I know nothing
He strode forward, seemingly standing opposite Zhongli Wuyan, blocking her path, and said emphatically, "As for the second request, it is that if one day I have the opportunity to become the ruler of the world, I hope that the sect behind you will support me."
Upon hearing this, even Ah Qiu, who was eavesdropping, felt a chill run down his spine.
Hulü Guang finally revealed his true ambition: to unify the world. His goal was not only to replace his elder brother Hulü Jin as the ruler of the North, but also to become the master of the entire world.
This is why he was willing to risk traveling alone to the south, in order to win over the hearts of the people of the Southern Dynasty.
This is why he was so determined to marry the daughter of the Shangguan family. Having an empress from the Shangguan clan was a symbol of a wise and benevolent ruler of the Han dynasty.
Zhongli Wuyan paused for a moment, her smile fading, and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness is indeed ambitious. But I wonder, how confident are you of achieving this goal?"
Hulü Guang said confidently, "In the Northern Qiang, my status is second only to my royal brother, and the Northern Qiang army will arrive at Jianzhang City within fifteen days at the latest. Tell me, how confident am I? This is why I am so anxious to get your support. On the one hand, it is for my own grand ambitions, and on the other hand, it is to reduce the innocent casualties of the Southern Dynasty."
At this point in the negotiations, Hulü Guang finally gained the upper hand for the first time. He then proposed that war between the two countries was imminent, leaving Zhongli Wuyan with no choice but to comply.
The saying goes, "Every man has a responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation." No matter which family or clan in the Southern Dynasty Zhongli Wuyan is backed by, they cannot turn a blind eye.
Zhongli Wuyan pondered and said, "No wonder you asked us to guarantee your safety in Jianzhang. It turns out that war between the two countries is imminent. I'm afraid the court will be furious and execute you, our envoy."
Hulü Guang exuded confidence, saying, "Even without your support, I have a way to save my life and leave. However, I have always admired the culture of the Southern Dynasty and want to do something for the innocent people of the Southern Dynasty. Therefore, even if the enemy is at the gates, I will try my best to mediate between the two countries and hope to achieve a peaceful outcome without bloodshed."
Zhongli Wuyan remained silent, clearly indicating that this matter was also beyond her expectations and not something she could decide alone.
Hulü Guang lowered his voice again and said, "The Northern Qiang have already amassed troops and marched south. This is a fact that no one can change. Even if you don't consider your own sect or family, you should consider the people of the Southern Dynasty."
Zhongli Wuyan finally laughed and said, "Does 'considering the people of the Southern Dynasty' mean that before the outcome of the great war is clear, I and the people behind me should surrender to you, Your Highness, and become traitors?"
Hulü Guang had anticipated this, and immediately said calmly, "Of course, I would not force anyone. However, if the day comes when I, Hulü Guang, am vying for the throne, I would like to ask you, young lady, and the Southern Dynasty martial arts world behind you, to choose me rather than my brother."
His words showed a complete disregard for the Southern Dynasty's royal family. He clearly believed that the future struggle for supremacy would only occur among the Khans of the Northern Qiang royal family, while the Southern Dynasty was merely a piece of meat waiting to be annexed.
Zhongli Wuyan said calmly, "Let's see on that day! May I leave now?"
Hulü Guang resumed his polite manner, saying solicitously, "Please, young lady. However, all of my men have been eliminated by your people, so my safety..."
Zhongli Wuyan said calmly, "If Your Highness only stays at the post station or other places you are supposed to go, we will guarantee your safety."
Upon hearing that Zhongli Wuyan had left, Night Owl angrily said, "Your Highness, that woman's accomplices so easily destroyed our Yan Yun Eight Riders, how can we let her leave so easily?"
Hulü Guang calmly said, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This shows how powerful her backing is. Our trip has been worthwhile. We are on her turf now, so it's not wise to turn against her directly. Besides, we still need her help."
As A Qiu listened, he gasped inwardly, for Hulü Guang did not care about the lives of his men at all, only focusing on greater profits.
Hulü Guang then asked, "Have you investigated the woman's identity and background?"
Night Owl suppressed his anger and said, "The only thing we can confirm right now is that this woman comes from the palace. But we don't have any people in the Southern Dynasty's palace, and it's not an easy place to enter or leave. We really can't investigate any further."
Hulü Guang pondered, "Among the experts in the Southern Dynasty palace, I only know of two generations of Flying Phoenix Guards. Could this woman be one of the Flying Phoenix Guards?"
Night Owl agreed, "Very likely."
A Qiu and Shangguan Yuqi were not surprised that they had completely guessed the wrong direction. This was because the Four Constellations of Tianji were figures from forty years ago, and their infiltration of the palace was a secret. Even in the Southern Dynasty's martial arts world, very few people knew about it, let alone the Northern Qiang people.
The room they were in was the most secretive place in the entire Narcissus Pavilion, a place from which the entire building's activities could be monitored. It was only after Shangguan Yuqi presented the Crown Prince's token that the owner personally escorted them in. No one else could enter easily.
At that moment, three knocks sounded on the door, steady and rhythmic.
A Qiu and Shangguan Yuqi exchanged glances, wondering who it was this time.
A Qiu immediately opened the door, only to see Rong Yuexian, wearing a bamboo hat, slip in sideways, followed by Zhongli Wuyan, the "purple-clad fairy" from before.
Before A Qiu could ask, Rong Yuexian said with a solemn expression, "Just now, while I was lying on the roof, I received an urgent message from the palace via carrier pigeon. The Northern Qiang army has already captured our three prefectures of Fancheng, Antai, and Ningguo, and will reach the Yangtze River soon. I need to return to the palace immediately to discuss matters."
