Chapter 2977: They Will Not Let Me Go

The Frostleaf State Preceptor directly changed the subject: "Just attacking Shen State—this kind of revenge isn't very satisfying. It would be better to go directly to Jiuyou himself." Go to Jiuyou himself? Nie Xiaolou was startled. Right!

How could I not have thought of that?

Wuhuan stared blankly: "I did want to! But Cangyuan is ten thousand li away."

Even if we ride a flying magical artifact there, it would take a long time.

"No need to go ten thousand li away." Frostleaf said solemnly, "Jiuyou recently invited the late emperor to a meeting at Bing Shan Tongshui, and the late emperor agreed, didn't he?"

The last sentence was directed at Nie Xiaolou, who nodded: "The late emperor has already agreed to meet with the Jiuyou Emperor, but I didn't expect Between Between Between Beijia to suffer this misfortune so soon after." Frostleaf said to Wuhuan, "Since the late emperor has already passed on, you may justifiably go fulfill the appointment at Tongshui."

Qingjiao froze, one claw pointing at his own nose: "Me?"

It hadn't even considered this point.

"Jiuyou invited the emperor of my Between Between Between Beijia."

Wuhuan's tail slapped the chair back with a crack, directly knocking off a small horn:

"Exactly, I can go confront Jiuyou in person... for revenge!"

Still, it was the Frostleaf State Preceptor who spoke one sentence and woke the dreamer.

Ye Zhao glared at the Frostleaf State Preceptor—tonight he had to, for the first time, oppose the Crown Prince:

"Your Majesty, it's too dangerous! Jiuyou and the Mu Emperor are immensely powerful in combat, and their intentions are inscrutable."

At this critical moment, the Heavenly Palace absolutely cannot allow the little Qingjiao to leave Lingxu City!

Moreover, going to Bing Shan Tongshui under these circumstances to serve as Wuhuan's security detail would absolutely be a nightmare-level assignment.

Wuhuan glanced at him: "I'm leading a great army—what can they do to me? Between Between Between Beijia is full of immortals; if the Heavenly Palace sends down a few more heavenly gods to assist me, why should I fear Jiuyou?"

"Bing Shan is not within Between Between Between Beijia's territory..."

In fact, Ye Zhao truly wanted to say: when facing beings of the caliber of the Jiuyou Emperor and the Mu Emperor—peerless powerhouses—the sheer number of an army would already be meaningless before them, impossible to wear down.

Wuhuan narrowed his eyes: "Are you afraid of Jiuyou, unwilling to face him head-on?"

Ye Zhao realized he was mistaken—replacing Wuhuan to go to Bing Shan and kill the Jiuyou Emperor would itself be a nightmare-level task.

"I've heard Jiuyou usually hides in Ju City, so I thought killing him wouldn't be easy. Since he's going to Bing Shan anyway, this is such a perfect revenge opportunity—how could I let it pass?" Wuhuan said solemnly, "Since heavenly gods are omnipotent, let's join me in destroying this arrogant sinner!" The hall fell silent, except for the sound of Frostleaf clapping:

"Your Majesty truly has resolve!"

The ministers looked at each other, all feeling today's court session was absurd and bizarre, beyond comprehension.

However, with Frostleaf stepping in to smooth things over, the discussion in the Crown Prince's palace finally came to an end.

Everyone let out a breath.

As the ministers left, they all slumped their shoulders—this was truly the most exhausting and difficult pre-court meeting they had ever experienced in their lives. Most felt bewildered: where does the path ahead lie?

Nie Xiaolou then said to Wuhuan:

"The palace city has been too turbulent these past two days; please allow me to stay here, Your Highness."

At this moment, I cannot let the Crown Prince fall into the hands of the Heavenly Palace.

"Very well." Wuhuan bore no grudge against Nie Xiaolou; he knew this man was loyal to his father to the death, the most relied-upon minister of his father. Besides, Wang Ting's words had left a shadow in his heart—if his father was truly harmed by heavenly gods, then having Nie Xiaolou and others guarding him would make him feel safer. Ye Zhao also added: "Your Highness, the Heavenly Palace's Heart-Soothing Envoy I brought can comfort your grief——"

"Don't!" Wuhuan flicked his tail, two shards of porcelain shooting toward Ye Zhao: "Get lost!"

