Yuwen Tuo was somewhat stunned after hearing Meng Hongchen's words.
He asked the Spirits of the Ice and Snow Emperors within him, "Two sisters, is what Meng Hongchen speaking the language of Douluo Continent? Why can't I understand a single word?"
"I don't know, maybe it's a local dialect of the Sun-Moon Continent?" Xue Di replied.
Bing Di, however, had a flash of insight. "Wait, Xiao Tuo, this little girl, she doesn't think you're contending for the throne, does she?"
"Contending for the throne?" Yuwen Tuo exclaimed. "Did I do anything to make her misunderstand? Who would contend for the throne by neither being close to the Emperor nor openly scolding the Crown Prince every day? Aren't all my actions clearly meant to intentionally cause trouble?"
His purpose in coming to the Sun-Moon Empire, aside from achieving his own goals and investigating the Evil Soul Masters who destroyed his village, was to first help Emperor Xue Xin of the Heaven Dou Empire disrupt the Sun-Moon Empire's imperial court.
"No, from your own perspective, you are indeed causing trouble, but from others' perspectives, it is indeed an unconventional method of contending for the throne," Xue Di also realized. After all, the Ice and Snow Emperors were originally kings of the Far North.
"Xiao Tuo, I can see that the Sun-Moon Emperor is seriously ill and won't live much longer, with only a few years left at most. If he were in his prime, enduring and waiting for the right moment would indeed be the best plan.
But now, if you want to seize the great position, you cannot wait any longer. You must take drastic measures, strike hard, and establish yourself firmly in the court. Your previous series of actions probably inadvertently made people think this way."
"So that's it. If the Emperor also thinks that way, then perhaps I've unintentionally entered the list of succession contenders," Yuwen Tuo pondered.
"Then, Xiao Tuo, what do you think?" Bing Di asked. "According to your current situation, you have two choices. The best choice is to go with the flow. Since they believe you are contending for the throne, why not make a mistake a success?
First seize the imperial position, use the power of the Sun-Moon Empire to destroy the Holy Spirit Cult, and once the dust settles, you can hand the Sun-Moon Empire over to your senior sister. This way, you can achieve your goal without bloodshed, then retire successfully and wholeheartedly strive to become a god!"
"The second choice is to explain clearly to this little Meng girl, and genuinely befriend her, without deception."
Xue Di said, "Xiao Tuo, no matter which you choose, Bing'er and I will support you. The first method offers the greatest benefits, but…"
Xue Di trailed off. She admitted the superiority of the first method, and if Yuwen Tuo chose it, she would have no objections. But if he chose the second, she would be even more pleased.
She didn't want the person she chose to be someone who would stoop to any means for profit. After all, Meng Hongchen had no grudge against him and shouldn't be deceived into pouring out her maidenly heart.
The plan offered by Bing Di made Yuwen Tuo hesitate. Indeed, this should be the best method.
However, it didn't align with Yuwen Tuo's personality.
He walked up to Meng Hongchen and said, "Xiao Meng, whether you believe it or not, I have not the slightest interest in this imperial position. Therefore, if you wish to help me contend for the throne, or even bring Mingdetang to help me, you should give up as soon as possible."
He decisively chose to abandon it. Indeed, Bing Di's method was effective.
But for him to first deceive a large group of people, such as Meng Hongchen and the others, to help him achieve the throne, and then, when they expected him to become their loyal subject after the Dragon's ascent…
He would then hand over all their efforts to Weina. How could he face those who had genuinely helped and protected him throughout his struggle for the throne? What position would that leave them in?
After the Sun-Moon Empire was handed over to the Heaven Dou Empire, how would Meng Hongchen and her group cope? How would they view themselves for having personally supported an emperor who betrayed their country? At that time, they might even feel like committing suicide to atone.
And even if they chose to cling to life, in such a situation, could Weina truly tolerate them, these unstable elements?
Perhaps while he was here, she could, but what about after he left, or for Weina's next generation?
Yet, for Yuwen Tuo to actually become Emperor was also impossible.
