Douluo : Capture the goddess starting from peerless tang sect

"Juzi, to me, chastity and such things are irrelevant. For the greater good, for the smooth succession to the throne, I must have a wife—and a child. How can I trust anyone but you to be by my side in such a role? You're the only one I trust completely. I'll give you a title, give you power. All I ask is that you assist me in securing the throne.

I'll give you the strength to avenge your parents, and I encourage you to pursue that vengeance. I have no other aspirations. My only wish is to unify the continent, for the Sun and Moon to shine upon every corner of this land, and for the world to once again be named in honor of our empire," Xu Tiannan said, his tone heavy with conviction.

For a man to say he didn't care if his wife was intimate with another man—it was almost unthinkable.

Xu Tiannan's words were little more than self-consolation.

Years ago, he had already decided that Juzi would become his wife. His plan was to arrange for her to conceive secretly with a royal-blooded man, then eliminate the father. That way, no one besides him and Juzi would know the child wasn't his.

For Xu Tiannan, this was a necessity.

Even if he didn't want children, an emperor without heirs could never have a stable reign, let alone attempt the sweeping reforms and unification he envisioned.

Self-inflicted humiliation was an unavoidable part of his path.

The battle for the throne within the Sun Moon Empire had mostly settled in Xu Tiannan's favor. He should have taken a crown princess long ago, but he had delayed confronting Juzi about his plans due to the shame of his condition.

Admitting his disability was a profound personal torment, and it had taken countless internal struggles to bring him to this moment.

With everything now laid bare, Xu Tiannan exhaled deeply, feeling a long-suppressed weight finally lift.

"Juzi, you understand what I mean, don't you? Once you are with child, I'll marry you.

With your intelligence, familiarity with military strategy, and understanding of soul tools, I have full confidence in you. I'll gradually integrate you into my inner military circle and make it clear to them that you will be my wife, the Crown Princess, and the future Empress," he continued.

There was no more time to delay.

If he didn't take a wife and produce heirs soon, even his supporters might begin to doubt him, and that would spell disaster.

"Understood, Your Highness." Juzi bit her lip gently, her mind drifting to thoughts of Qianran.

It was impossible for her to be completely indifferent to someone like Qianran.

If given a choice, who would willingly tie themselves to Xu Tiannan?

Being Empress of a nation might seem grand, but what was the point if it meant tying her life to a man like him?

Yet, without Xu Tiannan's support, what chance did she have of achieving her revenge?

So even if she harbored feelings for Qianran, she had always suppressed them.

But now things were different. Xu Tiannan himself was encouraging her to get closer to Qianran. He hadn't been explicit, but Juzi understood his deeper meaning.

In the past, she had only suspected Xu Tiannan's condition. Now, she was sure—he couldn't father children.

"I'm glad you understand," Xu Tiannan said with a nod.

"I hope you'll handle this well. From what I've learned, Qianran is a notorious womanizer. If you're willing to lower your guard just a little, I'm certain he'll take an interest in you," he added, feeling an overwhelming sense of shame.

Though Xu Tiannan was a brilliant schemer, capable of eliminating his rival princes and securing his position through ruthless cunning, in this matter, he felt utterly humiliated.

How degrading it was to hand over someone as beautiful as Juzi to another man, even if it was part of a plan.

But his expression remained calm, even smiling as he spoke to Juzi. Xu Tiannan had long mastered the art of enduring humiliation for the sake of his ambitions.

"Once the time is right, bring Qianran to meet me. I'd like to speak with him," Xu Tiannan concluded.

Leaving the palace, Juzi's emotions were in turmoil.

Perhaps this was the best path available to her. If not Qianran, Xu Tiannan would force her to bear another man's child.

If she had to make such a choice, wouldn't Qianran be far better?

With Qianran's unparalleled talents, any child she bore with him would undoubtedly be extraordinary.

For days after that conversation, Juzi didn't appear at the academy's laboratory. She decided to investigate Tang Ya before meeting with Qianran.

Meanwhile, Qianran spent his days alternating between teasing Keke and flirting with the study partners the academy had assigned to him. The rest of his time was spent designing new soul tools. His relationship with Keke had progressed rapidly—he could have taken things further at any moment, but he enjoyed making her squirm, waiting for her to come to him willingly.

A week later, Juzi finally returned to the lab.

"Qianran, can we talk?" Juzi asked after greeting Keke. Without waiting for a response, she pulled him out of the lab.

Qianran immediately noticed something different.

Unlike her usual school uniform or athletic wear, Juzi was dressed in a qipao.

The sight made Qianran's eyes light up.

He had seen many beautiful women in qipaos before, but it had been a while. Juzi, who had always presented herself as sweet and approachable, now exuded an elegant, seductive allure that was incredibly captivating.

Her short pink floral qipao accentuated her long legs, and the already short hem seemed even shorter due to her height. The high slit revealed tantalizing glimpses of her smooth, jade-like thighs, while the form-fitting fabric highlighted her ample curves, from her full chest to her shapely hips.

Juzi's figure was perfect for the qipao—sensual yet refined. Her bare legs, smooth and luminous, were a mesmerizing sight.

Qianran knew well that Juzi was no ordinary beauty.

She was Xu Tiannan's chosen Crown Princess, the future Empress of the Sun Moon Empire.

The thought of painting such a powerful figure in his colors only made the moment more thrilling.

(Chapter End)