Chapter 271. Xue Qinghe and Xue Xing's Harmony.
Xue Qinghe was clearly persuaded by Tang San's words. He remained silent for a moment before saying, "You want me to be at peace with my uncle?"
"That's simple," Tang San said. "You seek the throne, and Prince Xue Xing seeks power. You only need to promise to grant Prince Xue Xing power after you ascend the throne, and the prince must promise to support you as the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Why choose me?" Xue Qinghe asked.
Tang San said, "Brother Xue, in my opinion, the future is unpredictable. The Heaven Dou Empire is like a ship tossed about in a storm. A ship needs a helmsman to navigate the seas. On calm seas, anyone can do it, but in stormy seas with towering waves, the helmsman's importance is paramount. In an era where the Spirit Hall is increasingly rampant, the Heaven Dou Empire needs a capable ruler, not a playboy who only knows how to eat, drink, and be merry."
"You flatter me too much," Xue Qinghe said with a wry smile.
Tang San firmly stated, "Brother Xue, I'm not flattering you; I'm just stating the facts."
"Alright, I agree to this, but I still need to discuss it with my teacher," Xue Qinghe said.
Hearing Xue Qinghe's words, Tang San breathed a sigh of relief. In Tang San's mind, Xue Qinghe was a qualified ruler—skilled in forbearance, resourceful, insightful, and wary of the Spirit Hall. Having confirmed that Xue Qinghe was not Qian Renxue, Tang San naturally wouldn't choose the former Xue Beng, who had tarnished his reputation and used it for personal pleasure. Of course, choosing Xue Qinghe presented a challenge: the conflict between uncle and nephew.
Tang San hoped that Xue Qinghe and Xue Xing could put aside their differences, reconcile, and unite against the Spirit Hall.
After leaving Tang San, Xue Qinghe told Ning Fengzhi about Tang San's thoughts. Ning Fengzhi, upon hearing this, asked, "Qinghe, what do you think?"
Xue Qinghe replied, "Teacher, as you said, the Spirit Hall is currently very powerful and has ambitions to conquer the world. If we, uncle and nephew, were to fight now, wouldn't that benefit the Spirit Hall? Therefore, I agree with Tang San's idea, but I don't know if my uncle agrees."
"Disciple, I'm very pleased that you think this way," Ning Fengzhi said. "Currently, the Spirit Hall is very powerful. We should all put aside our differences, unite as one, and work together to curb the Spirit Hall's ambition to conquer the world."
"Don't worry about the Prince's situation. I'll arrange it. I guarantee that you, uncle and nephew, will put aside your past prejudices and turn hostility into friendship," Ning Fengzhi said.
"Thank you, Teacher," Xue Qinghe said gratefully.
At the Prince's Mansion, Prince Xue Xing, Cao Cao, and Dugu Bo each received an invitation from Ning Fengzhi.
"Ya Xuan Pavilion invited the three of us, along with Xue Qinghe. Could there be a trap here?" Prince Xue Xing asked doubtfully.
Cao Cao stroked his beard and said, "Your Highness, you don't need to worry. If this were Xue Qinghe's group, we would be concerned, but Ning Fengzhi is not a concern."
"Oh, Your Majesty, what are your thoughts?" Prince Xue Xing asked.
"Sect Master Ning has always advocated uniting all forces to counterbalance the Spirit Hall. Now, the Spirit Hall is powerful, and his wife has become a slave to the Spirit Hall. Ning Fengzhi's intentions will only intensify. For Ning Fengzhi, he would prefer to see a united Heaven Dou Empire, not a divided one. It seems unlikely that Ning Fengzhi would set a trap to help his disciple against us. On the contrary, he might be trying to reconcile the two sides," Cao Cao said.
Prince Xuexing exclaimed, "Your Majesty, the God of War, truly possesses unique insights!"
Cao Cao said, "Furthermore, if Ning Fengzhi intended to plot against you, why would he invite me and His Majesty Dugu to accompany him?"
Prince Xuexing nodded.
At this moment, outside the Prince's residence, Xue Beng entered. Seeing Prince Xuexing's direction in the main hall, he quickly bowed and walked in another direction.
Prince Xuexing, with his sharp eyes, immediately called out to Xue Beng.
"Stop," Xue Beng said helplessly, halting his steps.
"Come here," Prince Xuexing said.
Xue Beng, steeling himself, approached the prince, sticking out his tongue, and said, "Uncle, what brings you here?"
