"I understand Your Majesty's concerns." Ling Ya seemed to have anticipated Xu Jiawei's misgivings. Unhurriedly, he laid out the core of his plan. "That is why I have already devised a solution. Does Your Majesty remember how, two years ago, Dean Yan Shaozhe falsely accused Dai Youheng of being an Evil Soul Master? In the end, with Your Majesty and the princess as witnesses, Shrek owed Youheng a promise: if a conflict arose between Youheng and Shrek in the future, Shrek could not hold him accountable so long as he did not take the lives of any Shrek students."
Ling Ya swept his gaze over Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu, then slowly revealed the plan that would thrust Dai Youheng into the spotlight. "We can name Dai Youheng as the mastermind behind seizing this item! Publicly, we will claim that he hired me, or that I worked with him, and that he directed the entire scheme, with this Ring as his target. Then we will have Youheng invoke that promise and force Shrek to acknowledge that this contest fell within its terms. They will not be able to use this incident as a pretext to move against him-or against our Star Luo Empire!"
"Absolutely not!"
Xu Jiujiu's expression changed at once. The words burst from her lips, her voice brimming with anger and protectiveness. "Your Excellency means to make Youheng shoulder all your risks, take the blame, and become a thorn in Shrek's side? Even if that promise keeps Shrek from openly doing anything, they will certainly harbor resentment toward him in secret after this!"
Faced with her accusation, Ling Ya's expression did not change. His tone grew even calmer, carrying a hint that this was only his due. "Your Highness, please do not forget that, had I not intervened