Chapter 418: The art of the emperor has always been like this

Dai Wuchang was, after all, the King of the Star Fall Kingdom. Since he had already spoken in such a tone, the ministers naturally didn't dare to continue their remonstrance.

Because the ministers all knew that this matter was no longer up for discussion.

Dai Wuchang actually had his own ideas; he was betting on a big one, which was taking sides.

No emperor could refuse the temptation of expanding territory, and he was no exception.

Rather than continuing to be timid among the small nations, it was better to choose a better side to join, and then there would definitely be benefits.

Nearby, there was someone who wanted to speak but stopped; that was Dai Wuchang's younger brother, Dai Xiaoyao.

Dai Xiaoyao used to cultivate in the Chensha Dao Sect in the west of the Tian Ce Dynasty and knew how profound the Tian Ce Dynasty's foundation was.

Recently, he went there again and found that because the orbital train had been built, the Tian Ce Dynasty was even more prosperous.

Moreover, the Tian Ce Dynasty's City Guard wasn't even an army for attacking fortresses; their weapons, equipment, and overall strength were enough to crush other countries.

Not to mention those warlike group armies? The armies of other countries were all forced to join the military; the Tian Ce Dynasty was different—if you didn't have some ability, you couldn't get in, and everyone was waiting for war to establish merit.

Most importantly, Dai Xiaoyao had also met the Emperor of the Tian Ce Dynasty, Li Chen.

Actually, he harbored some resentment toward Li Chen because Li Chen had taken away the woman he loved.

But to be fair, in Dai Xiaoyao's view, Li Chen was definitely a hegemon of his generation, doing things with lightning speed, and his own strength was unfathomable.

At that time, two Sage Realm experts, who were sacred and incomparable in Dai Xiaoyao's eyes, were easily defeated by Li Chen, which was enough to show Li Chen's power.

Dai Xiaoyao really wanted to tell his brother these things, but looking at Dai Wuchang's self-satisfied appearance, he couldn't listen at all. He simply held it in and didn't say anything.

After the morning court session, Dai Xiaoyao invited several close ministers to his mansion to discuss countermeasures.

"Your Highness, why don't we do this: we make preparations for both possibilities?" a minister said cautiously.

This sentence was hinting that they could secretly curry favor with the Tian Ce Dynasty so that if they faced an attack from the Tian Ce Dynasty in the future, they could still preserve themselves.

This kind of thing couldn't be said directly; hints were enough. Anyway, everyone present was a sensible person, and everyone understood his meaning.

Dai Xiaoyao frowned: "This is a good idea, but the problem is, what qualifications do we have to curry favor with Li Chen?"

Dai Xiaoyao felt he could do this, but he had no qualifications to bargain with Li Chen, and didn't even have the qualifications to curry favor with Li Chen.

Don't look at him as having been promoted from a prince of a small country to a Prince; don't look at him—even Dai Wuchang didn't count for much in front of Li Chen.

The ministers in the Prince's mansion looked at each other and frowned.

At this time, Dai Xiaoyao noticed a minister in the corner who wanted to speak but stopped, so he opened his mouth: "Minister Liu, what are your thoughts?"

Minister Liu sighed and hesitated: "Your Highness, I heard that Zhu Zhuying is now an Imperial Consort of the Tian Ce Dynasty, and the head of the Zhu family, Zhu Yingxiong... is her father..."

Having said this, Minister Liu didn't continue.

But everyone present understood his meaning: they could use Zhu Yingxiong to ease the relationship with the Tian Ce Dynasty.

Zhu Yingxiong was a weighty minister of the Star Fall Kingdom and had a certain status in this country.

The reason Minister Liu wanted to speak but stopped was because Zhu Zhuying was once Dai Xiaoyao's fiancée, and Zhu Yingxiong was Dai Xiaoyao's prospective father-in-law.

Now that Zhu Zhuying had entered the palace as a consort, Dai Xiaoyao was the most awkward person.

Unexpectedly, Dai Xiaoyao just gave a bitter smile: "No matter, this is indeed a way."

