One Man's Heart Is Also the Heart of Millions

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!!"

After a brief dead silence, Emperor Xue Ye finally erupted.

He violently overturned the imperial desk, sending memorials scattering across the floor, his entire body trembling with rage.

"What kind of Hidden Family training is this?! He is clearly grinding the dignity of my Heaven Dou Empire beneath his feet!"

"First, he beat and humiliated a prince! Now he is shitting all over Heaven Dou Royal Academy! He even dared to openly kidnap someone right beneath the Imperial City walls!!"

"What does he think he's doing?! Huh?!"

"Does he still have any respect for the Heaven Dou Empire?! Any respect for me, its emperor?!!"

"Is he trying to rebel?!"

This was no longer a simple provocation.

This was a blatant trampling of the Heaven Dou Empire's dignity! A declaration of war against the entire imperial family!

"Where is Dugu Bo?!" Emperor Xue Ye suddenly remembered something. "His granddaughter was kidnapped—where is he?!"

"Your Excellency Dugu... is most likely already on his way back to kill them," Meng Shenji said quietly.

"Good! Good!"

A ruthless glint flashed through Emperor Xue Ye's eyes. "In that case, there is no need to worry about some Hidden Family!"

"Pass down my decree! Have the Royal Imperial Guards seal off the Heaven Dou Royal Hotel! No one is allowed in, and no one is allowed out!"

"This time, I want to see whether the guardian behind him dares to show himself when faced with Dugu Bo's wrath!!"

"Imperial Father! You must not!"

Seeing Emperor Xue Ye's eyes turn red with fury as he prepared to directly deploy the imperial guards, Xue Qinghe hurriedly stepped forward, blocking the eunuch sent to deliver the order as he urgently tried to dissuade him:

"Imperial Father, the situation remains unclear! We still know nothing about that boy's background. If we rashly deploy the imperial guards and completely tear apart all pretenses, there truly will be no room left for reconciliation!"

"Reconciliation? Why should I reconcile?!"

Emperor Xue Ye laughed in extreme anger, pointing toward the palace gates. "He has already shit on my neck! And I'm supposed to leave him room to back down?!"

"So what if he has a Titled Douluo behind him? Do you think my Heaven Dou Imperial Family has no support of its own?!"

"Dugu Bo is a guest elder of the imperial family! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is also a pillar of the empire! With Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, two Your Excellencies, standing guard, are we supposed to fear some Hidden Family that crawled out of who-knows-what backwater?!"

"Imperial Father..." Xue Qinghe still wanted to persuade him.

"Shut up!!"

Emperor Xue Ye sharply flung his sleeve, clearly having lost all patience. "Qinghe, you are usually steady and composed, and that pleases me. But today's matter concerns the nation's dignity and the imperial family's honor! There can be no retreat!"

"Someone! Pass down my decree!"

Emperor Xue Ye's gaze was icy as he looked murderously at the eunuch.

"Have Marshal Ge Long personally take command and mobilize the Royal Knights to seal off the Heaven Dou Royal Hotel!"

"I want to see whether that brat's bones are harder, or the iron cavalry of my Heaven Dou Empire!"

"Yes!"

The eunuch accepted the order and scrambled out in a panic.

Watching this, Xue Qinghe sighed inwardly. He knew the old man had completely lost his head; no one could talk sense into him now.

He cupped his hands and said softly, "Since Imperial Father has made up his mind, then this son will go make the necessary arrangements to prevent panic in the city."

"Go." Emperor Xue Ye waved a tired hand.

Xue Qinghe withdrew from the Imperial Study, and the obedient expression on his face instantly vanished, replaced by deep solemnity.

That old fool really had gone senile!

That madman Dugu Bo might truly risk his life against Xuan Hao for his granddaughter, but how could the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect possibly go all out against a mysterious force that likely had a Titled Douluo backing it over such a trivial matter?

Ning Fengzhi was famously shrewd. He would never act without seeing a benefit.

Besides...

The one standing behind Xuan Hao was That Woman!

If this matter truly spiraled beyond control and forced That Woman to act, the Heaven Dou Empire would definitely come out worse for it.

If things blew up, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family would lose all face. Worse still, internal turmoil might arise from a conflict with Spirit Hall. That would be an enormous blow to her Nation-Stealing Plan, which she had spent years laying the groundwork for.

Though the Heaven Dou Empire appeared prosperous on the surface, undercurrents had long been surging within. The various duchies paid lip service while acting against orders, and the nobles below all harbored their own schemes. Once central imperial authority weakened, this vast empire could collapse at any moment.

And then, it would only benefit the Star Luo Empire, which watched with covetous eyes!

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, quickened his pace, and headed straight out of the palace.

The only person who could stop that old fool now was Ning Fengzhi.

Heaven Dou City, Seven Treasure Pavilion.

This was one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's properties in Heaven Dou City, and also the place where Ning Fengzhi usually handled sect affairs and received important guests.

"What? He kidnapped Dugu Yan?!"

