Why the Imperial Family Fought Among Themselves

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Bai's finger was already near him.

Chaos and despair erupted suddenly.

When this aura suddenly erupted from Xu Bai's fingertips, combined with the enhancement of the Swordless Saber Grand Technique, the two combined to create a terrifying roar.

"Boom!"

The surrounding barrier, formed by the Celestial Master Melody, swayed slightly, but remained relatively stable.

Eunuch Wei raised one hand, pressing his palm against Xu Bai's fingertips. He did not step back, but his gray hair was ruffled by the wind.

Behind Eunuch Wei, the Heavenly Change that was his own also occurred.

It was an extremely cold aura; the surrounding air began to freeze, and ice blocks fell down in a soft rustling sound.

However, this cold was quite different from ordinary cold; it contained a kind of yin energy.

To put it simply, it's like the cold in the north versus the cold in the south.

The Heavenly Change caused by Eunuch Wei had a direct and powerful penetrating effect.

Xu Bai withdrew his hand and moved his fingertips, where a cold aura surrounded him, and he was still somewhat numb.

"Eunuch Wei, if I may ask, what level of cultivation have you reached?"

He stopped fighting. With just one move, he understood his own limitations and naturally saw no need to continue.

"Our family is at the Extraordinary Rank 9." After thinking for a moment, Eunuch Wei added, "We're practically halfway into the Saint Realm."

"Is such power possible at the peak of the ninth rank of the Extraordinary Rank 9?" Xu Bai pondered.

Beside her, the old woman's lips twitched as she said, "You brat, you're still not satisfied? You've only just entered the Transcendent Realm, yet you're already equivalent to a third-grade Transcendent. With such abilities, aren't you content? Wei Lao Bu Si's strength cannot be compared to ordinary realms. His unique profession allows him to fight against Saints with the Transcendent Realm. If Wei Lao Bu Si were to enter the Saint Realm, he would be invincible among Saints."

Upon hearing this, Xu Bai exclaimed in surprise, "There is such a profession? May I ask what profession Eunuch Wei is in? Could you please tell me?"

He had thought that Eunuch Wei was very strong, but he did not expect him to be this strong. He was not at a disadvantage against Saints with his extraordinary abilities, and if he entered the Saint realm, he would be invincible. Such strength was simply unbelievable, which aroused Xu Bai's curiosity.

If you can understand this industry and work your way up in it, you might be able to reach that level yourself.

Eunuch Wei's old face suddenly broke into a smile, a smile that seemed utterly inexplicable, "Hasn't Lord Xu already entered the profession of a 'yin eunuch'? I just don't understand why Lord Xu still possesses such masculine vigor."

Actually, I hadn't ventured into this field before I became a man. It was only after my accident that I started over, and unexpectedly, it turned out to be exactly what suited me. From then on, I progressed rapidly, reaching my current level. Unfortunately, I am ultimately not a complete man, and taking that step to achieve sainthood is incredibly difficult.

Xu Bai was speechless; it turned out he was a eunuch.

The question of what a eunuch is needs no further explanation.

I think I did see a book like that when I was on the sixth floor before.

This industry is indeed impressive, but it also has its drawbacks.

Because of its incomplete nature, reaching the Saintly Realm is incredibly difficult, and this difficulty is no exaggeration.

Simply put, there are gains and losses. Eunuch Wei Extraordinary Rank 9, which is already the pinnacle of the extraordinary. Given the nature of the eunuch profession, it would be easy for him to defeat a few ordinary second or third-rank officials who have achieved sainthood.

"Speaking of which, I am truly envious. I only have the strength to fight against those of higher ranks because I have lost the most precious thing a man can have. I never expected that Lord Xu would possess it so easily," sighed Eunuch Wei.

Xu Bai: "..."

For some reason, looking at Eunuch Wei's sentimental expression, he felt that Eunuch Wei's profession had a very subtle connection with a cultivation technique from his previous life.

For example, if you want to practice this skill, you must first castrate yourself.

Of course, this isn't the time to think about these things. I've already finished all the books, and it's time to move on to the next step.

"Has Your Majesty finished dealing with this?" Xu Bai asked.

Eunuch Wei shook his head and said, "His Majesty said it would be a month, so it really has been a month. Could it be that Lord Xu has already finished reading all the books on the sixth floor? That's right, you've already entered the Transcendent Realm, so you must have almost finished. It's a pity that there are still twenty days until the day you and His Majesty agreed upon."

