Xuanming and Qianqian looked enlightened upon hearing this. Xuanlou simply smiled and nodded, saying, "We will do our best."
Shen Qianmo smiled helplessly. She was the Palace Master of the Demon Palace, and now the leader of the martial arts alliance. Did Situ Jingyan really see her as a weak woman needing protection?! However, she also understood that Situ Jingyan's worries and anxieties all stemmed from his love for her and his concern for her. Thinking of this, a sweet smile returned to her lips.
"Woman, once this matter is over, obediently come home with me!" Situ Jingyan then looked at Shen Qianmo, a wicked and domineering smile spreading across his lips.
He didn't gently call her Mo'er, but "woman." This was a declaration of his ownership of her, and also a declaration of his domineering love for her. "Woman, obediently come home with me." This was a domineering yet tender expression of his affection. "Jingyan, I will obediently return to Tianmo, carrying Qi Yue and the jade seal of Li Kingdom, to become the Empress of Tianmo. So, you must wait for my return."
"Alright, son-in-law, we can't listen to you keep going like this." Qianqian looked at Situ Jingyan and Shen Qianmo with a jealous expression.
Xuanming glanced at Situ Jingyan and Shen Qianmo, then at his elder brother who was smiling gently. He scratched his head. Why could his brother smile so gently at a time like this? His brother clearly liked Sister Qianmo. Didn't his brother feel any pain?
Xuan Lou watched Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan clinging tightly to each other, then quietly left the scene. The gentle smile on his lips turned bitter the moment he turned away. How could he not feel any pain? Loving you so much, how could he not feel any sadness? But what good was sadness? In this life, he was already too late. She already had the man she loved most, and there was no room for him anymore. So, perhaps it was better to be friends.
Since it's destined to be fruitless, it's better to bury it deep in his heart. At least, they're still friends, aren't they? At least he still has the right to stand by her side and protect her, doesn't he? Perhaps, this is the best outcome, because he has his responsibilities. He can't love Shen Qianmo like Situ Jingyan, who could give up everything for her. Yes, he had long seen that for Situ Jingyan, the world probably couldn't compare to Shen Qianmo. It's just that this stubborn, silly girl, Shen Qianmo, still foolishly wants to fight for him.
In the dead of night, two figures in white robes stood gracefully in the Seven Wonders Manor, one in front of the other, bathed in the bright moonlight, like jade statues edged by the moonlight.
After a long silence, Xuan Lou looked at Shen Qianmo's somewhat aloof back and asked, "Are you going to attack the Li Kingdom?"
Without turning back, and without the slightest emotional fluctuation, Shen Qianmo simply uttered two crisp words: "Not bad."
She risked so much to compete for the title of leader of the martial arts alliance, wasn't it just to use the power of the martial arts world, wasn't it just to seize the Xuan Tie Token, wasn't it just to conquer the Li Kingdom?
“The Li Kingdom has grown stronger in recent years and should not be underestimated. Moreover, the Li Kingdom has recently produced a brave and skilled general. It will probably not be easy to attack the Li Kingdom with the help of the martial arts world.” Xuan Lou frowned slightly. He had always known Shen Qianmo’s thoughts.
However, the Li Kingdom is a relatively powerful country, and it is not something that can be attacked so easily. Even Linwei and Tianmo would have to be fully prepared to attack the Li Kingdom, and it would probably be impossible to do so without paying a price.
Hearing Xuan Lou's words, Shen Qianmo withdrew her gaze from the distance, her eyes clouded with a misty haze. That distant direction was Tianmo, where her Jingyan was. She didn't want to leave Situ Jingyan, nor was she unwilling to be a little woman protected by him; it was simply that she had her pride, and she didn't want to become a burden to him.
A meaningful smile played at the corners of her lips as Shen Qianmo turned to look at Xuan Lou, her dark eyes sparkling as if they held boundless wisdom. "To destroy a country, one doesn't necessarily need military force. How did Qi Yue compare to Li Kingdom back then? Destroying it was just a matter of a moment."
