cultivator of the Spirit Severing Realm if they wished to kill his parents.

So, most likely, Feng Chen felt that his parents were taken away.

"Now, let's talk about our cooperation. Firstly, answer this question honestly and I would think about whether to support you or not."

Feng Chen began.

Wang Zhiqing listened intently. After all, this word gave her some hope that Feng Chen would support her.

"Why do you want to become the Empress?"

Feng Chen asked.

Feng Chen's gaze was steady as he waited for her answer, his tone calm but probing.

Although he didn't care much about who became the Emperor, if he wanted to support someone then he felt the need to know their purpose.

Another is because of his curiosity.

"With your status as a princess, your life should already be luxurious. You wouldn't need to worry about anything-wealth, safety, or comfort. So why?"

He asked.

"Why go through the trouble of fighting for the throne? Why risk your life?"

Wang Zhiqing hesitated, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

For a moment, it seemed like she might not answer, her lips pressed into a thin line.

But then, she took a deep breath and looked him in the eye.

"It's not for power," she said quietly.

"And it's not for wealth or status either. I want to become Empress... for revenge."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken pain.

"Revenge?"

His voice echoed with curiosity.

(It seems like her life in the palace isn't as flowery as I thought)

"Yes!"

She said firmly, though her voice trembled slightly.

"Revenge against the princes and the nobles who tormented my mother-who humiliated her to death just because she was a mistress."

Feng Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing, allowing her to continue.

He thought that Wang Zhiqing's story seemed to be similar to that of the Palace Drama that he had seen.

"My mother was a kind, gentle woman," Wang Zhiqing said, her voice filled with emotion.

"She never sought to harm anyone, yet she was treated as less than human. The princes mocked her, the nobles insulted her, and the other concubines conspired against her. They pushed her to the brink until she couldn't take it anymore." Her fists trembled as she spoke, her nails digging into her palms.

"She died because of them. And they laughed!"

A bitter smile crossed her lips.

"And me? I was just a child, but I understood my mother's suffering all too well. The discrimination I faced wasn't any less severe, though they refrained from physically hurting me-after all, I carried half the Emperor's blood. And my father? Out of sheer embarrassment over the scandal, he completely abandoned my mother. He didn't even bother to attend her funeral.

She straightened, and her eyes went from sadness to blazing with determination. "Since that day I swore that I would make them pay. I will also change the laws of this country so that every citizen is treated equally. Otherwise, why would my mother be treated as mistress just because she was a commoner?"

The room fell silent again, the weight of her words pressing down on everyone

present.

They looked down on her mother, as unlike the other queens and concubines, Wang Zhiqing's mother came from a humble background, lacking any powerful cultivator lineage, and deemed to possess a lowly bloodline.

Even if she bore the child of the Emperor, it didn't mean that she could escape from the discrimination, rather it went from bad to worse.

The elders looked to Feng Chen, unsure of how he would respond.

Feng Chen studied her for a long moment, his piercing gaze seeming to see through

her very soul.

Finally, he leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"Revenge, equality... lofty ideals," he said.

(Making everyone equal? Even on Earth, that was impossible, not to mention here

where power dictates everything.)

Feng Chen thought.

Cultivation means a different life span and from that, it could be seen that how normal

people view life could be different than how a powerful might see it.

It could even be said that a person in the Qi Gathering Stage is a different species as compared to the Grand Qi Condensation Realm.

(But what's life without ideal?)

Even though Wang Zhiqing's objective seemed almost impossible to achieve, Feng

Chen felt intrigued by that.

"You speak of equalities, however, everything is unfair in this world. Even an emperor wouldn't be able to change the status between those powerful clans and those normal

people."

Feng Chen said.

Wang Zhiqing's expression didn't waver, though her fists clenched tighter at Feng

Chen's words.

She knew that her mission wasn't any easy but it was something that she vowed to do.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself before replying.

"You're right," she admitted, her voice firm despite the faint tremor beneath it.

"The world isn't fair, and perhaps it never will be. But someone has to try. If no one

stands against the injustices, then nothing will ever change."

"You think you can stand against centuries of tradition, power structures, and the willn/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

of the powerful clans?"

