Endless Winter: My Camp Infinite Upgrades

Chapter 489 The Cage in Xia Yusheng's Eyes, Treated as His Own Child

On December 26th of the twelfth year of the Great Xia Dynasty, as the cold sun was about to set...
Deep within the inner city, the ornately decorated Zhaixing Palace, illuminated by lights, exudes an air of opulence and grandeur.

Because the entire palace is half-suspended on the eastern cliff face, hundreds of meters high, when people look up from the ground, it looks like a brightly lit fairy palace in the clouds, making it even more mysterious and noble. The shadows of people passing by the eaves and windows of the palace from time to time make people not only have endless imagination, but also feel a strange longing.

As the residence of the lord, the Star-Picking Palace is undoubtedly sacred and solemn in the hearts of everyone in the Great Xia Dynasty.

According to incomplete statistics, since the Great Xia Dynasty was completed in September of the second year, more than ten years have passed, and apart from the lord's family and maids, no more than 20 people in the entire Great Xia Dynasty have ever entered it.

Starting from the third year of the Great Xia Dynasty, meeting Lord Xia Hong gradually became a highly honorable event in the minds of the Xia people.

It's not hard to understand. Xia Hong, as the lord, has long held a supreme position in the hearts of the Xia people. Fanaticism, reverence, worship and other emotions fill the hearts of almost all Xia people.

In the Battle of Hongmen in the eighth year of the Great Xia Dynasty, Xia Hong defeated Yang Zun in full view of everyone, seized the title of the strongest in the Nine Towns, sacrificed the Twelve Beast Kings, and dominated the eight towns of the Southern Slope, officially ascending to the throne of the Southern Slope Overlord.

Adding to the Chuishan upheaval two years ago, Lady Li Xuanling used her sword to kill Duan Hong and annihilate the Duan clan. This not only helped the Mu clan seize power but also strongly facilitated the Nine Towns Alliance. Lord Xia Hong officially reigned supreme in the southern foothills as the leader of the alliance.

These two consecutive events have once again elevated Xia Hong's reputation and image to an extremely high level. It is no exaggeration to say that the Xia people now regard him as a god.

However, Xia Hong, who held such a high position, had been in seclusion for an extended period since September of the third year of the Great Xia Dynasty, and had since rarely appeared in public.

Therefore, seeing him became a very, very difficult thing.

Things are valued for their rarity. Let's not even talk about the outer towns. Take Xia City as an example. Among the millions of people, less than one-fifth have ever seen Xia Hong. The vast majority of them are Xia soldiers, and they have only seen him from afar.

The number of people who actually saw Xia Hong up close, or even had actual contact with him and had a conversation with him, was extremely small, at most two or three thousand, and the vast majority of them were from the early days of the Great Xia Dynasty.

In the past, those who were granted titles in the Great Xia Dynasty could be fortunate enough to bring their families to the Hall of State Affairs at the annual Han Yuan Banquet. However, since the ninth year of the Great Xia Dynasty, they could no longer even be seen at the Han Yuan Banquet.

Things are valued for their rarity. So few people in Xia City have actually seen Xia Hong. Being able to see him even once naturally becomes something to brag about.

Compared to meeting the lord, entering the Star-Picking Hall is even more difficult, like ascending to heaven.

Some busybodies have counted that, apart from the lord's younger brother, the family of Si Cheng Xia Chuan, and the eight department heads, the number of people who have actually entered the Zhaixing Hall in the Great Xia Dynasty is probably less than a handful.

Xia Hong's supreme status and the mystery surrounding the building undoubtedly added another layer of sacredness to the Zhaixing Palace. In addition, Mu Dong took advantage of the inner city expansion last year to expand and renovate the Zhaixing Palace, making it even more magnificent and imposing. The Xia people's curiosity and awe for this building became even stronger.

Unfortunately, there's no curiosity left. Now, let alone entering the Star-Picking Hall, it's extremely difficult to even get a little closer to it.

Last year's expansion of the inner city was directed towards the deeper east side. Mu Dong led a massive number of craftsmen to carve into the rock walls inside Shuanglong Mountain, more than doubling the size of the inner city. Now, the total area of ​​the inner city is more than 30 square kilometers.

The Lord's Hall, the Eight Departments Hall, the three pavilions for alchemy, weapon forging, and martial arts, as well as the Great Xia Ancestral Temple at the deepest part, and of course the Star-Picking Hall perched on the mountainside, are now all surrounded by high black earthen walls, forming a city within a city with a diameter of about two kilometers, which is the Great Xia Palace City that the Xia people talk about today.

As the core of power in the Great Xia Dynasty, the Summer Palace was naturally not open to ordinary people. Except for officials of the third rank and above who could enter and exit the Summer Palace without permission by holding their personal tokens, everyone else, regardless of their status, had to go through the process of being summoned and granted permission before they could enter.