Judging from this, it's probably not going to be of much use since it's not time yet.

"How about this?" Eunuch Wei thought for a moment and said, "Lord Xu can stay in this palace for now. It will be a good opportunity for him to interact with the members of the royal family. I think that given Lord Xu's current status, they will definitely want to befriend him and help Lord Xu build some connections."

Member of the royal family?

Upon hearing this, Xu Bai looked at Eunuch Wei meaningfully, feeling that there was something more to Eunuch Wei's words.

Connections are always linked to one's own abilities, whether in the past or the present.

Without ability, where do you get connections?

For an ordinary person like you to want to befriend a rich person is wishful thinking, unless you become a dog.

You either have value to them, or you have outstanding abilities that allow you to be treated as an equal.

Now that Eunuch Wei had actually voiced this idea, Xu Bai seemed to have realized something.

"Eunuch Wei, how about we go to my place for a chat?" Xu Bai said with a smile.

Eunuch Wei narrowed his eyes and said slyly, "Lord Xu has entered the Transcendent Realm, which should be celebrated. Of course, there is no problem. I will also ask the Imperial Kitchen to cook some side dishes so that we can have a good drink together."

"It's true," Xu Bai thought to himself, something was definitely up here.

He told Ye Zi Ye Zi to stay here and continue studying, and then followed Eunuch Wei out the door.

Ye Zi stared blankly at Xu Bai's retreating figure.

The old woman chuckled and said, "Understood?"

Ye Zi came to her senses, a fire burning in her eyes. "Understood. I will work ten times, a hundred times harder. I don't expect to be like you, young master. I just want to keep up and not be a burden to you."

"Then let's begin," the old woman said with a smile.

"Mmm." Ye Zi nodded vigorously.

A moment later, the sound of instruction could be heard again from within the Imperial Treasury.

Led by Eunuch Wei, Xu Bai, who was not very familiar with the roads, returned to his residence.

After the two entered the room, the imperial kitchen staff arrived shortly afterward, bringing delicious food and two jars of fine wine.

Eunuch Wei broke the seal on the wine, but instead of pouring it, he tilted his head back and took a sip.

This hearty and forthright demeanor surprised Xu Bai.

"What, do you think that all eunuchs are particularly effeminate people?" Eunuch Wei wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth.

Xu Bai snapped out of his daze and, instead of saying anything polite, simply nodded.

Say what you mean and express your thoughts. There's no need to hide anything from such a shrewd person.

"My Lord Xu is aware that I was seriously injured while fighting alongside His Majesty, which led to my current predicament," said Eunuch Wei. "Before this, I was a forthright and chivalrous hero of the martial world."

"In the world of martial arts, one must drink from large bowls. Lord Xu, this is a toast to you."

After Xu Bai understood what had happened, he slapped off the seal on the wine jar, clinked glasses with Eunuch Wei, and took a sip as well. "A toast to Eunuch Wei as well."

He took another sip.

With great interest, Eunuch Wei asked, "Why are you offering this to us?"

"Eunuch Wei could have risen to prominence as a founding father, but he was willing to become a eunuch for His Majesty the Emperor and for the sake of the country." Xu Bai said, "Of course I respect him."

He knew that when Eunuch Wei was appreciated by His Majesty, he was to be appointed to a high-ranking official position. However, Eunuch Wei knew that he was disabled and was afraid of causing some reputational problems for the Great Chu Kingdom, so he preferred to remain a eunuch.

The title of "Head of Eunuchs" still only applies to a eunuch.

Xu Bai felt that it was only right to offer a toast to such a person.

Eunuch Wei was taken aback, then shook his head dismissively.

He seemed reluctant to bring up the past, picked up the wine jar and took another sip, but the dishes on the table remained untouched.

Xu Bai drank and ate at the same time.

The two began to chat, talking about the romantic tales of the martial arts world and the various trivialities of the Imperial Palace.

To Xu Bai's surprise, he found Eunuch Wei to be quite to his liking, and the two chatted for a while and found themselves getting along very well.

The same goes for Eunuch Wei. Although this young man speaks very slickly, he has his own principles. There are very few people like him.

After Xu Bai for a while, there was hardly any wine left. He then put down his chopsticks, a look of doubt in his eyes.

"Eunuch Wei, I don't quite understand what you mean by telling me to communicate more with people in the royal family."

