The Heaven Dou Empire.
Heaven Dou City.
In a private room at a luxurious hotel, the Second Prince, Xue Luochuan, dressed in Heaven Dou imperial attire, swirled the wineglass in his hand and looked up at the Third Prince, Xue Haicang, who wore the same imperial attire.
"Third Brother, what do you think of Sect Leader Ning becoming our eldest brother's teacher?"
As Xue Luochuan asked, he kept a close watch on Xue Haicang's expression.
"What do I think?"
"Our eldest brother has outstanding political talent, and now Father Emperor has made Sect Leader Ning his teacher. He probably intends to name him crown prince, the empire's Heir Apparent."
"Second Brother, why are you asking? Are you unhappy with Father Emperor's arrangements, or do you refuse to accept our eldest brother?"
After posing his question, Xue Haicang lowered his head to look at the wineglass in his hand. A glimmer of ambition flashed deep in his eyes.
"Heh."
"Third Brother, what are you saying? We've always been the closest since we were children. Other people might not understand me, but surely you do?"
"How could I possibly be unhappy with Father Emperor's arrangements?"
Xue Luochuan gently swirled his wineglass, his gaze flickering constantly.
At his words, Xue Haicang said nothing more. Instead, he looked up at Xue Luochuan and met his gaze.
The private room gradually fell silent.
The two stared quietly at each other, neither speaking for a time.
After a long while.
Xue Haicang was the first to look away. "Second Brother, you didn't invite me here just for a meal, did you?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Don't overthink it, Third Brother. I only invited you here to spend some time together and chat."
As Xue Luochuan spoke, he placed heavy emphasis on his final words. "Third Brother, I believe there are some things you can only obtain by fighting for them, by taking them. If they really won't give them to us, there's nothing wrong with taking them by force."
"What do you think?"
Xue Luochuan raised his wineglass and extended it toward Xue Haicang.
"By fighting for them, by taking them?"
Xue Haicang narrowed his eyes, seemingly realizing something. He reached for the wineglass beside him but did not raise it. "I think you have a point, Second Brother. But if there's only one thing to be had, even if the two of us..."
Although Xue Haicang left his sentence unfinished, Xue Luochuan already understood what he meant.
"May the better man win!"
Xue Luochuan quietly uttered those words.
Xue Haicang smiled and raised his wineglass, clinking it against Xue Luochuan's in midair with a crisp ring.
Almost simultaneously, they drew back their glasses and drained the wine.
Two months later.
A carriage slowly entered Heaven Dou City.
The curtain over the carriage window was lifted, and Bai Wanwan looked through it at the street outside.
As the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City was no less prosperous than Spirit City. If one had to compare them, all one could say was that each had its own merits.
After taking a brief look around, Bai Wanwan lowered the curtain and bowed her head in thought.
Thanks to her intervention, Qian Renxue had not infiltrated the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. As a result, people who had already died in the original story were still alive, such as the imperial family's eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, the Second Prince, Xue Luochuan, and the Third Prince, Xue Haicang.
Bai Wanwan therefore had little grasp of the imperial family's current situation, nor did she know how their presence would change the situation in Heaven Dou City.
"Wanwan, what are you thinking about?"
Qian Renxue reached out and gently pinched Bai Wanwan's cheek, her soft voice filling the carriage.
"I'm wondering whether the situation in Heaven Dou City is what we expected."
Bai Wanwan slowly raised her head, a hint of seriousness appearing in her eyes.
"What's there to think about? Plans can never keep up with changes. We'll find out whether it's what we expected once we look into it."
Qian Renxue sounded rather unconcerned.
While they were talking, the carriage slowly came to a stop, and Yang Wushuang's voice sounded outside. "Young Master, Young Lady, how about this hotel? If it won't do, I'll look for another."
Hearing him, Qian Renxue lifted the curtain and examined the hotel before them.
From the outside, the hotel had an elegant air. Though it was not the best hotel in Heaven Dou City, it was certainly far from bad.
"No need. We'll stay here for now."
"Yang Wushuang, go to Spirit Hall and bring back a copy of the general intelligence on the various factions in Heaven Dou City."
"Guibao, you'll handle checking us into the hotel."
"Moxiong, come with Wanwan and me. We'll take a good look around Heaven Dou City and get a feel for the situation here."
After making the arrangements, Qian Renxue pushed open the carriage door and stepped out with Bai Wanwan.
They stood on the bustling street.
Qian Renxue glanced around, then took Bai Wanwan's hand and headed off in one direction.
Moxiong jumped down from the front of the carriage and followed the two to keep them safe.
After stepping out of the carriage, Yang Wushuang headed toward Spirit Hall.
Guibao entered the hotel to arrange their accommodations.
Once he had checked everyone in, Guibao did not leave the hotel. Instead, he sat down in the lounge near the entrance, closed his eyes, and quietly waited for Qian Renxue, Bai Wanwan, and the others to return.
Meanwhile.
Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan walked hand in hand along the bustling, noisy street. With their exceptional beauty, they made a striking sight, drawing plenty of attention along the way.
Moxiong followed them without a word, remaining alert to their surroundings at all times.
Before long, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan stopped at a drinks vendor. After buying two drinks, Bai Wanwan glanced around.
"Big Sister, there doesn't seem to be anywhere fun in Heaven Dou City."
As she spoke, Bai Wanwan took a sip of her drink.
"Mm, we haven't seen anywhere fun yet. Let's keep looking. It's our first time here anyway, so we might as well get familiar with the place."
Qian Renxue started walking ahead.
Bai Wanwan hurried to keep pace with her.
But just as Moxiong was about to follow them, his steps paused almost imperceptibly, and he cast a discreet glance behind him.
His eyes slowly narrowed.
He could clearly sense that someone was tailing them.
He slowly withdrew his gaze.
Looking at Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan ahead, Moxiong considered it briefly, then followed without saying anything.
There was no need to spoil the Young Master's and Young Lady's fun over something like this. If anyone really came looking for trouble, he could simply crush them.
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