"Please come in."
Since they were already here, it wouldn't be right to turn them away without meeting.
Looking down from the window, hundreds of neatly arranged soldiers surrounded the hotel, making it impossible for even a fly to escape.
After receiving Ning Rongrong's permission, the door slowly opened.
A somewhat effeminate-looking blond man walked in. He hadn't changed much from a few years ago, though his frivolous demeanor had diminished somewhat.
"Interesting."
It seemed Prince Xue Xing had put quite a bit of effort into disciplining Xue Beng!
Ning Rongrong's gaze shifted slightly to the middle-aged man standing slightly behind Xue Beng. His face bore some wrinkles, and his resemblance to Emperor Xue Ye made him quite familiar.
Ning Rongrong immediately recognized the blond middle-aged man—Prince Xue Xing, the one who had given her a ten-thousand-year soul bone as an apology. His face had grown noticeably more weathered.
"Your Highness Xue Beng and Your Highness Prince Xue Xing, what brings you to us?"
"I don't recall the two of us little girls being important enough to warrant such a grand display."
"Or perhaps…" Ning Rongrong swirled the cup in her hand, her deep eyes narrowing slightly, "you're here to seek revenge for what happened years ago?"
"You jest, Young Master Ning," Prince Xue Xing spoke first.
"That was all a misunderstanding, and both sides ended up satisfied. Xue Beng and I are here today for another matter."
"Oh?" Ning Rongrong studied Prince Xue Xing. "Instead of seeking out my father, Ning Fengzhi, you came to me. Do you think I have any decision-making power?"
"Or, to be more radical—are you planning to capture me and Dugu Yan and use us to threaten the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"Young Master Ning, we've managed to investigate a few things over the years and know exactly how much influence you hold."
Prince Xue Xing remained unprovoked, his tone sincere. "We wish to cooperate with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect through you."
"Cooperate?" A flicker of surprise flashed in Ning Rongrong's eyes before she chuckled lightly.
"I don't see any need for cooperation. And your current actions don't exactly seem like those of someone seeking cooperation, do they?"
"Two Soul Sages, four Soul Emperors…"
"If you're not here to capture us, I'd find that hard to believe!"
Ning Rongrong's words caused Prince Xue Xing's face to stiffen, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Young Master Ning, please don't speculate too much. Xue Beng and I have always been friendly toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The people we brought are only here to ensure my safety."
"My situation with Xue Qinghe—I'm sure the Young Master is aware." Xue Beng's voice carried a trace of bitterness, but he had no choice but to step forward. If Ning Rongrong continued speaking like this, the conversation wouldn't be able to proceed.
"Is that so…" Ning Rongrong didn't refute him. "Fine, let's assume that's the case."
"So, what exactly does this 'cooperation' entail?" Ning Rongrong interlaced her fingers and rested them on the table, her gaze signaling for them to begin their performance.
"We hope the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will assist us in reclaiming the sovereignty of the Heaven Dou Empire."
Xue Beng's expression was solemn.
"Pfft—" Ning Rongrong couldn't help but laugh. "Has Your Highness Xue Beng forgotten that my father is currently the Imperial Tutor? What reason would we have to help you?"
"Xue Qinghe and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have some unresolved issues, am I wrong?"
Xue Beng spoke with confidence.
"Even if that's true, so what?" Ning Rongrong said indifferently.
After the incident where Di Tian was injured—perhaps because Bibi Dong had informed her—Qian Renxue seemed to have grown somewhat wary of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"When the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the rabbits are dead, the hounds are cooked!"
"Young Master Ning is intelligent—surely you understand this principle?" Xue Beng spoke in a guiding tone. "Once Xue Qinghe fully controls the Heaven Dou Empire, will the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect still retain its transcendent status?"
"Moreover, Xue Qinghe's relationship with the Spirit Hall is ambiguous at best."
"Doesn't that concern you at all?" Xue Beng spoke until his mouth was dry, yet Ning Rongrong's expression remained unchanged. Her gaze drifted leisurely toward the bystander beside her.
