Nan Feihuang looked at Xue Qinghe and nodded firmly. "Brother Xue, I follow you, not just your position as the Crown Prince of Tiandou."
His words pleased Xue Qinghe immensely. The fact that he acknowledged her as a person, rather than her title as Crown Prince, hit all the right notes. She now felt confident that she could turn this young admirer into one of her most loyal followers, just like her younger sister, Xue Ke. If the day came when she reclaimed her true identity as Qian Renxue, Nan Feihuang would still pledge his allegiance to her.
Bibi Dong had long sought to harness the agricultural strength of the Gu Lei Kingdom but hadn't found the right approach, going so far as to formally recognize Lan Xue in order to win them over. But so what? Sooner or later, this kingdom would belong to Nan Feihuang. Once she secured his loyalty, controlling the entire kingdom would be just a matter of time.
This achievement would be a significant boon for the Spirit Hall and would strengthen her position when the time came to reclaim the title of Supreme Pontiff. Qian Renxue didn't get along with Bibi Dong, and not knowing the truth behind her mother's actions, she could never understand why Bibi Dong harbored such disdain for her own daughter. Strong-willed as she was, Qian Renxue had stopped trying to make sense of it long ago. If her mother didn't like her, so be it. But the title of Supreme Pontiff belonged to the Qian family, and if Bibi Dong intended to pass it to an outsider, she would never stand for it. One day, she would reclaim what was hers.
"Alright, Feihuang, it's getting late. You should rest for now. We'll talk more another time." Xue Qinghe smiled and patted his head. At this point, she no longer saw him as a mere child. No child could grasp political nuances like he did. She now regarded him as a fellow political mind, mature beyond his years—a stark contrast to her sheltered younger sister.
After returning to his room, Nan Feihuang lit a lamp, only to find Xun Yu and the others seated and waiting for him.
"Master, I told you to charm Qian Renxue, but you're moving a bit too fast, aren't you? Involving yourself so early in Tiandou's politics may not be a wise move," Xun Yu said with a frown.
"First, don't forget that our plan is to ultimately derail or hijack Xue Qinghe's ambitions. When her true identity is revealed, people may suspect that you've been in cahoots with her all along."
"Second, many of Xue Qinghe's policies go against the interests of Tiandou's nobility. Associating too closely with her will alienate the empire's aristocracy. Tiandou is not like Gu Lei. We are a small agricultural nation where prioritizing the common folk is justifiable. But Tiandou is dominated by its nobility. Your actions might hurt you in the long run."
Nan Feihuang understood Xun Yu's concerns, especially recalling how the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan suffered due to their association with Xue Qinghe in the original storyline. The clan had supported the Tiandou Empire for years, but due to the events surrounding Xue Qinghe's exposure, the clan faced distrust and isolation. Even though Ning Fengzhi had tried to awaken Emperor Xue Ye using a life-extending technique, it inadvertently shortened the emperor's life and left the clan at odds with the empire.
"Wenruo, I know the risks. But by aligning with Xue Qinghe on the surface, I can better track her movements and counter her plans if needed. And while I don't fully intend to help Qian Renxue, my stance on the Tiandou nobility aligns with hers. I have no interest in placating those aristocrats. Associating with her now may lead to their rejection, but it will bolster my reputation with the people. Even if Xue Qinghe's true identity is exposed, the common folk won't care. They'll remember who made sure they had food to eat. When the time comes for me to take control of the empire, the changes I implement will be less abrupt, and the people will support me. By then, I'll know which nobles are with me and which are against me, making it easier to deal with them."
Xun Yu looked shocked. "Are you planning to execute all the nobles who oppose you?"
"Of course! You think I'm going to play political games with them?" Nan Feihuang shot back.
Xun Yu shook his head. "Master, this bloodthirsty approach will not benefit your future rule. It's too extreme."
"Who said I wanted to rule?" Nan Feihuang smiled. "I'm not interested in being emperor. I just want to unify the continent. Honestly, I'd rather be a general."
Xun Yu was stunned. "You… don't want to be emperor? Then why go through the trouble of unifying the land?"
"For the thrill!" Nan Feihuang grinned. "I'm more excited by the journey than the destination. To conquer the world, to vanquish all opposition—that's what excites me!"
Having inherited the fearsome body of Lu Bu, Nan Feihuang had also absorbed some of his love for battle. He craved the challenge and the rush of war.
Xun Yu could only offer a helpless smile. "If all you care about is the thrill, why stand with the common folk? Is it just to make things harder for yourself?"
"Because it's stylish!" Nan Feihuang responded, his eyes gleaming. "Imagine it—Nan Feihuang, the unparalleled general, fighting for the people, his mighty spear bringing justice wherever he goes. The admiration of the masses, my name living on for generations—wouldn't that be glorious?"
"Ahhhhh!!" Lu Lingqi let out an excited scream, overwhelmed by emotion. She couldn't speak, but her heart was racing. Nan Feihuang's dreams mirrored her own perfectly. To her, there was no greater purpose to fighting than to look cool doing it!
Xun Yu, on the other hand, was bewildered. Was he serving the wrong master? Nan Feihuang wanted to unify the world just because it was "thrilling" and "stylish"? That seemed far too casual a reason.
Nan Feihuang chuckled. "Wenruo, don't worry. I may not want to be emperor myself, but that doesn't mean I'm completely disinterested in the position. Don't forget, I have my father. He loves being emperor. Once I unify the continent, I'll present it to him as a gift. That's my way of showing filial piety."
"And when he retires, you won't have to worry either. He's a Soul Saint now and might even become a Contra one day. He'll be around for a long time. By the time he's ready to step down, my son will be grown, and you can be his teacher. You'll raise him to be a great emperor."
Xun Yu thought it over. That actually made sense. While Nan Feihuang and Xue Qinghe's policies might complicate things in the short term, power ultimately ruled this world. As long as Nan Feihuang was strong enough, any opposition from the nobility would be easily crushed. And with Nan Tianchen's capable leadership, the unified empire would be in good hands. His role as the boy's mentor would ensure that the next generation was even better prepared.
"Very well, Master. If your goal is to become the greatest general, then I shall strive to be the greatest prime minister," Xun Yu said with a smile.
"Ahhhh!! (I'll be the greatest female general!)" Lu Lingqi shouted, raising her hand in excitement.
Dian Wei pointed to himself. "I'll protect you, Master. I'll be the greatest bodyguard in the world!"
And so, within the walls of that room, amidst the laughter and declarations of ambition, the foundation of a future alliance—the strongest team that would one day shake the heavens—was formed.
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