Eunuch Wei put down the wine jar in his hand and said, "There is no other meaning. With Lord Xu's current strength, they definitely want to communicate with you more. Lord Xu can do whatever he wants."

Xu Bai narrowed his eyes and said, "Oh, it seems His Majesty wants me to let go."

He could see Eunuch Wei as the emperor's eyes and ears, or as someone who conveyed the emperor's intentions. Therefore, when he said this, he was testing whether it was the emperor's intention.

Eunuch Wei took another sip and said, "Of His Majesty's nine children, half have died on the battlefield, leaving only the eldest, sixth, seventh, and ninth sons."

"The eldest brother is still guarding the border with Rising Dusk King. Only the sixth, seventh, and ninth brothers remain in the Imperial Palace."

"Although you haven't met the Ninth Princess, you are quite familiar with her. You know Zhou Qing; he is one of the Sixth Prince's men, and the rest is the Seventh Prince."

"Actually, the only one we need to pay attention to is the Seventh Prince."

At this point, Eunuch Wei sighed, a sigh filled with helplessness and heartache.

He seemed a little drunk.

But Xu Bai knew that even he, at his current level, wouldn't get drunk, let alone Eunuch Wei.

"Back then, the Seventh Prince's mother was a woman of exceptional beauty and grace," Eunuch Wei said with a wry smile.

"She is not only brave and resourceful, but also deeply loved by the people. She is the only concubine who can accompany His Majesty on his campaigns."

"In the martial arts world, she is known as the Sword Empress, and even given the title of Uncrowned Queen. She once killed eleven extraordinary masters with a single sword."

"What a pity... what a pity."

"On that day, His Majesty was ambushed, fell into someone's trap, and almost lost his life."

"Sword Empress, the Empress drew her sword and charged alone, piercing through tens of thousands of skilled soldiers with a single strike, saving His Majesty. However, she was left with a hidden ailment and passed away after giving birth to the Seventh Prince."

"Although the Sword Empress was a woman, she was no less heroic than any man. Countless people in the martial arts world benefited from her kindness, and after her death, countless people in the martial arts world spontaneously came to pay their respects."

At this point, tears welled up in Eunuch Wei's eyes, which he gently wiped away.

"Our family is one of them."

Xu Bai silently took a sip of wine and said with emotion, "She is truly an extraordinary woman, a heroine who is no less than any man."

Eunuch Wei patted Xu Bai on the shoulder, then changed the subject slightly. "They say a tiger father begets no dog son, but her son is a disappointment."

"Oh?" Xu Bai became interested. "The Seventh Prince?"

He still had some memories of the Seventh Prince. Back then, the Seventh Prince sent someone to try and recruit him, but that person was extremely arrogant and even tried to humiliate him, so he killed him. In fact, there was a grudge between the two.

Eunuch Wei drank half of the few remaining wines in the jar and said, "Perhaps it's because of the Sword Empress. His Majesty dotes on this son, even more so than on other members of the royal family, which has fostered his arrogant attitude."

"Having such a powerful mother should have been his glory, but he used this glory as a source of arrogance and reliance on it. Sometimes His Majesty felt bitter about it."

Xu Bai pondered for a moment and said, "Judging from what Eunuch Wei said, it seems he wants to cause me trouble. Eunuch Wei also said to let me handle it myself, which seems to mean he wants me to deal with it myself?"

Eunuch Wei coughed and said, "We didn't say that, and His Majesty certainly didn't say that either. However, His Majesty is currently very fond of you. As long as you don't go too far, there won't be any problems. As for what constitutes not going too far... just don't cripple him."

In these few sentences, Eunuch Wei emphasized the words "Your Majesty" particularly.

The meaning is quite clear: what he just said was entirely the emperor's opinion, not his own.

Xu Bai stroked his chin and said, "But I'm not very interested in His Majesty's family affairs."

What a joke! He had no intention of helping the emperor manage his son; he was too busy with his own affairs to handle anything else.

Eunuch Wei realized that Xu Bai didn't want to get involved.

This answer is in line with Xu Bai's personality.

Eunuch Wei laughed and said, "Lord Xu, this is a very good business opportunity."

"Oh?" Xu Bai asked thoughtfully, "What benefits can I get from that?"

"Of course, this concerns Lord Xu's future," Eunuch Wei said meaningfully. "Lord Xu, have you considered what reward you deserve for such merit? Is it merely a trip to the Imperial Treasury?"

