Cang Wu County, Ning Wang's residence.
Before dawn had even broken, a servant's voice called out from outside the residence:
— Prince!
Lying with his eyes closed, Chao Zong inclined his head and spoke:
What?
Feng Ru Nan, lying beside him, also awoke. She saw that outside the window, the sky had yet to brighten. Her brows furrowed instantly: "Dawn hadn't even arrived, what could have happened?"
The newlyweds had long since ceased their squabbles. Indeed, much time had passed. Feng Ru Nan had grown accustomed to Chao Zong being by her side. They had even grown used to sleeping together.
From outside, a voice drifted in:
— The Grand Princess requests an audience.
Shu Qing had returned recently. She had only arrived at the residence last night. After Niu You Dao had left the village, she immediately packed her belongings with Yuan Gang, and they set off back.
Her return was much smoother and freer. There were many palanquins in the village; they took them and descended into the secret passage. Thus, she felt much more at ease this time.
Chao Zong noticed it was still dark and understood that the matter was unusual. Shu Qing would not bother him with such trivialities. He immediately threw off the blanket, quickly put on his shoes, and, throwing on a robe without donning his outer garments, he exited at once.
Feng Ru Nan sat up in bed and looked with doubt at the departing Prince.
As soon as Chao Zong stepped out, a bodyguard immediately approached him and whispered in his ear:
— Prince, the Princess has an urgent matter; she requests your presence.
Upon hearing him, Chao Zong immediately glanced around. Feng Ru Nan's spies were abundant here. And Shu Qing had her people everywhere. So he nodded and immediately headed towards Shu Qing.
As he approached Shu Qing's courtyard, he immediately found Lan Ruo Ting already standing with Shu Qing. They were waiting for him.
Upon seeing each other, they exchanged few words and entered the study in the library. At the same time, Chao Zong waved his hand at the bodyguard, indicating that he should not let anyone in.
Shu Qing's library was quite refined. On its walls hung paintings and calligraphy she had personally done. Her paintings were simple, while her written characters appeared quite elegant.
As soon as they entered, Chao Zong had not yet managed to ask anything when Lan Ruo Ting produced a secret message from his sleeve and handed it to him.
The secret letter was not official; it was encrypted. Using Bird Kings was dangerous, as a letter could fall into the wrong hands. Thus, they used a secret code.
Chao Zong unsealed the secret message and began to read it under the lamplight. The more he read, the more he was astonished. He hadn't expected Niu You Dao to encounter Song Lun in Qingzhou. And fall into such peril. Fortunately, Niu You Dao had escaped the perilous situation.
The message clearly indicated that Hai Ru Yue had already agreed to his proposal.
He stopped reading and let out a heavy sigh:
— Lord Dao's help is like water to a fish for me. Indeed, the heavens are helping me!
Lan Ruo Ting also remarked:
— Indeed! I hadn't thought things would resolve so quickly. Lord Dao only arrived in Qingzhou yesterday, yet he resolved the difficult situation tonight. Truly a rare genius! Prince, such a talent is worth a hundred thousand troops. Like the legendary General Meng!
Shu Qing felt conflicted. She remembered how, in the village, she hadn't yet told Niu You Dao about the situation. She had been afraid Niu You Dao would flee. But she hadn't imagined Niu You Dao would resolve everything so swiftly. And that as soon as she returned to the residence, she would immediately receive such good news.
Yet, she spoke in a cold tone:
— Fan Zhe almost ruined everything! People from the Song family were there, and he didn't even know. If Lord Dao hadn't pulled himself out of the dangerous situation, we would have failed in a major undertaking!
Chao Zong and Lan Ruo Ting exchanged glances. Shu Qing rarely got this angry!
Lan Ruo Ting thought for a moment, then said:
— Princess, in truth, Fan Zhe cannot be entirely blamed for this. We have few people in Qingzhou. And Fan Zhe's capabilities are limited. He can be understood. Moreover, Fan Zhe was unaware of the relationship between Lord Dao and the Song family!
Shu Qing replied displeased:
— Whether he lacks people or not, that's his problem. He should then find people to report to him. If he can get anything done, it will be worth it. But if something doesn't work out, there's no need to seek excuses. If it didn't work, it simply didn't work!
Her attitude was immediately clear. The Princess was truly enraged.
The two men did not understand her state of mind. If she hadn't asked Niu You Dao for help, he could have continued cultivating. And he certainly wouldn't have gone to resolve these issues for them. However, he went, using all his methods to serve them. And in the end, he almost lost his life!
Seeing the dangers that lurked for Niu You Dao and knowing that Song Lun, as an envoy of the Yan Kingdom, had no shortage of high-level masters, Shu Qing became genuinely worried. After all, it was she who had persuaded him to stay with them. For she had learned from Yuan Gang that they needed Niu You Dao more. Now, she felt uneasy.
Lan Ruo Ting nodded awkwardly:
— Indeed, Princess speaks the truth. I will teach Fan Zhe a lesson later!
Chao Zong did not want Lan Ruo Ting to feel awkward. After all, Fan Zhe was Lan Ruo Ting's subordinate. For his little sister to speak like this, it was as good as scolding Lan Ruo Ting himself.
