Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

The Grand Prince's Residence.

Tang Long, the Grand Prince of the Ice and Snow Empire, was currently hosting Hou Zhen and Nie Rong.

Hou Zhen oversaw the Imperial City Guard Army and also held the position of Great General of the Southern Command, wielding substantial power and authority.

It was precisely due to Hou Zhen's support that Tang Long could stand on equal footing with the Third Prince in the contest.

In fact, he even faintly suppressed the Third Prince, Tang Hao, in the struggle for the position of Crown Prince.

Therefore—

He had always held Hou Zhen in high regard. Raising his cup in salute, he smiled and said, "General Hou, Master Nie, this prince is truly like a tiger with wings thanks to your assistance!"

Hou Zhen drank the fine wine silently, without speaking.

Not only did he hold high power and authority in his own right,

but he also bore the esteemed identity of someone associated with Baiyu.

Thus, he could naturally act with airs before the heirs of the empire.

Nie Rong, on the other hand, was different. He was merely a son-in-law of Baiyu, affiliated with the Ice and Snow Empire, and could not afford to posture before the future emperor. He quickly stood and said, "Your Highness jests. To assist Your Highness is my honor!"

"Hahaha, Master Nie, there's no need for this. Please, sit down!"

Tang Long laughed heartily as he helped Nie Rong back into his seat.

His smile, however, became noticeably more radiant than before.

This secretly relieved Nie Rong.

Tang Long glanced at the time and frowned: "Why is Steward Liu Chun so unreliable? The Four Directions Tavern is merely an hour's distance from here, yet Xiao Yi is still nowhere to be seen to pay respect to this prince?"

Hou Zhen and Nie Rong exchanged a glance.

Within both men's eyes was a trace of delight.

Nie Rong feigned hesitation, as though something was hard to say, causing Tang Long to grow puzzled: "Master Nie, do you have something to say? Here with this prince, you need not worry much. Speak your mind, and this prince guarantees your safety!"

"Your Highness..."

Nie Rong appeared deeply moved, as though steeling himself for a major decision, and said solemnly, "Your Highness may not be aware, but Xiao Yi is highly arrogant and dismissive of others. I fear… I fear that Xiao Yi looks down upon Your Highness's invitation and is unwilling to come…"

"Silence!"

Hou Zhen snorted coldly and pretended to be angry: "Nie Rong, do you even know what you're saying? The Grand Prince is a true dragon among men, the Emperor destined by heaven. For him to summon Xiao Yi is a blessing Xiao Yi wouldn't deserve in several lifetimes. How could he dare not come?"

Tang Long nodded slightly, feeling that Hou Zhen's words were indeed reasonable.

Nie Rong, however, said, "Under normal circumstances, Xiao Yi might indeed come. But now that Baiyu's Holy Land is about to hold its marriage contest, I've heard that Xiao Yi has set his sights on the Holy Daughter herself…"

Bam!

Tang Long's armrest was suddenly crushed into pieces.

"Your Highness, calm your anger!"

"Your Highness, please calm down..."

Hou Zhen and Nie Rong bowed simultaneously.

But beneath their lowered eyelids, traces of schadenfreude and satisfaction with their schemes flickered.

Just then—

A guard came rushing in hurriedly from outside. His face brimmed with urgency as he panted heavily and said, "Report... Reporting to the Grand Prince, Steward Liu Chun has been severely injured and is now kneeling outside the Four Directions Tavern. Xiao Yi also sent word: If Your Highness cannot arrive at the Tavern within an hour, he will publicly execute Steward Liu Chun…"

Boom!

The chair beneath Tang Long exploded instantly, splintering into pieces.

Hou Zhen and Nie Rong's faces revealed even greater joy.

But the words spilling from their mouths painted a different picture: "Your Highness, please calm your anger!"

"Calm down? He's already climbed onto my head, wreaking havoc, and you expect me to calm down?"

Tang Long's eyes blazed with blood-red fury. He clenched his teeth and growled, "Xiao Yi, huh? Refusing a toast only to drink punishment wine instead? Fine, then don't blame this prince for having no mercy! Hou Zhen, gather the Imperial City Guard Army immediately, and send for my Dragon Guard as well. I'll show him what happens when he challenges this prince!"

