My dear younger sister Zhi Ning,
I was delighted to hear that you have given birth to a son. Father’s bloodline has gained another descendant.
My current situation is extremely poor. Since reclaiming Tianshui City, Soren has been like a golden carp meeting rain, transforming into a dragon overnight.
I have launched two campaigns against Tianshui City, and both ended in disastrous defeat, costing hundreds of thousands of troops.
Ashi Liren has now become the Lord of Rouran City and has pledged complete loyalty to Soren.
Gui Xingfu has betrayed me and now seeks my destruction. Gui Qinshao has become the ruler of Coastal City and kneels at Soren’s feet.
Uncle Zhi Wei’s one hundred and fifty thousand southeastern troops have been completely annihilated, and he himself was beheaded by Soren and displayed publicly.
Turing Tuo has secretly colluded with Soren and only pretends to obey me.
Now Soren uses the King to command the nobles and feudal lords throughout the realm.
My position is perilous. Troubles surround me from within and without, and there are very few people around me whom I can truly trust. We are siblings of the same blood. I hope you can put aside past grievances and return to Zhi Capital to help me.
Your brother,
Zhi Li
…
Using the simplest and most direct language, Zhi Li’s letter laid out his predicament and requested that Zhi Ning return to the Furious Wave Kingdom to assist him.
Zhi Ning read it over and over again, scarcely believing her eyes.
Ever since arriving in the Yan Imperial Capital, she had cut herself off from all news. She knew nothing about what had happened in the Furious Wave Kingdom.
Several times she had even thought that Soren might already have been captured by her brother, or perhaps was already dead.
Of course, she knew Soren’s capabilities.
She herself had been defeated by him again and again.
Not only that, she had fallen to him both physically and emotionally. He had slept with her repeatedly, and in the end she had become pregnant with his child.
However, Zhi Ning had once possessed opportunities to destroy the House of Suo and wipe out Tianshui City.
Back then, Zhi Wei’s army of over a hundred thousand men had surrounded Thunderwind Fortress. Had Zhi Ning not softened repeatedly and fallen into various traps, Tianshui City would already have become ruins and the Suo family would have been utterly destroyed.
As for her brother Zhi Li’s intelligence and methods, she knew them thoroughly.
She had always believed that at most Soren was equal to Zhi Li.
Moreover, Zhi Li possessed every possible advantage in timing, location, and support.
Therefore, Soren’s defeat had seemed inevitable.
Yet now it was Soren who held all the advantages.
Zhi Ning often found herself thinking about one matter.
If Soren eventually lost and his life fell into Zhi Li’s hands, should she beg for mercy and ask that he be spared?
After all, he was the biological father of her child.
She had never imagined that reality would instead be Soren reducing Zhi Li to such a miserable state.
She knew that Zhi Li had four major factions supporting him.
The secret Divine Dragon Temple forces represented by Hidden Continent.
The military aristocratic faction led by Turing Tuo.
The civil aristocratic faction led by Yan Wuji.
The royal power faction led by Duke Zhi Wei.
And the feudal lord faction led by Gui Xingfu.
Now Gui Xingfu had defected.
Zhi Wei had been beheaded.
Half of Zhi Li’s arms and legs had effectively been severed.
Although he still appeared stronger than Soren on the surface, many nobles and feudal lords were undoubtedly beginning to hedge their bets.
Zhi Li’s situation had become extremely dangerous.
Now that her brother was facing adversity and had invited her back to help him, what should she do?
Refuse?
Or return to Zhi Capital?
Princess Zhi Ning immediately became overwhelmed with confusion.
Between Zhi Li and Soren, she would naturally choose her brother without hesitation.
But now she was no longer alone.
There was also a child, Soren’s flesh and blood.
Should she return?
…
Within the Prime Minister’s residence in Zhi Capital.
Prime Minister Yan Wuji sat staring blankly at a stack of documents in his hands.
The world was changing far too quickly.
Just over a month ago, Soren’s faction had been on the verge of destruction, like a solitary candle flame in a storm, liable to be extinguished at any moment.
Zhi Li had dispatched four hundred thousand troops to attack Tianshui City from the east, west, south, north, and sea routes simultaneously.
No matter how one looked at it, the House of Suo should have been doomed.
Yet Soren had achieved overwhelming victory.
He had killed Duke Zhi Wei, forced Duke Turing Tuo into retreat, and compelled Count Gui Xingfu to surrender.
Not only that, he had exposed Zhi Li’s shocking scandal.
Now the story of Zhi Li’s disgraceful stabbing incident had spread throughout the entire kingdom.
For years, Yan Wuji had acted as Zhi Li’s foremost spearhead against Soren, slandering and defaming him at every opportunity.
