SWDnovel Chapter 115 Alliance Successful! 3 Conditions!
Chapter 115 Alliance Successful! 3 Conditions!
"First, the war in the northern border has become increasingly intense recently. Tuoba Lie, the Left Wise King of the Northern Barbarians, has personally led 200,000 iron cavalry to press on the border, with his army pointing directly at Yanmen Pass. The Crown Prince has already personally led 50,000 elite troops to reinforce the border, but the Northern Barbarians' attack this time is fierce and may not be an ordinary raid."
She paused, observing Zhao Qingxue's expression.
But Zhao Qingxue's expression remained unchanged; she simply listened quietly.
Liu Hongyan continued:
"The Crown Prince is worried that if the Northern Barbarians launch a full-scale attack, the northern border defenses may be lost. Therefore... he wishes to request Your Majesty's assistance."
Zhao Qingxue raised an eyebrow:
"Oh? How can I help?"
"The Crown Prince hopes that Your Majesty can deploy troops on the border of Northern Mang, either as a feigned attack or to exert pressure, to restrain the garrison in the eastern part of Northern Mang and divert the attention of the Northern Mang court."
Liu Hongyan lowered her voice slightly:
"In this way, the Northern Mang court will be unable to fully support the northern border, and the pressure on the Crown Prince to deal with the Northern Mang will be much less."
Zhao Qingxue listened quietly, her fingers tapping lightly on the desk, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.
After a long silence, she finally spoke:
"And the second thing?"
Liu Hongyan's heart tightened.
She knew that the first thing was just a prelude, and the second thing was the real focus.
That was also... Xu Longxiang's true purpose.
"The second thing..."
Liu Hongyan gritted her teeth and finally said it:
"The Crown Prince wishes to form an alliance with His Majesty."
The atmosphere in the study suddenly froze.
The candlelight seemed to dim a bit.
Zhao Qingxue stopped tapping her fingers on the table.
Zhao Qingxue slowly raised her eyes, her deep purple phoenix eyes shimmering with unfathomable light in the candlelight.
The faint smile on her lips didn't deepen; instead, it revealed a knowing and playful air.
"Finally figured it out?"
She repeated Liu Hongyan's words, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, "Xu Longxiang... has he really only just realized this now?"
Liu Hongyan's heart tightened, but she dared not show it on her face, maintaining her respectful demeanor.
"Your Majesty is wise. The Crown Prince did indeed hesitate before. After all, the Xu family has been favored by the Emperor of Qin for generations, and to suddenly betray them might damage the Crown Prince's reputation and the hearts of the people in the army. But now..."
She paused, her voice low but each word clear, carrying a deliberately crafted sorrow and resolve:
"But the actions of Emperor Qin Mu of the Great Qin Dynasty today cannot be described simply as incompetence; he has become so debauched and immoral that it is utterly outrageous!"
As Liu Hongyan finished speaking, two flames of anger ignited in her eyes.
Her beautiful face flushed slightly with excitement, adding to her lifelike and infectious charm.
"There are already complaints in the army! Our soldiers shed their blood to defend the border and protect our country. How can such a king be worthy of the loyalty and blood of my northern men?!"
She leaned forward slightly, as if to pour out all the pent-up resentment in her heart:
"The Crown Prince often says that a general should protect the country and its people. But now, the ruler is unrighteous, the court is in chaos, and the people are suffering."
The Western Liang invaded the border, and the Northern Mang pressed in, yet the imperial court only knew how to indulge in extravagance and pleasure, turning a blind eye to the urgent reports from the frontier! The Crown Prince, stationed at the northern border, was heartbroken whenever he thought of the sacrifices of his soldiers and the incompetence of the court back home!
Liu Hongyan took a deep breath, her gaze fixed intently on Zhao Qingxue, her tone becoming extremely solemn:
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is not a man who covets power. All he seeks is to restore order to the world, to give an explanation to the soldiers who fought and bled on the frontier, and to bring peace to the people of the land!"
And looking across the entire land, there is no enlightened ruler who can end this chaotic era and usher in true peace…
She paused for a moment, then spoke slowly and deliberately, her voice soft yet carrying immense weight:
"No one but His Majesty is suitable."
The study fell silent.
The only sounds were the occasional crackling of candlelight and the faint rustling of armor as palace guards changed shifts on the far side of the window.
Zhao Qingxue listened quietly, her face still showing little expression.
After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice still cold and calm, revealing no emotion:
"Miss Liu is quite eloquent; you must have rehearsed your speech many times before coming here, right?"
