Probing

Meeting an old friend in a foreign land, or a fellow countryman meeting another fellow countryman, but there were no tears in their eyes, only murderous intent.

Although Xu Yuan is currently a novice and cannot perceive the existence of Yi, he can never hide the look in his eyes that shows he wants to kill someone.

Their gazes met amidst the wind and snow.

Xu Yuan chuckled, patted Zhou Chen on the shoulder, and said:

"Mr. Zhou, don't be nervous, I know someone here."

After speaking, Zhou Chen withdrew his hand from the sword, but still kept a wary eye on the woman in the distance.

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Xu Mengxi's voice carried a chill, and a hint of disbelief:

"Xu Changtian?"

Xu Yuan walked slowly to Xu Mengxi, his long hair fluttering in the snowy night, his smile gentle:

"What? You recognized me instantly after two years apart, but you don't recognize me after only a few months?"

"."

Xu Mengxi didn't speak again, staring at Xu Yuan as he pressed down on the sword hanging at his waist.

Although she had confirmed the other party's identity, she couldn't imagine why someone of such a high and mighty status would come to this dangerous city at this time.

Xu Yuan glanced at her hand holding the knife and smiled:

"What are you doing with the knife? Did you kill Hongyan? You killed the dandy in Lingshui Palace and you want to kill me too?"

As he spoke, Xu Yuan chuckled and raised his chin, revealing part of his neck:

"If you want to, then come. Anyway, Beifeng City is in danger and chaos right now. With your cultivation level, killing me, a fifth-grade Soul Condensation, should be a piece of cake."

Xu Mengxi gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, her eyes slightly cold, but she didn't move.

Xu Yuan looked the other person up and down with great interest, then chuckled:

"I thought you would kill me like you killed that spoiled brat of the Spirit Water Palace, but it seems you do know the difference."

Even among the most extravagant playboys, there are differences.

Xu Mengxi frowned and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Xu Changtian, you are no different from Yue Huanbin."

"The difference is huge."

Xu Yuan shook his head and said slowly, "Killing that so-called Yue Huanbin is an achievement for you, and the Emperor and my father will reward you afterwards. But if you kill me..."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan raised his finger and pointed to himself:

"You, your master, your master's family, and all your relatives and friends will have to be buried with me."

Xu Mengxi narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, and gripped the knife even tighter:

"According to the Great Yan Law, your Prime Minister's Estate within Beifeng City are enough to warrant a thousand deaths."

Xu Yuan chuckled softly upon hearing this:

"Look at what you're saying! The Great Yan Law were all formulated by my father and his men, as if our Prime Minister's Estate were some kind of villain."

As he spoke,

Xu Yuan smiled:

"Over the years, Mengxi, you've matured a lot. You should understand very well that even if we don't do those things, the sect will do them anyway. In that case, we'll be waiting to be slaughtered by the sect."

Xu Mengxi took a deep breath, pushed Xu Yuan's hand away, and exhaled a puff of white mist in the wind and snow:

"These are all fallacies and sophistry, they're birds of a feather."

Xu Yuan smiled, didn't refute, raised his hand and patted Xu Mengxi's shoulder, then walked past her towards the council hall:

"Say what you will. An ideal world only exists in ideals. I admire you and hope you can always stick to your original aspirations."

After taking a few steps, Xu Yuan paused, then suddenly laughed:

"And let me give you another piece of advice: excessive rigidity leads to breakage."

Xu Mengxi suddenly bristled upon hearing this, turned around, and looked at his back in the wind and snow, her grip on the hilt of her knife creaking.

"Xu Changtian, what do you mean?"

Xu Yuan turned his gaze, his eyes filled with a smile:

"What do you mean? If it weren't for this natural disaster and blizzard, given what you did in Beifeng City before, you would have already committed suicide."

"."

After she finished speaking, Xu Mengxi fell silent. After a few breaths, her entire body trembled with anger, but she couldn't utter a word.

Because what this dude Xu Yuan said is true.

She went out of the city to seize smuggled weapons, but upon arriving at the location, she was ambushed by three mysterious Grandmaster. If she hadn't escaped quickly, she would be dead now.

Xu Yuan looked at her expression and smiled:

"You did a very good job killing Yue Huanbin."

"Although I look down on him, it is undeniable that he is indeed of very high status. He is the only son of the Great Elder of the Spirit Water Palace. If it weren't for the situation of the Barbarian Tribe invasion of the city, you would most likely be killed along with him if you killed him."

As he spoke,

Xu Yuan's eyes softened, and he said softly:

"You've always wanted to settle scores with me, haven't you? Before you have the right to do so, you'd better learn to protect yourself first. Only by staying alive can you climb higher and accomplish more."

"."

Silence followed.

Xu Yuan smiled and shook his head, then turned and left without saying anything more.

