Tang Xuan's Scheme

"Compensation?" Xue Qinghe was taken aback.

Only then did he vaguely recall the matter involving Xue Xing.

It seemed he had indeed promised Tang Xuan compensation back then.

He had not expected Tang Xuan to remember an offhand remark to this day.

"Hey, I've just been too tied up lately. Whatever compensation you want, just name it." Xue Qinghe had yet to realize the severity of the issue.

He thumped his chest loudly.

In his mind,

whatever the compensation was, it would not be coming out of his own pocket anyway.

The Heaven Dou Empire would bear it all.

Tang Xuan, however, wore a troubled expression. "Brother Xue, given our relationship, compensation honestly does not matter much. But this matter concerns both the royal family and the sect, and it involves a Titled Douluo. You know how protective my grandpa is. If I had not been suppressing him out of concern for ruining your plans, he would probably have stormed into the imperial palace long ago..."

Xue Qinghe's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly at those words.

Tang Xuan's meaning was not difficult to understand.

This matter had likely already escalated beyond a power struggle between the Crown Prince and the prince.

It had become an issue of closeness, status, and dignity between two factions.

If the royal family still wished to retain the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's support, it would have to bleed heavily.

Though losing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's assistance,

or even turning against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect entirely, was exactly what Qian Renxue wanted to see,

the identity she had assumed was that of the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince.

If she wanted to avoid exposing her disguise, she had to consider matters from the royal family's perspective.

But the problem was,

although Xue Qinghe was the heir apparent, with authority second only to the emperor,

the power to dispose of a supreme treasure capable of quelling a Titled Douluo's rage remained firmly in the emperor's hands...

"Xuan Bro, I'm sorry. This matter is beyond my capabilities. I'll need to ask Father Emperor for instructions first. What do you think..." Xue Qinghe said with a face full of "guilt."

"It's fine. Go ahead. I'll handle the sect's side." Tang Xuan comforted him gently.

He understood Xue Qinghe's difficulties as well.

Besides, he had never expected Xue Qinghe alone to accomplish this.

After all, what he wanted

was something that could be called Xue Ye's lifeblood!

The so-called compensation

was merely an excuse.

Xue Qinghe nodded repeatedly.

Only after apologizing to Tang Xuan countless times did he hurriedly board his carriage and head for the imperial palace.

Tang Xuan stood where he was and watched for a while.

Only once the carriage had completely vanished from sight

did he unfurl the Mysterious Wing Soul Bone with a swish, flying while interspersing Teleportation,

and race toward the Prince Mansion at even greater speed...

Prince Mansion.

Fatty Fish Xue Xing was still drinking tea and admiring the flowers.

The warm afternoon sun made his eyelids droop, leaving him drowsy.

"Oh? Your Highness the Prince seems to be enjoying himself."

Tang Xuan suddenly appeared out of thin air beside Xue Xing, casually grabbing two pastries as well.

Xue Xing nearly jumped out of his skin at the abrupt voice.

Seeing that it was Tang Xuan, he finally let out a heavy sigh of relief.

"Y-Young Master Xuan, why have you come?"

Fortunately, the visitor was Xue Xing's Master. Had it been some assassin sent by Xue Qinghe,

he might not even have known how he died.

"I have a task for you." Tang Xuan got straight to the point, taking out an envelope and handing it to Xue Xing.

Xue Xing accepted it with a head full of questions and opened it.

But in the next instant, his mung-bean-sized eyes went wide.

As though he had seen something utterly unbelievable.

There were only two simple sentences on the paper.

First, cooperate with Xue Qinghe as much as possible to obtain treasures for Tang Xuan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Second, at the crucial moment, reveal that Xue Xing had once tried to kill Tang Xuan and Ning Rongrong.

"Y-Young Master Xuan, the first condition is no problem, but this second one... I did harbor killing intent toward you and tried to kill you, but it had nothing to do with Miss Ning!" Xue Xing said, his hands trembling as he backed away again and again.

