I'm only one year old, what the heck is a Overturning System?!-Chapter 417 - 184: Bestowed Marriage (Please Subscribe)_2

Chapter 417: Chapter 184: Bestowed Marriage (Please Subscribe)_2

Chen Fan’s smile stiffened, and he awkwardly said, "Very strong, I... I really envy him."

"Why envy?"

Chen Yuan seriously said, "The three of us brothers share the same bloodline. To some extent, what belongs to him belongs to us."

Chen Fan shook his head and said, "It’s not the same, just like during the battle at South-Garrison Pass, if it were me, maybe I could only stand on the pass and look up to him."

Hearing this, Chen Yuan asked indifferently, "Do you want your second brother to look up to you?"

Chen Fan gave a shy smile and said, "I just want grandma, father, and second uncle to praise me."

In fact, he had always felt lonely since childhood.

Even though he had always lived in Kyoto Prefecture, and had always lived within the Marquis Mansion, with his mother beside him, elders from the clan, and peers of the same age.

Yet, he still felt lonely.

It was not the kind of loneliness from lack of companionship, but rather he never saw that kind of importance in the eyes of everyone in the mansion.

Even his mother, Zhou Wanyi, treated him very indifferently, indifferent to the point where even the Buddhist Hall seemed more important than him.

Chen Yuan looked at him deeply, stood up to pay the bill, and said, "Let’s go, let’s head back to the mansion."

Watching his back, Chen Fan’s smile turned to helplessness.

Why was even his eldest brother like this?

After all, they were biological brothers from the same mother.

Seeing that Chen Yuan had walked some distance, Chen Fan finally got up and followed, with a smile appearing on his face again.

"Big brother, tell me more about second brother’s deeds? I remember you both drove back those demons and the Barbarian Clan together?"

"Are those barbarians really ten feet tall? That’s so terrifying."

"Big brother, you know? Xie Dongan was promoted to University Scholar at the Kyoto Academy after he returned, I heard the Holy Emperor even awarded him a baronetcy..."

On the way, Chen Yuan responded sporadically, most of the time, it was Chen Fan talking non-stop.

Fifteen-year-old Chen Fan, as if wanting to speak all the words he had hidden in his heart over the years.

From the main branches of Marquis Mansion to his mother Zhou Wanyi, who is now a well-known Buddhist laywoman in Kyoto Prefecture.

From the Academy, he talked about the court, about the struggles between civil servants and military generals, mentioning several scholars advocating for a reduction in military expenses, weakening the soldiers under various marquis.

The reason was because more than a decade ago, Emperor Wei decreed to be responsible for the cultivation of the offspring of the border soldiers.

Roughly calculating, the court had to pay two million annually, almost equivalent to the yearly military expenses of Beixiong Pass.

But all this money was spent on military households, hence causing dissatisfaction among the scholars at the court.

However, no matter how they opposed, the Holy Emperor had no plans to repeal this decree, instead, it was increasing annually.

Especially the three marquis stationed at Beixiong Pass, who even doubled the military expenses for their armies.

The only exception was the Devoted Army led by Duke Jingye Zhou Tiance.

"I heard that Grandpa thought of many ways to raise military funds, but it was still not enough, only recruited seventy thousand new troops."

Chen Yuan frowned slightly, it was the first time he heard about the Devoted Army.

Previously he only focused on "Hidden Dragon," and didn’t pay much attention to the Devoted Army.

"All these years, did Grandpa recruit new troops every time? Weren’t there any old soldiers?"

Chen Fan recalled, "As far as I know, the last time Grandpa was stationed at Beixiong Pass, he encountered the Demon Court moving south again, and the Devoted Army lost tens of thousands."

"I don’t know if the Demon Court targeted his grandfather, almost every time he was stationed, demons would attack Beixiong Pass from the south."

"Is that so?" Chen Yuan nodded thoughtfully, then knocked on the mansion door and softly reminded:

"If possible, spend more time with mother."

"Eh?" Chen Fan was stunned and looked at him puzzledly: "Big brother, what about you?"

"I have to prepare for the festival," Chen Yuan patted his shoulder and smiled, "I’ll stay with Grandpa for a while."

"Can I go too?"

"Be obedient."

Chen Fan was somewhat disappointed, but did not think too much about it, his eyes filled with even more admiration.

To think that after this festival starts, both his brothers would participate, yet he could not...

"The young masters are back!"

"Quick, quick, Mr. Yuan, Mr. Fan, we’ve been waiting for you."

"Huh?"

After entering Marquis Mansion, Chen Yuan’s brows couldn’t help but furrow.

He looked at several Black Armor Guards outside the main hall and the leading Liu Gao, feeling somewhat irritated in his heart.

