The Imperial Family's Checks and Balances

Teng Shan was slightly taken aback, then looked at Xiao Yu and asked, "What matter requires you to come back in person?"

Xiao Yu glanced at Ya Fei, who was sitting to the side talking to Little Xiao Nian, and then said, "This time I came back, I wanted Ya Fei to come back to the Black Corner Region with me!"

Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, both Teng Shan and Ya Fei looked at him. Teng Shan frowned slightly and said, "Black Corner Region? Isn't that too dangerous? Even in the Jia Ma Empire, I've heard that the Black Corner Region is an extremely chaotic place. Wouldn't it be too dangerous for Ya Fei to go there?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Ya Fei suddenly exclaimed, "I'm not afraid!"

This sound made Teng Shan and Xiao Yu both look over. A blush appeared on Ya Fei's pretty face, but she still said firmly, "I'm not afraid of danger. With my current strength, I can protect myself to some extent. Besides, isn't Elder Hai still there in the Black Corner Region?"

Xiao Yu chuckled and said, "Actually, Elder Teng Shan doesn't need to worry too much about this. The situation in the Black Corner Region is much better than before. Although it's still a chaotic area, within the next year, the Black Corner Region will no longer be a chaotic area on the continent!"

Teng Shan frowned at Xiao Yu and said, "As far as I know, there are several forces in the Black Corner Region. The reason for the chaos is that none of them are willing to submit to the others. Could it be that you have convinced them all?"

Xiao Yu shook his head and said, "No."

"Then..." Teng Shan looked at Xiao Yu with some confusion.

Xiao Yu smiled and continued, "You may not be convinced, but I can subdue you with force. I have already eliminated all the forces that are hostile to me in the Black Corner Region. Furthermore, I have established a new force in the Black Corner Region, the Underworld. Although the Underworld is currently in the development stage, it will inevitably become the number one force in the Black Corner Region in the future. Moreover, we have also established good relations with the Jia Nan Academy. Therefore, Teng Shan has absolutely no need to worry about Ya Fei's safety!"

Teng Shan gave Xiao Yu a deep look, then sighed and said, "I really didn't expect this. Before, I just thought you had good talent, and Elder Hai also praised you highly, so I looked at you differently. Later, your alchemy skills shone brightly at the Alchemist Tournament, and our Mittel Family valued you even more."

"But now, I think we still underestimated you. Since you've said that, it must prove you have the ability. I have no objection to Ya Fei going to the Black Corner Region with you!" Teng Shan chuckled.

Xiao Yu turned his head to look at Ya Fei, Ya Fei chuckled and said, "Now I'm all stuck with you!"

"Don't worry, let them cling to you if they want. But you'll have to put in extra effort for the Underworld's Chamber of Commerce from now on!" Xiao Yu said with a smile.

Ya Fei snorted and said, "Alright, so you were waiting for me here. Looks like I'm destined for a life of toil!"

Xiao Yu shook his head and smiled without speaking. Teng Shan asked, "When do you plan to leave Jia Ma and return to the Black Corner Region?"

Xiao Yu pondered for a moment and said, "I need to go back to Wu Tan City tomorrow. The Xiao Clan is going to relocate entirely to the Black Corner Region."

"The entire Xiao Clan?" Teng Shan looked at Xiao Yu with some surprise.

Xiao Yu nodded and said, "I clashed with a major power in the Black Corner Region and the Central Plains. I was worried that something might happen to the Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City, so I had them follow the Black Corner Region as well. That way, I feel more at ease!"

Ya Fei, sitting to the side with her brows slightly furrowed, said, "Clan leader, why don't we, the Mittel Family, migrate together?"

Upon hearing this, Teng Shan and Xiao Yu were somewhat taken aback. However, after hearing Ya Fei's words, a glint of light flashed in Teng Shan's cloudy eyes.

Xiao Yu asked, somewhat puzzled, "The Mittel Family is doing well in the Jia Ma Empire, unlike our Xiao Clan who are worried about being wiped out. Besides, our merchant guild in the Black Corner Region might need the Mittel Family's help in the future. Why did you relocate to the Black Corner Region?"

Teng Shan sighed deeply and said, "Actually, you don't know, the Mittel Family isn't as glorious as it used to be!"

"Oh? What's going on?" Xiao Yu asked, somewhat puzzled.

Logically speaking, the Imperial Family should be the strongest force in the current Jia Ma Empire. Although the Misty Cloud Sect has not been destroyed, its strength has been greatly reduced. The Mu Family and the Nalan Family are loyal supporters of the Jia Ma Empire, the Alchemist Guild is neutral, Mittel Family should be the strongest in the Jia Ma Empire besides the Imperial Family.

Seeing Xiao Yu's confusion, Ya Fei explained, "Actually, it's still because of the Misty Cloud Sect."

"Since the Misty Cloud Sect suffered a major loss of strength, its prestige and influence in the Jia Ma Empire have plummeted. Without Misty Cloud Sect Misty Cloud Sect as a formidable force to confront the Imperial Family, the Imperial Family now feels wary of our Mittel Family. They will not allow another powerful family to emerge in the Jia Ma Empire, so they began to suppress our Mittel Family half a year ago."

After a slight pause, Ya Fei continued, "Besides suppressing the Mittel Family's local business associations and auction house supplies, three months ago they personally supported the Jian Family Mittel Family to oppose us. Now, the Jian Family family's business associations and auction houses in the Jia Ma Empire are springing up like mushrooms after rain, while our Mittel Family's auction houses are declining day by day!"

Upon hearing Ya Fei's words, Xiao Yu frowned deeply. As expected, the royal family was ruthless. Now that there were no other forces within the empire to check the Imperial Family, the Imperial Family was going to start suppressing other families.

"What's the background of this Jian Family?" Xiao Yu asked, looking at Ya Fei.

A hint of disdain appeared on Ya Fei's pretty face as she said, "A merchant guild from Kanno City in the northern part of the Jia Ma Empire is said to have some close ties with the Imperial Family. In addition, the most influential merchant guild in the empire is the Jian Family, so they have become the empire's beneficiaries. Of course, the Jian Family and our Mittel Family are not even in the same league. Even now, our Mittel Family is still stronger than the Jian Family!"

Xiao Yu understood the constraints placed on the Imperial Family, but it was disgusting to support one family to the top while suppressing another. He hadn't expected the Imperial Family to have come to this point in just over half a year!

"Moreover, the Jian Family is now challenging our Mittel Family in the Imperial Capital. The young master of the Jian Family even hopes to form a marriage alliance with our Mittel Family. Bah!" Teng Shan spat out from the side, clearly looking down on the Jian Family's actions!

Xiao Yu looked at Teng Shan and asked, "With whom will we be married?"

"Who else could it be with? Of course, it's with..."

Before Teng Shan could finish speaking, Ya Fei interrupted him, saying, "Actually, I've wanted to leave the Imperial Capital for a long time. The Imperial Family only saw my abilities and wanted me to serve Imperial Family, but I didn't agree!"

"Now that I'm about to leave the Imperial Capital, I'm sure the Imperial Family will stop their suppression of the Mittel Family. Xiao Yu, you..."

Xiao Yu smiled and looked at Ya Fei, saying, "So, the Jian Family wants to form a marriage alliance with you?" However, his faint smile sent a chill down one's spine!

Ya Fei raised her eyes and met Xiao Yu's gaze, but she immediately gave in and lowered her head to give a soft "hmm".