...
"This is outrageous! This is outrageous!!"
After a brief silence, Emperor Xueye finally erupted.
He abruptly overturned the imperial desk, scattering memorials all over the floor, his whole body trembling with rage.
"This is hardly the training of a reclusive family!
This is clearly an attempt to trample the face of my Heavenly Dou Empire underfoot!"
"First they beat and insulted a prince!
Now they're defecating on the head of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy!
They even dared to openly kidnap someone right under the walls of the capital!!"
"What is he trying to do?! Huh?!"
"Does he even respect the Heavenly Dou Empire?!
Does he even respect me, his emperor?!"
"Is he planning a rebellion?!"
This is no longer a simple provocation.
This is a blatant trampling of the dignity of the Heavenly Dou Empire!
This is a declaration of war against the entire royal family!
"Where is Dugu Bo?!" Emperor Xueye suddenly remembered something.
"His granddaughter has been kidnapped, where is he?!"
"Your Majesty Dugu… is probably already on your way back." Meng Shenji said in a low voice.
"well!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Emperor Xueye's eyes. "Since that's the case, then there's no need to worry about any hidden families!"
"Issue my decree! Order the Imperial Guards to seal off the Tiandou Royal Hotel! Entry is permitted, but exit is not!"
"This time, I want to see if the patriarch behind Dugu Bo dares to step forward in the face of his wrath!"
"Father! Absolutely not!"
Seeing that Emperor Xueye was already furious and preparing to directly mobilize the Imperial Guards to suppress him, Xue Qinghe quickly stepped forward, blocking the messenger's path, and urgently dissuaded him:
"Father, the situation is still unclear! We know nothing about that young man's background.
If we rashly deploy the Imperial Guards and completely break off relations, there will truly be no way to salvage the situation!"
"Reconcile? Why should I reconcile?!"
Emperor Xueye laughed in fury, pointing towards the palace gate, "He's practically defecating on my neck! And I'm supposed to give him any leeway?!"
"So what if he has a Title Douluo behind him?
Does the Heaven Dou Royal Family have no one to rely on?!"
"Dugu Bo is a guest elder of our royal family!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is a pillar of the empire, with two His Holiness the Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo in charge.
Do you think we're afraid of some reclusive family that just popped out of some remote mountain village?!"
"Father..." Xue Qinghe wanted to persuade him again.
"Shut up!!"
The Emperor Xueye abruptly swept his sleeve, clearly having lost all patience.
"Qinghe, I am usually pleased with your composure.
But today's matter concerns the dignity of the nation and the royal family! There is no room for compromise!"
"Guards! Proclaim my decree!"
The Emperor looked at the eunuch with icy eyes and murderous intent:
"Marshal Ling Gelong will personally lead the Royal Knights to seal off the Tiandou Royal Hotel!"
"I want to see whether that wild brat has a tougher backbone or the iron cavalry of my Heavenly Dou Empire is tougher!"
"yes!"
The eunuch obeyed the order and rushed out, tumbling and crawling.
Seeing this scene, Xue Qinghe sighed inwardly, knowing that the old man was completely out of control and no amount of persuasion would work now.
He cupped his hands in greeting and said in a low voice, "Since Father has made up his mind, then your son... will go and arrange the relevant matters to avoid causing panic in the city."
"Go." Emperor Xueye waved his hand wearily.
As Xue Qinghe left the Imperial Study, the submissive look on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a deep solemnity.
That old man is really senile!
Dugu Bo, that madman, might really fight Xuan Hao to the death for his granddaughter, but how could the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School possibly fight to the death with a mysterious force that is suspected of having a Title Douluo backing them for such a trivial matter?
Ning Fengzhi was a notoriously shrewd person, the kind who wouldn't act until he saw a clear benefit.
not to mention...
The woman standing behind Xuan Hao is...
If this matter really gets out of control and forces that woman to take action, the Tiandou Empire will definitely not come out on top.
If things escalate, the Heaven Dou royal family will lose face, and the conflict with the Spirit Hall could even cause internal turmoil.
This would be a huge blow to her long-planned scheme to seize the country.
Although the Heavenly Dou Empire appears prosperous on the surface, it is already rife with undercurrents.
The various duchies outwardly comply but inwardly defy them, and the nobles below harbor their own ulterior motives.
Once the central imperial power weakens, this vast empire could disintegrate at any moment.
In that case, it will only benefit the covetous Star Luo Empire!
Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, quickened his pace, and headed straight for the palace gates.
The only one who can persuade that senile old man now is Ning Fengzhi.
...
Tian Dou City, Qi Bao Zhai.
This is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's property in Tiandou City, and it's also where Ning Fengzhi usually handles sect affairs and meets important guests.
"What?! They've kidnapped Dugu Yan?!"
