Lu Mingyuan quickly finished the food in the box, while Qi Muxue rested her chin on her hand, watching him eat for a good while.
Afterward, they returned from the back mountain, walking and talking side by side along the palace path.
One was handso and flawless as jade, the other possessed a pure, beautiful, and gentle air. They were like the Golden Boy and Jade Girl, a perfect pair seemingly made by heaven itself.
They drew many sideways glances from the people in the surrounding palace halls.
"Prince Zhenbei won his first battle?"
Lu Mingyuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He hadn’t expected Prince Zhenbei to actually deploy his troops.
Prince Zhenbei had guarded the Border Pass for so many years, always keeping a low profile, afraid of giving the Court any leverage against him. Lu Mingyuan had thought he would find all sorts of excuses to refuse, since drawing attention to himself right now would do him no good.
Once the matter was over, it would only arouse suspicion.
But deploying troops was, after all, an imperial edict from the Court that could not be defied. Not deploying would have beco a point of criticism. In this way, Prince Zhenbei was caught in an impossible situation. In the end, he chose to send his troops, and even won a victory.
"That’s right. Prince Zhenbei conquered eleven cities in the Southern Saint Ming, a great achievent. The Cabinet is already considering how to reward him."
Qi Muxue nodded lightly, her eyes shining. She glanced at the Concubines watching them from the palaces, her gaze calm and untroubled.
"Was it really that smooth?"
"Yes. A large-scale rebellion broke out within the Demon Country, leaving their forces depleted and their lands desolate. That’s why the battles were easy. This ca from Prince Zhenbei’s frontline report; he said so himself. It was also a bulletin released by the Cabinet, specifically to boost the morale of the army and the people."
Lu Mingyuan understood.
’Since ancient tis, it has never been easy for commoners to learn of the Imperial Palace’s secrets, unless soone deliberately leaks them.’
Years ago, a young man studying at Shengjing Academy was renowned throughout the court and country for his divine calligraphy. He was summoned to the Imperial Palace by the Emperor of Great Yan to draft edicts in a side hall. It was the dead of winter, with heavy snow, and the ink in his brush froze, making it impossible to write. The Emperor ordered more than ten court ladies to stand by his side and warm his brush with their breath.
The story quickly spread throughout Great Yan and even to the other great dynasties of the Central Plains World, becoming a celebrated tale. Everyone praised the Emperor of Great Yan for his love of talent, and scholars from all over flocked to Shengjing.
’But no one stopped to think: with the Imperial City and Palace being so heavily guarded, if the Emperor didn’t speak of it, the Eunuchs didn’t speak of it, and the Concubines didn’t speak of it, how did the common people find out?’
"A rebellion in the Demon Country... That’s truly Celestial Protection for our Great Yan."
Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly, offering a slight complint. ’Whether Great Yan is strong or weak, it’s naturally better for it to be strong. Then I can enjoy sufficient benefits. It can’t be that Great Yan is on the verge of being destroyed, right? If that happens, my days as a Prince are numbered.’
But this complint made Qi Muxue’s long eyelashes flutter. She blinked, a playful smile appearing in her eyes. "That Demoness of the Demon Kingdom you let go back then is causing quite a stir now. Not only is she wildly popular in her country, but she’s also incredibly powerful. As the High Priest, she’s responsible for communicating with the Holy Nether Divine Mansion. She has countless followers and has even defied the Sovereign of the Holy Netherworld, vowing to pull him down from his position."
Lu Mingyuan listened with a look of astonishnt, then exclaid from the bottom of his heart:
"She’s that incredible?"
He half-joked, "In a way, don’t I get so credit for Great Yan’s favorable situation? Should Prince Zhenbei be thanking ?"
If it weren’t for him, the Demoness wouldn’t have been able to stir up such a storm.
Qi Muxue shook her head and smiled faintly. "Your Highness is giving yourself too much credit. If she were still in a Great Yan prison, perhaps our Dynasty would have already expanded its borders by hundreds of miles."
But on second thought, she realized that wasn’t necessarily true.
’Everyone said her noble status could be traded for a century of peace on Great Yan’s border, but I always thought that was unlikely. Although the Demoness’s status is high, it’s not so high that it could make the Sovereign of the Holy Netherworld give up his desire to march south.’