Not only Ah Qiu, but even the usually composed Shangguan Yuqi changed her expression.
Normally, when dealing with military reports, the imperial court would only convene military commanders such as Grand Commander Sikong Zhao, Pei Yu, and Fan Liancheng for discussions, and would not easily alarm the eunuchs.
Even Rong Yuexian, the Grand Palace Eunuch, was summoned back to the palace immediately, which must have shaken the entire palace and required immediate arrangements to deal with the situation.
No wonder Rong Yuexian didn't have time to consider their old promise to never see each other again, and directly showed up to meet Zhongli Wuyan and brought her here.
Rong Yuexian, however, said to Shangguan Yuqi, "Chief Shangguan, please return to the palace immediately." She glanced at Aqiu, seemingly undecided, and after a moment said, "As for the Grand Master of Music, the court has other arrangements. Zhongli,"
Zhongli Wuyan immediately stepped forward, bowed, and replied, "Senior Sister."
Rong Yuexian said meaningfully, "Next, you accompany the Grand Music Master and stroll around Jianzhang Street. There's no need to rush. Chief Shangguan and I will go ahead first."
Before A Qiu could even think about what was strange about this arrangement, Shangguan Yuqi had already stepped out the door. Before leaving, she patted A Qiu's shoulder lightly and said, "Even if I'm busy lately, I will still try to find time to go home. I hope you can come with me then."
Ah Qiu remembered that Shangguan Yuqi had told her that she had seen the Frost Vine in the family's forbidden area, and she understood immediately, saying, "It is my duty."
Rong Yuexian glanced at her with a complicated expression, then led Shangguan Yuqi out the door.
Only Zhongli Wuyan, her face veiled by a heavy veil, remained outside the door, yet she smiled as usual and said, "Little Aqiu, would you like to take a walk with me on the street?"
Ah Qiu finally realized how strange this was. A major battle had already broken out, and three cities had been captured in quick succession, a seemingly unstoppable advance. Yet Zhongli Wuyan acted as if nothing had happened, wanting to take him for a walk. Compared to Rong Yuexian and Shangguan Yuqi's hurried pace, it seemed even more bizarre.
But for A Qiu, Zhongli Wuyan was not only a senior in the Music Bureau, but also the junior sister of An Gong, whom she respected the most. She would never suspect that Zhongli Wuyan had any intention of harming her, so she said, "Wherever Senior wishes to go, A Qiu will accompany you."
Seeing that she did not refuse, Zhongli Wuyan was clearly in a very good mood and said with a smile, "Let's order two dishes at this Narcissus Restaurant first, I will take them back to the palace later."
A Qiu finally realized that Zhongli Wuyan had deliberately kept her behind to pack two dishes, and she no longer needed to ask who these dishes were for.
Zhongli Wuyan walked leisurely with her hands behind her back, while A Qiu followed closely behind, carrying a food box, keeping a certain distance so as not to catch up with Zhongli Wuyan or fall behind.
Ah Qiu couldn't help but say, "We just left the Narcissus Pavilion, and we're already parading around like this. Won't Hulü Guang be watching us? I don't care, since Hulü Guang already knows who I am. What I'm worried about is that your identity will be exposed, senior."
Zhongli Wuyan said calmly, "Don't worry, Senior Sister has dealt with all his guards in no time. He wouldn't dare to stay here for even a moment longer. Senior Sister and I watched him leave quickly before we came up to find you."
A Qiu realized that after Zhongli Wuyan left, she immediately flew to the rooftop to monitor the situation from the opposite direction. Only after confirming that Huli Guang and his group had left did she come down to find them. A Qiu thought to herself that the Four Constellations of Tianji were indeed first-class hidden guards, and their actions were cautious, thorough, and without any mistakes.
A Qiu wanted to ask Zhong Li Wu Yan what Rong Yue Xian had said to her when they met, but felt it was inappropriate to ask too much.
As Rong Yuexian said, the four of them had made a pact to never see each other again, and Zhongli Wuyan was alone, representing the four of them, to keep the pact with Mo Yi Bishuang. After they met, they would surely have many feelings.
Zhongli Wuyan seemed oblivious, introducing the restaurants, eateries, and singing houses of the East Market as if they were her own treasures, and occasionally remarking that the scenery here seemed to have changed little over the past forty years.
Finally, she said listlessly, "If I hadn't entered the palace forty years ago, I would probably be living in this alley now, a wealthy old woman surrounded by her children and grandchildren."
Ah Qiu finally said, "Actually, senior doesn't need to pay any attention to that Huli Guang. In my opinion, he is not a successor of Lady Huachi."
Zhongli Wuyan smiled and said, "If we ignore him, how can we find out the current situation of the Northern Qiang, as well as his ambitions and plans?"
A Qiu asked in horror, "So, Senior Zhongli, you came prepared and never really trusted him in the first place?"
Zhongli Wuyan said calmly, "Although I have only dealt with Madam Huachi once, I can tell that hiding one's head and trying to test her in every way is not her style. In my impression, Madam Huachi is a strong and shrewd person. No matter whether she appears weak or not, she is actually a person who plans carefully before acting and has a tough style."
A Qiu had not expected that Zhongli Wuyan's evaluation of Mo Yi Bishuang would be so insightful.
Zhongli Wuyan continued, "But since this person has found out about our past with Madam Huachi, I must come and see for myself to prevent him from coming specifically to target the four of us. If that is indeed the case, even if we do not take this action, he will continue to test us. It would be better to devise a countermeasure as soon as possible."
Ah Qiu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Now, of course, you no longer have this worry, because it is obvious that Hulü Guang knows almost nothing about the person he is facing."
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