Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 233 Please ask the Empress Dowager to help me with my cultivation

"What do you mean?" Duanmu Xian asked, puzzled.

Tianfeng slowly said, "Did you contact the Xianbei people and have them set up a magic array in Tiesan Pass?"

"Hmm," Duanmu Xian said, "Gu Guanqi is too strong. I'm not confident I can kill him. So, my plan is to control the strange beasts in Tianshan, lure Gu Guanqi to Tiesan Pass, use the magic array to enhance him, and then rely on the power of the strange beasts to kill him."

Tianfeng nodded slightly and said, "In the causal lines I observed, Gu Guanqi was trapped by the magic array and was unable to escape, and then I killed him."

However, I just sensed that the magic array inside Tiesan Pass has been broken, and a battle has taken place inside. There's the aura of Tianshan Sect techniques. Without a doubt, the one capable of that is Leng Lingxi.

"How is this possible?" Duanmu Xian exclaimed in shock. "The one who set up the magic array at Tiesan Pass was the Xianbei Grand Preceptor Tuoba Han, with the assistance of the Xianbei General Shi Hu and the Xianbei army. How could Leng Lingxi not be able to break that magic array? What is Tuoba Han doing? Even if he couldn't kill Leng Lingxi, he shouldn't be unable to even stop her, right?"

Tianfeng said, "Now it seems that you seriously underestimated Leng Lingxi's cultivation level."

A hint of resentment flashed in Duanmu Xian's eyes as she said, "Is the gap between us really that big? Back then, she was just a kid following me around. Even the position of sect leader was something I willingly gave up for her. How could she possibly be so much better than me?"

Tianfeng said calmly, "That might just be wishful thinking on your part. You think you let her have it, but is it possible that..."

She's always been considerate of your feelings, which has led you to misunderstand and think that the gap between you two isn't that big?

"Impossible!" Duanmu Xian immediately lost control of her emotions, angrily saying, "I must have overestimated Tuoba Han. He's all talk and no action; he's actually a good-for-nothing!"

Tianfeng waved her hand and said, "There's no point in talking about this now. Things are complicated right now. The magic array being broken means I can't kill Gu Guanqi."

Duanmu Xian asked anxiously, "Aren't you observing the causal lines and deducing the future? Why are there still unexpected changes?"

Tianfeng shook her head slightly and said, "Cause and effect are very complicated. Although I cultivate the Dao of Cause and Effect, it does not mean that I can control cause and effect. This thing is very complicated."

However, it won't have a significant impact. From the moment we reached a deal, it meant the final outcome wouldn't change. I was certain I could complete this deal, because that's how cause and effect work.

Duanmu Xian asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Tianfeng thought for a moment and said, "Cause and effect. The cause is invisible, and what is seen is the effect. Because the cause has already been planted, it can be infinitely extended and is always both the effect and the cause. The cause is the effect, and the effect is also the cause."

Duanmu Xian looked completely bewildered.

Tianfeng reached out and picked up a stone from the ground, then tossed it down the mountain. As the stone fell, it said, "This is the cause. The cause planted at this moment, and the fruit of this cause will perhaps appear a day later, a year later, a hundred years later, a thousand years later. Because of this cause, this fruit will be born. Therefore, that fruit is destined, because..."

The seed was sown long ago!

Duanmu Xian asked, puzzled, "In a hundred years, a thousand years, this stone might be gone. What kind of fruit could it possibly bear then?"

Tianfeng said, "There are many possibilities. It could be someone starving to death, a village being massacred, a river overflowing its banks, or even a dog giving birth to a litter of puppies!"

Duanmu Xian asked blankly, "What do these things have to do with this stone?"

Tianfeng shook her head slightly and said, "You've misunderstood something, or rather, you mortals subconsciously believe that there's a connection between cause and effect. You think that if you kill someone, and twenty years later, that person's son comes to take revenge and kill you, that's cause and effect."

