【The Flower Prince 5】

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

After Li Yuerou ambushed me from behind in 　　"The Flower Prince 5," she was preparing to strike again to eliminate this troublesome figure who had appeared out of nowhere. Just then, a glimmer of light caught her eye—the dragon-patterned jade pendant that had fallen from my body.
My father, out of pity for me when I was young, had bestowed this jade pendant upon me. This was the very pendant; many people knew this, including Li Yuerou, the sect leader of the Flower Language Sect. Upon seeing the jade pendant, Li Yuerou immediately understood what had happened. Her fiancé, fearing the loss of a fiancée, had mobilized his forces to find her, only to be caught in the act by her other fiancée, who was attempting to assassinate her future rival. Thinking of this, Li Yuerou felt a pang of bitterness, her heart burning with jealousy.
Zhang Qian'er, held tightly in my arms, enjoyed that moment of security. She was completely unaware of Li Yuerou's ambush. Fortunately, her martial arts skills were not weak either, and she didn't fall to the ground like me. She easily flipped herself up in mid-air. Looking up, she saw the leader who had tried to assassinate her staring blankly at me. A wave of tension and confusion washed over her. Following the assassin's gaze, Zhang Qian'er seemed to understand something as well. Her mind went blank, unsure of what to do. The scenes between us flashed vividly before her eyes. And what was my true identity…?
Just then, a chilling killing intent emanated from the assassin. Zhang Qian'er looked at the assassin, seeing eyes filled with jealousy and hatred…
Zhang Qian'er steadied herself, knowing she was no match for this assassin. Her only option was to stall for time. Thinking this, her eyes darted around, and she knew what to do.
She slowly raised her head, her eyes fixed on the assassin who could attack at any moment. She said, "If I'm not mistaken, you must be the eldest daughter of the Li family, his other fiancée, Li Yuerou." The "he" here was clearly me, lying on the ground.
Li Yuerou was taken aback. How did Zhang Qian'er know her identity? There couldn't possibly be any slip-up. However, the murderous intent in her eyes intensified. But for some reason, Li Yuerou didn't immediately attack. Instead, she cooperatively asked, "Oh, how do you know?"
Zhang Qian'er smiled mockingly. She hadn't been sure before, but now she was certain. From Li Yuerou's tone and expression just now, it was clear how accurate her guess was. However, Zhang Qian'er was still stalling for time. She wouldn't reveal her true thoughts, but instead said indirectly, "I can tell from your figure. You must be a woman. In Tiandu, what girl would be so jealous of a woman like me who has no grudge against her?"
Although Zhang Qian'er's current demeanor was conspicuous, and Li Yuerou's anger was growing stronger, she still didn't make a move, but continued to ask, "Is that all?"
Seeing that her opponent's emotions were readily apparent, Zhang Qian'er knew she had a formidable rival in love, and her heart sank. Hearing Li Yuerou's words, she continued, "Of course it's not just this. I deduced it from your series of actions. At first, you were eager to kill me, but because Tian Yuan stopped you, you wanted to get rid of him as well." At this point, she paused, seeing a flash of pain in Li Yuerou's eyes, knowing that her identity was now completely confirmed, and her heart also ached.
However, Zhang Qian'er was adept at controlling her emotions and didn't let Li Yuerou notice anything. She continued, "So it's obvious that you didn't recognize Tianyuan at first. Later, when you ambushed Tianyuan, the dragon-patterned jade pendant fell from his body. From this pendant, you recognized that this man was actually your fiancé, the current Fifth Prince, Yu Tianyuan. So you didn't attack him again, but instead intensified your killing intent towards me. What? Are you jealous seeing him risk his life to save his other fiancée?"
Zhang Qian'er spoke the last three words very softly, and a playful smile even appeared on her charming face.
Li Yuerou wasn't angry at this moment; she even laughed. Her laughter was charming and radiant. Just as Zhang Qian'er cried out in alarm, a series of "whoosh" sounds filled the air. Zhang Qian'er's heart sank. She knew that Li Yuerou had been stalling for time, waiting to surround her. Originally, she might have had a sliver of hope to escape, but now, surrounded by so many experts, escape was impossible.
Li Yuerou smiled happily. Everything was under her control, and now it was time to share the spoils of victory. She mocked the loser, "What? Speak up! Haha...
You were so smug just now. Didn't you say I was jealous? To tell you the truth, I've never actually met Tian Yuan, but I'm actually jealous of him. But what can you do about it? Can you do anything to me now?"
Li Yuerou ordered those around her, "As long as she doesn't escape, don't interfere. I want to savor the taste of killing her."
