nashuaworldcup Chapter 155 Xu Longxiang Wants to Visit Empress Liyang? This is a Clever Scheme!
Chapter 155 Xu Longxiang Wants to Visit Empress Liyang? This is a Clever Scheme!
Night had fallen, but the lights were still on in the small courtyard where the Northern delegation was temporarily staying.
In the small pond in the courtyard, a few koi carp swam in the sparse moonlight, and the surface of the water occasionally rippled.
Xu Longxiang stood alone by the pool, his black python robe fluttering slightly in the night breeze.
His gaze fell on the water's surface, but he wasn't looking at the fish.
Those deep brown eyes were now empty and distant, as if they had pierced through the pool water and the night, landing in some unreachable place.
His jaw was taut, his thin lips pressed into a straight line, and his whole person was like a frozen stone sculpture, with only the hem of his robe swaying gently in the wind.
Under the corridor, Sikong Xuan, Fan Li, and Mo Ya watched from afar, their eyes filled with worry.
"It's been several hours already."
Sikong Xuan's voice was old and heavy. He stroked his gray beard, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Ever since returning from the palace, the Crown Prince has been like this, absent-minded and unable to eat or drink."
Fan Li gently twirled the white jade chess piece in his hand, his brows furrowed. "No wonder. Seeing my sister and her beloved..."
He didn't continue, but just sighed, "That kind of blow would be hard for anyone to bear."
Mo Ya, hidden in the shadows, spoke in a hoarse voice: "The young master is a man of strong will, but this time... I'm afraid his very foundation has been damaged."
The three of them exchanged a glance and saw the worry in each other's eyes.
They had followed Xu Longxiang for many years, witnessing his rigorous swordsmanship training in the snow and wind of the northern border when he was young, seeing him charge into battle, and seeing him strategize and scheme in the imperial court.
But they had never seen Xu Longxiang look like this before.
Like a sword that has been forcibly broken, its sharpness remains, but its soul has been lost.
"Do you think," Fan Li said in a low voice, "that the Crown Prince... can pull through this time?"
Sikong Xuan remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "This old minister does not know either. But if even the Crown Prince falls, the 300,000 soldiers in the Northern Border, and the Xu family's century-old foundation... will all be finished."
Even so, a faint glimmer of hope lingered in his eyes.
Because he understands Xu Longxiang.
He understood how stubborn and unyielding this child he had watched grow up was.
Even so, Sikong Xuan was still unsure.
The scene of Xu Longxiang barely managing to vomit blood in the Hall of Supreme Harmony that day still haunts his mind.
That humiliation, that pain, that despair of watching your loved ones being taken away...
Is it possible for anyone to actually get through this?
A night breeze began to rise, causing the lanterns under the eaves to sway incessantly.
The light and shadow flickered on Xu Longxiang's face, and his originally resolute and cold face now showed an unprecedented paleness and fragility.
Just then—
Xu Longxiang suddenly moved.
He slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the three people under the corridor. In the depths of his empty eyes, something seemed to be re-forming.
"Mr. Sikong," Xu Longxiang began, his voice hoarse yet exceptionally clear, "Mr. Fan, Mr. Mo."
The three men quickly stepped forward: "Your Highness."
Xu Longxiang's gaze swept over them one by one, finally landing on Sikong Xuan's face: "Let's go back to the Northern Territory."
Those five short words sent a chill down the spines of the three of them!
Back to the North?
Now?
A look of surprise instantly flashed in Sikong Xuan's eyes!
"Your Highness, you..." His voice trembled, and tears welled up in his old eyes.
"I'm fine now," Xu Longxiang said slowly, his voice eerily calm. "Or rather, I've figured everything out. And let go of what I needed to let go of..."
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"I've let them all go."
Fan Li and Mo Ya exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock and relief in each other's eyes.
The Crown Prince has recovered!
Not only have they recovered, but they also seem more clear-headed, calmer, and more terrifying!
"Good! Good!" Sikong Xuan nodded repeatedly. "This old minister will go and prepare immediately! We'll meet first thing tomorrow morning..."
"No rush."
Xu Longxiang interrupted him, turning his gaze beyond the courtyard wall towards the post station where the Liyang delegation was staying deep within the imperial city.
"Before we leave," he said slowly, his voice carrying an unusual calm, "we'll visit someone first."
The three were taken aback: "Whom are you visiting?"
Xu Longxiang turned around, the moonlight shining on his face, outlining his cold, hard features. A cold smile slowly curved his lips:
"Empress Li Yang, Zhao Qingxue."
"What?!"
Sikong Xuan gasped in shock, his old face filled with disbelief!
The white jade chess piece in Fan Li's hand fell to the ground with a "thud," rolled a few times, and came to rest by the pond.
Even the usually calm Mo Ya's pupils suddenly contracted!
A visit to Empress Li Yang?!
At this time?!
