So what if I have a few billion concubines while I'm cultivating immortality?

Meanwhile, inside the Jin Prince's palace.

Prince Qin Yuan of Jin sat in the main seat of the study, his face calm.

Below him sat his trusted advisor, Mr. Zhao.

And several other key advisors.

"Have all the news from the capital been confirmed?"

Qin Yuan looked around at everyone and asked.

"Confirmed, Your Highness."

Zhao, the strategist, nodded and said, "His Highness Prince Yan and his three thousand iron cavalry, Prime Minister Xu Guofu and his cronies, as well as the Ninth Prince, have all been executed in the palace coup. Now the capital is pacified, and His Majesty... Qin Xiao, has completely taken control of the situation!"

Although they had already received word of it.

But upon confirming it again, Qin Yuan's heart was still filled with turmoil.

Could that absurd sixth brother possibly possess such abilities?

They actually turned defeat into victory against Qin Lie's three thousand iron cavalry warriors.

And wipe out all the rebels in one fell swoop...

"Is the Flying Phoenix Army really that powerful?"

Qin Yuan frowned, incredulous. "Luo Qingluan may be a talented general, but how could she possibly defeat three thousand martial arts cavalry? This is simply..."

"Your Highness!"

Zhao, the strategist, suddenly stood up and stepped forward, saying, "According to my deduction, Qin Lie and Xu Guofu must have engaged in a fierce battle after storming the inner palace, resulting in mutual attrition and significant losses in their strength!"

"Qin Xiao was merely hiding in the shadows, waiting until both sides were severely weakened before ordering the Flying Phoenix Army to clean up the mess and reap the benefits!"

"This is a case of reaping the benefits without lifting a finger!"

The more he spoke, the more reasonable his deduction seemed, and his tone became increasingly excited: "Your Highness, please consider this: even if the Flying Phoenix Army won by sheer luck, how could they have escaped unscathed from the charge of three thousand martial arts cavalry? They must have suffered heavy losses and numerous casualties! The capital city may appear stable now, but it is actually strong on the outside but weak on the inside! This is precisely the perfect opportunity for Your Highness!"

Several other advisors echoed this sentiment:

"Mr. Zhao is absolutely right! Your Highness, this is a golden opportunity!"

"With the capital in turmoil and the Flying Phoenix Army suffering heavy losses, Your Highness should devise a grand plan as soon as possible!"

"Yes, Your Highness, this is a golden opportunity!"

Listening to his confidants' analysis, Qin Yuan's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

A flame of ambition ignited in his eyes.

Yes!

Qin Xiao, that good-for-nothing, stopped practicing martial arts a long time ago and is stuck at the fourth level of Martial Master.

She's not even as good as Luo Qingluan, a woman!

Even he is inferior.

Although he doesn't have much talent.

But he's still a fifth-level martial artist!

Just as Mr. Zhao said, that kid was lucky and got a bargain!

The Flying Phoenix Army is now weakened.

This is my chance to rise to prominence!

The atmosphere in the study gradually became lively.

The group had already begun discussing their strategy for raising an army...

However, the next afternoon.

A trusted guard rushed into the study, knelt on one knee, and urgently reported, "Your Highness! Urgent report from the capital! The Emperor announced this morning at court that he will be touring the country. His first stop is Jinyang Prefecture! He is expected to arrive within half a month!"

"What?!"

Qin Yuan suddenly stood up from his seat, his face filled with astonishment!

Zhao, the strategist, and the others exchanged bewildered glances.

They discussed a strategy for a day and a night.

So, Qin Xiao is going to come in person?

Wasn't this discussion pointless?

However, this is actually a good thing!

"Your Highness!"

Mr. Zhao was the first to react, clapping his hands excitedly and exclaiming, "Great news! This is truly Heaven's help to the Prince!"

Startled by Mr. Zhao's words, Qin Yuan recovered from his daze and frowned, asking, "What makes you say that, Mr. Zhao? With the Emperor himself present, fortune or misfortune is unpredictable; what is there to be happy about?"

"Your Highness, please consider!"

Zhao, the strategist, said with a sharp look in his eyes, "If Qin Xiao is far away in the capital, our raising of troops would be tantamount to rebellion, which would be illegitimate and a costly expedition."

"But now, he's delivered himself right to our doorstep! Isn't this a golden opportunity, a trap laid for him?"

"At that time, we only need to use a little trick. Once Qin Xiao arrives, whether we mold him or not will be entirely up to you, Your Highness."

"If we could 'invite' him to the Jinyang Palace and 'warmly invite him to stay'..."

"Haha, by holding the emperor hostage to command the disobedient, the vast empire of the Great Yong will surely be yours!"

