"How so? Explain further." Emperor Liu Man commanded, wanting to hear every detail of this development.
"As you are aware, Imperial Father, Great General Bai's niece, Bai Chunhua, will attends the same cultivation academy as I do. She confided in me that her cousin, my fiancée, has changed entirely, as if she were a different person. Naturally, I did not believe it at first. " Liu Jun began, his tone smooth and persuasive. "So, I went to the residence to check on her myself. It turned out to be true. Her temperament has shifted a full hundred percent. Previously, she was always overjoyed whenever I visited, but now... She looked at me with nothing but cold despising. Because of this, I strongly suspect she is indeed being possessed by something unclean."
"I see..." Emperor Liu Man murmured, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the arm of the throne as he processed his son's explanation.
Liu Jun fell silent, bowing his head slightly as he waited for his father's judgment. He knew the seeds of doubt had been planted.
"So, is it your intention to end the engagement entirely?" Emperor Liu Man asked, fixing his sharp gaze on his son.
"Imperial Father, I am speaking solely for the sake of the Imperial Family's reputation. If I am to become the next Emperor, having an Empress tainted by such a bad omen would be disastrous for our lineage." Liu Jun argued, masking his personal desires behind the guise of duty and tradition.
"You know the reasons behind this engagement. The alliance with the Bai family's legacy is not something I can simply let break." Emperor Liu Man said, his voice heavy with concern. The political ties to the late Great General were still too valuable to toss aside.
"I am well aware, Imperial Father. That is why I am suggesting a compromise, a way to preserve the engagement between the Imperial Family and the Bai Family without compromising the future Emperor's status." Liu Jun said, a faint, calculating smile playing on his lips.
"Oh? And what exactly is this plan? Let me hear it." Emperor Liu Man said, lifting a skeptical eyebrow.
"I propose that I break off my engagement with her, and in my place, the Third Prince, Liu Wei, takes over as her betrothed." Liu Jun said plainly, his smile never wavering.
"You know as well as I do that your brother is... a fool." Emperor Liu Man reminded him. The Third Prince's intellectual failings were a well-known embarrassment within the palace walls.
"I know. Even though he is simple-minded, he is still a Prince of the blood. He is undeniably part of the Imperial Family. In fact, a fool like him is a much more suitable match for a girl like Bai Xifeng, who lacks even the basic ability to cultivate." Liu Jun countered.
Emperor Liu Man went silent once more, weighing the logic. It was, quite frankly, an elegant solution. His other sons were all outstanding and promised great futures for the empire, while the Third Prince was the only one who had turned out to be a disappointment. Pairing the "trash" daughter of the Bai family with the "fool" prince would satisfy the marriage contract without ruining the Crown Prince's prospects.
"You may leave now. I will take your suggestion under consideration." Emperor Liu Man said, dismissing his son.
Liu Jun did not press the matter further. He understood his father's position, as the Emperor, he had to consider the balance of power and the reaction of the court. His father had many burdens on his shoulders.
However, based on the Emperor's reaction, Liu Jun felt confident that his father was leaning toward agreement. He only needed to wait. If too much time passed without a decree, he would simply find another opportunity to bring the matter up again and push it toward its final conclusion.
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