69novels Chapter 236 Xue Qinghe
Chapter 236 Xue Qinghe
Chapter 236 Xue Qinghe
The Imperial Palace of Heavenly Dou, the Hall of State Affairs.
Wearing a crimson-gold robe and a crown, Emperor Xue Ye of the Heavenly Dou Empire sat on the imperial throne on the high platform of the main hall.
Xueye was tall and upright, with white hair and a long beard, and an old face. He held a tall glass goblet filled with clear, dark red wine, and was drinking it to himself, looking extremely relaxed and content.
Looking down at the young man sitting upright at the table on the left, diligently reviewing memorials and government documents, Xueye's old face showed a satisfied expression, feeling deeply gratified.
In a good mood, he picked up his wine glass and gulped down a few mouthfuls of the dark red liquid, then exhaled a long breath of alcohol, feeling extremely refreshed.
The young man looked to be in his early twenties. He wasn't as muscular as Xueye, but his posture was just as upright.
He wasn't particularly handsome, but he had a straight nose and a square face.
He has a gentle face, and at first glance, he gives people an exceptionally good feeling. He is approachable, warm and gentle.
The young man had a full head of long, black hair, tied with a gold ribbon, which hung neatly down his back.
He was dressed in a clean and tidy white robe with gold trim, and a swan embroidered on his chest, symbolizing his martial spirit. He exuded a special aura.
This young man was Xue Qinghe, the third son of Xue Ye, the third prince of the Tian Dou Empire, and the current crown prince.
Several years ago, the eldest prince and the second prince died one after another. In addition, Xue Ye found that his health was deteriorating. So he named the third prince, Xue Qinghe, as the crown prince and gradually handed over the affairs of the empire to him.
really.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe did not disappoint Xue Ye. He handled the imperial affairs in an orderly manner, and his political skills were excellent. He handled many things perfectly, which made Xue Ye very satisfied, and even far exceeded her expectations.
The Okula clan of the Heaven Dou royal family inherited a swan, a swan, a rather ordinary swan spirit that wasn't very useful.
As the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye Okula knew this all too well.
Therefore, if a monarch wants to control the entire Heavenly Dou Empire and firmly grasp the throne in the hands of the Okula clan, he must have excellent political skills.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe has clearly met this requirement, and is far superior to his troublemaking fourth prince, Xue Beng.
This is one of the reasons why Xue Ye chose the Third Prince Xue Qinghe, rather than the Fourth Prince Xue Beng, as the Crown Prince of Tian Dou.
Of course, more so because...
He had no choice.
Because Xueye's favorite eldest and second princes had already died tragically.
However, Xue Ye was indeed impressed by Prince Xue Qinghe's performance, and became increasingly satisfied and fond of him.
Therefore, Xue Ye began to entrust more of the affairs of the Heavenly Dou Dynasty to Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
He himself spends his days eating, drinking, and having fun, enjoying life to the fullest.
During the day, while having fun, he would occasionally take time to eat and drink while supervising and teaching the crown prince the art of imperial strategy.
In the evenings, he would return to the inner palace, favor his concubines, and begin the process of procreation, hoping to have more princes and princesses.
Unfortunately, my health wouldn't allow it.
As his health deteriorated, Emperor Xueye gradually became less and less capable.
He used to be able to enjoy the company of several concubines in a single night, but now, even when faced with just one, he is somewhat powerless.
Every night, he could only lie flat and let his concubines serve him, but no matter what they did, it was no use.
So, Xueye could only gradually calm down and begin to find solace in wine, because he really didn't want to face the strange looks from the young concubines.
Thinking about all this, Xueye couldn't help but feel a little depressed.
The wine I was holding suddenly didn't smell good anymore.
Looking down at Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who was diligently reviewing memorials and handling government affairs, Xue Ye was satisfied, but her eyes held a deeper meaning, with a hint of hesitation flashing in their depths.
Nowadays, Xue Ye has almost entirely handed over the political affairs of the Heavenly Dou Empire to the Crown Prince.
However, the power to coordinate military operations and mobilize troops has not yet been handed over to the Crown Prince and remains firmly in Xue Ye's own hands.
That's why.
Because the deaths of the eldest and second princes were too suspicious and too sudden, Xue Ye suspected that it might have been the work of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
Of course, this is just a suspicion.
After all, he had no evidence.
Besides, even if it was Crown Prince Xue Qinghe who killed his two elder brothers, so what?
I didn't feel anything special about the snowy night.
To ascend to the throne of a country, one must not only possess exceptional political skills but also be ruthless and merciless.
That's how it was on that snowy night back then.
He was able to ascend to the throne of the Heavenly Dou Emperor because of his ruthless methods; he killed many of his brothers.
Throughout history, the competition within royal families has always been this brutal.
Therefore, even if there is evidence proving that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe murdered his two elder brothers, Xue Ye would not remove him from his position as heir apparent because of this. Instead, he would cover for him and conceal the truth.
At most, he would be a little more wary of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and put him through some more tests.
Moreover, there is currently no evidence to prove that the deaths of the eldest and second princes were caused by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
of course.