Liu Hongyan was startled and quickly lowered her head: "What I have said comes from the bottom of my heart, without the slightest falsehood! It is what the young master thinks, and what many soldiers in the Northern Army hope for!"
"From the bottom of my heart?"
Zhao Qingxue smiled softly, a soft laugh that carried a power that penetrated the heart.
"I'm afraid it's more of a 'heartfelt statement' after weighing the pros and cons."
She raised her eyes, her gaze landing squarely on Liu Hongyan's face:
"If Xu Longxiang is truly as selfless as you claim, why didn't he speak up when Qin Mu first showed his incompetence?"
Liu Hongyan opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but Zhao Qingxue raised her hand to stop her.
You don't need to answer.
Zhao Qingxue said calmly, "I already have the answer in my heart. Xu Longxiang has been patient until now simply because he felt the time was not right, or... the price was too high."
She paused, the mocking smile on her lips deepening.
"What a fine 'heartbroken and indignant' statement, what a fine 'for the soldiers and for the people' statement. Miss Liu, you can go back and tell Xu Longxiang that this rhetoric might be enough to win over the army and incite public opinion, but in front of me..."
Zhao Qingxue leaned forward slightly, the candlelight casting a soft, half-lit glow on her exquisite face. Deep within her deep purple phoenix eyes, it seemed as if a cold vortex was swirling.
"There's no need to perform anymore."
Liu Hongyan's face paled instantly.
She felt as if she had been completely seen through; all her careful preparations and performances seemed so clumsy and laughable in front of the empress.
A chill rose from the soles of my feet and instantly spread throughout my body.
But she was, after all, a staff member carefully selected by Xu Longxiang, and her willpower was far stronger than that of ordinary people.
She forced herself to calm down, took a deep breath, and when she looked up again, her eyes had regained their composure, even carrying a hint of desperate resolve:
"Your Majesty's insight is truly remarkable, and I admire you greatly. Indeed, the Crown Prince has his own selfish motives and schemes. But in this struggle for power, who is without selfish motives? Who doesn't scheme? When Your Majesty ascended the throne and purged the Eight Princes, was it entirely out of public interest, without any political maneuvering?"
This was extremely bold, almost a direct confrontation.
After Liu Hongyan finished speaking, she felt uneasy and stared intently at Zhao Qingxue's reaction.
Zhao Qingxue was not angry; instead, she smiled.
This time, the smile contained less mockery and more genuine, playful appreciation.
"Interesting." She clapped her hands lightly. "Xu Longxiang's subordinates are indeed capable. At least, they dare to speak the truth in front of me."
She leaned back in her chair, her posture regaining its usual composure.
"You're right. To vie for the throne is the ultimate selfishness and scheming. I don't mind that Xu Longxiang has selfish motives, nor do I mind that he schemes against me. I only care about what these selfish motives and scheming will ultimately bring, and what I will have to pay for them."
Liu Hongyan felt a slight sense of relief, knowing that the most crucial moment had arrived. She stopped beating around the bush and said directly:
"What the Crown Prince seeks is a promise, and also a transaction."
"explain."
"If Your Majesty is willing to station troops on the border of Northern Mang to contain the Crown Prince and help him stabilize the situation in the north, and at the appropriate time, make a feigned attack by crossing the Lancang River on the east bank to attract the attention of the Qin's eastern border garrison..."
Liu Hongyan's voice was extremely low, yet every word was clear and forceful:
"The Crown Prince promises that when the time is right, he will lead his troops south and seize the imperial city! After the victory, he wishes to divide the Central Plains equally with His Majesty, with the Lancang River as the border! From then on, our two nations will forever be brotherly states, never invading each other and jointly defending against foreign enemies!"
"To divide the Central Continent equally..." Zhao Qingxue slowly repeated these four words, a thoughtful glint in her eyes.
The Central Plains are rich and prosperous, which is the foundation of the Great Qin.
If they could acquire half of it, along with Li Yang's existing territory in the Eastern Continent, Li Yang would instantly become the undisputed strongest nation in the Nine Provinces.
The temptation is undeniably great.
but……
"Is Xu Longxiang's promise worth the price?"
Zhao Qingxue asked calmly, "As far as I know, Emperor Qin Mu of the Great Qin seems to be hiding a formidable power around him. On Qinglan Mountain, the method of remotely controlling disciples to defeat Li Wuhen, a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert... does Xu Longxiang have a countermeasure?"
Liu Hongyan's heart skipped a beat again. The Empress's intelligence was indeed accurate! Even the details about Qinglan Mountain were so clear!