The Summer Palace is surrounded by walls that are nine meters high. If you stand outside the walls, you can't even see the main halls inside the palace. Only from a distance can you barely see the upper part of the main halls inside.

As for the Star-Picking Hall, since it is suspended a hundred meters high on the mountain wall, people in the inner city can basically see a bit of it whenever they look up. People will always have a more exploratory mentality towards things that are within sight but cannot be touched, which is another reason why they have always been curious and longing for the Star-Picking Hall.

Curiosity aside, the Star-Picking Palace is really just a residence. It only becomes so eye-catching because of Xia Hong's lord status.

Who would have thought that this palace in the clouds, which everyone in the Great Xia Dynasty flocked to, was, in the eyes of its young master, an absolute prison, and one that was becoming increasingly suffocating.

"Your Highness, good news! We can go to the Tiger Breeding Forest after dark."

On the west side of the Star-Picking Hall's martial arts arena, Xia Yusheng, dressed in a tailor-made black outfit and wielding a silver longsword, was locked in fierce combat with a mid-level Lei Kui that was over seven meters long. Upon hearing Han Yue's words from the side of the arena, his expression suddenly froze.

He reached out his small hand and patted the forehead of the Thunder Kui. The intermediate-level Thunder Kui, which had been ferocious, froze in its blue pupils. Then, a burst of light erupted. When the light disappeared, the Thunder Kui also disappeared, leaving only a motionless Frost Beast Stance, standing still in place.

Xia Yusheng walked to the edge of the training ground, picked up a towel to wipe the sweat off his body, and then looked up at Hanyue with a suspicious look on his face and asked, "Didn't Mother say before that we could only go to the Tiger Breeding Forest on the 28th? We can go today, Aunt Hanyue, are you lying to me?"

Seeing Xia Yusheng's precocious demeanor, Han Yue couldn't help but smile and nodded, saying, "It's true. Madam asked me to inform His Highness to change his clothes quickly so we can set off after nightfall. The Imperial Guard went to the Tiger Forest last night to clear and guard it. Before I came, I asked Han Shuang to inform the eldest and second young masters, as well as His Highness's friends. They should have already set off by now. The Imperial Guard is already waiting at the North Gate."

"Wow, that's great!"

Upon hearing Han Yue's words and confirming that the news was true, Xia Yusheng's doubts vanished instantly, his pupils filled with surprise, and he couldn't help but exclaim, jumping three feet high. His handsome face turned rosy from the flush, showing just how excited he was.

"I'll go change my clothes right away, I'll be done soon, Aunt Hanyue, wait for me!"

Xia Yusheng was so excited that it took him more than ten breaths to react. He rushed to the back room to change his clothes.

"Second Prince, please slow down, don't fall..."

Seeing Xia Yusheng rushing towards his room, Han Yue worried that he might fall and couldn't help but remind him. However, she stopped herself before she could finish speaking, and after a strange look on her face, she quickly followed him.

Watching Xia Yusheng's retreating figure, Han Yue's eyes held deep affection, strong pride, and a hint of melancholy.

The First Prince and the Second Prince were both born on the fifth day of the eighth month of the third year of the Great Xia Dynasty. They are now nine years, four months and twenty-one days old, which is exactly 3381 days.

Lord Xia Hong has been in seclusion since the year the two princes were born, which was the third year of the Great Xia Dynasty. He has not returned since the ninth year of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Lady Li Xuanling was slightly stronger, but in reality, they were about the same. Especially after the lord went away, apart from handling government affairs, she spent most of her time in seclusion at the Star-Picking Platform, only emerging once every two months under normal circumstances. Under such circumstances, the people who truly accompanied the two princes as they grew up were actually the maids of the Star-Picking Palace, and Han Yue, as the head of the maids, was naturally the main person in charge.

Three years ago, after the lord went away, according to the lady's orders, his younger sister Han Shuang was put in charge of the eldest prince Xia Yuyao's daily life, while she was specifically responsible for taking care of the second prince Xia Yusheng.

For over nine years, accompanying, raising, and witnessing a child grow from a babbling infant to a teenager capable of fighting against cold beasts is undoubtedly an extremely special feeling. This feeling even transcends identity and status, and often gives Han Yue some inappropriate illusions.

Han Yue didn't know how to describe this illusion before, but three years ago, after marrying her husband Tie Xinchuan and giving birth to her first child, she instantly understood.

This kind of illusion is called treating someone as your own child!

Without realizing it, she had come to regard the Second Prince as her own child.

She could never tell anyone about such a bold idea; she could only bury it deep in her heart and silently do her job.

"Aunt Hanyue, I'm all changed!"

