In Xu Ming’s courtyard, Wu Yanhan sat across from him.
Shen Shengsheng was over by the flowerbed, crouching down and playing with mud.
Although Xu Ming had invited Wu Yanhan to his courtyard earlier, she had briskly refused with a “Not going” and left. Yet, when Xu Ming returned, Wu Yanhan had come over on her own.
As for Yu Wenxi and Miao Feng, they were tactful enough not to disturb someone else’s private moment, so they went back to their own residences.
“Who’s this little girl?” Wu Yanhan asked, glancing at Shen Shengsheng. “Your love child with that veiled woman?”
Cough cough cough!
Xu Ming choked on air. “What are you even talking about? Shengsheng is almost nine years old.”
“Heh.” Wu Yanhan turned her head away.
Xu Ming: “…”
Xu Ming suspected Wu Yanhan was still holding a grudge against him for not helping her earlier.But then again, could Wu Yanhan really be that petty?
“She’s Shen Shengsheng, Shen Sheng’s daughter,” Xu Ming explained while pouring tea for Wu Yanhan.
“Shen Sheng?” Wu Yanhan froze for a moment before quickly recalling the mission eight years ago. Shen Sheng was the man who controlled magical beasts but ultimately became one himself. In the end, Xu Ming had been the one to kill him.
“This girl is his daughter? Then why is she with you?” Wu Yanhan’s confusion deepened.
Xu Ming shook his head. “It’s a long story. As for the details of how Shen Shengsheng was born, or the specifics behind it, I don’t know much either. What I do know is that she has magical beast bloodline.
Back when I came out of the Baiwa Secret Realm…”
Xu Ming recounted everything that had happened in the Lava Heart Cave to Wu Yanhan without holding anything back.
When Wu Yanhan heard that a human could possess a magical beast bloodline, she was utterly astonished.
“You’re really telling me all this? Are you sure it’s okay?” Wu Yanhan asked.
Shen Shengsheng was far too unusual. If any faction learned that a human with a magical beast bloodline existed and could cultivate, they’d undoubtedly fight over her or experiment on her.
But Xu Ming had told her everything without reservation.
Xu Ming chuckled, sipping his tea. “If I’m telling you all this, it means I trust you. I trust that you won’t share this with anyone else.”
Wu Yanhan raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you trust me so much?”
Xu Ming replied matter-of-factly, “After everything we’ve been through, all those life-and-death situations, I’ve long trusted you unconditionally. To put it simply, you’re one of the few people in this world I trust the most.”
“One of the few?” Wu Yanhan sneered. “Let me guess. Among the people you trust the most, there’s also Qin Qingwan from Tianxuan Sect, isn’t there?”
Xu Ming: “…”
“And besides Qin Qingwan, that veiled woman is someone you trust unconditionally too, right?” Wu Yanhan pressed on.
Xu Ming’s brow twitched, unsure how to respond for a moment.
Why is she bringing up all the most awkward topics?
“I don’t trust the veiled woman you mentioned,” Xu Ming finally said.
“Oh? Then why haven’t you told me her name yet? Isn’t that just you protecting her?” Wu Yanhan countered.
“What’s there to hide?” Xu Ming felt like Wu Yanhan was unusually confrontational today. “The veiled woman you’re talking about is the Saintess of the Black Lotus Sect in the Western Regions. My connection with her is because she tried to kill me. But in the end, due to certain circumstances, we ended up working together against the Hehuan Sect. So, strictly speaking, our relationship is just one of mutual exploitation.”
“Just that?” Wu Yanhan asked skeptically.
Xu Ming hesitated, feeling a bit guilty. “That’s all there is to it.”
Cough cough cough.
Xu Ming coughed awkwardly a few times before continuing. “Actually, there’s another reason I’m telling you all this.”
“Oh? Let’s hear it,” Wu Yanhan said, her curiosity piqued.
Xu Ming said, “When we return to Wudu, I want to leave Shengsheng at the Xu family estate and ask my mother to help take care of her. I also hope you can lend a hand.”
Wu Yanhan thought for a moment and then shook her head. “If I didn’t have much going on, I could agree to that. But in the coming years, I’m afraid I won’t be staying in Wudu.”
Now it was Xu Ming’s turn to be confused. “Why?”
Wu Yanhan looked directly into Xu Ming’s eyes. “To suppress rebellions.”
“Suppress rebellions?” Xu Ming asked.
Wu Yanhan nodded. “During the half year you’ve been away from the Wu Kingdom, a lot has happened. The biggest event was when the emperor implemented your Tui’en Order.”
Xu Ming was taken aback. “The Tui’en Order?”
Wu Yanhan continued, “Your Tui’en Order was a truly brilliant move, especially combined with the current rise in the status of concubine-born sons in the Wu Kingdom. Most vassal kings had no choice but to accept it, dividing their lands among other heirs.
However, no one is truly a fool.
The reason many vassal kings accepted it is that they weren’t bold enough to rebel, and the Tui’en Order was a gentle approach that didn’t push them too hard. But the ambitious vassal kings in the Wu Kingdom are a different story.
They understand that with the Tui’en Order, their vassal states will gradually weaken within a hundred years. If they refuse to implement it, internal conflicts will grow, and concubine-born heirs may side with the imperial court.
So these vassal kings, while their territories are still strong and well-armed, are taking their chances and aiming for the emperor’s throne.
Currently, there are over twenty rebellions across the Wu Kingdom, big and small.
Some vassal kings have formed alliances; others are acting on their own.
Many generals from the court have been sent to suppress the uprisings. As the Eldest Princess of the Wu Kingdom, how could I sit idly by in the palace?”
Xu Ming understood what Emperor Wu intended.
War was the best way to build prestige.
Sending his daughter to the battlefield was risky, but there would undoubtedly be protectors in the shadows ensuring her safety.
If Yanhan could make significant contributions during this rebellion, her reputation in the court would soar.
Moreover, as someone with a Martial God Physique, she needed the blood and chaos of the battlefield to refine herself. This rebellion was the perfect opportunity for that.
Seeing Xu Ming deep in thought, Wu Yanhan assumed her earlier refusal had upset him. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and softened her tone.
“Don’t worry. As long as nothing unexpected happens, the rebellion shouldn’t take too long to suppress. You can stay in Wudu for a while, and I’ll return when it’s over.”
“Thank you,” Xu Ming replied with a smile. He turned to look at Shen Shengsheng. “There’s no rush. I’ll think it over.”
“Take your time. If you need anything, just tell me,” Wu Yanhan said, meeting his gaze. “But before that, I have a question for you.”
Xu Ming nodded. “We’re close enough; just ask.”
“Then I’ll get straight to the point,” Wu Yanhan said. “Did you come to Tianxuan Sect to congratulate them, or because you missed Qin Qingwan?”
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