"Your Majesty is also troubled, but I think Your Majesty should already have a good solution."

Xu Bai laughed and said, "Eunuch Wei may be overthinking things. I have no interest in officialdom, and I certainly don't want to be a high-ranking official."

Eunuch Wei waved his hand and said, "Of course I know Lord Xu's character, and His Majesty certainly knows it too. But His Majesty always considers things very thoroughly, so I'm sure Lord Xu will be satisfied. And this time is an opportunity. Lord Xu Lord Xu, think about it: if you can even subdue the Seventh Prince, who in the court would dare to raise objections to Lord Xu rewards?"

Xu Bai rubbed his chin with his fingers, pondering the implications of Eunuch Wei's words.

Eunuch Wei didn't say much. He knew Xu Bai was a sensible man and could see through it.

Time seemed to stand still, and the surroundings fell silent. After about half an incense stick's time, Xu Bai finally reacted.

"Alright," Xu Bai said, "I trust Eunuch Wei."

Eunuch Wei shook his head and said, "Lord Xu, you should trust His Majesty. In twenty days, His Majesty will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation. You can rest assured about that."

Xu Bai did not continue to discuss this matter. Now that he had an idea, he would not dwell on it any longer.

The two continued drinking, and this round of drinking continued until all the dishes on the table were eaten before Eunuch Wei left satisfied.

Two maids came in, cleaned the table, and then left, closing the door behind them, leaving Xu Bai alone.

Suddenly having some free time, Xu Bai didn't know what to do. He went to the door, opened the window, sat in front of the window, and looked at the sky in front of him.

He didn't know when he had gradually reached this position, which was indeed beyond his expectations.

As he gazed at the scenery outside the window, Xu Bai unconsciously began to feel sleepy.

Such pleasant moments are not uncommon for him, but such a pleasant afternoon is a good opportunity to take a nap.

Xu Bai closed his eyes, and the Fourth-Rank Puppet still stood guard beside him.

Just as he was half asleep, the sound of footsteps reached his ears, causing him to open his eyes.

Outside the window, Zhou Qing was rushing over. Halfway there, he saw Xu Bai outside the window and his face lit up with joy.

"Lord Xu... how have you been?" Zhou Qing felt it wasn't appropriate to talk by the window, so he walked to the door and knocked.

Xu Bai naturally knew what Zhou Qing did for a living.

Zhou Qing serves the Sixth Prince; to put it bluntly, he is the Sixth Prince's subordinate. His visit this time is definitely related to the Sixth Prince.

As for what it was, Xu Bai could guess pretty much.

He went to the door, opened it, and then returned to his chair to recline.

Seeing Xu Bai's appearance, Zhou Qing felt uneasy, not understanding what Xu Bai was thinking. However, since he was indeed here to complete the task given to him by the Sixth Prince, he still bowed and said hello.

"Congratulations, Lord Xu, on your feat of single-handedly defeating thousands of men and finally arriving in the capital. This is truly a cause for celebration. Zhou Qing has come here today to offer his Lord Xu."

Back in Sheng County, Zhou Qing was polite, but he was not as respectful as he is now; there was a huge difference in their status.

Xu Bai is now a favorite of the emperor; to put it bluntly, he can decide Zhou Qing's life or death with a single word.

Zhou Qing, however, remains the same Zhou Qing, unchanged.

Xu Bai, reclining, shook his head after hearing Zhou Qing's words. "I know what you mean. What I want to know now is what the Sixth Prince means."

Just now, Xu Bai shook his head, a gesture that Zhou Qing keenly noticed. He seemed to feel that something was missing.

Zhou Qing gritted his teeth and said, "What the Sixth Prince means is that since Lord Xu has risen to prominence, he wants to express his gratitude by inviting Lord Xu to his residence for a meal. By the way... if Lord Xu can become a member of the Sixth Prince's household, the Sixth Prince will surely give him an important position."

Xu Bai smiled and said, "Zhou Qing Zhou Qing, you've fallen short in the end. Go back, I have no interest."

Zhou Qing was taken aback, not understanding why.

He believed that there was nothing wrong with what he had said before. He had spoken with utmost respect, clearly conveying the Sixth Prince's meaning and even indicating that the Sixth Prince was capable of giving him an important position. So why did he receive such a remark? "Why... did I fall short?" Zhou Qing was completely puzzled.

At this moment, it was not Xu Bai who answered him, but a clear female voice.

