"...." Li Qingyan’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Xu Yuan noticed and smiled faintly:
"What I proposed is only one possibility. Why exactly Marquis Wucheng acts the way he does is sothing we can’t truly know. It might be due to Mu Zhiyun’s death, perhaps sothing else provoked him, or maybe he’s plotting other matters altogether."
The story always ends at its climax, at its most beautiful mont, because continuing often leads into tragedy. Reality is a union of beauty and filth, and ever since Xu Yuan and Li Qingyan assud power, they’ve faced nothing but these sches and treachery, these tough choices between forr comrades now standing in opposition.
Li Qingyan’s slender index finger played with the hem of the Imperial Robe:
"Do you think... I should start killing?"
Killing? No, it’s a cleansing.
Xu Yuan casually found a chair to sit opposite her and said earnestly:
"If you don’t want to don the Imperial Robe, it’s best to use gentle ans. If you wish to take action against the Northern Military Group, unrest within the Imperial Family will be inevitable, and if the balance held by the Imperial Chancellor is disrupted, those under my command among the iron-blood faction will likely act before consulting."
Li Qingyan’s dark eyes reflected his image:
"Hmph, you’re not holding back at all."
"It’s a well-aning reminder."
Xu Yuan bent his eyes in a smile: "You know , power is rely a ans to , not the end."
"......"
Li Qingyan’s ample chest rose and fell for several breaths, then she slowly closed her eyes without speaking further.
Xu Yuan didn’t press her.
Compared to him, her situation was indeed more difficult.
Xu Yinhè left Xu Yuan with a Pri Minister’s Mansion where power was relatively concentrated, the internal conflicts were relatively placid, and no one could threaten the successor.
As for Li Yaoxuan.....
Though he was the restorer of Dayan, his hesitation at the end left him extrely unfit in paving the way for the next generation.
A rustling sound eventually arose in the Imperial Study Room:
"I understand...."
Xu Yuan heard this, smiled, and just as he was about to express his intentions for the day, he heard...
"Where is Tianyan?"
"......"
Xu Yuan was montarily stunned, instinctively raising his eyes.
In the air their gazes intertwined, the fatigue at Li Qingyan’s brow dissipated and her eyes, now like crescent moons, smiled as she said:
"Ran Qingmo is here, but where is Tianyan?"
Ran Qingmo had been left to cultivate at the Reflection Platform beside Heavenly Pond. Although the Sword Sect had surrendered, she was still soone of the Sects, and the secret discussions of the Imperial Chancellor were sothing to be wary of.
Xu Yuan chuckled but didn’t answer that question, instead saying to himself:
"I ca to see you today to discuss so matters."
"Where is Tianyan?"
".. We’ll discuss Tianyan later. Haven’t you noticed there have been many rumors in the army lately, concerning disputes with the Imperial Chancellor."
"I’m indeed aware of this, so, where is Tianyan?"
"......" Xu Yuan.
"Why are you silent?"
Li Qingyan slowly rose from the Dragon Throne.
Xu Yuan sighed, his expression oddly asking:
"Why are you so fixated on where she is?"
Li Qingyan, looking gallant in a unisex Dragon Robe, countered:
"What do you think I’m doing?"
"Jealous?"
"Hmph."
Li Qingyan shot Xu Yuan a glare, gave a cold snort, and turned to walk towards a display of sandalwood shelves nearby.
Unlike the simplicity during military camps, the inside of the Imperial Study Room was no longer modest, but compared to Li Yao’s ti filled with dazzling worldly treasures, Li Qingyan’s placent here was mostly of Broken Weapons — one row she had used, another row from villains defeated by her.
For ordinary people stepping in, the murderous aura of blades and spears rushed forth instantly.
Under Xu Yuan’s gaze, she casually took a Battle Array Treasure Sword from the weapon rack, drawing out three inches of its cold gleam, the light spots imdiately reflecting in his eyes, she asked:
"During your previous two secret etings in the palace, wasn’t she by your side at every step?"
"What do you an by ’by my side’....."
At this, Xu Yuan finally realized.
The Empress seed indeed to be jealous.
Li Qingyan stared into his eyes, her smile laced with scorn:
"As soon as the serious matters were finished, she hastily urged you to leave, if that’s not sticking to you, then what is it? Hmph, acting like a little girl avoiding reality."
In the midst of speaking,
The woman’s tone took on a subtle depth:
".. Knowing it useless, yet she’s still afraid of her sweets being stolen by others. This ti she hasn’t followed you into the palace, is she not afraid I’ll ’devour’ you?"
"... So you’re worried that once I finish our serious discussion, I’ll head straight back to the mansion?"
"......" Li Qingyan froze mid-motion.
The Empress raised the longsword in her hand a little higher, appearing a bit uneasy, yet her voice retained its calm amusent:
"Maybe."
"Oh~"
Leaning back in his chair, Xu Yuan squinted his eyes, extending his voice, and with a grin, patted his thigh, signaling her to co sit.
Li Qingyan frowned at him, unmoving.
The air stilled.
As the Emperor of Dayan, didn’t she have any dignity?
"Are you embarrassed to co over, should I co sit on your lap then?"
"..."
Li Qingyan glared at this shaless man:
"Can’t you show so propriety, what if others see this frivolous side of you?"
Xu Yuan grinned broadly, boisterously:
"In this world now, no one can infiltrate this Imperial Study Room without alerting ."
"Tian Ye?"
".... " Xu Yuan.
Montarily embarrassed by his mistake, he resud smiling:
"Even with Tian Ye, wouldn’t you be alerted too? Let alone, I’ve already placed a seal on her."
"Idiot."
Li Qingyan spat lightly before looking away, moving closer to Xu Yuan, her delicate hands gliding over her side as she sat sideways into his embrace, her fra slightly tense and awkward, yet flushed with rare softness.
Cicadas’ chirring filtered indoors and for a mont they were silent, perhaps the sumr heat persisted, painting her transcended features with subtle blushes.
The Empress’s Imperial Dragon Robe was a completely new design, opulent and dignified while not lacking in majesty, its fitted high neck subtly showcasing feminine curves without the immodesty of exposed skin.
In other words, it was very well covered.
The rustling of fabric continued throughout the Imperial Study Room, and Xu Yuan in his urgency couldn’t find an opening, itching to tear things apart, only to have her glare and jerk open his hand.
Alright, later he’ll demote the Ministry of Rites official who designed this attire.
Utterly without ambition.
Xu Yuan struggled for half a day before barely finding an opening, when he heard her composed voice asking in restraint:
"So, where is Tianyan?"
"....."
Xu Yuan paused, looking at her with a peculiar expression.
Asking this now?
"She returned to Jiatiange."
He answered offhandedly.
Li Qingyan pondered for a mont, feeling his hand wandering, she softly gasped and asked:
"Aren’t you afraid of letting the tiger return to the mountain... mmph, Jiatiange’s stance is all their words, imprisoning those two Saintesses around you to control Jiatiange remotely, wouldn’t.. wouldn’t that better serve the Pri Minister’s Mansion’s interests?"
In response to the Empress’s mood-ruining inquiry, Xu Yuan applied slight pressure to his hand in warning, eliciting a soft cry from her and explained:
"As long as Tian Ye is prevented from transcending beyond a Saint, everything else is secondary."
Li Qingyan could hardly bear it, raised her delicate hand over his through the fabric, whispered softly:
"Then... what about Ran Qingmo?"
"Ah? Isn’t she cultivating by the lake?"
"I an, how about moving to the window?"
She turned her gaze back, her eyes sultry.
"....." Xu Yuan.
"""
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