Chapter 245: I’ll Give You Holy Water, So You’ll Submit

The two-headed dragon had already transformed into a small two-headed snake, curled up in the corner, pretending to be dead.

No matter who it was, it couldn’t let anyone see it in such a pathetic state. If word got out, it would be a laughingstock for life. Even as a national beast, it had its dignity, okay?

Leng Qingliu stepped out and pulled out someone sneaking around in the courtyard. “Hu Zhao, why are you here?”

It was Hu Zhao, the younger brother of Hu Zhan, the envoy from the Earth Kingdom.

This time, only Hu Zhan had come as an envoy for the three kingdoms. Hu Zhao hadn’t come, and now that Hu Zhan had fled in the night, how had this kid shown up?

“Stop pulling me! We’re old acquaintances; why are you pulling me like this? Let go!”

Leng Qingliu snorted, “What were you sneaking around in my courtyard for?”

“Tsk, I’m here to help you! Why are you treating me with such hostility?”

“Help me?” Leng Qingliu gave him a once-over. “Help me with what?”

Hu Zhao pointed inside. “I have a way to save that tree.”

“You? Just you?” Leng Qingliu didn’t believe him at all.

Hu Zhao laughed and confidently patted his chest. “Don’t forget, I’m the personal attendant to our Earth Kingdom’s young prince. The things I come into contact with daily far exceed what you, a national teacher of a fallen kingdom, could ever see.”

His brother, Hu Zhan, was an envoy of the Earth Kingdom, holding the rank of third-grade official. And as for him, he was the prince’s personal guard.

“The Earth Kingdom’s prince is here?”

“Hmph, he’s on his way. I just came ahead to secretly scout out the capital for our young prince.” Hu Zhao, knowing their acquaintance, decided to be straightforward. He believed he and Leng Qingliu were on the same side.

“Your brother fled in the middle of the night, and you don’t know?” In other words, your brother’s too busy saving his own skin, and you’re still here chatting with me?

Hu Zhao was a bit embarrassed, but he hid it well. He certainly wasn’t going to tell Leng Qingliu that he came specifically because he heard his brother had fled in the night.

The young prince was still on the road due to his young age and couldn’t travel as fast.

Hu Zhao, however, had agreed to come first and check out the situation in the capital.

Just what kind of place is this Tiansheng Dynasty that could make envoys from three kingdoms lose face?

Leng Qingliu laughed mockingly. “I really don’t know where you get your courage from. You’re just a prince’s personal guard, yet you dare to come to the Tiansheng Dynasty alone.”

“The Tiansheng Dynasty isn’t some dangerous place full of tigers and wolves. You know what it’s like; if the Tiansheng Dynasty were truly powerful, would it still rank last?”

Leng Qingliu waved dismissively—ignorant!

Li Chunfeng and Hu Zhan were ignorant, which was why they ended up so badly.

And now here comes another who refuses to learn.

Leng Qingliu didn’t want to waste time with Hu Zhao. “You should go; I have things to do.”

Like figuring out how to save the Life Tree.

“Heh, Leng Qingliu, I just told you I’m here to help. I can help you revive that tree.”

Leng Qingliu looked at him like he was an idiot.

But Hu Zhao kept smiling, full of confidence. “Our Earth Kingdom’s holy water can definitely bring that tree back to life. You’re familiar with the holy water, right?”

Leng Qingliu’s expression froze. The Earth Kingdom did have a vial of holy water, a treasured heirloom of the royal family. It was said to be left by a god, and the Earth Kingdom had cherished it for a century.

It had been preserved since the reign of the previous emperor.

Leng Qingliu was a bit tempted—

“All I need is for you to pledge allegiance to our Earth Kingdom, and I’ll use the holy water to revive that tree.”

“What did you say?”

“I said I want you to pledge allegiance to our Earth Kingdom.”

Leng Qingliu’s face darkened. “Hu Zhao, you didn’t come to the capital to scout out the Tiansheng Dynasty, did you? You’re here to collect on our Feng Kingdom.”

“Hehe, a person walks on two legs. Of course, I have more than one goal.”

“Our Feng Kingdom originally sought refuge with the Earth Kingdom.”

“Let me tell you the truth. The Earth Kingdom doesn’t want your Feng Kingdom at all. So stop clinging to them. If they really cared about you, would they have let you take so much blame in the past?

This time, when Li Chunfeng and my brother left early, they didn’t even notify you. Think about it: you’re a fallen kingdom, so you shouldn’t be picky. You should be grateful any country is willing to take you in.”

Leng Qingliu was furious. “I won’t pledge allegiance to your Earth Kingdom. Keep your holy water; I don’t want it!”

“Leng Qingliu, don’t be ungrateful. Without our Earth Kingdom’s holy water, that tree of yours will definitely die. It’s just a matter of time. When the national god falls, your Feng Kingdom will have committed a crime against heaven! You’ll be despised by all!”

“Get out of here!” The Earth Kingdom had never respected their Feng Kingdom, so why should he grovel?

As for the Earth Kingdom…

If a mere prince’s attendant dared to speak ill of the Feng Kingdom behind their backs, surrendering to the Earth Kingdom would be even more humiliating than their past alliance with the Earth Kingdom.

The little princess was benevolent, and the Tiansheng Emperor was wise. They had genuinely respected the Feng Kingdom. That alone made Leng Qingliu feel that choosing the Tiansheng Dynasty was the most correct decision he had ever made.

Hu Zhao glared. “You better think this through. This is your only chance.”

“Get lost, get lost! Go as far away as you can!”

“Bah! Leng Qingliu, you can act all high and mighty now, but when that tree dies, you’ll be begging us for that holy water on your knees!”

Leng Qingliu returned to his room and looked at the withered Life Tree, sighing bitterly. “Gods above, did I make a mistake?”

Is holy water really the only way to save the Life Tree?

…

That night, in the imperial palace.

Ah Bao suddenly flipped over and climbed onto the bed, waving at Feng Zhuo, who was perched on the ceiling beam. “Shh, let’s whisper. Don’t let Liang Qin hear us.”

Feng Zhuo: “…”

“Little princess, why are you being so secretive? Do you have something on your mind?”

Ah Bao grinned, showing her little baby teeth, and patted the empty spot beside her. “Come sit here.”

Let’s chat

Feng Zhuo bent down and walked over, but of course, he didn’t dare sit. “Little princess, what is it that you need?”

Oh, come on, there’s no need for orders; this is a discussion.

She never saw Feng Zhuo as just a little eunuch; he was her most trusted friend.

“Have you ever heard of gods?”

Feng Zhuo was stunned. “Yes.”

But he had never heard of anything like that in the Tiansheng Dynasty because there was no national deity and no divine blessings.

“Why don’t we have a national deity?” Ah Bao scratched her head, utterly puzzled.

She was scratching so much that her little pigtail was almost coming undone, yet she still couldn’t figure out the answer.

[Other countries have one, but only the Tiansheng Dynasty doesn’t. Father is very frustrated.]

Ah Bao hadn’t thought it was a big deal that the Tiansheng Dynasty didn’t have a national deity, but after the envoys from the three nations arrived and banded together to strut and belittle her father, she started to feel differently. Her father wanted to rebut their insults but couldn’t, given the harsh reality—he knew how bad it would be to face six enemies at once.

Her father had to consider the people of the Tiansheng Dynasty.

So, Ah Bao came up with an idea: the Tiansheng Dynasty must have a national deity!

If it really couldn’t happen, she’d do it herself. But since she couldn’t forge a golden body, maybe she could…