Chapter 64: Arranged Marriage
The relationship between Yan Wangbei and Yan Gui Xing was extremely poor, essentially that of enemies bound only by mutual interest.
Yan Wangbei, for the sake of his father’s dignity, only approached Yan Gui Xing when absolutely necessary.
Since the general election, Yan Gui Xing had been waiting for Yan Wangbei to take the initiative. Yan Wangbei also waited for Yan Gui Xing to lower his head first, hoping to regain the initiative in their father-son relationship.
The secret power struggle ended with Yan Gui Xing as the winner.
Hearing that Yan Wangbei finally got to the point, the aggression on Yan Gui Xing dissipated considerably.
But his expression remained unchanged. His eyelids were half-closed, hiding the calculation in his eyes. He sarcastically said,
“Important business? It’s the general election; I’m just an idle person, unable to help you at all.”
Yan Wangbei, on the screen, felt that he and Yan Gui Xing were sworn enemies in a past life. Otherwise, why did his anger flare up whenever Yan Gui Xing spoke?
He rubbed his throbbing temples. “I’m contacting you about the general election.”
Yan Gui Xing leaned against the sofa back, yawned, his gaze unfocused, appearing disinterested. He lazily responded with an “oh.”
Seeing Yan Gui Xing’s indifferent attitude, Yan Wangbei’s brow furrowed, adopting the demeanor of a patriarch.
He opened his mouth, but Yan Gui Xing, as if anticipating what he would say, lifted his eyelids, raising a corner of his lips in an ambiguous smile.
The icy coldness in those lake-green eyes was like a cold shower, chilling Yan Wangbei from head to toe.
He shuddered, instantly sobering up, sighing and softening his tone. “Yan Gui Xing, you don’t want to acknowledge me as your father, you even want me dead. Fine, it’s okay. It’s my fault to you and your mother.”
“But now, I’m contacting you as a partner to discuss this general election.”
Partner? Yan Gui Xing tilted his head slightly. His gaze finally fell on Yan Wangbei’s face, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
Yan Wangbei hadn’t expected Yan Gui Xing to be so meticulous.
Yes, from the moment the Yan family conceded and begged Yan Gui Xing to return, they were no longer Yan Gui Xing’s partners, just his vassals.
Yan Wangbei took a deep breath, repeatedly reminding himself of the importance of the election and not to argue with this unfilial son.
After calming himself several times, he finally suppressed the urge to hang up.
“This general election is crucial not only for the Yan family, but even more so for you, Yan Gui Xing.”
“You should know that in peacetime, if you don’t get re-elected, the chances of getting re-elected next time are extremely low. You’ll miss the opportunity for Commander.”
Yan Gui Xing responded with a perfunctory “mm,” tilting his head slightly, his eyelashes half-drooping, obscuring his true emotions.
Yan Wangbei assumed that Yan Gui Xing didn’t take his words to heart and continued: “There are many people below the rank of general eyeing these five positions. Let’s talk about the five of you.”
“The commander of the First Army is the Queen’s maternal cousin. He and the Crown Prince are childhood friends, having studied in the same class since they were young, until university.”
“The Crown Prince is the future emperor. As long as the commander of the First Army doesn’t want to retire, the old men in the military won’t touch him, for the Crown Prince’s sake.”
“The commander of the Second Army, Seville Tang Desimo, is a nobleman himself, with achievements like yours, and he just married the child of the richest family, the Qi family. Becoming a general is a certainty.”
Yan Gui Xing deliberately interrupted, “Speaking of the Qi family’s in-laws, Wen Yu is going to marry Qi Yu of the Qi family. You’re familiar with Qi Zhen. Do you think he’ll support his legitimate son or his lover’s son?”
Yan Wangbei wasn’t particularly close to Qi Zhen, only acquaintances in the Capital Star social circles, exchanging polite greetings.
After all, Yan Wangbei, a nobleman who valued his status, looked down on Qi Zhen, a pretty boy who relied on his wife’s family to make his fortune.
However, Qi Zhen was indeed a genius.
Ignoring the fact that he used his wife’s family’s influence to become the Empire’s richest man and then abandoned her family after her death.
Just the fact that he married his two half-human sons to two generals was enough for people to praise his foresight.
Hedging his bets, no matter whether Desimo or Wen Yu successfully won re-election, he was the winner.
In all likelihood, both would be re-elected, meaning Qi Zhen would gain two powerful generals as in-laws, making him the hottest tycoon at the top of the pyramid.
Yan Wangbei was both envious and jealous, wishing he could be like Qi Zhen. He truly regretted not finding good matches for his two daughters.
Sigh, he had to admit it, the only one who could lead the Yan family back to its former glory was Yan Gui Xing.
