Logging into the Game World Early and Starting with a Royal Marriage to the Empress

Within the private room, Xu Xingchen felt as though he were sitting upon a mat of needles; at this very moment, he harbored an intense desire to depart, unwilling to linger even a single additional second.

He detested this uncertainty, this fear of the unknown—it stripped him of any sense of security.

The Xia Chen before him was truly far too dangerous.

A gentleman does not stand beneath a tottering wall!

He cast a sweeping glance toward the direction of the door, only to discover that, unbeknownst to him at some prior moment, Xia Qian had silently taken up a position beside it—seemingly standing guard for the two of them, yet also appearing to deliberately obstruct his path of egress.

Xu Xingchen sighed inwardly; he had always considered himself supremely clever, yet today it felt as though he had wandered like a lamb into the tiger’s maw.

And it was he who had willingly delivered himself to this predicament—now, even if he wished to leave, escape eluded him.

Xia Chen bore a faint smile upon his lips, gazing quietly at the visibly restless Xu Xingchen.

“What has come over you, Brother Xu—could it be that you are feeling somewhat hungry? The dishes ought to be served shortly; let us first partake in some wine!”

Xia Chen lifted a wine cup and poured a measure for Xu Xingchen; Xu Xingchen eyed the cup, gritted his teeth, accepted it, and drank it down in one gulp.

“Lord Division Head, today I acted recklessly—I shall penalize myself with a cup!”

Xu Xingchen understood that his actions today had been ill-considered; knowing so little of this Xia Chen, he had rashly come forth seeking to observe him up close.

In the end, he had underestimated the heroes of the realm!

“There’s no need for self-punishment—Brother Xu need only answer my question. Does Brother Xu genuinely believe that the realm today enjoys peace and prosperity?”

Xia Chen maintained his smile, yet it carried an air of solemnity; Xu Xingchen clenched his jaw, realizing that further evasion was futile—if he did not provide a satisfactory response today, he might not walk out of this door.

Should Xia Chen pin some fabricated charge upon him—say, branding him a covert agent of the Inspectorate or the Imperial City Division, or accusing him of treasonous dealings with enemy states—and haul him straight into the Lamplighters’ dungeons, the consequences would be dire.

Over the years, he had kept too low a profile, forging no connections with influential figures in the capital; reflecting on this, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. Had he known, he might have revealed a measure of his talents earlier, cultivated ties with a few powerful nobles—then he wouldn’t find himself so utterly bereft of allies in this moment of peril.

“Though Dawu’s military might presently stands formidable, its finances have long been strained beyond endurance, sustained only by ceaseless increases in taxation.

Among the populace, instances have already emerged of people starving to death due to insufficient rations.

In recent years, brokerage houses in the capital and pleasure quarters like Suyu Street’s brothels and entertainment dens have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, while the cost of a single visit has steadily declined over the past three years.

This suffices to demonstrate that competition among brothels and entertainment dens has grown increasingly fierce; the number of girls within them has multiplied, their beauty ever more striking. The reason for this lies in the fact that ordinary households can no longer survive—forced to sell their sons and daughters. Though stepping into a brothel is degrading, it is still preferable to starving alive…”

Xu Xingchen’s voice carried a blend of indignation and gravity; Xia Chen cast a serious glance at him—this young man was truly remarkable!

To discern that the brothel trade could reflect the state of society, to pierce through its essence by observing such industries and uncover the root of societal ills…

Xu Xingchen continued:

“At present, Dawu still has eight vassal kings presiding over the provinces; these eight kings, in their localities, rule like veritable emperors of the soil, exploiting the common folk—many endure unbearable hardship, their lives reduced to unrelieved misery.

More critically, more than half of these eight kings harbor ambitious designs…

Externally, there are Daqing and Dafeng; the northwest teeters on the brink of turmoil, poised at any moment to erupt into war.

In these times, the realm has indeed begun to show fissures; Dawu appears mighty on the surface, yet it is akin to cooking oil over a raging flame—one misstep, and a great upheaval shall descend.”

Xu Xingchen spoke with solemn earnestness.

“Thus, Brother Xu has been persistently biding your time in dormancy, desiring to seek out an enlightened lord, awaiting the great turmoil of the realm, so as to assist a true dragon in ascending to the throne, thereby attaining the merit of having supported him in his rise!”

Xia Chen chuckled, as if the remark had slipped out casually.

Seated across from Xia Chen, Xu Xingchen broke into a cold sweat in an instant.

He knew all this? He had seen through everything?

Even as composed as Xu Xingchen was, his heart trembled with alarm, an unease swelling within him.

He had not forgotten Xia Chen’s current stature—leader of the Lamplighters, the court’s hound, son-in-law to His Majesty, legitimate heir of the Xia clan.

For six hundred years, the Xia clan had served the royal house with unwavering loyalty!

It was this fidelity that had earned them the emperor’s trust to lead armies across generations.

Now, with his designs entirely laid bare, Xu Xingchen’s heart brimmed with remorse—one false step, and the entire game was lost.

He might truly fall here today!

A man with grand ambitions, he aspired to become Chief Grand Secretary—not just any Chief Grand Secretary, but one who would bear the merit of unifying the realm, the greatest in all history.

Yet now, his mission unfulfilled, his life might end before it had even begun!

“Then what of the other two states, in your view?”

Xia Chen continued to smile, posing yet another question.

“Though these two states suffer some internal decay, they still possess a handful of loyal ministers and capable generals; their national strength has waned, yet their destiny’s fortune endures!”

Xu Xingchen let out a sigh; having glimpsed the worst possible outcome, he ceased concealment, speaking freely.

“Thus, amidst the tripartite stalemate of the three states, it is our nation—seemingly the mightiest—that stands in the gravest peril.”

“Precisely—His Majesty is fond of warfare; at present, our nation exhibits signs of internal disintegration. Should His Majesty be willing to commence a period of respite and recovery, appointing me as Chief Grand Secretary, within five years I could reverse this perilous situation!”

Xu Xingchen resembled a sword unsheathed, his sharpness fully revealed; sensing the specter of mortal danger, he cast aside his long-held strategy of discretion.

He sought to captivate Xia Chen’s attention with words of world-shaking import, hoping perchance to turn this dead end into a living game—through Xia Chen, to draw the notice of the court’s titans, or even His Majesty himself.

So long as someone granted him an opportunity, he was certain he could prove his worth; though this step was fraught with peril, he had no choice—he must wager it all!