Jing Hongchen was utterly stunned.
The crown prince of the Sun Moon Empire—impotent?
If this news ever got out, it would turn the royal family into a laughingstock across the entire continent.
"You're not just making this up to fool an old man like me, are you?" Jing Hongchen asked skeptically. It was too shocking to be true.
"Think about it, Hall Master. Has Xu Tianran ever had any children? A crown prince having heirs would reassure his supporters. With Xu Tianran's cunning nature, if he were capable of fathering children, he'd have done so by now," Qian Ran replied with a smirk.
Jing Hongchen was speechless. It was true—the lack of heirs for a crown prince was a significant issue.
Xu Tianran was not a fool. Someone as calculating as him would never ignore such an important matter.
Jing Hongchen suddenly felt a pang of relief. His granddaughter was too young to have been considered for marriage during the height of Xu Tianran's ambitions. If Mengmeng had been a few years older, Jing Hongchen might have arranged for her to marry Xu Tianran—an idea he now shuddered to imagine.
"When Xu Tianran lost his legs, he also lost his ability as a man. He used to summon me to his estate frequently, hoping I could treat his... condition," Qian Ran added with a note of amusement.
Jing Hongchen now believed every word. He hadn't considered this possibility before, but Qian Ran's explanation fit perfectly.
There was no doubt in his mind now—Qian Ran was telling the truth.
This revelation left Jing Hongchen with no choice but to abandon his support for Xu Tianran.
How could a man who couldn't produce an heir rule as emperor? Knowing this, Jing Hongchen refused to make a mistake he couldn't undo.
"I didn't expect you to know medicine," Jing Hongchen said, attempting to regain his composure.
"It's a natural talent of my martial spirit. I can handle minor issues," Qian Ran said with a casual shrug.
"Fine… so if not Xu Tianran, who do you think I should support?"
"Why not start fresh? You could become a founding contributor to a new dynasty," Qian Ran suggested with a mischievous grin.
"Are you mad? I would never betray the empire!" Jing Hongchen snapped, his face darkening.
"What if you supported the descendants of the once-great Lunar Clan?"
Qian Ran's words immediately piqued Jing Hongchen's interest.
Long ago, the Sun Moon Empire was founded on the strength of two powerful clans: the Solar Clan, the current royal family, and the Lunar Clan.
These two illustrious clans were the cornerstones of the empire. Even now, the Lunar Clan retained considerable strength. Kong Deming, the head of the Imperial Worship Hall and the empire's foremost Rank 9 soul engineer, belonged to this clan. His martial spirit was the Silver Moon.
In Ultimate Douluo, Kong Deming and Ye Xishui were the only two Rank 10 soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire.
The dynamic between the Solar and Lunar Clans mirrored the historical partnership between the Dai and Zhu families in the Star Luo Empire. However, while the Dai and Zhu families were bound by their martial soul fusion abilities and mutual reliance, the Solar and Lunar Clans had no such unifying force.
It wasn't difficult to infer that the imperial family would have worked behind the scenes to suppress the Lunar Clan, ensuring their dominance over the empire.
Qian Ran had clearly done his research, and Jing Hongchen quickly grasped his intentions.
"Do you want to support the Lunar Clan? With backing from the Holy Spirit Cult and my Mingde Hall, it might just work," Jing Hongchen murmured, his mind racing.
The Lunar Clan was not without its own formidable allies. If Kong Deming, the most powerful Rank 9 soul engineer, saw his family ascend to the throne, he might not object.
Qian Ran's plan seemed well thought out, and it was evident he had already chosen a candidate.
Over the next hour, Jing Hongchen listened carefully as Qian Ran laid out his strategy.
The candidate, Zhang Lexuan, was someone Jing Hongchen had not heard much about. Whether or not she was truly a descendant of the Lunar Clan mattered little. With her martial spirit being the Moon, she naturally belonged among the Sun Moon Empire's highest nobility.
If she became the empire's empress, Jing Hongchen could argue that he hadn't betrayed the nation.
Qian Ran's persuasion, coupled with the grim realities surrounding Xu Tianran, made Jing Hongchen seriously consider the proposal.
Xu Tianran had nearly eradicated the imperial family in his rise to power, leaving behind no capable successors. Without heirs of his own, Jing Hongchen had no viable candidates left to support within the royal bloodline.
If no better option existed, why not support someone chosen by his granddaughter's husband?
Jing Hongchen refrained from giving a definitive answer but was clearly tempted.
Of course, Jing Hongchen would need to meet Zhang Lexuan himself before making a final decision. From what Qian Ran described, she seemed like an exceptional individual—worthy of both respect and ambition.
Meanwhile, Xu Tianran had no inkling of the speed at which Qian Ran was undermining his position.
With the Holy Spirit Cult already slipping from his grasp, losing the support of Mingde Hall would be a devastating blow.
Xu Tianran had only himself to blame. Isolated and impotent, he was no match for Qian Ran's connections and charisma.
"Qian Ran, what took you so long? Grandpa didn't give you a hard time, did he?"
Meng Hongchen had been waiting outside the office. The moment Qian Ran stepped out, she rushed to greet him.
"Do you really think your grandfather is like that?" Qian Ran flicked her forehead lightly.
"Wait… Grandpa didn't scold you?" Meng Hongchen asked, blinking in surprise.
"No. In fact, he sold you to me. You're officially mine now," Qian Ran said with a grin, his hand sliding under her skirt once again.
"Really?" Meng Hongchen's eyes widened as she felt his hand roaming freely across her smooth skin. Had her grandfather truly approved of their relationship?
"Of course. He won't stand in our way anymore," Qian Ran replied. Her joy was infectious, lifting his own spirits. A happy Meng Hongchen meant a happy Qian Ran.
"Qian Ran, you're amazing! I just knew Grandpa would come around," Meng Hongchen exclaimed, jumping with excitement.
She had even been prepared to elope with Qian Ran, fearing her grandfather's disapproval. The thought of them reconciling brought her immense relief.
"So, how are you going to reward me?" Qian Ran teased, his voice playful.
(End of Chapter)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X