The area where the artisans' workshops were located was always the most vibrant and lively place in the royal court. The clanging of hammers, the roar of the furnace, and the rough conversations of the artisans mingled together, creating a unique symphony.

Su Nian's arrival instantly quieted the previously noisy workshop. The craftsmen stopped what they were doing and looked at her with a mixture of awe and curiosity. This seemingly frail "lady" not only enjoyed the king's deep trust, but also always had ingenious ideas in her mind, improving their tools and even proposing some unheard-of techniques.

"Councilor Su, you've arrived!" The old craftsman Luger, who was in charge of managing the workshop, hurried forward, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement. "Following the blueprints you provided, we've experimented several times, and the first batch of new plows has been produced!"

He led Su Nian to a corner of the workshop, where three plows gleamed with a cold metallic light. Unlike the commonly used, cumbersome, and inefficient straight-shaft plows, these plows featured a distinct curved shaft structure, with short, curved shafts, a lighter frame, and were equipped with a leveling tool to adjust the depth of tillage.

[Wow! Host, is this the improved version of the curved plow you drew from memory? It looks interesting!] 088 marveled in its mind. [Using this, farming efficiency should increase by at least several times, right?]

"I hope so," Su Nian thought to herself, stepping forward to examine it closely. Although she wasn't an agricultural expert, as a well-read author, she was familiar with some of the iconic agricultural tool innovations of ancient times. On this land reliant on primitive agriculture, such a small improvement could mean more grain, feeding a larger population, and serving as the cornerstone for stable rule and the accumulation of strength.

She reached out and touched the cold plowshare, asking, "Have you tried it?"

“I tried it!” Ruger nodded hurriedly, rubbing his hands together. “I tested it on a small patch of land marked out on the outskirts of the royal court. It’s so much lighter than the old plow! A strong ox can pull it easily, it’s also more flexible when turning, and the depth and efficiency of turning the soil are much better! It’s just… it just uses up a lot of iron.”

He spoke his last sentence with some caution. In this era, iron was an important strategic material, used extensively in the manufacture of weapons.

Su Nian naturally understood his concerns and nodded: "I will explain the iron issue to the King. Compared to the increased grain production it can bring, this investment in iron is worthwhile. Luger, you have done a good job. Continue to build, first produce enough for the royal court's directly controlled fields, and then promote it on a large scale after spring."

"Yes! Yes!" Ruge's face flushed with excitement. To receive recognition and see their skills bring tangible benefits to the tribe was a great honor for these artisans.

Watching the craftsmen return to their enthusiastic work, Su Nian felt a slight sense of comfort. At least, within her capabilities, things were moving in a positive direction. These concrete, visible results eased the oppressive feeling brought on by Helian Jue's unpredictable moods and the lurking threat of Mo Duo.

However, this calm did not last long.

On her way back to her stone palace from the artisan's workshop, Su Nian keenly sensed that the atmosphere in the royal court seemed more tense than usual. The patrols of soldiers were more frequent, and the officials she encountered were hurrying along, their exchanged glances carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension.

An ominous premonition rose in her heart.

Sure enough, as soon as he returned to the outside of the palace, he saw one of Batu's personal guards waiting there with a somber expression.

“Councilor Su,” the guard stepped forward and lowered his voice, “the general instructed me to personally inform you that the convoy heading to the Wind Owl tribe was ambushed on the way!”

Su Nian's heart skipped a beat: "What's the situation? Where's General Batu?"

"General, you are unharmed," the guard quickly reported. "The ambush was small, more like a probe. But the enemy was familiar with the terrain, used the sandstorm as cover, and moved swiftly. We lost more than a dozen brothers, and some of our supplies were also stolen. The general judges that this was not the work of ordinary bandits, but most likely... elite troops sent by the Wind Owl tribe in disguise."

Su Nian's heart sank. Arslen was so audacious as to directly attack the royal court's delegation? This was practically a declaration of war! Had Modo's instigation taken effect, or did the Wind Owl tribe itself harbor rebellious intentions?

Where is the general now?

"The general has led his troops to the outskirts of the Wind Owl tribe and is currently in a standoff with them. Chief Arslan denies any involvement in the ambush, accusing us of launching an unwarranted attack and slandering his tribe's innocence. The situation... is very tense. The general has dispatched a messenger with urgent news to the king."

When the news reached him, how would Helian Jue respond? Given his character, he would never tolerate such provocation. A major battle seemed inevitable.

