I, a spoiled young master, conquered the Crown Princess right from the start!

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

The lingering sandalwood incense could not dispel the oppressive and stifling atmosphere in the air.

Tianming stood bowing before the desk, his cold face revealing no emotion. He simply recounted everything that had happened at the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion and the process of taking Chu Feng into the Demon Suppression Tower in a straightforward manner.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Qian, Lu Tianqian, listened quietly, toying with a luminous pearl the size of a longan in his hand, his face as calm as still water.

Only after Tianming finished speaking did he slowly open his mouth, his voice low and hoarse: "Well done."

"It is my duty to share Your Majesty's burdens," Tianming said, bowing his head.

Silence fell once again in the imperial study.

After a long while, Tianming seemed unable to suppress his doubts any longer. He looked up at Lu Tianqian and asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, there is something I do not understand. Please enlighten me."

"explain."

"Since His Majesty has already made up his mind to take action against the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, why... did he not take this opportunity to wipe out the entire mansion, but instead only captured Chu Feng?"

Tianming's voice was very soft, "Today, Chu Tianyuan is already at his last gasp in the palace, and Duke Xiao is struggling alone. As long as the Imperial City Guard and the Imperial Guard under my command go out together, I am absolutely confident that we can take them all down and eliminate any future troubles."

Upon hearing this, Lu Tianqian stopped spinning the luminous pearl in his hand.

He raised his eyes, his deep, unfathomable gaze fixed on Tianming, making the latter feel uneasy before he slowly spoke.

"Tianming, do you think I don't want to?"

His voice carried a hint of weariness and apprehension that was barely perceptible.

"That Chu Tianyuan isn't as simple as you think. A sleeping tiger, even old and with dull claws, is still a tiger. Today he seems to have been defeated by a brute, but who knows if he was deliberately feigning weakness to lure out more rats lurking in the shadows?"

"Moreover..." Lu Tianqian's tone became serious, "His granddaughter, Chu Qingge, who is hailed as a sword immortal. Do you know which sect she belongs to?"

Tianming's heart skipped a beat: "Heavenly Sword Mountain."

"That's right, Tianjian Mountain." Lu Tianqian's voice turned colder. "They're a bunch of lunatics who only care about people, not reason. Chu Qingge is treated like a precious gem by those old guys; she's the next swordswoman for Tianjian Mountain. If we touch Chu Tianyuan, do you believe that within three days, those old monsters from Tianjian Mountain who haven't descended the mountain for hundreds of years will come to me for tea, swords in hand?"

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Tianming's forehead.

He knew better than anyone how terrifying Tianjian Mountain was. It was a behemoth within the Great Qian Dynasty, capable of standing on equal footing with the imperial power.

"Thirdly," Lu Tianqian continued, a ruthless glint in his eyes, "and this is the most important point. In the Northern Border, there are still 100,000 Zhenbei Army soldiers! That army only recognizes the Tiger Tally and the Chu family's banner! Before we have absolute certainty of controlling them, moving against Chu Tianyuan would be tantamount to forcing those 100,000 soldiers to rebel. If the Northern Border becomes unstable and the barbarians invade from the south, who will bear the consequences?"

Three reasons in a row, each building upon the last, were like three mountains pressing down on Tianming, making it hard for him to breathe.

He then understood why His Majesty was so hesitant to act rashly.

"Then, in Your Majesty's opinion, what should we do next?" Tianming bowed again to ask for instructions.

A chilling sneer finally appeared on Lu Tianqian's face, a confident smile befitting an emperor who had everything under control.

"I never do anything without preparation."

He stood up, walked to the huge geomantic map hanging on the wall of the imperial study, and his gaze fell on the northwestern border.

"I have already dispatched someone with the utmost urgency to deliver the news of the Princess's tragic death at the Prince of Zhenbei's residence to the Northwest."

"Judging by the time, Marquis Weiyuan should have received the message by now."

Upon hearing this, Tianming's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he instantly understood the emperor's intention.

It was common knowledge that Marquis Weiyuan and the Princess were deeply in love. Upon hearing of his beloved wife's tragic death, he would surely be consumed by rage and lose his reason.

Lu Tianqian looked at the route on the map that led from the northwest to the northern border, a cruel smile curving his lips.

"I have already given him a secret edict, ordering him to immediately lead his most elite 200,000-strong Fierce Tiger Army to the northern border under the pretext of 'suppressing the rebellion' and take over the defense of the Zhenbei Army."

"One is the Zhenbei Army, which is leaderless and its morale is low."

"One is the Fierce Tiger Army, whose commander is furious and whose morale is soaring."

"Tianming, tell me, who will win this battle?"

Tianming answered without hesitation, "The Fierce Tiger Army will surely win!"

"That's right." Lu Tianqian nodded in satisfaction. He seemed to already see the Zhenbei Army being disarmed and the northern border defenses being completely under his control.

"Once Marquis Weiyuan conquers the northern border and takes control of the Zhenbei Army, Chu Tianyuan will become a tiger with its teeth pulled. At that time, I can make him die however I want."

"As for that Chu Feng..." Lu Tianqian's gaze turned towards the Demon Suppression Tower, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes, "Let him enjoy the last moments I've prepared for him in that living hell."

The emperor's schemes were intricately linked and extremely ruthless.

Tianming was deeply moved, and his awe of the emperor before him deepened even further.

"Your Majesty's wisdom and foresight are truly admirable!"

Lu Tianqian waved his hand, sat back on the dragon throne, and his expression returned to its indifferent state.

"Go and keep a close eye on the movements of the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion and the Duke of Xiao's Mansion. This game has only just begun."

"As you command."

Tianming bowed and withdrew, disappearing into the shadows of the Imperial Study.

The entire hall fell silent once more, leaving only Lu Tianqian sitting quietly on the cold dragon throne, his gaze deep and unfathomable, like a bottomless pool of icy water.

The next day, early in the morning.

Before dawn, the entire capital was awakened by the urgent tolling of bells.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

That is the Jingyang Bell, a warning bell that will never be rung unless the country is in peril or the borders are lost!

Countless people were jolted awake from their sleep, threw on their clothes, rushed out of their homes, and looked in the direction of the palace with suspicion and uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the palace hall was in complete chaos.

"Report—!"

A messenger, clad in heavy armor and covered in blood, stumbled and crawled into the hall, holding aloft a blood-stained military report, his voice hoarse and desperate.

"Urgent dispatch from the Northern Frontier! Yumen Pass... Yumen Pass has fallen!"

"The Zhenbei Army withdrew 300 li (approximately 150 kilometers) last night, abandoning Yumen Pass and all surrounding defenses!"

"The barbarians...the barbarian army of two hundred thousand crossed the Jade Gate Pass this morning and is advancing rapidly! The northern border...is in imminent danger!"