"Because you don't consider Xu Bai Xu Bai friend, but we do."

Outside the door, Qing Xue walked in with Qing Mei, a smile on her face.

After Qing Mei came in, she curiously looked at Xu Bai. When she saw Xu Bai's appearance, she couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

She had only heard of Xu Bai's reputation, and now that she saw him for the first time, he was indeed a handsome man. But was this really the now-famous Blood Slaughtering Saber Wielder? Qing Mei couldn't help but mutter to herself.

When Zhou Qing saw Qing Xue enter the room, his expression changed. "Qing Xue, what do you mean by this?"

Qing Xue showed no respect to Zhou Qing, saying, "Back then, we went through life and death with Xu Bai together, yet now we are so estranged. You still want to take him under your command? Let me ask you, Xu Bai is no longer the person he used to be. What merits does the Sixth Prince behind you have to take Xu Bai under his wing?"

Zhou Qing's expression shifted between light and dark.

He felt that he and the Sixth Prince had indeed forgotten the most important point.

Xu Bai is not the same person he used to be, but they haven't broken free from their fixed mindset and still only want to bring Xu Bai under their command, which seems really inappropriate.

"Go back." Xu Bai waved his hand.

Zhou Qing stood there, sighed one last time, and left without lingering.

He knew he was no longer of any use, and staying here would be a waste of his time.

After Zhou Qing left, Xu Bai stared at Qing Xue with interest, without saying a word.

Qing Xue gave a bright smile, "Well done, Lord Xu, you're having a great time here."

She seemed completely unconcerned about Xu Bai's identity and appeared unusually relaxed here.

Qing Mei, who was standing nearby, was startled and quickly said, "Lord Xu, my sister is always outspoken, please don't take offense."

Although the young man in front of me seems very easygoing, he is currently a rising star, and I must not offend him.

She was worried that her older sister might offend Xu Bai with her words, and that something terrible might happen.

Even though they had the Ninth Princess's backing, people like them who just coasted through life in the palace still had to abide by many of the palace's taboos.

Otherwise, even the Ninth Princess couldn't protect them.

Xu Bai said dismissively, "I've saved you time and time again, yet you still have the same old temper."

Qing Xue was fine, but Qing Mei was increasingly surprised, opening her mouth wide enough to fit a very large object inside.

Her sister seems to know Lord Xu quite well, could it be...?

Qing Mei had some ulterior motives.

Qing Xue laughed and said, "If you, Xu Bai, have changed, I'll accept it and just turn around and leave."

"Alright, alright, we have plenty of time to catch up. Tell me your purpose first," Xu Bai said.

Qing Xue turned to the side and gestured for him to come over, saying, "The Ninth Princess invites Lord Xu to come over. She has prepared a grand banquet to entertain him and wishes to make friends with Lord Xu."

Qing Xue emphasized the word "friends" very heavily.

Finally, Qing Xue added one more sentence.

"Give me some face, there's a gift, your favorite secret manual."

Qing Xue blinked, her meaning clear.

"Oh?" Xu Bai's eyes lit up.

Whether I eat the meal or not is irrelevant, but I am very interested in this secret recipe.

"I'm a little hungry, let's go." Xu Bai laughed, patted Qing Xue's shoulder familiarly, and said, "Aren't you going to lead the way for me?"

Qing Xue rolled her eyes, but still turned around and led the way, since Xu Bai was not familiar with the roads in the palace.

As they walked, Qing Xue would occasionally introduce things to Xu Bai. Nothing unusual happened along the way, and soon they arrived at the Ninth Princess's main hall.

The door to the main hall was tightly closed. Qing Xue stepped forward and knocked gently.

A voice inside said "Come in," Qing Xue pushed open the door to let Xu Bai in.

Xu Bai didn't care about such things and stepped into the main hall.

Once inside, they found a huge round table laden with various delicacies, and many maids waiting respectfully to the side.

Directly in front of them sat a young woman dressed in fine silk and satin. She looked to be in her early twenties, with a jade hairpin in her hair, which, combined with her luxurious clothes, gave her an air of nobility.

Her appearance was impeccable, and the light makeup on her face made her look even more gorgeous and stunning.

This kind of beauty carries a sense of elegance and nobility, giving people a feeling that it is unattainable.

"Lord Xu, please have a seat." The Ninth Princess extended her delicate hand, pointing to the seat next to herself.

