353: Xu Xiao in despair

"What do you have to convince them?"

"You have no strength, no experience, and no brains. On what basis do you think you can command the three hundred thousand Northern Liang Iron Cavalry?" Xu Xiao's tone was mocking, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

"Xu Xiao, is that how you talk to your son?"

"How am I brainless? If I were brainless, I wouldn't have made it back from my three-year journey."

"I'm brainless? You don't really think Duan Zhengchun could wipe out those four hundred thousand troops by himself, do you?"

"Don't you know that the Dali Duan Clan is behind Duan Zhengchun? Besides, I heard that even Western Xia sent a hundred thousand elite troops to help back then."

"Combined with the Kingdom's hundred thousand troops, that's only two hundred thousand. Moreover, there were several Heavenly Human Realm Masters helping at the time."

"That's how Duan Zhengchun managed to save the Kingdom. At the same time, the Emperor of Jin was assassinated."

"Under those circumstances, the Jin soldiers were like a heap of loose sand, nothing to worry about. It was only natural for them to be slaughtered."

"Yet, in the end, Duan Zhengchun took all the glory for himself, deceiving the Martial Forest of the entire Nine Provinces."

"Even a man as lifelong-clever as you, Father, has been blinded by him. You're actually still speaking up for him now. In my opinion, the truly stupid one is you," Xu Fengnian said, his analysis delivered with absolute certainty.

Xu Xiao was left stunned by his son Xu Fengnian's words; it seemed to make quite a bit of sense.

Back when the two countries were at war, the spies from the Fushui Room were nearby. The information from the Fushui Room couldn't be wrong.

However, this kid's analysis wasn't entirely without merit.

Could it really be so?

"Fine, fine. You deal with this matter yourself."

"However, Qingniao is out on business. We'll talk about it after she's finished," Xu Xiao sighed helplessly.

Xu Fengnian's expression turned ugly. He had already considered the possibility that Qingniao might not return, and even Red Musk might not come back.

"Xu Xiao, listen clearly. If Red Musk and Qingniao don't come back, don't even think about me inheriting the title of King." After saying that, Xu Fengnian turned and left arrogantly.

Xu Xiao only felt a tightness in his chest, a feeling like he needed to vent, but he held it in.

He knew his own condition well. After years of warfare, he had sustained injuries that left hidden wounds in his body.

He had been so worried about this matter lately that he couldn't sleep at night, and now his precious son was being so stubborn.

"Madam, did my Xu family truly do something wrong? Why is Heaven punishing me like this?"

"I thought Fengnian was a talent worth cultivating, but I didn't expect this result."

"All these years of effort have gone down the drain."

"Madam, I have failed you. I don't even know how I'll face you when I die in the future," Xu Xiao lamented to the sky.

"Your Highness has already done his best. Future matters are beyond our control."

"Since the Heir has chosen this path, let him walk it himself."

"No matter the era, whether the territory conquered by ancestors can be held depends on the descendants," Li Yishan lamented helplessly.

"Is it really because my Xu family has committed too many sins and caused too much slaughter? Is Heaven punishing my Xu family?"

"Could it be that my Xu family was also wrong for all these years of pacifying the borders for the Liyang Imperial Family, suppressing the Martial Forest, and ensuring the common people no longer suffer the ravages of war?" Xu Xiao's face was full of indignation.

"Your Highness should not belittle yourself. Your achievements will naturally be judged by future generations. You only need to have a clear conscience."

"As for the future of the Prince's Residence, once we old fogies are gone, how can we possibly manage it?" Li Yishan sat calmly to the side and picked up his teacup.

"You're all alone with no attachments, so I can understand that, but could you please not gloat over my misfortune here?" Xu Xiao looked disgruntled.

"Am I? I'm comforting you and guiding you so that you, the Prince of Northern Liang, don't die of anger," Li Yishan rolled his eyes.

"Fine, let's do our best and leave the rest to fate."

"Jiang Ni carries the Luck of Western Chu. If she stays by Fengnian's side, she can help him gather the Liyang Luck."

"I hope Fengnian can wake up soon." Xu Xiao sighed helplessly... In the Kingdom, at Prince Kaoshans Residence, Duan Zhengchun looked with a smile at the person who had arrived—it was Shangguan Haitang, the Mystic-rank Secret Agent of the Great Ming's Dragon Guard Manor, whom he had met once before.

Seeing Duan Zhengchun again, Shangguan Haitang felt a bit embarrassed, a hint of awkwardness on her face.

"Haitang greets Your Highness." Shangguan Haitang bowed to Duan Zhengchun.

"Oh, isn't this the Mystic-rank Secret Agent of Dragon Guard Manor, Miss Haitang? What brings you to my residence today?" Duan Zhengchun looked at Shangguan Haitang with a half-smile.

"Well, I've made a fool of myself before Your Highness. Previously, I was blind and my knowledge was shallow."

"I've come this time to ask Your Highness who the person behind the Tian Zun Organization is."

"According to the conditions Your Highness proposed before." Shangguan Haitang's eyes flickered, not daring to look at Duan Zhengchun.

"Oh? Is Miss Haitang mistaken?"

Shangguan Haitang was stunned and looked at Duan Zhengchun in confusion, not understanding what he meant for a moment.

"What does Your Highness mean by that?"

"What I said back then were the conditions for back then. You didn't agree then, but now that you've found yourself helpless, you come back to me. Do you think, if it were you, would you agree?"

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. The conditions then were for then; now is now.

Duan Zhengchun knew very well that everyone has their own pride.

He had already determined that as long as Shangguan Haitang told Zhu Wushi, with Zhu Wushi's ambition, he would definitely agree.

He just hadn't expected it to take this long. Presumably, Shangguan Haitang was unwilling to accept the condition and tried to investigate on her own for a while, only to find no clues, which is why she came to him now.

Therefore, it was impossible for the conditions to remain the same.

Shangguan Haitang immediately understood the meaning behind Duan Zhengchun's words. Clearly, he wanted to raise the stakes.

"Then, what will it take for Your Highness to agree?" Shangguan Haitang took a deep breath.

"Originally, I only needed a Maidservant to serve by my side, but unfortunately, Miss Haitang was unwilling."

"Now, it's not as simple as just being a Maidservant. I need more sincerity." Duan Zhengchun looked Shangguan Haitang up and down, a mysterious smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

Shangguan Haitang's face stiffened, then two clouds of red climbed onto her cheeks. She already understood the meaning behind Duan Zhengchun's words.

But thinking of her foster father's instructions and Duan Tianya's attitude toward her, Shangguan Haitang finally gritted her teeth and decided to agree.

"Fine, I can agree to Your Highness's conditions. However, how can I be sure the information Your Highness provides is true?" Shangguan Haitang took a deep breath and looked at Duan Zhengchun.

"I never tell lies, and I certainly wouldn't deceive a beautiful woman about such things."

"I can tell you the truth behind the Tian Zun Organization first. Once you've confirmed it, you can come back to fulfill your promise," Duan Zhengchun said directly.