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“Don’t look at me like that, Imperial Brother. I just enjoy being lazy on regular days, and besides, Su Yu is by my side, telling me I don’t need to do anything,” Wang Jinhe said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Xuan Feiran couldn’t help but chuckle at Wang Jinhe’s awkwardness.
Just a moment ago, he thought she was different, but now she had reverted to this.
“Alright, I didn’t say anything. Why are you in such a rush?” Xuan Feiran said with a smile, shaking his head.
Then his expression became serious, “What you’re doing is right. If you excel too much, certain individuals might start to feel threatened.”
Having one of Su Yu or Wang Jinhe possessing such abilities was sufficient; it was better if the other appeared more ordinary.
“By the way, Brother, my Uncle asked me to bring this to you, saying that it could be useful to you.” Wang Jinhe suddenly remembered Yu Jingchuan’s instructions and handed the black box to Xuan Feiran.
Xuan Feiran, with a surprised expression on his face, looked at the black box Wang Jinhe handed over. “This…”
“Jinhe, where did you get this from?”
“Uncle gave it to me.” Didn’t she already mention this? Why was the Emperor asking again?
Seeing Xuan Feiran’s demeanor, it seemed like this item was incredibly important.
“Brother, is this item very important? You seem quite excited about it,” Wang Jinhe scratched her head, asking curiously.
Xuan Feiran was beyond merely being excited at this point; he was extremely thrilled.
After some consideration, Xuan Feiran explained to Wang Jinhe, “How should I put this? Let me explain it this way: this item would be of no use in your hands, but in mine, it becomes a treasure. Do you understand now?”
“Not only do I desire this item, but even people from the Qi Empire, the Ling Empire, and even the Lu Empire covet it,” Xuan Feiran said solemnly.
Wang Jinhe looked deeply puzzled, gazing at Xuan Feiran with confusion. She was familiar with Qi and Ling, but now, a new entity, the Lu Empire, had emerged. What was this Lu Empire, and why did it matter?
“Brother, what is this Lu Empire? I’m completely lost,” Wang Jinhe said, bewildered.
“The Lu Empire is much more powerful than the Xuan Empire, Qi, and Ling,” Xuan Feiran replied with a furrowed brow.
In truth, Xuan Feiran didn’t have extensive knowledge about the Lu Empire either. Historically, Lu had always maintained a stance of non-interference, seemingly indifferent to worldly affairs.
No matter how many wars or conflicts occur, the Lu Empire always pretends to be oblivious to everything.
However, according to what his father had mentioned before, this item was something coveted by the Lu Empire.
Upon hearing Xuan Feiran’s explanation, Wang Jinhe didn’t believe that the Lu Empire was as simple as it seemed. Instead, she considered the Lu Empire to be potentially the most challenging country to deal with.
“What are the people of the Lu Empire like?” Wang Jinhe curiously inquired.
“They are fine. The Lu Empire places a high value on martial arts, making their military strength comparatively formidable. If we were to engage in war with the Lu Empire, we might not necessarily emerge victorious,” Xuan Feiran explained.
Xuan Feiran’s only solace lay in the fact that the Lu Empire didn’t seem to harbor ambitions; otherwise, they might have been vanquished long ago, leaving no room for recuperation.
However, Wang Jinhe held a completely different perspective from Xuan Feiran: “Brother, I think you should be prepared for everything, especially after attacking the Qi Empire.”
“Why?”
“Isn’t there the Qi Empire between the Xuan Empire and the Lu Empire?” Wang Jinhe suddenly asked.
Xuan Feiran’s expression changed, indicating he understood Wang Jinhe’s point.
Looking grim, he nodded, “You’re right. There is indeed only the Qi Empire separating the Xuan Empire and the Lu Empire. A mutually dependent relationship.”
“Exactly. Does the Lu Empire truly know nothing about what the Xuan Empire possesses now? Do they really not desire it?” Wang Jinhe asked Xuan Feiran.
“If you were in the Emperor’s position, and the Xuan Empire is the most powerful country, wouldn’t you want something good that a weaker country has?” Xuan Feiran remained silent, but Wang Jinhe’s words did make him feel somewhat inadequate from the perspective of a sovereign ruler.
Because they truly desire it.
They are willing to obtain the item at all costs if it benefits their people, even if it means going to great lengths.
If this is how he perceives things for the greater good, then the people of the Lu Empire would likely feel the same way.
“Jinhe, do you think we should temporarily set aside our plans to conquer the Qi Empire?” Xuan Feiran asked.
Wang Jinhe paused for a moment before responding with a smile, “Brother Emperor, what are you saying? Why would we postpone it? Although we will have more to manage and more people to care for, the Qi Empire is already struggling to sustain itself. If we don’t take it, the Lu Empire might, and the outcome would be the same.”
Xuan Feiran chuckled and shook his head, realizing he had overthought the situation. He had been preoccupied with the citizens’ well-being, not wanting to engage with the people of the Lu Empire too soon, inadvertently overlooking this aspect of the dilemma.
“Brother, perhaps the Lu Empire might also try to get involved and grab a share,” Wang Jinhe said seriously, looking at Xuan Feiran.
That statement made Xuan Feiran smile. If the Lu Empire were to intervene in the conflict with the Qi Empire, it would indeed become challenging for the Qi Empire to hold its ground.
“Now, we wait for news from Su Yu and the others,” Xuan Feiran remarked, eager to confirm their suspicions.
If the Lu Empire also took action, it would validate their assumptions that the Lu Empire did harbor such ambitions.
Expanding one’s influence is a desirable pursuit for many.
“I will head back now,” Wang Jinhe informed.
“Alright, I have some matters to attend to as well,” Xuan Feiran replied, realizing it was time to retrieve the items related to the black box.
After returning to the mansion, Wang Jinhe went to check on Yuan Xu. Xiao Bao and Xiao Zhi, on the other hand, were kept at the palace by Hong Yi and refused to leave, no matter what.
Wang Jinhe agreed to let the children stay with Hong Yi for a while, realizing their time together was limited.
Upon seeing Yuan Xu still in a coma, Wang Jinhe anxiously asked, “Will he really be okay?”
Yuan Xu’s condition was quite alarming, leading to Wang Jinhe’s concern.
“Rest assured, Sister-in-law. Yuan Xu’s wounds have already begun to heal. This state of unconsciousness, in his case, is actually beneficial,” explained Nan Qiao.
“Then I can relax. Nan Qiao, do you know about the Lu Empire?” Wang Jinhe inquired.
“I do have some knowledge about it. The royal family of the Lu Empire are a bunch of sanctimonious individuals. Just looking at them makes one feel disgusted,” Nan Qiao remarked.
“Why did you suddenly ask about the Lu Empire, Sister-in-law?” Nan Qiao inquired curiously.
Wang Jinhe shook her head with a smile, replying, “Oh, it’s nothing much. The Emperor just mentioned it when I visited the palace today, and it sparked my curiosity, so I asked a couple of questions.”
Upon understanding the situation, Nan Qiao nodded in comprehension.
“Well, in that case, Sister-in-law, the high-yield crops you’ve cultivated are surely something the Lu Empire would desire. After all, they belong to countries with abundant land but scarce food resources,” Nan Qiao explained.
“Is that so? If that’s the case, why haven’t they sent anyone over?” Wang Jinhe expressed surprise, considering that representatives from the Qi Empire and the Ling Empire had visited, finding it unexpected that no one from the Lu Empire had come.