Now, the general situation in the Emerald Sea is relatively stable. After Qian Ye inspected the altar of the Duke of Bones, he felt more assured about the werewolves’ current peace. He left Carol to hold the fort, and with the support of the Valhalla, it was almost foolproof.
Qian Ye instructed Eska and Xu Jingxuan to intensify the training of the new army and ordered them to stay vigilant. There was nothing else for him to entrust.
The equipment sent by Empress Li was of high quality but not in large quantities. It couldn’t be used for the development of large-scale ordinary mines; it could only be used for the extraction and smelting of rare minerals. The Island of Dawn in the East was an ideal location.
Empress Li had also carefully selected the people she sent, and it was evident that she had put a lot of thought into it.
Li Wanqing excelled in sensing and examining terrains, and she loved nature, making her an excellent miner. No one knew why such a delicate girl would choose to study these things. Li Pan Yu, on the other hand, studied military tactics and aspired to lead armies into battle. If Qian Ye wanted to expand his territory, he would certainly need wars. This should have been a perfect opportunity, but for some reason, the young man chose to conflict with Qian Ye.
Qian Ye had no interest in delving into Li Pan Yu’s true intentions, nor did he intend to indulge him. Qian Ye and Li Pan Yu were not related, and Li Pan Yu’s talents were not so outstanding that Qian Ye needed to accommodate his whims.
So, when Qian Ye returned to the Empire, he brought Li Pan Yu along to return him to the Li family. As for what punishment Li Pan Yu would face upon his return, that was none of Qian Ye’s concern.
Seeing that Qian Ye was truly angry, the eunuch Liu didn’t dare to joke around anymore. He obediently accompanied Qian Ye onto the high-speed floating boat, all the way back to the Empire.
The floating boat, marked with the imperial emblem, sailed smoothly, reaching Qinland without any issues.
Along the way, they encountered five instances of interception and inspection by the imperial fleet. Qian Ye, witnessing this, gained a deeper understanding of the imperial fleet’s superiority in outer space. Clearly, after occupying the floating land, the Empire had obtained an excellent transiting base in the void, and the frequency of outer space patrols had increased accordingly.
The floating boat entered Qinland, heading straight for the capital, finally landing at an estate in the outskirts.
The estate was serene and elegant, with breathtaking scenery. Several buildings were nestled among the green trees, by the side of a stream, each flower and tree reflecting the craftsmanship of their design. Even someone like Qian Ye, who was not particularly attuned to aesthetics, felt refreshed by the sight.
However, hidden within the elegance was a lurking danger. Qian Ye sensed several faint yet sharp gazes fixed on him from concealed positions. These gazes were sharp but nearly undetectable, indicating true powerhouses. They must be the estate’s guards, silently testing the mettle of visitors like Qian Ye.
In most situations, such surveillance would infuriate the surveilled, but if they remained undetected or could not locate the source, it was another matter entirely.
Qian Ye seemed to be admiring the scenery, but his gaze lingered slightly at a few points. In an instant, those prying eyes vanished, clearly not expecting Qian Ye to locate them so quickly.
A look of surprise flashed in Eunuch Liu’s eyes, but he quickly composed himself, smiling, “The weather has been quite stuffy lately, and Her Majesty got tired of staying in the palace, so she came here to relax. You arrived in the capital just in time, so Her Majesty instructed that you meet her here.”
Qian Ye nodded, “Thank you for leading the way, Eunuch Liu.”
Eunuch Liu led Qian Ye through the garden, stopping at the entrance to the main courtyard. “Her Majesty is inside; you may enter.”
Not sensing any powerful presence in the courtyard, Qian Ye pushed the door open and entered.
A soft, sweet voice drifted from within the courtyard, “You’re here. Please close the door.”
Qian Ye did as instructed, closed the door, and walked past the screen wall into the courtyard. A small pond filled with white lotuses and swimming fish occupied the center. By the pond stood a graceful figure, holding a wooden box, feeding the fish with a small silver spoon.
Each dip of the spoon was barely enough for one fish, but neither she nor the fish were in a hurry. The fish swam leisurely, approaching the food whenever they were close. The wooden box was small, and the spoon even smaller, suggesting that feeding the fish could take a very long time. Yet her movements were gentle and elegant, a sight that Qian Ye found pleasing. He watched quietly, showing no sign of impatience.
After a while, the fish food in the wooden box ran out. She handed the box to a nearby maid, smiled, and said to Qian Ye, “You are indeed patient.”
She was Empress Li, and her smile instantly brightened the entire courtyard. Qian Ye dared not look too closely, turning his gaze to the ground, “Anyone here would be patient, I suppose.”
Empress Li smiled lightly, “Not necessarily. Those people are just pretending to be patient, wondering what they can gain. But you, you were truly watching me feed the fish.”
This statement sounded a bit awkward, and Qian Ye explained, “I was observing Your Majesty’s actions, which seemed to resonate with the Way of Heaven. I was merely trying to understand, not to offend.”
Empress Li waved her hand, “There’s no need to be so cautious. From now on, you can relax and treat this place as your own home.”
