The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Chapter 168 Sister Cen Xiao? Princess Xixiang?

Xia Chenghao relaxed a little and said to Sister Cen Xiao, "Don't worry, I have sent people to protect your friends and will never let them get hurt."

"Thank...thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Cen Jiexiao said gratefully.

The two talked for a while, and then Xia Chenghao sent someone to escort Cen Jiexiao back.

Looking at Cen Jiexiao's receding back, a complicated look flashed in Xia Chenghao's eyes.

"It seems that it will take some effort to win Miss Cen's heart." Xia Chenghao muttered to himself, an indescribable smile appearing on his majestic and handsome face.

Returning to the familiar and safe Zhaoyin Academy, Cen Jiexiao's frayed nerves didn't relax; instead, they intensified, her heart still filled with fear and worry. Like a frightened bird, she huddled helplessly on the armchair in the corner of her study, replaying the thrilling scenes in the secret room in her mind. Li Chongguang's face, twisted with rage, was as hideous and terrifying as a demon, lingering in her mind. His vicious threats before leaving stabbed her heart like a sharp knife, sending shivers down her spine. Fear, like the thick darkness outside the window, gradually enveloped her, swallowing her whole.

Even more unsettling was Xia Chenghao's sudden appearance. Why had he appeared in the secret room to rescue her? Why had he said she was the future Crown Princess of Xixiang? What was his relationship with the King of Xixiang? Was his approach to her truly solely for the sake of maintaining diplomatic ties? These questions, like a tangled web, entangled her thoughts, leaving her with a splitting headache and a sense of suffocation.

"No, I can't just sit there and wait for death!" Cen Jiexiao stood up suddenly and paced back and forth in the study. "I have to figure this out. I have to know Xia Chenghao's purpose in approaching me. I have to protect myself, Xiaozhi and Yulan, and the hundreds of people at Zhaoyin Academy..." She was used to thinking alone, and only when she had everything sorted out could she feel at ease.

The next morning, a ray of morning light filtered through the window, illuminating Cen Jiexiao's tired face. She hadn't slept all night, her mind full of thoughts about Li Chongguang, Xia Chenghao, Xi Xiang, and the marriage...

Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Dean, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has sent a letter. Please take a look." Xiaoxue's voice rang out from outside the door.

Cen Jiexiao's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly stood up and walked to the door, accepting the letter. It was written on fine Yunmeng rice paper, faintly emitting a light sandalwood scent. The handwriting was vigorous and powerful, just like Xia Chenghao himself.

She took a deep breath and slowly unfolded the letter. In it, Xia Chenghao explained Xixiang's intention to form a marriage alliance with the Great Zhou. The relationship between Xixiang and the Great Zhou had always been delicate, with friction and border clashes occurring frequently in recent years. The King of Xixiang intended to use the marriage as an opportunity to ease relations between the two countries. He was impressed by Cen Jiexiao's talent and courage, believing her to be the perfect candidate for the marriage. Furthermore, he believed that Cen Jiexiao was the true and best choice for the Crown Princess.

After reading the letter, Cen Jiexiao felt like she was struck by lightning, like she'd fallen into an icy cave. She had no romantic feelings for Xia Chenghao, and she already had someone else in her heart. How could she agree to such a marriage of convenience? She just wanted to live a peaceful life, educate people, and do practical things for the people. Why did things always go against her wishes, and she was repeatedly embroiled in these scandals?

She crumpled the letter in frustration, feeling overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness towards her fate. She had wanted to do what she wanted in this alien world, to ensure that children from ordinary families could go to school and learn, so why was she always forced into these disputes?

"No, I can't just sit there and wait for death! I have to go find him. Only he can help me escape Xi Xiang's entanglement." Cen Jiexiao abruptly stood up and paced back and forth in the room, extremely anxious. She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white, and her mind repeatedly pondered how to deal with the dilemma before her. Xi Xiang's marriage proposal was like a mountain, weighing heavily on her heart, making her breathless. She knew that if she agreed to the marriage, it would mean giving up herself: giving up her past self, giving up her present self, giving up Zhaoyin Academy, giving up its students, and even more, giving up the figure she had always cherished in her heart.

