Chương 374: Fate of princesses

Snow flowed down gently from the sky like a blanket of white, decorating the land in a beautiful cold wonderland. People shuffled through the streets in thick clothing and breathed out mist from time to time which hinted at the freezing temperatures. It was now December of K.A. 515, two weeks after the climatic Battle of Liguang where the Alzar Kingdom, the Li Family, and the Imperial Council had engaged in a massive battle of unprecedented proportions. First was the Featherwind Sect's unbelievable feat of splitting the town in two, followed by the reveal of three full armies of Perception Realms from the Imperial Council. Innumerable experts from across the world also made their appearance, such as Sir Winstin, Lady Mingyu, and Cardinal Hui. Martial Energy was publicly revealed for the first time too while Elizabeth and her friends broke into Half-Rank 2 Lord. However, it concluded with a complete annihilation from all three sides and the repercussions were finally beginning to ripple across the world.

Despite the ongoing wars, the people here remained steady and unhurried, as if it had nothing to do with them. To them, news from the frontlines were such as that, news. The impact it had on their daily lives was diminishingly small. This was Yongtein, the capital city of the Xingyuu Empire and the crown seat of power. People and carriages alike flowed through the wide streets continuously. It was busy as always. A chubby man dressed in gaudy clothes marched up to a podium near the city square with soldiers flanking him. It was obvious from a quick glance that he was an official, likely from the Imperial Council. The same scene played throughout Yongtein as many officials appeared to make an announcement. Such announcements were rare and important, so people soon crowded around to hear it. Once enough time passed, the man opened his mouth and spoke.

"The Li Family conspired with the Alzar Kingdom to attack the Xingyuu Empire. Two weeks ago, they negotiated in a town called Liguang in the Samfeng Province. Imperian Qiang Li, patriarch of the Li Family, as well as the Imperial Princesses, Princess Xiuying Tzu and Ming Tzu, participated in the talks with Princess Elizabeth Etuvel Reindel, the heir apparent of the Alzar Kingdom. Ultimately, the Alzar Kingdom betrayed the Li Family and a conflict ensued. The Battle of Liguang concluded with the town of Liguang completely destroyed and all participants deceased! I repeat this. Imperian Qiang Li and the Imperial Princesses were betrayed by Princess Elizabeth Etuvel Reindel and killed! There were no survivors!" he shouted passionately with overzealous energy. He might be unsightly, but he had a certain talent in orating. Everyone hearing him could not help but be moved! As he repeated his words, people began discussing.

"The Li Family betrayed us? That can't be right. How could they forget their roots?"

"Hmph. I always knew that those dogs would die a dogs' death. I never liked them to begin with!" someone spat on the ground in disgust.

"How the high and mighty falls!" another laughed hysterically, dropping on his hands and knees. "The heavens aren't blind to me after all! Thank you!"

"Brother, let me treat you to a drink tonight."

"Who are you?"

"Someone who hates the Li Family just as much as you do. Are you joining or not?"

"Of course, I am!"

"Do you have room for two more?"

People continued to show up and voice their complaints about the Li Family. That was not surprising. As the greatest nobility family in the Xingyuu Empire, its vast influence and power had practically reached everyone in the empire, whether directly or indirectly. It made no difference whether they were saintly or demonic, the commoners would loathe them all the same for having power and status that they did not. Jealousy and greed were the innate traits of all living beings. It was natural to yearn the attainable and hate the unattainable. Aside from these seething conversations, other people went in a different direction.

"I can't believe that the Imperial Princesses died… How could this happen?"

"I heard many good things about them. They didn't deserve this," another sighed.

"It's all the Li Family's fault for tricking them! They should've known what would happen if they negotiated with the Alzar Kingdom." She snorted. "Did they forget what happened to Emperor Lianghu or Empress Mei? It was-"

"Shut it!" someone covered her mouth in a hurry. "Are you looking to die? You know we're not supposed to talk about these things!"

