While Yang Hong was engrossed in cultivating the lotuses and water lilies in his {Precious Lotus Pond}, Yang Jian and Yang Zhong were in a frenzy.
The heavy snowfall across the land had been effectively managed by the court’s timely disaster relief, and had not stirred up any significant unrest.
However, just as one wave subsided, another arose.
The Northern Great Yuan Dynasty, seizing the opportunity of the Great Sui Dynasty’s continuous natural disasters, had decisively dispatched troops.
They were now arrayed beyond the passes, on the grasslands near You Prefecture of the Great Sui, with a million troops, including three hundred thousand elite cavalry.
They presented an attitude of a war of annihilation.
Crown Prince Yang Yong, the second prince Yang Guang who was enfeoffed as King Ying, and the third prince Yang Hao who was enfeoffed as King Qin, all stood guard at formidable passes in You Prefecture.
However, due to the considerable troop deployment for disaster relief, You Prefecture had less than 300,000 soldiers.
Furthermore, the Great Yuan cavalry’s arrival was abrupt. Even if all 300,000 troops were stationed in border fortresses,
they would be no match for the Great Yuan’s million strong army.
Just as the Great Sui Dynasty was tensely mobilizing troops, a delegation from the Great Yuan Dynasty, led by the National Preceptor {Zhuan Jing Fa Wang}, brazenly headed towards the capital of Daxing.
...
In Yang Hong’s {Elegant Prosperity Tower}, Yang Zhong sat before Yang Hong, looking haggard.
“Good grandson, for this national banquet, the Mongol barbarians have specifically requested your presence.
I know they are bound to cause trouble, and the weakest among this delegation are at least Xiantian Grandmasters, with Tianren experts among them.
Therefore, I will not force you to attend the national banquet; it is your decision.”
Yang Zhong’s worry was unconcealed. He was extremely concerned that those Mongol barbarians might kill Yang Hong on the spot.
However, based on his own senses and the investigations of the Black Guard, all evidence indicated that at least 30 Tianren realm experts were among the hundred-strong Mongol delegation.
With such strength, they wouldn’t even need to resort to sneak attacks or assassinations; a direct, open assault could absolutely annihilate the entire Great Sui royal family.
The Great Sui’s strongest fighting force was only at the Great Grandmaster level.
And in the face of Tianren experts, Great Grandmasters were like ordinary first-rate masters facing Great Grandmasters, utterly powerless to resist.
However, upon hearing the strength of the approaching enemies, Yang Hong became unconcerned.
He was confident he could eliminate thirty Tianren realm individuals by himself.
He was now a super expert who had cultivated for ten thousand years since Foundation Establishment!
“Imperial Grandfather, rest assured. Since the Great Yuan’s strength surpasses the Great Sui’s, yet they are visiting with proper etiquette, they surely will not resort to killing at will. They must have a purpose in coming.”
“As long as Imperial Grandfather has not leaked the news of my ability to cultivate high-yield crops, I should be safe.”
Yang Zhong pondered for a moment before speaking earnestly.
“Regarding this, my good grandson, you can be completely at ease. Thus far, besides your Imperial Father and myself, only Wang Debiao and a few eunuchs and palace maids know.
And also, the women in your small courtyard.”
“The people in my courtyard can be trusted; they are all quite reliable.”
“Hmph~ Good grandson, are those women being disobedient? Why do I sense such a heavy yin energy from those few consorts? Have they not engaged in yin-yang harmony with you?”
On this matter, the Supreme Emperor Yang Zhong was clearly somewhat dissatisfied with Concubine Zhou and the others.
“Cough cough~ Imperial Grandfather, I have only been married for a short time. This is not appropriate.”
“Hmph~ It’s already been half a year, is that still ‘a short time’? How much longer does it need to be?
Quickly have your way with those women and make them give up any other thoughts, or it will be troublesome if they harbor ill intentions one day.”
“...”
Yang Hong was speechless. What kind of logic was this? Sleeping with them would ensure their loyalty?
Yang Hong thought, it would be better to just kill all those women.
It would be cleaner and more convenient.