In the imperial city, right under Qin Mu's nose?!
"Your Highness, you mustn't!"
Sikong Xuan said urgently, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"Empress Li Yang's status is special, and this is during the ceremony. If you were to visit her privately, it would inevitably arouse Qin Mu's suspicion! This is too dangerous!"
Fan Li also calmed down and said in a deep voice:
"Mr. Sikong is absolutely right. Your Highness, this is tantamount to putting yourself in a dangerous situation. Qin Mu is already wary of the Northern Border. If you were to secretly contact Empress Li Yang at this time, he would certainly see it as a provocation, and might even use it as an excuse..."
"What I want is for him to be suspicious."
Xu Longxiang interrupted Fan Li, his voice icy, yet each word clear:
"Qin Mu won't let me have an easy time. He humiliates me at every turn, relentlessly presses me, takes my sister away, takes my Qingxue away, and ruins my plans... Does he think that by trampling me underfoot, he can ensure I'll never rise again?"
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"Then I'll make contact with his most feared adversary right under his nose. If he won't let me have an easy time, then I won't let him have an easy time either."
These words were spoken calmly, yet each one carried a deep-seated hatred.
Sikong Xuan and the other two looked at each other, not knowing how to refute.
Because Xu Longxiang is right.
They could all sense Qin Mu's apprehension towards Empress Li Yang.
If Xu Longxiang and Zhao Qingxue were to meet privately at this time, what would Qin Mu think?
He will definitely be suspicious, he will definitely be angry, he will definitely...
"But the risk of doing this is too great," Mo Ya said in a deep voice. "Your Highness, you are gambling."
"bet?"
Xu Longxiang laughed, a cold and cruel laugh. "I've been gambling all along. From the moment I stepped into the capital, I've been gambling. I'm gambling that Qin Mu won't dare to attack me now, gambling that he still has to consider Li Yang's reaction."
Fan Li frowned, his mind racing as he calculated the pros and cons.
After a long silence, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he slowly said, "Your Highness's move, though risky, may not be... a brilliant one."
"Oh?" Xu Longxiang raised an eyebrow.
Fan Li explained, "First of all, as the Crown Prince said, this move will inevitably arouse Qin Mu's suspicion and apprehension. And apprehension often leads to wrong judgments. If Qin Mu loses his composure because of this, it will be an opportunity for us."
He paused, then continued:
"Secondly, this also sends a clear signal to those wavering civil and military officials in the court."
"A signal?" Sikong Xuan asked, puzzled.
"A signal that the North and Li Yang may be joining forces."
A glint of light flashed in Fan Li's eyes.
"These days, all the officials in the court are watching and waiting. They have their own thoughts as they see the Crown Prince being humiliated and the Xu family being bullied. But most of them are still hesitant and weighing their options. Because they don't know how many trump cards the Northern Border still has, and they don't know if the Crown Prince can really succeed."
"But if the Crown Prince were to openly visit Empress Li Yang at this time, the significance would be entirely different."
Fan Li's voice became clearer and clearer:
"This is tantamount to telling everyone that the Northern Territory is not isolated and helpless. Even though Xu Longxiang has suffered such a great humiliation, he still has the qualifications and confidence to talk to a powerful country like Li Yang. Those who were still watching from the sidelines, those who were dissatisfied with Qin Mu but dared not express it, will naturally reconsider their actions after seeing this scene."
"At that time," Fan Li said with a meaningful smile, "it will be much easier for us to win them over."
Sikong Xuan suddenly realized, and an excited light flashed in his old eyes:
"Mr. Fan is right! This is an open scheme! His Highness's move is indeed an open scheme!"
Mo Ya nodded slowly:
"Indeed. Even if Qin Mu knows this is an open conspiracy, he can do nothing about it. If he stops it, he will appear guilty, which will only confirm the rumors of his fear. If he doesn't stop it, he will have to watch helplessly as the Crown Prince comes into contact with Empress Li Yang, and this thorn in his heart will probably never be removed."
"Moreover, the Crown Prince's visit to Empress Li Yang is in accordance with etiquette, and there is nothing wrong with it from the perspective of etiquette."
Xu Longxiang listened quietly to the three people's analysis, the cold smile on his lips gradually deepening.
He turned and looked back at the pond.
The water reflected the moonlight, and also his cold and resolute eyes.
"Tomorrow morning," he said slowly, his voice calm yet heavy as a thousand pounds, "we will go to visit Empress Li Yang."
"Yes!" the three answered in unison, their eyes filled with excitement.
The night wind grew stronger, rustling the leaves in the courtyard.
Xu Longxiang stood alone by the pool, motionless for a long time.
In his mind, flashes of his sister Xu Fenghua's cold eyes, Jiang Qingxue's terrified and helpless face, Qin Mu's ambiguous smile, and the all-knowing light in Zhao Qingxue's deep purple phoenix eyes flashed.
