The hall remained silent after Xu Chen accepted the three conditions.
The Yue brothers stared at him as if trying to determine whether he truly understood what he had just agreed to.
Even the elders looked thoughtful.
Those conditions were not small matters.
For a future emperor to swear to take only one wife was something the court would never easily accept.
Yet Xu Chen's expression remained calm.
He stood straight before the Yue family, neither offended nor hesitant.
After a moment, he spoke again.
"I understand why you set those conditions."
His gaze moved across the hall, meeting the eyes of each Yue family member.
"You raised Yue Ning with love and protection."
"You fear that once she enters the palace, she will be surrounded by danger."
His voice was steady.
"You are not wrong."
The Yue brothers did not interrupt him this time.
Xu Chen continued,
"But there is something I must make clear."
He looked toward Yue Chen, Yue Ning's father.
"I did not agree to those conditions merely to satisfy the Yue family."
His tone became firmer.
"I accepted them because they were already my decision."
The room went quiet again.
Xu Chen spoke without hesitation.
"From the moment I realized my feelings for Yue Ning…"
"I had already decided."
"I will never establish the Six Palace."
"I will never take concubines."
"I will never use marriage as a political tool."
His eyes turned to Yue Ning.
"And the only woman who will ever stand beside me…"
"…is her."
Yue Ning's cheeks turned slightly red under his gaze.
The Yue brothers exchanged glances.
Some still looked skeptical.
Others seemed surprised by the sincerity in his voice.
Fourth Uncle Yue Feng crossed his arms.
"Your Highness says this now."
"But once you become emperor…"
"The ministers will not remain silent."
Xu Chen nodded slightly.
"I know."
"The court will oppose me."
"The noble families will pressure me."
"The imperial clan may question me."
Then he said calmly,
"But that is my responsibility to handle."
His voice carried quiet authority.
"I will not sacrifice Yue Ning's happiness for the sake of politics."
The hall fell silent again.
Before anyone else could respond—
A gentle but authoritative voice spoke.
"The Crown Prince speaks the truth."
Everyone turned.
The Empress Dowager stepped forward.
Until now she had simply watched the exchange between Xu Chen and the Yue family.
But now her expression became serious.
She looked at the Yue elders.
"I believe some things must be clarified."
Grandfather Yue Shun respectfully nodded.
"Please speak."
The Empress Dowager continued calmly,
"The Crown Prince's decision to take only one wife is not a sudden impulse."
"He made that choice atleast ten years long ago even before meeting Yue ning."
Her eyes moved toward Xu Chen with a hint of pride.
"He spoke to the Emperor and Empress about it."
"And they did not oppose him."
The Yue family looked surprised again.
Yue Qiang frowned slightly.
"The Emperor truly agreed?"
The Empress Dowager nodded.
"Yes."
Then she added another piece of information.
"Perhaps you do not know this…"
"Several years ago, the Emperor dismissed the remaining consorts in the palace."
"Now only the Empress remains by his side."
The Yue family looked shocked.
Yu Wen spoke slowly.
"The Emperor… dismissed them?"
"Yes."
The Empress Dowager's voice was calm.
"He chose to live only with the Empress."
"That decision was made peacefully and without chaos."
She smiled faintly.
"So the Crown Prince choosing the same path is not impossible."
The Yue family fell into deep thought.
The elders exchanged quiet looks.
If the Emperor himself had already taken such a step…
Then Xu Chen's declaration was not as unrealistic as it first seemed.
The Empress Dowager then looked at the Yue family seriously.
"I will personally guarantee this matter."
"As long as I live…"
"The Crown Prince will only take one wife."
Her words carried immense authority.
No one in the empire would dare question the Empress Dowager's promise lightly.
The Yue brothers were finally quiet.
Even the most stubborn among them had no immediate reply.
Xu Chen then spoke again.
"There is another matter I wish to clarify."
Everyone turned back to him.
"I told the Emperor and Empress about Yue Ning two months ago."
Yue Ning blinked slightly.
The Yue family looked surprised again.
Xu Chen continued,
"When I told them about her, they wished to meet her immediately."
"But I refused."
This shocked the Yue elders even more.
Yue Chen asked,
"You refused the Emperor's request?"
Xu Chen nodded.
"Yes."
His voice remained calm.
"I told them that the Yue family did not yet know about our relationship."
"And until her family accepted me…"
"I would not bring Yue Ning into the palace."
The Yue family fell silent again.
Xu Chen then bowed respectfully toward Yue Chen and Zhao Lan.
"I will never force Yue Ning to choose between me and her family."
"If the Yue family rejects me…"
"I will accept your decision."
His words were sincere.
Even the brothers who had been most hostile earlier looked slightly less fierce.
Then Xu Chen straightened and spoke clearly.
"But if the Yue family acknowledges our relationship…"
"I will personally bring Yue Ning to the palace."
"The Emperor and Empress wish to meet her."
The hall was quiet again.
Yue Ning looked at him silently.
Her heart was warm.
He had already thought about everything long before this night.
The Yue elders slowly began discussing among themselves in low voices.
The brothers also exchanged glances.
Their anger had cooled, replaced by careful consideration.
Finally, Grandfather Yue Shun looked at Xu Chen.
"Your Highness."
"This matter concerns our granddaughter's future."
"We cannot decide lightly."
Xu Chen nodded respectfully.
"I understand."
"But Yue Shun continued,
"However…"
"We can see your sincerity."
The Yue brothers did not interrupt him this time.
The old man looked at Yue Ning gently.
"Ning'er… do you truly wish for this marriage?"
Yue Ning answered without hesitation.
"Yes, Grandfather."
Her voice was soft but firm.
"I do."
Yue Shun sighed quietly.
Then he looked back at Xu Chen.
"The Yue family will discuss this matter carefully."
"For tonight…"
"Let us end the discussion here."
Xu Chen bowed respectfully.
"As you wish."
The tension in the hall slowly faded.
But everyone understood something important.
The Crown Prince had not come as a ruler demanding obedience.
He had come as a man asking for the Yue family's trust.
And that sincerity had already begun to move their hearts.