Chapter 679

Boyan secretly felt ashamed; after all, it was he who had sent people to lie in wait by the sea.

It was also he who had received the news first.

But he had seen no advantage in the news at all.

Instead, he had only seen the downside, so much so that he had spoken out in court.

He had nearly caused the Great Yuan to fall out with the Second Blade Emperor.

If he lost this opportunity to recruit the Second Blade Emperor, he would surely become a traitor to the Great Yuan.

Indeed, Chancellor Yelu Chu is truly the pillar of the state!

Thinking of this, Boyan looked at Yelu Chu with deep admiration.

"Then, the matter of recruiting the Second Blade Emperor and the other three experts is entrusted to you."

Temujin was overjoyed—he could now join the Seven Warriors in slaying the Dragon alongside the Second Blade Emperor.

Though he didn't know why the effort had ultimately failed, letting the Qinglong Society snatch the victory.

Nor did he know why Huang Ying, Nie Renwang, and Duan Shuai had failed to appear on the Heavenly Dao Golden List.

Nor did he know how the Qinglong Society had come to feud with these three experts.

But Temujin and his ministers all agreed that these three men's strength was certainly no less than the Second Blade Emperor's.

Otherwise, Master Changsheng would not have invited them.

Therefore, if even one or two of these four could be recruited, it would significantly strengthen the Great Yuan.

"Great Khan! Huang Ying is a You Dongying native…"

Boyan's face flushed with embarrassment—he realized Temujin had no intention of letting Huang Ying slip away.

Don't you know Huang Ying isn't just a You Dongying native, but also of the You Dongying imperial bloodline?

"You're thinking too small! Your vision is too narrow!"

Yelu Chu stroked his beard and smiled at Boyan.

"Our Great Khan is determined to unify the Nine Provinces and rebuild the cosmos!"

Not just You Dongying natives—even future Zhongyuan people, Fuyu, Persians, and even more distant barbarian tribes—

will all bow beneath the iron hooves of our Great Yuan and submit to our Great Khan's rule!"

This lavish flattery filled Temujin with delight, and the ministers in the hall immediately echoed it in unison.

Boyan looked at Yelu Chu and couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

Brother! You're not just clever—your skill at flattery is unmatched!

The Tang Dynasty, Great Ming Palace.

"Wan'er, what exactly is this Heavenly Sword Realm?"

"Why has Ximen Wudi vanished and never returned?"

Wu Zetian rested her chin on her hand, staring at the contents of the Heavenly Dao Golden List, lost in mysterious contemplation.

Shangguan Wan was drenched in sweat—what kind of witchcraft had Ximen Wudi cast upon the Empress?

Why had the Empress increasingly begun to favor handsome men over the empire?

She felt her heart was exhausted and no longer wanted to hold on.

Of course, she knew this was merely the Empress's little whim.

The world was vast, with powers standing in a three-way stalemate.

Empress Wu Zetian had lifted the Tang Dynasty to prominence, holding her ground among all these forces.

In a sense, she was the strongest woman in the world.

Such a remarkable woman—capable, graceful, beautiful, and wise—

who in the world could possibly match her?

Before Ximen Wudi appeared, Wu Zetian had been unmatched.

After all, in her and Shangguan Wan's eyes, no man in the world was like this peerless one.

Until Ximen Wudi appeared!

The number one taboo of the Nine Provinces, the number one expert in the world.

Though he was not currently in the Nine Provinces, his legends filled every corner of the land.

The Qinglong Society he had casually founded was like a slumbering dragon in the shadows, forcing all powers to strain their wits and dare not grow careless.

Only such an extraordinary man could stir the heart of a woman like Wu Zetian.

Only a woman like Wu Zetian could match Ximen Wudi.

Of course, this last sentence was silently added by Shangguan Wan in her heart.

Thus, Wu Zetian's behavior, though unexpected, was also understandable.

Shangguan Wan mentally grumbled, then avoided answering her Empress's question and said instead:

"The Xuanxinzheng Sect and the Yin Yue Imperial Court are both immensely powerful.

Meanwhile, Lanruo Temple has made no breakthrough, hindered by Yan Chixia.

Now the Great Yuan is sharpening its weapons—Inspector Di Ge Lao reports their attack may come soon.

Therefore, I seek your Majesty's instruction: should we still follow the original plan—avoid their momentum and wait to see them falter?"

The Tang Dynasty's Bu Liang Ren internally monitored civil and military officials on behalf of Heaven, and externally observed every move of all external powers.

The Great Yuan's troop movements—such a major event—had naturally been uncovered by the Bu Liang Ren long ago.

In truth, the Great Yuan never truly intended to hide it from the Tang.

They had merely divided their forces and stationed Master Changsheng, a formidable expert, as their anchor.

They believed this operation was a sure thing, so it was, in effect, an open, straightforward strategy.

But they hadn't investigated the most crucial link — the real situation over at Lanruo Temple.

Yan Chixia — that is the threshold they truly cannot cross!

"Such matters, you decide for yourself!"

Wu Zetian, as if acting coquettish, said with a light laugh to Shangguan Wan,

Shangguan Wan was drenched in sweat — was Her Majesty the Empress actually learning to act coquettish?

Learned it to use on whom?

And where on earth did she pick this up!

Gave this Wan'er goosebumps all over!

Later I'll have the Luan Guard investigate — that bastard who fed Her Majesty useless nonsense has to be taught a proper lesson.

Shangguan Wan worked hard to steady her emotions, then continued,

"Then according to Your Majesty's wishes, this minister will reply to Di Ge Lao, telling him to let the Great Yuan army enter Lanruo Temple."

"No! Give them You Prefecture as well!"

Wu Zetian, however, rarely offered an opinion of her own.

"Oh? Why?"

Having finally regained a little of the Empress's bearing, Shangguan Wan — even though she half-knew what Her Majesty meant — still asked deliberately.

"Could you really not know?"

Wu Zetian cast another charmingly exasperated glance at Shangguan Wan, then said,

"This Tie Muzhen has put on such a grand display — isn't it just wanting everything at once.

These vulgar men! They're just cheap to the bone.

If you insist on going head-to-head with them, you won't gain any advantage either.

Better to let them have a bitter taste, while we go and fish some benefits from them at the same time."

These words looked like some sort of philosophy between men and women, but Shangguan Wan actually understood Wu Zetian's thoughts extremely well.

Her eyes lit up — in an instant she understood exactly what Wu Zetian was saying,

"Understood! Avoid their sharp edge, sidestep the false and strike the real.

Your Majesty means that rather than fighting a great battle with them at You Prefecture, Yanmen Pass, and elsewhere — gaining nothing at all —

it's better to wait until they hit a wall at Lanruo Temple and yet can't bear to give it up.

We launch a major counterattack against the Great Yuan's weak points."

"That was all you saying — I never said any of it."