By leaving behind the authority to coordinate military affairs and deploy troops on a snowy night, Xue Ye naturally aimed to ensure his own imperial throne and personal safety, while also demonstrating his vigilance and caution towards Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
However, Xue Ye could never have imagined that his third prince, Xue Qinghe, had actually died several years ago.
The prince standing before him at this moment was actually an imposter.
The actor playing Crown Prince Xue Qinghe is none other than the young master of the Spirit Hall, whom he fears, and the daughter of the current Pope, Bibi Dong.
A thousand feet of snow!
…………
Time passed second by second.
The sun was gradually setting in the west, and it was already afternoon.
After reviewing the last memorial, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe signed his name on it, picked up his seal, dipped it in ink, and pressed it onto the memorial with a soft "thud." He then closed the seal and placed it aside.
Once the memorials have been reviewed and approved, someone will come to collect them shortly and hand them over to the Minister of State Affairs of the Cabinet for distribution and processing according to the Crown Prince's instructions.
"Finally, all the official business is finished!"
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe took a long breath and sighed inwardly.
He didn't actually like dealing with these tedious administrative affairs, but for the sake of his goals, he had no choice but to endure it, working diligently and conscientiously, participating in the handling of these affairs in every detail.
Fortunately, his efforts were not in vain.
Now that Xueye has handed over the reins of government to him, he has begun to oversee the country and is becoming increasingly adept at it.
With political power in hand, many things can be arranged, personnel can be deployed, and infiltration efforts can be increased.
With his political skills, he will surely be able to ascend to the throne of the Heavenly Dou Empire in the future, and in that case, he will seize the entire Heavenly Dou Empire.
Thus, his task was completed.
At that time, the woman who gave him the task will surely have a very interesting expression on her face, and she will definitely look at him with new respect.
However, as expected of an emperor who has held the reins of power for many years, Xueye is still quite cunning. He hasn't relinquished military power yet, which is still firmly in his hands and is causing some trouble.
It seems that the deaths of the eldest and second princes have made Xueye suspicious of him, which is why he is reluctant to hand over military power.
But there was no evidence, and given Xueye's nature, he wouldn't do anything to himself.
No rush, take your time.
He won't live much longer in the snowy night; let him linger on for a while longer.
When the time comes, he will have to hand over military power whether he likes it or not.
After placing the last memorial, Xue Qinghe's mind was clear, and he kept thinking.
With the last political matter resolved.
Xue Qinghe didn't want to stay in the government hall any longer and wanted to return to his palace as soon as possible.
Staying here, constantly facing the old man in the snowy night, he felt utterly detached.
Only by returning to his own palace could he break free from his constraints, feel free, and regain his true self.
Without further thought, Xue Qinghe immediately stood up from his chair and walked out.
Xue Qinghe was tall and slender with a well-proportioned figure, over 1.8 meters tall. He had a gentle and approachable demeanor, making him exceptionally pleasant to look at.
That is why almost everyone who met him had a very good impression of him, and believed that he would surely become a benevolent and loving monarch in the future.
"Your Majesty, I have reviewed all the official documents submitted today."
Xue Qinghe arrived at the center below the high platform where the emperor's throne was located in the main hall of government affairs, and performed a court etiquette that was so standard and flawless that it was impeccable.
"Well done!"
On a snowy night, holding a tall, glass-like wine glass, I gently swirl the liquid and offer a word of praise.
"Thank you for your praise, Father. It is thanks to your excellent teaching."
Upon hearing the praise, Xue Qinghe immediately smiled and returned the compliment.
"Haha, you always have such a nice way of speaking, much better than your good-for-nothing brother Xue Beng."
Upon hearing this, the emperor was overjoyed and burst into laughter. Then, his tone shifted abruptly, and he angrily retorted:
"That wretched avalanche, all he does is run amok and never strive for anything. He's driving me crazy!"
"Father, please calm down. Fourth Brother is still young and just doesn't know any better. Perhaps he will change when he grows up."
Xue Qinghe quickly spoke, outwardly appearing to be speaking up for his younger brother Xue Beng, but inwardly he gritted his teeth and said unhappily:
"If I hadn't killed two princes, causing that old man Xueye to become suspicious of me, would I have kept that disgusting piece of trash, Xue Beng, alive until today?"
"Alright, stop defending him. Don't I know that brat's nature? Changing him is easier said than done."
Xueye waved his hand helplessly.
Then, looking at Xue Qinghe, whose face was full of respect, he said something meaningful:
"Qinghe, you must not disappoint me."
"Your subject will certainly live up to Father's expectations, and will continue to work hard to assist Father in handling imperial affairs, fulfill the regent duties entrusted to him by Father, and safeguard the glory of the Heavenly Dou Empire."
Xue Qinghe felt a slight unease, but his expression remained unchanged. He carefully chose his words and made a firm promise.
"Very good. With your words, I am very reassured to entrust the Heaven Dou Empire to you."
Upon hearing this, Xueye smiled with relief.
"Now that the official business has been completed, you may return."