Firstly, he had no interest in it; he only wanted to become a god, then surpass god, until he surpassed the limits of this world and broke through the planar restrictions. Secondly, in his heart, in this life, he had always been a Heaven Dou Empire citizen from beginning to end. How could he possibly become the Emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire?
Meng Hongchen and the others wouldn't become traitors, so why should Yuwen Tuo?
Rather than that, it would be better not to let them help him from the start. He would take down the Sun-Moon Empire, but not by resorting to despicable methods like deceiving Meng Hongchen's feelings, letting them help him seize the throne, and then betraying them.
Although it's said that in battle, deception is not frowned upon, outside of battle, unless facing deep-seated hatred, one should be straightforward with innocent people like Meng Hongchen.
Yuwen Tuo also knew that this kind of thinking of his meant he was destined not to become a ruler, as since ancient times, how many who ascended to power were clean? But that was simple; if he couldn't become one, then so be it.
"You don't want to contend for the throne?" Meng Hongchen was surprised. She had always thought Yuwen Tuo's goal was directly aimed at the top position, but listening to his tone now, it didn't seem like a joke.
"Then what's your reason for constantly targeting the Crown Prince?"
Without any reason, why would Yuwen Tuo do such a thing? Was he truly hating the Crown Prince just because the Crown Prince found him too late, causing him to endure years of hardship?
Meng Hongchen didn't know what Xu Tianran had done. Yuwen Tuo's village was massacred because of him; he would never forgive that, no matter what.
"That's my business, Xiao Meng. If you simply want to be my friend, I, Yuwen Tuo, welcome you anytime. But if you're approaching me because you want to help me contend for the throne, I still want to tell you, give up.
The more you help me now, the greater your disappointment will be in the future." Yuwen Tuo shook his head, picked up his luggage, walked out of the room, and left Mingdetang.
Meng Hongchen stood quietly alone in Yuwen Tuo's room, completely lost in confusion.
After leaving Mingdetang, Yuwen Tuo didn't go directly to the Prince Yan's Residence. Instead, he came to the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. He was here to find someone.
Since he already had the authority to execute Evil Soul Masters first and report later, he naturally had to put it to use.
The Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, as the Sun-Moon Empire's foremost academy, although not as large as Shrek Academy, its technological feel was second only to Mingdetang.
Compared to this place, Shrek Academy's soul devices seemed to be just getting started.
One was still an old-fashioned tiered classroom, while the other was already a modernized academy.
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Yan!"
Yuwen Tuo had been extremely high-profile during this period, and many people knew him. His coming to the academy was not surprising to either students or teachers.
Because they had heard that the Emperor had always wanted Yuwen Tuo to enroll here, so that in the future, he could represent the academy and participate in the Continental Soul Master Academy Dueling Tournament more than three years later.
Although the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was famous throughout the continent, in everyone's hearts, it could only rank second. After all, they had been suppressed by Shrek Academy for thousands of years.
If this amazingly powerful Prince Yan, who had already dealt with two Titled Douluo, joined, next time, they would certainly be able to change history.
Yuwen Tuo casually stopped a young man and asked, "Classmate, do you know a girl named Nana? She should be in the practical control soul engineer class."
"So, Your Highness is looking for Senior Sister Nana. She should be testing new soul devices at the soul device testing ground now. I'll take you there," the young man said.
It seemed Nana was quite a popular figure in the academy; one only needed to ask to know.
This was also an opportunity to curry favor with the prince, which most people wouldn't miss.
However, the young man was still a little puzzled. Was Prince Yan very familiar with Senior Sister Nana? He had only recently returned to the Sun-Moon Empire, and this was probably his first time coming to the academy.
Could it be that he had taken a liking to Senior Sister Nana?
Although Senior Sister Nana was very talented, in terms of looks, she wasn't an absolute beauty, definitely not comparable to the campus belle Meng Hongchen. With Prince Yan's status, what kind of beauty couldn't he have? Why bother looking for Nana?
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