"Yuan Er, come here to receive the decree."

Chen Lide, stroking the increasingly aged Old Lady’s visage, beckoned: "Don’t let Mr. Liu wait too long."

"Mr. Chen jests; waiting however long for the Holy Emperor is only right."

Liu Gao observed Chen Yuan, whose silver-white hair and gentle face was brimming with smiles.

"Mr. Yuan, please receive the decree."

Chen Yuan indifferently viewed the assembled people and after a few seconds of silence, stepped forward and knelt on one knee, pulled by Chen Fan.

Seeing this, Liu Gao’s smile brightened and he opened the golden imperial decree in his hand:

"Today I heard that the Duke Wuan’s son, Chen Yuan, possesses outstanding talent and dazzles in Martial Arts... and has glorified Great Wei by slaying Barbarians at South-Garrison Pass. Thus, I grant this marriage decree."

Speaking thus, Liu Gao took out a red envelope, placing it together with the imperial decree into Chen Yuan’s hands.

"Congratulations Mr. Yuan, the Holy Emperor has specially chosen a fine match for you, I hope you prepare soon."

Chen Yuan glanced at the decree in his hands, then looked up to see Old Lady and Zhou Wanyi among others, all nodding with smiles, before he thanked them and rose.

After Liu Gao, along with a group of guards and eunuchs, departed, Old Madam Chen gave a few instructions and then left along with the other main family members.

Chen Yuan and Chen Fan followed Zhou Wanyi to the rear courtyard’s quarters.

Zhou Wanyi reached over, took the envelope from Chen Yuan’s hand, looked inside, and calmly asked:

"Yuan Er, what are your plans regarding this arranged marriage?"

"I might disappoint Mother."

Chen Yuan didn’t refuse outright; he didn’t want to trouble the Chen Family, but that didn’t mean he would accept this inexplicable arranged marriage.

"Have you seen whom the Holy Emperor has betrothed to you?"

"It doesn’t matter who."

To Chen Yuan, it didn’t matter whose daughter it was.

They weren’t like his Sister Ling Yinrong...

Zhou Wanyi’s gaze fell on the envelope in her hand, speaking lightly: "The Holy Emperor has betrothed the Fourteenth Princess to you."

"Fourteenth Princess?" Chen Fan’s eyes widened, "Wei Jinyu?!"

Hearing this name, Chen Yuan’s brow furrowed tighter, his irritation mounting.

Previously, he had no particular aversion to the Fourteenth Princess, but hearing this name from Zhou Wanyi’s mouth instantly filled him with annoyance.

"Mother, can we decline it?"

Chen Fan’s eyes grew wider, his expression increasingly agitated.

"Big Brother, that’s Wei Jinyu, not only the Holy Emperor’s most beloved princess but also a student of University Scholar Sun from Kyoto Academy."

"You, you won’t accept this?"

Zhou Wanyi raised her hand to interrupt him, her gaze fixed on Chen Yuan, her tone serious:

"Yuan Er, can you tell me why?"

If Yuan Er could become a Prince Consort, she wouldn’t have to worry about Grandpa scheming against him.

Moreover, if her husband discovered in the future what Grandpa had done, it wouldn’t harm Yuan Er and Fan Er.

With these thoughts, seeing that Chen Yuan remained silent, Zhou Wanyi continued to persuade:

"If you reject the Holy Emperor’s marriage grant, it would be seen as deceiving the monarch, bad for both you and the Chen Family."

"On the other hand, if you accept this marriage grant, whatever you wish to do in the future will be much easier."

"Yuan Er, Mother hopes you will consider this seriously."

Chen Yuan pursed his lips and without saying a word, turned and left after bowing.

Zhou Wanyi instinctively stretched out her hand, but held back her words of retention.

"Mother," Chen Fan stared at the envelope in her hand, his eyes sharp: "Is the Holy Emperor really marrying the Fourteenth Princess to Big Brother?"

Zhou Wanyi gave him a glance but didn’t reply, instead saying:

"Fan Er, with the upcoming grand event, Kyoto Prefecture is crowded and chaotic; unless necessary, stay at the mansion and study."

Chen Fan hesitated slightly and then responded in a muted voice.

Outside, hearing the voices behind him, Chen Yuan’s gaze fell on the bright sunshine, yet he felt no warmth enveloping him.

Perhaps, it was time for him to leave.

But before that, there were a few things he needed to do...

Especially when he learnt that among those who attempted to kill Chen Yi this time, Empress Lou Yu of Wuliang Mountain was involved, he was even more resolute in his thoughts.

"Grandpa, just how long will you continue this madness?"