"Sister Yan, what do you think?"
After a moment of silence, Dugu Yan replied, "His Highness Xue Beng is implying that Xue Qinghe is ruthless and doesn't care about loyalty."
"Exactly." Xue Beng nodded.
He didn't believe the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hadn't investigated the deaths of the Second and Third Princes.
Even without evidence, suspicions would arise—especially now, with Xue Qinghe finding a new backer in the Spirit Hall.
If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could still remain calm in this situation, that would be truly unbelievable!
Xue Beng's hope to win over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect stemmed from this very reason.
Whatever Xue Qinghe could offer, he could offer more. Whatever Xue Qinghe couldn't offer, he, Xue Beng, could.
Now was the perfect time. Knowing that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect valued self-preservation, he believed they would be more likely to side with him now that they were caught in this quagmire.
"Your Highness Xue Beng, may I ask you a question?" Instead of commenting on Xue Beng's response, Dugu Yan posed a question of her own.
"Miss Dugu Yan, feel free to ask. I will answer truthfully."
"Your Highness has pointed out Xue Qinghe's flaws, but you yourself are far more detestable than him." Dugu Yan said. "Those years of playing the spoiled prince—I'm sure you enjoyed them, didn't you?"
"I have reason to suspect you once had designs on me." Her tone was as calm as if she were discussing something unrelated to herself, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Xue Beng fell silent. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
After a long pause, Xue Beng clenched his teeth. "To win over Lord Dugu, I did have such thoughts, but I never crossed the line. I never resorted to any underhanded methods."
"Right. Because I have a Title Douluo grandfather. But think about how you treated commoners. A high-and-mighty noble like you—even if you took the throne, you'd just be another Emperor Xue Ye."
"You could never be like Xue Qinghe. The forces behind you wouldn't allow it."
Having said her piece, Dugu Yan signaled for Ning Rongrong to continue—she had nothing more to add.
Ning Rongrong nodded and took over. "Xue Beng, you're just a figurehead propped up by the nobility. The fact that you've survived under Xue Qinghe's nose for so long means you must have realized this."
"I don't understand." Xue Beng shook his head.
"Young Master Ning, why do you care about those commoners? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a long-standing sect—it's practically nobility itself."
"Shouldn't you be more concerned about the unity of the Top Three Sects?"
Xue Qinghe's ambiguous relationship with the Spirit Hall was no longer just about trade. Though there was no concrete evidence, all signs pointed to it exceeding normal boundaries. In other words, the Spirit Hall had crossed the line.
Xue Beng took a deep breath. "If the Spirit Hall takes control of the Heaven Dou Empire, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect won't be able to remain untouched either."
"Xue Qinghe is making a pact with the devil. Don't you agree, Young Master Ning?"
"My father and I don't see any chance of victory for you." Ning Rongrong had no interest in continuing the conversation. "As for the Spirit Hall… the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a support-type sect. At worst, life might become a little harder for us."
"We've always played the role of merchants. We don't involve ourselves in factional struggles."
"Your Highness Xue Beng, this is my father's stance."
"And it's also the answer you came here seeking today, isn't it?"
Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing fell silent once more.
After a long pause, the two exchanged glances. Prince Xue Xing gave Xue Beng an almost imperceptible look, and Xue Beng understood.
"Our apologies for disturbing you." With that, Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing retreated and closed the door behind them.
"Wait—" Ning Rongrong suddenly called out. "Is Princess Xue Ke with you?"
Xue Beng paused, then shook his head. "I had her sent to a relatively safe place in Heaven Dou City."
"The throne is a matter between me and Xue Qinghe. Unless absolutely necessary, I didn't want to involve her."
With that, Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing left, shutting the door behind them.
"A safe place in Heaven Dou City…"
Rumors had it that Tang Yuehua, the master of the Moon Pavilion, had a special relationship with Emperor Xue Ye.
Could she have been sent there?