As she spoke, a white light flashed from her palm and quickly dropped. It was actually a white sand, with a rhombus-shaped crystal attached to its tip. This was the divine artifact of the Flower Language Sect—the Chaos Ribbon.
Li Yuerou lightly flicked her delicate hand, and the Chaos Ribbon transformed into a white light, flying towards Zhang Qian'er.
Zhang Qian'er was now truly doomed. In terms of skill, she was absolutely no match for Li Yuerou, who had already reached the Grandmaster level. Originally, when Li Yuerou intercepted her, Zhang Qian'er had no hope of escape. In terms of skill, a difference of just one level was like the difference between heaven and earth. However, Zhang Qian'er had just used her Flying Frost Sword, a spiritual weapon second only to a divine artifact, to ambush Li Yuerou, causing her a minor injury. Furthermore, Li Yuerou's skill hadn't been developed normally, and she lacked experience. Therefore, Li Yuerou had to wait for her subordinates to surround Zhang Qian'er to prevent her escape.
Despite the slight disadvantage, Zhang Qian'er maintained her composure. Just as the white light was about to engulf her, the reinforcements she had been waiting for finally arrived.
Two dark figures shot towards them, and simultaneously, the surrounding men in black fell to the ground one after another.
One of the dark figures shot towards Li Yuerou; it was a man in black. Seeing its formidable power, Li Yuerou dared not underestimate it and reluctantly abandoned her rival, who was right in front of her, to deal with this uninvited creature.
The other dark figure was the real culprit. He swiftly flew to Zhang Qian'er's side, grabbed her, and before she could speak, he flew away, disappearing into the night sky. Only Zhang Qian'er's belated cry remained: "Uncle Qi, don't go! Tianyuan is still on the ground..."
Li Yuerou exerted force with her arms, activating her demonic energy, stopping her attack on her subordinate. When she turned back to look at Zhang Qian'er, she only heard Zhang Qian'er's last cry. She stomped her foot angrily, knowing that the one who rescued her rival was a grandmaster-level expert from the Zhang family, someone she, a mere novice who had just reached the grandmaster level, could not possibly catch up with. She also understood the purpose of Zhang Qian'er's many words earlier. She knew that her rival was not much weaker than herself.
At this moment, she saw me still unconscious on the ground and quickly ran over. She checked my pulse and found that my breathing was unusually stable, as if I were in a meditative state. Knowing that I must possess some extraordinary skill or treasure, she gazed at my face with longing, and a captivating smile involuntarily appeared on her beautiful face. It was as if I were proud of myself.
Actually, I was quite unharmed. The heavy blow to my back was more like a scratch. But because it was demonic energy that invaded, I didn't wake up in time and missed a good show. Instead, I was slowly circulating the Burning Heaven Demon Art within my body, taking the opportunity to increase my power. At that moment, I had completely forgotten that Zhang Qian'er, who loved me, was in dire straits.
When I regained consciousness, it was probably the next morning. A delicate fragrance wafted to my nose, and before me lay a beautiful bed. I was absolutely certain I was in some young lady's boudoir. I thought to myself: Could it be Zhang Qian'er who rescued me? When I saved her, she seemed to have stabbed the assassin; her martial arts must be quite good. However, I also secretly reminded myself that I had never participated in any combat before, and to be ambushed from behind was truly embarrassing.
Just as I was learning from this experience, the door creaked open. I guessed: Zhang Qian'er must have arrived. Turning my head, I was greeted by a face no less stunning than Zhang Qian'er's. Almond-shaped eyes, a delicate nose—every feature exuded breathtaking beauty; round, red lips—every detail seemed to be crafted by heaven. Especially her current expression, a mixture of anger and joy, almost made me lose myself in it, never wanting to wake up. Fortunately, I was surrounded by beauties like Ying'er and Tianxiang, so I must have developed some resistance. I quickly snapped out of her charm.
Behind the beauty was a maid, also quite lovely, almost as beautiful as her mistress. Especially her servant's clothes, which added to her pitiful beauty.
Knowing that this was probably not the Zhang residence I had imagined, I didn't dare to be too presumptuous. After a quick glance, I said to the beauty in the middle, "My name is Tianyuan. I thank you for saving my life, Miss. May I ask who this is?" I originally wanted to say a few more words to properly thank this kind savior, but I couldn't find the words, so I just used the same approach I had when I met Zhang Qian'er yesterday.
The beautiful woman smiled slightly at me and said, "Young master, you flatter me. Last night, I happened to return to the manor and met you at the gate. Actually, you were alright, but I don't know why you fainted on the ground, so I pulled you back. Are you alright now?"
Seeing that her mistress hadn't answered my question, the maid added, "You're really something. This is our mistress's boudoir."