Over the past several hundred years, in the many wars between Great Yan and the Demon Country, Great Yan has lost far more than it has won.
It might win a few major victories now and then, turning the tide, but Great Yan’s foundation is still much weaker than that of the Great Nether Sacred Country. The na Holy Netherworld has appeared in historical records for over two thousand years.
The previous dynasty, the Great Zhou, lasted for more than eight hundred years, and the one before that, the Great Xia, for over a thousand. Compared to those Ancient Dynasties, the Great Yan Dynasty is like a young man who has just co of age, barely able to stand on his own and possess the ans to protect himself.
’Admittedly, since the Great Yan Dynasty received its Celestial Mandate, it has held the title of the greatest nation in the Central Plains for three hundred years. And for the last fifty-odd years, it has maintained a position of advantage against the Demon Country. But this doesn’t an Great Yan can easily and completely resolve the threat posed by them. They still cannot be underestimated.’
’Also, the Demon Country’s actual territory is not considered part of the Central Plains World. It was ford by plundering the lands of nurous Ancient Dynasties, which is why it’s regarded as a heresy by the dynasties throughout history.’
As the conversation turned to this old, familiar topic, Lu Mingyuan fell silent for a mont.
"Mu Xue, you don’t bla ?"
The heaviest burden he carried right now was this case.
Many people were obsessed with it, but only Qi Muxue believed him. ’This is likely thanks to Qi Xingyan,’ he thought. ’He might know sothing.’
Qi Muxue’s voice was gentle as she soothed him, "Didn’t I tell you before? Back then, I thought it over and over, and even did so investigating. I always felt there was sothing strange about the case. Many Three Academy Cultivators were severely injured by the Demoness, and the Grand Array was broken. That alone says sothing. These past few months, I’ve also been asking my father. He said the matter is of grave importance and full of suspicious points. If anything were to leak, the imperial family’s safety could not be guaranteed, so it’s best to discuss it as little as possible."
"But I still want to tell you: the Demoness you let go back then was likely a pawn abandoned by the Demon Country."
"A pawn abandoned by the Demon Country?"
It was the first ti Lu Mingyuan had heard this theory.
Qi Muxue analyzed seriously, "Considering the recent turmoil in the Demon Country and the Demoness’s rise to power, my father and I are even more convinced of this theory’s truth."
Lu Mingyuan thought for a mont, as if he understood sothing.
"You’re saying that the reason General Pei could capture that Demoness, whose Cultivation was not low, was because she was set up by the Demon Country? And there’s a hidden story behind her release as well? Doesn’t that an soone deliberately let the Witch go to stir up internal conflict in the Demon Country?"
"Yes, that’s exactly what I an."
Qi Muxue took his arm and nodded in firm agreent.
She sighed. "But we have no proof. It’s just a theory, and not necessarily one hundred percent true. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have to bear such a cri."
Lu Mingyuan felt a sense of relief and smiled gratefully, taking her small hand in his.
"Miss Qi, I’ve felt your sincerity."
Qi Muxue’s hand was clasped by his, and her cheeks still felt a little hot.
"But please, Miss Qi, don’t do anything dangerous. I would rather stay in the Cold Palace for thirty years than see you get into trouble because of ."
Hearing this, Qi Muxue’s expression softened with emotion.
His words lted the door to her heart, which was like a clear, deep pool, and once again infused it with a spark of warmth.
Ever since they made their Celestial Dao Oath and privately pledged their lives to each other, she had worried about what would co after. She’d feared he might grow tired of her. But now it seed her worries were unfounded. Lu Mingyuan was still the sa Lu Mingyuan.
He wasn’t the kind of man who would chase a woman only to grow cold once he won her.
"Speaking of which, if Prince Zhenbei has sent out his troops, is anyone left to guard the Great Wall? I also rember my master saying that the Northern Great Wall is already garrisoned, so why is Prince Zhenbei needed to hold the line?"
Lu Mingyuan asked.
Qi Muxue explained, "Your Highness misunderstands. Prince Zhenbei’s Northern Pass is one place, and the Great Wall is another. They are two different locations. Although they are on the sa line of defense, they are very far apart."
