Does Xue Qinghe Want to Acknowledge Kinship?

When your strength reaches a certain level, the opponent's choices can essentially be approached in a different way.

Xu Nian'an now holds an army of three hundred thousand. Is that a lot?

It could be said that in the western war zones where military strength is underdeveloped, it is a great deal; it could basically destroy a kingdom with ease.

Only in the monster-filled eastern war zone, where Xu Nian'an's Great Ming Kingdom is located, does every kingdom possess over one hundred and fifty thousand elite troops.

But that is only relative to other kingdoms.

Which of the two great empires on the continent cannot easily field three times that amount—a million-strong army?

Yet, that does not mean that every war doesn't cost money.

Why does the Heaven Dou Empire initiate wars and plunder territories?

Isn't it just to acquire more land?

Even if they conquered the Great Ming Kingdom, they would still have to enfeoff it in the end.

There is simply no benefit to be gained.

Now that they see the current King of the Great Ming Kingdom is a distant relative of their own royal family, why not take the opportunity to annex the Great Ming Kingdom's territory and fly the flag of the Heaven Dou Empire without having to go to war?

Not a single soldier or blade of grass would be wasted.

To subdue the enemy without fighting!

Moreover, from the mouth of Xue Xing, the Heaven Dou Emperor and many ministers had heard that the Great Ming Kingdom was guarded by a Title Douluo and simultaneously possessed twenty-four Soul Douluos.

With so many high-level spirit masters, what if they went mad and, just like in the Gulei Kingdom, launched a decapitation strike first?

In the year 2625 of the Douluo Calendar, the Heaven Dou Empire had not yet established a Crown Prince.

However, the royal family was already divided into factions and cliques.

Under such circumstances, going out to win over a powerful kingdom would undoubtedly allow one to maintain an inherent advantage.

After all, a prince supported by a kingdom and a prince who is merely favored but lacks such support are two completely different things.

The First Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, clearly perceived this issue.

Therefore, upon being the first to discover that he had a distant kinship with the King of the far-off Great Ming Kingdom, he was the first to step forward to resolve this dilemma, all to increase his own bargaining chips.

"I implore Your Majesty, for the prosperity of the Heaven Dou Imperial family and for the vast expansion of our Heaven Dou Empire's borders, please grant your permission!!!"

In the imperial court, a youth with golden hair, dressed in white-gold finery, bowed slowly to the middle-aged man on the throne.

The palace was deathly silent.

No one dared to speak.

This mission was fraught with absolute danger. One must remember that the Heaven Dou Empire had intended to use the Gulei Kingdom's hand to swallow the Great Ming Kingdom.

Now that the Great Ming Kingdom held heavy troops and numerous high-level spirit masters, it was clear from the envoys that the Great Ming Kingdom did not care at all about the threats from the Heaven Dou Empire.

Therefore, if the First Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire went, he might never return.

But if he truly succeeded, it would be an unprecedented achievement, both within the Heaven Dou royal family and in terms of the empire's territory.

It was estimated that no one would ever be able to surpass it.

"Hahaha... Good!"

"Worthy of being my son, you have courage!"

A moment later, bursts of hearty laughter echoed through the great hall.

"I grant it. However, you must ensure the safety of the First Prince, Haagen-Dazs. If even the slightest accident occurs, I will hold you accountable!"

In fact, the Gulei Kingdom bordered both Haagen-Dazs and the Heaven Dou Empire.

It was just that the Gulei Kingdom was now completely occupied, so Emperor Xue Ye wanted the Haagen-Dazs Kingdom to exert pressure in the western region of the Gulei Kingdom.

This was to ensure that nothing happened to the First Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The King of Haagen-Dazs bowed in salute.

"Many thanks, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

After the morning court session, in the First Prince's palace.

"Xiao Xue, Xiao Xue, you don't know, but today was truly my lucky day."

"Do you remember me telling you that I had an aunt who married far away?"

"The one who sends us local specialties from abroad every year."

"She is the cousin of my mother's clan, the one who was titled Princess Tianxing by the late Emperor on the day of her wedding."

"You surely won't believe this, but his son seems to have become the next king of the Starry Sky Kingdom. With outdated courage and audacity, he flooded an enemy army of two hundred thousand and successfully annexed the Gulei Kingdom!"

At this moment, Xue Qinghe had completely shed the composure and maturity he displayed at court.

His small face was flushed with excitement as he grabbed the hands of a beautiful, youthful-looking palace maid with a gentle expression, chattering away incessantly.

The maid simply watched him quietly, not answering any of Xue Qinghe's questions.

Xue Qinghe did not need anyone to answer his questions; he simply needed someone to confide in.

"Xiao Xue, how about you accompany me to the Great Ming Kingdom tomorrow to meet my distant cousin?"

Upon hearing this sudden inquiry from Xue Qinghe, the palace maid named Xiao Xue was visibly stunned.

She was a maid Xue Qinghe had picked up in the Soul Hunting Forest not long ago.

"Very well, as long as Your Highness the First Prince wishes, I am willing."

Late at night.

In the Tiandou Imperial Study.

Emperor Xue Ye rubbed his temples.

The pen in his hand did not stop for a moment, frantically writing something down.

The names of the Great Ming Kingdom and the Gulei Kingdom appeared frequently, and the final signature was the name Xue Ye.

"Someone come here."

"Ensure this letter is delivered to the King of the Great Ming Kingdom before the First Prince arrives."

Power changes a person, and Emperor Xue Ye did not know if his distant nephew would still acknowledge the Tiandou Imperial Family after becoming a king.

To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and future disputes over the succession of the Heaven Dou Empire, Emperor Xue Ye had no choice but to send this letter.

It could be said that as long as Xu Nian'an acknowledged this relationship and formed an alliance with the Heaven Dou Empire, no one would be able to shake Xue Qinghe's position as the Crown Prince!

That very night, the letter was sent out in the name of Emperor Xue Ye to the Gulei Kingdom.

The Imperial Guard then worked through the night to deliver it to the Great Ming Kingdom's palace before dawn.

Therefore, the next day, the moment Xu Nian'an opened his eyes, he saw the letter that had traveled over a hundred miles.

"The Heaven Dou Imperial Family?"

"Shocking, I actually have the bloodline of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, and the First Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, is coming to acknowledge his kin???"

To be honest, Xu Nian'an was somewhat bewildered.

However, he urgently needed to know if this relationship was real, as it would affect his future plans.

"Old Eunuch!!!"

Following Xu Nian'an's shout, the door was immediately pushed open.

An old man with silver hair combed meticulously walked over at once.

"Yes... yes, Your Majesty, Xu Fu is here."

The Head Eunuch, Xu Fu, immediately stumbled over.

"Your Majesty, did you have a nightmare?"

Bang!

Xu Nian'an kicked him away from the bedside.

"I am asking you, where was the Queen from?"

Xu Nian'an's question left Xu Fu completely stunned.

"Forget it, get out and bring me the kingdom's archives."

Before long, Xu Nian's obtained the archives. Beside the name of his predecessor, Xu Xingyun—his father in name—he saw the two characters: Xue Mei.

(Many years ago, Xu Xingyun accompanied the old king north to Tiandou, fell in love at first sight with a woman at an imperial banquet, and eventually brought his beauty home to the Starry Sky Kingdom.)

Good heavens, he never expected such a connection.

However... is the current Xue Qinghe the real Xue Qinghe, or is it the fake Qian Renxue...?

Waiting online, it's quite urgent...