Chapter 309: Carefree Monarch Inspects the Nine Frontiers

「Jianye City, in the Imperial City’s Wuji Hall.」

The Carefree Monarch, Long Jingyao, held the young Long Ao in his arms, contentedly doting on his grandson.

The Empress, Dugu Qingfang, attended to them carefully nearby, while Long Yintian sat behind the Imperial Desk, her gaze fixed on Long Ao.

“Qingfang, do you hate me?” Long Jingyao asked Dugu Qingfang.

Dugu Qingfang’s hand couldn’t help but tremble. She quickly replied, “I am endlessly grateful for the Carefree Monarch’s kindness. How could I possibly hate you?”

“You foolish girl, your words don’t match your heart. A single decree from me stripped you of your rights as a woman. You may not dare to hate me, but it’s impossible that you bear no resentment at all. You are a Cultivator, too. When Ao’er grows up, you will not have aged. When that time comes, you can take on a new identity and live the life you want. Neither Her Majesty nor I will stop you.”

Dugu Qingfang knelt and kowtowed. “I thank the Carefree Monarch and Your Majesty for your grace. However, I have no other plans. Besides, the Empire needs an Empress to serve as a model for all. If I were to leave, Her Majesty would eventually have to select other Concubines for the Harem.”

“Father, let Qingfang decide this for herself.”

Long Jingyao nodded. He turned to Long Yintian and asked suddenly, “Is he back?”

Long Yintian asked, confused, “Father, who are you talking about?”

“Who else could it be but Chu Fan? Otherwise, why would the ship from the Hua Xu Secret Realm Teleportation Array just fly away for no reason? Did Chu Fan find some fortunate encounter in the Secret Realm and take the ship?” Long Jingyao’s sharp gaze remained fixed on Long Yintian.

Long Yintian pretended her eyes lit up and shot to her feet. “Father, are you saying Chu Fan might not be dead?”

Long Jingyao was clearly testing Long Yintian. Seeing her reaction, he immediately dismissed his own suspicion.

He withdrew his gaze and set Long Ao down on the floor. “Long Ao, Grandfather and your father have matters to discuss. Go play outside with your mother.”

“Grandfather, please be quick! Your grandson doesn’t have much time. I have to return to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with my master first thing tomorrow morning. Who knows how long it will be before I can see you again,” Long Ao said, tilting his head up at Long Jingyao.

Long Jingyao laughed heartily. “Alright, alright, my good grandson. Go on, now. Grandfather will come find you in half an hour at most.”

Dugu Qingfang led Long Ao out of Wuji Hall.

Long Jingyao sighed. “You know how important the Hua Xu Secret Realm is to our Long Family. I don’t need to tell you. But for the past few days, I’ve practically turned the entire Hua Xu Empire upside down and found nothing. These are troubled times. The Western Qiang Kingdom has emerged in the Western Domain, sweeping through the entire region in just a few short months. Based on our intelligence, they won’t rest for long before they make a move against our Central Domain.”

“In the Northern Domain, the old Khan of the Dahar Khanate died of illness three months ago. The new Khan is his third son, Niu Liguo. According to our reports, this Niu Liguo is a formidable figure. In just three short months, he has pacified the tribes that opposed him and brought the Grassland tribes that always paid lip service to the Dahar Khanate under his control.”

“Then there’s the God Slaughter Hall stirring up trouble in the Southern Domain, which already poses a threat to our Central Domain. If I hadn’t personally intervened and driven the God Slaughter Hall’s people out, the situation would be even worse. But that’s not all. Last night, I received a report. It seems that over the past two years, the Southern, Northern, and Western Domains have experienced several earthquakes. Many long-buried ruins have resurfaced. Quite a few people have obtained inheritances from these ruins. Some have even gone from being ordinary mortals to Void Realm or even Mahayana Realm masters just by eating a single fruit found inside.”

Hearing this, Long Yintian’s expression turned grim. ‘If that’s true,’ she thought, ‘then conflict across the land is likely inevitable.’

