"Why is Xue Luochuan here again?"
Qian Renxue sat up in bed and glanced at the time. When she saw that it was not even five in the morning, her brows involuntarily furrowed.
"Maybe something came up."
"Sister, let's go take a look."
Bai Wanwan yawned and sat up languidly, then climbed out of bed with Qian Renxue to wash up.
After a quick wash, they left their room and headed toward the front hall.
They entered the front hall.
Seeing Xue Luochuan seated in a guest chair, leisurely sipping his drink and looking thoroughly pleased, Bai Wanwan and Qian Renxue exchanged a glance before taking the seats of honor directly ahead.
"Disturbing people's sleep isn't a good habit."
"Second Prince, what brings you here this time?"
Bai Wanwan gestured at the sky outside. Her expression was calm, but a hint of displeasure colored her words.
At that, Xue Luochuan checked the time and looked somewhat apologetic.
"Sorry for disturbing your rest, young ladies."
"But I came to deliver something-something that might make you both happy."
Xue Luochuan took out an imperial decree and held it out to Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan, motioning for them to read it themselves.
Somewhat suspicious, Qian Renxue opened the decree and read it together with Bai Wanwan.
When they saw that it was a decree granting them both a Princely Title, a trace of surprise appeared in their eyes.
"A Princely Title, with the titles Cang Lan and Chi Yang!"
Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan exchanged another glance, then both turned to Xue Luochuan, their eyes full of astonishment.
Only yesterday, Xue Luochuan had said he would soon make a move to test Xue Qinghe. Yet after just one night, he had secured a Princely Title for each of them.
Wasn't he a little too efficient?
Faced with Qian Renxue's and Bai Wanwan's gazes, Xue Luochuan merely smiled, showing no intention of explaining.
They continued reading the decree in their hands.
When Qian Renxue saw that the two holders of Princely Titles would share a single fief and wield no real authority, her interest waned.
Bai Wanwan, meanwhile, quietly studied the fief named in the decree.
The three characters written there were: Suotuo City.
Suotuo City?
Isn't that where Shrek Academy is?
Oh...
This could be useful!
Bai Wanwan's eyes brightened almost imperceptibly as she quickly began making calculations.
Although the Princely Title in the decree carried no real authority and was merely an empty honor, within her own fief, her Princely Title nominally placed her above the city lord under the Heaven Dou Empire's authority. That nominal standing alone was enough.
As for having no real authority, did that matter?
Not in the slightest.
After all, an obedient city lord was a good city lord. A disobedient one was merely a former city lord who had died in an accident.
"First, allow me to congratulate you both on becoming the two youngest holders of Princely Titles in our Heaven Dou Empire. This residence can now be renamed the King's Mansion as well."
Xue Luochuan smiled as he congratulated them, but his expression soon grew serious. "However, it was Father Emperor who asked me to deliver this decree. Thanks to you both, I've also gained some authority at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and established an initial foothold."
Xue Luochuan briefly recounted his conversation with Xue Ye the previous night to Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan.
Listening to his account, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan realized they had misunderstood. These two Princely Titles had not been secured through Xue Luochuan's efficiency; Xue Ye had bestowed them of his own accord.
Combining Xue Ye's decision to grant them both Princely Titles with what Xue Luochuan had just told them, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan instantly grasped the meaning behind it.
Xue Ye would not prevent competition between his sons. In fact, he tacitly approved of it.
And that was a very favorable signal.
One that would make it easier for them to act.
"We sisters would also like to congratulate Your Highness on making a good start. If you need any help in the future, we will lend a hand whenever it is within our power."
Qian Renxue set the decree aside and offered Xue Luochuan a few polite words.
"Then I will be relying on your support from now on."
The smile on Xue Luochuan's face remained, but his gaze was utterly sincere.
He truly needed Qian Renxue's and Bai Wanwan's support.
Although Xue Ye had granted him a little authority, that decision had much to do with Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan-or, more precisely, with the Titled Douluo behind them.
Without their support, he would not even have been capable of contending with Xue Qinghe, let alone getting Xue Ye to grant him authority.
Now that he had gained an initial foothold from which to contend with Xue Qinghe, Xue Luochuan needed Qian Renxue's and Bai Wanwan's support more than ever. After all, the struggle for the throne depended not only on the princes' individual abilities, but also heavily on the forces backing them.
Qian Renxue's words were undoubtedly a powerful boost to Xue Luochuan's confidence. Although he knew they were mostly polite courtesies, they still amounted to a declaration of support.
"Young ladies, I still need to see my imperial uncle to arrange the handover of affairs at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so I won't stay any longer."
"You can consider which of your two titles you would like to use as the prefix for the King's Mansion. Send someone to let me know once you've decided, and I'll have a plaque made and delivered to you."
Xue Luochuan rose from his seat and bowed slightly to Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan before preparing to leave.
"There's no need for all that trouble."
"Just use Cang Lan as the prefix and rename the residence King Canglan's Mansion."
Qian Renxue said it casually, then rose with Bai Wanwan to see him out.
"Very well."
Xue Luochuan agreed and walked out of the front hall.
After escorting Xue Luochuan to the mansion's entrance and watching him recede into the distance, Bai Wanwan beckoned to Shi Nian, who was guarding the gate.
"Shi Nian, if someone delivers the plaque for King Canglan's Mansion later, just hang it up. There's no need to notify us."
After giving her instructions, Bai Wanwan went back inside with Qian Renxue.
"Yes, Young Lady."
Shi Nian acknowledged her orders and reached out to close the main gate.
Well, once the plaque for King Canglan's Mansion is hung up, my status will have risen too.
Although he was still a gatekeeper, guarding a king's mansion was clearly different from guarding an ordinary residence.
Meanwhile.
News that the Heaven Dou Empire had granted two Princely Titles was spreading among the major factions at remarkable speed.
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