Su Nian dismissed her personal guards and stood alone in the hall, her brows furrowed. She had originally hoped to avoid direct conflict through a combination of deterrence and appeasement, but clearly, some people were unwilling to see peace.

[Host, the situation is dire.] 088's voice also turned serious. [That old fox, Mo Duo, is a master at stirring up trouble. If Helian Jue were to unleash his fury and send troops directly, causing rivers of blood, your "End Tyranny" mission would be in serious trouble.]

"I know." Su Nian rubbed her temples. She had to find a way, at least... to prevent him from being completely dominated by his bloodlust.

As night fell, the royal council hall remained brightly lit until late into the night.

Helian Jue summoned all the high-ranking generals and tribal elders who remained at the royal court. Su Nian, as a "counselor," was also among them.

The atmosphere inside the hall was oppressive, making it hard to breathe. Helian Jue sat high on the throne, his face so gloomy it could drip water. He clutched the secret letter in animal hide sent back by Batu in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

"...Arslen, he's courting death." The icy voice, like a biting winter wind, swept through everyone's hearts. "Send the order to assemble the royal army and conscript troops from the Blackstone, Grayrock, and other affiliated tribes. In three days, I will personally lead an expedition against Wind Owl, raze his tribe to the ground, and hang his and Modo's heads on the Wind Owl tribe's flagpole!"

The order, brimming with a murderous aura, sent a shiver down the spines of everyone in the hall. Several generals immediately bowed and accepted the command, their faces revealing a warlike excitement. The older elders, however, wore worried expressions, hesitant to speak. Spring warfare was extremely costly, and the Wind Owl tribe, possessing the advantage of terrain, was not an easy opponent. If the war dragged on…

“Your Majesty,” a white-haired elder finally stepped forward, his voice trembling, “spring is the time for planting and for livestock to breed. To wage war at this time would likely damage the very foundation of our nation. Perhaps… perhaps we should send another messenger to rebuke and order Arslan to hand over Modo and the murderer, perhaps…”

"Perhaps what?" Helian Jue abruptly interrupted him, his gaze sweeping across the room like a blade. "Will he wait until he unites more tribes, accumulates strength, and then turns against the royal court? Or will he wait until that old fox, Modo, stirs up trouble throughout the Northwest with his tongue? Batu's ambush is Feng Xiao's answer! The only response to provocation is to crush them!"

His words were filled with unquestionable resolve and brutality. The elder, intimidated by his imposing presence, stammered and dared not speak further.

Su Nian knew she couldn't remain silent any longer. She took a deep breath and stood up from her seat.

Her movements drew everyone's attention, including Helian Jue's cold and sharp gaze.

“Your Majesty,” Su Nian’s voice was exceptionally clear in the silent hall, “the conquest of Feng Xiao is imperative. Arslan must pay the price for his actions.”

She first affirmed Helian Jue's decision, which eased his expression slightly, but the probing in his eyes deepened.

“However,” Su Nian changed the subject, “there might be a more strategic approach to how to conquer.”

"Oh?" Helian Jue narrowed his eyes. "What brilliant idea do you have?"

“The Fengxiao tribe is brave and occupies the advantage of the desert terrain, familiar with the environment. If our army launches a direct attack, even if we win, we will inevitably suffer heavy losses and may even drive them into a desperate situation, causing them to fight back to the death, or even arousing the fear of other observing tribes.” Su Nian analyzed calmly, “Perhaps we can… divide and conquer, and capture the leader first.”

She walked to the slightly rough northwest map hanging in the center of the hall and pointed to the core area of ​​the Wind Owl tribe.

"With a large army pressing in, a deterrent force can be formed. Simultaneously, several elite squads can be dispatched, disguised as merchant caravans or wanderers, to infiltrate the Wind Owl tribe or its surrounding areas. Their tasks are threefold: First, to spread the message that the King will only punish the ringleaders, Arslen and Modo, and will not question those who have been coerced, even promising preferential treatment to those who surrender, thus undermining the morale of the tribe. Second, to ascertain the exact location of Arslen and Modo and their guards. Third, to seek opportunities; if Arslen and Modo can be captured alive or assassinated, the overall situation can be stabilized, and a large-scale battle can be avoided."

She paused, then looked at Helian Jue: "This is a strategy of winning hearts and minds, combined with swift and decisive measures. It can both demonstrate the King's majesty and achieve the greatest victory at the lowest cost. At the same time, it can also show the other tribes in the Northwest that the King is not just bloodthirsty, but also has a strategy of appeasement. Those who submit will live, and those who resist will die."