Qian Ye wouldn’t accept that, saying, “How can I do that?”
Empress Li sat down in a chair, gently placing her hand on the table beside her. Her fingers, like orchids, curled and uncurled. She looked at Qian Ye with a half-smile, “I’ve heard about your affairs in Yonɡ Land. It seems many have underestimated you!”
“I’ve just managed to establish a foothold in Yonɡ Land.”
“Whether you’ve just established a foothold or already expanded your territory doesn’t matter. Intelligence reports show that you’ve just entered Zheng Kingdom. Logically, you shouldn’t have developed so quickly. But I sense that this isn’t your style. Perhaps you already command an army of over 100,000 troops?”
Even with Qian Ye’s composure, his blood core beat a little faster. It was a subtle change, and he wasn’t sure if Empress Li could sense it. Qian Ye quickly controlled his emotions, “Your Majesty is too kind. I wish I had 100,000 troops.”
Empress Li smiled, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t have them now. As long as you get them soon. Conquering Zheng Kingdom will give you around 100,000 soldiers. You might not know, but your recent activities in Yonɡ Land have caught the attention of the high-ranking officials in the court.”
Qian Ye was somewhat surprised, “With so many major events happening daily in the Empire, why would they care about such a small matter?”
“This isn’t a small matter. A prince from Zheng Kingdom has come to the Empire, claiming to be the rightful heir, and is seeking aid. Zheng Kingdom is nominally our vassal state, and its control by outsiders is a bit embarrassing.”
Qian Ye frowned, “The Empire has many vassal states, and Zheng Kingdom hasn’t fulfilled many obligations. Additionally, the Zheng royal family is known for infighting and lack of ambition, which is quite disgraceful. Zheng Kingdom isn’t naturally theirs to rule.”
“You make a valid point. However, in the court, you can’t say such things. Otherwise, someone might ask if Qinland is naturally meant to be ruled by His Majesty.”
That was a sensitive topic. Qian Ye felt a chill, unsure of what Empress Li would say next.
Empress Li continued, “Everyone knows that the vast world belongs to those with virtue. No one is born with divine right. If it weren’t for the martial prowess of the founding emperor and the martial ancestor, the Empire might not have the same name. Even now, if it weren’t for His Majesty’s years of hard work and sudden rise, the Everlasting King might still be causing trouble. The imperial throne would be unstable. Those old men hide their faults, and instead of being loyal, they use it as an excuse to suppress dissent.”
Qian Ye, unsure how to respond, nodded in agreement.
Empress Li glanced at him, annoyed, “I’m speaking from the heart, and you’re being evasive. Do you think your wings are strong enough that I can’t control you anymore?”
Qian Ye hurriedly denied it.
Empress Li’s expression softened as she sipped her tea, “I’m saying this for a reason. Recently, some old men openly questioned your status as a blood race, asking whose territory you are expanding in Yonɡ Land.”
Qian Ye’s expression darkened, and his eyes flashed with murderous intent. Such insinuations, if taken seriously, could force him into opposition with the Empire, even if he didn’t want it.
Empress Li remained silent, watching Qian Ye.
Qian Ye took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said coldly, “I don’t understand why forcing me to the Evernight would benefit them.”
“There are many benefits. Besides, their real target isn’t you, but those who speak up for you.”
Qian Ye took a deep breath, his voice cold, “The Zhao Clan?”
“Not just the Zhao Clan now, but also the Zhang Clan.”
“The Zhang Clan?” Qian Ye was puzzled, as he didn’t recall having any connection with the Zhang Clan, except for a brief conversation with the Qingyang King after the White City battle.
“At the recent court meeting, when discussing your case, the Qingyang King suddenly spoke up, praising your great contribution in the White City battle. Starting a conflict with a war hero so soon after the war would demoralize the people. He directly rebuked the official who proposed the motion, accusing him of hiding malicious intentions behind noble pretenses. The Qingyang King is currently in a strong position, and his words silenced the others. At least for now, you don’t have to worry about the imperial expeditionary force.”
Qian Ye thought for a moment, “If that’s the case, won’t sending me those supplies draw criticism?”
Empress Li laughed lightly, “I ordered the ships to depart after the court meeting. I didn’t try to hide it, so many people probably know. As for what others think, that’s their business. They’ll imagine conspiracies regardless. I’ll play my strategy, keeping them busy, which is fine.”
Qian Ye felt something was off, and his brows furrowed slightly.
While Empress Li spoke lightly, the fact was that the Qingyang King and Empress Li had aligned themselves with Qian Ye. Others wouldn’t see Qian Ye’s value, only interpreting it as a tacit agreement between the Li family and the Zhang Clan. The Li family was rising rapidly, and rumors suggested a genius had emerged from a collateral branch, making their future ascension almost certain.
An alliance between the Heavenly King and the current imperial family was a significant event for the Empire.
Qian Ye, not skilled in political struggles and outside the Empire, lacked a full understanding of the situation. Though hesitant, he remained silent, waiting for Empress Li to continue.
Seeing this, Empress Li became serious, “Qian Ye, I called you here for two reasons: to thank you, and to ask for a favor.”
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