Pull one hair and the whole body moves

News that Huo Xianshui had been attacked by a Han Country assassin in Daliang and had both legs severed soon spread throughout Daliang.

Empress Tu Lihua, who resided in Kunning Palace, also heard the news.

"The daughter of the Huo family had her legs cut off in Daliang?"

For a moment, she found it hard to believe.

If that was the case, then matchmaking her with the Fifth Prince would indeed be rather inappropriate.

A woman with a disability or hidden ailment was not qualified to become a prince's consort. Even speaking of love or pursuing her would be improper.

Since that was so, this matter could only be dropped.

What remained was to see what arrangements the Jian'an Emperor would make concerning the Huo family.

The Fifth Prince had been very fortunate to escape a calamity.

But how could the timing be so coincidental?

Empress Tu Lihua's willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly. She always felt that she had overlooked something.

At the same time.

Within a certain pavilion in Daliang.

A man dressed in a blue cotton robe gazed at the defenses surrounding Daliang's palace, his expression exceedingly grim.

Before long, the door behind him opened, and another ordinary-looking man entered.

He hurriedly asked, "Wu Yi, we clearly agreed it would be after spring began. Why did you make a move early?"

The man in the blue cotton robe turned around and said seriously, "If I told you it wasn't me, would you believe me?"

After a long while, the man said, "If that's the case, it means other Innate Realm assassins have come to Daliang? We both know exactly what the Underworld and the Human Realm are capable of. Their main force is at the Han-Wei border—where would they find the spare strength to send people to Daliang?"

Once he finished speaking, the two stared at each other, both falling silent.

"Now the Imperial City Division and the Palace Guard Division in Daliang have both reinforced their defenses. Their watch is tight. Let's lie low for now. Once Chu Country's diplomatic delegation arrives, we'll make further plans."

"Mm. But after that person caused such a stir, the difficulty of our operation will likely increase severalfold."

"It's no matter. I've already persuaded that man from the Imperial City Division. Though he hasn't explicitly agreed to assist us, his resolve seems to have wavered. We still have a chance."

"Then let's wait and see. Chu Country's delegation should be departing soon, right?"

"Not yet. They should wait until winter has passed—just another month or two."

In the blink of an eye, several more days passed.

Huo Yu finally learned that his beloved daughter had had both legs severed. Instantly, he flew into a furious rage and wrote a memorial to the Jian'an Emperor.

"General Huo wishes to exchange defense zones with General Feng. He is determined to attack Han Country. What does Prime Minister Xiao think of this matter?" Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu handed the memorial to Xiao Boling, Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs.

After glancing through the memorial, Xiao Boling replied, "General Huo loves his daughter deeply and wishes to avenge this blood feud. Such feelings are understandable. In this humble subject's view, General Huo is skilled in both offense and defense, while General Feng excels at defense. Zhao Country currently faces no major threat, making it a suitable time for General Feng to display his strengths. Exchanging the commanders of the two armies would be fitting. As for whether to attack Han Country or defend against Han Country, that must be determined by the circumstances."

"Then let it be as General Huo requests. Have him go to the Western Army to guard against the Han army."

"Yes."

The Jian'an Emperor set down the memorial and left the Military Affairs Office with Feng Dabao.

Along the way, Zhao Yongxu asked, "Companion Feng, General Huo previously refused to go defend the western border. Yet now he is willing to relinquish his authority over the Eastern Army and head west. What do you think his intentions are?"

"This servant believes that General Huo may feel he already has the Eastern Army firmly in his grasp. Even if General Feng goes there, he will not have much impact on him. So when the time is right, General Huo can follow the same recipe and seize control of the Western Army as well. In that case..."

Zhao Yongxu continued, "In that case, he can find a puppet emperor and then support a True Dragon. If Sword Casting Villa proves more promising in the future, it can also squeeze out Zhengyi Sect's position. Then he can boldly seize Great Wei's resources to satisfy his selfish desires, correct?"

Feng Dabao said no more.

"Alas, with a great enemy before us, though I know this full well, I still have no choice but to use him."

The Jian'an Emperor seemed to have aged greatly all at once.

Great Wei is plagued by troubles within and enemies without. If only I could find those Dragon Veins of Great Wei and suppress the National Destiny upon me. Perhaps then I could wield that God-Demon Weapon, cow the officials into submission, and no longer be so passive, restrained by others in everything.

The Jian'an Emperor arrived at the Imperial Garden. Raising his head to look at the distant azure sky, he let out a faint, lonely sigh.

Huo Residence.

Huo Xianshui sat in her room, leafing through a book with a calm expression.

A maid entered and said carefully, "Miss, Master has sent a reply."

"Mm, bring it over."

The maid's hand holding the letter trembled slightly. Remembering how her former sisters had been hacked into two pieces, she became even more terrified of the eldest miss before her.

Huo Xianshui did not care in the slightest. She took the letter and read it carefully.

After finishing it, she finally understood after her father's explanation.

So the Empress's matchmaking between the Fifth Prince and her had been intended to steady the Huo family.

In other words, the Jian'an Emperor had already become wary of them.

Now, her father had voluntarily given up control of the Eastern Army and taken advantage of the opportunity to go with the current and defend against Han Country.

First, to avenge her; second, to take the opportunity to expand his own faction and influence—killing two birds with one arrow.

At the very end of the letter, her father, General Huo Yu, also mentioned something.

If possible, she should take the initiative to approach the Fifth Prince. Better yet, she should become Husband and Wife with him in fact, using the situation to turn the tables and buy several more years for the Huo family to amass sufficient strength.

What his words revealed was that perhaps she had not been worthy of the Fifth Prince in the past, but now she was just the right match.

After reading the letter, Huo Xianshui's face was filled with both grief and indignation. Her pride had suffered a tremendous blow.

She set the letter on the table, braced herself against it with one hand, and laboriously rose to her feet. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Even if I, Huo Xianshui, am crippled, I haven't fallen so low that I'd casually hand myself over to just anyone."

The Fifth Prince was indeed of the imperial bloodline, and in terms of family standing, he was a suitable match for her.

But according to the intelligence she had gathered, the Fifth Prince would not have much room for advancement in the future. At most, he would become an idle prince.

If she married him, she could only become an idle princess consort.

That was not the life she dreamed of.

Besides, her leg had been cut off, but it had at least been reattached. Sooner or later, she would walk as normally as before.

The rumors outside had caused the young talents who once frequently sent calling cards to stop doing so.

But she would not become self-conscious over this matter, nor would she suddenly think more highly of those people she had once looked down on.

In short, His Fifth Highness was not worthy of her!

As the instigator behind it all, Zhao Hongming had not yet learned the details of what was happening outside and knew nothing of these matters.

He still did not know that his momentary action had tugged one hair and moved the whole body, altering many people's plans.

After dealing with the daughter of the Huo family, he refocused his attention and began cultivating with all his heart.

When no further message came from the Empress's side, he even specifically sent Wang Bao over to privately ask Jiang Guanfu about the exact progress of the matter and state his own position.

He carried the act through to the very end, leaving no loose ends for himself.

Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve in Wei Country.

Zhao Hongming was about to grow a year older, and there was only a little over a year left before he would Leave the Palace and be granted the title of prince.

And as the New Year arrived, his cultivation broke through once again, entering the sixth rank of the Aperture-Opening Realm, giving his new year an excellent start.

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