"General Ye."
Li Huaian was incredibly perceptive; he immediately caught the fleeting emotion in Ye Li's eyes.
She was secretly pleased, but on the surface, she tried her best to maintain the dignity and solemnity of the Regent Eldest Princess:
"Whether this matter succeeds or fails, the Supreme Treasure Medicine in the Great Sheng Treasury, or the Supreme Treasure of the Immortal Realm, will be at your disposal, General! May I ask, General..."
"Don't rush," Ye Li said, raising his hand to interrupt her combo.
He then fell into deep thought, which was unusual for him.
To be fair, the allure of the four supreme Demon Race lords was indeed immense.
But...
Back in the Capital City, the Third Princess Li Yingluo, although mediocre in ability and unremarkable in attitude, has not made any major mistakes so far.
This time, he caused chaos in the Southern Territory, even killing several Supreme Beings.
The pressure she faces, both overtly and covertly, must be immense in the Capital City, the imperial court, and especially among the Xuanmen sects.
If they were to turn Western Territory without any prior notice, it would seem rather strange to those Xuanmen who haven't yet begun their raids...
In his own view, it was somewhat like he was betraying his teammates.
Therefore, I need to personally return to the capital to clearly deter those Xuanmen who are secretly spying. After that, it should be enough time to go to the Western Territory.
Once the matter in the Western Territory is settled, we can carefully review the files of these Supreme Xuanmen sects.
Then we can legitimately settle the score.
Ye Li silently made up his mind.
Just then, a guard from the Nine Luminaries Division rushed into the council hall, knelt on one knee, and held a scroll high in his hands, his voice tinged with nervousness:
"Reporting to Lord Ye! An envoy from the Capital City has arrived urgently with an imperial edict from the Third Prince!"
The atmosphere in the hall froze instantly.
Li Huaian frowned slightly, and his hand slowly clenched in his sleeve.
There's no other reason than that it came at the perfect time!
She does have some brains after all; she knows she can't give her older sister too much room to maneuver. I wonder what opportunities she's managed to secure from Emperor Sheng these past few days!
Her expression changed instantly.
Ye Li appeared much more casual, nodding and glancing sideways at the doorway.
A maid belonging to the Qingxin Hall, escorted by two Yao Xuan Envoy, strode in.
Her eyes and brows showed obvious fear, and she only regained her composure once she was fully inside the house, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke in a high-pitched voice:
"By order of Her Third Princess! Governor Ye of the Southern Territory... Lord Ye, heed my command!"
She ultimately couldn't muster the courage to call him by his name.
This is the infamous demon who has recently shaken the Capital City, a figure who has even slain supreme beings!!
At this moment, opposite her.
The young governor remained standing, without bowing, seemingly waiting for her to continue.
The maidservant didn't dare to pay any attention. After apologizing, she slowly unfurled the scroll in her hand and read aloud:
"Imperial Edict: Investigate the Southern Territory Governor Ye Li. He was meritorious in suppressing the rebellion of the Cold Palace, but his actions were too cruel and damaged the friendship between the Imperial Court and the Immortal Sect!"
"Furthermore, after achieving his goal, he failed to return to the capital to report in a timely manner, neglecting his duties and failing the Emperor's grace. Therefore, his 'Governor's Gold Medal' is hereby revoked, and his position as governor is suspended!"
The entire council chamber was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
For the first time, surprise appeared in Ye Li's eyes.
Revoking the gold medal? Suspending his/her duties?
Even with his extensive knowledge, he never expected Li Yingluo to make such an outrageous decision.
At a critical juncture when the Xuanmen (Daoist sect) is exerting pressure, instead of focusing on ensuring his stance remains unchanged, they want to take back the power he earned through his own efforts?
That's amazing!
"..."
Standing to Li Huaian side, after the initial shock, an unprecedented joy surged from the bottom of her heart like a volcanic eruption, almost overwhelming her reason!
Heaven is helping me!
Li Yingluo! Her dear Imperial Sister!
To think... to be this incredibly stupid!!
Just as Ye Li had achieved unparalleled feats and his prestige was at its zenith, and just as he was about to face an even greater counterattack from the Xuanmen, he needed his lord's support the most!
Instead of trying to protect him, she went against the grain and took back his power in such a humiliating way!
This was tantamount to personally pushing this peerless supreme being, who was capable of ruling the world, to the opposite side, and even directly in front of Li Huaian!
A wave of ecstasy washed over her, making it almost impossible for her to control the wild upward curve of her lips.
Li Huaian bit his lower lip hard, using all his strength to maintain the solemn expression on his face, which was slightly stiff with shock.
The fingertips dug deeply into the palm, using the pain to remind oneself of one's current identity and occasion.
Chance!
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!!
The opportunity she had always dreamed of had suddenly appeared before her in such an unbelievable way!
Li Huaian turned his head with difficulty to look at Ye Li, trying to make his voice sound incredibly strained, with just the right amount of indignation:
"General Ye... this... Yingluo's actions are... alas!!"
Before she could finish speaking, she let out a heavy sigh, as if she were heartbroken!
Ye Li ignored her indignation, raised his hand and tossed out the gold medal symbolizing the supreme power of the Southern Territory, his voice calm:
"Take it."
"Thank you, Your Excellency!" The maidservant hurriedly caught it, then, not daring to breathe, bowed deeply as if granted a pardon and quickly withdrew.
A brief silence fell over the hall once again.
Li Huaian took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions. When he looked at Ye Li again, the eagerness in his eyes was undisguised, and his heart was pounding wildly in his chest, almost as if it would burst out of his chest!
She spoke again, her voice trembling noticeably, yet every word came from the bottom of her heart:
"The situation in the Western Territory is critical, and it concerns the very foundation of the nation!"
"Generals Cheng and Li are strong, but they are surrounded by four powerful figures from the Demon Court, putting them under immense pressure. If you are willing to go with us, it would be a great fortune for the Great Sheng!"
"I wonder... would the General be willing to accompany me to the Western Territory?"
Success or failure hinges on this!
Ye Li withdrew his gaze from where the maid had disappeared, and then it fell on Li Huaian's face, which was now filled with fanaticism, a stark contrast to his usual dignified and composed demeanor.
The surprise in his eyes had long since faded, leaving only a deep, calm sea.
After a moment of silence.
Ye Li nodded slightly, his voice clear and steady, showing no trace of anger at being stripped of his power.
"Alright."
The moment the words left his mouth, Li Huaian felt his breath catch in his throat for a second!
Immediately, an indescribable sense of immense satisfaction and a burning ambition for future power surged and boiled within her heart like magma!
It's done!!!