Douluo : Capture the goddess starting from peerless tang sect

Of course, it wasn't as if Orange could tolerate just any man having multiple wives.

If he were someone of lesser status, strength, or other qualities compared to her, why should she endure being one of many? A woman's ability to accept a man's infidelity often depended on how exceptional he was otherwise.

As for Qian Ran, with his remarkable strength and charm, Orange felt that a little philandering on his part was only natural.

"By the way, your crown prince and the academy seem to have miscalculated," Qian Ran whispered to her with a sly grin.

"I have a secret method to ensure no woman can get pregnant by me."

Over the years, even Dong'er, who had lived in the same dorm with him for so long, hadn't gotten pregnant. None of the others had either.

It wasn't luck—it was by design.

The seed Qian Ran planted was inert.

Unless he truly wanted a child one day, he wouldn't let anything "viable" out. No matter how hard anyone tried, even if they resorted to all manner of old wives' tales, it simply wasn't possible.

The power was entirely in Qian Ran's hands. His first child would be with the most deserving woman, and she would have to prove herself worthy. There would be no room for luck—it would all come down to merit.

"You!" Orange was stunned, but after some thought, it made sense. A man as promiscuous as Qian Ran would have to have his methods if he hadn't caused any scandals by now.

"What's wrong? Disappointed? Or were you hoping for something else?" Qian Ran teased with a mischievous smile.

"Who's disappointed? I wasn't planning on using such means anyway," Orange retorted, her cheeks turning crimson as she suddenly realized how inappropriate their conversation had become.

"Even so, you can't leave me now. You're my woman, officially bestowed upon me by the crown prince himself. I think I'll need to pay him a visit to properly thank him," Qian Ran said with a laugh, already imagining the look on Xu Tianran's face.

Certain things had to be addressed in person for the full effect.

"Hmph," Orange huffed, but her heart felt inexplicably sweet.

She didn't know how long this happiness would last, but for now, it was enough.

"You probably can't walk around with me openly. Let me disguise you." Qian Ran retrieved a makeup kit from his storage ring and expertly transformed Orange's appearance.

"You can even do this?" Orange exclaimed in surprise. His skill seemed so polished—it was hard to believe a man could pull it off.

"I've seen the other girls do it plenty of times. It's not that hard," Qian Ran said with a shrug. Dong'er and the others rarely wore makeup, but occasionally, they did.

Orange had always kept her distance from male classmates at the academy, given her loyalty to Xu Tianran. If she were to stroll hand-in-hand with Qian Ran through the streets, it would undoubtedly ruin her chances of becoming Xu Tianran's empress.

Gripping Orange's hand, Qian Ran led her across the academy's campus and into the bustling streets.

Orange, who had never even held hands with a boy before, felt a rush of emotions.

Is this a date? she wondered, her heart leaping with joy.

"So, your parents died in the conflict between the Sun-Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire, right? That's why you hate Star Luo so much?" Qian Ran asked, holding her hand as they walked.

He couldn't help but think that Orange's deep hatred had been deliberately shaped by Xu Tianran.

"Mm." Orange nodded, her expression somber.

The death of her parents had always been her greatest sorrow and the driving force behind her years of resolve.

"Back then, the Star Luo Empire's commander was probably Dai Hao, wasn't it? If I could hand him over to you, would you let go of your hatred?"

Considering the timeline, Orange's parents' deaths likely occurred about a decade ago, when Dai Hao was already a prominent general of the Star Luo Empire.

"What do you mean?" Orange asked, her face tensing.

"All the Star Luo generals from that war—I could capture them and let you handle them however you wish. They're nothing to me," Qian Ran said casually.

Now that Qian Renxue had complete control over the Star Luo Empire, the empire was practically Qian Ran's to command.

Qian Renxue controlled the court through the imperial palace, while the White Tiger Duke's forces handled the military. Together, they had rendered the Star Luo Empire a puppet state. With Zhu Ying and Qian Renxue both loyal to him, Qian Ran essentially held half the empire's reins.

"You could actually do that? Is the Wuhun Sect really that powerful now?" Orange gasped, sucking in a breath.

Her first instinct was to think he was joking, but Qian Ran's calm demeanor suggested otherwise.

And as she reflected on their past interactions, she realized that every claim Qian Ran had ever made had come true.

"You could say that. The Star Luo Empire is effectively under Wuhun Sect's control," Qian Ran said with a smirk. He could easily make the empire officially his, but he had no interest in outright domination.

Qian Ran valued his connections. Princess Xu Jiujiu, one of his women, was still a part of the Star Luo royal family. He wasn't about to throw everything into chaos.

Qian Renxue, having reached new heights of power, was no longer interested in the empire either. For Qian Ran, the current arrangement was ideal—he enjoyed the privileges of near-imperial authority without the burdens of rulership.

"Terrifying. If that's the case, maybe I really could let go. I don't know…" Orange's emotions churned. As she spent more time with Qian Ran, she became increasingly aware of his immense power and influence.

The thought that Qian Ran could simply hand over the Star Luo generals for her vengeance was mind-boggling.

Her hatred, which had once burned so fiercely, seemed to lose some of its intensity.

If Qian Ran could deliver justice without a large-scale war, what was the point of continuing her path with Xu Tianran? Besides, were the generals truly at fault? Orange found herself lost in thought.

But what truly left her reeling was the revelation that the Star Luo Empire was under Qian Ran's control.

If this became public knowledge, the entire continent would be thrown into upheaval.

The Sun-Moon Empire was currently the strongest power on the continent, followed by the Star Luo Empire, the mightiest of the traditional Douluo nations. The idea that such a powerhouse had quietly fallen under Wuhun Sect's influence was shocking.

"My mind's in turmoil. Give me a few days to think this over," Orange said, shaking her head. She was deeply conflicted. If Qian Ran could help her achieve vengeance, what reason did she have to continue serving Xu Tianran?

(End of Chapter)