Chapter 684: Female Sovereign’s Consort Selection 41

Once upon a time, Lin Zihao had laughed at Lan Xintong for marrying Tang Wan. In his eyes back then, choosing someone like her—jealous, impulsive, and far inferior to Tang Can—had been nothing short of foolish.

But now?

A few years had passed, and everything had changed.

Tang Wan had ascended the throne, yet her harem remained empty. As empress, she had not taken a single additional consort, and Lan Xintong alone stood as her only husband. Even if part of the reason lay in her so-called infertility, it did not change the fact that she had never once sought pleasure elsewhere. A ruler of her status could have easily indulged herself, heirs or not—but she hadn’t.

And over the years, every piece of news from the capital told the same story.

Tang Wan doted on Lan Xintong.

Favored him.

Protected him.

Placed him above all others.

So much so that men across the realm could not help but envy him.

At first, Lin Zihao had dismissed it. But comparison, once planted, was difficult to ignore. Gradually, he found himself thinking more and more about it—until one thought began to surface uncontrollably.

If the one who had married Tang Wan back then…

Had been him instead…

Would he now be the one receiving that unwavering devotion?

The thought lingered, unwelcome yet impossible to suppress.

Especially when he looked at his current reality.

Tang Can claimed to love him the most, yet the men around her only continued to increase. Just yesterday, he had heard her speaking to Canglang in a tone no different from the one she once used with him—words of reliance, of affection, of importance. If he had not heard it himself, he might never have believed that what he once thought unique was, in truth, something she gave to many.

And yet, he could say nothing.

In this world, it was natural for women to have multiple husbands and attendants. Even as a principal consort, he had no right to question her. All he could do was remain silent, watching as she grew closer to others.

That quiet realization settled heavily in his chest.

—

Meanwhile, Tang Can listened to the discussion around her and nodded slowly, her expression calm but resolute.

“Indeed,” she said. “Tang Wan will definitely be heavily guarded this time. But as long as she appears on the battlefield, there will be an opportunity.”

Canglang’s lips curled into a confident grin. “Wife-lord, rest assured. As long as she steps into my range, I will take her down with a single arrow.”

Tang Can gave a small nod, clearly trusting his ability. “Then I’ll be relying on you.”

Over the years, she had not allowed herself a moment of slack. Her strength had grown, her influence had expanded, and naturally, the number of men around her had increased as well.

There was, perhaps, a trace of guilt toward Lin Zihao—but in her eyes, this was only natural. Women were meant to have multiple husbands and attendants, and these men had all shown her deep affection. How could she bear to reject them and watch them suffer? Slowly, one by one, she had accepted them into her household.

Of course, each of them possessed their own strengths and unique qualities. Without such merits, they would never have caught her attention.

In fact, the smooth progress of this campaign owed much to the wisdom and abilities of the men around her. Over time, she had come to realize that men were not inherently inferior in intellect. When properly guided and utilized, they could achieve results far beyond expectation.

—

On the opposing side, within the central command tent of Tang Wan’s army, the atmosphere was far heavier.

Tang Wan sat at the head, with Lan Xintong by her side, listening as the generals reported the current situation. One by one, they stepped forward, their expressions grim, their eyes tinged with frustration and unwillingness.

Finally, one of them clenched his fists and spoke through gritted teeth. “Your Majesty, Tang Can has recruited a red-haired archer of extraordinary skill. His arrows are nearly impossible to defend against. Several of our generals have already fallen at his hands.”

Tang Wan’s gaze flickered slightly as she listened, her thoughts quickly aligning with the memories of the original plot.

A red-haired archer.

There was no doubt—this had to be Canglang.

One of Tang Can’s key allies.

For a moment, Tang Wan could not help but sigh inwardly. Logically speaking, ever since she had chosen to marry Lan Xintong, the trajectory of this world should have shifted. And yet, despite everything, the people Tang Can was destined to encounter still seemed to find their way to her.

Fate, it seemed, was far more persistent than she had expected.