After some discussion, the two finally reached a consensus on cooperation.
“Zhang Qingyao, if this Rain-Calling Ceremony succeeds in deceiving the ministers, I will issue a Great Amnesty and release your family. Not only that, as long as you continue to assist me afterward, I will help the Zhang family replace the Ye family and secure a seat among the New Five Great Clans. I promise you, the Li family will coexist with the Zhang family.”
Zhang Yuge immediately knelt and kowtowed, his words passionate:
“Your servant is willing to brave fire and water for His Majesty, willing to die ten thousand deaths without complaint. The Zhang family is ready to serve the Li family loyally, never betraying.”
“Never betraying.”
Li Yuhan took a sharp dagger and cut the palm of his hand, letting the fresh blood drip into two bowls, mingling with the pale yellow tea.
“Zhang Shaoye, please.”
Zhang Yuge’s pupils trembled slightly as he took the dagger handed over by Li Yuhan and imitated the action, cutting his own palm.
“Drink this cup, and we will swear the Zhang Qingyao-Li Yuhan Oath, supporting each other through life and death.”
Li Yuhan drank it down without hesitation.
Zhang Yuge was unsure what sudden impulse had driven him to such actions, but given the situation, he had no choice but to drink the blood-tinged tea.
After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Yuge swallowed the tea.
The two sides sealed their lifelong pact, and even Li Yuluo couldn’t help but applaud.
“Excellent! With Shaoye and His Majesty joining forces, the Five Great Clans will surely be trampled beneath our feet. The Great Zhou will endure forever.”
“Well said, Prince. Long live the Great Zhou! Hahaha.”
Zhang Yuge echoed their cheers, clapping in approval.
“Zhang Shaoye, I have a question to ask.”
“Your Majesty, please speak.”
“I wonder what kind of magic Zhang Shaoye used to turn my ministerial brother into a young maiden. May I ask if you can turn her back?”
Zhang Yuge shook his head helplessly and said,
“Please forgive this humble servant’s inability. I only know how to change a man into a woman; the reverse, I cannot do. Originally, I transformed the prince into a female only to conceal his identity and prevent him from being found. I truly do not wish to stain my hands with blood or commit acts of murder to silence him. Changing the prince into a woman was a helpless measure.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Qingyao’s mouth twitched slightly.
Not wishing to stain his hands with blood?
Then who killed that receiving elder of the Five Spirits Sect?
Realizing Li Yuluo could not be changed back into a man, Li Yuhan stood and took his leave.
“Zhang Shaoye, within these three days, I will do my best to protect your family from suffering torment and abuse by the Ye family. I look forward to your efforts at the Rain-Calling Ceremony three days from now.”
“Then I leave it in Your Majesty’s hands.”
Li Yuhan left his mask behind, the brim of the black robe’s hood covering more than half of his face as the two departed the teahouse.
Zhang Yuge picked up the mask and examined it carefully.
At the same time, he quietly summoned the system.
“System, scan this mask for poison.”
“Ding, scan complete. No traces of poison detected.”
It seems I was projecting my villainous suspicions onto a gentleman.
Zhang Yuge put the mask away and said,
“Xiao Yao, go settle the bill downstairs.”
“Brother, do you intend to cooperate with Zhang Qingyao permanently?”
On the road, Li Yuluo couldn’t help but ask the black-robed figure beside her.
“Yes. After negotiations, I believe Zhang Yuge is a candidate worth long-term collaboration. Besides, you wouldn’t want me to kill him, would you?”
As he spoke, Li Yuhan’s gaze swept over her, making the young girl shiver.
“W-why would I? Anyone threatening Your Majesty’s position is my enemy,”
Li Yuluo stammered.
Li Yuhan turned his gaze away and said calmly:
“Don’t worry. Since I have made an oath with Zhang Qingyao, I will not harm him. But Zhang Qingyao turned you into a woman—do you not hate him for that?”
Li Yuluo was silent at the question, and after a long while, she muttered hesitantly:
“Of course I hate Zhang Qingyao. I wish he’d die quickly…”
Li Yuhan said no more and quickened his pace.
Unnoticed by Li Yuluo, the corner of her brother’s mouth curled upward just beyond her sight.
“Tsk tsk tsk, Brother, aren’t you going to tell her? Due to the Blood Nether Technique’s progress, the blood in your body already carries a powerful toxicity.”
At this moment, the false Li Yuluo appeared once more beside Li Yuhan, walking in step with him.
“She doesn’t want Zhang Qingyao to die; telling her would only cause her pain.”
“If you knew your sister would be upset, why did you poison Zhang Qingyao? Brother, you are ruthless.”
Though her words blamed Li Yuhan, the fake Li Yuluo’s face showed no trace of anger.
“Isn’t this exactly what you want? In three days, after the Rain-Calling Ceremony, Zhang Qingyao’s poison will take effect. Whether it’s the Five Great Clans, the various sects across Great Zhou, or the Zhang family—anyone daring to challenge my authority will die.”
“What about your harem? Your Cloud Empress, Consort Ye, Consort Hua—you plan to kill them too?”
“I said the people of the Five Great Clans will die, not a single one spared.”
“Hahaha, excellent! This is the man I chose! Hahaha!”
Mad laughter echoed in his ears—yet only Li Yuhan could hear it.
The path back to the palace was quiet.
This was the route Li Yuhan and Li Yuluo often used to sneak out when Li Yuhan ascended the throne at fourteen and Li Yuluo became Prince Kang at seven.
It was a path they had discovered together.
The route remained usable to this day, showing that over the past decade, the buildings and scenery beyond the Jade Pass had scarcely changed.
The only thing that had changed was the people.
The Divine Phoenix Sect was one of the largest sects in all of Nan’an Continent, with tens of thousands of disciples and a sphere of influence covering more than a dozen kingdoms.
Among them, the Five Spirits Sect, the foremost sect of Great Zhou, was a vassal of the Divine Phoenix Sect and offered three guaranteed admission spots every ten years.
Yun Lan had once urged Zhang Yuge to take the Five Spirits Sect’s entrance test for precisely those precious guaranteed spots.
A white crane soared into the sky, heading toward Qingluan Peak of the Divine Phoenix Sect.
A female disciple dressed in the sect’s white Daoist robe, exuding an ethereal aura, approached the crane, which held a small round bamboo tube in its beak.
The girl took the tube and then mounted her sword to depart.
Upon entering the sect’s inner lands, sword flight was prohibited, so she dismounted and jogged briskly toward the grand hall where the Divine Phoenix Sect Leader resided.
Guarding the hall were two female disciples.
Looking around, most disciples on Qingluan Peak were women, all breathtakingly beautiful without exception.
Any ordinary man would surely drool at such a sight.
The guards took the token and allowed the girl holding the bamboo tube to pass.
The girl arrived at the hall’s tightly closed doors, bowed low, and held the bamboo tube out straight with both hands.
“Sect Leader, a letter from the Zhou royal Ji family!”
After a moment, a melodious summons came from inside the hall.
“Enter.”
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