In the backyard of the Xia Mansion, the peach trees were not modified by Xia Xiao to show the difference between the four seasons. They were still bare and still sleeping, not awakening. Many creatures have the habit of long-term dormancy, but humans do not. This is probably the reason why they gradually dominated the wilderness.

Under the tree, Xia Xiao looked westward, her heart trembled, not knowing what had happened. Ah Zhu was studying the chess game, and the chess pieces in her hand fell many times. Xia Xiao occasionally told her that it was not good to play like that, as it was a bit like playing chess with herself. This time, Ah Zhu found a good position by herself, and said happily after placing the chess pieces:

"It's your turn!"

Xia Xiao smiled and looked at the chess game.

Ah Zhu's move was good, forming a cross with three pieces horizontally and vertically, and the next piece would be connected on both sides, forming a five-star. Ah Zhu's little brain had finally learned this simplest chess game. But in the corner, Xia Xiao already had three black pieces, and if he dropped one more piece, he would be sure to win.

Because Xia Xiao's move was one step ahead of Ah Zhu's, Ah Zhu was surprised and let go of the dog, letting it stomp on the chessboard. The chess pieces made a crackling sound like pearls falling to the ground.

"What a shame, we almost won."

Ah Zhu laughed, hugged the dog when Xia Xiao picked up the chess pieces, and ran to the room excitedly. It was so cold, and she was still playing chess outside. Her toes were almost frozen off. Xia Xiao followed behind her with a doting smile. The maids looked at her, envious and said that they wanted a man who doted on them like this in their dreams.

While rubbing her hands, Xia Xiao said that Ah Zhu was cheating, but she refused to admit it. She held the puppy in front of her face and said in a strange voice:

"I'm not playing tricks on you. You stinky man won't let me."

"If you keep whining, I won't give you any food."

"Hmph, don't try to scare me. Auntie is cooking for me, so I don't want to listen to you."

Xia Xiao was about to take action when Xia Jinghong came in with a serious look on his face and had not even changed out of his official uniform.

"Xiao'er."

"Dad, why are you in such a hurry?"

"The emperor has given a verbal order and wants to see you now."

"Meet me? With my current status, it's not a good idea to go directly to the Golden Throne Hall, right?"

"Go to the Imperial Study. His Majesty wants to see you in private."

Xia Xiao always felt that something bad was going to happen, but she was going to stay there anyway, so she took Ah Zhu with her. How could she have been to a place like the imperial palace? Of course, the imperial palace of Gou Longbang was nothing in her eyes, not spectacular at all, but before they even left the house, Ah Zhu asked:

"How about changing clothes?"

"Need not."

Xia Xiao pulled Ah Zhu and disappeared as soon as they went out. Xia Jinghong felt that he had not informed them properly and did not ask how to get in, but Xia Xiao did not care about that. It would be too conspicuous to walk in, so he flew in. What else could he do? It was not like he had not been to the imperial study before, so he did not need someone to lead the way.

As soon as he arrived at the palace and saw the leafless hibiscus bushes everywhere, Xia Xiao's mood was not as good as before. If the emperor used Si Yunying to make trouble again, he would also lose his temper.

Holding Ah Zhu in his arms, Xia Xiao spread his wings and landed in front of the imperial study. There was no one outside. The cultivators were secretly protecting the emperor, but in Xia Xiao's eyes, there was no dark place because everything could be seen. He pushed the door open and closed it again. Several eunuchs were moving a luxurious chair. As for the emperor, there was no sign of him.

Several eunuchs did not expect Xia Xiao to come so early, and said respectfully:

"Please sit down for a moment, sir."

Xia Xiao nodded, and they hurried out. Only Xia Xiao and the other two were left in the huge imperial study. Looking at the furnishings around, Ah Zhu couldn't help but say it was luxurious. The emperor is the emperor. The study room is so big that you can even ride a horse. If Xia Xiao knew what she was thinking, he would definitely laugh. She looked around and asked:

"What are you looking at? How about I prepare the four treasures of the study for you and compose an impromptu poem?"

"I'm not, why don't you write?"

"You don't know this, right? The Imperial Study is a relatively private place. If you succeed in attracting His Majesty, you might be able to become the Queen."

Just as Ah Zhu was about to get angry, a masculine voice came from the audience.

"I dare not compete with you for a woman."