The young lady blushed slightly, slapped the maid, and feigned anger, saying, "Lv Ni, you naughty girl!" Then she turned to me and said, "Young master, please don't be offended. This girl has been spoiled by me and has no manners." As she said this, her expression became slightly unnatural, as if she blushed slightly, but I didn't notice. She continued, "This is the *** Pavilion. And I am their courtesan, Piao Xue." After speaking, her large eyes stared intently at me, as if trying to etch every detail of my face into her memory.
I was stunned. This was a brothel, and the stunningly beautiful woman before me was a prostitute, albeit a virgin. It was such a pity! How could such a woman have fallen to this state? What had she been through? For some reason, there was always a pitiful quality about Piaoxue that made me want to understand her, care for her, and even lovingly hold her in my arms. However, seeing her anxious expression, I kept these thoughts to myself. Piaoxue sighed; I could tell she cared about my feelings. I tried to say, "Actually, Miss, you don't need to be so careful. Although this is a brothel, I wouldn't dare to look down on you in the slightest. Your elegance and grace cannot be reflected in this small brothel. I know you must have some unspeakable difficulties."
Hearing me say this, the maid Lü Ni jumped in again, saying, "Of course! Our Miss is a noble lady. Although she has fallen into prostitution, she is still pure and virtuous." Actually, what Lü Ni said was true, but she didn't tell the whole story. Piao Xue's charm was far more than that. In the capital, Feng Yue Ge was the top brothel, and Piao Xue was the signboard of Feng Yue Ge. Her charm was so great that she could be said to be the most beautiful woman in the capital. If it weren't for the fact that the people of Feng Yue Ge were so famous, and that Piao Xue was so popular, she would have long been the object of some noble family's affections. Only I, who had never left home, was so ignorant that I had never even heard of Piao Xue.
Hearing the maid gossiping again, Piaoxue angrily said, "Alright, stop talking." Then she apologized to me and, along with Lüni, bid me farewell, saying, "If you don't mind, young master, please rest here. If anything happens, you can have someone inform this humble servant."
It seemed Lüni was in for a scolding, and thinking of this, I couldn't help but smile. Later, hearing that Piaoxue was leaving, I hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but think of Zhang Qian'er, whom I had been thinking about. I couldn't help but get up and say to Piaoxue, "Please take care, Miss. I'm quite alright now, feeling refreshed and should be fine. However, I have some things on my mind, so I must take my leave now." Saying this, I bowed to the two women, after all, they had rescued me yesterday. Then I added, "Your kindness is immense, Miss; I can only repay it another day." Although I said this, I already knew in my heart that the best way to repay Piaoxue's kindness was to pay to redeem her. I refused to believe that there was a problem that a prince like me couldn't solve. But I couldn't say it to her face now. I only managed a perfunctory thank you, and then, without waiting for Piaoxue to stop me, I hurriedly got up and left.
Green Rainbow watched my retreating figure and said, "Sect Leader, your fiancé is gone. Don't hide him anymore. I don't understand what you were thinking, letting Sister Piaoxue meet him. He's truly blessed. He hasn't even married a beauty like you, and you're already looking for concubines for him."
Piaoxue blushed, saying nothing, but instead looked at the woman who walked out from behind—Li Yuerou. So, all of this was a carefully orchestrated show by Li Yuerou. It was all to let me meet the beautiful Piaoxue. Actually, Li Yuerou cared a lot about these things. Thinking about her actions, she found them laughable. Bringing her fiancé to her own brothel and having her subordinates seduce him—was she really crazy? No! Li Yuerou had her own ideas. It wouldn't have been so complicated; just killing Zhang Qian'er would have saved everything. But the assassination failed. Now that Zhang Qian'er, who is no less capable than herself, has seen through her schemes, she can only try to plan for her future, sending more people to infiltrate her fiancé's harem to gain strong support. But these are things she can't say openly.
Piaoxue glanced at Li Yuerou and asked softly, "Sect Master, why not let him keep her? Although he wasn't seduced by me, I'm still very confident I can keep him."
Li Yuerou glanced at Piaoxue and said confidently, "It's alright. This Fifth Prince doesn't seem to be a heartless person. He'll definitely be grateful to you for saving him and will try his best to redeem you. You don't need to worry."
Piaoxue blushed again and said reproachfully, "How could I!" But thinking about the possible outcome, she couldn't help but recall that handsome face full of masculine charm, and couldn't help but be captivated, saying unintentionally, "Will that happen?" Li
Yuerou then... I glanced at her, not scolding her for her infatuated look. She knew in her heart that I was already handsome enough, and with my thieving eyes that were specifically designed to seduce women, no woman could escape my charms. Thinking of me, Li Yuerou blushed, and she conjured something in her hand. Upon closer inspection, it was the dragon-patterned jade pendant I had dropped last night. Li Yuerou handed the jade pendant to Piaoxue, instructing her, "This belongs to him. You keep it safe! You should feel at ease now!"