She hesitated for a moment, then answered cautiously:
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. Qin Mu is indeed protected by a mysterious expert, whose strength... is probably beyond the Celestial Phenomenon Realm. The Crown Prince is also worried about this and is actively seeking a solution."
But Your Majesty must know that even a celestial being, though powerful, is not omnipotent. He is ultimately human, and to sit on that throne, he must be bound by the rules of the court and the will of the people. If the Crown Prince can obtain Your Majesty's assistance, working together from within and without, he may well have an opportunity to catch the enemy off guard.
She paused, then added:
"Moreover, the Crown Prince is not without trump cards. The 300,000 iron cavalry in the Northern Border are all battle-hardened elites. The Xu family has been managing the Northern Border for decades and has a deep foundation. As long as His Majesty can exert external pressure at the crucial moment to distract Qin Mu's attention and forces, the Crown Prince is confident that he can deliver a fatal blow!"
Zhao Qingxue listened quietly, her fingers tapping lightly on the desk, as if weighing the pros and cons.
Silence fell again in the study, with only the rhythmic "tap-tap" sound striking Liu Hongyan's heart, making her feel waves of unbearable pressure.
After a long while, the knocking stopped.
Zhao Qingxue slowly spoke:
"Dividing the Central Continent equally... sounds appealing. But how can I trust that Xu Longxiang won't renege on his promise after the deed is done? At that time, he will possess the Northern Territory and half of the Central Continent, his strength greatly increased. If he turns against Li Yang, wouldn't I be raising a tiger to cause future trouble?"
Liu Hongyan was prepared and immediately said:
"Your Majesty's concerns are also those of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince wishes to sign a blood oath with Your Majesty, swearing an oath of martial spirit, and to exchange important hostages! Furthermore, the Crown Prince promises that, upon completion of this matter, he will present Your Majesty with the first half of the 'Nine Dragons Heavenly Scripture,' a secret treasure of the Great Qin Imperial Family!"
"The Nine Dragons Heavenly Scripture?" Zhao Qingxue's pupils contracted slightly!
This is a legendary secret passed down only by the Qin Dynasty royal family, said to lead directly to a realm beyond the terrestrial immortals!
For hundreds of years, no outsider has ever seen it!
If she could obtain the first half, it would be of immeasurable benefit to her cultivation!
Seeing Zhao Qingxue's reaction, Liu Hongyan felt reassured, knowing that her offer had hit the nail on the head. She pressed her advantage, saying:
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is sincere in his desire for an alliance. The Northern Border and Li Yang will both benefit from unity, and both suffer from division. Qin Mu may seem foolish, but he is actually a man of deep and unfathomable mind. Rather than waiting for him to grow stronger, it would be better for us to join forces and strike first!"
Zhao Qingxue slowly stood up and walked to the window.
Outside the window, the night was deep and dark. The lights of Tianqi City flickered in the distance, and the Milky Way hung low, seemingly within reach.
The night breeze blew through the window, ruffling the hem of her dark robe and her cascading black hair.
She gazed at this land that belonged to her, her eyes gleaming with a deep and complex light.
Ambition, reason, vigilance, weighing options... a mix of emotions swirled within her.
Xu Longxiang's proposal was extremely risky. It was like trying to negotiate with a tiger for its skin; a slight misstep could backfire and cause serious harm.
But the returns are equally astonishing.
Half of Central Continent, the Nine Dragons Heavenly Scripture, and... the opportunity to completely eliminate the Qin Dynasty, this major threat.
More importantly, Qin Mu's recent actions have indeed made her feel uneasy.
The young emperor's style of doing things was becoming increasingly unpredictable.
Zhao Qingxue slowly closed her eyes, her mind racing through all sorts of possibilities.
After a long while, she turned around and her gaze fell on Liu Hongyan again.
Those deep purple phoenix eyes were now clear and decisive.
"Miss Liu."
Zhao Qingxue's voice rang out clearly in the quiet study:
"Go back and tell Xu Longxiang."
She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"His proposal...I agree."
Liu Hongyan was overjoyed and almost couldn't help but cheer! But she forcibly suppressed her excitement and bowed deeply:
"Your Majesty is wise! With Your Majesty's assistance, the Crown Prince will be even more powerful! With Li Yang and the Northern Border joining forces, we will surely sweep away the corrupt officials and restore peace to the land!"
Zhao Qingxue waved her hand, indicating that she didn't need to say anything more.
"But I have three conditions."
"Your Majesty, please speak!" Liu Hongyan said solemnly.