Heart-to-Heart

The main hall was spacious, and once inside, the sounds of wind and snow from the outside world were completely shut out.

The entire hall was empty, with several thick pillars supporting the dome, and a few terrain models placed below.

The echo of boots on the stone floor made the entire hall silent and empty.

Xu Yuan guessed that this was probably the command post of the Beifeng front.

But nobody's here?

While pondering this, Xu Yuan continued walking into the main hall.

According to the architectural traditions of the Great Yan, there were usually several courtyards behind such a main hall, which were used for important people to rest.

Li Qingyan wasn't in this main hall; he must be further back.

Just then, Xu Yuan suddenly heard the sound of armor rubbing against each other coming from the corridor behind the hall.

The cracking sound of heavy armor plates rubbing together.

I stopped and looked around.

Soon, a handsome young man emerged from behind.

He wore a heavy suit of armor with a black base and red trim, the armor body engraved with array patterns.

However, a large section of the man's sturdy armor was torn, revealing the inner cloth armor and breastplate, and his entire body was stained with the black blood of the Barbarian Tribe.

It was none other than Yuan Hao, who had been detained by Li Qingyan.

Xu Yuan called out in slight surprise:

"Commander Yuan?"

"."

Upon seeing Xu Yuan in this grand hall, Yuan Hao's eyes also showed some surprise.

In his mind, Xu Yuan should have already fled the city by this time.

He had told them that Beifeng City could only hold out for a maximum of ten days.

A wise person avoids standing under a dangerous wall.

When the city falls, those Barbarian Tribe will not be afraid of his status as the hostage of the Prime Minister the Great Yan; on the contrary, they may be even more excited.

Composing himself, Yuan Hao quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Third Young Master"

Xu Yuan scanned Yuan Hao's armor from head to toe, then asked with a hint of doubt:

"Commander Yuan, what are you doing?"

Yuan Hao wasn't a reckless fool who only knew how to fight; he naturally knew that the Third Young Master's identity couldn't be revealed, so he bowed respectfully.

"Just now, I, Yuan, was ordered to take advantage of the Barbarian Tribe' unstable foothold and launch an attack on the Barbarian Tribe camp. I am here to report to His Highness Wu Yuan."

Xu Yuan hissed softly:

"I heard from Lou Ji that Li Qingyan has already strictly forbidden anyone from leaving the city, hasn't he?"

Yuan Hao obediently cooperated with the act:

"Although our Black Scale Army is now under the command of His Highness Wu Yuan, it is even more so under the command of the Prime Minister's Estate."

"Did Lou Ji order you to do this?" Xu Yuan pondered for a moment.

"..." Yuan Hao rolled his eyes inwardly, but looked troubled and remained silent.

"Can't I say?"

Xu Yuan murmured something, nodded slightly, and then said:

"Commander Yuan, I just saw someone being executed at the Drill Ground outside."

Yuan Hao paused for a moment, glanced outside the hall, and frowned:

"It's already been cut?"

"Hmm." Xu Yuan nodded.

Yuan Hao sighed with slight regret:

"Yes, our people. In any case, the Black Scale Army's raid on the camp outside the city goes against His Highness Wu Yuan's current orders. We need to send out a few important figures to be killed to appease the masses. If we don't, things might get out of hand with the sect."

Xu Yuan frowned slightly and asked in a low voice:

"Are they our people?"

Upon hearing this question, Yuan Hao gave Xu Yuan a strange look, then chuckled softly with an ambiguous meaning:

"The list was provided by Lou Ji, and His Highness instructed us to handle it ourselves."

Xu Yuan asked thoughtfully, "Did they commit a crime?"

Yuan Hao chuckled:

"It's a bit of a pity about these two. They are both talented individuals with excellent cultivation aptitude, but in order to obtain more Cultivation Resources, they turned their attention to logistical supplies."

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow:

"How so?"

Yuan Hao replied with a smile:

"Currently, supplies are scarce in Beifeng City, and the prices of various goods on the market have skyrocketed. The two of them, who are in charge of the Black Scale Army's supply inventory in Beifeng City, have sold a lot of things at high prices on the black market."

Then, Yuan Hao changed the subject and sighed:

"I was supposed to do it myself, but I've already done it. Killing Barbarian Tribe is never satisfying, tsk."

Seeing Yuan Hao's regretful expression, Xu Yuan's eyes twitched, and he coughed lightly:

"I understand. Commander Yuan, you may leave now. Li Qingyan is in the Inner Court."

Yuan Hao cupped his hands in a respectful gesture:

"His Highness Wu Yuan and the two other princes are resting in the inner courtyard."

Having said that,

The sound of armor rubbing against each other, accompanied by footsteps, rang out again before finally fading away at the entrance to the main hall.

Behind the council hall is a long, narrow pavilion corridor.

Heavy snow fell gently in the courtyards on both sides of the corridor, covering the pavilions and towers inside the courtyards in a silvery white.

