Chapter 1851 - 180: On the Grasslands, the Great Snow Mountain Is Everywhere!

In front of Celestial Palace City.

There was only a brief moment of silence.

Ashina then spoke again: "Prince, as for the coalition of the eighteen tribes, might it be possible not to keep them all here?"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning could not help but study Ashina twice more.

"I truly did not misjudge you."

"Since Your Highness has given me this chance, I must do my utmost to seize it." Ashina lowered her head and said.

Jiang Ning nodded: "I’ll help you in this matter."

"My thanks, Your Highness!!" Ashina bowed to Jiang Ning in salute, expressing her respect.

Then she continued: "I will convey Your Highness’s intent back to the royal court. By then, it should be my eldest brother who personally brings the ransom for the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry."

"That eldest brother of yours is the first heir of the Northern Barbarian Royal Court, isn’t he?" Jiang Ning said.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Ashina replied.

At these words, Jiang Ning again looked Ashina over, reassessing her.

"I also ask that when the time comes, Your Highness will lend a hand! My eldest brother and my father have not witnessed Your Highness’s divine might. When they send the royal court’s resources, they will certainly hold back! If I take the throne, I will present all our resources to Your Highness without reserve, to show my heartfelt intent. In days to come, the royal court will also bow its head to Your Highness, each year offering thirty percent of all resources gained by the steppe royal court, and pay tribute to Your Highness generation after generation."

"You truly are ruthless. In the space of a few moments, you have so calmly and matter-of-factly laid out such plans in your heart." Jiang Ning said.

Hearing this, Ashina felt a bad premonition stir within her.

She knew that anyone would guard against, even feel disgust and aversion toward, someone at their side who could disregard blood ties between siblings. This touches on human nature itself, not merely a division of good and evil.

"Your Highness misunderstands me!" She quickly raised her head, looked at Jiang Ning, her gaze meeting his directly, allowing him to see into the very depths of her pupils.

After that, she continued: "My eldest brother and I share no affection; we are merely children of the same father, nothing more!"

"My mother’s death, if traced back, was in fact due to my eldest brother!"

"I have long since wanted nothing more than to kill him!"

"But I know that I myself am far from having the strength or the means to do so!"

"Now that Your Highness has given me such conditions, naturally I must seize them!"

"Once my eldest brother is dead, I will be the rightful first heir of the royal court!"

"By then, without needing Your Highness’s assistance, I will have my own ways to ascend to the throne of the royal court!"

"The only matter in which I now need Your Highness’s aid is this vast, mountain-covering coalition army of the eighteen tribes!"

"In this southern expedition, the main force is also the coalition of the eighteen tribes! What now poses the greatest threat to Great Xia likewise comes from the coalition of the eighteen Gold Families."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled.

"Earlier I truly did somewhat underestimate you. You really are quite a personage."

Despite Jiang Ning’s words, Ashina still felt a trace of unease in her heart.

These words from her heart, she had laid completely bare; it was already a gamble.

A gamble that Jiang Ning would truly help her, and not merely speak casually.

She knew that when opportunity stands before oneself, one must seize it.

If she did not seize this chance, if events unfolded naturally, then even as the second heir to the royal court, she would never be able to inherit its throne.

For above her in the line of succession stands her eldest brother.

And her eldest brother is the legitimate firstborn son.

She is nothing more than a woman.

In Beiman, though it is not as in Great Xia where the legitimate firstborn son enjoys absolute succession rights,

He still possesses an immense advantage.

All the more so in matters of succession, where men more easily gain recognition from the tribes.

Just as anxiety churned within her heart.

Jiang Ning said: "Your request, I agree to it."

"My thanks, Your Highness!!" Ashina rejoiced inwardly and hurriedly voiced her thanks.

Jiang Ning went on: "Tonight, you will find a way to make the eighteen tribes mutiny and blast their own camp. When the time comes, I will act. Since they have come, they must leave behind a price."

As his final words fell, Ashina, standing before him, could not help but feel her Heart Spirit tremble.

At his side, Prince Zhenbei Xu Zhen and Beicang King’s expressions both tightened.

Both of them had felt the killing intent within Jiang Ning’s words.

"Ashina understands. Ashina takes her leave!" Ashina lowered her head respectfully.

When her words fell, she saw Jiang Ning’s slight nod, and only then rose.

In the next moment.

She led the two behind her away, and only when they had gone more than ten zhang did the three mount their Great Snow Dragon Horses and depart at speed.

"Your Highness plans to support this Beiman Princess of the Northern Barbarian Royal Court to ascend the throne?" Prince Zhenbei Xu Zhen asked.

"Mm." Jiang Ning nodded.

"Your Highness, I feel that this Beiman Princess named Ashina is somewhat formidable. Might she in the future instead become a major hidden threat to our Great Xia?" Prince Zhenbei Xu Zhen spoke again.

Hearing this, Beicang King at the side nodded in deep agreement.

"I understand." Jiang Ning nodded and said, "Though Ashina is a woman, her temperament, ability, and methods surpass many men."

"So long as Your Highness is clear on this, then my worries are needless." Prince Zhenbei Xu Zhen said.

"Let us wait quietly for tonight; we shall see what means she has." Jiang Ning said.

At these words, the expressions of the two suddenly grew solemn.

...

That night.

Within Celestial Palace City, the clamor rose to the heavens.

The great battle of the day had already become known throughout Celestial Palace City: the North Barbarian State Preceptor, King Zhuanlun, had fallen as a god outside the city walls.

The danger of the Beiman great army marching south was now dispelled, and the peril of Celestial Palace City’s fall was likewise gone.

The entire Celestial Palace City was celebrating, celebrating that the light boat had already passed ten thousand layers of mountains.

Celebration banquets of all sizes spread throughout every corner of the city.

And among these celebration banquets, the most magnificent and boisterous belonged to the Beicang Royal Mansion.

Since the Zhenbei Prince Mansion had yet to be fully repaired, the true celebration banquet had fallen to the Beicang Royal Mansion.

...

As the splendid lamps were first lit, the Beicang Royal Mansion glowed with firelight, cups and goblets clinking.

The celebration banquet was arranged in the main hall of the mansion. The spacious hall was filled with dozens of low tables.

Upon the tables were laid out rare delicacies, with wine fragrance diffusing everywhere.

All the notable figures of Celestial Palace City were present: the Family Heads of the great clans, the presidents of the merchant guilds, the generals of the army—each face flushed with wine, cups raised in hearty drinking, talking and laughing with abandon.