418: Chapter 418 A Battle of Billions

Lin Xiao said, "This Prince has said that as long as Consort De really wasn't involved in the Moon Worship Cult's mess and isn't some wicked person, this Prince will give her freedom."

"I swear! Mother is innocent. Everything regarding the Moon Worship Cult was managed by my father, brother, and me..."

"If Your Highness wants to punish me, I have no complaints, but Mother is truly too pitiable. She has always thought my brother was dead and was even cast into the Cold Palace..."

An Ya spoke, tears starting to fall.

"Alright, our husband's word is his bond; he won't wrong a good person. Set your mind at ease," Leng Bingyan said, handing over a silk handkerchief.

An Ya nodded repeatedly, her eyes shimmering with crystalline tears, filled with expectation.

Xiao Qingxuan looked back at this half-sister; in her cold gaze, there was a trace of an indescribable emotion.

"Alright, now that the accounts have been cleared, is there any progress on the information this Prince wanted?"

Lin Xiao changed the subject to business.

Xiao Qingxuan immediately took a file she was holding and handed it to Lin Xiao.

"Husband, this is what I've compiled: evidence of collusion with the Moon Worship Cult for officials above the fifth rank in Nanling and the various provinces of Baiyue."

"Since some officials have already retired, pursuing them isn't very meaningful, but these are all still in power within the various provinces of the two regions."

"Additionally, there are over a dozen officials located in the Capital Region, including several high-ranking court officials above the third rank."

Lin Xiao took it and scanned it briefly, his expression turning grim.

"Human trafficking, forcing women into prostitution, burning, killing, looting, assassinating loyalists... Heh, it seems that taking money from local gentry and squeezing the common folk was actually considered light."

General Leng Duo said indignantly, "To think that my tens of thousands of brothers and so many soldiers of Western Shu died loyal to someone like Crown Prince Xiao Shian, I'm truly unwilling to accept it, sigh..."

"Father, don't think like that. The soldiers also fought to protect the people of Western Shu," Leng Bingyan consoled him.

Xiao Qingxuan also had a trace of sorrow in her eyes. "Everything he did was actually to use the Moon Worship Cult to destroy the foundation of the Gan Dynasty and throw the world into chaos."

"When the people have no means of livelihood and the fires of war rise everywhere, he would then let First Prince Li Chengqi, this wise eldest prince, return from the dead to turn the tide."

"In fact, not just Prince Bai, but the various vassal kings and great officials of the world are all his pawns."

General Leng Duo said disdainfully, "Utterly foolish. He thinks he's using those corrupt officials and ambitious vassal kings, but aren't those people also using the Moon Worship Cult?"

"Once you collude with such people, do you still expect to turn things around? To rule the empire? Simply laughable!"

"Alright, Father, don't be angry. Now that we have our Prince here, he will surely restore peace and order to the world!" Leng Bingyan consoled.

General Leng Duo nodded repeatedly. "Indeed, thanks to the Prince's wisdom and martial prowess, he cut through the mess quickly and uprooted the Moon Worship Cult. The people of the Nanling and Baiyue borders are finally saved."

Lin Xiao waved his hand. "It's not over until we've captured First Prince Li Chengqi and Venerable Fire."

"However, with this evidence, we can start a fire in the backyards of Nanling and Baiyue."

Lin Xiao looked at General Leng Duo. "Father-in-law, are you willing to join this Prince in poking a few holes in the sky of the south?"

General Leng Duo laughed loudly. "Look at what Your Highness is saying. You've already stolen away my only daughter; how could I, General Leng Duo, and the Black Dragon Cavalry not listen to you?"

"Oh, Father... what do you mean by 'stolen'?"

Leng Bingyan's face flushed red; that sounded terrible.

Xiao Qingxuan and An Ya, standing to the side, both smiled faintly, though their eyes held a hint of envy.

That afternoon, Lin Xiao and General Leng Duo discussed the plan for how to use the ledgers to turn the south upside down.

With everything basically settled, it was time for Lin Xiao to return to Daoshan City, as he had been out for some time.

"Father-in-law, once this Prince leaves, you'll be fighting alone here again. Although I will send reinforcements as soon as possible, you still must be extra careful."

"Your Highness need not worry. Back then, we survived by hiding in the Million Mountains. Now we have this excellent, easily defensible hideout with abundant supplies and have taken over the Moon Worship Cult's intelligence network. I haven't fought such a well-resourced battle in a long time!"

General Leng Duo looked confident, but then said, "However, before Your Highness leaves, shouldn't you handle one thing first?"

"What matter?"

"Yaner said... Your Highness hasn't performed the wedding ceremony with her yet?" General Leng Duo's tone was somewhat dissatisfied.

Lin Xiao smiled knowingly. "Father-in-law misunderstood. We didn't do it before because we were waiting for you to be present. There's no time like the present; how about tonight?"

"Good! My Leng family comes from a lineage of martial generals; we aren't picky about dates. But let me say this first: the Black Dragon Cavalry and I will support Your Highness with all our might. When Your Highness rules the world in the future, while we wouldn't dare dream of the Empress position, it wouldn't be too much for my daughter to be a Noble Consort, right?"

Oho? Thinking quite far ahead!

Lin Xiao had no intention of ranking his women anyway, so he naturally agreed readily.

"Isn't it just a Noble Consort? At most, they'll all be Noble Consorts!"

That night, Lin Xiao successfully changed Leng Bingyan's marital status to "married."

To celebrate the official marriage, a battle on the scale of billions was naturally unavoidable.

Two days later.

Lin Xiao and the two women returned to Daoshan City.

As soon as they entered the city, Lin Xiao noticed something unusual.

Many large commercial firms had actually hung up "Northern Trade Alliance" membership plaques.

The terms most discussed by the passing merchants also involved the Northern Trade Alliance and the Prince of Zhenbei.

Moreover, the people's faces were all filled with joy.

In the courtyard of Wanren Mountain, upon hearing that Lin Xiao had returned, the women all hurried back from outside.

Lin Xiao naturally shared some intimacy with them before asking about what had happened during these days.

From Su Wansha and Xie Juner, he learned that after the Northern Trade Alliance took over Blade Mountain's industries, the distribution was fairer than in the past due to transparency, earning the support of most people in the middle and lower classes.

Although the high-level members of those great family clans were unwilling, they could only obediently cooperate now for self-preservation.

For a time, the area around Blade Mountain sang Lin Xiao's praises. Businesses were actively joining the alliance, hoping to obtain the Northern Trade Alliance's products and gain an early advantage in various parts of Nanling.

"No wonder my Comprehension Ability points are soaring..."

Lin Xiao mused that talk was cheap; giving money directly was what really worked!

"Husband, things are going smoothly here in Daoshan City, but something happened in Yangquan."

Su Wansha frowned. "Two days ago, Chief Clerk Xu Zheng of Yangquan sent a message via carrier pigeon saying that before Liao Meier could arrive, Liu Qihai died in prison. The cell caught fire, and nothing was left of his remains."

"What?"

In his own base, someone was actually playing the game of silencing witnesses!?

Lin Xiao looked at Xiao Qingxuan; the woman also nodded after her initial surprise.

"It should be First Prince Li Chengqi and Venerable Fire."

Xiao Qingxuan speculated, "Husband, could it be that after First Prince Li Chengqi faked his death, he has been hiding in the Northern Territory all along?"