73: The Celestial Fox Princess, the Rule of Subjects

In the Heavenly Fox Kingdom's imperial palace.

A Fox Race minister proposed an Alliance with the Great Yan Eastern Prefecture.

The Heavenly Fox Kingdom Lord's brows furrowed upon hearing this, and he sighed, “The Snow Country and the Undying Kingdom are both adjacent to the Great Yan Eastern Prefecture, so forming an Alliance is incredibly convenient. However, our Heavenly Fox Kingdom and the Great Yan allied forces are separated by the Qianlong River, making it impossible for them to provide timely assistance.

Conversely, forming an Alliance across the river with the Eastern Prefecture allied forces, right under the Wu Dynasty's nose, is highly likely to provoke Emperor Xuan Your Majesty, giving him an opportunity to make an example of us, or even to annihilate our Heavenly Fox Kingdom.”

The Fox Race ministers discussed animatedly.

Now, the Heavenly Fox Kingdom was completely isolated and in a desperate situation. Whether they lived or died might depend on the decision made in this court session.

A minister directly asked, “Lord, do you mean for us to surrender to the Wu Dynasty?”

As soon as these words were uttered, other ministers immediately objected: “Those not of our race are sure to have different intentions. If we surrender and open the city gates, how is that different from offering our necks for slaughter?

I heard that the Wu Dynasty's Xuan Emperor is tyrannical and bloodthirsty. When his army broke through the Jinmu Kingdom's city, there were no survivors.

Even if the Xuan Emperor were to show mercy, our people would likely not escape the fate of becoming slaves.

Although the Heavenly Fox is a small country, not as vast as the Wu Dynasty's territory, not all of us are afraid of death and clinging to life.

If it truly comes to a point of no return, we will exhaust all our efforts to take a piece out of the Wu Dynasty.”

The Heavenly Fox Kingdom's Grand Minister delivered a lengthy speech, igniting the passion of the young ministers, who showed a strong resolve to burn their bridges and fight to the death against the Wu Dynasty.

“Is the Grand Minister not thinking too optimistically?”

“Still talking about a fight to the death? Honestly, what strength does our Heavenly Fox Kingdom have to contend with the Wu Dynasty?”

“When the Wu Dynasty's army truly steps into our territory, what can your and those hot-blooded young men's integrity do? Go to your deaths?

You die and it's over, but what about the rest of our Fox Race people?

Become Human Race slaves, treated like livestock?

When it truly comes to life and death, how many can remain fearless?

At that time, will the sight of our Heavenly Fox Kingdom's tens of millions of people kneeling and begging for a way to live be what the Grand Minister and all you sirs want to see?”

Several old ministers spoke coldly, their words cutting deep.

“I...”

The Heavenly Fox Grand Minister was speechless.

Although these words were like knives piercing his heart, they were right.

He could die with equanimity, but what about the common people who were busy with their livelihoods every day?

“Neither surrendering nor not surrendering works... Could we really flee as an entire race to Seven Kings City?”

The Heavenly Fox Kingdom Lord listened to their words, slumped dejectedly on his throne, looking as if he had aged several decades, his eyes clouded, staring up at the sky, as if seeing his own death approaching.

“Surrender... Of course we must surrender! Not only surrender, but also offer all the treasures our Heavenly Fox Kingdom can offer, and the Fox Princess... to beg the Xuan Emperor for a way to live.”

“It's easier for us to beg than for the common people to beg.”

The minister who had refuted the Grand Minister continued, “Lord, at this point, the royal family must also make sacrifices. The young princess is in the prime of her youth, the most beautiful in the Fox Race... Please, Lord, prioritize the greater good!”

“Give, give... Give the Xuan Emperor whatever he wants...”

The Heavenly Fox Kingdom Lord waved his hand, his voice hoarse, “You go make the arrangements. Invite the Xuan Emperor to take up residence in the royal city.”

...Jinsang City.

Xia Xuan was currently meeting with someone from Immortal Fate Studio.

“Your Majesty, that is all this subject-daughter has to say.” Gu Qingxian briefly stated her purpose, accompanied by a Grand Elder from Immortal Fate Studio, dressed as a Taoist nun.

With the revival of the Four Seas and Five Regions, and the initial emergence of the five places of divine beauty, the Immortal Sects of the Central Continent had set their sights on the Nineteen Chaotic Domains.

Immortal Fate Studio had come to seek Xia Xuan's permission to establish a new mountain gate within the Nineteen Chaotic Domains, within the Wu Dynasty's territory, in the future.