— Shu Qing, we no longer have the same power as before, and our people are few. Fan Zhe lacks experience, but from now on, he will know how to act. Of course, Lord Dao handled the situation well, but one must not forget that he is divinely gifted. There is no need to compare Fan Zhe with him. Don't worry. We will tell Fan Zhe to be more careful in the future.
Shu Qing also realized she had lost her temper a bit and immediately nodded her head:
— I hope he will be more attentive to everything now.
Lan Ruo Ting nodded his head:
— The Princess is right. — Only then did Lan Ruo Ting look at Shu Qing with doubt.
Chao Zong waved his hand, and, returning to the topic, said:
— We still need to contact the Heavenly Jade Sect.
Shu Qing merely interrupted:
— Lord Dao asked us to announce that we are severing ties with him. What should we do now?
Silence descended upon the library once more. Lan Ruo Ting sighed and said:
— Lord Dao is doing this for our own good. And whatever reputation he gains from it, he doesn't seem to mind much. Then let us do as he instructed.
Shu Qing pursed her lips; she wanted to say something, but remained silent. Would Niu You Dao leave after this?
Chao Zong and Lan Ruo Ting exited the residence together and, bypassing Feng Ru Nan's courtyard, immediately proceeded to Bai Yao's courtyard.
As soon as they met Bai Yao, they immediately presented their proposal.
Bai Yao's expression turned serious, and he began pacing the courtyard, deep in thought. Lan Ruo Ting, watching him, asked:
— Since Hai Ru Yue is making such a proposal, what should we do? Should we take Qingshan County or not?
Bai Yao stopped and, looking at him, said:
— I will report to the masters. Let us wait for their reply!
Lan Ruo Ting and Chao Zong exchanged glances. Chao Zong cupped his hands and said:
— If that is the case, then we shall await news from the masters.
Bai Yao cast a sidelong glance at them: Wasn't Niu You Dao accompanying the Princess to establish connections with Ning Wang's veterans? Why did he go to Qingzhou?
Lan Ruo Ting explained: We had no people in Qizhou. Thus, we could only ask Niu You Dao to go there. Who could have known he would encounter Song Lun there?
— I don't understand! — Bai Yao replied, displeased. He then spoke in a cold tone:
— Prince, next time, you had best inform us first. So that there isn't such a commotion!
Lan Ruo Ting replied with a bitter smile:
— From the beginning, we never thought it would turn out this way. Hai Ru Yue only said she wanted to consult...
A crowd of monks was digging in the garden. And among them, another person had been added. Wei Duo!
Yuan Gang stood beneath a tree, and from time to time, he looked at this stutterer who had almost died. As soon as he arrived, he learned that Wei Duo had knelt almost to his death. They were even preparing to bury him. Fortunately, Bai Yao arrived in time and noticed that Wei Duo was still alive. So he healed and saved him.
Wei Duo had suffered injuries to his primordial qi, and as soon as he recovered and could walk, Bai Yao immediately drove him out to the Prince.
Niu You Dao was not here, so no one knew what to do with him. For now, Yuan Gang could only keep an eye on him.
A monk returned from the city. He had just been purchasing supplies for the garden.
— Lord Yuan, I just saw an announcement in the city. It states that the Prince is severing all ties with Lord Dao. And expelling him from Cang Wu County.
Yuan Gang turned his head.
The monk continued to speak:
— What is this? Is it true? Will Lord Dao return? And the Abbot? The Abbot follows Lord Dao. Will they return?
Yuan Gang said displeased:
— Tell me, what exactly was written there?
— They say that Lord Dao, in Qingzhou, in the Zhao Kingdom, encountered the Yan Kingdom's envoy, Song Lun. And killed him there due to past grievances. Therefore, they severed ties with him here, stating that the ambassador's murder had nothing to do with them.
Hearing all this, Yuan Gang immediately turned and left.
Near the Prince's courtyard, a guard blocked Yuan Gang's path. But Yuan Gang immediately kicked him away, causing him to tumble backwards.
Ultimately, a cultivator stopped Yuan Gang.
Drawn by the noise outside, Chao Zong and the others emerged.
Several people immediately approached and asked the cultivator to let Yuan Gang in.
As soon as they entered, Yuan Gang immediately asked in a cold tone:
— What does all this mean? This announcement about Lord Dao?
— Brother Yuan has misunderstood. This was not our intention. Lord Dao himself instructed us to do this.... Lan Ruo Ting immediately laid everything bare.
Yuan Gang understood everything. It turned out Niu You Dao hadn't left to seek cultivation resources. Instead, he had gone to help these people. And unexpectedly clashed with people from the Song family. He immediately glared fiercely at Shu Qing:
— You knew about this long ago, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me?
Shu Qing replied awkwardly:
— Lord Dao repeatedly asked me not to tell you.
For better or worse, upon learning this, Yuan Gang immediately turned around and left.
— Brother Yuan, Brother Yuan.... Several people immediately began calling out to him, but he paid them no heed at all.