The one who delivered the invitation was a steward from the East Palace. He was extremely respectful, explaining that His Highness the Crown Prince had heard the academy was home to an unparalleled genius and was delighted. He had specially arranged a private banquet at Moonlight Pavilion, the most famous restaurant in Heaven Dou City, hoping to chat with this future pillar of the empire.
It was all phrased beautifully. There wasn't a single flaw to pick out.
But in the eyes of Xue Yao, a transmigrator, this exquisite invitation was scarier than the King of Hell's summons!
Who was Xue Qinghe?
Beneath that refined, courteous facade, the one who hid was none other than Qian Renxue, daughter of the former pontiff of Spirit Hall!
She was a peerless ruthless woman who had spent over a decade infiltrating the Heaven Dou Empire to seize its power, and personally poisoned two princes to death! Even Xue Beng, the fourth prince who pretended to be crazy and foolish, had been forced by her to play the good-for-nothing just to stay alive.
This is bad...
Xue Yao tossed the invitation onto the table and rubbed his temples.
He'd been drawing far too much attention lately.
Six years old, Innate Full Soul Power, ennobled as a viscount by the emperor, breaking through to level fifteen in three months, and even possessing a terrifying Self-Created Soul Skill.
With such monstrous talent, Xue Ye was naturally overjoyed. But in "Xue Qinghe's" eyes, he was a huge variable who could affect the future balance of power.
The trap Qian Renxue had set today was supposedly an invitation to dinner. In reality, she was there to "inspect the goods."
She wanted to find out whether this genius could be put to use by Spirit Hall, or whether he was wholeheartedly loyal to Xue Ye.
If the answer turned out to be the latter...
Xue Yao was almost certain that after dinner tonight, a slow-acting mixed poison that even Poison Douluo couldn't detect would find its way into his teacup or food tomorrow.
"Can I just not go?"
The thought had barely surfaced before Xue Yao snuffed it out.
Not go? That would be a slap in the crown prince's face. It wouldn't just earn him Xue Ye's displeasure; it would also amount to telling Qian Renxue, "I'm watching you."
To someone as calculating and ruthless as Qian Renxue, any show of caution was a death sentence.
"Looks like I'll have to put on an award-winning performance tonight."
Xue Yao took a deep breath. His gaze gradually settled, even taking on a touch of the "innocence" and "overwhelmed delight" befitting a six-year-old child.
Since he couldn't avoid it, he might as well meet this smiling tiger in sheep's clothing.
Night fell.
In an elegant private room on the top floor of Moonlight Pavilion, in the busiest part of Heaven Dou City.
The surroundings were exceptionally quiet, far removed from the noise outside, and the air carried the scent of costly incense.
Guided by guards from the East Palace, Xue Yao pushed open the door to the private room.
Inside, a young man dressed in a moon-white robe and wearing a golden crown stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the nightscape of Heaven Dou City.
The young man had handsome features and a gentle, jade-like air. He didn't carry a trace of a crown prince's imposing manner; instead, he radiated a warmth that made people feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze.
The perfection of this disguise made even Xue Yao, who knew the truth, silently marvel.
With acting like that, Qian Renxue deserved an Oscar.
"Your humble subject, Xue Yao, pays his respects to Your Highness."
Xue Yao stepped forward and performed a proper noble's bow, playing to perfection the role of a common-born genius who was a little nervous yet proud to have been summoned by the crown prince.
"Haha, Brother Xue Yao, there's no need for formalities in private. Come, sit."
Xue Qinghe turned around, a wonderfully gentle smile on his face. He personally came over and pulled out a fine rosewood chair, inviting Xue Yao to sit.
"I've heard Father mention you before, saying the academy had produced an extraordinary little genius. Now that I've met you, I can see that heroes truly did come from the young."
As he spoke, Xue Qinghe personally poured Xue Yao a cup of warm fruit wine.
"Your Highness flatters me. I was just lucky." Xue Yao accepted the cup with both hands, his head slightly bowed, looking perfectly well-behaved.