Qin Yuan murmured repeatedly, "To hold the emperor hostage and command the disobedient..."

Yes!

Going to the capital to take action would be tantamount to rebellion.

But if you control the emperor on your own territory, there are so many things you can do!

They could easily claim that the emperor was recuperating here.

He himself, in the name of the emperor's younger brother and a vassal king, "acted as the emperor's brother in charge of state affairs".

Eliminate dissidents step by step, and eventually take their place!

"Brilliant! Brilliant indeed! Mr. Zhao's strategy is truly admirable!"

Qin Yuan clapped his hands and laughed loudly!

"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness!"

"The tyrannical ruler has walked right into the trap; the prince's great ambitions are within reach!"

"This is the destiny ordained by Heaven!"

The other advisors also looked delighted and bowed in unison to offer their congratulations!

"I am in high spirits today! Gentlemen, you have all worked hard. Go back and get some rest. We will discuss the details tomorrow!"

As Qin Yuan spoke, a meaningful smile appeared on his face, and he called out towards the door, "Prepare the carriage, I'm going to Ziyan Pavilion!"

"Purple Beauty Pavilion?"

The advisors were all taken aback upon hearing this.

Immediately, they all revealed ambiguous smiles.

Mr. Zhao cupped his hands and smiled, "Good things come in pairs! Your Highness, receiving this auspicious news today is truly a time of great fortune. This trip to Ziyan Pavilion will surely win Miss Mu's heart and create another beautiful love story!"

The Miss Mu he mentioned was none other than Mu Ziyan, the renowned head of the Ziyan Pavilion in Jinyang Prefecture and even throughout the entire Dayong Capital.

This woman has an extraordinary background. Her father is Mu Yunshan, the president of the "Four Seas Chamber of Commerce," the number one chamber of commerce in the world, which controls nearly 30% of the commerce of Dayong and is incredibly wealthy.

Unlike some neighboring countries that emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, Dayong has attached great importance to commerce since its founding.

Therefore, although the status of merchants was not as high as that of the gentry, it was by no means low.

Especially for top business groups like the Sihai Chamber of Commerce, their influence can even reach the highest levels of government.

Even regional princes and high-ranking officials in the court had to give him some face!

As Mu Ziyan's only daughter, she inherited her father's business acumen.

The Ziyan Pavilion, an elegant place that combines tea tasting, music listening, and antique appreciation, has been managed with great success.

It became a place that attracted scholars, officials, and dignitaries from Jinyang Prefecture and even the surrounding prefectures.

She herself possessed a beauty that could topple kingdoms.

Moreover, he was exceptionally talented, excelling in chess, music, calligraphy, and painting!

However, in contrast, Mu Ziyan is naturally aloof.

For ordinary people, seeing her is as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Although she lived in Ziyan Pavilion, she rarely went out.

They rarely receive guests.

After Qin Yuan met Mu Ziyan by chance, he was immediately captivated by her beauty and could not forget her.

Given his status as a prince, if he took a fancy to an ordinary woman, even one from an official family, he could find a way to force her into marriage.

However, he dared not use force against the daughter of the Sihai Chamber of Commerce.

Firstly, the Sihai Chamber of Commerce is a powerful organization, and its influence is far-reaching.

His father, Mu Yunshan, had connections with many important officials in the court and even members of the imperial family.

Secondly, he forced his wife to marry a merchant's daughter, especially the daughter of the richest man in the country.

If word gets out, it will be very detrimental to his reputation as a "wise king" and will affect his grand plan to recruit talent and win over the people.

Therefore, Qin Yuan had no choice but to humble himself and try to win over this icy beauty with his talent, demeanor, and sincerity.

Unfortunately, Mu Ziyan seemed to have no interest in this high-ranking prince.

He sent invitations to see the emperor several times, but was turned away each time.

The gifts that were sent were all returned untouched.

Qin Yuan had always felt frustrated, yet his desire only grew stronger!

Now, great things are about to be accomplished, and the future is bright.

Qin Yuan was filled with boundless ambition, feeling that everything in the world was worth his attention!

This naturally includes Mu Ziyan, whom he had been longing for but could never have.

He believed that, faced with the supreme power he was about to seize, even the most aloof woman would know how to make a choice!

Not long after.

The magnificent royal carriage, escorted by guards, drove out of the Jin Prince's Palace.

Heading towards the most renowned Ziyan Pavilion in the city.

Inside the carriage, Qin Yuan closed his eyes to rest, humming a little tune contentedly.

In his mind, he was already envisioning himself controlling the emperor with one hand and holding a beautiful woman in the other, ascending to the pinnacle of power...