"You mean to undermine the internal affairs of the Li Kingdom? Then what is your purpose in wanting the power of the martial arts world? And what is your purpose in wanting the Xuan Tie Token?" Xuan Lou's eyes showed a hint of doubt after hearing Shen Qianmo's words. He had always thought that he understood Shen Qianmo's thoughts very well, but today he realized that Shen Qianmo might be more intelligent and far-sighted than he had imagined.
A faint smile played on Shen Qianmo's lips. Light bathed her, making her appear noble and ethereal, radiating an extremely captivating charm. Xuan Lou was mesmerized, but Shen Qianmo remained oblivious, speaking with a blend of gentleness and arrogance, "The Xuan Iron Token will also be part of my dowry."
Upon hearing Shen Qianmo's words, a hint of understanding appeared in Xuan Lou's eyes. So, the purpose of obtaining the Xuan Iron Token wasn't to forge weapons for martial artists, but rather to use an armory as another bargaining chip to persuade the officials of Tianmo. Shen Qianmo had certainly put in a lot of effort to become someone who could rival Situ Jingyan in his ambitions.
As for the Li Kingdom, its internal affairs will inevitably collapse, leading to a coup and control of the capital. In such matters, quality is more important than quantity. Choosing martial arts masters with high skills and no ties to other countries is the best option.
"Does Xuanlou know that the King of Li Kingdom is terminally ill?" A sly glint appeared in Shen Qianmo's eyes, and a confident smile spread across his lips.
Xuan Lou pursed his lips, a hint of understanding appearing in his eyes. A gentle smile appeared on his lips, but his eyes held a calculating glint as he said, "With the death of the King of Li, Li will surely descend into chaos."
"I've heard that King Li has three sons. The Crown Prince of Li is cruel and unpopular, but his power in court is stable due to the strength of his maternal lineage. The Third Prince of Li is gentle and refined, and popular with the people, but he also lacks the support of the court officials. As for the Seventh Prince of Li, he is a playboy who spends his days indulging in pleasure and is the least noticeable." Shen Qianmo nodded at Xuan Lou, confirming his opinion, and a profound smile appeared on her lips as she slowly recounted the internal affairs of Li.
Xuan Lou didn't answer, only silently watching Shen Qianmo. He knew nothing about court affairs. Born into the martial world, he was quite knowledgeable about its affairs, but he thought Shen Qianmo should know far more about court intrigues than he did. All he had to do was help her.
Seeing that Xuan Lou was merely listening intently, Shen Qianmo understood that Xuan Lou was unaware of court affairs, so she continued, "However, this is only on the surface. The gentle and refined Third Prince is actually ruthless and cunning, and has long coveted the position of Crown Prince. The carefree Seventh Prince is actually exceptionally intelligent and bides his time. In my opinion, even with the support of powerful ministers, the Crown Prince may not be able to secure his position."
"Then who do you want to help?" Xuan Lou was shrewd enough to know that Shen Qianmo had already said so much, so it was clear that she wanted to interfere in the internal affairs of the Li Kingdom. These princes each had their strengths and weaknesses, and Shen Qianmo naturally wanted to help one of them in order to disrupt the internal politics.
"As for me, I naturally stand on the side of the majority of court officials." Shen Qianmo smiled meaningfully, looking like a cunning and lazy fox, and said lightly.
Although the Third Prince and the Seventh Prince may seem less powerful than the Crown Prince, their hidden influence is actually quite extensive and their strength is astounding. The Seventh Prince, in particular, is a truly unassuming individual who has cultivated a considerable amount of power behind the scenes. As for the Third Prince, he has countless connections with Linwei, and there is absolutely no way he can be allowed to ascend to the throne.
If the Third Prince ascends the throne, Li Kingdom and Linwei will inevitably align themselves, making it even more difficult to attack Li Kingdom again. Although Li Kingdom is not particularly powerful, Tianmo and Linwei are evenly matched, and whichever side Li Kingdom sides with will have a decisive advantage. Therefore, the Third Prince must not be allowed to ascend the throne.
