Chapter 615

Xiao Zi had just returned from the academy, and hearing his family and friends describe the auction at the Floating Pagoda Tower, he was very interested; since the original site tavern opened its doors to customers today, he came together with an old friend.

He didn't have the Great King's habit of listening to gossip with the door open, but when the waiter brought the food, the Great King's loud little voice let him hear everything clearly.

"I, this young lord, come from the Number One Academy under Heaven—the Northern Border Academy!"

The two old men laughed; they had indeed heard plenty about this Northern Border Academy over the years.

Then someone mentioned Fu Yuan Academy and Xiao Zi's great name, and the door couldn't be shut any longer. The Great King posed a question, and the two of them were also working on it; as expected, before they could even get a clue, time was up. They listened closely to the Great King's explanation, but as expected, they still didn't understand.

The Great King slipped away too fast; when they came out, all they saw was his swaggering back as he left.

Xiao Zi spent every day squatting on the mountain, while his old friend Zhao Yun had always been in the capital. Watching the Great King's back, and then looking at the gold‑shining pet that seemed like a dog……

"I think I've guessed who this young lord is. That's right—there aren't many who have studied at the Northern Border Academy inside Chang'an City."

Xiao Zi pondered, and then it clicked. Before he had only been focusing on the question; he really hadn't thought of that place.

He immediately went over to find out how the problem was solved, saying he just wanted to take a look. Han Zheng recognized him at once, courteously stepped aside, and then copied a copy of the research for himself.

And after Xiao Zi got the solution idea, he still didn't understand how ordinary study in the Northern Border could enable one to solve such a question……

The Great King forcibly ended the match and fled, then strolled along Chang'an Avenue, went to a tea house to listen to storytelling, and only after having enough fun did he decide to return to the palace.

On the way, Wei Shen also said, "…Just you, your grades at the Northern Border Academy are still only average?"

The Great King was utterly clueless, "Isn't that just me being modest?"

Wei Shen shocked JPG

"What I mean is, you're not at the bottom, are you?"

The Great King swung a little iron fist at his cousin, "No way! Every time I turned in my homework, I never came in last!"

"Hahaha that wasn't your subordinate helping you write……ah!" Da Wang's iron fist was still quite heavy, Wei Shen let out a miserable cry.

The two fought with crackling sounds, Ling Yin first noticed something was off; he glanced at Wei Ke, Wei Ke also sensed it, and struck out to intimidate the brothers fighting over the wall.

"There's an ambush!"

Da Wang withdrew his iron fist, "hah?" His eyes held no fear, only keen interest.

"It's about time you showed up, otherwise I'd think I'm past my prime. If Everlasting Peace with so many forces has nobody wanting to cut me down, that would be a bit of a failure."

Wei Ke: ……

Part of the Owl Cavalry hidden nearby had already leapt out; seeing they were exposed, the enemy directly revealed themselves, brandishing knives and charging at Da Wang. At a glance there were forty or fifty of them, quite a scale! At the crisis point, Da Wang hesitated not, pushing the fighter forward!

"Go on, Xiao Jin, it's time to protect the meal ticket~"

Wei Ke: ……

This assassination attempt was high-spec, from numbers to skill not bad; unfortunately there were also plenty of Owl Cavalry members, plus a super fighter Xiao Jin. This guy leapt over, opening his mouth just about to show off his skills, when Da Wang shouted from behind: "Don't howl, there are plenty of our own!"

Heaven pity, the beast whose skill is a roar basically had no chance to be brought out.

Xiao Jin could only use his claws and head; whoever he hit fell, whoever he slapped got broken bones, quite bearing Da Wang's demeanor—even before the great hero Ling could move, the assassins were already down.

Wei Shen there sighed: "I told you so, I don't recommend assassinating Wei Taiping; the chance of success is tiny. Losing so many experts all at once, what a pity!" He knew the Owl Cavalry that had come out weren't all of them, and there were still people hidden nearby who hadn't moved. Since that year when they overturned in Dragon Head County, the Owl Cavalry has always been cautious.