Xue Ye took a sip of red wine and waved gently at Xue Qinghe.
"Yes, Father! Your subject takes his leave."
Facing the snowy night, Xue Qinghe once again performed a flawless courtly etiquette. In the instant he lowered his head, a strange light flashed in the depths of his eyes, disappearing in an instant.
After finishing her greetings, Xue Qinghe straightened up, turned around, and walked slowly towards the entrance of the government affairs hall. Her gentle and refined demeanor was like a spring breeze.
As Xue Ye watched Xue Qinghe's departing figure, the expression in his eyes shifted slightly, becoming somewhat unpredictable, as if he were thinking something.
Only after Xue Qinghe's figure disappeared outside the main hall did Xue Ye turn his gaze away and drink the remaining half-cup of wine in his glass goblet in one gulp.
"Someone come here!"
He shouted loudly in the snowy night.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing the summons, the commander of the imperial guards, who was waiting outside the main hall, immediately entered the hall and knelt down to pay his respects.
"Send these official memorials to the Cabinet."
Xueye pointed to the half-meter-high pile of memorials that Xue Qinghe had reviewed and gave the order.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The commander of the royal guards immediately accepted the order.
…………
Xue Qinghe strode out of the government affairs hall.
Not long after.
An elderly man, over two meters tall, with a slender build and a straight, sharp posture like a javelin, emerged from the shadows.
The old man was at least seventy years old, with a golden snake pattern adorning his brow.
This old man was none other than another Title Douluo who was secretly protecting Qian Renxue as she carried out her undercover plan to seize the country.
Serpent Spear Douluo, She Long.
She Long's martial spirit is a spear about twelve feet long, with a curved spearhead and a forked point like a snake's tongue. It is bluish-purple all over and has extremely strong attack power.
Especially when the man and the spear are combined, their attack power is even more terrifying.
Therefore, after breaking through to become a Title Douluo, he was bestowed the title "Serpent Spear" by the Spirit Hall Douluo Hall.
She Long's cultivation level is the same as Ci Xue's, both being Title Douluo level 92 in Soul Power.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince."
She Long approached Prince Xue Qinghe, touched his chest, and bowed slightly in greeting.
Because they were outside, surrounded by many people, She Long's current identity was that of the commander of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's personal guards, so he was naturally addressed as His Highness the Crown Prince.
"Okay, let's go back."
Xue Qinghe nodded slightly and continued walking forward.
She Long followed behind, always on guard against any potential dangers.
The other dozen or so guards also quickly followed.
Each of these guards is a Soul Master, and their Soul Power level and strength are not low.
Apart from the two Soul Saints, the rest were all Soul Emperors.
They were all clearly skilled fighters from the Spirit Hall.
About 15 minutes later.
With the loyal escort of his guards, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe finally returned to his palace.
Soon, he brought She Long back to the palace.
"Young Master."
Ci Xue's figure flashed and landed in front of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and She Long, bowing to the former.
"Um."
Xue Qinghe nodded slightly, somewhat surprised that Ci Xue had suddenly appeared to greet him. Because he needed to conceal his identity, Ci Xue rarely showed himself in front of him.
However, Xue Qinghe didn't think much of it.
"I'm a little tired, I'll go back to my palace to rest first."
He said something to Ci Xue and She Long in a low voice, then walked towards his own palace.
Just then, She Long, who exuded a cold aura, suddenly frowned, as if he had discovered something. He was about to speak up to warn her when a slightly chubby hand covered his mouth.
The words that were about to be spoken were abruptly interrupted.
Why are you covering my mouth?!
She Long's mouth was covered, and he made several muffled sounds but couldn't speak. It took him a long time to break free from Ci Xue's grip. He stared coldly at Ci Xue, wanting an explanation.
He had just sensed someone in the young master's palace and was about to warn the young master when Bloodthirst stopped him.
"You want to warn the young master that there are people inside, right?"
Faced with She Long's anger and questioning, Ci Xue remained unconcerned and chuckled as he retorted with a question.
"You knew that, yet you still stopped me?!"
She Long frowned and said coldly.
"I advise you not to meddle in other people's business."
With a face covered in blood and a honey-like smile, he said...
"Wait, did you put the people inside?"
She Long raised an eyebrow and asked in surprise.
Within his spiritual perception, he sensed a faint heartbeat within the young master's bedchamber.
Judging from her aura, it was an unfamiliar one. She wasn't a Soul Master; she seemed to be just an ordinary person, and, well, a girl at that.
Huh? A girl? Why a girl?
Could it be that...
Does the young master have a particular taste? Does he like women?
No way? Hiss~~~
She Long gasped, and as he thought of a certain possibility, his eyes turned strange.
"What kind of expression is that?"
Seeing the strange expression that suddenly appeared on She Long's face, Ci Xue guessed that he might have misunderstood something.
So he quickly reached out his slightly chubby hand, grabbed She Long's shoulder, and dragged him into the side hall next door.
As he walked, he said:
"Come, come, let me tell you, it's like this."
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(End of this chapter)