Xu Mengxi watched his long hair fluttering in the snowy night, and gritted her teeth as she shouted:

"Xu Changtian, what right do you have to say such things here?"

She found it hard to accept.

It is unacceptable that this wicked and dissolute young man could utter such words.

Xu Yuan didn't respond or turn around. He waved and disappeared through the entrance of the council hall, leaving Xu Mengxi alone in the snow, stunned.

Upon entering the council hall, the scene inside was almost exactly as Xu Yuan had imagined.

The main hall was empty. Li Zhaoyuan sat alone at the head of the table, handling military affairs such as logistics, his fingertips writing rapidly with a wolf-hair brush.

Upon seeing Xu Yuan enter, Li Zhaoyuan raised an eyebrow, immediately put down his pen, stood up to greet him, and said with a smile:

"The Third Young Master didn't stay out overnight?"

Xu Yuan observed the other person's expression:

"War has broken out, and it's too chaotic outside. The government office is still the safest place. But how did you know I went out with Li Yunqing?"

Li Zhaoyuan did not hide anything and was straightforward:

"My royal sister has entrusted the affairs of the government office to me, so I naturally knew that the Third Young Master and Junqing went out together."

Xu Yuan stared at the second prince for several breaths, then suddenly asked:

"Your Highness, aren't you curious about what Li Yunqing and I discussed?"

A smile played on Li Zhaoyuan's handsome face, which was adorned with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes.

"Curious? Why would I be curious? Junqing only wants to ask you, Third Young Master, for a way out of the city. What else can Junqing discuss with you, Third Young Master?"

Speaking of this,

Li Zhaoyuan suddenly paused, stared at Xu Yuan, and smiled meaningfully:

"It should only be the courtesans from Beifeng, right?"

Xu Yuan gave the Second Prince a deep look and sighed:

"You seem to know Li Yunqing quite well."

"The Third Young Master has returned alone; it seems the deal has been reached."

As they spoke, the two walked toward the tables in the main hall. Li Zhaoyuan shook his head with a sigh, "Junqing has always been like this since he was a child, always suspecting that I, as his elder brother, would do something to him."

"Were you the one who suppressed Xu Mengxi's murder of the handsome man from Lingshui Palace?" Xu Yuan abruptly interrupted Li Zhaoyuan's words.

"."

The topic was quite a leap, but Li Zhaoyuan quickly adjusted his thoughts and nodded in agreement:

"Yes, the Spirit Water Palace has been too reckless in the war in the Northern Border. Father and Lord Xu are both very dissatisfied and need to teach them a lesson."

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled:

"With the Second Prince providing such strong support, aren't you worried about retaliation from the Northern Border afterward?"

Upon hearing this question, Li Zhaoyuan immediately frowned, a hint of suspicion arising in his eyes, but he quickly replied:

"Naturally, it's routine to provide her with work support, since the city's order still needs to be maintained by the Secret Investigation Bureau."

"."

Xu Yuan shook his head and said no more about the matter.

Grand and imposing, flawless.

If Xu Yuan hadn't known Xu Mengxi's personality, he might have actually believed it.

Although the details are unknown, it's highly likely that Xu Mengxi was used as a pawn by the Second Prince.

However, her personality does make her easily manipulated.

Xu Mengxi killed an important figure from a sect in the Northern Border, and the Second Prince took the blame, seemingly a simple official matter.

The problem is that others won't see it that way.

Because Xu Mengxi's identity is not simple; behind him stands a powerful figure in the imperial court, the Chief of the Secret Investigation Bureau.

Xu Mengxi couldn't do anything to Xu Yuan because his father was the Prime Minister who had already rebelled and graduated.

There's no one else up there.

But this does not mean that the Chief of the Secret Investigation Bureau has no influence.

In the illustrated dramas of the Great Yan, even if such a character were to appear, at most he could only be depicted as a majestic figure from behind.

The Second Prince's endorsement of Xu Mengxi was clearly aimed at her.

If Xu Mengxi kills a few more high-ranking members of sects, the Secret Investigation Bureau, a powerful department, might be directly tied to the Second Prince's side.

Thinking about it, Xu Yuan shook his head inwardly.

He sees through it but doesn't say anything; this matter has nothing to do with him.

Xu Yuan did indeed admire Xu Mengxi, but he wouldn't interfere or sabotage the Second Prince's plans simply because of that admiration.

If he slapped Li Zhaoyuan, the other might offer his other cheek, but if this thing was damaged, he'd probably be furious with him.

After all, the struggle for the throne is a life-or-death matter, and each prince uses all his Divine Ability and methods to achieve it.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The second prince lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought, while Xu Yuan, in a carefree manner, simply plopped down and took the second prince's seat.

"."

Li Zhaoyuan's eyes twitched, but he didn't say anything. He just stood there watching Xu Yuan without expressing any objection.