A hush fell over the hall. The generals were deep in thought, while the elders' eyes gleamed with hope. Su Nian's strategy was undoubtedly far superior to a simple frontal assault, and far more in line with long-term interests.

Helian Jue stared at the map, then at Su Nian, his gaze unfathomable. He had to admit that her thoughts always hit the nail on the head. He longed to wash away his shame with the blood of his enemies, but he was also a sage, capable of weighing the pros and cons.

After a long silence, he spoke slowly, his voice still cold, but lacking some of the pure killing intent: "Approved. The army will assemble as usual. Also, select elite soldiers from the Imperial Guard and the Scout Battalion to form three elite squads, which will infiltrate Fengxiao as Councilor Su suggested."

"Yes!" a general replied.

Helian Jue's gaze fell on Su Nian again, with a complex scrutiny, as if he wanted to see through her inside and out. "You are very good."

It's impossible to tell whether these three words are praise or something else.

The meeting ended, and everyone left. Su Nian was also about to leave when Helian Jue called her back.

"Leave."

In the empty hall, only the two of them remained. The candlelight crackled, illuminating Helian Jue's inscrutable face.

He stepped down from the throne and came before Su Nian. Unlike last time, he didn't roughly restrain her; he simply stood before her, looking down at her, his eyes swirling with emotions Su Nian couldn't decipher.

"Why?" he suddenly asked, his voice low. "Why can you always say things that I can't refuse?"

Su Nian raised her head to meet his gaze, feeling a mix of trepidation and inexplicable bitterness in her heart. "Because... I'm talking about the choice that's most beneficial to the royal court and to His Majesty."

"Is that all?" Helian Jue took a step closer, his powerful aura enveloping Su Nian. "Or are you afraid that I've killed too many people and accumulated too much karma? Afraid that I... will truly become a tyrant who only knows how to kill?"

His question once again hit the nail on the head.

Su Nian's heart tightened slightly. She looked into the depths of his eyes, at a barely perceptible hint of disgust for his "tyrant" status, a hint of confusion that perhaps even he himself hadn't acknowledged.

She remembered his past as a slave, and how he had climbed to the throne over countless corpses. Slaughter was his means, his armor, but not necessarily the way he truly loved.

She took a deep breath and decided to stop completely avoiding the issue.

"Yes," she admitted softly, noticing that Helian Jue's pupils suddenly contracted.

“I don’t like pointless killing,” Su Nian continued, her gaze calm. “I also don’t want to see you defined by killing. You can be a king who inspires fear in your enemies, or you can be a monarch who allows his people to farm and thrive in peace. The latter may be more difficult, but it is more worthwhile.”

Her words, like a pebble thrown into a still lake of his heart, stirred up ripples.

Helian stared intently at her, as if trying to find the slightest trace of hypocrisy on her face, but he only saw clarity and... a kind of sincerity that he could not understand, almost compassionate.

This sincerity unsettled him more than any lie.

He suddenly reached out, and this time, instead of touching her chin, he grabbed her wrist with such force that she frowned slightly.

“Su Nian,” he practically forced the words through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with confusion and pain, as if those fragments of memories from other worlds were interfering with him again, “Don’t look at me like that anymore… don’t say those things anymore… you’ll make me… make me…”

What was he trying to say?

What will it do to you? Will it make you waver? Will it make you unlike yourself? Or will it make you... even more unable to let go?

He didn't finish his sentence, but the emotions contained in those unspoken words surged so powerfully that they almost overwhelmed the two of them.

He abruptly flung her hand away as if burned, turned around, and his voice returned to its usual coldness and aloofness: "Go back. Do your job as a councilor. With a great battle imminent, the royal court has no need for useless mercy."

Su Nian watched his solitary back turn away from her again, the force he had exerted on her wrist still lingering, along with... a barely perceptible tremor.

She said nothing more, silently bowed, and turned to leave.

Walking under the cool moonlight, Su Nian's heart remained restless for a long time. It seemed that, once again, she had left a barely perceptible mark on that hardened defense of her heart.

However, just as she was about to reach her stone palace, a deep and familiar voice, tinged with an eerie laugh, suddenly rang in her ear from the darkness:

“Brilliant advice, my dear…Princess.”

Su Nian froze, turned around abruptly, and saw a blurry figure flash by in the shadows of the corner, so fast it seemed like an illusion.

But that sound...

It's Modo?! How could he possibly have infiltrated the heavily guarded core area of ​​the royal court?!

A chill instantly shot up my spine to the top of my head.

(End of Chapter 118)