After walking along the pavilion corridor for about ten feet, Xu Yuan suddenly stopped. In a pavilion at the end of a fork in the corridor, he vaguely saw someone sitting quietly there.

He drank wine while admiring the snow, his eyes filled with melancholy as he gazed at the falling snowflakes.

Just as I was watching, the person suddenly turned his head.

Their eyes suddenly met in the snow.

Both sides saw surprise in each other's eyes, as if to say:

That bastard hasn't run away yet?

Lowering his gaze, the Third Prince smiled and said to Xu Yuan voice:

"Third Young Master, shall we come together to enjoy the snow and have some wine?"

After a moment's hesitation, Xu Yuan didn't rush to see Li Qingyan, but instead slowly walked towards the pavilion.

Upon approaching, Xu Yuan saw the layout of the pavilion and chuckled slightly as he remarked:

"Now that Beifeng is besieged, His Highness the Third Prince seems to know how to enjoy life, with Sound-Isolation Array and warm sunlight arrays all readily available."

Inside the pavilion, a wine warmer sits on a wooden table, next to which is a grill, where various kinds of meat sizzle.

The icy chill of the Northern Border was kept outside the pavilion.

Li Yunqing shook his head straightforwardly:

"We only have a few days left before the city falls, so let's eat as much as we can while we still can."

Xu Yuan sat down with a strange expression, and very consciously took out a cup and poured himself a glass:

"Beifeng City is not yet completely surrounded. If the Third Prince wants to escape, I think it shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

The Third Prince clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying:

"I'd like to, but my elder sister is a woman of her word. If she says she'll seal off the city, she means it. Not a single person is allowed to leave."

Xu Yuan took a sip of warm wine:

"You're his own brother, you deserve some special treatment."

"Laugh"

Li Yunqing chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Third Young Master, in our family, blood ties don't hold as much weight as they do in yours. My elder sister grew up in the Northern Border, and her relationship with my younger brother is hardly better than that of strangers."

The words were so direct that Xu Yuan couldn't respond.

The Third Prince seemed to have no intention of continuing, and suddenly asked with a smile:

"By the way, Third Young Master, I just saw a Grandmaster from your family named Zhou Chen in the government office. Do you remember him?"

"Zhou Chen?" Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly, revealing a perfectly timed expression of surprise. "He's actually in Beifeng City?"

"Looks like we've met." The Third Prince smiled slyly.

Xu Yuan stared at Li Yunqing for a few moments, then shook his head and changed the subject, asking:

Where is your elder sister?

The Third Prince seemed to have confirmed something, shrugged, and spoke with a measured tone:

"Because of that unknown leader of your Prime Minister's Estate, the Black Scale Army rashly left the city, which infuriated my elder sister. She should be contacting reinforcements through the Communication Crystal right now."

"Is that so?"

Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes.

The Third Prince must have realized something, but since he brought it up, it means he didn't intend to leak it.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan smiled slightly:

"What about the Second Prince?"

"He's helping my elder sister with military affairs."

"Military affairs?" Xu Yuan, somewhat surprised.

The Third Prince waved his hand and explained:

"It's not about being in charge of the specific affairs of city defense, but rather helping my elder sister to oversee the government office, allocate supplies, maintain city security, and handle logistical matters such as the city defense reserve."

Xu Yuan's eyes showed a thoughtful look. "He also knows these things?"

"Of course, even Father Emperor said my second brother looks like him."

The Third Prince flashed with admiration, and he raised his hand, making a slight gesture with his thumb and forefinger:

"He knows a little bit about everything, much better than my older brother who only knows about benevolence, righteousness, and etiquette."

Xu Yuan had never met the Crown Prince, so he didn't know whether the other party was telling the truth or not. He chuckled and said:

"Since His Highness the Third Prince thinks so highly of your second brother, why are you following your eldest brother in the struggle for the throne? Anyway, blood ties aren't that important in your family."

"."

The Third Prince was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed softly:

"Third Young Master,"

"After my father ascended the throne, several of my uncles either committed suicide or went mad."

"."

The blizzard raged like a waterfall, highlighting the helplessness on Li Yunqing's face.

Xu Yuan asked with a smile:

"How can you be sure your elder brother won't touch you after he ascends the throne? You control all the royal family's merchants and the Imperial Shadow Guard; that's quite a threat."

With no outsiders present, the Third Prince spoke directly, saying:

"My eldest and second eldest brothers don't support it, so I can't possibly support my sixth brother, can I? His maternal grandfather, the Marquis of Langya, only has 30,000 Langya Army, which aren't even enough to fill the gaps in the Beifeng Army under the Marquis of Martial Achievement. How can I support him?"

Xu Yuan was speechless, then raised his glass.

Two wine glasses clinked together in the wind and snow, then were drunk dry.

Xu Yuan put down his wine cup and sighed softly:

"You're having a tough time."

The Third Prince sighed helplessly and drank another cup by himself.