He asked, his tone carrying a mix of skepticism and curiosity.

"Even with the throne, you'd face opposition at every turn. What makes you think you

can succeed?"

Wang Zhiqing met his gaze, her eyes unwavering.

"Because I have nothing left to lose," she said simply.

"Either I can do it or I will die trying!"

Feng Chen's faint smile grew a touch more genuine, though his eyes remained sharp.

"Your conviction is admirable," he said,

"But conviction alone doesn't win battles, let alone thrones. You'll need more than

ideals and revenge to take on the princes and the noble clans."

"I know," Wang Zhiqing replied.

"That's why I'm here. I need your Feng Clan's strength. With your support, I feel like

the first step to my mission would be successful."

"You're asking me to gamble a lot on you, Your Highness!"

Wang Zhiqing's eyes softened, though her determination didn't waver.

"I know it's a lot to ask. That's why I am willing to marry you in exchange for your

support."

Wang Zhiqing offered. This was the last card that she had.

Although the Feng Clan didn't have a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, Wang Zhiqing felt

that securing their support was almost as valuable.

This was largely due to the strength she had witnessed from Feng Chen, which she believed was on par with if not almost, that of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.

That's why she was willing to even marry in order to get their support.

Another is that Feng Chen was extremely handsome and is her type. Anyway, it was far better than being forced to marry some old man which she would

be forced to if one of the other princes ascended the throne.

To them, she was nothing more than a tool-a means to leverage her connections,

reputation, or looks for their political gain.

The room fell into stunned silence.

Even Feng Chen, who had maintained his composure throughout the conversation,

blinked in surprise.

"Marry me?"

He repeated, having caught off guard by such a proposal.

"Yes!"

Wang Zhiqing said firmly.

"If we marry, you would officially become part of the royal family. Together, we could

rule the Azure Sky Empire."

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions lighting up with approval.

"This is an excellent proposal," Feng Zhenshan said, stroking his beard. (Even if she doesn't become Empress, she would make a fine wife for Feng Chen.)

Feng Zhenshan excitedly thought.

Of course, he wasn't the only one. Other elders were having similar thoughts.

Feng Zhilan also joined in.

"When can the wedding take place? The faster it is, the better it will be!"

She also cared less about who their clan supported and more about Feng Chen's

marriage.

If Feng Chen could marry her, then she felt that supporting her was worth it. Additionally, Wang Zhiqing's looks and personality were outstanding and her reputation was also good.

Wang Zhiqing was surprised to see that the elders of Feng Clan seemed to be more excited and happy than the person who got the proposal.

She didn't know that Feng Clan's Elders had been wanting to secure a wife for Feng

Chen for many months now and it turns out that one of the best candidates just came to them herself.

Feng Chen raised a hand, silencing the murmurs.

He knew very well what the elders were thinking.

They had been bringing up the subject of marriage and he had been rejecting them

continuously for many months now.

It seems like the cousin of his has put this idea into every elders and they had been

trying to set him up with some girls almost at every turn.

Every time he comes out of seclusion, apart from the discussion of the Clan's growth, the topic of marriage almost come up.

"I appreciate the offer, Your Highness," he said, his tone calm but firm.

"But. I won't marry someone for such reasons. Marriage isn't something I take lightly"

Feng Chen firmly rejected her proposal without hesitation.

It was no exaggeration to say that the suitors vying for her hand could form a line stretching a kilometer long.

Yet she was rejected so firmly without a single thought. Wang Zhiqing's expression flickered with disappointment, however, Captain Hua behind her couldn't help but smirk even almost laughing.

Just earlier, Wang Zhiqing was confident about her looks and even confidently said that no man could reject her and now she was firmly rejected. Captain Hua couldn't help but feel like laughing at Wang Zhiqing.

Of course, she as a Three Elements Divine Realm cultivator was good at managing her

expression and didn't laugh.

"I understand!"

She said bitterly.

"But my offer stands, should you ever change your mind."

Wang Zhiqing said, not willing to admit that someone could resist her charm so easily.

"No need for that. Anyway, I will make a promise to you that we won't support anyone

else even if we don't support you. You have my word!"

Feng Chen continued.

"As for whether I will support you or not, I need some time to decide."