Objectively speaking,

as Ning Fengzhi's biological daughter with the greatest talent,

Ning Rongrong's standing was even a level above Tang Xuan's, despite him being the descendant of a Titled Douluo.

By offending Tang Xuan,

Xue Xing had already dragged both himself and his nephew's futures into this mess.

But if Ning Rongrong was added to it,

then even as a prince, the connection between his head and torso would become rather unstable.

"Whether Rong Rong was involved or not, you know better than I do. Don't tell me you really intended to dance as an apology back then," Tang Xuan said coldly.

Who but an idiot would believe that bullshit apology dance?

And considering that Xue Xing had thrown out a Soul Bone as bait before dancing,

Tang Xuan could guess his purpose with his toes.

Xue Xing's expression instantly stiffened.

It was not because Tang Xuan had exposed his thoughts.

It was because the dancing incident was a stain he never wished to look back on for the rest of his life.

In his heart,

even acknowledging Tang Xuan as his Master had been less humiliating than dancing.

"Enough. I didn't come here to question your crimes. Just do as I say," Tang Xuan said blandly.

"B-but if I really say that, Imperial Brother will definitely kill me. Young Master Xuan, please spare me this once for the sake of the top-grade Soul Bone I gave you," Xue Xing pleaded pitifully.

As he spoke, his legs gave out and he dropped to his knees.

Tang Xuan looked at him disdainfully. "Stop spouting bullshit. You're a prince and represent the royal family's dignity. Unless you commit treason or collude with enemies, no matter how serious the matter is, you won't lose your head."

The Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had never been in a relationship where one depended on the other.

Relatively speaking, the two were equals.

If Xue Xing had truly caused Tang Xuan and Ning Rongrong any irreparable harm,

then death would indeed have been his only fate.

But that was not the case.

Xue Ye would at most be furious enough for smoke to come out of his seven orifices, put on a show, and punish Xue Xing.

The real cost would still lie in the compensation.

But even so,

if Xue Xing were punished, not only would Xue Ye develop a grudge against him, his authority would certainly decline as well.

That would not benefit Tang Xuan, his Master.

After considering it, Tang Xuan said, "How about this? When the time comes, apply to Xue Ye to personally apologize to Rong Rong and me. First stall Xue Ye's punishment, then put on an act with me. At the very least, you can preserve your authority over Heaven Dou Royal Academy's administration."

If Xue Xing's authority was reduced, the first thing taken from him would be his authority over the academy's administration.

But who would succeed Xue Xing in that position?

Hard to guess.

"Really?" Xue Xing's eyes immediately lit up.

At first glance, authority over Heaven Dou Royal Academy's administration did not seem like much.

But there was much more to it than met the eye.

It could be said that the descendants of over ninety percent of the court's ministers studied at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

As the saying went, one could hold the emperor hostage to command the ministers.

He, Xue Xing, could likewise use their descendants to command the ministers.

"Believe it or not." Tang Xuan could not be bothered to explain and lifted his foot to leave.

But Xue Xing suddenly called out to stop him. "Wait, Young Master Xuan. As for helping Xue Qinghe obtain treasures for you and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, do you have anything specific in mind? Do you still want top-grade Soul Bones?"

His life and fortunes now depended entirely on Tang Xuan.

The better Tang Xuan did, the better Xue Xing could live.

"Soul Bones are optional. What I want is the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud!" Tang Xuan said, enunciating every word.

Other than the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, the foundation for becoming a god,

what other treasure of the Heaven Dou Royal Family could Tang Xuan value so highly?

And what other treasure could be called Xue Ye's lifeblood?

Xue Xing's pupils contracted violently.

The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was the Heaven Dou Empire's National Treasure.

Though it did not seem especially useful,

Xue Xing knew better than anyone just how precious Xue Ye considered it.

No wonder Tang Xuan insisted that he claim he had tried to kill Tang Xuan and Ning Rongrong.

Without strong medicine, Xue Ye would never use that item as an apology gift.