Prince Xue Xing looked at Xue Beng's body, noticing several scratches on his neck and the faint scent of a woman emanating from him, and asked, "Going to play with women again?"
Xue Beng scratched the back of his head, saying playfully, "Uncle, isn't this what you've always told me to do? Pretend to be a playboy." He was still somewhat annoyed, annoyed with that woman. He and a few other playboys had stumbled upon a wedding ceremony on the streets of Tian Dou City. The playboys conspired to steal the bride and cuckold the groom, but the bride resisted fiercely and scratched Xue Beng.
In a fit of rage, Xue Beng and his entourage killed the bride after they finished their business. He returned home with a gloomy expression, only to be caught red-handed by his uncle. "
It's all that damned bride's fault! Couldn't you have cooperated a little? Now I'm going to get a scolding from my uncle again," Xue Beng cursed inwardly.
"Pretending to be a playboy? I think you're a real playboy! Have you finished the studies I asked you to complete? All you do all day is play, what about your studies?" Prince Xuexing said angrily. Xue Beng said, "Uncle, you told me to pretend to be a playboy during the day, and I did. But after that, you told me to study by lamplight at night. Don't I even have time to sleep all day long?"
"Hmph, I didn't tell you not to sleep. Can't you find some time out of your busy schedule?"
Prince Xuexing scolded Xue Beng for a long time before letting him leave.
Watching Xue Beng's departing figure, the prince's eyes showed some disappointment.
He wanted an obedient puppet to control the court in the future, that's true, but is an obedient puppet really good?
Look at Xue Beng now, every single thing he does, his uncle has to clean up his messes.
Is it really a good thing for the Tiandou Empire to put such a guy on the throne?
Xue Xing had to admit that Xue Qinghe was undoubtedly the most suitable person to become the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, especially now that the Spirit Hall was becoming increasingly powerful. His existence was like a stabilizing force for the Heaven Dou Empire; the hearts and minds of the people, its prestige, all rested on this wise crown prince. Compared to Xue Qinghe, Xue Beng was nothing but a pile of dog shit—utterly useless.
For the future of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe was the most suitable person to become its emperor. But could a powerful ruler like him tolerate a prince with such overwhelming power?
Thinking of the Spirit Hall's immense strength, Prince Xue Xing was torn between his own power and the future of the Heaven Dou Empire, his face filled with conflict.
"Your Highness seems conflicted. I think the answer you seek will be at this banquet," Cao Cao said.
"Alright, I will attend," Xue Xing replied.
A few days later, at Yaxuan Pavilion.
Ning Fengzhi stood in the middle, Xue Qinghe stood on one side, and Prince Xue Xing, Cao Cao, and Dugu Bo stood on the other side.
"It is an honor for me, Ning Fengzhi, to invite you all to my table."
"Gentlemen, on one side is His Highness the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, and on the other are Prince Xue Xing and two Title Douluo. Peace brings mutual benefit, while conflict brings mutual harm. Everyone understands this principle, so I, Ning Fengzhi, will not elaborate."
"However, there is one point I must emphasize: the Spirit Hall's power has expanded significantly, becoming a threat to all forces on the continent. Qian Xunji harbors ambitions to conquer the world; he is a tyrant. Even if neither side wants peace, they cannot court death. Court death is detrimental to everyone."
"In my view, to prevent the entire Douluo Continent from falling under the Spirit Hall's corrupt rule, our hostility towards the Spirit Hall should outweigh the differences between the various factions. We should all put aside our differences, join forces, and unite to fight against the Spirit Hall."
Having said this, Ning Fengzhi gestured for both sides to take their seats, and Xue Qinghe and Prince Xue Xing took their seats.
Prince Xuexing was momentarily speechless at the sight of the Crown Prince, whom he had been battling for over a decade.
Xue Qinghe cut to the chase, saying, "Uncle, I know you've been gathering evidence all these years of evidence that I murdered Xue Luochuan and Xue Haicang, right?"
Prince Xuexing nodded.
Xue Qinghe continued, "Then I can tell you, Xue Luochuan and Xue Haicang were both murdered by me. They were my strongest competitive advantage in my quest for the throne, so..."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes twitched slightly; he hadn't expected Xue Qinghe to lay it all out so openly.
Upon hearing Xue Qinghe's confession, Prince Xuexing asked, "Even though I know, it still pains me. They are your brothers."
"Uncle," Xue Qinghe replied, "political struggles are a matter of life and death, the victor takes all. Xue Luochuan, Xue Haicang, and I all want the throne of the Heavenly Dou Empire. If I don't kill them, they will come to kill me." He continued, "The reason I'm still sitting here is because I am the victor."