“You know yourself that with the support of the richest man, their chances of re-election are very high.”
Yan Gui Xing sneered. Desimo’s re-election was certain. Wen Yu, however, was uncertain. The Wen family’s clandestine activities were far from clean; they had done shocking things.
He wondered if Desimo, with his volatile temperament, would tolerate his partner’s former fiancé.
However, he didn’t intend to tell Yan Wangbei this.
Yan Wangbei continued, “Currently, you and the commander of the Fifth Army are the most vulnerable. Several old noble families are vying for these positions this time, their competitiveness is strong; you are easily squeezed out.”
Yan Gui Xing nodded indifferently, thinking, no wonder they say that a dying centipede still struggles; the Yan family may be in decline, but their information network remains effective.
Yan Wangbei laid the groundwork and finally got to the main point. “To ensure your re-election, I’ve discussed it with the Mi family, and we’ve arranged a marriage between you and their daughter, Mi Ya.”
An unexpected yet expected proposal, causing Yan Gui Xing’s brow to furrow, his thin lips tightening, his jawline hardening.
Did Yan Gui Xing not understand what Yan Wangbei was saying? No, he did.
The reason he rose so quickly was that he had caught the period of war with the Zerg and the peak of space pirate activity.
Military achievements were the fastest path to promotion, followed by family background.
Now, it was a time of peace with the Zerg, and most space pirates had been eliminated.
The remaining space pirates had become rare; everyone in the military was eyeing this opportunity.
His Fourth Army’s star region wasn’t ideal for suppressing bandits. Even if there were active space pirates, the military wouldn’t prioritize them.
The Yan family couldn’t offer him much help, and the marriage Yan Wangbei proposed was currently the most effective solution.
The Mi family Yan Wangbei mentioned, its current head was the Secretary-General of the Council. The marriage candidate, Mi Ya, was the Secretary-General’s beloved daughter, showered with excessive love.
Yan Gui Xing had suspected this move from the Yan family, and he didn’t plan to marry anyway; he was indifferent to marriage.
Since marriage could become a tool to his advantage, Yan Gui Xing was naturally willing to use it.
However, when the marriage was laid bare before him, he realized how much he resisted and disliked it.
The reason for his resistance was the image of Mu Mu, delicate, cute, and with a radiant smile, appearing in his mind.
He vaguely understood why he resisted the marriage for Mu Mu’s sake, but he didn’t want to admit it, and his resistance even fueled his irritation.
“Marriage?” Yan Gui Xing sneered. He adjusted his posture, his gaze toward Yan Wangbei becoming extremely aggressive. “The Mi family? Such a good thing, why not give it to your son by your wife?”
Thinking of his fool of a son, who even in his state still played with the maids, Yan Wangbei’s face turned livid, his gaze towards Yan Gui Xing filled with hostility.
“How dare you mention him?” he snarled. “If it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t be like that now!”
Yan Gui Xing chuckled, “You can’t just say anything you want! Your good son lacked skill and still tried to race cars. He had a car accident, injuring his head and legs, becoming a fool and cripple. It has nothing to do with me.”
Yan Wangbei slammed his fist on the table, enraged. “If you hadn’t influenced him, how would he have gotten into antique cars?! How would he have become obsessed with racing?!”
He knew his son well. His younger son had been spoiled into a useless coward by his mother. He didn’t dare touch dangerous things. He didn’t even dare drive the safest aircraft, let alone an antique car that required personal driving skills.
But shortly after Yan Gui Xing returned to the Yan family, his son became obsessed with antique cars and racing!
Watching Yan Wangbei’s furious expression, Yan Gui Xing’s lips curved into an unkind smile. He spread his hands and shrugged. “If you have evidence, feel free to report me to the police and the military.”
Yan Wangbei was stunned. Even if he had evidence, for the sake of the Yan family and himself, he couldn’t report Yan Gui Xing for his now useless son.
Besides, he had no evidence!
“Let’s not talk about this,” Yan Wangbei clenched his hands, forcing a strained smile. “Let’s talk about the marriage.”
Before he finished speaking, Yan Gui Xing interrupted, “No need to say it, I disagree.”
Yan Wangbei hadn’t expected Yan Gui Xing to refuse. He was both anxious and angry, wanting to crack open Yan Gui Xing’s head to see what was inside.
He thought that Yan Gui Xing’s upbringing had prevented him from understanding the benefits of a strategic marriage, so he decided to reason with him.
Unexpectedly, before Yan Wangbei could begin, Yan Gui Xing interrupted again, “If that’s all, then I’ll hang up.”
Yan Wangbei just managed an “eh” before the screen went black; Yan Gui Xing had hung up.