On the same day of the 18th day of the first lunar month, a mysterious monk died in Jang Geum Castle and Prince Ning returned.

Fan Tianning didn't know that the monk named Master Juchen had passed away. He entered Jang Geum Castle at dusk and rushed into the palace.

"This prince wants to see the emperor!"

"Your Highness, do you have a decree from His Majesty?"

"This king has urgent business!"

The palace guards stopped his carriage. The guard commander, Wei Ji, bowed and said with a wry smile, "Your Highness, you are putting me in a difficult position. How about... I go and ask the Emperor for instructions?"

Fan Tianning nodded, and Wei Ji clasped his fists and left.

It took half an incense stick of time before Fan Tianning waited for Wei Ji's return. He was a little nervous. What should he do if his father didn't show up?

But unexpectedly, Wei Ji bowed and said, "His Majesty invites you to the imperial study."

"Thank you very much!"

Wei Ji bowed and said, "Your Highness, you are embarrassing me."

Fan Tianning took three steps forward, then suddenly turned around and said to Wei Ji, "I have one more thing to trouble you, General Wei. Please tell my lord Eleventh Sister that I'm back."

Wei Ji didn't understand what was going on, so he bowed and agreed. Fan Tianning walked into the imperial study.

He stopped at the door of the imperial study, because besides his father, there was another person sitting in the imperial study whom he had never thought of - Yu Baibai, the retired emperor of the Yu Dynasty!

Yu Baibai looked at him and smiled softly, "It's been fifteen years since I last saw the Thirteenth Prince, and now I know that you've married and become Prince Ning."

He pointed at Fan Tianning, then turned to Fan Zigui and said with a smile, "Thinking back to the time when we met in Jinling City, I was about the same age as the Thirteenth Prince..."

"Why!"

Yu Baibai shook his head. "Time makes people grow old. Youth is still the best!"

Fan Tianning took a deep breath and walked over, bowing: "Greetings to Uncle Yu, greetings to the Emperor. I am anxious to return this time..."

"Sit down, make some tea, listen, think, and then speak."

Fan Zigui interrupted Fan Tianning, who sat down with his head bowed, brewing a pot of tea as usual. He then heard Yu Baibai speak: "Ever since Fu Xiaoguan returned to the Wu Dynasty, life has been difficult for the Yu Dynasty, and even more difficult for the Yi Kingdom."

"If we just let it go, Brother Zigui, Yi State experienced thirteen civil wars last year. If it weren't for the Yi State's revenge army suppressing them, Yi State would have been shattered. This was done intentionally by Fu Xiaoguan. He doesn't need to mobilize a single soldier to take Yi State into his possession."

"Once Yi State becomes the territory of the Wu Dynasty, then the Wu Dynasty's three-sided encirclement of our Yu Dynasty will become a reality."

Yu Baibai sighed deeply, took the teacup handed to him by Fan Tianning, and knocked on the covered bowl, making a crisp tinkling sound.

"My son-in-law is truly remarkable. I must admit that I didn't grasp the timing of my action against him back then, which led to him letting the tiger go back into the mountains, causing the great worry I have now!"

"I don't need to hide anything from you. I believe you have read the letters I wrote to you before and thought about it carefully. Wu Chao's knife will definitely fall on Yu Chao's head next, and Yu Chao...can't withstand it!"

"If the Yu Dynasty falls into the hands of Fu Xiaoguan again..."

Yu Baibai looked deeply at Fan Zigui, then smiled at Fan Tianning's angry gaze. "Prince Ning, you probably think your uncle is exaggerating. When Fu Xiaoguan unites the Three Kingdoms, think about his wicked ambitions. Will he let your Fan Kingdom go?"

"Uncle knows that you and Fu Xiaoguan have a close relationship, but do you know how close my son Yu Wendao was to him back then?"

Yu Baibai tapped the teacup again, his gaze glaring, his voice suddenly low. "Back in Jinling, my son fought bloody battles for Fu Xiaoguan to help him deal with my brother, Prince Hui. It was a life-and-death friendship!"

"But what about now? He has forced my son into a corner, forcing him to take this risky move and form an alliance to deal with Fu Xiaoguan!"

"Personal friendship is nothing compared to the interests of the country..." Yu Baibai lifted the lid of the bowl and laughed at himself, "This kind of friendship is nothing!"

Fan Tianning pondered for three breaths, staring at Yu Baibai and said, "If you hadn't used that cruel method on Fu Xiaoguan, would he have treated Yu Chao like this?"

"I heard that he originally wanted to conquer the Desolate Kingdom and give it to the Yu Dynasty as a way to repay the Yu Dynasty for giving birth to him and raising him."

"Now, your Yu Dynasty is about to be dragged down by Fu Xiaoguan's economic policies, yet you want to drag Fan State into this muddy water. Let me tell you, you know nothing about Wu Dynasty and Fu Xiaoguan!"

"presumptuous!"

Fan Zigui roared, but Fan Tianning continued, "You have no idea how powerful the Wu Dynasty is, let alone the cohesion of Fu Xiaoguan. You are just throwing an egg against a rock!"

"Father, I'm so anxious to return this time because I'm afraid you'll fall into their trap! You'll regret it then..."

"Shut up!"

Fan Zigui was furious, "You only know how powerful Fu Xiaoguan is, but you know nothing about our plan!"

"Someone come..."

"Take Prince Ning to his former residence and keep him under strict guard. Never allow him to leave the residence!"

"Father, please listen to what your son has to say!"

"take away……!"

Fan Tianning's heart turned cold. He stood up suddenly and flicked his sleeves. "I'll go by myself. You don't need to send anyone to guard me. I won't leave the mansion. I will just watch quietly and see the consequences of your stupidity and ignorance!"

"You evil son!"

Fan Tianning walked out. Fan Zigui was so angry that his face turned pale. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths before he slowly calmed down.

"Brother Yu, although my son's words are rude, they are understandable. Look at the profits after this..."

Yu Baibai frowned slightly. "Brother Fan, who of us doesn't know who's who? You don't need to tell me. Wendao will be arriving soon. I will convey your message to Wendao. My Yu Dynasty has no other demands on the territory of the Wu Dynasty...except for the return of Biancheng and Xinzhou City."

"really?"

"No lie... But Wu Changfeng has died once before. Is his death real or fake this time?"

"The Sect Master took action, leaving no trace. Xu Yunqing didn't even lift the coffin lid to take a look. She must be very scheming!"

Yu Baibai was shocked, "She didn't even look at it?"

Fan Zigui nodded. "That's the most terrifying thing about her. If she had opened the coffin and looked inside, I'd have felt at ease. But she didn't. She just believed it and even burned some yellow paper and left it in the Zen room where Wu Changfeng used to live."

"So...will she affect our plans?"

"Fan State also has several Saints. When the Taoist priests arrive, we will discuss this matter. On the 27th day of the first lunar month, the Imperial Master will lead the monk soldiers to escort Emperor Wen's coffin to Guanyun City. It will be just in time."

"If the deal is settled, when will you send your troops?"

"at any time!"