"Thank Ninth Princess," Xu Bai said, sitting down next to Ninth Princess as if they were old friends.

As soon as I sat down, I was greeted by a fragrant aroma, like the scent of orchids.

"I once had a friend named Liu Xu," Xu Bai said with a smile. "She had a sandalwood scent on her body, which was formed by sandalwood being placed in the room for a long time. It was so well-infused that the scent was very strong. The fragrance on the Ninth Princess seems to have a similar quality."

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene fell silent. The maids all looked up, their faces filled with disbelief.

Is this... flirting with the Ninth Princess?

They couldn't believe their ears.

Long, long ago, a scholar saw a portrait of the Ninth Princess and wrote a poem, which fell into the Ninth Princess's hands. Not long after, the scholar disappeared.

The Ninth Princess hated nothing more than being teased about her beauty; even praise would disgust her.

Qing Mei quickly stepped forward, angrily saying, "You scoundrel, no matter your status, how can you say such things in front of the Ninth Princess?"

Qing Xue quickly pulled her younger sister back and scolded her softly.

She was very familiar with Xu Bai's style; this nonchalant attitude was deliberately put on.

As for why, it's not very clear.

The Ninth Princess was also slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered, covered her mouth with her hand, and chuckled softly, "Lord Xu, why do you have to act like a lecherous man and make me disgusted? How much do you dislike being with me that you deliberately act like this?"

Xu Bai curled his lip in boredom and said, "You princes and princesses are all so quick-witted, so boring."

Although it wasn't stated directly, the meaning was clear: the Ninth Princess had guessed his thoughts.

"I invited Lord Xu here today simply to make friends with Lord Xu," the Ninth Princess said, raising her wine cup. "Would Lord Xu do me the honor?"

Xu Bai picked up his wine glass with amusement, lightly clinked it against the Ninth Princess's, and said, "Being friends is fine, but I wonder what the benefits of being friends are?"

The Ninth Princess raised her fair neck, drank the wine in her cup, and then took out a box from the side and handed it to Xu Bai.

Xu Bai took it, opened it, and found that there were many silver notes inside. Not only that, but there was also a book next to the silver notes.

There were many silver notes, but Xu Bai only glanced at them before putting them in his pocket. The most important thing was the book.

The True Explanation of Mechanisms.

It's just four simple words, but there's a golden progress bar above it, which is very useful to Xu Bai.

"I know Lord Xu has a puppet by his side, but its rank seems a bit low. This book is of first rank," the Ninth Princess said slowly. "I obtained it after going through tremendous effort. Now, could it be given as a gift to make friends?"

Xu Bai silently put it away and simply said, "Speak."

"I have met the second young master of the Kong Family, and he explained his purpose." The Ninth Princess rested her chin on her hand, and the sleeve of her robe slipped down to reveal its white color. "I have already taken him under my command out of respect for Lord Xu. So, Lord Xu only needs to promise me one thing."

Xu Bai raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it?"

The Ninth Princess looked directly at Xu Bai and slowly said, "It's very simple. If I'm fighting with the others, Lord Xu, just don't help anyone."

"That's all?"

"Yes." The Ninth Princess stretched and said, "Of course, if there's anything Lord Xu can help with, only I can offer him a reward in exchange for Lord Xu help. Even if others accept the reward, Lord Xu shouldn't help them."

Xu Bai fell into deep thought, and finally nodded, agreeing for the time being.

He finally understood that the first half of the sentence was nonsense, and only the second half was true. If anything really happened, only the Ninth Princess could bring something to him for help.

However, after thinking about it, he agreed. He didn't quite like the other two princes.

There's no need to say more about the Seventh Prince; he still needs to train him slowly. The Sixth Prince actually wants to take him under his wing, which he can't tolerate.

Of course, agreeing is one thing, but whether or not to do it depends on whether the reward mentioned earlier is worthwhile.

"Then, Lord Xu, please have a meal." The Ninth Princess finally relaxed.

Xu Bai shook his head.

"Is the food not to your liking? I'll have the imperial kitchen prepare something new," the Ninth Princess said.

Xu Bai narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing an interested look. "The food smells delicious, but there's something I really want to know."

"What is it?" the Ninth Princess asked, puzzled.

Xu Bai said directly, "What are you all arguing about? His Majesty's health is still very robust..."

The meaning is obvious: the royal family is all vying for the throne. But the current emperor is young and strong. Is it a bit too early to start vying for it now?