If words could kill, Soren would have died countless times already.
Yan Wuji had never once considered changing sides.
In his eyes, Soren had possessed absolutely no chance of victory.
But now perhaps it was time to reconsider.
“Someone come.”
A young scholar entered and bowed.
“Father.”
This was Yan Tinglu, Yan Wuji’s son, who served as Chief Historian in Zhi Li’s residence and was considered a future candidate for the position of Prime Minister.
Yan Wuji asked, “Any news of Yan Tingyi?”
Yan Tingyi had served as Chief Administrator of Coastal City and was Gui Xingfu’s highest ranking civil official.
He was also Yan Wuji’s nephew.
“No news,” Yan Tinglu replied. “After Soren captured Coastal City, Brother Tingyi was likely taken prisoner. He is a proud and loyal man, unlike Gui Xingfu. I doubt he surrendered, which is why nothing has been heard.”
Yan Wuji nodded.
“That is likely true.”
Yan Tinglu continued, “Our Yan family is powerful. Soren must consider Brother Tingyi a valuable bargaining chip. If he tries to use him in some deal with us, what should we do?”
Yan Wuji closed his eyes and remained silent for a moment.
Then he said, “Secretly send someone to Tianshui City. Find a way to contact Yan Tingyi. Tell him he may surrender to Soren and serve him.”
“What?” Yan Tinglu exclaimed.
Yan Wuji said, “However, the moment he swears loyalty to Soren, I will immediately expel him from the Yan family.”
Yan Tinglu understood.
His father intended to place a foot on both boats.
“Father, is that really necessary?” he asked. “Although Prince Zhi Li has suffered setbacks, his strength is still ten times greater than Soren’s. Ninety percent of the nobles and feudal lords still support him.”
“One must prepare for every possibility,” Yan Wuji replied. “There is something unsettling about Soren.”
“From now on, continue attacking him verbally, continue discrediting him, continue suppressing him whenever possible. The fact that our mighty Yan family is willing to let a lesser branch family member serve him is already a tremendous favour. Surely Soren will understand the implication and appreciate it.”
At that moment, an elderly servant called from outside.
“Prime Minister, Count Soren has sent a gift.”
Yan Wuji laughed.
“We were just speaking of Soren, and now a gift arrives.”
“He really is shallow. The moment he gains a little advantage, he tries to curry favour with me. He thinks too highly of himself. It is far too early for him to be sending gifts to Yan Wuji. Let him first conquer half the kingdom.”
Yan Tinglu laughed politely alongside him.
“Bring it in.”
The servant carried in an exquisitely crafted chest.
The exterior was decorated with gold and jade, clearly indicating that the contents were extremely valuable.
Stroking his beard, Yan Wuji smiled.
“Open it. Let us see what gift the recently triumphant Count Soren has sent.”
The servant chuckled.
“If it isn’t truly valuable, next time the House of Suo sends a gift, I’ll throw the messenger out immediately.”
Carefully, he opened the chest.
The moment its contents were revealed, the expressions of all three men changed dramatically.
The servant cried out and staggered backwards, nearly collapsing.
Inside the chest was the severed head of Yan Tingyi.
It had been preserved expertly and looked horrifyingly lifelike.
His face was twisted in terror, dark blood still staining it.
Though merely a severed head, it resembled a vengeful ghost.
Prime Minister Yan Wuji felt his heart tighten violently.
He collapsed into his chair, staring at the head in disbelief.
How could Soren dare?
The Yan family was the foremost scholarly family in the Furious Wave Kingdom.
Its students and descendants were spread throughout the realm.
It controlled public opinion and wielded enormous influence.
If Yan Wuji wanted to ruin someone’s reputation, it could be accomplished within days.
If he wanted to suppress a family, a single word from him would prevent scholars from serving them.
Even Zhi Li treated Yan Wuji with great respect and addressed him as a teacher.
Anyone who wished to compete for the throne needed the support of the Yan family.
Yet Soren had killed Yan Tingyi.
By doing so, he had completely severed any possibility of cooperation with the Yan family.
How could he dare?
Could he truly be so reckless?
Then Yan Tinglu noticed a sheet of paper beside the head.
Opening it, his face immediately turned pale.
Written in blood were the words:
“Yan Wuji, old thief. Keep your mouth shut, or I will slaughter your entire family.”
Seeing those murderous words, Yan Wuji felt cold from head to toe.
His scalp tingled.
Boundless fury surged within him.
The message revealed exactly how little regard Soren had for him.
Only moments earlier, Yan Wuji had proudly claimed that Soren was unworthy of sending him gifts or attempting to win his favour.
How ridiculous.