Actually, no. There is no relationship between cause and effect. Or rather, it's not that there's no relationship, but rather that there isn't a direct connection. At your level, you only need to understand one thing: cause is cause, effect is effect, and there is only one connection between them, which is destiny.

For example, I can see in you that a hundred years ago, a man caught a fish, so you were destined to meet me. That fish had nothing to do with you, and that man had nothing to do with you, but because that event was a cause, the effect of your meeting me was bound to happen.

Duanmu Xian asked, "Was meeting you the result, or is my ending the result?"

Tianfeng paused slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in her eyes, and said, "You have great comprehension, it's just a pity that your fate is predetermined, otherwise, I would be quite interested in giving you some pointers."

"What will my fate be?" Duanmu Xian asked.

Tianfeng shook her head slightly and said, "It'll lose its meaning if you tell the story."

Duanmu Xian was silent for a moment, then asked, "Then what do you mean by 'the fruit is also the cause'?"

Tianfeng said, "When I threw that stone just now, it was the cause, but that only corresponds to the effect in the future. It was the cause. However, when it corresponds to a certain event in the past, throwing that stone was the effect."

Because this was destined, a cause that occurred at some point in the past, destined me to throw this stone here. Therefore, my throwing the stone is both cause and effect; thus, in my view, everything I see, everything that happens now, is the effect!

Duanmu Xian seemed to be deep in thought. After a while, she said, "So, in your opinion, it was destined that Gu Guanqi would be killed by you."

"Yes," Tianfeng said, "Gu Guanqi will die by my hand. Although the cause is your deal with me, the cause was actually sown at some point in the past. He will definitely die by my hand."

As for me, because I have cultivated the Way of Cause and Effect, I am both within and outside of cause and effect, acting as an observer. I follow, I observe, I complete this line, ending one chapter of cause and effect and beginning another. This is my Way!

Duanmu Xian pondered for a while, then suddenly smiled and said, "If that's what you mean, what's the point of living? Everything is predetermined, as if everyone is just on a stage. What's real and what's fake then?"

Tianfeng said, "It's not what you think. This is just my path, this is just the world as I see it. You may find it meaningless, but I find it very interesting."

For an ordinary person, the world is simply about having enough to eat and wear, having a home, and working from sunrise to sunset – that's the best life. But for the wealthy and powerful, that's not the life a human being should live; they crave power and a life of luxury.

In the eyes of practitioners, pursuing fame, fortune, and material pleasures is meaningless; pursuing the supreme path is the best thing.

So, whether it's true or false, it all depends on how you interpret the world!

Duanmu Xian said, "I think I understand now."

"Let's go then!"

"Where to?" Duanmu Xian asked, puzzled.

Tianfeng said, "Let's go to the Xianbei royal court. The original cause-and-effect line of Tiesan Pass has been connected to other cause-and-effect lines, and it has changed. I have to take you to follow another cause-and-effect line."

Duanmu Xian asked, puzzled, "Didn't you say that cause and effect are predetermined? Why has this place changed?"

Tianfeng pondered for a moment and said, "The causal line is not a single line, or even a single line. It has only one cause and one effect, but from the cause, countless lines will radiate out. However, all these lines ultimately connect to the same effect."

Gu Guanqi, he has many causes and many consequences. The moment I made a deal with you, my karma intervened in his karma, leading him down the path that would lead to his death in my hands.

Duanmu Xian suddenly realized: "So, according to you, the so-called destiny is just the cause and effect you see, but if other people intervene, then what is destined will become another destiny."

Therefore, this time, Gu Guanqi was originally destined to die at Tiesan Pass; this was predetermined by that causal line. However, due to the intervention of other causes and effects, the causal path shifted to another direction. It's just that, currently, the outcome hasn't changed.

Tianfeng nodded and said, "You really have great comprehension."

Duanmu Xian said speechlessly, "Then what's the use of your Dao of Cause and Effect? ​​It only shows one possible outcome, but in reality, there are many possible outcomes."

