183: Li Xuan plotted

In the Capital Palace thousands of miles away, inside a study filled with the scent of ink, sandalwood smoke curled, creating a sense of tranquility.

Emperor Li Xuan's brow was furrowed like a deep ravine as his knuckles gripped a lustrous sound transmission talisman, the pressure of the Spiritual Qi around him showing faint signs of spiraling out of control.

The Guard standing by his side held his breath, his respiration becoming as thin as a thread, for fear of disturbing the Emperor's deep contemplation.

A long time passed.

That resilient Jade Slip shattered piece by piece in his palm.

When he looked up, no joy or anger could be heard in his voice, yet it carried a hint of gravity:

"I didn't expect this Situ Jun to hide his edge so well. For the Heavenly Fragrance Tower to kill a Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator as soon as they made a move, I truly underestimated him."

Pausing, he turned to look at the Guard, his tone suddenly turning somber:

"Is the matter of Princess Danying's pregnancy confirmed?"

The Guard immediately bowed, his forehead nearly touching the ground:

"To the Emperor, the Imperial Physician checked her pulse three times; it is smooth and flowing, undoubtedly a pregnancy pulse."

Li Xuan stood up abruptly, the hem of his Dragon robe sweeping across the desk and stirring a slight breeze.

He paced a few steps within the study, the gold-brick floor emitting dull echoes; when he stopped, his fingertips tapped heavily against the red sandalwood desk:

"This Princess, she is truly..."

He swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue; after all, she was his sister, connected by Bloodline, and even the greatest fury had to be suppressed.

He didn't need to think twice to know that the flesh and blood in her womb must belong to Situ Jun.

Anger surged up his throat like wildfire—his own younger sister, a dignified Princess of the Tianqi Dynasty. She had just divorced the Bei Batian, and in the blink of an eye, she was having an affair with the New City Lord of Northern Frontier City, even becoming pregnant!

If such a thing were to spread, the royal family's reputation would likely be ground into the dust!

But on second thought, his heart couldn't help but stir slightly.

Situ Jun could now even slay a Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator; with such strength, if he could be used, wouldn't the stability of the Northern Frontier and the difficult problem of centralizing power in the court be easily resolved?

Now that Princess had his flesh and blood, wasn't this bond the best rope to manipulate Situ Jun?

"Someone, prepare the carriage; we are going to Ninglu Palace."

Li Xuan commanded in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of irrepressible impatience that diluted his usual imperial majesty... In the warm pavilion of Ninglu Palace, the brazier burned with soothing Dragons Saliva Incense.

Li Danying was sitting by the window, her fingertips lightly stroking her still-flat lower abdomen, a hint of soft light that she hadn't even noticed herself rippling between her brows; the sunlight from the window spilled over her face, making her skin appear as lustrous as white jade.

Hearing the announcement of "The Emperor arrives" from outside the hall, her fingertips trembled violently; she then took a deep breath, concealed all her emotions deep in her eyes, and rose to meet him.

"Imperial Brother."

She curtsied, and as her waist bent slightly, she subconsciously covered her lower abdomen with a silk handkerchief.

Li Xuan stared at this subtle movement, anger and a hidden hint of expectation intertwining and surging in his chest as he said solemnly:

"No need for formalities, sit down and speak."

As he spoke, he waved his hand to dismiss those around him and took a seat on the opposite red sandalwood chair, getting straight to the point:

"Princess, tell your Imperial Brother honestly, is the child in your womb Situ Jun's?"

Li Danying's body stiffened, her long eyelashes trembling; after a moment of silence, she finally looked up to meet Li Xuan's complex gaze and nodded frankly:

"Yes."

This kind of honesty, without defense or concealment, actually caused the bellyful of questions Li Xuan had prepared to get stuck in his throat.

He stared at his sister's pale but determined face, his anger surging and then being forcefully suppressed, finally turning into a long sigh:

"Do you know the consequences of this matter?"

Li Danying lightly stroked her lower abdomen, her tone steeped in the softness of motherhood:

"I know, but I don't regret it; I love him."

Li Xuan gave a cold snort:

"A person whose background you haven't even figured out, and you dare to give him your heart? Now you even have his child, you..."

He was exasperated, his voice suddenly turning sharp, carrying the unique pressure of an Emperor:

"Moreover, being pregnant before marriage, where do you expect the royal family to put its face!"

The air in the warm pavilion instantly froze like ice.

Li Danying looked up, there was no hint of evasion in her eyes; instead, they burned with a kind of resolution to burn her bridges:

"If Imperial Brother feels it damages the royal family's reputation, then just expel me from the palace."

"You!"

Li Xuan slapped the table violently, and the celadon teacup overturned in response, the scalding tea splashing onto the front of his Dragon robe, yet he was completely oblivious, his anger almost bursting through his chest:

"You're going to be the death of me..."

"Imperial Brother, please calm down."

Li Danying knelt down, her forehead against the cold gold-brick floor, her voice carrying a slight tremble:

"I know I was wrong, but the child is innocent. Situ Jun is no ordinary person either; he can protect me and give us a stable life."

Li Xuan looked at her stubborn back, fuming with anger yet feeling helpless.

How could he not know that Situ Jun was not simple?

To be able to deal with a Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator so effortlessly meant his strength was unfathomable. If he could be won over, it would be of great benefit to the stability of the Northern Frontier and the centralization of the Dynasty.

—This was precisely the root of his hesitation.

"Do you know he already has several women by his side?" Li Xuan said coldly, his tone carrying a bit of mockery, "What kind of status can you have if you follow him?"

Li Danying looked up, her eyes shining with fragments of light, which was her longing for the future:

"I don't care about status; as long as I can be by his side, I am willing to do anything."

Looking at the hope in his sister's eyes, Li Xuan's anger gradually subsided, replaced by deep calculation.

Situ Jun could fight a Mid Golden Core Stage cultivator and make Princess defend him so much; he was definitely not an ordinary man.

Now that the Southern Frontier was in turmoil, if he could use this to manipulate him... After a moment of deliberation, Li Xuan let out a cold laugh:

"You make it sound so simple; a royal Princess and the New City Lord having a child out of wedlock will only become the laughingstock of the world if it gets out!"

He changed his tone, slowing down slightly:

"However, considering you are carrying his flesh and blood, there is still room for maneuver in this matter."

A hint of joy flashed in Li Danying's eyes:

"Imperial Brother means..."

Li Xuan stood up and paced a few steps, then turned to look at Li Danying, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's:

"Situ Jun is currently helping Wang Cheng Guard the city in East Lin; if he is willing to help me seize the Southern Frontier's Legacy, what's the harm in betrothing you to him!"

The smile on Li Danying's face instantly froze, and her fingertips suddenly gripped her sleeves tightly:

"So, Imperial Brother is still unwilling to let me leave this palace?"

Li Xuan's eyes flickered as he sighed:

"It's not that I, your Imperial Brother, am cold-hearted, but rather that Situ Jun has damaged the reputation of my royal family. If he isn't even willing to agree to this small matter, how can I stop the gossiping mouths of the officials?"

After speaking, his brow furrowed slightly, and he paused before saying:

"Think it over carefully; once you've made up your mind, send someone to inform me."

With that, he turned and left, the hem of his Dragon robe sweeping across the threshold, leaving behind a cold afterimage.

At the palace gate, a Guard watched the Emperor's procession depart, a flash of brilliance crossing his lowered eyes before quickly returning to normal.

This was the "Shadow," a Secret Guard sent by Situ Jun to protect Li Danying as per his instructions.