Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Shockwaves in All Quarters
"Brother, I know you’re upset with me. This is between us. It has nothing to do with Ye Xuan. I hope you won’t make things difficult for him."
Zhao Wei said in a low voice, his tone laced with a hint of a plea.
He had been constantly pulling strings, but when he heard that Ye Xuan had been taken by the Iron Blood Guard, he knew it was all for naught.
He wasn’t afraid of the Sixth Prince. But his brother, Zhao Feng, was another story. Zhao Feng’s reputation was soaring, and he held significant authority over the Iron Blood Guard. He was widely considered the most likely to become Crown Prince.
Zhao Wei knew that as a recent graduate of the academy, he was in no position to challenge him.
So he chose to concede, swallowing his pride to personally seek out his brother, Zhao Feng.
"Eighth Brother, I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re saying. This Ye Xuan... I don’t know him at all, so how could I be making things difficult for him? As for his arrest by the Iron Blood Guard, I am completely unaware. However, the Iron Blood Guard is the Royal City’s authority on law and punishment. If they took Ye Xuan, he must have posed a threat to the kingdom’s security. You and I, as Princes, should lead by example. We cannot abuse our noble status to interfere with the laws of the kingdom. If our Father were to find out, I’m sure he would be most displeased."
Zhao Feng smiled faintly and patted Zhao Wei’s shoulder. "Eighth Brother, if you’ll excuse me."
With that, he walked toward the contingent of Royal Alchemists at the banquet. As the First Prince, he was well-informed and naturally knew why his father was hosting this event.
’Damn him.’ Zhao Wei’s eyes burned with fury. The wine glass in his hand shattered, driving shards of glass into his palm. Blood mixed with the red wine and dripped down, but he didn’t even seem to notice.
Several other Princes noticed the scene. Having already heard the rumors, the corners of their lips curled into faint, mocking smiles.
’Eighth Brother, you allowed my men to be killed on Cyan Profound Mountain. This time, I’ll let you taste what it’s like to have your own underling wiped out.’
A savage sneer appeared on Sixth Prince Zhao Gang’s lips, his eyes cold and sinister.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Just then, a resonant voice echoed through the grand hall. The entire hall fell silent at once. Under the watchful eyes of all present, the Monarch, Zhao Jing, emerged from the rear of the hall with a smile on his face.
"Long live His Majesty! May he live for ten thousand years!"
"My loyal subjects, you may rise."
"Our thanks, Your Majesty."
Zhao Jing waved his hand, and the hall fell completely silent.
"My loyal subjects, I imagine you are all curious as to why I have called for this banquet. I have gathered you here today because our Liuyun Kingdom has two great and joyous events to celebrate."
"The first is that our Liuyun Kingdom’s Soul Master Tower has a new Fourth-Grade Celestial Level Soul Refiner."
"And the second is that the long-vacant position of Vice President of the Royal Alchemist Association has finally been filled by a suitable candidate."
"Now, let us welcome Master Kuchen of the Soul Master Tower and Master Hua Luoxuan of the Alchemist Association!"
Thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall. Before the eyes of the entire court, Kuchen and Hua Luoxuan walked to the front of the great hall together.
"Master Kuchen, as you have recently advanced to become a Fourth-Grade Celestial Level Soul Refiner, I hereby grant you one thousand Profound Stones and a stately residence. I approve the Soul Master Tower’s request for you to serve as its vice president and bestow upon you the title of Third-Rank Duke of the Kingdom."
"My thanks, Your Majesty." Kuchen bowed slightly.
"Master Hua Luoxuan, in light of your outstanding performance in the Royal Alchemist Association, I grant you one thousand Profound Stones and a stately residence. You shall serve as Vice President of the Kingdom’s Royal Alchemist Association, and I bestow upon you the title of Third-Rank Duke of the Kingdom."
"My thanks, Your Majesty." Hua Luoxuan also bowed slightly.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
"Congratulations to Master Kuchen and Master Hua Luoxuan!"
The crowd offered loud congratulations, their eyes filled with envy.
A Third-Rank Duke of the Kingdom! According to the Liuyun Kingdom’s system of nobility, the ranks were Duke, Marquis, Count, and Viscount. A Viscount could serve as a City Lord, and a Count could serve as a Governor. A Marquis was qualified to possess their own fiefdom, making them only slightly less powerful than a Prince. A Duke, however, ranked even higher than a Prince.
Although Kuchen and Hua Luoxuan were only Third-Rank Dukes, the lowest rank of Duke, and possessed no fiefdom, their status was undeniable. Anyone who met them would have to show the utmost respect. They would even be permitted to greet the Monarch without bowing—a sign of their illustrious standing.
However, compared to the positions of Vice President of the Soul Master Tower and Vice President of the Royal Alchemist Association, the title of Third-Rank Duke seemed almost insignificant.
Everyone understood. After this banquet, Master Kuchen and Master Hua Luoxuan would instantly join the kingdom’s most powerful inner circle, becoming transcendent figures beyond the reach of ordinary politics.
"Report!"
At that moment, a loud shout came from outside the doors. A messenger rushed in from outside the great hall and dropped to one knee.
"Your Majesty, an extremely urgent report from the front lines at Celestial Water City!"
An extremely urgent report from Celestial Water City?
The crowd was stunned, their faces aghast.
Celestial Water City was a military fortress on the Liuyun Kingdom’s border. Among the Thirteen Nations Alliance, the Liuyun Kingdom had constant friction with the neighboring Fire Crow Kingdom. Both nations stationed troops on the border, leading to year-round conflict.