These people, these events, these humiliations and pains have all settled down and become the strongest foundation.
It supported him and propelled him forward.
Heading down that road of no return.
"Qin Mu," Xu Longxiang murmured to himself, his voice drifting in the night breeze, "this game of chess has only just begun."
"And you will definitely regret it."
The moonlight, like water, bathed the courtyard.
Outside the walls, the lights of the imperial city still flickered.
........
The next morning, at 3:45 AM.
In the southeast corner of the imperial city, there is a welcoming post station.
This inn, originally built specifically to receive foreign guests, appears particularly solemn today.
Outside the "Star Gazing Pavilion" where the Li Yang delegation was staying, dozens of Li Yang Imperial Guards stood guard, each wearing silver armor, with curved swords at their waists, sharp eyes, and an imposing presence.
Outside the inn, the figures of the Dragon Shadow Guards, clad in black soft armor, could be vaguely seen appearing and disappearing, like ghosts monitoring everything.
The atmosphere was subtle and tense.
Just then, a convoy slowly drove up.
The leader was none other than Xu Longxiang.
Today he changed into a formal robe for the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei, with a black brocade base and four-clawed python patterns embroidered in gold thread, which gleamed with a dark luster in the morning light.
He wore a jade belt around his waist, cloud-patterned court boots, and his long hair was tied up with a jade crown, making him look handsome and aloof.
Behind him followed Sikong Xuan, Fan Li, Mo Ya, and twenty Northern Border Guards.
These guards were all burly and sharp-eyed. Although they were not wearing armor, their battle-hardened aura was impossible to conceal.
The procession stopped outside the welcoming station.
The Imperial Guards of Liyang immediately stepped forward, and the leading general clasped his hands in greeting, asking, "Who goes there?"
Xu Longxiang stepped forward slowly, his voice steady: "Xu Longxiang, the heir of the Northern Garrison King, has come to pay a visit to Her Majesty Empress Liyang."
The general scrutinized Xu Longxiang for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness, while I announce your arrival."
Thank you for your trouble.
The general turned and strode quickly into the post station.
Xu Longxiang waited quietly, his gaze sweeping over the Dragon Shadow Guards who were faintly visible outside the post station, a cold smile curving his lips.
He knew that Qin Mu was aware of his every move at this moment.
That's exactly the effect he wanted.
A moment later, the general returned, bowed, and said, "His Majesty requests your presence; Your Highness, please follow me."
"please."
Xu Longxiang strode into the post station, followed closely by Sikong Xuan and the other two, while twenty guards remained outside to wait.
The inn is elegantly decorated with pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and waterside pavilions, reminiscent of the charm of Jiangnan gardens.
But at this moment, this elegance was tinged with a sense of impending doom, as the Liyang Imperial Guards could be seen stationed every three steps and sentry every five steps, maintaining a tight security.
Xu Longxiang's expression was calm, and his steps were steady, as if he were just attending an ordinary visit.
But in his mind, he was calculating rapidly.
How will Zhao Qingxue greet him?
What will she say?
How should he respond?
All of this will affect the situation going forward.
Soon, the group arrived at the "Star Gazing Pavilion".
This is a three-story pavilion with upturned eaves and an imposing presence.
The guards around the pavilion were even more stringent. In addition to the Liyang Imperial Guards, several elderly men in blue Taoist robes with unfathomable auras could also be seen.
He was clearly a highly skilled individual served by the Li Yang royal family.
The general stopped in front of the pavilion, turned around and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting on the top floor. Please come up alone; the rest of you, please wait downstairs."
Sikong Xuan and the other two changed their expressions slightly and looked at Xu Longxiang.
Xu Longxiang, however, remained expressionless and nodded slightly: "Alright."
He stepped onto the stairs to the attic.
The steps are made of sandalwood, and they make a slight sound when you step on them. Each step feels like stepping on your heartbeat.
Xu Longxiang was at peace.
An unprecedented calm.
From the moment he made the decision last night, he had already disregarded life and death.
Now, he has nothing to lose and nothing to fear.
His only thought was revenge.
To seek revenge against Qin Mu.
He sought revenge against everyone who had harmed the Xu family, his sister, and Qingxue.
Therefore, he can cooperate with anyone, take any path, and do anything.
This includes dealing with this unfathomable Empress Li Yang.
At the end of the stairs is a carved wooden door.
Two female officials dressed in Liyang Palace attire stood at the gate. Upon seeing Xu Longxiang, they bowed in unison and said, "Young Master Xu, His Majesty is waiting inside. Please."
Xu Longxiang nodded slightly and pushed open the door to enter.
Inside the door was a spacious hall.
The furnishings are simple yet elegant. A long table made of rosewood is placed by the window, on which are placed the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper) and several open books.
Several ancient landscape paintings hang on the wall, their brushstrokes refined and elegant, unlike ordinary works.
Zhao Qingxue sat behind the long table.