"Prince Zhenbei guards the major stronghold of the Northern Pass, which is made up of the Northwest Three States: Xiong Wu State, Feiniu State, and Longxu State. It is located beyond the Great Wall, on new territory seized from the Demon Country over the last century. The Northern Great Wall, on the other hand, was built by successive dynasties. It stands tall and majestic and was used hundreds of years ago to resist the Demon Country’s Demon Barrier invasions. Successive dynasties have continuously repaired and reinforced it, resulting in its current scale of tens of thousands of miles. It separates the Demon Country and the Western Barbarian Demon Race, marking the border of the Central Plains World."
Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan finally understood.
’It seems the place Prince Zhenbei defends is Great Yan’s military fortress, the very front line of the battlefield. It’s a kind of buffer zone, not part of the Great Wall’s heartland.’
Qi Muxue added, "The Yang Family, which Prince Zhenbei belongs to, is a renowned Military Family. Although Yang Xiao had no sons in his early years, he had many adopted sons. General Zhongwu, Yang Zaixing, and General Zhao Wu, Yang Zhaoyuan, are both Eighth Realm Martial Artists of considerable strength. It seems that in recent years, he has probably had a few young sons who are not yet grown. But he now appears to have a lukewarm attitude toward his eldest daughter, who is effectively a Hostage."
Lu Mingyuan thought of Princess Consort Zhao and disagreed with this assessnt. "When the Princess Consort was his only daughter, she and her father always corresponded by letter. Her birth mother died young, and Prince Zhenbei’s first wife passed away before him. Even if he remarried, the status of any sons he had couldn’t compare to Princess Consort Yang’s."
"Prince Zhenbei had a very good relationship with his forr wife."
Qi Muxue listened, seeming to ponder this. She nodded lightly, then gave him a strange look and pouted. "How does Your Highness know that? Could the rumors in the palace be true? Did sothing really happen between you and the Princess Consort?"
A fatal three-part question.
"Er..."
Lu Mingyuan had almost forgotten about that. He slapped his forehead and explained with a straight face, "Of course not. The Princess Consort is my sister-in-law, after all. She’s lonely and miserable under house arrest in the Harem. From ti to ti, she cos to my hall to sit for a while, chat, and relieve her boredom. Over ti, I naturally learned a little about her family’s affairs."
After hearing Lu Mingyuan’s explanation, Qi Muxue sighed. "Actually, I feel quite sorry for Princess Consort Yang."
"I heard that before the Eldest Prince passed away, he treated her very badly at the city gate, even beating and cursing her. It seems she’s lived unhappily for these past ten-plus years, with no one daring to help her. Even though she’s the daughter of a Martial Artist, she’s still a pitiable woman."
Lu Mingyuan deeply agreed. "I think so too."
Just then, Qingzhu Hall appeared in the middle of the main path.
"You’re back?"
Wang Zhaoyan had been waiting in the courtyard for a long ti. She spoke as she looked toward the entrance, a faint smile on her face.
"Mother."
Seeing his mother, Lu Mingyuan smiled and greeted her.
"I ca to tell you sothing, but I didn’t expect Miss Qi to be here as well. Perfect. Co, sit together."
Qi Muxue’s figure was graceful and her bearing elegant and dignified; she looked both virtuous and gentle.
Wang Zhaoyan couldn’t help but nod, feeling more and more satisfied with her future daughter-in-law the more she looked at her.
"Regarding your marriage, I plan to host a banquet on behalf of your father, the Emperor, right here in Yaoguang Palace. It will be a chance for everyone to sit down and talk. Your father was supposed to co, but he is ill, so I must act in his place."
"Your father has also agreed."
Lu Mingyuan’s eyelid twitched. "Mother, you’re planning to invite Mr. Qi and the Champion Marquis to the palace for a banquet?"
Wang Zhaoyan said, "And your two future Princess Consorts. It’s ti. This has been delayed for long enough."
"Very well. I’ll leave the arrangents to you, Mother."
Lu Mingyuan could only pray that the atmosphere would be sowhat harmonious when the ti ca.
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