Chapter 439: Xie Ling's Wild Ambition

At this moment.

Deep within the Longyan Jinghua Imperial Palace.

Yangxin Hall.

Deep within.

"Ahhhhhh..."

"It hurts me to death, it hurts me to death..."

"Emperor, Emperor... hurry, the Immortal Pill is here, the Immortal Pill is here!"

Xie Tianyao, who had not been seen for a long time, was now twisted in agony. Grand Eunuch Zhou was serving him nearby, his head covered in sweat.

"Get out!"

"Get out of my sight!"

Xie Tianyao looked at the black Immortal Pill, roared in anger, and fiercely swatted the pill away with his hand. Enduring the pain, he glared at Grand Eunuch Zhou with sinister eyes and growled, "This Immortal Pill is here to harm me, it is here to harm me, isn't it?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou was terrified out of his wits and fell to his knees with a thud: "Emperor, Emperor, this old servant, this old servant..."

Xie Tianyao wailed again for a while. During this process, his complexion turned from deathly pale that made one's scalp tingle, to black as if he could pass away at any moment, then to flushed red, and then to an incomparably ghastly blue...

At this moment, only Grand Eunuch Zhou was in the inner chamber of the entire Yangxin Hall. In this situation, he dared not call the imperial physician, nor dared he tell anyone...

This was Xie Tianyao's order.

He naturally knew why...

The end was near, the end was near...

The Emperor's body was already nearly exhausted. The entire world was watching this place.

But at this time...

Xie Tianyao was still in a state of continuous hesitation regarding the choice of his successor.

Crown Prince Xie Fang, or the Third Prince Xie Ling?

People always seem to be like this.

If his own body could last for a few more years, he would be less conflicted about these things, but at this moment, with the fate of the entire world at stake, how could he not be cautious?

A long time later.

The intense pain finally subsided.

Xie Tianyao's previously twisted expression returned to composure and calmness.

Grand Eunuch Zhou wept with joy nearby.

Once again...

He had made it through once again!

Over these years, he had witnessed this situation countless times.

He hurriedly brewed a cup of tea for Xie Tianyao.

"Hahahaha..."

"Hahahaha... Heaven, you do not take me, you do not take me, you have let me make it through again!"

Xie Tianyao laughed heartily, his tone deeply hiding a sense of self-mockery. Without waiting for Grand Eunuch Zhou to say any auspicious words, he looked over coldly: "Lao Zhou, tell me, how much more time can Heaven give me, how much time to clean up this mess of Longyan?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou was drenched in cold sweat and dared not speak.

Xie Tianyao said indifferently: "Back then in Liangzhou, the Governor of Liu once gave me a suggestion, a Territorial Exchange..."

"What?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou was shaken, his eyes full of shock. But upon reflection, this was an idea only someone like the Governor of Liu would dare to propose.

Xie Tianyao laughed at himself: "To tell you the truth, I dare not, I truly dare not..."

"I worry that once this proclamation is issued, the whole world will fall into chaos."

Grand Eunuch Zhou pondered for a while and finally said: "As long as the Emperor is here, the world will not be in chaos."

Xie Tianyao laughed heartily, stood up tall, and said calmly: "You said it yourself, if I am here..."

"What if I am no longer here?"

He continued: "Xie Lao'er is dead... Qing'er is also dead..."

"What is the point of me still being here?"

"Emperor..."

Xie Tianyao waved his hand: "How is the Governor of Liu doing over there?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou smiled slightly: "Still causing a stir in Liangshan."

Xie Tianyao gave a cold laugh: "The Southern Barbarian Lands have not been civilized; what is there to stir up?"

Afterwards, a hint of tenderness appeared on his face: "What about Chan'er?"

"She has already arrived in Liangzhou. This old servant has already informed the Western Regions Commissioner that for the Emperor's birthday this time, he shall have the Governor of Liu bring her to Jinghua."

"Good, good, good!"

Xie Tianyao was finally somewhat comforted and laughed heartily.

"Let him come..."

Xie Tianyao smiled faintly: "Are there any arrangements regarding the Crown Prince and Xie Ling?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou smiled slightly: "The Crown Prince is fine; it seems he trusts the Governor of Liu deeply. However, the Third Prince and the scholar-officials are all acting frequently..."

"Is that so?"

Xie Tianyao gave a mocking laugh: "Then let's see if he can outplay the Governor of Liu; if he can..."

He said softly: "What would it matter if I gave Longyan to him, Xie Ling?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou lowered his head, not daring to say another word.

……

Pingzhou.

Xie Ling had been quite high-spirited lately, traveling back and forth between Pingzhou and Liangzhou.

"Your Highness..."

Prince Lu heard that Xie Ling was coming and went out of the city early to welcome him.

"Get in the carriage!"

After boarding Xie Ling's Horse Carriage, the vehicle did not head toward the city, but instead chose a side path, setting off toward a range of deep mountains and steep ridges.

"Your Highness is beaming with joy; it seems things are going very smoothly?"

Prince Lu asked with a smile.

Xie Ling laughed heartily and said proudly, "Grain prices in Liangzhou continue to rise, society is in turmoil, and Governor Liu is in Liangshan with his life or death unknown—does this not count as good news?"

"What?"

Prince Lu was overjoyed and hurriedly offered his congratulations.

At this moment, the Horse Carriage turned left and right, moving slowly until it finally arrived deep in the mountains; by now, there was a sentry post every hundred paces, and it was clear that this place was heavily guarded.

Moving further inside, one could already hear the sounds of shouting and killing.

Hearing this murderous aura, the joy on Xie Ling's face grew even stronger.

Finally, the Horse Carriage passed through a hidden gate; no one would have expected that behind this cave lay a Cave Heaven. A vast military base appeared before them.

At this time.

Tens of thousands of soldiers were fighting and sparring in the field. Looking closely, it was even more shocking. The Weaponry and Equipment equipped by these tens of thousands of men were the absolute best in the Longyan Dynasty at this time!

Things like Plate Armor, Mo blades, wolf-brush spears, and Rhodok Spear...

There was even a unit currently training with the Glider that had just been developed and mass-produced in Yintan City!

High-class!

Luxurious!

That was the impression this unit gave people.

Xie Ling watched, smiling and nodding frequently: "This is getting interesting..."

Prince Lu smiled from the side: "Fifty thousand soldiers have already formed combat effectiveness. We have also specially set up a 'Lecture Hall', and the military officers have already thoroughly studied some of the tactics from Liangzhou!"

Xie Ling said excitedly: "Good!"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes: "If Governor Liu dies in Liangshan, so be it. If he is lucky enough to return alive, the trip to Jinghua will be his burial ground!"

"Your Highness is mighty!"

"Your Highness is mighty!"

Everyone in the field roared along, their voices shaking the mountains and wilderness.

"Your Highness, about the military expenses..."

Prince Lu said in a low voice from the side.

Xie Ling snorted coldly: "What is the rush? Once the situation in Liangshan is settled and the Opium arrives, why worry about a lack of military funds?"

"Your Highness is wise!"

In Xie Ling's eyes, ambition flickered.

Governor Liu?

The son of a merchant—this time, he will surely die!

【Author's Note】

I've been learning how to write national warfare lately... The Liangshan arc is indeed a bit too peaceful. Everyone, please give me some time.