As for the Seventh Prince, he is too intelligent and has been biding his time for so long. If he were to ascend the throne, the Li Kingdom would likely become even stronger, and might even threaten the power of Tianmo and Linwei, becoming another Qi Yue. Although this would achieve a balance of power among the three kingdoms, it would not suit Shen Qianmo's wishes.
Therefore, the best choice is the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is tyrannical, lacks cunning, and is arrogant. If he ascends the throne and becomes emperor, he will inevitably rebel against his mother's control. His mother is also an ambitious woman. In this way, with two tigers fighting, the destruction of the Li Kingdom will not be far away.
"When will we set off for Li Kingdom?" Xuan Lou did not ask Shen Qianmo why she made such a decision, as he believed that Shen Qianmo had her own reasons.
"Tomorrow. The longer the King of Li lives, the greater the changes in Li's internal affairs will be." A cold glint flashed in Shen Qianmo's eyes. The King of Li was doomed to die.
Only when he dies will the internal affairs of the Li Kingdom truly descend into chaos. Moreover, he must die as soon as possible, because his sons are no ordinary men. If the matter drags on, and the Third Prince or the Seventh Prince is fully prepared, it will be too late.
“Okay. I’ll go prepare.” Xuan Lou replied readily, then looked at Shen Qianmo and said calmly, “Get some rest.”
But in his soft tone lay suppressed concern and tenderness. He preferred not to reveal it, preferred to suppress all those feelings. Simply because that woman didn't belong to him. Every inch of that woman's heart belonged to another man. Everything she did was for another man.
Shen Qianmo frowned slightly. She could easily detect the suppressed concern in Xuan Lou's voice. However, she chose not to try to understand what it meant.
The following morning, Xuanlou and Shen Qianmo headed towards the Li Kingdom. Qianqian and Xuanming, on the other hand, remained at the Seven Absolutes Manor. After all, this trip to the Li Kingdom required extreme caution, and Qianqian and Xuanming's personalities were simply not suited for it.
"Brother Lou."
"Brother Chi."
Shen Qianmo and Xuan Lou exchanged a smile and bowed to each other.
Shen Qianmo was dressed in a light blue brocade robe, cinched with a white jade belt, and holding a folding fan in his hand, looking every bit the elegant young gentleman. A smile played on his lips, and he appeared incomparably refined.
Xuan Lou, however, remained dressed in a simple white robe, devoid of any adornment, giving him an ethereal air. His light-colored eyes were still veiled with a faint mist, and the smile on his lips remained as gentle and captivating as ever.
However, neither of them possessed their original stunning beauty; instead, they had undergone disguise to achieve ordinary appearances. Yet, even with their ordinary looks, their unparalleled elegance remained undeniable.
The unadorned carriage sped towards the Kingdom of Le.
It took only one day to enter the capital of Li Kingdom. Li Kingdom and Linwei border each other, and it is not far from Qijue Mountain Villa to Li Kingdom. In addition, Li Kingdom itself is not large, so it only took one day to travel from the border of Li Kingdom to the capital.
The capital of Li Kingdom was not very prosperous, possessing a rugged, exotic air. The clothing of the common people was also quite different from that of the people of Tianmo.
Shen Qianmo simply pulled back the curtain of the carriage and casually glanced outside. She knew that the people of Li Kingdom were open-minded, so she was not surprised by the women's attire on the street.
The carriage suddenly stopped, and Shen Qianmo frowned slightly. The driver was a guard from the Seven Absolutes Manor, and his driving skills were first-rate. They had been traveling at breakneck speed all day without a moment's rest. Why did they suddenly stop in the capital of Li Kingdom? Someone must be blocking the way.
"How dare you! Do you know whose carriage this is?! How dare you block my way?!" A furious roar came from outside the carriage.