He then decisively changed the subject: “Are the people on your side reliable?”
“Wang Debiao and those few can be trusted. They have followed me for decades. Although their strength is a bit lacking, their loyalty is unquestionable.”
Yang Zhong was confident in the few people he had in his inner circle.
“Then it’s not about my cultivation of high-yield plants.
Since they specifically requested me, it must be about the secret of my inability to cultivate martial arts.”
“If I’m not mistaken, the Great Yuan must have also learned some secrets. They are here to stir up trouble.”
When Yang Hong first heard that the Great Yuan National Preceptor had specifically requested to see him, he had also thought it was about the high-yield crops. However, upon further reflection, he realized it was likely not that simple.
Yang Zhong’s brow furrowed even deeper.
If this was the case, it would be even more troublesome.
If Yang Hong’s guess was correct, then there would likely be conflicts with the higher sects later on, and they, as mortals, would be powerless to resist.
Nothing was decided, nor was there time to discuss further. Yang Hong donned his light purple princely attire and, following Yang Zhong, walked out of the Pavilion of Deliberate Neglect towards the {Shimmering Light Hall} prepared for the national banquet.
The national banquet was ready, and both parties had arrived.
The banquet had not yet begun, and the personnel from both sides were engaging in “friendly” exchanges, smiling on the surface but grumbling in their hearts.
On the plaza outside the Shimmering Light Hall, a pair of figures were sparring.
The sounds of ‘bang bang bang~’ could be heard by Yang Hong even before he entered the Shimmering Light Hall.
Clearly, both sides were taking this sparring match very seriously.
Walking towards the plaza and approaching the crowd, Yang Hong found one of the two combatants very familiar. After a moment’s recognition, he immediately identified him.
It was King Ying, Yang Guang.
And he was at the mid-stage Xiantian Grandmaster level.
His opponent was a hulking figure over two meters tall. Based on his senses, Yang Hong could confirm that this giant was at the late-stage Xiantian realm, with his internal energy intensity a level higher than Yang Guang’s.
At this moment, Yang Guang, with his height of 1.75 meters and relatively “petite” physique, used his advantage to quickly maneuver around the giant.
Occasionally, Yang Guang could land a couple of punches on the giant.
Although the giant swung his fists with great force, he was mostly unable to hit Yang Guang.
However, after watching for about fifteen minutes, Yang Hong’s brow furrowed.
Yang Guang’s advantage was not obvious, and his internal energy seemed somewhat unstable.
Glancing at Yang Zhong beside him, Yang Hong thought of a possibility.
“Imperial Grandfather, did you give Yang Guang the pills sent by the Yin Gui Sect?”
“Mm~ Besides the one given to your sister Zi Xuan, the little girl, and one to Lan Ying, the rest were given to your four imperial brothers, three pills each.
Oh, and the Crown Prince did not take any pills.”
Yang Zhong did not hide anything. The Mystic Yin Pills sent by the Yin Gui Sect numbered a hundred, and it was impossible for the royal family not to utilize them.
“Imperial Grandfather, later, please give my four imperial brothers some wine.
Their foundations are probably unstable.”
“Mm~”
Yang Hong thought for a moment and decided to be generous.
After all, if he wanted to cultivate peacefully in the cold palace, he needed people to manage the dynasty, guard the borders, and handle state affairs.
Although those imperial brothers had all thought of killing him, and he had also thought of killing them,
it was better to have them work for him properly than to kill them.
Just as Yang Hong was lost in thought, the battle on the plaza concluded.
“Bang~”
With a dull thud, Yang Guang, who had been evading for a long time, was finally caught off guard by the giant.
One punch, just one punch!
Yang Guang was sent flying over three zhang, spitting out a mouthful of blood in mid-air.
Yang Guang, who had initially seemed to have the upper hand, was defeated, so abruptly defeated.
Defeated with just one punch.
“Roar~”
The giant, seizing the momentum, saw Yang Guang spitting blood and flying backward, and charged forward, swinging his fist, intending to smash Yang Guang to death.
“Stop~”
“Stop~”
Two voices rang out in succession, preventing the giant from taking further action.