Chapter 1352

Hong Beimo respectfully took the scroll she had finished writing from Qiqi's hands. Qiqi indeed did not disappoint him; she could actually recite from memory the entire content of the Elixir Cauldron Chapter. Hong Beimo eagerly unfolded it to look, only to see that what Qiqi had recited from memory was exactly the same as the two pages Hu Xiaotian had given him. While marveling at the wonder of the inheritance, he could not help but admire Qiqi's extraordinary wisdom.

Qiqi said: "This Elixir Cauldron Chapter seems not particularly remarkable."

Hong Beimo said: "I always thought it recorded a great secret, but only after truly obtaining it did I discover it is not the same as I imagined."

Qiqi smiled: "Do you feel a great sense of disappointment?"

Hong Beimo said: "I suppose it is my foolishness that prevents me from grasping its true meaning."

Qiqi said: "After a while, I want to go inside the imperial tomb to have a look."

Hong Beimo, hearing this, was startled and bowed: "Your Highness, the interior of the imperial tomb is not yet completed; going now would be premature."

Qiqi chuckled: "Mr. Hong, I will not interfere in your affairs, but I must know what you are doing. Since we are cooperating, we should be frank with each other. Don't you understand by now where the true Elixir Cauldron Chapter is?"

Hong Beimo bit his lip, gazing at Qiqi's haughty pretty face, and suddenly understood that the so-called Elixir Cauldron Chapter was merely a ruse to lead people astray; the true Elixir Cauldron Chapter was none other than the Yongyang Princess Qiqi before him. Though Qiqi is young, the scheming Hong Beimo found himself without any advantage before her. He began to realize that the cooperation he desired was merely wishful thinking; even if he could help Qiqi ascend the throne, she would not ignore the imperial tomb's affairs, and he would have to abandon his original intent, let Qiqi intervene, and without Qiqi he could achieve nothing.

Qiqi said: "Mr. Hong, do you still remember that mural?"

Hong Beimo nodded.

Qiqi said: "The mural clearly shows two giants captured, yet why is there only one skull inside Long Ling Shengjing?"

Hong Beimo respectfully said: "I, your servant, do not know; I also only saw that skull for the first time when I accompanied Your Highness to Long Ling Shengjing."

Qiqi said: "Do you know what that skull represents?"

Hong Beimo said: "I, your servant, am foolish!"

Qiqi said: "Since you know about the memory inheritance and the Heaven‑Scanning Treasure Mirror, how could you not know the origin of that skull? Mr. Hong, it seems you are still hiding many things from me."

Hong Beimo's face showed embarrassment; just as he was about to explain, Quan De'an quietly entered from outside and reported in a low voice: "Report to Your Highness, the Prince of Blessing of Tianxiang State has arrived."

Qiqi said: "Please let him in."

Prince of Blessing Yang Longyue of Tianxiang State, the half‑brother sharing the same father as Tianxiang King Yang Longjing, had come by order to observe the rites. Only after arriving at Kangdu did he learn that Kangdu had suffered a palace coup, and that the Yongyang Princess had publicly announced the annulment of her marriage pact with Hu Xiaotian. Thus his envoy mission had become meaningless; the grand wedding originally set for May sixteenth had already been cancelled, so what rites were there to observe? Yet since Yang Longyue had come to Kangdu, he was unwilling to make the trip for nothing, and protocol required him to pay a visit.

Because the Tianxiang State's Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao is the biological younger sister of the Dakang Emperor Long Xuan'en, out of this relation Qiqi still has to address Yang Longyue as 'uncle'. Choosing to meet him inside the palace and not treating him with ordinary envoy etiquette is precisely for this reason.

Accompanied by two Tianxiang State warriors, Yang Longyue came to the Hall of Diligence. He had the two wait outside while he entered the hall alone. Along the way, seeing the scale of the Dakang imperial palace, Yang Longyue secretly sighed. After all, it was once the hegemon that dominated the Central Plains; even just the grandeur and scale of the Dakang imperial palace cannot be compared with that of the Tianxiang palace. Of course, the Tianxiang palace also has its own strengths; in terms of exquisite elegance, it is indeed quite distinctive.

Yang Longyue is twenty‑two years old, tall and sturdy. He has a square face, dark skin, and slightly curly hair; his birth mother is from the Tianxiang barbarian tribe, and her status also affected his standing among the royal family.

Qiqi rose to greet him, smiling: "Have you come, uncle?"

Seeing the Yongyang Princess treat him with such courtesy, Yang Longyue was greatly pleased, clasped his hands and bowed: "I, Yang Longyue, envoy of Tianxiang State, pay my respects to the Yongyang Princess." In the past, Tianxiang State and Dakang had always been in a subordinate relationship; although Yang Longyue ranks higher in seniority than Qiqi, setting aside that relation, he still must greet her with the courtesy due a vassal state.

Qiqi laughed: "We are all one family; uncle, why be so formal? I chose to meet you here rather than at court precisely so you would not feel too restrained."

Yang Longyue, naturally open and frank, also laughed upon hearing this.

Qiqi invited him to sit; Hong Beimo and Quan De'an also stayed to accompany the meeting.