"I can't just let others manipulate me like this. I have to take the initiative to fight for it. I have to fight for myself and for the academy!" Cen Jiexiao's eyes gradually became firm. She decided to ask for help from the emperor of the Great Zhou, Chai Zhen, who had helped her before.

The "he" she was referring to was, of course, the Great Zhou's foremost figure, Emperor Chai Zhen. He was the man who had once offered her support, lent her a helping hand, and helped her secure the position of Zhaoyin Academy. Now, facing another difficult situation, Cen Jiexiao's first thought was to turn to Chai Zhen for help. She believed that with his wisdom, ability, and status, he would be able to help her overcome this difficult time.

Cen Jiexiao quickly calmed down, gathered her emotions, changed into plain clothes, and hurried to the palace. Along the way, her mind kept replaying every detail of her time traveling to Empress Zhou. Those heartwarming memories gave her immense courage and strength, allowing her to no longer feel alone and helpless in the face of adversity.

In the imperial study of the imperial palace, Chai Zhen was absorbed in reviewing memorials. He wore a bright yellow dragon robe and a jade crown, his handsome face tinged with fatigue, evidently from overwork overseeing state affairs. Upon hearing that Cen Jiexiao had requested an audience, his fatigue vanished. He set down his brush, a gentle smile playing on his lips, as if a weight had been lifted from his heart.

"Let her in." Chai Zhen's voice was as gentle as jade, with a hint of imperceptible joy.

Cen Jiexiao walked into the imperial study, bowed to Chai Zhen, and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, I have something important to discuss with you."

Chai Zhen motioned for her to excuse herself and asked with concern, "Why is Dean Cen so flustered?"

Cen Jiexiao took a deep breath, trying to calm her flustered emotions. Slowly, she told Chai Zhen every detail of Li Chongguang's actions in the Imperial Garden and Xia Chenghao's intervention. Her voice trembled as she recounted how Li Chongguang had blocked her escape, threatened her, and even attempted to kill her. Her eyes welled up slightly as she spoke, and her voice choked with emotion.

Chai Zhen listened quietly, his brow furrowing ever deeper as Cen Jiexiao recounted her story. He hadn't imagined that Li Chongguang, the Empress Dowager, would be so brazen as to do such a thing to Cen Jiexiao in broad daylight, before the Emperor's feet. Rage boiled in his chest, but he suppressed it with all his might, never letting it show.

Cen Jiexiao then recounted Xia Chenghao's timely appearance. She described how Xia Chenghao had angrily rebuked Li Chongguang and then shielded her behind him. Her tone was tinged with gratitude, thanking Xia Chenghao for stepping forward and protecting her in that critical moment.

Hearing this, Chai Zhen's expression softened slightly. He knew Xia Chenghao well. He was a skilled martial artist. Although he was both good and evil, arrogant and unruly, he would still do his utmost to protect those he believed in, regardless of his own safety.

Cen Jiexiao continued, saying that Xia Chenghao had offered to marry her in order to protect her and maintain diplomatic relations between Xixiang and the Great Zhou. At this point, Cen Jiexiao's voice trailed off. She could feel Chai Zhen's gaze lingering on her, which made her feel extremely uneasy and uneasy.

After listening to Cen Jiexiao's story, Chai Zhen was silent for a moment and asked, "President Cen, are you willing to marry Xi Xiang?"

Cen Jiexiao shook her head without hesitation and said quickly in a firm tone: "No, Your Majesty. I have no romantic feelings for Prince Xixiang, and I don't want to be involved in this marriage of interests. I..." At this point, Cen Jiexiao suddenly paused. She didn't know how to explain to Chai Zhen that she already had that person in her heart.

Chai Zhen's gaze fell on her face, as if he could see through her heart. He was silent for a long time before he slowly said, "I understand. You don't have to worry about this matter. I will handle it properly."

After hearing Chai Zhen's promise, Cen Jiexiao finally felt relieved. She knew that as long as Chai Zhen was there, she would be fine.

However, she didn't know that this was just the calm before the storm. Shai Zheng's promise pushed her into another deeper vortex...