Xu Yuan glanced at the other person, then, quite familiarly, picked up several documents from the table in front of him, quickly scanned them, and suddenly smiled:

"The Second Prince knows so much."

Li Zhaoyuan stood to the side with a calm expression and smiled:

"I only know a little bit; it's mainly because my younger sister trusts me."

Xu Yuan sat there and shook his head:

"Your Highness is too modest. Leading troops into battle is difficult, but managing logistical supplies during wartime is even more challenging, especially within the disorganized command structure of Beifeng City."

Li Zhaoyuan sighed helplessly:

"The Third Young Master's words were concise and to the point: our people cannot access the sect's inventory, and many things are impossible to count."

Xu Yuan smiled and tossed a file to the Second Prince directly from his Sumeru Ring.

Li Zhaoyuan took it, understanding the situation, but still asked:

"Third Young Master, this is..."

Xu Yuan smiled slightly:

"Lou Ji asked me to pass this on to Wu Yuan. Although it's not very accurate, it gives you a rough estimate, and the Second Prince should find it useful."

Li Zhaoyuan's bright eyes flickered for a moment, then he cupped his hands in a respectful bow.

"Zhao Yuan thanks the Third Young Master once again."

Xu Yuan waved his hand and smiled at Li Zhaoyuan:

"Now that Beifeng City is under military control, the thought of feeding, relieving oneself, and managing the 400,000 soldiers and civilians in the city, as well as the allocation of Source Crystal needed for various formations and the replenishment of complex defensive equipment, is enough to give anyone a headache. Yet, in less than a day, he has managed to manage it so well."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan paused for a moment, seemingly choosing his adjectives carefully, before finally grinning:

"Your Highness is truly a man of great talent in governing the country. I will have a good talk with my father about this when we return to the capital."

"."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhaoyuan's expression remained unchanged; he simply smiled slightly.

"Third Young Master, you must have said this to more than just me, right?"

Xu Yuan frowned, revealing a hint of displeasure:

"Hey, I've only ever said that to you, Second Prince."

"Is that so? I was just overthinking it."

Li Zhaoyuan neither agreed nor disagreed, but cupped his hands in a gesture of respect. "Then I thank you very much Third Young Master, for speaking well of Lord Xu."

Although he said that, Li Zhaoyuan didn't believe it at all.

Xu Changtian and his younger brother Li Yunqing are the same type of person; they both speak without thinking and are full of empty boasts. He has definitely said this to more than just one person.

At the very least, this Third Young Master should have spoken to that brat Li Yunqing.

"."

Seeing this, Xu Yuan shook his head and slowly stood up:

"Your Highness, I admire you greatly."

Li Zhaoyuan maintained his businesslike smile.

"I am honored that the Third Young Master thinks so highly of me."

I'm serious.

Xu Yuan stared intently into Li Zhaoyuan's bright, piercing eyes.

"Among His Majesty's many sons, whether it be the Crown Prince or the Sixth Prince, their status is elevated because of their mothers. Only Your Highness, the Second Prince, is elevated because of your son."

The other princes who were qualified to vie for the throne were either from ancient families with a thousand-year Aristocratic Clan in the Imperial Capital or marquises who held military power. But the second prince was different. His mother was just an ordinary palace maid in the palace.

Because of her exceptional beauty, she was favored by the emperor and only became a concubine after having sex with Li Zhaoyuan. She was unable to provide Li Zhaoyuan with any assistance.

In the struggle for the throne, there is no room for kinship. As long as you have any ambition, others will do everything in their power to kill you, even your own mother can be drowned with you.

And it was in this predicament that Li Zhaoyuan gradually made his way to where he is today.

He was surrounded by a large group of advisors, and a few important officials stood behind him in the imperial court.

He truly lives up to his reputation as a prince who resembles Li Yaoxuan.

"."

Li Zhaoyuan did not respond immediately to the praise. After a moment of silence, he replied in a low voice:

"Third Young Master, you flatter me. The gap between me and my elder brother is still too great."

The gap might refer to support within the court, or it might refer to capabilities.

Ambiguous and vague, failing to provide a precise answer.

Being too meticulous and thorough in one's conduct can make one seem somewhat boring.

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes inwardly upon hearing this:

"Face the gap squarely, catch up, I believe in you."

After saying that, Xu Yuan stood up and gave his seat to the other person, patted the other person on the shoulder, and then turned straight into the corridor pavilion in the back hall.

"."

Li Zhaoyuan stood there watching Xu Yuan's departing figure, his eyes calm and indifferent.

After a while,

He chuckled softly, shook his head, and murmured silently:

"Face the gap squarely and catch up."

The Crown Prince prince was showered with love and affection, and from the moment he was born, a huge and deeply entrenched interest group stood behind him.

It was so huge it was suffocating.

The second prime minister, the commander of the imperial guards, the Royal Chamber of Commerce, and even the military Marquis of Martial Achievement.

It's a bit late.