In a breakfast shop in the western part of Tiandou City, three figures took their seats.
The shop owner was astonished. To think the crown prince would visit his humble shop for tofu pudding!
As for the unidentified flying creature, he had heard of it and wasn't particularly surprised.
"Two sweet tofu puddings, one salty!"
"You heretic!" ×2
"Xue Qinghe" and Paimon, looking at Zhongli, thought the same thing in unison.
After a brief exchange, "Xue Qinghe" immediately ruled out the correct answer.
Zhongli could not possibly be that Emperor!
Rumor had it that Zhongli was quite knowledgeable, earning Dugu Bo's favor, who gifted him a mansion. Otherwise, this newcomer and his little companion might have ended up on the streets.
"Brother Zhongli, I've heard you're quite learned. Care to have a discussion?"
Despite Zhongli being an "ordinary person," "Xue Qinghe" maintained surface-level respect, a mask she couldn't easily remove.
"Your Highness, Zhongli knows everything from the past five hundred…"
Paimon started, then froze, as if realizing something, and quickly changed her tune.
"Zhongli doesn't know anything!"
"All he's good for is freeloading food and drink!"
Zhongli: "…"
Was there something he shouldn't say?
"Xue Qinghe" paused, glancing subtly at Zhongli.
Even his martial soul said so—it seemed he truly knew nothing.
"No matter. What would Your Highness like to discuss?"
Consider it payment for this breakfast.
Zhongli's voice was steady, exuding an overwhelming sense of trust and security.
This didn't match his supposed lack of strength!
"Hm?"
"Xue Qinghe" was slightly surprised.
Paimon had already given him an out, saying he knew nothing.
Yet he stepped up himself?
Very well, don't blame me for being blunt!
"Brother Zhongli, what's your view on the current Wuhun Hall?"
"Xue Qinghe" threw out a "death trap" question. She was the crown prince of Tiandou, but let's not forget—she was also the Saintess of Wuhun Hall!
To outsiders, this was merely the Tiandou crown prince probing about Wuhun Hall out of caution—a perfectly reasonable question.
"Wuhun Hall, hm…"
Zhongli murmured, stroking his chin as if deep in thought.
"Zhongli, if you don't know, don't try to bluff the crown prince. Careful, he might not treat us to tofu pudding!"
Zhongli, "Xue Qinghe": "…"
Little cutie, do you have to be so honest?
"With all due respect, Wuhun Hall's current strategy is sound, but it faces both internal strife and external threats."
Zhongli ignored little Paimon. Couldn't even food shut her mouth?
At his words, "Xue Qinghe" froze.
Sound strategy?
Internal strife and external threats?
What did he mean by that?
Was he, as Paimon suggested, trying to bluff her?
If he could actually fool her, that would be a feat in itself.
"Brother Zhongli, what do you mean by 'sound strategy' and 'internal strife and external threats'?"
"First, the strategy."
"In the Douluo Continent, soul masters are the most prestigious and powerful group."
"Wuhun Hall has established branches in every town and village across the two empires."
"Every year, they uniformly assist commoners in awakening their martial souls. For those with talent, Wuhun Hall is always quick to recruit them."
The more "Xue Qinghe" heard, the more turbulent her heart became.
Didn't Paimon say Zhongli was clueless and ready to bluff her?
This… this was far from clueless!
He knew too much!
"Wuhun Hall takes over the two empires' role in providing subsidies to commoner soul masters and recruits those with potential."
"Step by step, their strategy is to attract genius soul masters to strengthen Wuhun Hall."
"Of course, even average soul masters are recruitment targets. After all, a weak soul master is still a soul master!"
"Xue Qinghe" was convinced. Her gaze toward Zhongli changed.
No wonder someone as reclusive as Dugu Bo held Zhongli in such high regard!
And even gifted him a mansion!
This was no useless man—he was a strategist unparalleled in a thousand years!
A mere mortal, yet he could see beyond the surface to deeper truths. Truly terrifying!
"Mr. Zhongli, you are a scholar beyond compare!"
From calling him by name to "Mr.," her change was as swift as flipping a page!
"Please, enlighten me."
"Xue Qinghe" stood, cupping her hands in a respectful gesture, as a student would to a teacher.
After all, she was seeking his wisdom.
"No need for formalities. This is merely my personal perspective and speculation."
"If Your Highness—"
"No, Mr. Zhongli!"
"Xue Qinghe" quickly waved her hand, lowering her status with ease.
"Please, call me Qinghe. 'Your Highness' feels too distant!"
They'd barely met a few times—why not keep some distance?
Of course, with Zhongli's emotional intelligence, he wouldn't say that.
"Very well, Qinghe. Please sit. We can discuss any questions you have."
"Yes!"
"Xue Qinghe" cupped her hands again before sitting.
Her demeanor was so flawless that even the strictest critic could find no fault.
This was the crown prince of Tiandou, the future emperor!
Yet she was so refined, courteous, and approachable!
"Please, Mr. Zhongli, what are these internal and external threats to Wuhun Hall?"
Under that woman's leadership, Wuhun Hall was thriving.
Why would Zhongli say such a thing?
"Wuhun Hall recruits indiscriminately, taking in anyone with even a hint of talent, regardless of character."
"Xue Qinghe" knew this and nodded subconsciously.
But with her grandfather in charge, Wuhun Hall would never fall into chaos!
"There's infighting among Wuhun Hall's higher-ups. The Elder Hall and the Pope Hall are at odds…"
"Hiss~"
"Xue Qinghe" gasped. How could a mere mortal know such things?
Thankfully, Zhongli didn't mention the Enshrinement Hall, or Qian Renxue would have been even more shocked!
"Mr. Zhongli, how do you know about the discord between the Elder Hall and Pope Hall?"
"Even the empire hasn't uncovered the slightest hint of this."
"Xue Qinghe" spoke calmly, as if unconcerned about Wuhun Hall.
"Qinghe, what is the martial soul of Wuhun Hall's popes through the ages?"
As a descendant of the Angel God, how could she not know?
She answered instinctively: "Six-Winged Angel!"
"Correct. And what is Bibi Dong's martial soul?"
Before "Xue Qinghe" could respond, Zhongli continued: "She's merely a puppet propped up by others!"
Boom~
His words struck like a thunderbolt, leaving "Xue Qinghe" stunned.
He… he even knew that!
"I wish to invite Mr. Zhongli to join my Eastern Palace. Should I become emperor one day, you shall be the prime minister of the nation!"