"Your Highness, mourn in silence, do not give in to anger."

Wuhuan roared: "Take your Heavenly Palace people and all get out of my palace!"

Ye Zhao did not anger either, glancing at Nie Xiaolou and others beside him, then scanning the countless guards outside the hall, and suddenly said: "The Qing Palace State Preceptor is no simple figure—these years he has maintained close contact with Cangyuan. Today, after helping Shen State break the siege, Jiuyou will surely thank you properly afterward."

Nie Xiaolou smiled: "My interactions with Cangyuan have always followed the imperial will. Besides, the one who helped Shen State break the siege today seems to have been the Autumn Palace State Preceptor." Wuhuan's eyes reddened, he stared fixedly at Ye Zhao: "Still not getting lost?"

Staying longer would be pointless; Ye Zhao waved his hand and led all his subordinates out of the hall.

General Qingwu personally escorted them to the hall's exterior—just as they stepped across the threshold with their front feet, General Qingwu slammed the door shut with a creak using his hind feet. Ye Zhao stared at the tightly closed door, his eyes turning slightly cold.

The intensity of the confrontation in the Crown Prince's palace today exceeded the Heavenly Palace's expectations. Ye Zhao hadn't expected Wang Ting, Nie Xiaolou, and others to dare openly turn against the Heavenly Palace! Before the hundred officials, the Heavenly Palace was somewhat caught off guard.

And that little Qingjiao actually thought he could command wind and rain in Lingxu City? Pah, his baby teeth haven't even fully grown in.

What the Holy Venerable needs is merely his special status.

As long as we remove the remnants of the old demon emperor's forces from beside the little Qingjiao, from now on this little thing won't just be at the mercy of the Heavenly Palace, will it?

No matter—the old demon emperor is already dead. Between Between Between Beijia has fully fallen under the Holy Venerable's control; it's only a matter of time.

However, for now he must consider how to explain himself to the Holy Venerable upon returning. Ye Zhao drew a deep breath silently and led his team back.

As for Wuhuan here, he isn't worried.

In the Crown Prince's mansion, there are plenty of Heavenly Palace spies.

Nie Xiaolou and Wang Ting stepped over the threshold together, shoulder to shoulder.

Moving farther from the crowd, Nie Xiaolou then said: "Wang Ting, you're right about guarding the city, but tonight you were truly impulsive—you shouldn't have clashed with the Heavenly Palace so early. From now on, we have no room for maneuver left."

"How would I not know the Heavenly Palace is inciting the Crown Prince to take revenge on Cangyuan, saying exactly what the Crown Prince wants to hear?" Wang Ting sighed, "But declaring war on Shen State and Cangyuan is a matter that could bring suffering to millions of lives—how could it be used as a toy to amuse the Crown Prince? If no one steps forward to correct this, the Crown Prince will truly be led astray by them, from then on regarding enmity as filial piety!"

"Wang Ting is upright and principled—that's why the Crown Prince appointed him to guard Lingxu City." The official atmosphere in Lingxu City is poor—factionalism and wind-following are basic operations—but people flock together, and even in the vast Wang Ting, there are a few who are principled and upright, inside and out straight, and Wang Ting is one of them. The demon emperor also knew he needed such officials, so previously the least favored Wang Ting became the guardian of Lingxu City, and he has held the post for seven years straight. Nie Xiaolou whispered: "But your temper right now is most likely to bring upon yourself a fatal disaster!"

"State Preceptor, I am the guardian of Lingxu City." Wang Ting said solemnly, "Based on this alone, they will not let me go."

Whether or not he opposed the Heavenly Palace today, he simply refuses to follow the crowd in corruption, and he is no fool.

Lingxu City is a place the heavenly gods must contend for—Wang Ting won't hold this position for long.

"Seeing as the nation faces crisis, surely someone must speak the truth?" Wang Ting said solemnly, "Today I pierced this layer of window paper; afterward, those people in court can no longer hide their understanding behind feigned ignorance. I believe this, on the whole, is a good thing?"