In the past, for an Immortal Sect to want to establish a mountain gate within an Imperial Dynasty's territory was considered a blessing for the Imperial Dynasty; the Imperial Dynasty Lord could only accept, with no right to refuse.

But the current Great Wu Dynasty's national power was comparable to its most prosperous period during the time of the Martial God.

For Immortal Sects to make major moves within the Wu Dynasty's borders again, they could not bypass Xia Xuan.

After listening to Gu Qingxian's report, Xia Xuan put down the rare Cultivation Technique manuscript of the Jinmu Kingdom's royal family he was reading, looked up, and said calmly.

“It's very simple. Let Immortal Fate Studio become a subordinate Sect of the Wu Dynasty, and Immortal Fate Studio will have a place in the Nineteen Chaotic Domains.”

The Immortal Fate Studio Grand Elder politely said, “Your Majesty, this condition is perhaps a bit too harsh.”

“Sword Cliff, Buddha Temple, Killing Life Hall, Pill Cloud Sect, Artifact Refining Sect—these five factions have all joined Xia Ying's Eastern Prefecture Alliance. While it's called an Alliance, it's actually about treating Xia Ying as a Puppet, plotting to annex the Nineteen Chaotic Domains. Our Immortal Fate Studio, however, sincerely wishes to form an Alliance with Your Majesty, with no disrespect intended.”

If it were a Grand Elder from another Immortal Sect, upon hearing Xia Xuan's words, they might have already left in a huff, or perhaps wouldn't have even come to Xia Xuan in the first place.

Immortal Fate Studio had no choice. The current Fairy was a Wu Dynasty princess. If they were to get involved with the Eastern Prefecture Alliance like other Immortal Sects, they would have to abandon Gu Qingxian.

Additionally, there was another reason: the Grand Elders of Immortal Fate Studio observed the Wu Dynasty's national destiny, vast and mighty, like a golden Dragon coiling over the Central Continent, baring its fangs and claws, rising and exerting pressure on its surroundings.

The national destiny's power had reached a point where it could not be shaken by anything less than Divine Power.

After countless internal meetings, Immortal Fate Studio ultimately chose to befriend the Wu Dynasty.

“There is no room for negotiation on this matter.”

Xia Xuan said no more, waved his hand, and dismissed the somewhat helpless Immortal Fate Studio Grand Elder.

“Your Majesty, have some tea.”

Gu Qingxian was sensible and did not continue the topic.

Xia Xuan took the teacup, took a sip, and was about to continue studying the Jinmu Kingdom's Cultivation Technique.

Outside, Yuan Tiangang suddenly walked in, bowed, and presented a surrender document.

“Your Majesty, the Heavenly Fox Kingdom wishes to offer all of its two prefectures' territory, submit to our Dynasty, and present nineteen Heavenly Fox royal princesses, including the Heavenly Fox Princess, as well as all treasures and spiritual items from the Fox Race's national treasury...”

Xia Xuan took the surrender document and glanced at it; a painting was specifically included.

The Heavenly Fox Princess, whom Lord Yan had once coveted, but the Heavenly Fox Kingdom had resisted to the death, activating their Nation Protecting Grand Array to defend.

Later, someone from Hidden Dragon Cave intervened and drove Lord Yan away.

It must be said, she was an exquisite and charming fox woman.

Dressed in luxurious silk and gold-embroidered robes, she was as delicate as a Nine Heavens Fairy.

The next chapter title is problematic, it should be “Do you believe I'll turn you into a cream puff?”

The painting alone was very captivating.

“The sincerity is good, but... how do you view the surrender of foreign races, Grand Marshal?” Xia Xuan looked at Yuan Tiangang.

“It is entirely up to Your Majesty's will. Annihilation or tolerance, it matters not.”

Yuan Tiangang replied respectfully.

Xia Xuan nodded in thought, and seeing Gu Qingxian's hesitant expression, he said, “What thoughts do you have, Princess Changming? Feel free to speak.”

“Your Majesty, please do not call this subject-daughter 'princess' anymore. Compared to that illusory princess identity, this subject-daughter would rather serve as a female official by Your Majesty's side or in the imperial court.”

Gu Qingxian's eyes sparkled with intelligence: “Your Majesty is far-sighted; your thoughts surely extend beyond this small Heavenly Fox Kingdom.”

Xia Xuan smiled and asked, “You can indeed see through my thoughts. Then tell me, should the subjugated people from the new territories conquered by the Wu Dynasty be demoted to slave status, or treated equally, like the citizens of the Wu Dynasty?”