Empress of the Heaven Dou Empire

Then Xue Ye spoke up,

"Qinghe, you can spend the morning studying by Sect Master Ning's side, and in the afternoon, take Rongrong out to play around in Heaven Dou City."

"What do you think, Sect Master Ning?"

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi said,

"As long as Qinghe doesn't mind, I am fine with anything."

Following Ning Fengzhi's words, Jin Hao saw Ning Rongrong staring right at him with watery eyes, as if she were saying that if he didn't take her out to play, she would cry for him to see.

What else could Jin Hao do then? He could only say,

"I am fine with it, Teacher. Playing in Heaven Dou City together with Junior Sister also allows me to go among the commoners and learn what they want."

"Besides, being in Heaven Dou City with Junior Sister makes it feel as though I have gained another younger sister myself."

At these words, Jin Hao saw Ning Rongrong break into a smile.

In response, Xue Ye also smiled and said,

"Very well, since it is all settled, let the Imperial Kitchen serve the dishes so that we may dine."

Then, as the palace servants brought out the food, there were five people seated at the table. Ning Rongrong sat beside Jin Hao, eating while smiling as if she were thinking about tomorrow's outing.

As for Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, and Sword Douluo, the three of them chatted about how the Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School would form a commercial firm together and expand their business.

Soon, the meal ended amidst laughter and cheer, and then Ning Fengzhi said to Xue Ye,

"Your Majesty, thank you for the hospitality today. I will take Rongrong and Uncle Jian back to the estate in Heaven Dou City, and tomorrow morning, you can have Qinghe come to my estate to find me."

Xue Ye nodded in response.

Then, as Ning Fengzhi's group left the Imperial Palace, Xue Ye turned his gaze to Jin Hao and spoke,

"Qinghe, in the future, you must cultivate a good relationship with this junior sister of yours. Even if you do not like her, you must still maintain a good relationship with her. Ning Rongrong is the apple of the eye of both Ning Fengzhi and the two Title Douluos of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School. Only if your relationship with her is good will the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School refuse to abandon their protection of you for any reason, allowing you to grow and mature. Once you have grown and possess strength, you can do whatever you wish."

"Actually, it is also a pity. If Ning Rongrong were not the heir of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School, you would not need to find a powerful Ice Attribute Martial Soul holder to stabilize the inheritance of your Martial Soul, and marrying Ning Rongrong would be the optimal solution. Still, things as they are now will suffice; you just need to maintain a good relationship with her."

Hearing this, Jin Hao thought to himself: This old man dares to imagine even this.

On the surface, however, Jin Hao replied to Xue Ye,

"I understand, Father. I actually quite like staying with Ning Rongrong; it feels just like having a younger sister by my side."

Hearing this, Xue Ye spoke up,

"That is good. The most important thing for you right now is to let yourself grow, and use that as the standard for everything."

After saying this, Xue Ye glanced at Jin Hao and continued,

"Qinghe, you have mentioned a few times that you treat Ning Rongrong like a younger sister. You no longer have any brothers or sisters; your younger brothers all died due to assassination by others and their own foolishness. Yet you are not alone—your mother will also be giving birth in some time, and you will gain another younger sister."

"Furthermore, your mother said that ever since you returned from the Soul Beast Forest last time, you have not been to see her. So on the day of your engagement, you should take your fiancee to see her together, and also see your unborn younger sister."

Hearing this, Jin Hao snapped back to his senses. The records on Xue Qinghe showed that Xue Qinghe's mother—namely the current empress of the Heaven Dou Empire—was still alive and had treated the original Xue Qinghe quite well. However, ever since he took Xue Qinghe's place, he had been plotting various matters and had not yet visited Xue Qinghe's mother. This was hardly something a son should do.

Therefore, Jin Hao immediately spoke up,

"Father, it is this son's fault. Ever since I was attacked in the Soul Beast Forest and returned to Heaven Dou City, I was both terrified and excited, followed by the funerals of my younger brothers, Xiao Ao's surrender, and now becoming an apprentice. In all that, I actually forgot about Mother."

Hearing this, Xue Ye waved his hand and said to Jin Hao,

"Your mother does not blame you. She also knows what you have been through during this period; your mother simply misses you and wants to see you."

To this, Jin Hao expressed,

"When the engagement arrives, I will take my fiancee to see Mother."

"Very well, as long as you know this matter. Return to your quarters first, and remember to go study with Sect Master Ning early tomorrow morning."

"Then this son will take his leave."

With that, Jin Hao left the imperial palace and returned to his prince's residence.

Meanwhile, back at the estate of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School in Heaven Dou City, the three of them had already returned. Upon their return, Ning Fengzhi had a servant take Ning Rongrong to rest.

After that, only Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo remained in the spacious hall.

At this moment, Ning Fengzhi asked,

"Uncle Jian, go ahead and ask whatever is on your mind. I can see you have been holding it in for a long time."

Hearing this, Sword Douluo could no longer hold back, so he asked Ning Fengzhi,

"Fengzhi, since you brought it up, I want to ask: what Xue Ye wants is for our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School to temporarily protect Xue Qinghe and allow him to grow, while what our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School fancies is that, with the endorsement of the Heaven Dou Empire, we can smoothly begin our commercial plans within the empire and accumulate wealth."

"Then why did you still have Rongrong stay with that Xue Qinghe, and even have them call each other senior brother and junior sister? Anyone who didn't know better would think their relationship was genuinely close."

Hearing Sword Douluo's words, Ning Fengzhi understood—Sword Douluo was jealous. One had to know that previously, Ning Rongrong either clung to him or went to cling to Sword Douluo or Bone Douluo. But now? She hadn't spent much time talking to Sword Douluo all day, and had even begged him to stay in Heaven Dou City for a few more days so she could play with Xue Qinghe.

Then Ning Fengzhi spoke to Sword Douluo,

"Uncle Jian, you are well aware of Rongrong's situation within the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School. Because of our status, no one in the entire sect except you, me, and Uncle Gu dares to speak to her properly, and we cannot be by Rongrong's side every day. Truth be told, Rongrong also lacks peers to communicate with."

"Allowing Rongrong to play with Qinghe and build a good relationship serves two purposes: first, it keeps Rongrong from being so lonely that she doesn't even have a single person who dares to speak to her normally."

"Second, I am doing this for Rongrong and planning for the future of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School."

Hearing this, Sword Douluo wore a look of utter perplexity. The first part he could understand, but what did that latter sentence mean?

Therefore, Sword Douluo asked,

"Fengzhi, what do you mean by that last remark?"