The woman eyed the nearby guards in fright. This was the capital city where ears and eyes were everywhere. One wrong slipup, and her head would fall. Slandering the Imperial Family, regardless of their intentions, was punishable by death! She heaved a sigh of relief after seeing no one else heard her words before scurrying out of the crowds.

On another side, someone remarked, "Who will be next in line for the throne then? If the princesses are gone, then the Imperial Family is…"

"According to the laws, it should be inherited by Prime Minister Pon-Wai and the Jian Family."

"The Jian Family, huh? I can't say I like them, but they're a better choice than the Li Family."

"I agree. The Li Family is too powerful. They can already overwhelm the other three Great Nobility Families… I can't imagine what would happen with the Imperial Family under their control too."

"Who cares about that nonsense?" someone chimed in. "The kingdom is already on our doorstep! Do you think they'll make their way here?"

"All the way to Yongtein? You're joking. The kingdom has never made it this far. We should be safe."

"I don't know about that one. I heard that the kingdom has…"

Prime Minister Pon-Wai Jian watched everything from his window with a half-smiling face as usual. However, he radiated a particularly eerie light now, enough to send chills up anyone's spine. It was the grimace of a predator. The Imperial Council's involvement in the Battle of Liguang would never come to light. No one would believe the Alzar Kingdom, and they had a tact agreement with the Li Family too. From an outsider's perspective, it was infighting between two potential allies, which was precisely the image that Prime Minister Pon-Wai wanted to create. It would propel the Imperial Council's standing to another level!

But he was not satisfied with just that. If everything went according to plan, then they would have secured Imperian Qiang, the Imperial Princesses, and Princess Elizabeth in one fell swoop. It could have been the decisive blow needed to fell both titans! However, everything was ruined at the last moment. Liguang was reduced to a smoking crater, many of their top combatants were killed in action, the Phoenix Division was annihilated, and Kun and Qilin Divisions took heavy damage too. They secured none of the targets that they hoped for and suffered enormous losses instead. Prime Minister Pon-Wai was right to be furious.

"Do you believe what the Featherwind Sect said?" he asked the other person in the room.

Minister Keigon Jun looked up from the reports and snorted. Derision was written across his face. "That a 'mysterious helper' suddenly intervened in the battle and caused what happened? And that this 'mysterious person' should be a Rank 3 King from the Alzar Kingdom? I'm impressed they had the nerve to say this garbage."

"I'm the same mind as you. The chances of a third party involving themselves is nearly zero. In all likelihood, we can assume that the Featherwind Sect has betrayed us."

"But isn't that a problem? They should be bound by the Nine Regrets Reincarnation vow. Do you think that they deliberately chose to violate their vow to make this move against us? I don't think they should know about our plans to backstab them. Could they have gotten in contact with the kingdom?" Minister Keigon immediately listed off many possibilities.

"I don't know," the prime minister replied flatly. "However, that shouldn't be our main concern right now. The bigger question is…"

"Whether the princesses survived or not. I have all our informants and spies working to verify their deaths, but nothing has come up yet. If they are alive, then they should be laying low. It won't be easy to dig them up."

"Since winter has arrived, we can finally set our plans into motion. At that point, it doesn't matter if they're alive or not. The outcome will be the same."

"Alright. Should we say anything to Minister Daiyuu?"

"I'll handle him, so don't worry. He doesn't need to know anything more than necessary."

"What about Protector Chang? Can he be used?" Minister Keigon probed.

Protector Chang Jian was Princess Ming's Protector and the prime minister's younger brother. The fact that both the Jian and Shui Families placed their children so close to the Imperial Princesses that they were currently at war with drew many suspicious eyes. Was it a strategic decision that they made long ago? However, Prime Minister Pon-Wai gave him a sharp sidelong glance, his expression turning sinister. He did not bother saying anything else. Instead, he returned his attention outside and looked at the capital below. It was unknown what he was thinking.

***

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