Xia Yusheng, who was just wearing a tight-fitting outfit, has now changed into a well-fitting black brocade summer dress. The dress is embroidered with silver threads, and the sleeves and collar are trimmed with gold brocade. He wears a small silver crown and a pair of shiny black animal skin boots. Two blood-red jade pendants hang from his waist, and he also carries a custom-made silver horizontal sword. He exudes an air of nobility from head to toe.

"Your Highness, no need to rush. There's still some time before it gets dark. Let me tie your hair up first!"

Han Yue noticed that Xia Yusheng's hair was a bit messy, and knowing that he was eager to go out, she couldn't help but smile and step forward to help him re-braid it.

The Second Prince has really grown up; he'll be coming of age in just over five years!
Seeing that Xia Yusheng had grown almost up to her shoulder, Han Yue was momentarily dazed, but quickly composed herself and braided his hair.

"Hurry up and it gets dark, hurry up and it gets dark..."

Seeing Xia Yusheng staring longingly at the window of the main hall, muttering to himself, Han Yue felt a mix of amusement and pity.

It's true that Xia Yusheng lives a life of luxury; his food, clothing, and daily necessities are all top-notch in the Great Xia Dynasty. However, in terms of freedom, he lacks far too much compared to other children his age in the city.

The lady was extremely strict with the two princes, especially after the lord went away, which began in the ninth year of the Great Xia Dynasty. Xia Yuyao and Xia Yusheng were not allowed to move around freely, not only in the outer city but also in the inner city. They could only move within the designated area.

And this so-called defined scope is basically within the Summer Palace.

This harsh discipline was so severe that even Han Yue felt it was a bit excessive. There was even a time when she couldn't help but want to advise the madam, but before she could even utter a word, the madam glared at her and she had no choice but to give up.

Xia Yusheng was at an age where he was curious about everything and longed to explore, but he was confined in this small Star-Picking Palace and could not go anywhere. All he did all day was cultivate. You can imagine how bored and annoyed he felt.

If it weren't for Han Yue's help in finding a way to allow children of the same age in the city to enter the Summer Palace once a month to play with Xia Yusheng, he probably would have been clamoring to go out long ago.

"The Crown Prince is much better. After all, she is a girl. According to Han Shuang, the Crown Prince spends all day either cultivating or reading. Sometimes she even takes the initiative to go to the Star-Picking Platform to ask the Lady for advice on cultivation!"

As Han Yue's thoughts drifted, a maid rushed in from outside the hall. After bowing to Xia Yusheng, she hurriedly said to her, "Sister Han Yue, Commander Zhou of the Dragon Guard has arrived and is waiting outside the Lord's Hall. Please take the Second Prince there quickly!"

As soon as the maid finished speaking, Xia Yusheng dashed off towards the drawbridge connecting the Star-Picking Hall to the Lord's Main Hall.

"Your Highness, please take it easy..."

Seeing this, Han Yue quickly followed, not forgetting to turn back and instruct the maid behind her, "Ming Yue, I'm going to keep an eye on the Second Prince. Please go and tell Madam for me."

"Understood, Sister Hanyue!"

Han Yue followed the suspension bridge and saw Xia Yusheng's running speed ahead. Her eyes were filled with surprise, and she couldn't help but shake her head and say, "The Second Prince's basic strength is almost 26 jin, but he still hasn't broken through."

Reaching the limit of the Earth-Digging Realm, the stage of reshaping the skin membrane, with a basic strength of 26 jin, is completely beyond Han Yue's comprehension.

"But what's even more impressive is His Highness. I heard from Han Shuang that His Highness's basic strength is already close to 27 jin. The talents of the two princes will likely surpass those of the lord and his wife in the future..."

Although Han Yue had served Xia Hong and his wife for many years, she didn't really know much about their abilities.

In fact, it's not just them. The aptitude of Xia Hong and Li Xuanling remains a mystery in the Great Xia Dynasty. Everyone knows they are very strong and talented, but no one really knows exactly how talented they are.

"Currently, the two most talented people known in Great Xia are said to be Si Cheng and Yuwen Sizheng. When they broke through to the Cold Resistance level, their strength was 6 manes and 6 manes respectively. Given the current situation of the two princes, it is probably a foregone conclusion that they will surpass the two of them."

Thinking of this, Han Yue smiled, clearly feeling proud of Xia Yusheng's amazing talent.

Soon, Han Yue followed Xia Yusheng across the suspension bridge and arrived at the Lord's Hall.

The two wasted no time and went straight out of the main hall to the door.

Two hundred elite soldiers clad in black scale armor were already standing at the entrance. The leader bowed deeply upon seeing Xia Yusheng: "Zhou Yalong, Commander of the Dragon Guard, greets Your Highness!"

"Imperial Guard, pay your respects to the Second Prince!"

Zhou Yalong bowed deeply, and the remaining two hundred soldiers immediately followed suit, bowing respectfully in unison.

(End of this chapter)