Talks in the Manor

In the courtyard hall, only two people sat in the seats of honor, with no one else present. Wang Hanying personally brewed a pot of tea for Yuan Tiangang.

Yuan Tiangang sat upright in the main seat, his gaze directed outside. His left hand gently rotated the teacup. The carved celadon cup rubbed against the fine hundred-year agarwood table, making a scraping sound.

Wang Hanying sat opposite him, turned sideways and stared at Yuan Tiangang with a complicated expression. The sound of the teacup scraping seemed like one death warrant after another. Yuan Tiangang did not look at her; ever since entering, he had not spoken a single word.

And the Prince of Qin had sent this Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert to find her. The meaning was self-evident.

The pressure in Wang Hanying's heart was immense. She knew this senior was waiting for her answer, so she respectfully spoke.

"May I ask how to address you, Senior?

What does His Highness the Prince of Qin intend to do?"

Before even arriving at his fief, the Prince of Qin had secretly sent someone to find her. That showed that this Prince of Qin had plans of his own.

Moreover, no one in Tiandu City had ever said that he was acquainted with a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert. He had hidden it so deeply that he was clearly not someone content to remain idle.

Hearing Wang Hanying's words, Yuan Tiangang spoke in a low voice.

"What His Highness intends, the Shenying Marquis should already understand.

As for me, my name is Yuan Tiangang. Once the Shenying Marquis meets His Highness, you will naturally know.

You already have the answer as to why I came here.

And His Highness has three matters he wishes to convey to the Shenying Marquis."

Only then did Yuan Tiangang turn his head to look at Wang Hanying.

Wang Hanying tactfully picked up the thread, though she was still somewhat puzzled. She had never heard this name in the Martial World.

"May I ask what matters His Highness the Prince of Qin has? Please tell me, Senior."

Yuan Tiangang rose and took two steps outside. His gaze swept toward the horizon as he stood with his back to Wang Hanying. His tone carried boundless majesty that allowed no refutation as he spoke with righteous conviction.

"First, regarding your injuries, His Majesty is unwilling to bestow treasures to help you recover, but His Highness has asked me to restore you.

"Second, His Highness's ambitions must already be clear to you.

"Third, the reason His Highness is in such a hurry and sent us to You Province ahead of time is that Great Feng is about to breach the pass. War is about to begin. He sent us here first to deal with Hanshan Prefecture and prepare for the coming Battle of Youzhou.

"This is also an advance warning for you, the Great General Guarding You Province. Once war begins, it will not be a matter concerning merely one city, one place, or one person. You should make preparations early."

Upon hearing that Great Feng was about to breach the pass, Wang Hanying was stunned and cried out.

"Great Feng is breaching the pass? Senior, this is no joking matter. Is it true?"

Whether it was the Shenying Marquis guarding You Province or the various forces within You Province, all treated Great Feng with the utmost caution.

There were countless Great Feng spies in the Eastern Border, yet there had recently been no unusual movements among their troops, provisions, or supplies. Nor had there been any rumors of Great Feng preparing for war. How could they suddenly breach the pass?

Yuan Tiangang turned around and met Wang Hanying's eyes.

"Hanshan Prefecture is His Highness's fief. Why would he lie about such a major matter? Watch carefully. Within three months, there will certainly be unusual developments. You will know the truth then."

Then Yuan Tiangang flicked his right hand, and three jade bottles landed on the table before Wang Hanying.

He turned back and sat down, pointing at the jade bottles with his left hand.

"Cold Marrow Fluid, Seven Treasures Great Pill, and Purple Ginseng Solution. Naturally, these alone cannot heal your injuries. They are merely His Highness's gift upon meeting you.

"To heal you, some things must be prepared. Three days from now, I will personally act. Your cultivation has already reached its limit at the Mid Ascension Realm.

"You have only refrained from breaking through because of the damage to your foundation. You fear a backlash and death. You are correct. With your injuries, attempting a breakthrough would certainly kill you.

"I will help you heal and break through. What do you say?

"Now tell me your choice."