Soon the Feather Forest Guard appeared as well; they took over the mess, and Da Wang could continue back to the palace. This guy still watched with relish, "Is it over already?" He was a bit unwilling to let it go.

Wei Ke urged him to return to the palace: "Your Majesty, go back first; this time we still have a live captive. Once we interrogate and get a lead, I'll immediately report to Your Majesty."

Da Wang: "Ah? Can't I also go take a look?" He also wanted to eat melon on the front lines.

Wei Ke watched him; Da Wang knew there was no point. This guy had a calm attitude toward the assassination, turned around and brought Wei Shen back to the palace. Even Zhao Bao didn't notice that just forty or fifty people had been chasing and hacking him. On the contrary, Bai Ze saw them return, and at a glance saw blood stains on Xiao Jin's body. "Did they come back completely intact?"

Da Wang savored a bit of flavor: "You know someone tried to assassinate me? This time the attackers are from the Great Jin; you can't blame the grasslands." He also felt a bit regretful.

Bai Ze ultimately still reminded: "For now we still need to treat the feudal lords well; otherwise those who want to assassinate you will be far more than just a few rebel kings."

"I've already given the Prince of Guanghan a grand mansion and kept his title unchanged—how else should I treat him well? Give him money to spend? That's not allowed!"

Bai Ze: ……

"You took back their fief, cutting off their support—giving them some stipend isn't that what should be done?"

"No, Da Wang's money goes into his pocket; ordinary people can't come up with it."

After Da Wang finished his ascension, Everlasting Peace grew colder day by day; the south also temporarily had no major movements, so Da Wang didn't prepare to go south for winter. He needed to straighten out and hold in hand the several newly obtained commanderies: the line from the Northern Border to Everlasting Peace, the line from Flourishing Prefecture to Vast Han, plus Flourishing Black and the newly conquered Abundant Water and Abundant Virtue territories from his uncle; the reclaimed land was quite substantial.

Wait until these are all obtained on the full topographic map before continuing the advance; it's not too late.

Zhu Ti has already returned to the Northern Border to inspect his several large farms; hearing that the land isn't fertile and the harvest is just passable, but Da Wang is still itching to act.

He said to Xie Yuan: "Sir, have you ever heard this saying?"

Xie Yuan listened attentively, thinking there might be some new inspiration or some folk rumor.

As a result, Da Wang said: "Call it, whether rich or poor, go home for the New Year~"

Xie Yuan: ……

"Your Majesty, are you thinking of returning to the Secluded Prefecture?"

Da Wang nodded frantically; Xie Yuan firmly refused: "No!"

He came up with several reasons to persuade Da Wang, also saying that the affairs of South of the Ru weren't settled yet; at this point, returning to the Secluded Prefecture would let them attack Everlasting Peace—that would be disastrous.

Da Wang seemed to have temporarily given up, but after Xie Yuan's refusal he still felt uneasy, always thinking that Bai Li Jing wasn't the sort to give up so easily.

Sure enough, after only a day, Everlasting Peace's weather changed. It was a literal change of weather.

It was also a coincidence; looking afar at the purple aura gathering above the imperial palace, explaining it scientifically, it was just that thunder and rain were brewing.

But the thunderstorm delayed, the purple aura in the sky looked mighty and overwhelming, always feeling rather unusual!

At morning court, Gao Chang said: "This is a natural auspicious omen, the country has a lucky sign! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

As soon as the officials of Everlasting Peace heard it, they immediately became wary: the flatterer opening his mouth means the emperor is up to mischief.

Sure enough, Da Wang happily announced: "That's right, I also sensed it! So, for the first New Year after my ascension, I wish to return to the Land of Dragon Rise to offer sacrifices to Heaven."

Xie Yuan: ……

He said the emperor didn't hint at Gao Chang; he didn't believe.