Ning Fengzhi had been sipping tea when he heard the news Xue Qinghe brought. His hand trembled, and scalding tea splashed across the table, but he paid it no mind. He stared at Xue Qinghe in stunned disbelief.

"This brat..."

"Was he afraid he hadn't made enough of a mess already?"

Ning Fengzhi had truly been left dumbfounded by Xuan Hao's utterly lawless actions.

He had slapped the Imperial Family in the face that very morning, then gone and kidnapped a Titled Douluo's granddaughter that afternoon.

He was determined to offend Heaven Dou City's two greatest powers beyond repair!

"Teacher, now isn't the time for lamenting this."

Xue Qinghe looked deeply anxious. "Imperial Father has already ordered Marshal Ge Long to mobilize the Imperial Guards and seal off the hotel. You know Imperial Father's temperament—once he gets serious, he won't stop until one side is dead."

"If we truly fall out with the power behind that youth, and they really do have a Titled Douluo backing them... the consequences would be unthinkable."

In contrast to Xue Qinghe's anxiety, Ning Fengzhi was remarkably calm. He even unhurriedly picked up the purple clay teapot, poured two fresh cups of hot tea, and gently pushed one toward Xue Qinghe.

"Qinghe, calm yourself."

Ning Fengzhi lifted his teacup and lightly blew away the foam, his tone composed. "His Majesty has not acted rashly, nor has he gone senile. On the contrary, at this very moment, he is clearer-headed than anyone."

"What?" Xue Qinghe froze, the urgency on his face stiffening as he looked at his teacher in disbelief. "Teacher, what do you mean? Imperial Father has ordered Ge Long to mobilize the Imperial Guards to surround a youth who may have a Titled Douluo behind him. How is that not rash?"

"If a fight truly breaks out..."

"It won't." Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly and pointed to the chair before him. "Sit down. Have some tea first, and settle your mind."

Though Xue Qinghe sat down, his brows remained tightly furrowed. Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup and asked with a profound gaze, "Qinghe, let me test you. If you were placed in His Majesty's position and faced with today's situation, how would you handle it?"

Xue Qinghe pondered for a moment, then answered according to his previous train of thought.

"The cause of this matter was Fourth Brother's recklessness in provoking a powerful enemy. Now that Dugu Yan has been kidnapped, it is a personal grudge between Dugu Bo and that youth. If the Imperial Family could remain neutral and reap the benefits, perhaps even step in at a critical moment to mediate and earn goodwill from both sides, that would be the best course."

"Now that the Imperial Family has personally stepped in and mobilized the Imperial Guards, it not only makes us seem petty, but also draws all the hatred onto ourselves. It is truly the worst course."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi shook his head.

Xue Qinghe was somewhat confused. "Please enlighten me, Teacher."

"Qinghe, you have only seen the pros and cons, and you place too much emphasis on them. You have overlooked the hearts of men."

Ning Fengzhi sighed, rose to his feet, and walked to the window. Looking in the direction of the Imperial Palace, he slowly said, "Although the cause of this matter was Xue Beng's recklessness, Prince Xue Xing invited Dugu Bo to stand up for Xue Beng. In other words, Dugu Bo was drawn into this conflict for the sake of your Imperial Family's honor."

"Now, Dugu Bo's granddaughter was kidnapped at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. That is a slap in Dugu Bo's face, and also a slap in the Imperial Family's face."

"If, at this moment, the Imperial Family chose only to protect itself, standing by and watching Dugu Bo charge into battle alone..."

Ning Fengzhi turned around, his eyes burning as he looked at Xue Qinghe.

"What do you think Dugu Bo would feel?"

"He would think the Imperial Family cold-hearted! He would think the Imperial Family could share prosperity but not hardship! He might even think the Imperial Family regarded him as a blade to be discarded once it had served its purpose!"

"Dugu Bo may be solitary by nature, but he is still a Titled Douluo, and the Imperial Family's only guest Elder. If his heart turns cold and he becomes alienated, that would be the Imperial Family's true loss!"

"Moreover, this matter has grown so large that everyone is watching. If the Imperial Family acts coldly toward Dugu Bo, what do you think everyone else will think? If one day it is their turn to charge into battle for the Imperial Family, won't they have to worry about being discarded once they have outlived their usefulness?"

"The heart of one man is also the heart of ten million."

Hearing this, Xue Qinghe's pupils contracted slightly.

"That is why His Majesty must act."

Ning Fengzhi continued, "His Majesty mobilized the Imperial Guards and even had Ge Long personally take command. This is not merely for that youth to see—it is also for Dugu Bo to see."

"His Majesty is telling Dugu Bo that the Imperial Family shares his hatred and will stand or fall with him! Even if the enemy's depths are unfathomable, the Imperial Family will never retreat!"

"This is a political stance. It is for Dugu Bo to see, and for the people of the realm to see. This is the Imperial Art of Governance—winning hearts and securing imperial authority."

"Placing too much weight on gains and losses is merely a commoner's tactic. It may buy one a night of peaceful sleep, but it is never the way of an emperor."