As Xue Xing left, Xue Ye's expression darkened as well. In Xue Ye's heart, Xue Beng's death had been the Dugu Clan's doing. If the Dugu Clan could have steadfastly stood with the Imperial Family and even become its Imperial Protectors, then even if Dugu Bo had killed Xue Beng, Xue Ye would have said he had done well.
But now, the Imperial Family had no connection whatsoever with Dugu Bo. Dugu Bo even held a poor impression of the Imperial Family because of Xue Beng, while Xue Ye himself bore some resentment toward Dugu Bo. The two sides could be considered enemies, yet because of Dugu Bo's strength, Xue Ye still had to prepare gifts and send someone to apologize.
Thinking of this made Xue Ye feel even worse. Once again, he understood the meaning of that saying: relying on your parents was no better than relying on yourself.
No matter how many Titled Douluo the Imperial Family could win over, as long as the Imperial Family itself lacked strength, once relations turned hostile, there would be nothing it could do.
Then Xue Ye thought of how fortunate it was that his eldest son's Martial Soul had mutated, giving him another path. In Xue Ye's view, as long as Xue Qinghe was properly nurtured, the empire would grow strong.
At that thought, Xue Ye saw the letter he had written to Ning Fengzhi on the table. He could not wait until dawn to have it delivered. It had to be sent immediately. For his eldest son's safety and future development, everything had to move quickly.
Xue Ye then called out toward the outside.
"Qin Tian, come in!"
Qin Tian, the Imperial Guard Commander, entered. Seeing Xue Ye, he knelt and said:
"Your Majesty, what do you need this minister to do?"
"Set out overnight for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Deliver this letter to Sect Master Ning. You must be fast, understand?"
Hearing Xue Ye's words, Qin Tian nodded.
"Your Majesty, this minister understands. I will depart at once."
Qin Tian tucked the letter into his robes and immediately hurried toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
With Qin Tian's departure, the Imperial Study fell silent again.
Xue Ye was now considering one matter: how to pass down Jin Hao's talent and turn this top-tier Ice Attribute Martial Soul born of mutation into an inherited Martial Soul of the Imperial Family, one that would not degenerate back into a swan.
With that in mind, Xue Ye intended to find a woman with an equally top-tier Ice Attribute Martial Soul for his eldest son to marry. She also had to be of the Power Attack Type or Control Type.
That way, the Ice Crystal Swan Martial Soul could be preserved to the greatest extent possible. Even if the child did not inherit that Martial Soul, a child born from two top-tier Ice Attribute Martial Souls could not have poor talent.
Then Xue Ye recalled a piece of news he had received in the first half of the year. A little girl from Skywater Academy had awakened a top-tier Ice Attribute Martial Soul, the divine beast Ice Phoenix Martial Soul, and possessed Innate Soul Power at rank nine.
Xue Ye remembered writing to Skywater Academy to offer congratulations after seeing that news.
The reason was simple. Among the five elemental academies of the Heaven Dou Empire, Skywater Academy, Blazing Flame Academy, and Godwind Academy differed from Thunder Academy and Elephant Armor Academy. The first three had no sects backing them. Thus, aside from a small number who remained at the academies as teachers after graduation, most of their Soul Masters entered the imperial court and served the Heaven Dou Empire.
Moreover, because Skywater Academy was entirely composed of women, Xue Ye knew that many nobles in Heaven Dou City liked to have their descendants marry graduates of Skywater Academy. That was also why no one dared lay a hand on an academy made up entirely of women.
So, thinking of this, Xue Ye considered having his eldest son marry that Shui Bing'er. That would surely allow the Ice Crystal Swan Martial Soul to be passed down. It might even let the Imperial Family's Martial Soul advance further; perhaps it could even become an Ice Phoenix.
As for Shui Bing'er being the daughter of Skywater Academy's headmaster, and possibly becoming Skywater Academy's headmaster herself in the future, Xue Ye did not see that as a problem. The Imperial Family would send lavish gifts to seek the marriage and allocate more cultivation resources to Skywater Academy, giving them both face and substance. Xue Ye did not believe Skywater Academy's headmaster, Shui Wuyue, would dare refuse.
The Imperial Family might fear a Titled Douluo, but it did not fear an academy composed entirely of women with only an eighty-first-rank Soul Douluo.
As for Shui Bing'er being only six years old while Xue Qinghe was already fourteen, Xue Ye saw even less of an issue there. They were only eight years apart. What did that matter?
It only seemed like a large gap now. A hundred years later, one would be one hundred and fourteen while the other would be one hundred and six. Would that gap still be large?
Finding this reasonable, Xue Ye began writing another letter, this one to Shui Wuyue. Its general meaning was:
"My son, the future emperor of the empire, has, for certain reasons, experienced a Martial Soul mutation and gained the top-tier Ice Attribute Martial Soul, the Ice Crystal Swan. Upon learning that your daughter Shui Bing'er's Martial Soul is likewise the top-tier Ice Attribute Ice Phoenix, I have decided to seek her hand from you with lavish gifts, so that Shui Bing'er may become engaged to my son Xue Qinghe and unite these two top-tier Ice Attribute Martial Souls."
"Upon receiving this letter, first come to Heaven Dou City for the engagement. Then you may take her back to Skywater Academy for training. She need only come to Heaven Dou City during each annual holiday to deepen her relationship with the prince. Once Shui Bing'er reaches sixteen, the formal wedding will be held."
After finishing, Xue Ye read it over once more and nodded in satisfaction.
He then set the letter aside, intending to send someone to Skywater Academy to seek the marriage once dawn came.
Then time arrived at the next day. At that moment, everyone in Heaven Dou City, whether commoners, nobles, or court officials, knew one thing: Xue Beng had tried to molest Poison Douluo's granddaughter and the next head of the Ye Family, only to be beaten and injured.
While recuperating at home, the Soul Master treating him had unexpectedly been a fraud. Not only had he failed to heal Xue Beng, but Xue Beng's injuries had worsened until he finally died.
Three days later, Xue Beng was buried with the rites of a prince.
That was right, the rites of a prince. Although Xue Ye had issued an edict the previous night stripping him of his status and reducing him to a commoner, he withdrew the edict in light of Xue Beng's death.
As this news spread, the Ye Family and Dugu Bo naturally received word.
After the Ye Family learned of it and looked at the official Xue Ye had sent before them, along with the gifts of apology he had brought, Ye Haitang, as the family head, spoke to Ye Lingling beside her.
"Do not mention this matter again in the future. The Imperial Family needs to save face as well."
Hearing this, Ye Lingling nodded to show that she understood. Although she had been one of the targets, Xue Beng had not torn off her clothes. Now that the apology gifts had arrived and Xue Beng, the instigator, was dead, the matter was over.
Bringing it up again in the future would undoubtedly mean using a dead man to insult the Imperial Family once more.
This time, the Imperial Family had been in the wrong from the start, and there was also a Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo involved, which was why it had honestly offered an apology.
Otherwise, the Imperial Family could have dealt with a family mainly composed of Healing Spirit Masters with ease.
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