This… was a gesture of goodwill.
A blessing to the people. As long as it was recognized by the masses, then even without the official approval or acknowledgment of the Great Yi Dynasty, one could still naturally enjoy the benefits of its national fortune. Vows of willpower and faith would continuously pour in. The will of the people was the most important aspect of a fate dynasty. Sometimes, you plant flowers with care and they don't bloom, but plant willows without intention and they provide shade.
And this move by Prime Minister Turtle was, without a doubt, a soft yet lethal tactic—a blade wrapped in silk.
Controlling the weather, bringing rain and sunshine, stabilizing the climate for Great Yi—that was an act of benevolence. Once the news spread, even if the Great Yi officials wanted to block it, they couldn't. If they tried, they'd be accused of ingratitude and inciting public discontent. And if they didn't block it, the dragon race would slowly extend their influence, win over the people's hearts, and dominate public opinion. Their goal would be achieved without lifting a blade.
It was all part of an open conspiracy. Even if you knew what was happening, you couldn't stop it. Righteous on the surface, yet difficult to resist.
"Mm, this is a sound method," said the Hanhai Dragon King. "According to the reports from the ancestral court, the Great Yi Dynasty is no ordinary nation. Even heaven's secrets can't predict its fate. Moreover, their currency—the Eternal Coin—naturally carries a portion of the Eternal World's destiny. Like a flowing river, it is endless and abundant. This can ensure the longevity of their national fortune. If we can siphon off even a portion of it, it would be of immense benefit to our dragon race and our greater ambitions."
Had it been any other dynasty, the Dragon King would not have felt so helpless.
"Also," continued Prime Minister Turtle, "since we've already made a move, we must not stop at this. I have a second plan."
"Please continue," said the Dragon King, his interest piqued. The other dragon experts leaned in. If it meant gaining leverage over Great Yi, they were willing to try anything.
"Within the Great Yi territory, every celestial city has its own schools and academies. Children of appropriate age study there, laying the foundation for their future cultivation. We can leverage the fact that our princess is now one of the emperor's consorts to propose that we help educate the next generation. We can send our own experts into these academies under the guise of education. Furthermore, we'll offer exceptional students the opportunity to become Dragon Knights."
"What? Dragon Knights? Impossible!"
A dragon cultivator jumped up in outrage, unable to suppress his fury.
Becoming a Dragon Knight meant riding on the backs of dragons. That was nothing short of enslavement. If word got out, the dragon race's dignity would be utterly shattered. How could they show their faces again? The very thought was intolerable.
"Enough!" interrupted the Hanhai Dragon King. "Let Prime Minister Turtle finish."
"Rest assured," continued the prime minister calmly, "the Dragon Knights are only symbolic. Naturally, true dragons will never be ridden. The ones offered are merely dragon-blooded beasts, at most flood dragons or mixed-blood dragon variants. True dragons will never be enslaved. Furthermore, the riders will only form equal contracts—there is no subjugation."
In strict terms, flood dragons did not qualify as true dragons. Only those with pure dragon bloodlines could be listed on the Ancestral Dragon Wall in the dragon race's sacred court. Flood dragons, even if powerful, weren't fully accepted.
Now that it was clarified that true dragons wouldn't be ridden, the tension eased somewhat. Even so, some felt uncomfortable.
"Still, the term 'Dragon Knight'... it sounds inappropriate and harms our dignity," muttered another dragon cultivator.
"I believe it's worth it," the Dragon King declared. "Dignity is meaningless compared to true benefits. If being a Dragon Knight becomes a great honor in Great Yi, our race's influence will penetrate deeply into their hearts. This plan is feasible."
That was the nature of power—it valued profit over face.
"There's also a third move," added Prime Minister Turtle. "Not only should we grant elite students a chance to become Dragon Knights, but we should also send vast numbers of dragon-blooded sea beasts into Great Yi. Let their people and cultivators form contracts, turning them into mounts and battle beasts. If everyone in Great Yi owns a dragon beast, we'll be able to influence them at will. Our reach will be unparalleled."
Each plan was more sinister than the last, blades of air that killed without drawing blood. More dangerous was the fact that these schemes required time, and the dragon race could afford to wait. Their lifespans were long. A few decades—or even centuries—meant nothing to them.
While the dragon race plotted, the escorting legions finally reached the Great Yi territory, crossing the Iron-Blood Great Wall.
"Princesses, please ascend the Rainbow Bridge. It will take us directly to the Great Yi Imperial City," said Xu Chu and Gan Ning, respectively, to Mo Xue and Hong Luan.
Neither woman objected.
Whoosh!
Two beams of seven-colored light shot into the sky from the north and south. In a flash, both entourages were enveloped in rainbow light and instantly appeared upon the Rainbow Bridge, then sped through the sky toward the capital.
Wherever the Rainbow Bridge passed, celestial cities across the land witnessed the magnificent wedding procession. It was a nationwide celebration, broadcasting the arrival of two new imperial consorts.
"Those are the wedding convoys of the Kirin and Phoenix tribes! His Majesty is marrying princesses from both tribes today. Glorious! This is our Great Yi!"
"Our emperor is a once-in-ten-thousand-years sage! Even the three ancient races—dragon, phoenix, and kirin—must bow before him. This is our dynasty's honor and pride!"
Citizens were filled with pride and sincere blessings.
No one was shocked that Emperor Yi Tianxing was taking more consorts. Compared to the emperors of old—with harems of thousands—Yi Tianxing's consorts were few and far between. In fact, many felt his harem was far too sparse and that his offspring were too few. To this day, he had only fathered princesses—no prince had been born yet, a cause for some concern.
Now that he was marrying more consorts, hopefully heirs would follow.
Meanwhile, standing atop the Rainbow Bridge, Mo Xue and Hong Luan overlooked the lands below. Even at a glance, they were deeply struck by Great Yi's prosperity and unique civilization.
Before long, they reached the capital—Xuanhuang City.
Floating in mid-air, the capital was grand and majestic. Golden clouds of merit filled the skies. Within them, a five-clawed golden dragon loomed faintly, nearly a thousand feet long, exuding invisible aura and pressure, representing the will of the people.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As the princesses arrived, fireworks burst across the city. Even in broad daylight, the rainbow-colored explosions dazzled the sky in celebration.
"By imperial decree: Mo Xue of the Kirin tribe is now titled Imperial Consort Mo."
"Hong Luan of the Phoenix tribe is now titled Imperial Consort Hong."
"They shall enjoy the blessings of the dynasty's fortune."
As the decrees were read, surging fate energy entered both women's bodies. A forty-two-fold enhancement in fate—it was no joke. In that moment, they felt their cultivation realms tremble, as if they were about to break through to the next level.
They also sensed a strand of their will appear within the Hall of Ten Thousand Immortals, their names now engraved upon the Divine Mandate List, forging an eternal bond with Great Yi.
From this moment on, they were Imperial Consorts of Great Yi.
"We thank His Majesty for the bestowal."
Both women descended from their ceremonial carriages and bowed deeply on the Rainbow Bridge, formally accepting their titles.
Soon after, more imperial edicts were issued to celebrate the occasion. The people of the realm rejoiced, for it was indeed a joyous event.