Tianfeng said, "Isn't that enough? Being able to foresee future effects based on past causes already gives me a significant advantage. You must understand, facing a world-class opponent like Gu Guanqi, I'm still undefeated. Don't you think that's enough?"

Duanmu Xian said, "It's not that it's bad, it's just that it's not as mysterious as I imagined."

Tianfeng shook her head slightly and said, "That's a higher level. Right now, I can only observe cause and effect and intervene in cause and effect through the Dao."

But I used to be able to distort and twist cause and effect.

Duanmu Xian asked doubtfully, "Aren't you already a legendary immortal?"

Tianfeng nodded and said, "I was once an immortal."

Duanmu Xian asked, "Then how did you become like this? Why can't you use your abilities?"

Tianfeng raised its claw, extended a finger, pointed it towards the sky, and said, "Because I ascended, and then fell down."

"Wh-what do you mean?" Duanmu Xian asked. "I can't tell you that."

Tianfeng shook its head slightly, stretched out its claws to grab Duanmu Xian's shoulder, then spread its wings and flew into the void.

Duanmu Xian looked at Tianfeng from the side and suddenly noticed that there was a faint smell of decay deep in Tianfeng's feathers, and there seemed to be insects wriggling at the base of the feathers.

Tiesan Pass.

After Leng Lingxi killed Tuoba Han and Shi Hu, the Xianbei army fell into chaos.

After Wang Tianhe arranged for people to destroy the array's core, he immediately began to organize a counterattack. With Leng Lingxi carrying out several decapitation strikes, the counterattack went very smoothly. It didn't take long to scatter the Xianbei army, and the remaining people retreated from the city.

However, Leng Lingxi was somewhat distracted. After the Xianbei army withdrew from the city, she immediately found Wang Tianhe and said, "General Wang..."

"Jun, I'm leaving all the aftermath of the Battle of Tiesan Pass to you. I must leave immediately."

Wang Tianhe asked in confusion, "Sect Leader Leng, is there something urgent?"

Leng Lingxi said, "You know the main purpose of Tuoba Han and Shi Hu today. They came for Alliance Leader Gu. Behind them is Duanmu Xian, the princess of the Ji Prince's Mansion who faked her death."

It's suspected that Duanmu Xian has a top-tier expert behind her. I don't know the details of that expert, and I'm worried they might try to use me to set a trap for Alliance Leader Gu. Therefore, I must hide now and prevent them from finding my whereabouts.

Wang Tianhe quickly said, "Alright, alright, Sect Leader Leng, find a place to hide first, and don't tell anyone where you are. You and Alliance Leader Gu are the pillars of Liangzhou now, so you absolutely cannot let anything go wrong!"

"If Alliance Leader Gu returns, I will transmit the coded message you gave me before throughout the city. Once you see it, just go directly to the military headquarters."

Leng Lingxi didn't say anything more, cupped her hands in greeting, and turned to leave.

Soon, she hid in an inconspicuous little building in the city.

She hid herself to avoid trouble as much as possible.

Although the magic array in Tiesan Pass has been broken, she was still afraid of something unexpected happening. What if Duanmu Xian really managed to control the legendary beast and it actually possessed unparalleled power?

Therefore, fearing she was no match for the strange beast and would be captured by Duanmu Xian to threaten Gu Guanqi, she decided to hide for the time being.

stand up.

However, as she kept it hidden, she gradually became flustered.

"What is the current state of the Tianshan Sect?"

"Will it be dangerous for my lord to rush to provide assistance?"

"That beast is uncontrollable; will my lord be no match for it?"

And so she waited, her heart pounding with anxiety. During this time, Leng Lingxi was in a lot of agony.

She was worried that Duanmu Xian might suddenly bring a powerful beast to Tiesan Pass to cause trouble, but she was also worried that Duanmu Xian might not have come and instead be fighting Gu Guanqi at the Tianshan Sect.