Xia Xiao smiled and saluted with Azhu.

"No need to be polite, take a seat!"

Xia Xiao and Azhu were not polite either. They sat down as soon as they were asked and asked the questions that were in their minds.

"Your Majesty, what do you want?"

"Don't be so serious. I summoned you here today to express my gratitude. However, due to special circumstances, I can only receive you here. Please don't be offended."

"Your Majesty, you are too serious. The place where we meet is determined by the people. Besides, the imperial study is a private place, not everyone can come."

Ah Zhu secretly glanced at Xia Xiao, and seeing that he looked serious, he couldn't help but hold back his laughter. What a flatterer. Xia Xiao rolled his eyes in annoyance, thinking that if my father wasn't a loyal minister, I wouldn't be flattering Si Yi in different ways. But he is indeed a wise ruler, and although he is not very old, his methods of governing the government are very sophisticated.

"I am grateful that you always think of Daxia. I also know your plan, and it is indeed feasible."

Seeing His Majesty standing up, Xia Xiao also stood up, but he suddenly bowed, which made Xia Xiao repeatedly say that it was not allowed, but he still bowed with both hands and bent his waist. Xia Xiao hurried to help him. If others saw it or spread it out, he would be very embarrassed. Xia Xiao always felt that this was not good. After all, there was a difference between the monarch and the minister. But Si Yi said it was okay, sat back in his original seat, and said:

"Now that we've finished the official talk, it's time to talk about personal matters. I'm talking to you as a friend now. Do you mind?"

"Of course I don't mind."

"Actually, I'm very curious. Even if you have the relics of the monk from Tanghua Temple and can control the demonic energy, it shouldn't be so easy."

Si Yi didn't know what to say, so he pointed at Xia Xiao, moving his head up and down, as if to say that he was the same as before. Even if there were changes, they were all good. At least he looked taller, and there was a little evil on his face, which made him more charming in his mystery.

"Demon energy is indeed difficult to control. After all, it is not a good thing. You can treat it as vital energy and transform it into a tree. Then, establish a connection with the body and you can control it."

"I guess you have to be firm enough, right?"

"It should be. Anyway, Master said that I am the only person in the world who can successfully transform theory into practice. My spiritual power can be described as an ocean, while ordinary people's spiritual power is just a square pond or lake."

Xia Xiao's unmodest comparison made Si Yi raise his eyebrows. It is indeed difficult for the lake to imitate what the sea can do. But he still felt a little itchy in his heart, so he asked without disguising:

"Do you know how to control it?"

"Yes, I know all the details clearly."

Xia Xiao raised his head and looked at Si Yi with a playful and expectant look, as if he wanted to know what he was going to say. He could understand that he was just asking out of curiosity, but did he have any ulterior motives by asking again and again? Sure enough, Si Yi, under the pressure of his gaze, asked:

"You have fought against Nan Shang's Shenwei Army. How do you think those guys were formed and trained?"

Xia Xiao recalled that those guys used to be like demons in his eyes, but now that he really fell into the devil's way, he found that they were not even puppets of the devil. However, only those defective products that could conceal people's true intentions could prevent the five major forces from intervening.

"I don't know the detailed method, but I am also a demon now, so I can probably guess that they have been deprived of pain, planted a vitality mark in their brains, and then repeatedly adjusted it to achieve the purpose of control. As for the manifestation of demonic power, it probably lies in the regulation of the energy of living beings."

"What's the meaning?"

"Although it is not accurate to say that everyone is unique, everyone's life energy is more or less, so it is not a coincidence that they are exactly the same. Moreover, it is easy to control one or two people, but if you want to control hundreds of thousands of people, you must strictly maintain consistency, otherwise it will be a mess. The purpose of the existence of such an army is to fight. If it cannot fully exert its strength, it will be a useless failure."

Xia Xiao sensed something and asked with a smile:

"Your Majesty, why are you asking these questions? Do you also want to form an army like this?"

Si Yi rubbed his hands back and forth, not knowing how to start the conversation. When Xia Xiaoxian proposed, he nodded firmly. In the face of victory or defeat, he didn't care how others viewed him. Whether they called him a tyrant or scolded him for not caring about his soldiers, he had to defend the country and live up to his father's entrustment of the country to him, and live up to the expectations of Eunuch Mu.