The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 443 - 364, Your servant requests to go to battle (5000 words)_3

He is also a strong contender for the next Heavenly Master, said to have profound and unfathomable cultivation, having already achieved Great Perfection in the Worldly Realm and desperately seeking the opportunity to advance to the Heavenly Human Realm.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

He is a first-rate powerhouse just below the four Heavenly Humans.

"Do you need Senior Brother for something?" Jin Jian asked.

Zhang Yan Yi smiled without answering, simply tossing the letter casually, sending it fluttering toward the night sky.

It was immediately grabbed by a large azure hand descending from the firmament and disappeared without a trace.

"Better safe than sorry."

...

...

Jiancheng Road, Prince Jing Mansion.

On the same night, in the courtyard of the exceedingly expansive and imposing Royal Mansion guarded by countless Hidden Guards lurking in the shadows,

The elegant Prince Jing, his arm wrapped with three strings totaling one hundred and eight Bodhi Beads—extremely rare items—looked up at the moon.

He appeared to be a man not yet forty with his elegant demeanor; however, the white at his temples revealed that he was actually slightly older than he looked.

His features were as fine as jade, and he radiated extraordinary elegance.

Suddenly, a distinguished-looking young nobleman hurried over from afar, bearing a seven parts resemblance to Prince Jing, exuding the nobility fostered by a golden mountain and silver seas, unmistakably Prince Jing's eldest son, Xu Jinglong.

He was also the Princely Heir who, during the Old Emperor's reign, had unsuccessfully sought to court the Third Imperial Princess, Xu Zhenguan, in the Capital.

"Father, the news is confirmed, the court has set the date, next month the market at Hu Ting will open, inviting merchants and scholarly families," reported Xu Jinglong, respectfully.

Prince Jing Xu Wen took his gaze from the moon above and said calmly:

"What did the other families say?"

Princely Heir Xu Jinglong reported:

"Apart from Prince Huaian, everyone has agreed to send trusted representatives to Hu Ting. At this market, they will heed your command, advancing and retreating as one."

"Hmph, fair-weather friends," Prince Jing grunted, not surprised, and said:

"Did they all just say they'd send trusted representatives over? What about from Yunfu?"

Xu Jinglong answered, "Mu Prince Manor cites the difficult journey due to distance."

"Clearly, they don't want to be the ones to stick their necks out," Xu Wen sneered but didn't particularly care:

"Well, never mind. Considering that Mr. Zhengyang has now arrived in the Capital and stirred things up, even if it doesn't turn into a significant affair, it can at least create some momentum. For the upcoming meeting at Hu Ting, we'll also have a bit more leverage."

Xu Jinglong smiled:

"With Father personally going to Hu Ting, victory is assured. It's just uncertain who my Imperial Sister will send to supervise. If she is willing to send that Zhao Douan, it would be for the best."

Prince Jing glanced at his son: "You seem to take great interest in him."

The look in Princely Heir Xu Jinglong's eyes turned dark:

"Father knows, if it were not inappropriate, I would have long wanted to meet this pretty boy face-to-face in the Capital. Besides, the intelligence reports say this man has repeatedly foiled our plans; he indeed deserves death."

Prince Jing laughed heartily and said, "I'm afraid he doesn't have the guts to leave the Capital."

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the Princely Heir.

After everyone had left, a beautiful woman in the attire of a princess emerged slowly from the darkness, her face covered by an ancient and mysterious silver mask.

Princess Jing spoke, "Are you sure you want to go to Hu Ting?"

Xu Wen nodded and looked at his wife in name, who was actually a powerful sorceress tasked with his protection, "You also need to accompany this prince."

Princess Jing wasn't surprised, just a bit lax:

"Are you still afraid of being assassinated?"

Xu Wen shook his head and said with calm,

"This prince might need you to take a life for me."

Covered by the silver mask and actually a descendant of the sorceress lineage of Pei Niannu from six hundred years ago, Princess Jing sighed lightly, said nothing, and turned to leave.

She had no interest in participating in the royal family's killings and political machinations, but alas, she still needed to rely on Xu Wen.

Xu Wen's cheeks twitched, and he said in a deep voice:

"This prince has said, I will find the legacy of Pei Niannu."

Princess Jing didn't respond but disappeared within the Royal Mansion.

Xu Wen's expression turned dark, he clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles faintly whitened, and with a cold sneer, he said:

"Once this prince finds the legacy of that foremost sorceress of yesteryear, I will make you my slave."

He knew that once he had control over that heritage, he could make this silver-armored sorceress bow and serve him as a slave.

...

At Huai River Road, in the Prince Huaian Mansion.

Commandery Princess Xu Junling, accompanied by her maidservants, walked along the corridor to the study within the mansion.

She took the tray from her maid's hands and spoke softly towards the brightly lit study,

"Father, the lotus seed soup is ready."

Then pushed the door open and entered, her radiant eyes looking towards the back of the man sitting at the desk; he was portly, dressed in silk, with six rings on his ten fingers, always smiling but managing to establish a firm position in the scholar-dominated Huai River Road.

He was none other than the infamous "political weather vane," Prince Huaian.

"Ha ha, only my daughter knows how to care for me, unlike your heartless brother," Prince Huaian said with a cheerful smile.

Xu Junling giggled, walked over obediently, and with a sweet smile:

"My brother is doing important things. Oh, is the market opening plan set yet?"

She glanced at the document on the desk.

Prince Huaian said "Hmm" with a sigh, "It's going to be troublesome."

The court had started to focus on the fringes of Huai River Road, and he, Prince Huaian, had become one of the major factors influencing the market opening outcomes.

Xu Junling's beautiful eyes sparkled, wondering who the court would send this time. Could it be him?

...

...

In the Capital, at the Zhao family residence.

Zhao Pan sneaked in through the door with a guilty look and entered, while the anxiously waiting You Jinhua asked,

"How did it go? Did you hear any disturbance from your elder brother's yard?"

Zhao Pan, who had been sent by their mother to eavesdrop, returned with a rather troubled expression and shook her head, saying:

"Nothing. No sound at all."

You Jinhua let out a long sigh of relief, patting her chest and laughing with a sense of relief,

"It seems he has just settled in, nothing more."

But Zhao Pan's expression remained serious as she said:

"I heard that powerful cultivators can set up a soundproof barrier. That yard was eerily silent, not even the sound of insects."

You Jinhua: "..."

Zhao Pan: "..."

——

A 5,000-word chapter, need to organize the following plot outline tomorrow.