He stood up and tidied his attire: "I will go to the Zhu family right now." Walking out of the Prince's mansion, Dai Xiaoyao looked up at the sky.

His former sweetheart was now an Imperial Consort of the Tian Ce Dynasty, and he, the former fiancé, had to go and beg her father in a low voice.

"For the sake of the people of the Star Fall Kingdom, what is this little humiliation!"

Dai Xiaoyao muttered to himself and stepped toward the Zhu mansion.

This sentence seemed to be comforting himself as well.

He was no longer that child who fought for jealousy; as a Prince, he had to show the responsibility of a Prince.

The Zhu family mansion occupied a vast area in the capital of the Star Fall Kingdom, highlighting the Zhu family's prominent status.

As a Grand General, Zhu Yingxiong had made great contributions to supporting Dai Wuchang's ascension to the throne.

After Dai Wuchang ascended the throne, his eldest daughter naturally became the Empress, and the Zhu family's power reached its peak.

However, the art of the emperor has always been like this. Before Dai Wuchang ascended the throne, he promised Zhu Yingxiong "one person below ten thousand," as long as he, Dai Wuchang, lived for a day, Zhu Yingxiong's status could not be shaken. Now that Dai Wuchang had truly become the Emperor, he began to fear the Zhu family's power.

He didn't dare to openly weaken Zhu Yingxiong, fearing he would chill the hearts of meritorious officials, thinking he was a master who would kill the donkey when the grinding was done, and then who would dare to serve him?

So he came up with a strategy of borrowing a knife to kill, using the power of the Eternal Day Empire to suppress the Zhu family.

No matter how crazy Zhu Yingxiong was, he wouldn't dare to offend the people sent by the Eternal Day Empire, this behemoth.

Today, Zhu Yingxiong claimed illness and didn't attend the morning court session, precisely because he had a fierce dispute with Dai Wuchang a few days ago.

Zhu Yingxiong firmly opposed letting the Eternal Day Empire's army station troops, and stated: "Your Majesty, the Eternal Day Empire has the heart of a wolf; once they are allowed to station troops, we will become a thorn in the side of the Tian Ce Dynasty! When the Tian Ce Dynasty attacks, will the Eternal Day Empire keep sending troops to protect us?"

Having one more powerful ally was good, but having one more powerful enemy meant it was over.

But Dai Wuchang had already been blinded by the ambition of expanding territory: "Grand General, you worry too much! With the Eternal Day Empire backing us, who among the surrounding small nations would dare not submit? When the Star Fall Kingdom's territory expands, won't your Zhu family also rise with the tide?"

He just wanted to expand territory because the Star Fall Kingdom was considered relatively powerful among the southern nations. As long as the Eternal Day Empire's troops were stationed there, no one in the surrounding countries would dare to attack him, and he could wantonly attack other countries.

After the two parted on bad terms, Zhu Yingxiong claimed illness at home.

At this moment, he was reading the letter sent by his second daughter, Zhu Zhuying, in the study, when suddenly a guard reported: "Master, Prince Xiaoyao requests an audience."

Zhu Yingxiong frowned: "What is he here for?"

Thinking of the engagement between Dai Xiaoyao and his daughter, and then thinking that his daughter was now an Imperial Consort of the Tian Ce Dynasty, Zhu Yingxiong felt a mix of emotions.

But thinking again, he had seen Dai Xiaoyao a few times recently, and he really didn't look like the young and frivolous person he used to be; he was much steadier, so he estimated there must be some other matter.

"Invite the Prince in." Zhu Yingxiong tidied his attire and walked quickly toward the main hall.

As soon as Dai Xiaoyao entered the door, he bowed deeply: "Uncle Zhu, this nephew has visited rashly, I hope you will forgive me."

Zhu Yingxiong hurriedly helped him up: "Prince, you are shaming this old official; I don't know why you came today..."

Dai Xiaoyao looked around and lowered his voice: "Uncle, the matter is of great importance, can we borrow a step to speak?"

Zhu Yingxiong understood and led Dai Xiaoyao into the inner chamber.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 419 =====