In recent months, there had been rumors that the Fire Crow Kingdom’s military was stirring, possibly planning a full-scale invasion of the Liuyun Kingdom.
Did this urgent report mean the Fire Crow Kingdom had finally launched its all-out invasion?
In an instant, the hall’s festive atmosphere vanished, replaced by a palpable sense of panic.
"Quickly, bring it to me!"
Even Monarch Zhao Jing’s expression changed as he barked the order.
Zhao Jing took the report from the messenger and opened it. His expression froze for a moment. But as his eyes scanned the document, his grim face suddenly broke into a smile. Then, he burst into hearty laughter, leaving the court officials to stare at each other in utter bafflement.
"Haha! Excellent! What a fine Golden Lion Corps! What a fine Deputy General Luo Zhan!" Zhao Jing roared with laughter.
"Your Majesty, what is it...?" one of the ministers ventured, mustering his courage.
"A report from the Golden Lion Corps at the front! The Fire Crow Kingdom’s military secretly mobilized an army of one hundred thousand, marching a thousand li to bypass Celestial Water City and sneak into the heart of our Liuyun Kingdom through the nearby Siya Pass. However, their maneuver was detected by our Golden Lion Corps’ Deputy General, Luo Zhan, who was stationed at Siya Pass! With his force of ten thousand, he trapped the Fire Crow’s one hundred thousand-strong army in the pass! After seven days and seven nights of bloody battle, he completely annihilated the enemy force! Our Golden Lion Corps then seized the opportunity to launch a major counter-offensive, pushing the remaining Fire Crow army back hundreds of miles and recapturing nearly ten cities! Hahaha! This time, the Liuyun Kingdom is truly blessed with triple good fortune!"
"Your Majesty’s reign is blessed! May it last for ages to come!"
The ministers below all fell to their knees, offering thunderous congratulations.
"I hear that Deputy General Luo Zhan was wounded in the battle and is already on his way back to the Royal City. He should arrive tonight at the earliest, or tomorrow at the latest. When he does, I will hold another banquet for all of you to honor this hero of our army!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
After this news, the banquet’s atmosphere became incredibly fervent. The guests flocked to toast Kuchen and Hua Luoxuan, each hoping to forge some connection with the two newly powerful men.
At that very moment, outside the Li family’s residence.
Luo Zhan, the very man Monarch Zhao Jing had just praised, had finally returned to the Royal City after an arduous journey.
But no sooner had he arrived than he was stopped by an anxious Feng Rouyi.
"What? What did you say? Ye Xuan was arrested by the constabulary, and then taken away by the Iron Blood Guard?"
"Don’t panic. Tell me everything that happened, slowly."
"He killed the guards of Marquis Tianqi and Marquis Zhenjun in the street, and wounded the sons of two Marquises?"
"What? And Eighth Prince Zhao Wei, First Prince Zhao Feng, and Sixth Prince Zhao Gang were all involved?"
"Damn it! If I remember correctly, the Iron Blood Guard has ties to the First Prince, Zhao Feng. If Ye Xuan was taken by them... his chances are slim."
Luo Zhan was filled with shock and fury as he listened.
After arriving in the Royal City with Ye Xuan’s group, Luo Zhan had gone back to the Li family. When the Li family saw that he had not only recovered his strength but grown even more powerful, they immediately reinstated him and sent him to Celestial Water City, where the Golden Lion Corps was stationed.
The situation at the time was complex, so he had left for Celestial Water City without having a chance to inform Ye Xuan and the others.
At Celestial Water City, he distinguished himself in service and was promoted to Deputy General, leading a contingent of troops to garrison Siya Pass.
When the Fire Crow Kingdom’s army of one hundred thousand invaded through Siya Pass, he had trapped them with only ten thousand of his own. He fought a bloody battle without reinforcements and annihilated the entire enemy force.
Although he had achieved a great victory, he had been seriously wounded in the battle and was sent back to the Royal City to recover.
His injuries had mostly healed on the journey back, but he never expected to be greeted with such news about Ye Xuan upon his return to the Royal City.
"Damn it. I don’t care who it is. I won’t allow anyone to harm Ye Xuan."
If Ye Xuan hadn’t healed him, he might still be wasting away in Blue Moon City, a broken man.
So, after hearing Feng Rouyi’s story, Luo Zhan was utterly enraged.
"Don’t worry. I’m going to the palace for an audience with His Majesty right now. Whatever it takes, I will not let a single hair on Ye Xuan’s head be harmed."
「Profound Spirit Academy.」
"Chen Xing, why are you only telling me about something so important now?"
In her office, Yun Aoxue erupted in anger.
"I thought it was just self-defense, and with the Eighth Prince involved, Ye Xuan would be released without any trouble. I never imagined that not only would he not be released, but he’d be taken away by the Iron Blood Guard..."
A look of self-reproach crossed Chen Xing’s face. If he had known things would get this serious, he would have told Yun Aoxue immediately and tried to find another solution.
"First Prince Zhao Feng is an extremely vengeful man. I warned Ye Xuan not to give him any opening. Now he’s been taken by the Iron Blood Guard, which is the First Prince’s domain... If Ye Xuan is there, his chances are slim," Yun Aoxue murmured, her face etched with anxiety.
"Then what do we do now?"
"Ye Xuan has already been taken by the Iron Blood Guard. If the First Prince plans to move against him, we have to rescue him as quickly as possible. We can no longer rely on other channels. We must strike like lightning."
Before her words had even faded, Yun Aoxue was already out of the office.
"Teacher Yun, where are you going?"
"I’m going to the palace to file a royal petition."
Yun Aoxue’s cool voice drifted back from the darkness.