The two took their seats.
Servants brought in several exquisite dishes, then respectfully withdrew and closed the door behind them.
Only the two of them remained in the private room.
"Come, have a taste. These are Moonlight Pavilion's signature dishes." Xue Qinghe welcomed him warmly, speaking like a friendly older brother looking out for the boy next door.
After a few pleasantries, Xue Qinghe set down his chopsticks and casually raised a new topic.
"By the way, I heard about what happened at the academy this afternoon."
Xue Qinghe chuckled, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes. "That girl Dugu Yan usually looks down on everyone at the academy, all because her grandfather is Poison Douluo. I never expected you to make her cry with just a few words."
"At only six years old, you're not just astonishing in Soul Power; your mind and eloquence are sharp, too. Brother Xue Yao, you keep surprising me."
Here it comes!
Xue Yao's heart tightened.
He was testing his wits.
If Xue Yao acted too pleased with himself or showed too much cunning, Qian Renxue's wariness would shoot straight up.
"Your Highness is too kind."
Xue Yao scratched his head, putting on an embarrassed expression.
"To be honest, I was pretty scared at the time, too. Her green snake was so big, and it was giving off poisonous fumes. I'm only level fifteen. There was no way I could beat it."
Xue Yao blinked, his tone carrying the sly pride peculiar to children.
"But when I was reading in the Royal Library, I saw a book that said, 'Attack the mind first.' I did the math and realized she was so much older than me, yet still came looking for trouble. That was shameless. So I just laid it all out, and I didn't expect her to care so much about her reputation that she ran off."
His explanation was half true, half false.
It explained how he'd come up with those words while presenting him as a child who, though clever, was still afraid when faced with absolute strength.
Sure enough.
After hearing his explanation, the hidden scrutiny in Xue Qinghe's eyes eased a little.
"I see. Reading more really is a good thing." Xue Qinghe nodded with a smile.
Xue Qinghe lifted his wine cup and took a small sip.
The atmosphere in the private room seemed to shift in some subtle way.
"Brother Xue Yao, since you enjoy reading, I imagine you've read quite a few historical accounts about the situation on the continent?"
Xue Qinghe gazed out the window, his tone gradually growing more reflective.
"On the surface, the continent is calm and peaceful. But our Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire have been at odds for years. And between the two great empires lies the unfathomable Spirit Hall."
As he spoke, Xue Qinghe turned around, his deep-set eyes fixed on Xue Yao.
"In recent years, Spirit Hall has continued recruiting civilian Soul Masters, and its power has grown increasingly vast. It even seems to be on the verge of surpassing the two great empires. Father worries about this day and night."
"You are a viscount personally ennobled by Father, and a future pillar of the Heaven Dou Empire."
Xue Qinghe's voice grew exceedingly gentle, with even a trace of earnestness in his request for advice.
"If you were in my place, faced with the friction between the two great empires and Spirit Hall, what would you choose?"
Xue Yao kept his expression calm, even placing a bite of food in his mouth. But a fine sheen of cold sweat instantly broke out across his back.
This was a question with only fatal answers!
An ordinary noble's son, faced with the crown prince's "heart-to-heart," would surely get carried away and hot-bloodedly slap his chest in a pledge: "Your humble subject will give his life for Heaven Dou, trample Spirit Hall beneath his feet, and ease the burden on His Majesty and Your Highness!"
But if Xue Yao dared say that, he guaranteed he wouldn't live to see the end of the month.
What Qian Renxue needed now was a genius Spirit Hall could use, not a staunch loyalist devoted body and soul to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family!
But if he did the opposite, speaking well of Spirit Hall or even showing that he felt close to it, that would be just as deadly.
To loudly praise a hostile power in front of someone who considered himself the Heaven Dou Crown Prince would not only contradict his current identity; it would also make Qian Renxue think he had ulterior motives and a deep, calculating nature.
The private room was so quiet that only breathing could be heard.
Xue Qinghe turned his wine cup in his hand, a gentle smile on his lips as he waited quietly for Xue Yao's answer.
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