Yuan Tiangang had already examined Wang Hanying's injuries. Wang Hanying cultivated icy yin power, so he could not act directly. Setting aside the difference in cultivation, their true qi attributes inherently clashed.

If Yuan Tiangang used his own pure yang power to restore Wang Hanying's foundation, her entire cultivation would inevitably be crippled. The pure yang power might even erase all her strength and take her life. Other things still had to be prepared.

Wang Hanying lowered her head to look at the jade bottles before her, then looked at the senior in front of her. Recalling his words about Great Feng breaching the pass, if it was true, then had this Prince of Qin hidden himself far too deeply?

Before he had even been enfeoffed as King, he had already extended his reach into Great Feng. Yet she, stationed on the border of You Province, had received not the slightest news, while he, seated in Tiandu City, already knew what was happening.

After pondering for a long time, Wang Hanying seemed to have found a direction in her heart, a vague answer.

Wang Hanying rose and bowed respectfully.

"Please thank His Highness the Prince of Qin on my behalf, Senior. I am grateful that His Highness has kept me in mind. If His Highness has any need in You Province, please give the order."

It was done.

Yuan Tiangang thought to himself. Those words showed that Shenying Marquis Manor intended to submit to Prince of Qin's Manor.

He did not expect Shenying Marquis Manor to completely submit after just this one meeting. They were different from Duke Fu's Mansion.

Duke Fu's Mansion was strong on the outside but weak within, and Yuan Tiangang had made thorough preparations. No matter how one looked at it, Duke Fu's Mansion's submission was inevitable.

Shenying Marquis Manor, however, was different.

Still, there was no rush. Once the Battle of Youzhou ended and You Province fell into their hands, Shenying Marquis Manor would truly submit.

For now, it was enough that they obeyed and listened. As long as the four hundred thousand border troops of You Province could be mobilized and obey orders, they only needed to win this battle.

Yuan Tiangang slightly raised his hand.

"Enough. Sit and wait.

"The current Shenying Marquis has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Wang Hanying smiled. Both of them had sensed someone entering the courtyard. Once the newcomer stepped into the hall, Wang Hanying introduced him to Yuan Tiangang.

"Senior, this is my son, Wang Long. Long'er, why do you not greet Senior Yuan Tiangang? Senior's cultivation has reached the Celestial Phenomenon Realm."

When Wang Long entered the courtyard hall, he had initially been puzzled. His mother's Yinglan Courtyard had no other residents. Even the maidservants stayed in the outer courtyard, and she had no personal attendants serving her. He had previously sent people to attend to his mother here, but they had all been driven out.

As his mother put it, she had traveled the world and crawled through wind and rain. What had she not done before? Did he still need servants waiting on him when he went to the battlefield?

Besides, he had not heard anyone was coming to visit today.

Therefore, Wang Long had been somewhat confused upon seeing Yuan Tiangang.

But after hearing what his mother said, Wang Long immediately changed his expression.

The current Shenying Marquis, Wang Long, had a broad face and wore black armor. He looked burly, giving off a rough and valiant air. Having spent years in the military, he exuded an imposing and domineering presence.

However, when he heard that Yuan Tiangang was a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert, his fierce face changed.

His features relaxed, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a sincere smile, forming a stark contrast with his rugged face. At the same time, he bowed respectfully.

"This junior, Wang Long, greets Senior Yuan."

Yuan Tiangang looked at Wang Long and nodded. He then rose, walked to Wang Hanying's side, and said.

"Very well, that is the matter. I will return in three days to deal with your injuries. You mother and son may speak at leisure."

After saying that, Yuan Tiangang walked out of the room and vanished without a trace.

"We respectfully see you off, Senior."

After Yuan Tiangang disappeared, Wang Long's expression turned anxious as he urgently asked.

"Mother, what happened? Where did this Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert come from? Did something happen?"

Wang Hanying sat back down and sighed, pointing at the items on the table.

Wang Long swept them with his divine sense and examined them carefully. Yuan Tiangang had been there earlier, so he had not dared to look.

Looking at those items, Wang Long's expression became strange, but the worry in his eyes only deepened. There was no such thing as a free gift.