"It is indeed difficult. The imperial family is the most ruthless. I can only gamble. If my elder brother really wants to harm me, my mother will probably persuade him. Besides, we grew up together and I have worked diligently for him for so many years. If he is willing to relinquish power, he should be able to live a leisurely life as a prince."

Xu Yuan glanced at the warm grill beside him and suddenly asked:

"So Junqing, are you really willing to hand over your fate to someone else?"

The Third Prince narrowed his eyes and smiled:

"Third Young Master, do you mean..."

"If it's so difficult, why don't you do it yourself?"

"."

Silence suddenly fell over the pavilion.

After a while,

The Third Prince suddenly laughed, pointed at himself, and said, "Me? What do I have to compete with my second and eldest brothers? I was born more than twenty years later than my eldest brother, and I'm not as capable as my second brother."

Xu Yuan silently raised a finger and pointed to himself.

The Third Prince's voice trailed off, and his eyes narrowed.

This guy actually admitted it outright.

Well, whether he admits it or not, it's all the same to him; he just doesn't dare to tell anyone.

The somber mood gradually dissipated, and the Third Prince leaned back in his chair, smiling as he stared at Xu Yuan:

"Third Young Master, I'm just an ordinary person, and I know very well that once some desires are unleashed, they can't be taken back."

"You really don't want to sit?" Xu Yuan asked with a strange look.

"Of course I want to. I've always said I'm a common person; if I can sit, of course I'd like to sit."

The Third Prince stared into Xu Yuan's eyes and said, word by word, "But I don't want to be a puppet who can be deposed at any time, so Third Young Master, you'd better stop trying to sow discord. If I survive this trip, I'm going to lead troops to Yingzhou Island and become a local tyrant."

Xu Yuan sighed and said:

"Your Highness is quite clear-headed, knowing to stay away from the whirlpool."

The Third Prince sighed:

"I can't afford to be out of it. My second brother will likely gain some support in the army and make a name for himself with my father thanks to his performance on this trip to the Northern Border.

"Even if we win the war in the Northern Border, it won't be a pretty good victory. My father is also seriously ill. With my eldest brother's gentle nature, it will be difficult for him to ascend the throne. And if my second brother does ascend the throne, my fate... tsk tsk."

"."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan chuckled softly but remained silent.

I understand.

This Crown Prince was prepared so that the emperor and his father could settle down their sects and allow the world to recuperate.

With the sects still unsettled, it's natural to need to change the leader.

However, given that the Crown Prince has been overseeing the country for so many years, it's unlikely that he would be as despicable as the Third Prince claims.

If it were truly that bad, then the Second Prince wouldn't have risked so much to come to the Northern Border.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, glancing at Li Yunqing across from him.

This kid's ability to spout nonsense is second to none.

Li Yunqing seemed to have completely opened up, and then asked with a smile:

"Third Young Master, how about we go check out the brothels in the Northern Border of the city tonight? The girls there are much taller than those in our Capital."

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes and said:

"The city is under siege, would the brothels open at this time?"

The Third Prince waved his hand and laughed:

"Third Young Master, the more chaotic the times, the more money unscrupulous merchants can make. Right now, so many children of high-ranking sects in the Three Northern Prefectures are trapped in this isolated city and can't get out. They're under so much pressure, they need to find a place to vent. The prices in the city's brothels will double, but they will definitely open."

As the words fell,

Amidst the wind and snow outside the pavilion, a figure in red landed on the snow behind the Third Prince, took a long stride, and silently entered the pavilion.

Xu Yuan glanced at the woman in red almost imperceptibly, his expression immediately turning serious.

"Too expensive, I can't afford it."

The Third Prince chuckled and sighed:

"Tsk, Third Young Master is really a miser. Tonight it's my treat, how about it?"

Xu Yuan glanced once more at the red-clad woman behind the Third Prince, whose face was so cold it could freeze ice:

"Tonight might not be convenient; your elder sister might need me."

The Third Prince was about to speak when he suddenly noticed Xu Yuan's gaze. His expression changed, but after a moment's pause, he still insisted on smiling:

"It's alright. The military situation is urgent right now, and my elder sister will definitely be inspecting the city gate tower. She can't possibly stay overnight in this government office."

"Smack!"

Li Qingyan raised her hand and slapped Li Yunqing on the back of the head.

"..." Xu Yuan gestured with his eyes, indicating that it had nothing to do with him.

The Third Prince covered his head and pretended to be dead.

Li Qingyan took a deep breath and gave Xu Yuan a cold glance:

"Come with me, I have something to ask you."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Xu Yuan subconsciously glanced at Li Yunqing, only to find the kid silently lying on the stone table, pretending to be dead.

Li Qingyan walked out of the pavilion, Xu Yuan was about to follow when he saw the dead man suddenly raise his eyes, wink at him, and slightly move his lips:

See you tonight

"." Xu Yuan.

Still have a slight fever