Prince Xuexing nodded. This matter shouldn't have been his concern; after all, the transfer of power within the royal family is cruel and ruthless.
"Why are you telling me this? Aren't you afraid I'll tell your father?" Prince Xuexing asked.
Xue Qinghe shook his head and said, "Don't worry, this is the sincerity I brought you today. You can record what I say and send it to my father, or you can choose not to."
"Why am I telling you, Uncle? Qinghe believes we can't continue fighting like this," Xue Qinghe said. "The Spirit Hall's sword has long been pointed at our Heaven Dou Empire. If we continue fighting, neither of us will be the victor. There can only be one victor, and that is the Spirit Hall."
"Therefore, I asked my teacher to arrange this meeting, hoping that we can reconcile."
"Reconcile?" Prince Xue Xing was somewhat tempted and asked, "Qinghe, how do you plan to reconcile?"
"Uncle, it's clear that the Spirit Hall's strength is immense. Time is running out for our Heaven Dou Empire. I need your assistance," Xue Qinghe said.
Having said that, Xue Xing understood Xue Qinghe's meaning. He stood up and said, "Crown Prince, you are more suitable than Xue Beng to steer the empire. I will wholeheartedly assist you in fighting against the threat of the Spirit Hall."
Thus, under Ning Fengzhi's mediation, the uncle and nephew reconciled. Now, the two opposing forces within the Heaven Dou Empire were united. In a brothel in the Heaven
Dou Empire, Xue Beng and several playboy were listening to music with their companions.
One of the playboy asked, "Your Highness, I heard the Prince has become increasingly strict with you lately."
Xue Beng replied, "Yes, he made me study those classic works more. I felt sleepy after flipping through two pages. Compared to those, it's much more enjoyable to come out and have some fun. Anyway, I don't have any ambition for the throne. I'll just enjoy each day as it comes."
As he said this, a glint of light flashed in Xue Beng's eyes.
He wanted to be emperor. This was the only thought he had hidden when he was a playboy.
Xue Beng was confident that with his uncle, the Imperial Uncle, as his backer, and the support of two Title Douluos, as long as his uncle, Prince Xue Xing, found evidence that Xue Qinghe had murdered his two brothers, the throne of the Heaven Dou Empire would be his for the taking.
He could do whatever he wanted as a prince; once he became emperor, wouldn't no one be able to control him?
Xue Beng was already fantasizing about his first time as emperor. He would definitely hold a grand selection of concubines, filling his harem with the most beautiful women in the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong…
Many named and beautiful Soul Masters from the Soul Master Competition flashed through Xue Beng's mind.
It has to be said that the more women he played with, the more refined his taste became. At first, Xue Beng only frequented brothels to play with prostitutes, but after getting tired of that, he started looking for respectable women. Now, he was almost tired of respectable women too, and he wanted to change things up. He would get at least a few dozen of those Soul Master noblewomen, whom he had never dared to imagine before, to fill his harem.
To be drunk on a beauty's lap and awake to wield power over the world—what a blissful existence!
Poor Xue Beng, he still hasn't realized he's been abandoned by his uncle.
Xue Xing and Xue Qinghe secretly reached an agreement, with Tang San playing a crucial role in the middle. However, stabilizing the Heaven Dou Empire's internal affairs wasn't enough.
Tang San considered the numerous duchies and kingdoms within the Heaven Dou Empire that might side with the Spirit Hall in future wars. He decided to find an opportunity to eliminate these forces prematurely, preventing the Spirit Hall from interfering.
Therefore, Xue Qinghe's swift ascension to the throne was crucial for Tang San.
Tang San observed Emperor Xue Ye extensively; his health was still relatively robust, showing no signs of poisoning. Without Qian Renxue's secret poisoning, this old man could still control the country for decades.
But Tang San couldn't wait any longer. The Heaven Dou Empire needed a young, powerful ruler to unify the internal affairs, purge dissidents, and prepare for the potential continental war instigated by the Spirit Hall.
With this in mind, Tang San made a decision.
"Great Emperor Xueye, since there's no one like Qian Renxue to send you to your early demise, then for the sake of Douluo Continent's future, to have more time to deal with the Spirit Hall, and to prevent Douluo Continent from falling into the corrupt rule of Qian Renxue, Tang San has no choice but to—"
"I'm sorry!"
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(End of Chapter)