After quite some time, she finally looked out the window and saw soldiers passing by on the street outside, leaving behind a coded message, which was the very coded message she had agreed upon with Wang Tianhe.

"My lord has arrived!"

Leng Lingxi's anxious heart finally calmed down a bit, and then she quickly headed towards the military camp of Tiesan Pass.

She remained vigilant and did not notify anyone else. Instead, she quietly sneaked into the military compound and only revealed herself when she saw Gu Guanqi and Wang Tianhe drinking tea in the hall.

Gu Guanqi was chatting with Wang Tianhe in the hall when he sensed the commotion outside the courtyard. He turned his head, a smile appearing on his face, and said, "Sect Leader Leng, you've arrived."

Suppressing her inner joy, Leng Lingxi maintained a calm demeanor and said, "Alliance Leader Gu, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Wang Tianhe stood up and said, "Now that Sect Leader Leng has arrived, I will go outside to repair the fortifications."

"General Wang, you've worked hard!" Leng Lingxi said.

Wang Tianhe cupped his hands in greeting to Leng Lingxi, then to Gu Guanqi, before turning and leaving.

As soon as Wang Tianhe left the courtyard, Leng Lingxi rushed to Gu Guanqi, hugged him tightly, and asked worriedly, "Are you—not hurt?"

Gu Guanqi put his arm around Leng Lingxi, gently patted her back, and said, "I'm not injured. I didn't even run into Duanmu Xian or Tianfeng. Hmm, Tianfeng is the name of that strange beast—"

Then, Gu Guanqi told Leng Lingxi what had happened at the Tianshan Sect.

After listening, Leng Lingxi's expression turned grave. "So, that guy named Tianfeng has the ability to predict the future? That's troublesome. We can't fight him at all!"

Gu Guanqi shook his head slightly and said, "He probably isn't that powerful. If he could really foresee the future, why didn't he predict that you would be able to kill Tuoba Han and break the magic array here?"

"That's true," Leng Lingxi said. "According to what Elder Chen heard, what Tian Feng said was that after you came here, you fought with it but were no match for it and tried to escape. Then you were trapped by Tuoba Han's magic array and couldn't escape, and were then killed."

But now, the result is that Tuoba Han hasn't improved at all. He didn't even last a few moves against me before I killed him, and I destroyed the magic array as well.

"So, that guy's so-called observation of cause and effect is probably inaccurate," Gu Guanqi added. "Besides, I never believed from the beginning that Tianfeng could observe the future, because with you here, even if I can't beat him, I can't escape alone."

Hearing Gu Guanqi's words, Leng Lingxi felt a surge of joy and said softly, "My lord, although—but your thinking is wrong. You must be rational when faced with a situation. If it's really as Tianfeng observed, then don't worry about me. Let's each live as long as we can!"

Gu Guanqi held Leng Lingxi, smiled slightly, and said, "Don't worry, that won't happen."

"Hmm." Leng Lingxi leaned against Gu Guanqi's chest and said, "So, even now, neither Duanmu Xian nor Tianfeng have..."

"If they show themselves, they'll definitely continue plotting in secret; we need to be on guard."

Gu Guanqi said, "You should arrange for more people to keep an eye on things and notify us immediately if we find any trace of Duanmu Xian and Tianfeng. I think it's better to take the initiative."

"Okay," Leng Lingxi replied.

Gu Guanqi pondered for a moment, then said, "After dealing with Duanmu Xian and Tianfeng, I need to go to Xianbei. They actually dared to join forces with Duanmu Xian to deal with me. This matter definitely cannot be left unresolved."

Leng Lingxi said, "The Xianbei are not easy to deal with. They are a nomadic people without fixed cities, making them difficult to conquer. As for Liangzhou, it is currently in internal turmoil, and most importantly, it lacks funds to support large-scale external warfare."