"Understood!"

"Your command shall be obeyed!"

Hou Zhen and the others, with expressions full of malice and a sense of their schemes succeeding, quickly withdrew.

Tang Long's face darkened as his eyes narrowed, staring toward the Four Directions Tavern: "Xiao Yi? Hmph, dreaming of competing with this prince over the Holy Daughter? Utter foolishness. That Tavern shall be your burial site!"

At the same time—

Zheng Dong'an had already returned to the Third Prince's residence. As he conveyed all that had transpired at the Tavern to Tang Hao—

Tang Hao slapped his thigh in exuberance, his face full of joy: "Excellent, excellent, an admirable Xiao Yi! He's very much to this prince's liking!"

"Your Highness, with Xiao Yi behaving so recklessly, I fear the Grand Prince's side…" Zheng Dong'an cautiously probed.

"My esteemed elder brother certainly won't tolerate it. I've already received news; he's asked Hou Zhen to mobilize the Imperial City Guard Army, and the Dragon Guard is also assembling. If I've guessed correctly, my dear elder brother is preparing to unleash havoc…"

Tang Hao laughed heartily, his face glowing with a calculating brilliance. "Zheng Dong'an, head to the Dali Imperial Court immediately. Have Guo Lun mobilize his men, but instruct them not to act recklessly for now. They need only wait for my dear elder brother to make a mess of things before acting on my order!"

Guo Lun was the overseer of the Dali Imperial Court.

This court held the sacred duty of overseeing the affairs of the entire realm.

From ordinary citizens and officials to royal family members, all fell within its jurisdiction.

With the battle for the Crown Prince's position heating up, anyone daring to misuse authority would face severe penalties once caught by the Dali Imperial Court. Even the Grand Prince would not escape unscathed.

When that moment comes—

Tang Hao would take control of the aftermath, ensuring the Grand Prince suffers an irreversible loss.

Zheng Dong'an hesitated briefly and asked, "Your Highness, should we intervene to protect Xiao Yi and his people?"

"Protect them? Why bother?"

The Third Prince waved dismissively, his expression indifferent as he said, "This prince would be delighted if my dear elder brother's forces beat Xiao Yi to death in the melee… Zheng Dong'an, deploy the Shadows to infiltrate the crowd. Seize the moment to strike amidst the chaos, and better yet, kill Xiao Yi and his people. Then frame the blame on my elder brother…"

"Understood!"

Zheng Dong'an quickly took his leave.

Tang Hao's lips curled into a sinister smile: "Dear elder brother, oh dear elder brother, you're practically handing me a gift on a silver platter! Hahaha…"

As the imperial capital of the Ice and Snow Empire surges with hidden currents—

Within the Holy Land Baiyu Capital…

On an imposing tower—

Fang Qingzhu gazed at the majestic figure clad in a regal robe before her. Her expression betrayed no emotion, her demeanor utterly cold: "I've already agreed to participate in your marriage contest. What more do you want?"

"Daughter…"

The authoritative figure opened his mouth, his tone tinged with bitterness and helplessness.

"Enough!"

Fang Qingzhu shot him a frosty glance, her gaze as icy as ever. "For the sake of that Holy Master position, you abandoned me once twenty years ago. Now, yet again, you relinquish me for that same position. I have no qualms with accepting it. But I hope you'll honor your promise and ensure Xiao Yi remains unharmed!"

"Rest assured, as long as you attend the marriage contest faithfully, I will keep my promise without fail!" The commanding figure nodded.

"Leave!"

Fang Qingzhu closed her eyes, choosing silence over further discourse.

The figure's lips twitched slightly as he gazed at Fang Qingzhu's cold and distant countenance. Ultimately, he let out a sigh and turned away.

Only after his departure—

Fang Qingzhu opened her eyes slowly. Staring at the long whip Xiao Yi had gifted her, a single tear rolled down her cheek as she bit her lip tightly: "Xiao Yi, my brother Xiao Yi, I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise… But rest assured, Qingzhu will not allow anyone other than you to lay a hand on me. The day the marriage contest ends shall be the day Qingzhu welcomes death…"