Qiqi already knew Yang Longyue's purpose for coming, yet she pretended not to know and asked: "Uncle, may I ask what brings you to Kangdu this time?"

"Er..." Yang Longyue obviously had not prepared for this; what he actually came to Kangdu for was something everyone knew, but he had not expected Qiqi to ask such a question. If he answered truthfully, the princess‑niece might lose face, yet Yang Longyue, even at this moment, still considered others' feelings; he coughed and finally came up with an excuse: "I have long heard that Dakang is vast and rich in resources, a land of heavenly treasures; I have always wanted to come and see it, and only this spring did I find leisure, thus I have finally fulfilled my wish."

Qiqi, hearing this, secretly amused, thought the Prince of Blessing was a decent fellow, but he also understood the situation and did not mention her marriage to Hu Xiaotian; she said softly: "Uncle, your coming is somewhat ill‑timed; Dakang is presently in a troubled autumn, having just quelled a palace rebellion, the Emperor, frightened by the shock, is now bedridden and likely unable to receive you."

Yang Longyue asked: "How is the Emperor's health?"

Qiqi said: "It is not originally a serious illness, but the Emperor is already advanced in years, and having suffered a fright, his recovery is slower than that of an ordinary person."

Yang Longyue said: "Please convey my regards to Your Highness."

Certainly, certainly!

Qiqi said: "Mr. Hong!"

Hong Beimo said: "I am here!"

Qiqi smiled at Yang Longyue: "Uncle, this being your first visit to Dakang, I will have Mr. Hong accompany you to enjoy Kangdu properly."

Yang Longyue laughed: "Your Highness, you are being courteous; frankly, I intend to spend three months touring Dakang. Today I entered the palace merely to greet the Princess; there is no need for you to assign someone specially to accompany me on a tour. If we treat each other as family, I am free to arrange my own itinerary."

Qiqi nodded and said: "If that is the case, I can only go along with the guest's wishes; uncle, feel free to travel in Dakang at ease." She waved to Quan De'an, signaling him to bring brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and immediately wrote a clearance document, affixing her own seal. Qiqi's not using the imperial jade seal also has a reason: she wants the civil and military officials of Dakang to gradually accept the fact that her seal is equivalent to, and even surpasses, the function of the imperial jade seal.

Yang Longyue, seeing that although Qiqi is young, her conduct reveals a maturity and experience beyond her years, could not help but inwardly praise: "No wonder the Dakang Emperor chose her to regency; this Yongyang Princess truly possesses extraordinary ability."

After Yang Longyue thanked Qiqi and was about to take his leave, he heard Qiqi say: "Two years ago, Dakang dispatched a fleet to sea bound for Rosong; the fleet was led by the former Minister of Revenue, Hu Buwei. After the fleet resupplied at South Jin Island, while passing through Tianxiang State's maritime territory it suddenly disappeared. I do not know whether your side has heard anything about this."

Yang Longyue laughed: "I have heard of this, but the news of your country's fleet loss only reached us two months after the incident. Because the two states have always been on good terms, the king specially sent a fleet to assist in the search, which lasted two months before ending, yet nothing was found in the waters near our country."

Qiqi said: "Dakang and Tianxiang are of the same breath, closely kin like family; if I ever have the chance, I will personally thank the Tianxiang king."

Yang Longyue smiled: "Your Highness says we are one family; why be so polite?"

Qiqi laughed: "By the way, I have also recently heard a rumor that someone actually saw Hu Buwei coming and going in your country's capital."

Yang Longyue's expression remained calm: "Really? I am in the capital and have never heard such a rumor; could it be that someone is deliberately stirring up relations between our two countries, using the Hu Buwei affair to create conflict?"

Qiqi said: "Hu Buwei has rendered merit to Dakang and received his commission in a time of crisis; if he could escape calamity and remain safe, I would be overjoyed beyond ability to express."

Yang Longyue said: "Your Highness shows such care for subordinates; as a subject of Dakang, this is indeed a blessing." He did not want to linger further; seeing that the Yongyang Princess was overly scheming, clearly trying to extract information about Hu Buwei from him, Yang Longyue knew well that the more one speaks, the more loopholes appear, and so he promptly took his leave and departed the Dakang imperial palace.

Qiqi had Hong Beimo see off Prince Yang Longyue instead of herself; as Hong Beimo accompanied Yang Longyue out of the palace, he smiled and said: "Your Highness has me convey to the Prince of Blessing that making you run this trip for nothing truly makes me feel sorry."

Yang Longyue naturally understood what Hong Beimo meant, and laughed: "Worldly affairs are unpredictable; no one knows what tomorrow will bring. Although I failed to successfully observe the rites this time, I also took the opportunity to tour Dakang's splendid landscapes, so this trip was not in vain."

Hong Beimo asked: "Does the Prince of Blessing intend to head north?"

Yang Longyue blinked slightly, then laughed again: "Mr. Hong, I won't hide it; my master resides in Da Yong, and I indeed plan to stop by to see him on the way."

Hong Beimo said: "To honor one's teacher and value the Way is admirable."

Yang Longyue laughed: "Isn't that what one ought to do?"

The two smiled at each other.

First Update uploaded, seeking monthly tickets! (To be continued~^~)