At that moment, Yunxiao's praise for Xue Ke reached their ears.
Even Xue Ye was momentarily stunned upon hearing it.
Although it flattered him greatly to receive such compliments from Elf Douluo Yunxiao about Xue Ke, this wasn't the outcome he had intended.
After a long pause, Xue Ye finally regained his composure.
Waving his hand dismissively, he spoke slowly.
"Hahaha, Brother Yun, you flatter her too much."
"Xue Ke is still young and has much to learn."
"Brother Yun, might I ask if it would be convenient..."
"I was thinking of having Xue Ke stay by your side to learn from you."
Afraid that Yunxiao might not grasp his implication, Xue Ye might as well have outright said:
Send Xue Ke to the Elf Residence and straight into Yunxiao's bed.
Yunxiao with Xue Ke, "Xue Qinghe" with Su Xiaoli.
If these four could be paired off, would there still be any fear of failing to win Yunxiao over?
Would there still be any concern about not being able to firmly bind the entire Elf Clan to the war chariot of the Heaven Dou Empire?
Xue Ye might not be a good father, but he was a competent emperor.
For the rise and glory of the Heaven Dou Empire, sacrificing the future happiness of a mere daughter was not beyond him if necessary.
Though Xue Ke was the princess of the Heaven Dou Empire, living a life of privilege and comfort on the surface, in reality, her marital fate was never her own.
She was either a tool to maintain the interests of the imperial Xue Family, a means to win over talented young men, or a bargaining chip for political marriages with other nations.
After all, weaker kingdoms often resorted to such arrangements.
Compared to the throne of those kings, what was the worth of a mere daughter, a mere princess, to be given away?
If the need arose, even the wives of those kings—the queens or other consorts—could be offered without hesitation.
Of course, that was the general rule.
But if the recipient was someone like Yunxiao, the Elf King, it wouldn't be any disgrace to Xue Ke, the princess of the Heaven Dou Empire.
As Xue Ye had mentioned earlier, Yunxiao was a young and handsome Titled Douluo, barely in his twenties, with immense power and impeccable character.
What young woman wouldn't be smitten by such a man?
If not for Yunxiao's elusive nature and the need to preserve the dignity of the Heaven Dou imperial family, Xue Ye might have even considered sending Xue Ke to a brothel as its star courtesan.
After all, the Elf King was known to frequent the pleasure houses of Heaven Dou City.
Whether he visited brothels or Xue Ke made little difference.
And if Yunxiao could leave behind an heir during his "visits," so much the better.
Yunxiao: "..."
Indeed, upon hearing Xue Ye's thinly veiled proposition, Yunxiao's lips twitched violently, his mouth slightly agape.
He wanted to say something but ultimately held back.
Good grief, what kind of father would offer his daughter to a complete stranger's bed without even consulting her?
This is simply outrageous!
Not to mention sending one's own daughter to someone else's bed.
If anyone dared to even consider targeting his future precious daughter,
he wouldn't hesitate to make those people
completely and utterly disappear from the Douluo Continent.
Even the family sects and forces behind those individuals would meet the same fate.
After considering these thoughts, Yunxiao slowly responded:
"Haha, Your Majesty, I'm afraid I must disappoint you."
"My strength has improved recently."
"In the coming days, I may choose to go into seclusion for a while."
"If you and Xue Ke don't mind, she could come study at our Elf Advanced Soul Master Academy."
"At that time, Shui Wu You, the Ice Douluo,"
"and Huo Wu Lu, the Fire Douluo,"
"these two Titled Douluo elders,"
"will both serve on the Education Committee."
"They'll be responsible for teaching students at the Elf Advanced Soul Master Academy, especially those in the Inner Courtyard."
Regarding Xue Ke's talent and strength, she naturally wouldn't qualify for the Inner Courtyard of the Elf Advanced Soul Master Academy.
But if necessary, he had other methods.
For example, he could arrange for Xue Ke to enter through backdoor channels.
After all, he'd already gained so many benefits from Xue Ye.
Turning a blind eye occasionally wouldn't be unreasonable.
Currently, he still needed the faith of all the common people across the Heaven Dou Empire.
Under necessary circumstances, this could be acceptable.
At this moment, Yunxiao added:
"Oh, I forgot to mention something."
"Your Majesty, let me introduce them properly."
"Shui Wu You, the Ice Douluo, is my fiancée."
"We grew up together since childhood."
"As for Huo Wu Lu, he's my fiancée's younger brother."
"Not only that, but he's currently single."
"My fiancée, Shui Wu You, the Ice Douluo,"
"keeps nagging me to find him a partner."
"I think Her Highness Princess Xue Ke would be a good match."
"Why don't we let them get to know each other?"
"What do you think, Your Majesty?"
His stance remained the same as before—like is like, dislike is dislike.
Since he didn't like Xue Ke
and felt nothing for her, there was no need to drag things out.
Moreover, since Xue Ye was so fond of arranged marriages,
he might as well play along.
Of course, the candidate would naturally be the single man Huo Wu Lu.
For the prosperity and rise of the Elf Clan,
he'd have to let Huo Wu Lu bear this burden.
Besides, the Douluo Continent was a world where strength reigned supreme.
Having multiple wives and concubines was perfectly normal.
"Shui Wu You, the Ice Douluo,"
"is actually Yunxiao's fiancée?"
This news slightly disappointed Xue Ye.
"Huo Wu Lu? The Fire Douluo?"
When Yunxiao mentioned Huo Wu Lu, Xue Ye became thoughtful.
Glancing at Huo Wu Lu in the distance,
then looking at Xue Ke,
Xue Ye's eyes suddenly brightened as if he'd thought of something.
"Huo Wu Lu, the Fire Douluo, an elder of the Elf Clan."
"Not only that, but he's also the younger brother of Shui Wu You, the Ice Douluo."
"Xue Ke and Huo Wu Lu together? Those two... actually don't seem like a bad match?"
"Xue Qinghe": "..."
Shui Wu You: "..."
Huo Wu Lu: "..."
"Seriously?!"
With their level of strength, how could the three of them not hear Yunxiao and Xue Ye's conversation?
Especially Huo Wu Lu—he was completely dumbfounded.
He had just come to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace for a meal.
But never in his wildest dreams did he expect...
That Yunxiao—his brother-in-law!
The new clan leader!
Would completely sell him out like this.
This... was absolutely unbelievable.
Utterly ridiculous!