Douluo: Starting with an Engagement to Zhu Zhuqing

Chapter 8: The Betrothal

"Please spare us! Fourth Prince, spare us!"

"Your Highness, the Fourth Prince, has a magnanimous heart. Please forgive us!"

"I deserve to die, I deserve to die..."

Several eunuchs lay prostrate, their buttocks swollen and raw from being struck with wooden sticks by a few warriors. Some of them had fainted from the pain, while the others continued pleading for mercy, begging to be spared.

When they had tormented him in the past, Dai Yao had wished nothing more than to kill them. But now, seeing these eunuchs battered and bruised, he felt no satisfaction.

They were the Queen's subordinates, and Dai Yao's true enemy was the Queen. Dealing with these lackeys was no great loss to her.

He simply wanted to vent his anger. The years of mistreatment had built up a knot of resentment in his heart, and once he let it out, he felt a lot lighter.

"Your Highness, are you satisfied now?" Grand Eunuch Gui asked with a smile.

"These people have suffered the consequences of their actions. Let them go and drive them out of the palace," Dai Yao replied.

"As Your Highness commands."

Dai Yao wasn't a magnanimous person. To drive these eunuchs out of the palace and let them fend for themselves was a fate far worse than death. They had lost their royal status, they had no family to turn to, and they would not be treated with any kindness. Their survival was uncertain.

Moreover, their unusual bodies would attract discrimination and bullying from others.

"Let them experience the life I once had," Dai Yao thought to himself.

After eating a bit of food, which improved his complexion, Grand Eunuch Gui spoke again, "These people are also our subordinates. It is our negligence that led to such a scandalous incident."

"Gui Gonggong serves His Majesty and has many affairs to handle. With so many people in the palace, it is inevitable that some are unworthy. Please don't take offense," Dai Yao comforted him.

Grand Eunuch Gui shifted the topic to more serious matters. "Your Highness must be aware that every royal prince is betrothed to a woman from the Zhu family, right?"

"I've heard of this family custom."

The White Tiger Martial Soul could fuse with the Soul of the Dark Spirit Cat, and their offspring would inherit the White Tiger Martial Soul. So every generation of Star Luo Empire's princes would marry a woman from the Zhu family.

"Now, there is a girl in the Zhu family named Zhu Zhuqing, who has awakened the Dark Spirit Cat Martial Soul. However, two princes are still unbetrothed. His Majesty's idea is for the two princes to duel, and the victor will have the right to marry her."

Dai Yao's eyes lit up.

Though it was inhumane to bind Zhu Zhuqing's life with a marriage contract, in a world like Douluo Continent, such concerns had little place.

Nobles had their own rules.

Dai Yao was not a person of high moral ideals. He wasn't fighting for a society where all people were equal or against the feudal system.

As a prince, he was a member of the nobility. Revolution meant fighting for his own position. For the aristocracy, it was completely normal to arrange marriages without any emotional foundation.

To Dai Yao, as a royal prince of the Star Luo Empire, once a marriage contract was made, both partners would have to fight together for survival.

In the original story, Zhu Zhuqing was not only a stunning beauty but also loyal and steadfast. Together with Dai Mubai, they eventually escaped the fate of the Star Luo princes with Tang San's help.

If Dai Yao missed his chance with Zhu Zhuqing, he wouldn't know what the next potential match would be like, or if that woman would stand by him through tough times.

Rather than waiting for an unknown, it would be better to take a chance and secure the betrothal now!

But this duel would be tricky. At present, Dai Mubai had reached Soul Master level 17 and had rich combat experience.

Dai Yao's Martial Soul had only just awakened. He was three years younger than Dai Mubai, and his small frame had suffered from years of malnutrition. It would be difficult to win against him. But with his Eight Extremes Collapse, perhaps there was a chance.

"Gonggong, when will the duel begin?" Dai Yao asked.

"It will begin once you obtain your first soul ring," Grand Eunuch Gui answered.

"Originally, today was a day for Your Highness's title ceremony, but His Majesty has instructed that all ceremonies be postponed until after the duel's result."

Grand Eunuch Gui pointed to the silks and treasures on the table and said, "These items are the reward for Your Highness's title. From now on, Your Highness's treatment will be elevated to that of a royal prince. Whenever you are hungry, meals will be brought to you. Would you like some maidservants to attend to your needs?"

"No need."

Those maidservants might be spies for the Queen. With constant contact, they could easily see things they shouldn't. He couldn't afford to have someone spy on him, especially with his secrets. His Eight Extremes Collapse was his trump card for the duel, and more importantly, he couldn't reveal his twin Martial Souls. If that secret came out, it would be the end of him.

Grand Eunuch Gui glanced around the Cold Palace and said, "Your Highness, if you have any needs, feel free to tell me. I will try to fulfill them."

"If I have any needs, I will tell you, Gonggong."

After bidding Grand Eunuch Gui farewell, only Dai Yao and Dai Hengyu remained in the room.

Dai Hengyu spoke with a complicated expression, "I didn't expect your talent to be this high. It looks like you won't be able to accompany me to the Elder's Council anymore."

"Remember, once you step into the competition for the throne, there's no turning back. Your life is in your own hands. Several princes have already been on this path for a long time."

"Prince Davis, the First Prince, is fifteen years old, the Queen's legitimate son, with a Soul Power of level 31, and has just obtained his third soul ring."

"Prince Yaming, the Second Prince, is twelve, born of a concubine, a 25th-level battle soul master, and is the biggest competitor to the First Prince."

"Prince Mubai, the Third Prince, is nine years old with a 17th-level Soul Power. As for you, you're six years old and haven't obtained your first soul ring."

After hearing this, Dai Yao had a clearer understanding of his situation.

Currently, the main competitors for the throne were the First and Second Princes. Although Dai Yaming was three years younger than Davis, his talent was higher, and as he grew older, the gap between them would only shrink.

In the original story, when Davis competed on behalf of the Star Luo Royal Academy, it indicated that Dai Yaming had lost his competition with Davis.

As for Dai Mubai, he seemed to be merely a filler. The age gap was simply too large; the youngest, Dai Yao, was nine years younger than Davis. Davis had already reached Soul Emperor rank, while Dai Yao had not yet obtained his first soul ring. The gap in Soul Power was too significant.

But the competition for the throne was ruthless. Age gaps didn't give anyone an advantage. The world was inherently unfair. If you were truly a genius, you would prove that your talent could close the gap created by age.

Throughout the history of the Star Luo Empire, emperors who succeeded through "rising above their station" were all exceptional individuals. During their reigns, they could even suppress the Heaven Dou Empire.

In the original story, even after consuming the magical herb Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum, Dai Mubai only reached level 44, still three levels behind Davis.

This showed just how difficult it was to "rise above one's station."

(End of this chapter)

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