Ning Fengzhi, who was enjoying his tea, trembled upon hearing the news from Xue Qinghe, spilling scalding tea all over the table.
He didn't care, however, and stared at Xue Qinghe in astonishment.
"This kid..."
"Is he trying to make things worse than they already are?"
Ning Fengzhi was truly dumbfounded by Xuan Hao's lawless actions.
They had just humiliated the royal family in the morning, and then in the afternoon they went to kidnap the granddaughter of a titled Douluo.
This is going to completely offend both major powers in Tiandou City!
"Teacher, now is not the time for sentimentality."
Xue Qinghe looked anxious. "Father has already ordered Marshal Ge Long to mobilize the Imperial Guards to seal off the hotel.
You know Father's temper; once he gets serious, it's a fight to the death."
"If we really break ties with the power behind that young man, and the other side really has a Title Douluo in charge... the consequences would be unimaginable."
Compared to Xue Qinghe's anxiety, Ning Fengzhi appeared unusually calm.
He even leisurely picked up the purple clay teapot, poured two more cups of hot tea, and gently pushed one of them towards Xue Qinghe.
"Qinghe, calm down."
Ning Fengzhi picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, and said calmly, "His Majesty is neither impulsive nor senile.
On the contrary, at this moment, he is more clear-headed than anyone else."
"What?" Xue Qinghe was stunned, his anxious expression frozen on his face. He looked at his teacher in disbelief.
"Teacher, what do you mean?
Father Emperor has already ordered Ge Long to mobilize the Imperial Guards to surround a young man who is suspected of having a Title Douluo background. Isn't that impulsive?"
"If a fight really breaks out..."
"There won't be a fight." Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly and pointed to the chair in front of him.
"Sit down, have some tea, and calm down."
Seeing that Xue Qinghe had sat down but still had a furrowed brow, Ning Fengzhi put down his teacup and asked with a deep gaze:
"Qinghe, let me test you. If you were in His Majesty's position, how would you handle this situation?"
Xue Qinghe pondered for a moment, then answered according to his previous line of thought:
"The cause of this matter is that my fourth brother was a spoiled brat and provoked a powerful enemy.
Now that Dugu Yan has been kidnapped, that is a personal grudge between Dugu Bo and that young man.
If the royal family can stand by and watch, reap the benefits, or even step in to mediate at a critical moment and do both sides a favor, that would be the best course of action."
"Now that the royal family is personally involved and has mobilized the Imperial Guard, it not only appears petty, but also draws all the hatred onto themselves, which is a very bad strategy."
Ning Fengzhi shook his head upon hearing this.
Xue Qinghe was somewhat puzzled. "Please enlighten me, teacher."
"Qinghe, you only see the advantages and disadvantages, and you focus too much on the advantages and disadvantages, but you ignore people's hearts."
Ning Fengzhi sighed, stood up, walked to the window, looked in the direction of the palace, and slowly said, "Although the cause of this matter was Xue Beng, Prince Xue Xing asked Dugu Bo to stand up for Xue Beng.
In other words, Dugu Bo got involved in this turmoil for the sake of your royal family."
"Now that Dugu Bo's granddaughter has been kidnapped at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, this is a slap in the face to Dugu Bo and also to the royal family."
"If, at this moment, the royal family chooses to play it safe and remain on the sidelines, watching Dugu Bo charge into battle alone..."
Ning Fengzhi turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Xue Qinghe:
"What do you expect Dugu Bo to think?"
"He'll feel that the royal family is cold-hearted!
He'll feel that the royal family can only share wealth and honor, but not hardship!
He might even feel that the royal family is treating him like a knife that they're used and then discarded!"
"Although Dugu Bo is aloof, he is, after all, a Title Douluo and the only guest elder of the royal family.
If he becomes disloyal and alienated, that would be a true loss for the royal family!"
"Moreover, this matter has escalated to this point, and everyone is paying attention.
If the royal family treats Dugu Bo coldly, what do you think people will think?
If one day it's their turn to fight for the royal family, won't they have to guard against the royal family discarding them after they've served their purpose?"
"The heart of one person is the heart of millions."
Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe's pupils contracted slightly.
"Therefore, Your Majesty must act."
Ning Fengzhi continued, "His Majesty mobilized the Imperial Guards, and even appointed Ge Long as commander-in-chief.
This was not only for the sake of that young man, but also for the sake of Dugu Bo."
"His Majesty is telling Dugu Bo: the royal family shares his hatred of the enemy and will stand together with him through thick and thin!
No matter how unfathomable the enemy may be, the royal family will never back down!"
"This is a political gesture, meant for Dugu Bo, and also for the world.
This is the true imperial strategy for winning hearts and minds and consolidating imperial power."
"To place too much emphasis on advantages and disadvantages is merely a petty tactic; it may bring a night's rest, but it is by no means the way of an emperor."
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