Chapter 683: Chapter 206: The Diverging Paths of Fourth Grade Cultivation, the Temptation of the Wolf Mother
March, spring day, the peach blossoms are blooming.
Li Yuan placed the unsightly Ji Hu onto the wool blanket of the wooden chair and then ran, holding a large kite in the wind as he let it fly.
Ji Hu looked up as the kite soared, his eyes becoming focused, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds...
He happily waved his hands, making "yiyi ya ya" sounds or indistinct, unclear noises.
Li Yuan ran circle after circle, and then ran while holding Ji Hu until noon, at which point a dignified beautiful woman appeared at the gate of the courtyard.
"You two are having fun," Xie Wei said with a smile.
"Mom..."
"Your Majesty..."
Ji Hu babbled, reaching out, wanting to be held.
Xie Wei did not completely ignore this son of hers, naturally stepping forward to take the little boy from Li Yuan’s arms. However, the closer she got, the more she could see the boy’s unattractiveness.
With all the tender smiles of a mother, Xie Wei held the boy for a while, then called the wet nurse to take Ji Hu away.
Once Ji Hu was gone, a look of hard-to-conceal disdain appeared on her face. She even gently held her abdomen, frowning, as if she felt nauseous, then looked at Li Yuan and asked, "Your Majesty, did you smell any strange odor while holding him?"
Li Yuan replied, "What strange odor could a child have?"
"Let’s not talk about this anymore."
Xie Wei resumed her smile and dignity, then glanced around before walking closer to Li Yuan, naturally taking his arm and saying, "It’s been over a year now, Your Majesty, and you’ve just been idling here with me?"
Li Yuan nodded.
In fact, he also went to other places for "clock-in style" inspections, usually spinning by the Western Pole Permafrost, Ghost Prison, or Divine Wood Hall daily, especially since the "Six Paths Temporary Patrol Token" was really useful. Coupled with the "Thousand-Mile in a Line," it was sufficient for him to visit four different places each time and then return.
Xie Wei said, "Does Your Majesty remember the call to duty at the beginning of the year?
All the Commanders of the various routes have responded by now."
Li Yuan’s expression changed slightly, then he said, "But the real effort still falls on your Xie Family. How much can those Commanders contribute?"
Xie Wei replied, "The flaws in this system are too big. A Commander of a route is like a local emperor, responding to orders but not executing them. Even if they do comply, it is only in appearance, not in truth."
Li Yuan said, "Wasn’t your Xie Family like this too?"
Xie Wei softly replied, "But now it’s different. Now my Xie Family represents righteousness."
Li Yuan suddenly asked, "Is Her Majesty interested in the Great Zhou Treasure Vault?"
Xie Wei nodded, "The strong get stronger, the weak weaker. If my Xie Family could possess the Great Zhou Treasure Vault, it could cultivate many Xie Clan powerhouses, truly achieving everlasting glory."
Li Yuan hesitated but still recounted what he heard from Lü Xuanxian about the Great Zhou Armory.
"Dragon Eye?
Inheritance?
Heroes of past generations?"
Xie Wei asked three terms in succession, then said, "It seems my Xie Family made the right choice. Since the loyal soul recognizes me as the mistress, and him as the future Emperor, I don’t need to exhaust myself searching for the Great Zhou Armory, I just need to quietly wait."
Li Yuan seemed to think of something, asking, "So?"
Xie Wei said, "So my Xie Family will only be the Alliance Leader, not the vanguard.
When the armies of the nine routes’ Commanders gather to attack the Jade Capital...
I will scheme in the shadows to let the Lotus Sect and other Commanders fight each other, allowing my Xie Family to benefit from the chaos.
If we win, that’s perfect.
If we lose, my Xie Family can still swallow other routes.
If we can’t swallow other routes, my Xie Family loses nothing and can wait for Ji Hu to grow up... for him to seize the Great Zhou Treasure Vault, and then my Xie Family can slowly develop further.
A Jade Capital City is nothing; power is everything.
So, in this allied army, my Xie Family’s true enemy isn’t the declining Lotus Sect, but the other eight Commanders.
My eldest brother is straightforward; with him around, no one will suspect our true intentions.
So, not even my eldest brother knows about this.
This matter is known only to me, my father, and Your Majesty."
Li Yuan sighed, "The Empress increasingly treats me less like the Emperor."
Xie Wei gave him a flirtatious glance, then took his hand, her charming eyes flowing as she glanced at the distant house door, softly saying, "Your Majesty, when have I ever..."
Li Yuan felt a tug, slightly turning his head, only to see his sister-in-law speaking in a voice as sweet as melting honey, "I’ve... been thinking."
Li Yuan laughed, "Thinking about what?"
Xie Wei teasingly and coquettishly said, "Going inside."
The two walked towards the house, ascending the steps.
After entering, the door hurriedly and rapidly closed behind them.
In no time, a low, mournful voice that was both like crying and complaint echoed inside...
Dynastic changes have always been a weave of desires and conspiracies.
At such times, no matter how incredible something may be, it is all quite normal.
...
...
As Li Yuan was handling legitimate business and also satisfying desires.
Far away in the Western Pole Eternal Night Permafrost, Li Ping’an was once again knocked flying by Zhenyan Huang.
This time, Zhenyan Huang was truly enraged.
His long black hair swirled like a lion’s mane, and the golden giant axe was held straight against Li Ping’an’s forehead.
"Enough!
If you weren’t also father’s son, I would have killed you countless times by now.
How can you have the face to keep challenging me?!"
The furious low roar poured from the Barbarian King’s mouth, like a storm, splattering across Li Ping’an’s face.
Li Ping’an was in a daze, not noticing as the Barbarian King left.
Like a walking corpse, he trudged through the wind and snow toward the camp.
Ever since his mother was sent to the Divine Tomb, he wished to devote himself entirely to cultivation.
He believed he was a genius, destined to quickly break through the Fourth Grade.
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