“As they grow stronger, we grow weaker. If the people of Hua Xu were to learn that the Hua Xu Secret Realm is gone, and if malicious parties used this to spread rumors throughout the land, what do you think would happen?” Long Jingyao said, his voice laced with worry.

What would happen?

People would inevitably spread rumors that the Long Clan had lost the favor of the heavens, that the Hua Xu Secret Realm had been taken back, and that the Long Clan’s reign was coming to an end.

Public clamor can melt metal. If enough people spread the rumor, it would undoubtedly shake the morale of the people, creating a powerful momentum that could cause the very foundations of the Court to crumble.

“Hasn’t news of the ship been suppressed? The Hua Xu Secret Realm won’t open again for another thirty-six years. Who could use the Secret Realm to stir up trouble in the meantime?” Long Yintian said, her eyes narrowing.

Long Jingyao nodded. “It’s good that you have a plan. Starting tomorrow, I will tour the border towns. My return date is uncertain. While I am away, this country will be entirely in your hands.”

Long Yintian nodded. For the past two years, although she had been ruling in her own right, there were many difficult decisions where Long Jingyao had secretly assisted her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gotten the hang of it so quickly.

But she couldn’t let her father assist her from the sidelines forever. So, when Long Jingyao said he was going to tour the border towns, Long Yintian naturally did not object.

“I have already removed all the spies Chaoyin Pavilion had planted in the Mansions of our nobles and high-ranking ministers. This was the true reason for my bloodbath in the Court four years ago. At the time, everyone said Crown Prince Long Jingyao was iron-fisted, ruthlessly decisive, and capricious. Heh. If I hadn’t been, it’s debatable whether the Court would still bear the Long name today.”

“Later, tell Lady Leng that I have released Wen Chan, the Pavilion Master of Chaoyin Pavilion. She wants revenge against the God Slaughter Hall and needs to wait for the right opportunity. I still have a use for Wen Chan.”

Long Jingyao stood up and walked out of Wuji Hall to go play with his grandson.

Long Yintian sat at the Imperial Desk with her head lowered, rubbing her forehead. She let out a long sigh. ‘Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish; a ruler must consider everything from every angle.’

The enactment of a single policy could affect the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people. She had no choice but to be cautious.

Just as the Carefree Monarch had said, these were troubled times. If the Central Domain was to endure, she had to prepare for every contingency.

To the south, the God Slaughter Hall was stirring up trouble. To the west, the Western Qiang Kingdom watched them like a hungry tiger. To the north, the Dahar Khanate were generational enemies of the Central Domain. Now, only the Eastern Domain posed no threat to Hua Xu.

The sound of Long Ao’s laughter from outside interrupted Long Yintian’s thoughts. Over the past few years, whenever she felt so mentally and physically exhausted that she couldn’t go on, the thought of this little boy would fill her with boundless energy.

At first, it was because he was the only heir Chu Fan had left behind. Gradually, however, it was the little boy’s own words and actions that came to inspire her.

It was safe to say that everyone in the Imperial City, from the Empress and the Carefree Monarch down to the Palace Maids, eunuchs, and even the Guards on duty, adored Long Ao.

It had nothing to do with his status; Long Ao never looked up to or down on anyone.

He could lead the Carefree Monarch around by his beard as if walking a dog, and he could also toss a mouse under a Palace Maid’s skirt.

He could sit with his chin in his hands for an entire afternoon, keeping Dugu Qingfang company while she did her needlework, and he could also cheer up a homesick Palace Maid.

Leng Yingxue appeared behind Long Yintian. Gazing at Long Ao’s figure outside the hall, Long Yintian spoke softly, “Do you think he was as mischievous as Long Ao when he was little?”

“You’d have to ask Yun Xi about that,” Leng Yingxue said flatly.

Long Yintian turned to glance at Leng Yingxue. “You have a point. In his heart, the two of us together probably don’t matter as much as Yun Xi, do we?”

“Don’t drag me into this,” Leng Yingxue said coolly.

“Tch. Sister Leng, don’t you find it boring being so prim and proper all the time? It’s obvious you have feelings for him. I am tied down by this country and can’t be by his side, but you can!”