The Empress Summons

"Understood."

Ming Yue nodded slightly.

She first bowed to Qin Anlan before continuing, "According to the information our Bright Moon Pavilion has gathered, Chou Yin, who stopped the Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate from slaughtering the Liu Family, was not just someone under the First Prince."

"Sixty years ago, he secretly pledged allegiance to the Empress and became her spy placed beside the First Prince."

This statement caused Qin Zi Zai and Qin Gengxin to gasp in shock once more.

Chou Yin had long been the Empress's man, yet he used the names of the First Prince and the Left Prime Minister to prevent the Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate from slaughtering the Liu Family.

What was the Empress trying to achieve with this move?

The two felt that the Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate had fallen into a vortex.

The vortex of the Nine Princes vying for the throne.

"Young Lord!" Qin Gengxin cupped his hands and said, "This matter involves the First Prince and the Empress, it is a major court affair. The Lord has already stated his position: regarding the matter of the Nine Princes vying for the throne, our Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate is not to intervene prematurely."

"Therefore, this matter..."

Before Qin Zizai could say anything, Qin Anlan waved his hand, interrupting him.

"Since the other party has already made a move, our Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate cannot be used as a pawn."

"As for what my father said, you can completely report this intelligence to him and ask for his decision."

With that, Qin Anlan turned his gaze back to Ming Yue and said, "Ming Yue, immediately mobilize everyone in the Bright Moon Pavilion to do something for this Young Lord."

"Young Lord, please instruct."

"Keep an eye on Ye Qingyun and Liu Ruxue for me. I want to know every detail of their every move."

The matter of the Heavenly Flame Empire's Nine Princes vying for the throne was not a secret.

Qin Anlan naturally could not intervene too early.

Even less could he become someone else's pawn.

However, dealing with Ye Qingyun was an urgent matter.

Qin Anlan would not waste time.

Allowing Ye Qingyun, this Child of Destiny, to grow stronger.

And become a major problem before dealing with him.

Preventing problems before they arise and eradicating them completely.

This was Qin Anlan's principle.

"Understood."

Ming Yue nodded.

With the intelligence network of the Bright Moon Pavilion, monitoring Ye Qingyun and Liu Ruxue was not a problem at all.

Just as Qin Anlan was giving his orders, a maid hurried in to report.

She informed Qin Anlan of one thing.

The Empress had summoned him.

Qin Anlan narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

Why would the Empress summon him at this time?

Was it to test the waters regarding the Liu Family incident, to gauge the attitude of the Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate, or to try and win them over?

Perhaps all three.

Regardless, Qin Anlan intended to.

Make a trip to the Xuanyuan Imperial Palace.

In the Heavenly Flame Empire, in the Northern Plains.

The Xuanyuan Imperial Clan founded the Heavenly Flame Empire, and its legacy has continued for tens of thousands of years.

All races submitted, the four seas were unified, and there was prosperity everywhere.

Behind this prosperity, there were also many hidden troubles.

In the Eastern Sea, the Southern Barbarian lands, the Western Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, and the Northern Plains, there were still many factions that did not submit to the Heavenly Flame Empire.

These factions were also the most troublesome for the Heavenly Flame Empire.

On the surface, they were intimidated by the Heavenly Flame Empire and submitted to it.

However, acts of rebellion occurred frequently.

Two years ago.

The leaders of the Seventy-Two Tribes of the Northern Plains have united to rebel against the Heavenly Flame Empire.

They even managed to seize control of two prefectures in the northern region of the Heavenly Flame Empire in one fell swoop.

This large-scale rebellion sent shockwaves through the imperial court of the Heavenly Flame Empire.

The current Divine Marquis of Zhenguo, Qin Zhenxian, was personally appointed as the Grand General of the Northern Expedition by Emperor Xuanyuan.

He mobilized an army of 800,000 troops and set off on a grand campaign to subjugate the Seventy-Two Tribes of the Northern Plains.

Under Qin Zhenxian's leadership, the soldiers of the Heavenly Flame Empire achieved victory after victory.

Not only did they successfully recapture the cities that had been captured by the Seventy-Two Tribes of the Northern Plains, but they also pressed their advantage and surrounded the main forces of the Seventy-Two Tribes of the Northern Plains.

On a desolate plain stretching for hundreds of thousands of miles, as far as the eye could see, cries of agony and screams echoed endlessly, shaking the heavens and the earth.

Countless well-equipped and uniformed soldiers were brutally slaughtering the experts of the Seventy-Two Tribes of the Northern Plains.

Their attacks were fierce and merciless.

Beyond the enemy combatants, no one, not even the old, the young, women, or children, could escape their massacre.

What was called a great battle was, in reality, a one-sided slaughter.

In the void, a white-haired old man with a formidable aura was spitting blood uncontrollably.

His entire body was already stained a bloody red.

His aura was terrifying, marking him as a top expert at the peak of the Saint Lord realm.

He was only one step away from entering the Quasi-Emperor realm.

Alas.

Now, he was severely wounded and his life hung by a thread.

Even his expression had become withered and dispirited.

Before him stood a middle-aged man in a full robe, with a resolute face and an extraordinary demeanor.

The man's expression was blank, and he looked down from above, quietly appreciating the massacre unfolding before him.

His aura was contained, like an abyss.

It gave people a feeling of awe and unfathomable depth.

This person was none other than...

the current top dignitary of the Heavenly Flame Empire, the Divine Marquis of Zhenguo, Qin Zhenxian.

"Qin Zhenxian, you dog! You promised me earlier that if my tribe surrendered, you would guarantee the safety of everyone in my tribe."

"I never expected that you, a dignified Divine Marquis, would break your word and go back on your promise."

The old man stared intently at Qin Zhenxian, roaring with unconcealed resentment.

Hearing the old man's hysterical questioning, a faint cold smile appeared on Qin Zhenxian's lips.

"You don't even understand the basic principle of 'all's fair in war,' and yet you've lived for tens of thousands of years? You've truly lived like a dog."

"Your Seventy-Two Tribes of the Northern Plains have received great kindness from my Heavenly Flame Empire. Your sudden rebellion is utterly unforgivable."

"I am acting under the orders of Emperor Xuanyuan, and I am determined to exterminate all of you rebels."

"Well said, 'received great kindness from the Heavenly Flame Empire.'"

"Your Heavenly Flame Empire treated the people of our Seventy-Two Tribes of the Northern Plains as slaves, trampling on our dignity without restraint."

"And now you want to annihilate us? You are truly devoid of all conscience."

The old man's face contorted, and his eyes blazed with fury.

If looks could kill, Qin Zhenxian would have been dead ten thousand times over.

Watching his kinsmen fall one by one under the blades of the Heavenly Flame Empire's soldiers, in his extreme rage, his facial expression had already become distorted.

He roared with frenzied anger, "Qin Zhenxian, old man, I'll fight you to the death!"

As he spoke, the old man frantically channeled the magical power throughout his body.

He charged towards Qin Zhenxian like a mad dog.

"A mayfly trying to shake a tree, utterly overestimating itself."

Seeing this, Qin Zhenxian showed no trace of worry.

The playful smile on his lips became even more pronounced.

"I had originally intended to place a soul lock on you and make you serve my Divine Marquis of Zhenguo's Estate, out of consideration for your cultivation."

"Since you insist on seeking death, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

With that, Qin Zhenxian waved his large hand.

In the sky, a massive, ethereal handprint suddenly appeared.