Soren had never intended to buy him at all.
The Yan Tingyi whom Yan Wuji considered priceless had simply been executed and returned as a severed head.
“This is outrageous!” Yan Tinglu roared.
“We must retaliate. Soren dares kill a member of the Yan family? Such ignorance must be punished. I shall go to Prince Zhi Li immediately and demand justice.”
He stormed towards the door.
“Come back.”
Yan Wuji’s face was pale.
He had always believed the Yan family possessed immense value and that both sides would desperately seek its support.
He had assumed Soren would do everything possible to win his favour.
Instead, Soren had proven brutally decisive.
“From this moment onward,” Yan Wuji said, “cease all propaganda attacks against Soren. Stop spreading rumours about the House of Suo.”
“Stop suppressing them among the scholarly circles. Stop obstructing their salt and magic mirror trade. Especially regarding the killing of Zhi Wei, express no opinion whatsoever.”
Yan Tinglu stared in shock.
“Why? Are we truly afraid of Soren?”
Yan Wuji closed his eyes and waved dismissively.
“Leave me. I need peace.”
The truth was simple.
Yan Wuji was afraid.
If Soren truly won in the end, the man who casually killed Yan Tingyi today might very well wipe out the entire Yan family tomorrow.
Since Soren clearly lacked any desire to recruit talent or treat scholars with courtesy, Yan Wuji could not afford to provoke him recklessly.
Yet Soren had once seemed weak and easy to bully in this regard.
That was precisely why the Yan family had become increasingly arrogant.
Who could have imagined he would suddenly become so uncompromising?
Zhi Wei had been killed without hesitation.
A member of the Yan family had been killed without hesitation.
It was enough to make anyone shudder.
…
Within Fire Worship City, the second largest feudal territory in the realm.
Soren’s grandfather, Marquis Fu E, stared at the secret report in his hand.
His face twitched repeatedly as he struggled to conceal his shock.
How was this possible?
Gui Xingfu had betrayed Zhi Li and joined Soren.
Zhi Wei’s army had been annihilated and he himself publicly beheaded.
Turing Tuo had failed in his first battle and withdrawn.
Zhi Li’s grand campaign against Soren had ended in complete disaster.
What had seemed like certain destruction for Soren had instead become overwhelming victory.
How?
Marquis Fu E immediately saw the truth.
After this battle, the balance of power between Princess Zhi Yan and Zhi Li had reversed.
Next, Soren would likely move swiftly to absorb the Southeastern Province.
Once that happened, he would control two provinces, two feudal territories, nearly ten million people, and more than two hundred thousand troops.
On paper, that was still only one fifth of Zhi Li’s strength.
But Soren directly controlled his forces.
Zhi Li’s power was indirect.
The nobles who supported him today could support Soren tomorrow.
After repeated failures against Tianshui City, few families or feudal lords would be willing to commit troops against Soren again.
Once Soren fully absorbed the Southeastern Province, he would effectively hold the advantage.
This battle had fundamentally changed the kingdom’s future.
Every noble and feudal lord would now have to reconsider where they stood.
Originally, a victory for Zhi Yan should have benefited the Fu family most, since they were Soren’s maternal relatives.
Unfortunately, their relationship with the House of Suo was terrible.
Even worse, when the Suo family had faced destruction, the Fu family had not merely stood aside.
They had practically added insult to injury.
When Fu Qi came to take Fu Yan’er home, Suo Ningbing had desperately begged him to take little Qinqin as well.
He had coldly refused.
He had even declared that the Suo family’s suffering was entirely self inflicted.
Qinqin was the Fu family’s own granddaughter.
Only six years old.
Yet they had abandoned her.
Not only that, when the House of Suo faced extinction, Fu Lingxi, mother of Soren and Suo Ningbing, had not lifted a finger to help.
She had not even returned home to visit.
Such behaviour went beyond coldness.
Thus, although the Fu family was Soren’s maternal clan, they likely occupied a place in his heart little different from enemies.
Now Soren had won a great victory and might one day contend for the throne itself.
Marquis Fu E deeply regretted his earlier choices.
Faced with the current situation, what should the Fu family do?
After a long sigh, he said,
“Send word to your sister and tell her to go to Tianshui City. She is still Soren’s mother. Blood remains thicker than water. Perhaps she can repair the relationship.”
Fu Xian’s expression became awkward.
“Yes.”
Half an hour later, a crimson messenger falcon carrying a secret letter flew towards Zhi Capital.
…
The following day.
Soren’s mother, Fu Lingxi, left the Divine Dragon Temple in Zhi Capital.
Travelling alone on horseback, she headed towards Tianshui City.
For the first time in more than ten years, she was returning to the House of Suo.