Dongfang Jing entered the private room of the restaurant.
The private room was elegantly decorated, with a round mahogany table by the window, on which were placed several plates of delicate pastries and a pot of warm tea.
A woman sat sideways by the window, holding a teacup in her hand, gazing at the street scene of Tiandou City outside the window.
Hearing the door open, she turned around.
Five years have also etched changes onto her.
Qian Renxue is no longer the stunning yet still girlish girl she once was.
She had grown into a more mature woman, her long golden hair cascading naturally over her shoulders, shimmering softly in the afternoon sunlight. She wore a pale purple dress with a moon-white sheer outer garment over it, the neckline slightly open, revealing her slender, fair neck.
Her features were more refined than they had been five years ago, and the look in her eyes was different. She had lost some of the aloofness of her youth and gained more composure and poise after experiencing the world.
But those golden phoenix eyes remained bright, still carrying an air of nobility.
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up immediately when she saw Dongfang Jing walk in.
The corners of his mouth unconsciously curved up into a very natural and gentle smile.
It wasn't the gentle and refined demeanor she displayed when she disguised herself as Xue Qinghe, nor the reserved smile she wore in the imperial court.
That's the smile that appears when you see someone you like.
"You've come," she said softly.
"Um."
Dongfang Jing nodded, walked into the private room, and sat down opposite her.
Qian Renxue was already used to his indifferent attitude.
For the past five years, Dongfang Jing has always acted the same way whenever he comes to keep the appointment.
No matter how Qian Renxue dressed up, tried to find topics to talk about, or tried to subtly probe, his attitude remained the same.
He is completely unresponsive to reason.
Qian Renxue couldn't help but feel disappointed.
But she wasn't the type to nag; despite her disappointment, she still had to get on with her work.
However, compared to their initial unfamiliarity, they are now considered friends, so Dongfang Jing talks more.
Qian Renxue put down her teacup and glanced towards the door of the private room.
"Uncle Snake Spear, Uncle Porcupine, please go out and stay away. I have something to discuss with Dongfang Jing alone."
After saying that,
Two figures walked in through the door—Snake Spear Douluo and Porcupine Douluo.
The two exchanged a helpless glance.
The meaning in his eyes couldn't be clearer.
here we go again.
For the past five years, Qian Renxue, in his capacity as Crown Prince, had summoned Dongfang Jing to the palace, claiming it was to discuss philosophical questions about governing the country and its people. But before each visit, Qian Renxue would change into three different outfits and spend most of the day looking at himself in the bronze mirror.
Do we need to change clothes to discuss philosophical questions?
Neither the serpent spear nor the porcupine pufferfish is stupid.
They had long understood their young master's thoughts.
Moreover, it seems that the Grand Master Qian Daoliu also intends to bring them together, and has hinted several times that they should not get in the way.
So Serpent Spear straightened up and said in a measured tone, "Young Master, as a guard, I cannot—"
Qian Renxue frowned.
Before Serpent Spear could finish speaking, he was frozen in place by that icy gaze.
"I told you to get out, didn't you understand?"
The spear shut its mouth.
The pufferfish tugged at his sleeve and winked at him.
The two slunk out of the private room, and after their footsteps faded into the distance, a low laugh echoed down the corridor.
"Hehehe, look at the young master's eyes... Sigh, this act isn't easy..."
Shh! The walls have ears.
The laughter stopped abruptly.
The private room fell silent again.
Qian Renxue adjusted her expression and pushed a cup of tea in front of Dongfang Jing.
"Let me tell you about your situation first. The current situation of the Blazing Sun Temple is being widely discussed outside. I've heard about it several times in the palace."
Dongfang Jing picked up his teacup and leaned back in his chair.
"It's proceeding as planned, and there are no major problems."
Qian Renxue chuckled after hearing this, her smile tinged with a hint of wistfulness: "You've almost wiped out all the evil spirit masters on the entire continent."
"There will always be some fish that slip through the net before it's completely swept clean."
Qian Renxue looked at him, hesitant to speak.
After a few seconds, she spoke, her tone becoming more sincere.
"Do you know? People outside are speculating about the background of the Blazing Sun Temple. Some say it's a special force of the Spirit Hall, others say it's a branch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. There are all sorts of guesses, but no one guessed that the leader of this organization would be someone as young as you."
"Isn't this great?"
"That's good." Qian Renxue rested her chin on her hands, looking at Dongfang Jing. "But you look like a cold person, yet you have quite a lot of connections."
Dongfang Jing took a sip of tea and said calmly, "The organization recruits people based on quality, not quantity. Those who join are all elites from various factions. Too many people would only make things more likely to go wrong."
Qian Renxue nodded, sat up straight, and began to talk.
"Then let me help you sort it out."
She stretched out her fingers and counted them one by one.
"The Spirit Hall's Angel Legion is the main fighting force of the Blazing Sun Temple. There's no need to elaborate on this; Grandpa has been continuously supplying you with manpower. Elite knights, angelic bloodline Soul Masters, plus several elders from the Hall of Offerings providing covert support—this is your strongest card."
Dongfang Jing nodded slightly.
The Angel Legion of the Thousand Families is one of the elite forces of the Spirit Hall.
Five years after agreeing to cooperate, Qian Daoliu began a systematic selection process, choosing a group of people with pure beliefs to be separated from the official organization of the Spirit Hall and transferred to Qian Renxue's private command.
To the outside world, they still use the name of the Spirit Hall.
In reality, they only obeyed the orders of Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue.
After several twists and turns, they finally joined the Temple of the Blazing Sun.
——
"Then comes the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School." Qian Renxue raised her second finger.
This matter was officially finalized two years ago.
At that time, Dongfang Jing personally went to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and told Ning Fengzhi about the whole plan, including the true identity of the Heavenly Dou Crown Prince.
Ning Fengzhi remained silent for the entire afternoon.
He was not unsurprised; the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire was actually the granddaughter of the former Judgement Elder of the Spirit Hall!
Ning Fengzhi is a smart man.
He made no threat to expose the matter.
Because once he does that, within a few hours, Dongfang Jing will definitely disregard past relationships and lead Xue Di, Bing Di, and others to sweep through the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Ning Fengzhi clearly saw that the current situation on the mainland would change because of Dongfang Jing's actions.
Therefore, he also chose to join the collaboration.
When he visited Emperor Xueye at the palace, he also took the opportunity to impart all the knowledge he had to Qian Renxue.
At first, Ning Fengzhi only asked Dongfang Jing one question.
"Nephew, do you think Qian Renxue is capable of being the emperor of this new empire?"
Dongfang Jing wasn't sure either, but he was willing to believe it one time.
"If things get out of my control, I won't act anymore."
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(End of chapter)