Because it was early morning, there weren't many people on the street, and I didn't care. So, with a sense of urgency, I quickly ran towards Zhang Qian'er's residence. With my speed, I arrived there quickly. But there was no one there. Even the traces of last night's fight had been carefully concealed. I was anxious. Could something have happened to Zhang Qian'er? I should go to the Zhang residence first.
This Zhang residence was the residence of the Zhang family, one of the eight great families. Its grandeur and security were far superior to the small courtyard I had just left. Seeing this, I felt a little relieved. I hoped Qian'er could escape safely, otherwise I would regret it terribly.
I dared not be careless about the guards of the Zhang residence, so I used all my magic to sneak in through the side wall.
What greeted me was the fragrance of the entire courtyard; it turned out to be the back garden.
Just as I was lost in thought, a clear voice rang out: "Miss, you should eat something first! I haven't slept a wink since you came back. Uncle Qi has come several times, saying he'll definitely help you find that person this time. But you won't even tell Master his name, how can you expect him to find him!"
Miss!?
It must be Zhang Qian'er. I'm so glad she's alright, I was so worried. Then my interest was piqued again. I hadn't expected my charm to be so great, captivating a beauty like Zhang Qian'er to the point of not sleeping a wink all night. Judging from the maid's words, Zhang Qian'er must have been rescued.
Just then, Zhang Qian'er's voice came: "I don't want to eat anymore. Go away! I don't want to do anything without news of him!"
"Miss?"
"Go away!"
"Miss!"
"Go away!"
"Yes..."
Oh no, I've made the beauty lose her appetite. What if she goes hungry? I'd better hurry up and run away. Peeking out, I saw Zhang Qian'er sitting in a pavilion, lost in thought. A maid in red was slowly walking away. She must have gone to report to Zhang Qian'er's father, Zhang Qi. Seeing that no one was around, I darted towards Zhang Qian'er. I deliberately made heavy footsteps, thinking the beauty would notice me, but to my surprise, she didn't even bother to lift her head, forcing me to cough deliberately.
Only then did Zhang Qian'er slowly raise her head. Seeing me, she didn't throw herself into my arms as I had imagined, but instead looked at me with a very complicated expression, making me feel guilty. Had she seen through my disguise?
After a while, I finally couldn't bear her strange gaze and spoke first: "You…last night…oh!" I really wanted to slap myself. How could my mouth have become so clumsy? I couldn't even utter a complete sentence.
Before I could finish speaking, Zhang Qian'er interrupted, "I'm so sorry about last night, someone saved me. But he forgot about you. Did you...see her?" I didn't know that "her" referred to Li Yuerou. So, although I sensed something was amiss, I didn't pay much attention and simply asked, "Her? What 'her'? Was there anyone else last night?" Zhang Qian'er
visibly relaxed. She was afraid Li Yuerou would twist the truth in front of me and say things detrimental to her based on last night's events. Seeing my reaction, she finally felt relieved. But the thought of my concealed identity made Zhang Qian'er angry again. At this point,
I hadn't noticed Zhang Qian'er's unusual behavior. I was still thinking about whether I should confess to her now. Although it would be abrupt and rude to her, it was better than the two of us awkwardly facing each other like this. Thinking of this, I bravely raised my head, looked directly into Zhang Qian'er's bright eyes, and said with deep affection, "Qian'er, do you know? I was also rescued, but I wasn't seriously injured, so I was very worried about you, afraid I would never see you again. Do you know how terrified I was at that time? I realized then that my heart had been filled with a beautiful girl without me even noticing." I paused slightly here, not wanting to be too aggressive, needing to give the girl time to react.
By this time, Zhang Qian'er's anger had long since vanished. From the moment I started staring at her, Zhang Qian'er felt her face burning, and the situation became even more ambiguous as I spoke. If I hadn't been there watching her, Zhang Qian'er would probably have run away long ago. My affection was completely ignored.
“Qian’er, although we’ve only known each other for a day, it feels like we’ve known each other for a very long time. What about you?”
Although I hadn’t named her, Zhang Qian’er knew I was talking about her. My tone was a little flat, so she was relatively accepting. She replied in a barely audible voice, “Me too…”
I smiled confidently and continued, “Indeed, it must be fate! Qian’er, I feel we’re very destined for each other. What do you think?”
Zhang Qian’er didn’t speak, probably still shy. Just then, a thought flashed through my mind—now was the perfect time to introduce myself. Thinking this, I quickly said, “Qian’er, there’s something I’ve been keeping from you. Yesterday I told you my name is Tian Yuan. Doesn’t it sound familiar?”
This was a lucky coincidence; Zhang Qian’er had been thinking about this all along. Now, hearing me mention it, a hint of joy appeared on her face.
I didn't suspect anything and continued my confession: "Actually, I am the Fifth Prince Yu Tianyuan, who is going to marry Qian'er." Afraid that Zhang Qian'er would leave after hearing my words, I immediately picked up her soft, delicate body. At the same time, I comforted her, "Although I kept this from you, I, Yu Tianyuan, swear that my feelings for Zhang Qian'er are absolutely true and will never change."
Zhang Qian'er was almost fainting with happiness at this moment; all her worries from yesterday had been reassured by this promise.
And so, Zhang Qian'er forgot her girlish reserve and happily nestled into my arms, enjoying the intoxicating scent of my manhood.
Of course, I wouldn't say anything to spoil the mood at this moment. I simply held her quietly, inhaling the fragrance emanating from her. I was intoxicated.
It seemed like a very long time passed before Zhang Qian'er finally came to her senses. Her first action was to glare at me fiercely. Although that glare was also captivating, I still played along, feigning innocence. I looked at Zhang Qian'er with the eyes of a pet, which made her burst into another unladylike, flamboyant laugh.
Once she calmed down, I knew it was time for me to leave. Someone should be arriving soon. So I said to her, "Sweetie! Go eat! I'll come see you another day!"
Qian'er nodded obediently, but after taking a few steps, she couldn't help but turn back, looking pitifully at me, and said, "You promised! You'll definitely come see me tomorrow
!" Seeing my firm nod, she skipped away.
With a cheerful heart, I ran out of the Zhang residence.
It was still early morning, and many vendors selling breakfast had set up their stalls, their shouts and calls filling the air.
I hadn't eaten outside yet, and suddenly my interest was piqued. I walked to a small stall and ordered a basket of steamed buns and a bowl of porridge. I sat down and began to eat. The food these commoners ate was quite good, a different kind of enjoyment from the delicacies of the imperial palace.
Just as I was savoring the delicious food, a simply dressed old man came over and sat down beside me.
The old man must have been a regular customer, as he chatted with the owner while eating. From the owner's words, I learned that this old man, named Li Zhong, was quite capable. He had actually served as an official in the imperial court, reaching the highest rank of a third-grade official. However, because his political views differed from Zhang Jin's, he was ostracized by the Zhang family, and lacking any real power behind him, he was eventually dismissed from office. From his conversation, I could tell that he was indeed quite knowledgeable.
In the Celestial Empire, there are too many people like this. I sighed inwardly, when suddenly a thought flashed through my mind: Isn't that exactly what I'm lacking right now? And the Celestial Empire has no shortage of people like Li Zhong. Moreover, because they have no background, once I win them over, they will repay my kindness with their loyalty. Although doing so will offend some people, I have no such concerns. My status dictates that I am not afraid to offend them. It was because of me that Li Zhong had the opportunity to display his talents. Although I grew up in the palace, I don't have the arrogance of the other princes. If it were my shrewd third brother, although he could see the benefits involved, he would absolutely not be able to set aside the dignity of the royal family to stand up for these people with no status. And those who sympathize with them lack the power to do so. Heaven has given
me… Thinking of this, I looked at the old man again. Although time had etched many marks on his face, he was still very healthy and stood upright.
I decided to start with him. I gave him a chance. So, during a break from eating, I started chatting with him, discussing the current state of officialdom in China. What I said struck a chord with Li Zhong. He was dissatisfied with the current state of officialdom. Perhaps because he saw me openly criticizing it, he wasn't on guard and naturally expressed his thoughts.
As he spoke, I analyzed his ideas. His thoughts weren't bad; they weren't based on wishful thinking about the people's welfare and actually considered the interests of those in power. From this, I could see that Li Zhong was probably quite shrewd. "But that's probably how it should be, otherwise he couldn't have risen to the rank of a third-grade official in the court.
" After he finished speaking, we had a basic understanding of each other, and I generously invited him, "It's truly delightful to have met Brother Li
, a friend despite our age difference, today. Come on, let's go
to Taihe Restaurant. It's my treat. Let's have a good talk." Li Zhong was also very excited. For a person who had failed in his career, what could be more exciting than meeting someone who understood him? Taihe Restaurant was the largest and most famous restaurant in the capital, where high-ranking officials and nobles usually entertained their guests.
I asked for a private room and pulled Li Zhong inside. Having been an official before, Li Zhong wasn't reserved and naturally followed me. Once inside, the first thing I did was reveal my identity to this virtuous gentleman.
“Sir, we have a strong affinity, and I need not conceal my identity here. I am the Fifth Prince, Yu Tianyuan. I wish to invite you to join me in conquering the world.”
With someone like Li Zhong, it's best to be direct and state your intentions clearly. This makes him feel valued and helps win over your advisors.
Sure enough, Li Zhong, despite his immense wisdom, was not unsettled when I revealed my identity to someone he had only known for less than an hour. He felt that Heaven had been kind to him, sending him such a confidant and master. Without hesitation, he bowed deeply to me and respectfully said, “Your Highness treats me with such respect, I dare not fail to repay you with my life. From this day forward, I am Your Highness’s man.”
Seeing Li Zhong's respectful bow, I felt a strange sense of honor and satisfaction. However, I had to show respect for his talent, so I quickly helped Li Zhong up. But I couldn't spoil this subordinate too much. So I asked, “What are your thoughts on the current state of the world, sir?”
Li Zhong knew… Now was the time for Dao to demonstrate his knowledge, so after a few moments of modesty, he began his analysis: "Look at the Celestial Empire today, it faces two major threats, one internal and one external, each capable of causing its rapid decline or even collapse.
First, the internal threats: one is the corruption and incompetence of officials, rampant bribery and corruption, with some high-ranking officials in certain prefectures and counties having reached the point of wielding absolute power. The second is the struggle among the Eight Tigers of the Celestial Empire; these eight powerful families are the pillars of the empire, and the loss of any one of them would weaken the empire's strength, giving external enemies an opportunity. The third is the struggle for the throne; currently, the Divine Might Emperor has established five..." The eldest prince, Yu Tianlong, is the most incompetent among the princes. Although he has great power, he has no chance of competing with the other princes. The struggle among the princes involves various forces within the court and extends to every corner of the empire. Once the Emperor passes away, the whole country will be in trouble!”
I never expected that Li Zhong’s last threat would include me. For a moment, I really admired Li Zhong’s courage. Perhaps he was testing my magnanimity. However, Li Zhong’s words did give me a wake-up call. It’s not that I hadn’t thought about those things, but rather that I hadn’t… I've thought about it deeply, but I haven't dared to speculate on the consequences of these struggles. It seems he truly is a talented person.
I calmed myself and then asked, "What about external threats?"
Li Zhong's eyes clearly showed admiration. He wasn't testing me just now; based on that kindness shown to him, he would certainly be extremely loyal to me. Seeing that I wasn't moved by his words, that's a rare quality, a necessary condition for those who achieve great things.
The admiration in Li Zhong's eyes was fleeting; hearing my question, he quickly replied, "As for external threats, Your Highness..." We know that, firstly, there's the northern clan alliance, which borders the empire the most and possesses a powerful cavalry. If it weren't for the Tianlang Legion of Tianlin County deterring them, the clan alliance's cavalry could swiftly reach Changyang Tiandu. The second threat is Japan; in fact, its threat is even greater than the northern barbarians, only the distance between us and the Great Sea makes it less threatening. However, the Hualong people and Japan have a long-standing feud, so we must always be vigilant against Japan and not give them any opportunity to exploit.
Besides these two, there are also… In the central part of the country, there is the Iron-Blooded Empire to the west and the Dark Moon Empire to the northeast. Since Lou Yixue inherited the Iron-Blooded Emperor's throne, he has worked diligently and broadened channels for public opinion over the past ten years. He can be said to be a very accomplished emperor. What is most frightening is that he has extremely great ambition and military talent to match his ambition. In recent years, he has swallowed up large swathes of land from the northern barbarians and captured several large tribes, enslaving them. For a time, his power was unparalleled! So although they do not pose a threat to our country at present, and we even have a common enemy, I... We must be wary.
The Moonlit Kingdom was established around the same time as the Ironblood Kingdom, but it is far more cunning. While the Ironblood Kingdom established itself on the continent through its military might, the Moonlit Kingdom did so through its excellent diplomacy. In our eyes, the Moonlit Kingdom is a prime example of opportunism. Aside from some conflict with the Eastern Sea's hegemony over the North Sea, it has implemented very mild policies towards the Northern Clan Alliance and the Celestial Empire, which had previously oppressed it. But Your Highness, please do not underestimate it. After 200 years of recuperation, no one knows just how strong its current national power truly is.”
"And then there are the Southern Barbarians, but they are not so daunting because they have a major weakness—disunity. Looking at their power distribution, they have hundreds of tribes, and many of them are quite large, which directly contributes to their internal disunity.
Finally, there's the Southern Buddha Kingdom, which shares the least border with our dynasty, and the bordering areas are mostly rugged mountainous regions. Since the founding of the Holy Flame Empire, it has been constantly suppressed by the Holy Flame, so this empire poses the least threat.
The rest of the countries are all in the west, not bordering the Celestial Empire, and there's also the Iron-Blooded, ambitious nation eyeing the west..." " It's better not to say anything more.
Your Highness's current task is to stabilize the internal situation, control the precarious state of the Celestial Empire, and then gradually advance towards a prosperous and powerful China."
I nodded repeatedly. This Li Zhong truly possessed real talent and ability. Now it remained to be seen whether I could gain his loyalty. But what did his last sentence mean? Was he offering me advice, thus demonstrating his loyalty? Or was he testing me, to see if I harbored any ambition to seize the throne? Yes! A thought flashed through my mind. I hardened my face and said to Li Zhong, "Li Zhong, do you know your crime?"
Li Zhong's last words could be described as treason. But I didn't specify the crime; I believe he understands my meaning. I already know he was testing me. Not probing me, but testing me. There was an element of loyalty involved, but the main purpose was to test me. If I hastily revealed my ambitions to him, he might be grateful, but he would definitely look down on me. How could someone destined for greatness so easily trust someone and confide their secrets? If I listened to him and then flew into a rage to accuse him of treason, he could only lament his bad choice of advisor. My words struck a balance between these two extremes, neither revealing my thoughts nor specifying any crime. This way, the initiative was in my hands.
Li Zhong's eyes clearly showed surprise, mixed with some delight, as he looked at my face. To his delight, my face remained completely expressionless. At that moment, Li Zhong knew he had encountered... He had found a wise master, a master to whom he could remain loyal for life.
His last words had multiple meanings; he was prepared to pledge allegiance the moment I clearly revealed my identity. Now he wanted to test my trust and my cunning. I didn't disappoint him, giving him the most suitable answer in the shortest time. Seeing my unwavering presence, Li Zhong realized he couldn't understand his master either. Watching
Li Zhong's changing expressions, I patiently waited for his pledge of allegiance. I knew my wisdom had won him over.
Sure enough, Li Zhong's expression finally hardened. He made a decision, a decision concerning his entire life. He slowly knelt on the ground and swore: "My master is wise! Li Zhong is in awe. In the name of the Divine Dragon, I, Li Zhong, pledge myself to Yu Tianyuan as my master. If I betray him, may I be forsaken by both gods and men."
I was shocked, then overjoyed. I hadn't expected Li Zhong to swear the most solemn oath of the Divine Dragon. This was the highest-level oath in the Celestial Empire, still considered the most solemn oath in the land. I hadn't dared to disobey it yet.
Originally, I wanted to let him kneel down as punishment for testing me, and also to let him get used to a life where I was in charge from now on. But I couldn't do that now. That would hurt the feelings of a loyal strategist. I quickly helped him up and promised, "Mr. Li, rest assured, with the wealth and honor of Yu Tianyuan in the future, you will definitely have good fortune."
After leaving Taihe Tower, I let Li Zhong go back first. The mansion that my father bestowed upon me should be approved in the next few days. I had already decided that Li Zhong would be the steward of Xintianyuan Residence.
March 3rd, 2214 in the Continental Calendar.
At the morning court, Zhang Jin submitted a memorial: Zhang Qi's only daughter is returning home to visit her family. Of course, this was just a superficial statement to save face for the royal family and the Zhang family. As for the truth, everyone at the morning court had heard about it, but no one spoke out. Thus, the elopement incident was left unresolved.
Then, Minister of Rites Jia Feng submitted a memorial that the wedding date for the Fifth Prince Yu Tianyuan and the daughters of the Zhang and Li families had been set for June 15th, three months later.
The officials present... They were surprised again. How could the court's efficiency have become so fast? Some people secretly speculated: This Fifth Prince should be observed carefully!
Li Huaien secretly glanced at the emperor on the throne. He knew that this was probably the one pulling the strings. But since he had decided to make the Li family dependent on this future son-in-law, how could he not have his help? Although Jia Feng was the emperor's man, he had many people from the Li family under his command. If it weren't for the fact that the head of the Li family was personally overseeing this matter, all those forces, big and small, would have postponed the wedding for several years.
After the morning court session, Jia Feng came to my Tianyuan Residence to inform me of the wedding date and that the house my father had bestowed upon me was ready. He came to take me there.
I had originally planned to go see Zhang Qian'er. Now that Jia Feng was here, I couldn't go. From the information Ying'er gave me, he was my father's confidant. Now that he had come to see me, I naturally couldn't treat him poorly.
