"Your news travels fast, Yao'er," a voice remarked. It seemed news from Fengchen Palace was indeed swift. Someone must have many informants scattered outside, and he himself had just received word that the old emperor of Huangyuan Kingdom was gravely ill, and a new emperor was about to ascend the throne. It was likely that envoys from the other six kingdoms would appear, and many people in the shadows would likely set their sights on him.
"Xianyue must also be sending envoys, right? This is a good opportunity."
Qingyao smiled, her lips curling slightly. "Let our first cooperation be a pleasant one. Who does Your Majesty plan to send?"
Murong Liu Zun's narrow eyebrows rose slightly as he spoke in a deep voice, "Let Prince Nan'an lead the delegation. The Minister of Rites and the Minister of War will accompany him."
"Your Majesty should remain safely within the palace. Don't leave the palace too often. If something happens to you, how can the world be unified?"
Xian Di was pleased by Qingyao's subtle concern, but his expression remained unchanged. He seriously pondered Qingyao's words. This time, he would let Prince Nan'an go. With Qingyao in charge, he felt very relieved. Furthermore, Prince Nan'an had been absent recently, which had already aroused suspicion from many people. He himself was also growing bored.
"Alright, Prince Nan'an will be sent to Huangyuan Kingdom this time. Yao'er, you must be careful on your journey."
"I will be," Qingyao nodded. She turned and looked out at the flower hall. The moon was already setting in the west. She spoke slowly, "Your Majesty should return. It is very late."
"Mm, tomorrow I will send someone to pick you up to the royal villa."
"Understood," Qingyao replied. She watched as the Emperor stood up, his tall and imposing figure walking directly out. Ah Jiu's voice sounded from outside the door, "Your Majesty, are you returning to the palace?"
The figures came and went without a trace, disappearing quickly.
Outside the flower hall, Mochou waited for the Emperor to leave, then immediately flashed in and asked respectfully, "Master, shall we rest now?"
Qingyao shook her head and sat down again. She waved her hand and commanded, "Have Moyou come in. I have something to discuss with him."
"Yes," Mochou said, somewhat surprised. She had never seen her master with such a serious expression before. Had something happened? Daring not to ask further, she swiftly flashed away and called Moyou from outside.
"Moyou pays his respects to Master."
Qingyao nodded, glanced at Mochou, and quietly ordered, "Mochou, guard the entrance to the flower hall. No one is allowed to approach. Moyou and I have something to discuss."
"Yes, Miss," Mochou felt increasingly that this matter was of great importance and felt uneasy. What exactly had happened? It must be related to Moyou. Could it be about Huangyuan Kingdom? Her heart trembled, but she dared not ask more and carefully guarded the entrance to the flower hall.
"Master?" Moyou saw a layer of cold frost on Qingyao's face and did not know what had happened. Puzzled and uneasy, he stood to the side.
Qingyao looked at him, and after a long while, slowly said, "Your father is gravely ill, Moyou. This is the news just received from Huangyuan Kingdom."
"What?" Moyou's body swayed, almost falling. How old was his father to be so gravely ill? He had seen him perfectly fine not long ago. Why was he now gravely ill? What was going on? Moyou thought, a mist gathering in his eyes, unable to speak for a long time. Although he had said he would never return, that there was no family affection for him there, even with his father's doting, that love had only pushed him into the eye of the storm. But upon hearing of his grave illness, he was still terrified. In the future, the only person in this world who cared about him would also be gone. This feeling was simply terrible.
"Master, I want to go back, immediately."
Moyou cried out. Qingyao glanced at him coldly and said unhurriedly, "Will you be able to see him if you go back? If you dare to show yourself, they would have probably killed you already. And would you have a chance to see the Emperor?"
Moyou was stunned by Qingyao's words. He staggered a few steps and sat down on the chair behind him. After a long time, he reacted and knelt down with a thud.
"Master, please help me. Let me see my father one last time. I will be willing to be your ox or horse from now on, only asking you to help me this once."
"Enough," Qingyao commanded coldly. Moyou finally stopped his actions, looking at Qingyao helplessly. He was only fifteen after all, his heart still very tender. How could he endure this? However, people only grow in adversity.
"I have a deal for you."
Moyou's eyes were somewhat bewildered. A deal? What deal did Master want to discuss with him? As long as she said it, he would do it.
"Moyou, I want to help you ascend the throne. Are you willing?"
"The throne?" Moyou was somewhat dazed. He did not like being emperor at all, because royalty had never known family affection. He did not want his descendants to fight and kill each other in the future. That was a cruel thing. But why would Master do this?
"But there are conditions. You must formally declare your surrender and willingly submit to Xianyue Kingdom."
So, wouldn't he be a traitor? This thought flashed quickly through Moyou's mind, his expression flickering. Qingyao, knowing what he was thinking, continued, "I'm not asking you to announce your submission to Xianyue now, but when the seven kingdoms are unified in the future. At that time, the people will be grateful to you. And you don't want to be emperor. By submitting to Xianyue, you will become a prince, living a life of leisure and freedom. Most importantly, even if you don't submit, it doesn't mean your brothers won't. Your father is gravely ill now, and at this time, other countries will surely be stirring. Whether Huangyuan Kingdom can protect itself is uncertain. If it falls into the hands of another country, the people of Huangyuan Kingdom will surely suffer the ravages of war. You should know Xianyue's strength, my capabilities, and what I am currently doing."
As Qingyao's words fell, Moyou shivered slightly. Because of their long interaction, he knew that when his master set out to do something, she was ruthless. Most importantly, the weapons she created were incredibly powerful. It was likely that the war of the seven kingdoms would ultimately be won by Xianyue. If Huangyuan Kingdom were truly merged with another country, it would inevitably suffer the devastation of war.
"If we submit, will those people no longer suffer from war?"
"Yes."
"If we submit, will I be able to see my father?"
"Yes."
"Alright," Moyou finally agreed. He only wanted to see his father one last time, and it was also something he was willing to do to ensure that the people of Huangyuan Kingdom would not suffer from the ravages of war. Although he did not want to be emperor, once the seven kingdoms were unified, he would merely be a vassal king.
"If I help you ascend the throne, you just need to formally declare your surrender. On the surface, nothing will change. However, in public, our two families can cooperate to attack Danfeng Kingdom."
When Danfeng Kingdom was mentioned, Qingyao's pupils turned dark and cold, wisps of chilling air emanating from them, causing people to tremble.
"Alright, I will obey Master's every command."
Moyou nodded. He knew that his master was a person who kept her word, and she deeply hated Danfeng Kingdom. The first target would certainly be Danfeng Kingdom.
"Go down. You will return to Huangyuan Kingdom with the envoy delegation in the next day or two."
"Yes," Moyou withdrew. He feared he would not be able to sleep that night, as he did not know how the old emperor of Huangyuan Kingdom was doing. As his son, how could he sleep?
Outside the door, Mochou walked in and respectfully said, "Master, it is very late. Shall we rest?"
Qingyao stood up and glanced at Mochou's restless appearance, knowing she was concerned about Moyou. She said softly, "The old emperor of Huangyuan Kingdom is gravely ill."
"Then Moyou?" Mochou stopped speaking and followed Qingyao out. The corridor was lit by flickering lamps, and the moonlight was clear and cold, casting long, thin shadows of the two figures. This Qingyuan was completely devoid of its former atmosphere, cold and desolate. A wave of melancholy rose in Qingyao's heart, and she turned to look at the moonlight beyond the railing.