"If we send troops from Liangzhou to fight the Xianbei now, they probably won't even make it halfway before their supplies run out. At that point, our army will collapse without the Xianbei even needing to lift a finger."

Gu Guanqi said, "I have no intention of starting a war. I plan to go to the Xianbei territory alone."

"Then I'll go with you—"

"No need," Gu Guanqi said. "Liangzhou will be in turmoil for a long time to come. You will have to take charge of the overall situation. The Tianshan Sect is also under attack from Duanmu Xian, which you will also have to deal with. If you come with me, Liangzhou will really be in big trouble."

Leng Lingxi said, "But—"

Gu Guanqi said, "I'll go alone; that way I can move more freely!"

"That's true!" Leng Lingxi said, "Then, let's talk about it later!"

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "I definitely have to go to the Xianbei. Besides causing trouble, I also have another matter to investigate."

"What's wrong?" Leng Lingxi asked.

Gu Guanqi slowly said, "Some time ago, I heard a rumor that the Mandate of Heaven was in the hands of the barbarians, and that bloodshed would ensue in the Central Plains." Neither I nor the Emperor really believed it, but the person who made this assertion was no ordinary person.

From what I understand, those few powerful nomadic kingdoms aren't actually that strong. So, I'm very puzzled about how this destiny will unfold, and what gives the nomads the right to claim it!

Leng Lingxi was slightly taken aback, and said, "Fate? Can it be changed?"

"I don't know," Gu Guanqi said. "To be honest, as my cultivation level increases, I'm increasingly realizing that this world is far more complex than it appears. There are too many evil things involved, and perhaps destiny really does exist."

Leng Lingxi was silent for a moment, then slowly raised her head, looked at Gu Guanqi, and said softly, "My lord, if—fate truly cannot be changed, can you please not force it? Let's find a place to live in seclusion and avoid that calamity. You don't need to worry about me, I—I won't be jealous!"

Gu Guanqi tightened his grip on Leng Lingxi slightly and said, "Don't worry, I'm not that stubborn."

"Um."

Leng Lingxi leaned against Gu Guanqi's chest, feeling the warmth emanating from him, and felt very secure and at ease.

The turmoil at Tiesan Pass subsided quickly. The Xianbei army arrived in force, but both General Shi Hu and Grand Preceptor Tuoba Han died at Tiesan Pass. The Xianbei army was also routed and fled out of Tiesan Pass in disgrace.

Afterwards, the entire Liangzhou army was placed under martial law, while secretly searching for Tianfeng and Duanmu Xian's whereabouts.

However, several days passed without any news.

Tianfeng and Duanmu Xian seemed to have disappeared.

Gu Guanqi remained on high alert, guarding against a sudden attack from Tianfeng and Duanmu Xian, but there was no reaction.

On this day, Gu Guanqi and Leng Lingxi were having dinner.

Leng Lingxi ladled a bowl of rice for Gu Guanqi and handed it to him, saying, "My lord, could it be that Tianfeng and Duanmu Xian knew they had no chance to deal with you, so they gave up?"

Gu Guanqi said in a deep voice, "That Tianfeng is quite strange. I personally witnessed the monsters that Duanmu Xian's adopted sons transformed into at the Tianshan Sect. Such bizarre methods are not something that can be easily abandoned."

It's alright if we can't find her for now, but we can't let our guard down. We'll wait a few more days. If there's still no news, I'll write to Zhang Tianshi of the Tianyi Sect, asking him to come out of seclusion. With his abilities, perhaps he can deduce something. I killed Zhao Mao and Zhao Tianfeng, and I've already made a blood feud with Duanmu Xian. I won't be at ease until she's dead.

Leng Lingxi nodded slightly and said, "Okay. I'll send more people to track Duanmu Xian and Tianfeng's whereabouts. Tianfeng's appearance is very conspicuous, and once she appears and is seen, there will definitely be news."

The two chatted while eating.

