"I think that's the best option. If you push through with your engagement with Shirley as Prince Basil,
Alston will have no reason to stop you. Moreover, with your three identities as Prince Basil, Prince
Crimson, and the fourth Great General of the Holy Dragon Empire, if your engagement is pushed
through, you will immediately gain a strong foothold in the royal family. I do not think even Alston can
shake your position. Besides that, the people of the Holy Dragon Empire support you more than Alston.
When everything is in place, we will unite the three army groups, including the Sky Army Group, and all
other forces. At the same time, we will put pressure on the royal family's Emergency Chamber to
remove Alston's position as the acting emperor and recommend you inherit the position of the emperor.
If everything goes according to plan, Alston will definitely lose." Marcia had already planned this out
thoroughly. Now that everything was ready, she only needed to wait for the final step.
"But I am already married to Isis. I'm afraid it's inappropriate for me to push through with the
engagement with Shirley, don't you think so? Alston will certainly use it as an excuse..." Rocky
answered after seriously thinking for a while.
"You must remember that you are the Prince Crimson of the Holy Dragon Empire now. It is normal for
you to marry another imperial concubine. The most important thing we need to worry about is Shirley's
agreement to this. That is the problem we need to address. This is very crucial. There is nothing we
can do if Shirley doesn't agree. The whole plan is at stake here," Marcia clearly emphasized.
"I'm telling you as early as now that it will be difficult. We had a terrible relationship in the past, I think it
would be impossible for her to agree unless her life depended on it." Naturally, Rocky would not hold
any hope on Shirley agreeing with the plan.
"How will you know if you won't try? We should begin our preparations. Five days from now, on the
centennial celebration of the Ximen Clan, Alston will go to them in person. That would be a good
opportunity for you to make your appearance," Marcia said as she briefly glanced at Rocky.
Rocky smiled faintly. He would soon see the expression on Alston's face when Alston finally saw him.
Just as Rocky and the others were discussing the plan and preparing everything, Sabina suddenly
showed up. She rushed back to the base camp of the Evian City from the Ji Clan to report terrible
news.
"Sabina, does this mean that your younger brother in the Rime Army Group is missing?" Rocky asked
suddenly, frowning at the anxious look on Sabina's face.
"I didn't expect that Alston would be so desperate and despicable that he would even involve my
brother in this mess. It was my mistake. I should have definitely thought of it earlier." Sabina blamed
herself. She had already planned and thought of all kinds of situation that might happen, but she didn't
expect that her brother who was serving in the Rime Army Group which was so far away would be
Alston's target.
"Sabina's younger brother seems to be one of the royal spirit manipulators who was in the same team
as you in the past, Rocky. Maybe there is a chance that you know him," Marcia softly murmured.
"Oh, is that so? What is his name?" Rocky intently looked at Sabina and asked.
"His name is Flint," Sabina uttered.
"What? Flint? He's your brother?" Rocky was stunned when Sabina said Flint's name. He never
expected that the blockhead who lived under the same roof with him and received the training for royal
spirit manipulators was Sabina's younger brother. It was a strange coincidence.
"Wait, do you know my brother?" Sabina asked as she heard the tone of Rocky's voice and saw the
strange expression on his face.
"Oh, more than you would expect..." The corners of Rocky's mouth lifted slightly turning into a smile,
but his expression suddenly became serious. "Flint's disappearance must be done by Alston. Alston
must be planning to use him to threaten the Ji Clan. Although what Alston did would just certainly
arouse the anger of the Ji Clan, he did not want the Ji Clan to become one of the forces that were
against him. That was why he captured Flint. From this, we can assume that Flint is safe now."
"The Ji Clan has sent a large number of people to look for him, but I'm afraid that my brother might
have been taken back to the Palace City," Sabina said anxiously. She couldn't stand that her brother
was held captive by Alston.
"Sabina, you don't have to worry! I will surely find a way to figure out Flint's whereabouts," Marcia
comforted Sabina.
Although the disappearance of Flint definitely made their plan more difficult, the original plan did not
change. They knew they had to deal with Alston as soon as possible!
Meanwhile, the whole Ximen Clan was packed with people even though the centennial celebration had
not yet arrived. This scene was much livelier than Elvis's birthday party. Of course, the reason why
everyone was celebrating was the powerful force of the Ximen Clan and its influence in the Holy
Dragon Empire.
The Ximen Clan was one of the most important families in the Holy Dragon Empire. They were the
confidants and the most capable assistants of the emperors for countless generations. So, they were
also supported by the people of the Holy Dragon Empire. It was no doubt that the Ximen Clan was the
Holy Dragon Empire's indispensable backbone.
The Ximen Clan had been promoted to a higher level ever since Bryant took over. The establishment of
the Sky Army Group made the Ximen Clan have its own military power. After decades of development,
the Sky Army Group had become the strongest military force among the four major groups of the Holy
Dragon Empire. In addition, Bryant was one of the few masters at the Immortal Stage in the Holy
Dragon Empire. So, the Ximen Clan was now certainly at its peak of development.
The Ximen Clan was also the relative of the royal family, and their connection with the royal family was
closer than any other clan. Therefore, there were very great interests between the Ximen Clan and the
royal family. So, the royal family of the Holy Dragon Empire's greatest worry was that one day the
Ximen Clan might rebel against them. Therefore, the emperors from numerous generations had
granted marriage to the Ximen Clan. Through this, the clan's balance remained.
It was precisely because of this marriage control that any change in the Ximen Clan would greatly
affect the entire Holy Dragon Empire.
Even though the Ji Clan was the second largest clan in the Holy Dragon Empire, they might not be able
to defeat the Ximen Clan with double strength and influence.
So as the centennial celebration of the Ximen Clan was about to commence, everyone came to
congratulate them in this milestone. The royal family down to the slightly famous people came to gain
favor with the Ximen Clan.
However, there was another important reason that everyone came to the celebration. A few days ago,
the current acting emperor had officially proposed to the Ximen Clan and wanted to make Shirley his
wife. It was rumored that he would personally visit the clan on the day of the centennial celebration.
And now, the news had spread all over the empire. The Ximen Clan often engaged with the royal family
by connections through marriages. But because the Ximen Clan was almost the same origin coming
down in one continuous line, the direct generation of the Ximen Clan always married their sons to the
women from the royal family. They had never married their daughter into the royal family. However,
Shirley was the only heir of the Ximen Clan in her generation as no son was born.
The possible fact that the only heir of the Ximen Clan was conferred the title of wife by the acting
emperor was a big event for both the royal family and the Ximen Clan. It was even related to the clan's
centuries-old foundation!
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda