Everyone Had a Bright Future

"But..." Xue Qinghe's brow remained furrowed. "What if they really start fighting...?"

"Ge Long won't."

Ning Fengzhi shook his head with certainty. "Ge Long is His Majesty's trusted confidant and the future pillar of the Empire's military. He is steady, courageous, and resourceful, and he understands best how to Guess Imperial Intent."

"If he leads troops there, he will only surround them without attacking. He'll make a grand show of force, give Dugu Bo enough face, and put enough pressure on that young man, but he will never act rashly."

"He is waiting."

"Waiting for what?" Xue Qinghe asked instinctively.

"For Dugu Bo to return, and also... for you."

Ning Fengzhi pointed at Xue Qinghe, then at himself. "Or rather, he is waiting for us."

Xue Qinghe's heart abruptly skipped a beat, and a feeling of being seen through welled up within her.

"His Majesty knows your temperament well. He knows you are steady, knows you would come to me, and knows you would try to stop him. That is why he deliberately acted as though he were consumed by rage, forcing you to rush to Seven Treasures Pavilion for help at once."

"And that is precisely what His Majesty wanted."

Ning Fengzhi sighed, his eyes full of admiration. "Once the situation reaches a stalemate, Dugu Bo is burning with anger, and that young man refuses to bow his head..."

"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect steps in."

"As one of the Upper Three Sects, I carry enough weight to mediate. We can give both the Imperial Family and Dugu Bo a way down, soothe that mysterious young man, and even help the Imperial Family probe his background."

"As for those Imperial Guards surrounding the hotel..." Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Afterward, they can simply find some excuse—say River Bandits entered the hotel and the troops were there to protect the guests' safety. Who could say anything?"

"This..."

Xue Qinghe was completely stunned.

As she watched Ning Fengzhi speak so eloquently before her, turbulent waves rose in her heart.

She had originally thought that old fool Xue Ye had made such an apparently foolish decision only because rage had clouded his mind.

Yet she had never expected such deep calculations and careful considerations to lie behind this seeming recklessness!

He had soothed Dugu Bo, drawn the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect closer, preserved the Imperial Family's dignity, and even left himself a way out.

A single move that achieved three ends...

"Qinghe."

Ning Fengzhi looked at his disciple, who had fallen deep into thought, and spoke earnestly. "Never underestimate His Majesty."

"The Heaven Dou Empire has faced internal and external troubles for years. Within, the various kingdoms command their own armies and hold themselves above authority. Beyond its borders, the Star Luo Empire watches like a tiger, while Spirit Hall lurks in the shadows."

"For His Majesty to keep the Empire as steady as Mount Tai amid such turbulent circumstances, and keep those princes and nobles with ulterior motives from daring to make the slightest move—his methods and control over the situation are far more terrifying than you imagine."

"Do not think that just because His Majesty is old, he has truly become muddleheaded."

"This matter is also His Majesty's trial for you."

Ning Fengzhi walked to the window and looked in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

"When examining a problem, do not look only at the surface. As the Crown Prince, as the future emperor, what you must do is not merely weigh advantages and disadvantages or calculate gains and losses."

"You must also learn to see into people's hearts, balance the forces of all sides, and see the essence through appearances. That is the way of a ruler."

"If you had truly persuaded His Majesty in the Imperial Study just now, keeping the Imperial Family out of this matter..."

Ning Fengzhi turned back and gave Xue Qinghe a deep look.

"You might have preserved temporary peace, but you would have lost Dugu Bo's loyalty and the loyalty of many faithful ministers. That would have been the true case of losing the greater for the lesser."

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, rose to her feet, and gave Ning Fengzhi a deep bow, her expression solemn.

"I will remember Teacher's teachings. Qinghe was too shallow in her thinking and nearly ruined a great matter."

That bow was sincere.

Not because of the identity of Xue Qinghe, but because of Qian Renxue herself.

After infiltrating for so many years, she had always believed her disguise was flawless. She had thought that Old Emperor was merely a withered skeleton in a tomb, someone she would replace sooner or later.

But Ning Fengzhi's words today had made her realize that she had still underestimated that old fox who had held the throne securely for decades.

How was this impulsiveness? This was clearly a plan without a single flaw!

Even her reaction had been accounted for!

"Enough."

Ning Fengzhi accepted the bow with a smile. "Now that you understand, it is time for us to enter the palace and cooperate with His Majesty to finish this performance."

"And besides... I would also very much like to meet that little fellow named Xuan Hao again."

"At such a young age, he has already turned the entire Heaven Dou City upside down."

"He truly is... a youth to be feared."

Heaven Dou Royal Hotel, top-floor luxury suite.

Outside the window, the night had been lit up as bright as day by countless torches.

The sounds of hoofbeats, clashing armor, and synchronized marching had turned the once-peaceful night grim and murderous.

"Was this really necessary?"

Xuan Hao curled his lip. "I kidnapped Dugu Yan, not his daughter Xue Ke. Why was the Heaven Dou Imperial Family getting involved?"

Had they come to back up that Old Poison, Dugu Bo?

At the dining table, Dugu Yan had completely lost the awareness of being a "hostage."

Or rather, she had resigned herself to it.

After waking up, she discovered that although she had been tightly bound, at Na'er's "pitiful" request, Xuan Hao had actually untied her and even invited her to dinner.

At first, she had wanted to run. She had even considered poisoning them all and perishing together.

But when she thought of Xuan Hao's strength, she behaved herself.

She could not run, and she could not beat him. She might as well fill her stomach first.

Hearing the commotion outside, Dugu Yan could not help putting down her fork and walking over to the window.

When she saw the banner-filled, murderous Royal Knights below, Dugu Yan's expression changed instantly. There was shock in her eyes, along with a hint of unconcealed smugness.

"That's the Royal Knights! The Heaven Dou Empire's most elite force!"

She turned to Xuan Hao and sneered. "Looks like the Imperial Family isn't as weak as you thought. Kidnapping me is the same as slapping the Imperial Family in the face. Even if you have a Titled Douluo backing you, you won't be able to escape!"

"Scared now, aren't you?"

"Scared?" Xuan Hao seemed to have heard the greatest joke in the world. He took a bite of chicken leg and spoke unclearly through the mouthful. "Big Sister, did your snake venom soak your brain rotten?"

"Take a closer look at those people below."

Xuan Hao pointed at the Imperial Guards downstairs. Though they had deployed in formation, they remained at a safe distance. There was not even anyone shouting demands.

"If they really wanted to rescue you, or really wanted to kill me, they should've sent an Agility Attack System Soul Master squad to sneak up the outer walls, or had Power Attack System Soul Masters force their way in and launch a surprise attack."

"Who makes such a huge show of surrounding a hotel, then just stands there on guard?"

"They aren't here to arrest anyone. They're clearly here to put on a show for your grandfather!"

"Put on a show?" Dugu Yan froze.

"Obviously." Xuan Hao rolled his eyes, turned around, and walked back to the table before dropping into his seat.

"Emperor Xue Ye is a shrewd old fox. He knows that trash Xue Beng dragged your grandfather into this mess, and he also knows that your kidnapping has put the Imperial Family in an awkward position."

"If the Imperial Family did nothing, your grandfather would definitely think they were cold and heartless, tossing him aside after using him. So, even if only to placate your grandfather, the Imperial Guards had to be mobilized."

"Not only did they have to move, they had to make a big show of it! Everyone in Heaven Dou City had to know that the Imperial Family was willing to mobilize an army to save Poison Douluo's granddaughter!"

"That way, with the little brain your grandfather has, wouldn't he be moved to tears and think the Imperial Family was truly loyal? Wouldn't he serve the Imperial Family even more wholeheartedly from then on?"

Dugu Yan opened her mouth, wanting to refute him, only to realize that she could not find a reason to.

She was proud, but she was not stupid.

Looking at the troops below, who had merely surrounded the place without any intention of attacking, she too began to feel that something was off.

Xuan Hao took a sip of juice and said lazily, "This is the classic case of thunder without rain. They put on this display purely to scare a child."

Dugu Yan looked at Xuan Hao's youthful face, which appeared no older than eight or nine, and could not help retorting, "Aren't you a child?"

Xuan Hao paused and glared at her. "Can't even eating shut your mouth?"

"You!" Dugu Yan choked with anger, but seeing Xuan Hao's utterly fearless manner, much of the fear in her heart faded instead.

She returned to the table and sat down, staring at Xuan Hao with furrowed brows. "Then what do you think they want?"

"They're waiting for someone." Xuan Hao kept eating without even raising his head. "If I'm not mistaken, Sect Master Ning and that Crown Prince will be making their grand entrance soon to play peacemaker."

"Peacemaker?"

"Exactly." Xuan Hao put down his knife and fork, picked up a napkin, and wiped his mouth as he looked at Dugu Yan.

"Look at how perfect the situation is now."

"The Imperial Family makes a huge fuss and sends out the Imperial Guards to surround a madman like me. They've made their stance clear enough, right? When your grandfather sees it, won't he be moved to tears? Won't he think the Imperial Family truly sees him as one of their own? Won't he owe them a favor?"

"Then, with both sides locked in a stalemate and bloodshed about to erupt, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect steps in to mediate and turn conflict into peace. It preserves the Imperial Family's dignity, rescues you, and gives me a way out. Wouldn't your grandfather owe Ning Fengzhi a favor too?"

"And finally..."

Xuan Hao pointed at himself. "Out of respect for Sect Master Ning and the Crown Prince, I let you go, and everyone shakes hands and makes peace. Wouldn't both the Imperial Family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect feel that they owe me a favor too? Wouldn't they think I'm sensible and know how to see the bigger picture?"

"See? After going around in a circle..."

"The Imperial Family gains the people's support, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect gains prestige, and I gain face and favors."

"Everyone has a bright future."

At that point, Xuan Hao glanced at Dugu Yan, whose face had darkened like the bottom of a pot, and spread his hands.

"From beginning to end, only you and your grandfather are the suckers."

"Your grandfather stood up for that trash prince, Xue Beng, and ended up covered in trouble. Now he still has to owe the Imperial Family a favor and owe the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a favor."

"After all that effort, not only did he lose face and have his granddaughter kidnapped, he'll even have to be grateful to everyone and rack up a mountain of debts."

"As for you..." Xuan Hao looked her up and down. "You were kidnapped for a whole day and scared out of your wits. In the end, other than proving that your grandfather is easy to fool, what value did any of it have?"