Rebirth of the Prime Dragon Master
Chapter 87 The Emperor's Purpose

Lena and Rocky were strolling down the banks of the river in the moonlight. A soft breeze fannedthem gently when it grew too humid. As they walked, they saw many people float boat lanternsdown the river, on which their wishes were written.

Lena looked back at Rocky, pursed her lips and then led him towards the edge of the bank. Itseemed that something was weighing heavily on her mind.

Rocky quietly observed her as she bought a boat lantern from a peddler. She tucked her hair behindher ear and began writing something on its side.

"Are you making a wish?" Rocky came nearer. "Don't you dare sneak a look!" Lena instantly hid theboat lantern behind her back

"Oh, come on! It can't be anything that serious,” Rocky said curiously. Lena seemed to be tooprotective of it.

"Please buy me a festive lantern over there. Make sure it's the most beautiful one.” Lena took asilver coin from her waist pocket and tucked it into Rocky's left hand. Then she nudged his elbow.Glancing back at her, Rocky shrugged his shoulders and went off to fulfill her request.

When Rocky came back from buying a colorful lantern, he saw Lena standing at the riverbank,watching the boat lanterns flowing through the river in front of her. She looked rather morose andbitter.

'What has happened to Lena?’ Rocky wondered to himself and approached her.

Looking earnestly into his eyes, Lena said seriously, "Basil, I have something to say..."

"Yes?" Rocky nodded his head in reply. “Is she going to declare her undying love for me?" Rockythought to himself.

Lena walked down along the bank of the river, Rocky closely following her. A few minutes later, theyhad reached a row of willow trees. A cool breeze from the river fanned their robes languidly.

"Basil, please keep in mind what I told you today, because I won't say it a second time. I would neverdare ask for something which is out of your reach. But today you must agree to one thing," Lenatold Rocky seriously. Her eyes were sparkling with love and passion, her face glowing in themoonlight.

"Just say the word, Lena. I am willing to put my life on the line every day for you. I would even agreeto one hundred things!" Rocky swore, expressing his loyalty.

"You don't need to say that. All you have to do is to take care of yourself, since you are going to bethe son-in-law of Ximen Clan. And you will become an independent man of virtue. You need tostand tall and never back down. But first of all, please do take care of yourself!" Lena said, her voicetrembling, as she gazed at the festive lanterns on the river.

"What do you mean, Lena? You think I'm not capable of doing such things already?" Rocky'sforehead knotted in a frown.

"I know you are repulsed by the idea of marrying Shirley. It's expected that you will at least try todecline the arranged marriage made by your father,” Lena replied, gazing back at Rocky. Sheseemed to have read his mind.

"True. A bad marriage is worse than none. I'd rather be single all my life than be married to thathorrid woman. I was planning on asking you to plead my case with His Majesty,” Rocky said lowly,shaking his head with a grimace at the thought of marrying such a nasty person.

"All I want you to do is to marry Shirley,” Lena said with a grim face.

"What are you talking about? Are you insane?" Rocky was stunned into silence. His shock rootedhim to the spot. He had never expected that Lena would demand that he promise to do this! Beforetheir evening tryst, Lena had been staunchly opposed to the arranged marriage. Was she throwingsome sort of peculiar tantrum?

"You must marry her. Once you do that, you will achieve supremacy over anyone in the Holy DragonEmpire!" Lena explained with certainty.

"Why did you want me to marry her? Just for that nonsensical power?" Rocky's heart sank when heheard Lena's explanation. "It's for your own good and for the good of the future of the Holy DragonEmpire. You have to remember that defying your father will only end in tragedy for you. His Majestyhas placed high hopes in you. If you let him down, it would be disastrous. Even if you're his fleshand blood, and his son, don't forget that he had no trouble removing your status as a prince!" Lenasaid adamantly, staring at Rocky with a solemn expression. It was obvious that her statements werebacked by the one-on-one meeting she had had with the emperor. It was during this meeting thatthe emperor had implicitly criticized Basil for his whimsical and irresponsible character.

"Listen to me! I am not the man I was. I have a right to determine my own future. There will benothing serious if I am not a prince.” Rocky rolled his eyes, laughing coldly. Lena's face darkened."Don't talk nonsense! It's not as simple as you might think. Don't you know why His Majestydemoted you to commoner status? For the sake of Consort Karen, His Majesty was secretly helpingyou and the force of the Holy Dragon Bead which fused with your body. His Majesty also has soweda terrible seed. At present it has sprouted!" Lena shook her head and sighed.

"What are you talking about!?" asked Rocky. He was completely baffled by Lena's explanation. Hehad totally been in the dark about the new plan, which had caught him in the crossfire between theroyal family and the major clan forces.

"The royal arranged marriage has always been made to contain the forces of the major clans in theHoly Dragon Empire. The Ximen Clan is the only one that has the ability and strength to confrontthe royal family. A few years ago, His Majesty had originally made an arranged marriage for Alstonand Shirley. Because Shirley was too young at that time, the head of the Ximen Clan thereforedeclined this marriage. His Majesty had no choice but to make a casual arranged marriage forAlston and one of the girls of the Ji Clan. However, in recent years, the powerful Ximen Clan havebeen at the height of their popularity. Slowly, they've become quite a trial to His Majesty. Sincethen, His Majesty seemed to be doing nothing, but actually he was just biding his time..." Lenahesitated. She was unwillingly telling the truth about Rocky's peculiar predicament. He was in atough spot, where there would be pressure from all sides.

"So, my father made an arranged marriage for me solely for the purpose of containing the XimenClan. Why me? Why couldn't he have made an arranged marriage for the other princes?” Rockyasked, with a deep frown on his face. "I am not the only prince of the royal family. Why did hechoose me, of all people?”

"Unfortunately, except for Alston, all the other princes have an average intelligence and strength. Upto the present day none of these feckless and irresponsible princes have ever reached the level ofthe Heavenly Stage. Even if His Majesty offered one of them in marriage, Bryant would decline itunder the pretext of the groom not being suitable and strong enough. Bryant would never subjecthis granddaughter to that," Lena explained simply, frowning. "You had fused the force of the HolyDragon Bead in the ritual, and His Majesty was filled with hope for your potential. That's exactly whyHis Majesty allowed you to be trained at the dragon field, in the capacity of a royal spiritmanipulator. Otherwise, at that time, His Majesty would have stripped you of your prince's rightsalong with the force of the Holy Dragon Bead!"

"It's very clear that His Majesty reinstated my title solely for the purpose of containing the XimenClan. What a crafty plan!" Rocky laughed coldly, shaking his head. He had entertained the idea thatperhaps the emperor was merely conscience-driven and was missing him. But the fact showed thatRocky himself was foolishly sentimental.

"If you hadn't reached the level of the Earthly Stage... If you hadn't fused the force of the HolyDragon Bead in your body... It's a great pity that things have happened this way, Basil. I thoughtthat perhaps His Majesty reinstated your prince-hood for the sake of your mother. But when hedecided to call for an arranged marriage for you and Shirley, I finally figured out that all hismotivations were solely for the purpose of containing the major clan forces. After all, as an emperor,His Majesty has to give top priority to the overall situation and the overall interests of the HolyDragon Empire!" Lena said sadly, her eyes shining with tears. This very reason was precisely why shehad given an implicit warning to Rocky not to act recklessly, as she knew his tendencies.