Just as they were finishing their meal, heavy footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by Wang Tianhe's voice: "Alliance Leader Gu, Sect Leader Leng, it's me, Wang Tianhe!"

Leng Lingxi said, "General Wang, please come in."

Immediately afterward, Wang Tianhe pushed open the door and walked in, saying, "I have news about Tianfeng and Duanmu Xian."

Leng Lingxi quickly asked, "Where are they?"

Wang Tianhe said in a deep voice: "The Xianbei, the territory of Tanhan Mountain, was told by several spies who returned from beyond the Great Wall. The temporary stronghold of the Xianbei royal court is now in the Tanhan Mountain area. Two days ago, the Xianbei king Tanshixuan suddenly summoned the leaders of various tribes, saying that he was blessed by the Eternal Heaven and that a celestial being had descended to help him achieve his great cause."

Subsequently, Tan Shixuan prayed to the Eternal Heaven, and in full view of everyone, a celestial being covered in feathers and possessing two wings appeared.

"The descent is said to be the arrival of a black bird from under the throne of the Eternal Heaven to the mortal realm."

Leng Lingxi asked, "Is the information reliable?"

"Reliable," Wang Tianhe said. "Over the years, we have been secretly cultivating spies to operate in the border regions, and these people are all loyal to the Great Qian."

Leng Lingxi looked at Gu Guanqi, a conflicted look in her eyes, and asked, "Alliance Leader Gu, what do you think?"

Gu Guanqi said, "It seems that Tianfeng really is something, waiting for me in Xianbei all along. Perfect, since I'm going to Xianbei anyway, I'll go."

Leng Lingxi hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Wang Tianhe and said, "General Wang, please excuse me for a moment. I have some things to discuss with Alliance Leader Gu privately."

Wang Tianhe paused for a moment, then quickly said, "Alright, alright, then I'll take my leave."

Wang Tianhe immediately turned and left. Soon, he was out of the courtyard, closing the door behind him.

"My lord," Leng Lingxi said, looking at Gu Guanqi, "If Tianfeng weren't in Xianbei, I wouldn't object to you going there. But now, it's obvious that Tianfeng wants to use the power of Xianbei to kill you."

You yourself said that Tian Feng is very strange. Since he's waiting for you there, he must be very confident, perhaps even absolutely certain, since his ability might be to predict the future. Going there now is too risky for you!

Gu Guanqi reached out and hugged Leng Lingxi, saying, "However, an opponent like Tianfeng is most dangerous when he's always in the shadows. Now that he's revealed himself, it's safest for me to kill him."

Leng Lingxi said, "But we know nothing about how strong that Heavenly Phoenix is, or what its abilities are. It's too dangerous for you to go like this. I—" As she spoke, Leng Lingxi grasped Gu Guanqi's hand and said, "I disagree!"

She looked up at Gu Guanqi and said, "I know you are a master of martial arts, and I know you have an invincible spirit, but Tian Feng is not human and cannot be judged by common sense. Knowing that he has arrangements over there, how could you still go there on your own initiative?"

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, I won't go directly. I'll find someone to help me."

"Who?" Leng Lingxi asked.

"Someone who can help me," Gu Guanqi said. "However, I can't reveal her identity. Don't worry, although I'm very confident in my cultivation, I won't act rashly."

Leng Lingxi hugged Gu Guanqi and said, "You—you can't lie to me!"

"I'm absolutely not lying to you," Gu Guanqi said.

Leng Lingxi didn't say anything more, but simply raised her head and stared intently at Gu Guanqi.

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly and met Leng Lingxi's gaze.

Leng Lingxi quickly conceded defeat, lowered her head and leaned against Gu Guanqi's chest, whispering, "My lord, I will wait for you to come back here."

"Yes, I'll be back soon."

The two embraced for a long time.

The two didn't separate until someone came to Leng Lingxi outside the courtyard to report on military affairs.

Gu Guanqi didn't delay any longer and immediately used the Wind God Leg to fly away quickly.

