Chapter 163: Chapter 89: Return, Prince Qing and the Princess Consort
How does he even know I went to the palace today?
Could it be...
Before she could speak, Li Xuan seemed to know what she was thinking.
Li Xuan said with a sigh: "With your disposition, encountering such a major affair, surely you’ll go and tell Mother, Brother Wang..."
"I... I..." The Little Princess felt anxious and a bit tense, making her feel like she was "betraying from within," "secretly gossiping," "silently spying on Prince Qing," although such feelings were quite normal.
Li Xuan saw through her once again.
After all, the princess’s thoughts were too easy to guess.
Thus, he affectionately leaned closer, inhaling the scent of her tresses, and softly said: "I told you these things yesterday, thinking you would speak of them. You should go bid them farewell."
The Little Princess felt conflicted.
She twisted her body to face Li Xuan directly.
She looked at the terrifying man before her by the moonlight, sighed softly, and said: "Mother also hopes you’ll stay in the capital, so we can be together as a family.
Dear, your family in Xiongshan County could come over too.
The capital is better than Xiongshan County; they’d be happy here, wouldn’t they?"
Li Xuan hugged the Little Princess tightly, speaking gently: "Silly girl."
"How am I silly? I’ve always been like this, alright?" The Little Princess had never heard anyone call her silly. If it were someone else, she’d have been angry long ago, but the one who spoke was Prince Qing.
...
...
The palace.
Candlelight flickered.
The Sovereign sat across the Grand General.
The Sovereign said: "Prince Qing wants to return to Xiongshan County."
The Grand General lowered his voice: "Let him go back."
The Sovereign nodded gently and sighed: "It’s just... a pity for Princess Qingxue."
The Grand General faintly smiled, gazing steadfastly at the Sovereign, solemnly said: "Chengji, to achieve great things, one must not be disturbed by emotional attachments.
I’ve observed many matters concerning Prince Qing, and know him to be a person of great passion and righteousness.
Qingxue is simple and innocent, and can win his favor.
If we can use one woman to stabilize Great Yin, stabilize Prince Qing, giving us time, wouldn’t this be a brilliant strategy?
Even if she’s trapped, in deep water and heated flames, how could this compare to the soldiers on the battlefield?
Had she not married Prince Qing, she might live a life unknown, eating and waiting for death.
Now, her life has been given true meaning.
Even if it’s a sacrifice, it’s what she should do."
The Sovereign said quietly: "I understand."
The Grand General said: "Recently, I and Yan Fujing jointly confronted the rebel forces, finally understanding what the Secret Martial Artists truly are.
I must admit, I was narrow-minded before.
Secret Martial Artists are the powerful force of the new world.
No army can afford to be without Secret Martial Artists accompanying them.
Therefore, I will cultivate our own Secret Martial Artists.
If Yan Fujing can do it, why can’t we?"
The Sovereign said gravely: "Blood of demons, fundamental drawings, elixirs..."
"Will all be had." The Grand General smiled cryptically, "Better to be a leader among chickens than a follower among phoenixes—what proud genius would willingly remain subordinate?"
The Sovereign thought for a moment, then said: "I hear from Princess Qingxue that Prince Qing is very formidable."
The Grand General said: "Qingxue’s martial skills are quite ordinary; she finds even a random Secret Martial Artist frightening, let alone Prince Qing.
But Prince Qing is definitely formidable; he’s already reached the ’Dual Demon Form’ realm."
"Dual Demon Form?"
The Sovereign was somewhat surprised.
The Grand General said: "Xie Feng informed me of this."
The Sovereign: ...
The Grand General said: "However, my Northern Army recently discovered an ice-jade mine.
Soon we’ll be able to craft ice-jade nets, ice-jade weapons...
I am curious how many ice-jade nets the Dual Demon Form Prince Qing can withstand."
His sharply defined face bore a faint smile, "Yet, I do not mean to antagonize Prince Qing. I’m just letting you know, to think ahead, prepare for unforeseen events.
Currently, our relations with Prince Qing and Yan Fujing are good.
But a peace maintained by one woman’s sacrifice—how long can it last?
Even if Prince Qing is not intent on rebellion.
Still... How can one allow others to snore beside the bed?
Great Yin does not need a lone hero who can combat a thousand armies, but needs the strongest army in the world."
The Sovereign contemplated for a long while, then said: "I... understand."
...
...
Autumn comes.
The heat sinks, woods fall desolate.
Li Xuan customarily arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence.
The Prime Minister was playing alone, left hand against the right.
Li Xuan casually sat to one side, the Prime Minister pushed a bowl with black stones towards him.
Li Xuan accepted and then started playing.
While playing, the Prime Minister unexpectedly said, softly: "Xie Feng has indeed betrayed."
"Oh."
Li Xuan responded absentmindedly.
If he guessed correctly, Xie Feng’s attributes likely leaned towards agility, probably around 60 or so. The rest would be strength and physique around 30 to 40. As for the spirit attribute, hard to say, but definitely not high, perhaps at most in the teens.
In other words, such a person... couldn’t even enter his eyes as a foe.
Even if he stood and let Xie Feng strike, Xie Feng couldn’t break his defenses.
Furthermore... Xie Feng trying to break through his myriad demon techniques and face him one-on-one was simply impossible.
Mere existence that could be crushed with a casual gesture.
For the smooth development of the Secret Martial Artists, he chose to shake hands with him, but if he truly wanted to kill Xie Feng, it would be a mere squeeze.
The Prime Minister said: "Xie Feng is a proud person, I couldn’t give him that pride, but Wang Baxian can."
Li Xuan, while placing a stone, said: "That’s astute of you, father."
The Prime Minister smiled and said: "He’s prepared counterfeit copies that can pass for the real ones, intending to swap them during winter when guarding the Secret Martial Arts treasury, replacing the fundamental drawings of the ’Demon-Breaking Saber,’ ’Vajra Body,’ ’Fire Sun Divine Skill,’ and then stay in the capital."
