Fiefdom

A Dark Mage had been hiding at Princess Ruixue's side all this time. If you said this had nothing to do with the imperial family, would anyone believe you?

Emperor Hanmos's expression turned extremely ugly. If the Nord Family insisted on tying this matter to the imperial family, many people would connect it with the matter of that necromancer. The entire Golden Leaf Dynasty might be thrown into turmoil.

"His Majesty, at the time, that witch cast the Dark Magic technique Nine Nether Soul Nails on Huai'an while he and Ruixue were engaging in the acts of human morality. If it hadn't been discovered in time, Huai'an might have become a puppet from then on." Kodi Nord spoke slowly, his murky eyes suddenly brimming with murderous intent.

"I will certainly give the Nord Family an explanation for this." Emperor Hanmos clenched his fists tightly. He knew that since Old Kodi had brought it up in front of him, he naturally wanted to achieve his objective.

"The Nord Family will remain forever loyal to His Majesty, and we also believe this matter has absolutely nothing to do with His Majesty. By the way, should we hurry and arrange the marriage between my fifth grandson and Princess Mingyue? I'm afraid these old bones of mine won't last much longer." Kodi Nord's eyes grew murky and dim again, as if the murderous intent from moments ago had merely been an illusion.

Emperor Hanmos cursed inwardly. You old fox, keep pretending.

"A ruler's word is his bond. I think we should first have Qi Bei and Mingyue become engaged ten days from now. As for the wedding, there are many complicated details, so we can discuss them together later. I still have matters to deal with. You may withdraw." After Emperor Hanmos finished speaking, he rose and entered the rear hall. During the entire time, he still did not look at Qi Bei even once.

Qi Bei sat in a steady, immovable carriage, with the drowsy family head, Kodi Nord, sitting opposite him.

The carriage was utterly silent. The grandfather and grandson seemed to be separated by a natural chasm.

To the people of the Nord Family, even if the family head acted like an ancient tiger on its last legs, who would not tremble in fear beneath the might he had accumulated over the years?

But to Qi Bei, his soul was a stranger to the family head. Even the soul that had once inhabited this body remembered the family head only with awe. As for familial affection, there was not the slightest trace of it.

The greatest difference between now and before was that if the former Qi Bei had faced Kodi Nord, he would definitely have sat bolt upright, not daring to move even a finger. The current Qi Bei, however, though he said nothing, wore a lazy expression, as if the person sitting opposite him were merely an ordinary old man. This was a difference in state of mind.

"What are your plans?" Kodi Nord suddenly asked, his half-open, dim old eyes settling on Qi Bei.

"Plans? Hmm, does waiting around to eat and die count?" Qi Bei grinned.

Kodi Nord did not seem angry. He simply said, "The Imperial Capital is a muddy pool. After you become engaged to Princess Mingyue, go to your fief."

"I have a fief?" Qi Bei was stunned. As a direct descendant of the Nord Family, he had been a third-rank viscount from birth, but he had no memories concerning a fief.

"You didn't have one before. Now you do," Kodi Nord replied.

"Where is it? How large an area does it govern?" Qi Bei's face filled with anticipation. A fief—wasn't that equivalent to being a local emperor? He liked the sound of that.

"West Spirit City, along with the surrounding villages and towns. It's about half the size of the Imperial Capital," Kodi Nord said.

Qi Bei's mouth fell open, and he nearly began drooling. Half the Imperial Capital—that was already an enormous territory.

Wait!

Qi Bei scratched his head. West Spirit City sounded strangely familiar.

After thoroughly ransacking the memories in his mind, his handsome face immediately collapsed. Damn, isn't this just a trap?

Although West Spirit City lay within the territory of the Golden Leaf Dynasty, in reality it was a chaotic city that fell under no one's jurisdiction.

Since West Spirit City bordered the Beastman Empire and the adventurer's paradise, the Barbaric Domain, humans, beastmen, half-elves, dwarves, and the other major races all lived together there. Lawless adventurers gathered in the city.

It was said that several hundred people died in West Spirit City every day. After the valuables were stripped from their corpses, the bodies were thrown outside the city to feed the beasts.

In a place like that, without strength, one could forget about becoming a city lord who held absolute authority. Even staying alive would be a major problem.

So if Qi Bei went there, establishing order would be his first major problem. Where would he find the time to seek out women with supreme primordial yin and seduce them?

"Can I change the location?" Qi Bei asked with a bitter expression.

"No."

"Then for such a large city, you should at least send two full battalions of the Black Armored Army to me," Qi Bei said. Two battalions meant eight hundred men, and their combat power was terrifying.

"One hundred members of the Black Armored Army."

"One battalion of the Black Armored Army."

"Two hundred members of the Black Armored Army."

"Three hundred..."

"Two hundred and fifty..."

"Deal!"

The grandfather and grandson had actually haggled like a pair of merchants. No one would believe it if word got out.

Two hundred and fifty? Qi Bei considered the final number and rolled his eyes. Fine, he was a two-hundred-and-fifty.

Actually, Qi Bei had initially thought that having one hundred members of the Black Armored Army assigned to him would already be pretty good. Getting two hundred and fifty was beyond his expectations.

Although West Spirit City was chaotic, in Qi Bei's eyes, it was not without its advantages. At the very least, it was far from the emperor's reach, and it had a large transient population, which meant abundant sources of news and intelligence.

Since he had come to this world, and since he carried that mysterious dragon seal, it would be too much of an insult to the word "transmigration" if he failed to accomplish something great.

Kodi Nord caught the ambition that flashed through Qi Bei's eyes and thought, My grandson, you've given me a surprise. I wonder if you can bring an even greater one?

An engagement? With Qi Bei?

Princess Mingyue held the Unicorn Cub in her arms like a puppy. A flash of humiliation and fury crossed her heart, but she soon calmed down.

"Fine. I agree." Princess Mingyue spoke to Emperor Hanmos.

"Your Father Emperor has let you down. However, it's only an engagement. Before long, you'll be going to Tongtian Mountain. The actual wedding can never take place," Emperor Hanmos said.

"I know. The Nord Family knows as well. All they want is this title." Princess Mingyue spoke indifferently. She saw through it clearly. There was another matter she did not say aloud: even if she would never truly become Qi Bei's wife, she would have to bear the title of Qi Bei's fiancée for the rest of her life—unless the Nord Family was wiped from this world.

"That girl from the Feng Family has come to the Imperial Capital, but she didn't pay a visit to the Nord Family. I know you two have a good relationship. Find some time to go see her," Emperor Hanmos suddenly said.

"Yes, Father Emperor." Princess Mingyue agreed. She understood what Emperor Hanmos meant. If there was even the slightest possibility, he wanted to stop the marriage alliance between the Nord Family and the Feng Family. From Feng Ruoyun's secret arrival in the Imperial Capital, it could be inferred that she might not be satisfied with marrying Huai'an Nord.

After Emperor Hanmos left, a mysterious figure once again appeared behind Princess Mingyue.

"If you don't want to become engaged to that brat, I can go kill him." The figure's voice drifted out, ethereal and wavering.

"I've already agreed. Since I've agreed, I will certainly do it. I hope you won't act on your own." Princess Mingyue stroked the Unicorn Cub's smooth fur as she spoke.