He wasn't lying to Leng Lingxi; he really did plan to find someone to help him before heading to Xianbei to fight Tianfeng—a woman who could probably help him a lot in a short time.

That woman is in the capital.

The capital city is far from Liangzhou.

Even when Gu Guanqi used his Wind God Leg technique to its limit, it still took him a long time to arrive in the capital, and he didn't arrive until evening.

Upon arriving in the capital, Gu Guanqi went directly to the imperial city and entered the palace with the golden token given to him by Emperor Zhao Mingce.

However, he did not go to see Zhao Mingce, but went directly to Empress Dowager Yuwen Yan's Changchun Palace.

At this moment, in Changchun Palace.

Princess Zhao Qingci was chatting with Empress Dowager Yuwen Yan in a warm pavilion.

The weather in the capital wasn't actually cold, but Yuwen Yan had already moved into the warm pavilion early on because she had been seriously injured in the previous battle in the capital.

Emperor Zhao Mingce seized the opportunity to usurp power. In the end, in order to protect Prince Duan Zhao Mingrui, she took a poison pill given to her by Emperor Zhao Mingce, and her body remained weak. Therefore, as soon as the weather turned cold, she moved into the warm pavilion.

Looking at Yuwen Yan, whose face was pale and who had obviously lost a lot of weight, Zhao Qingci felt a pang of heartache and said, "Mother, I heard that the Sage of Medicine has recently come to the capital. Why don't I secretly go and ask him to help me?"

Yuwen Yan waved her hand and said, "Don't cause any more trouble. I'm fine now. Although my body is a little weak, it's mainly because my cultivation is restricted. I'm not sick."

"If you go to see the Medical Sage now, given Zhao Mingce's control over the capital, he'll receive the news before you even arrive. That will only arouse suspicion. Why bother?"

"But—" Zhao Qingci said, "But, you doing this—"

"I already said, I'm not sick," Yuwen Yan waved her hand and said, "Besides, to be honest, although Zhao Mingce has been moving a bit too fast since he took power, I have to admit that his methods are really brilliant; he's a very capable person."

"Even with the emperor's abilities, I don't want to compete with him anymore."

Zhao Qingci sighed softly.

Just then, a palace maid arrived at the door, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, Gu Guanqi requests an audience!"

Yuwen Yan was slightly taken aback, her heart filled with doubt, and then she looked at Zhao Qingci with a questioning look in her eyes.

Zhao Qingci quickly replied, "Mother, it shouldn't have anything to do with me. I haven't seen him since the incident in the capital. I really want to see him, but unfortunately, I haven't had the chance."

Yuwen Yan asked疑惑地问道, "Then why did he come to see me?"

Having said that, she said to the palace maid, "Please let him in."

Before long, Gu Guanqi arrived at the entrance of the main hall, led by a palace maid.

The moment Gu Guanqi appeared, Zhao Qingci's gaze was involuntarily drawn to him, her heart suddenly racing, and she stood up and called out, "Alliance Leader Gu."

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "The Princess is here too! It's been a long time!"

Zhao Qingci said with a hint of resentment in her eyes, "It has been a long time. I heard that Alliance Leader Gu came to the capital a few times ago and wanted to pay him a visit, but I didn't have the chance at all!"

"That was just bad timing."

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly and looked at Yuwen Yan again.

After a long absence, Yuwen Yan was still the same as before, her phoenix eyes holding the dignified and majestic presence of an empress, but now they were shrouded in a faint sickness, her long eyelashes casting a light shadow when they drooped slightly.

He came to see Yuwen Yan today because he wanted to go on a blind date with her.

Of course, it wasn't that he had any feelings for Yuwen Yan.

The main reason is Yuwen Yan's cultivation level and status, which can be rated at least as a seven-star level. The martial arts she can unleash are extremely powerful, which greatly enhances her abilities. This gives her a greater chance of success when she travels to Xianbei to face that evil Tianfeng.