Chapter 142: Qinghe, He Is Your Adoptive Father

Emperor Xue Ye felt a wave of emotion in his heart, then solemnly nodded to Zhao Ling.

"Very well, since the Demon Suppressing Doulou has spoken, I shall say no more. From now on, every year I will allocate five million gold soul coins from the national treasury for the people's livelihood, based on the will of the Demon Suppressing Doulou. What do you think of this plan?"

"Hmm... that sounds excellent." Zhao Ling nodded in agreement with Emperor Xue Ye's proposal.

Prince Xue Xing also looked at Zhao Ling with admiration. To meet such a powerful yet upright and noble person—he really considered himself lucky.

After a moment of silence, he turned his gaze toward Emperor Xue Ye and spoke seriously.

"Brother Emperor, didn't you say before that you wanted Qinghe to recognize the Demon Suppressing Doulou as his adoptive father? I think there's no better time than now. Why not make it official today?"

Hearing this, Emperor Xue Ye clapped his palms heavily, a joyful expression on his face.

"Indeed, I nearly forgot. Having Qinghe recognize the Demon Suppressing Doulou as his adoptive father will be an honor for the boy. I hope the Demon Suppressing Doulou won't refuse."

"Uh..." Zhao Ling felt dumbfounded again. Emperor Xue Ye had mentioned this before, wanting Xue Qinghe to accept him as adoptive father, but Zhao Ling had refused.

Now that Prince Xue Xing brought it up again, Zhao Ling feared that even if he refused once more, that old rascal Emperor Xue Ye would unilaterally force Qinghe to accept him as adoptive father.

He might even announce it to the whole world. Then, no matter how much Zhao Ling disagreed, as long as the entire Douluo Continent knew he was the Crown Prince's adoptive father, the matter would be settled.

Zhao Ling felt a headache coming on as he thought of how Qianren Xue (the girl) would eventually kill Qinghe and take his place.

Every day when she met him, she would have to respectfully call him "adoptive father," which was both awkward and amusing.

After calming his strange feelings, Zhao Ling let Emperor Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing carry on however they wished.

He retracted his martial soul and followed them back to the Throne Hall. Emperor Xue Ye immediately sent an attendant to issue an imperial decree, ordering the Empress to personally bring Xue Qinghe to the Throne Hall.

After the attendant left, Zhao Ling was arranged to sit on the first chair to the left of the throne, while Prince Xue Xing sat on the first chair to the right.

Douluo Continent had some rules similar to ancient Huaxia, such as the rule that the left side is more honorable.

Zhao Ling sitting on the left side meant that in Emperor Xue Ye's mind, he was now more important than Prince Xue Xing, which was understandable.

If the throne could be given to an outsider, Emperor Xue Ye would probably let Zhao Ling sit there as a sign of respect.

About ten minutes later, a beautiful woman in palace attire appeared, holding a baby, escorted by an attendant into the Throne Hall.

One had to admit Emperor Xue Ye's taste was good—the Empress had exquisitely delicate features, radiating grace, elegance, and dignity. Though she had just given birth to a prince, her figure remained flawless.

But Zhao Ling did not entertain any impure thoughts; compared to his five beloved wives, the Empress was still lacking.

Perhaps that was the difference between an unnamed beauty from the original story and well-known beauties.

When the Empress holding the baby reached the throne, Emperor Xue Ye cheerfully stood up and said to her, pointing at Zhao Ling,

"Empress, this is the first Demon Suppressing Doulou of our Heavenly Dou Royal Family. I want Qinghe to recognize him as his adoptive father. Will you consent?"

The Empress curiously turned her gaze to Zhao Ling, trying to appraise him—but perhaps due to the effect of the passive "Female Killer Lv.1,"

this always graceful and dignified Empress found she simply couldn't take her eyes off Zhao Ling's face, silently praising him in her heart.

"Wow, tall and handsome, even better than Ning Fengzhi from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I can't look away... can't look away…"

Most importantly, she realized she was inexplicably developing feelings for this man she was seeing for the first time and felt she could not resist.

Fortunately, Emperor Xue Ye did not notice, only asking repeatedly,

"Well, Empress? Do you agree to Qinghe recognizing him as adoptive father? Eh, Empress, why are you dazing off?"

Despite the Emperor's questions, the Empress remained entranced.

Zhao Ling realized she was affected by the "Female Killer Lv.1" effect and felt helpless. That effect was impressive but uncontrollable and very annoying.

It was purely passive—if a woman looked at him and he didn't like her, it wouldn't activate. But if she liked him, it would.

Zhao Ling frowned briefly but quickly thought of a solution.

He could use his spirit power to enter her mind and awaken her, and since Emperor Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing were much weaker, they wouldn't detect the intrusion.

He released his spirit power, attempting to awaken the Empress affected by the "Female Killer Lv.1." Just as Zhao Ling expected, the spirit power worked.

The Empress blushed, quickly averted her gaze from Zhao Ling's face to the floor, and nodded repeatedly.

"Very well, Your Majesty. Whatever you say, I have no objection."

She dared not look at Zhao Ling again for fear of completely falling for him.

If the Emperor noticed her staring unblinking at another handsome man, he might angrily put her in a sack with a big stone and sink her in the imperial garden's river.

Though the Emperor usually didn't get angry easily, he wouldn't allow his wife to openly ogle another man.

Zhao Ling quietly breathed a sigh of relief that his spirit awakening method had succeeded.

If she had kept staring unblinking, Emperor Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing might have noticed something weird, which would have been embarrassing.

Well, wait—he hadn't hit on the Empress at all; it was all her effect making her stare unblinkingly. Why should he feel embarrassed?

Just then, Emperor Xue Ye took the baby from the Empress's arms and held him up in front of Zhao Ling, saying to the baby,

"Qinghe, from now on he is your adoptive father. You will no longer have only your father the Emperor; you will have a powerful titled Douluo protecting you. Are you happy?"

The little brat didn't understand what "adoptive father" or "titled Douluo" meant, but his bright eyes darted around, studying Zhao Ling…