Hearing that the wedding date was so soon... I was taken aback for a moment, then I remembered that this marriage was bestowed by my father, the Emperor. Of course, he wouldn't let it fall through or be delayed for too long. Thinking of this, I felt relieved. As for the new mansion, it was also a big deal for me. That would be my old home from now on. I had to see it for myself.
So, accompanied by Jia Feng, we boarded the carriage and headed towards the main street of the South District.
The South District was mostly filled with wealthy families with vermilion-lacquered roofs and red tiles. It was the gathering place of the upper class of the Celestial Empire. Many wealthy merchants used living here as a symbol of entering the upper class. So it was very famous. The further into the South District you went, the more heavily guarded it became, because its very center was the residence of the four princes (the four imperial brothers had all come of age and were therefore granted the title of prince). The Zhang family, the Li family, the Murong family, and the other eight great families also owned mansions here.
The carriage traveled on the wide streets of the South District. Several guards passed by from time to time on both sides. The strictness of the defense in the South District was evident.
Along the way, I chatted very amicably with Jia Feng. As the Minister of Rites, he... He naturally possessed his own abilities. Knowing I was currently favored by the Emperor, he didn't fawn over me. Instead, he naturally shared his experiences and political ambitions, allowing me to see his talent and value.
Indeed, he was a clever man, and I admired such cleverness. I followed his example, trying to demonstrate my own magnanimity and ambition, without offering any words of recruitment. I knew that someone like him was only loyal to the Celestial Empire and himself. Therefore, I didn't expect to gain his loyalty on our first meeting; I simply wanted to leave a good impression and reduce an enemy in the court.
I achieved my goal well. By the time the carriage stopped, we were already good friends. Jia Feng and I got out of the carriage together.
Although I had never been here before, I recognized the place, so I wasn't surprised by the grand mansions nearby. Following Jia Feng's directions, I calmly gazed towards my future residence. Jia Feng's introduction echoed in my ears: "This..." "This is Your Highness's future residence. Because Your Highness is not yet an adult and has not been granted a title, Your Highness does not have one. His Majesty has instructed me to use the name Your Highness uses in the palace, Tianyuanju. The golden plaque will be delivered tomorrow. Also, across the street is the residence of the Murong family. The second master of the Murong family, Mr. Murong Ming, the younger brother of the current head of the family, Murong Zheng, has been stationed in Tiandu for a long time. Your Highness can go and see it when you have time."
I was taken aback, then delighted. This Jia Feng was giving me a hint. To be honest, Ying'er's intelligence work had indeed been too short-lived. There were many things that everyone knew that I didn't understand. So I had never heard of Murong Ming. Now that Jia Feng told me he was Murong Zheng's younger brother, that was different. Such a person must be a very important figure in the Murong family. Jia Feng's actions may seem insignificant, but this was just a preliminary gesture of goodwill. As long as there is a good start, I believe our cooperation will have a bright future.
I also thought about the issue of granting titles of princes. In the royal family, there is... An unwritten rule: princes without a title generally reside in the palace for convenient education, essentially living near their birth mothers. After a prince's coming-of-age ceremony (at age 16), he is usually granted a title by the emperor, along with a piece of land to temporarily manage.
This is a complex matter; the size of the land is not determined by the emperor's preference, but by the power behind the prince. Generally, a prince's land falls within the sphere of influence of those powerful families. This was a strategy employed by the ancestors of the Yu clan to suppress the rise of the eight great clans. The brilliance of this strategy lay in intermarriage with these families. Each generation of the Yu emperor would take one or more women from the eight great clans as concubines. The empress was chosen directly from among the daughters of these eight great clans.
After the crown prince ascended the throne, the remaining princes would be granted the title of first-class marquises and return to Changyang Tiandu to live out their lives. This was a mandatory rule; no prince dared to violate it unless he received the full support of the eight great clans.
While I was lost in thought, Jia Feng didn't stop, beginning to describe how luxurious the mansion was, how it was designed, where the gardens were, and so on. Seeing my dazed state, he didn't remind me, just kept talking until I came to my senses.
I didn't pay attention to what he was saying, and simply had Jia Feng lead me on a tour of the new Tianyuan Residence. It felt very spacious and comfortable. But what I was most satisfied with wasn't these things, but rather the standard of the mansion's construction. It was half a grade lower than my imperial brothers' mansions, yet half a grade higher than others. Perfectly suited to my awkward status.
Now, all I need to do is move everything from the old Tianyuan Residence over, and then find Li Zhong. Then I'll have nothing else to do. After hearing about the wedding date with the Zhang and Li ladies, I made a decision: since there's still so much time, why not take advantage of it and take over the power that Fentian left me?

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