“I am honored to receive Your Highness’s praise.” Chu Xinlan seized the opportunity to gracefully accept the compliment.
Murong Chao curled her lips slightly. She knew very well whether Chu Xinlan was genuinely honored or merely being perfunctory.
After all, a woman who held the title of the continent’s First Minister was no simple figure. With such a capable minister present, why did the Chiyue Kingdom still fall? Was it truly because Murong Su violated the ancestral decrees of the Murong Imperial Clan, causing Chiyue to lose its national fortune?
Chu Xinlan appeared amiable, but in reality, she was deeply cunning, and her thoughts were not easily discerned.
Currently, her goal was to bring Murong Chao back, so she could overlook everything. However, once they returned, things would be different.
Chu Xinlan was truly not an easy person to deal with, and Murong Chao, being lazy, really didn’t want to bother with her.
Murong Chao’s aim was to seek revenge against Wei Xiangyuan and Murong Su, then find Yun Xiu and compete to see who would ascend first to the Three Islands and Ten Continents.
Fortunately, this difficult person seemed to harbor no hostility toward Murong Chao at present, though she also held no particular goodwill.
None of this mattered. Murong Chao trusted only herself now. The verbal sparring between them was understood only by the two themselves.
“And what else?” Murong Chao insisted uncompromisingly.
“Second only to one, above all others.” Chu Xinlan’s lips twitched imperceptibly.
Murong Chao glanced at her. “I already know that without you saying it. As lazy as I am, the First Minister of Yagu should understand what I’m asking.”
Even with her strong composure, Chu Xinlan found it somewhat taxing to restrain herself.
“Your Highness can endure some hardship first; afterward, you can indulge in laziness.” Chu Xinlan didn’t even know how she managed to utter these words.
It truly wasn’t her style, nor likely the effect the Empress desired. If any child from her own clan harbored such thoughts, they would undoubtedly be punished with solitary reflection.
But she couldn’t do that to the person before her, nor did she have the authority. Aside from the Empress, no one had the right to punish Murong Chao.
As long as she could bring Murong Chao back first, the process was unimportant. She was a person who focused solely on results.
Murong Chao sighed. “What if it’s all futile effort again?”
After all, there was already precedent—three years of futile effort.
Murong Chao didn’t think she had been particularly fond of Chen Qingyang a century ago. It was more likely gratitude for his saving her life and his acceptance of her as an ordinary person, which differed greatly from love.
Whether a century ago or now, she was inherently lazy. Otherwise, as intelligent as she was, she wouldn’t have been swayed by Chen Qingyang’s grandiose promises.
She could only describe her younger self as inexperienced. But the fact remained: three years of futile effort, and she even lost her life.
“It’s different this time. Your Highness will possess supreme authority.” Chu Xinlan raised her eyebrows slightly. She understood that Murong Chao’s reference to futile effort referred to the three years of assisting Chen Qingyang.
Thus, she tactfully advised Murong Chao: endure some hardship first; once you hold supreme authority, you can do as you please. In any case, it won’t be futile effort.
As for whether it would ultimately be futile, she couldn’t be sure. After all, she had never seen the Empress live an easy life.
But deceiving Murong Chao like this burdened her conscience not at all. The Chiyue Kingdom’s realm belonged to the Murong family; Murong Chao’s efforts and concerns were her duty.
Whether Murong Chao could attain the life she desired depended on her own capabilities.
Murong Chao did not outright refuse her today and was willing to engage in discussion, which meant there was a possibility of peacefully bringing the person back—that was the most important thing.
What she least wanted to resort to was force.
Moreover, she did not believe that using force would allow her to bring the person back, even though the young girl before her showed not a trace of cultivation level and appeared harmless.
“This could work,” Murong Chao finally relented.
Chiyue Kingdom, the continent’s foremost empire—once she returned and her status changed, she could indeed accomplish many things.
After all, with her current cultivation level, seeking revenge against Wei Xiangyuan, who had already reached the Nascent Soul stage, would be nothing short of suicide. But if she added power to the equation—power equivalent to formidable influence—her almond-shaped eyes instantly brightened.
The identity of the Crown Princess of Chiyue Kingdom should not be in vain, and she could at least ensure that Chiyue Kingdom did not meet its downfall. Mutual benefit seemed fair enough.
She had originally intended to return anyway, especially since there was Murong Su, the one who had caused her death. How could she seek revenge without going back?
Even if she had no interest in the throne of Chiyue Kingdom, she absolutely would not allow Murong Su to obtain it.
So, when her soul returned, even before she realized that the Murong Chao of a hundred years ago and the Murong Chao of a hundred years later were one and the same, she had already decided to go back. Her verbal sparring with Chu Xinlan was merely a test.
Chu Xinlan had not expected Murong Chao to agree so suddenly. However, she understood that although their conversation seemed ordinary, every sentence was laced with probing.
While Murong Chao was testing her, was she not also testing Murong Chao?
It was not without gains, at least she now knew how to communicate with her.
But such a lazy person, once she returned…
Recalling her nephew’s prediction that Murong Chao would definitely agree to return today, she once again marveled at her nephew’s wisdom.
She had known Murong Chao would return, but after their first meeting, she had never imagined she would agree so easily.
“When does Your Highness plan to depart?” Regardless of how she agreed, the fact remained that she had agreed. Chu Xinlan wanted to immediately settle on a departure time.
Murong Chao glanced at Chu Xinlan. “Let’s make it a round number.”
Murong Chao did not specify a time, but Chu Xinlan, being who she was, immediately understood. By “a round number,” she meant rounding up the time spent wandering outside—in other words, waiting until her coming-of-age ceremony before returning.
She fell silent for a moment. In truth, she would have preferred to take her back immediately. After all, she had come to Fengyun Kingdom, and although she had been careful to conceal her tracks, it was impossible to leave no trace. By now, someone must already know who the Crown Princess was.
If she did not return, Murong Chao would be in grave danger.
Needless to say, those within the Murong Imperial Clan who did not want her to return would not pass up such an opportunity.
Moreover, among them were individuals with both formidable strength and cunning methods.
She might not even make it back to Chiyue Kingdom alive, even with the people Chu Xinlan had brought along for protection.
“Your Highness, this is too dangerous.” Although she knew it was unlikely to change Murong Chao’s mind, Chu Xinlan still voiced her concerns.
“Such is fate, such is destiny.” Murong Chao closed her eyes, refusing to look at Chu Xinlan any longer.
Chu Xinlan paused, understanding Murong Chao’s meaning: if she could not return, it was fate. Staying here might not preserve her life, and returning might not guarantee it either.
“I must report to His Majesty,” Chu Xinlan said after a moment of contemplation.
This matter was truly beyond her authority to decide. The Emperor’s order was to bring the Crown Princess back, but now that the Crown Princess refused to return, she could not force her. It would be up to the Emperor to make the final decision.
“Her decision cannot change mine,” Murong Chao said without opening his eyes, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion.