Time flies like a white colt passing through a gap, and several months have gone by in a flash.

Xu Yuan suddenly realized after seeing the snowflakes scattered in the sky. It’s been a year since he took charge of the world. Putting down the wolf hair brush in his hand, he stood up and walked to the window lattice of the study in the Inner Courtyard, looking out. The reflection in his calm black pupils captured the snow-covered scene of Di’an.

At this moment, the New Year was not far away. Because of the war, the Ministry of Rites had not lavishly decorated the streets with celebratory red bands this year, but each district remained bustling. Many families were out shopping for New Year’s goods, finding rare joy amidst the wartime hardships.

The year has passed so quickly...

Looking back, it seemed as though he did a lot this year, yet upon careful reflection, it was just a few things. The remaining time was buried under various complicated government affairs.

He sat by the window lattice, as the sky dimmed due to snow. The muted twilight seeped into the study, and Xu Yuan stared dazedly at the chair behind the main desk.

At this time last year, his father was still sitting there, like a mountain, silent and weighty.

In that moment,

Xu Yuan suddenly missed the past a little.

The past where his father was present.

If it were that father, he would have done better.

The momentary weakness while alone dissipated quickly as Xu Yuan collected himself and walked towards the chair behind the case records.

His father had left him. He was now the sky of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, allowing no weakness.

Sitting down, Xu Yuan looked at the old case records before him and inexplicably thought of the sword intent in the Sword Sect’s bamboo groves.

Even Ran Jianli left those memories for the Big Ice Lump. Perhaps his old man also left something similar for him?

Maybe he should search within the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

But this thought vanished as quickly as it appeared.

That father’s personality was not romantic at all and could even be described as serious to the point of dullness.

Shaking his head, Xu Yuan’s lips curved into a smile.

Thoughts scattered in his mind.

Recalling the bamboo grove’s sword intent made Xu Yuan remember that half a year had passed since the Sword Sect’s surrender. This year’s annual assessment was approaching, and the Sword Sect would likely send an envoy.

They would most likely send the Big Ice Lump.

After all, the promise he made to Luo Wei that day was not just to the Big Ice Lump but a political commitment to the entire Sword Sect.

As long as he was here, as long as Ran Qingmo was here, the Sword Sect would prosper for a lifetime.

It had been half a year since they last met. He needed to warn Tian Ye not to stir trouble while the Big Ice Lump was in the Capital City.

It was uncertain if Tianyan would come for this year’s annual assessment.

In essence, Jiatiange did not belong to the Dayan Imperial Court. It was more of a cooperative relationship. They were not obligated to come, and judging by the internal bulletins submitted from below, Jiatiange, located at Dayan’s southernmost end, was not faring well.

They had been beaten all year.

As he thought, Xu Yuan took out the Tianxun Crystal Orb, preparing to contact that Washboard Saintess, but just then, a message came through, stopping his actions.

Bai Zhao had arrived...

Half a year ago, Xu Yuan left him in the Tianyuan Mountains to handle various affairs after the surrender, not expecting him to return so soon.

After pondering for a moment, Xu Yuan sighed lightly in his heart, put away the Tianxun Crystal Orb, and disappeared from the study in an instant.

...

...

At the top floor of the Mo Ying Pavilion,

after walking through the long open-air corridor, a middle-aged man in a Confucian robe had been waiting outside the door for Xu Yuan for a long time. Upon seeing Xu Yuan approach, he immediately bowed respectfully:

"Young Master, Zhao is here to report."

Xu Yuan glanced at the slight snowfall on his shoulder and chuckled lightly:

"Come inside."

Upon entering the room,

Xu Yuan lit some incense and cultivated to dispel the cold for him. Bai Zhao then began his report with apprehension:

"According to your instructions, the division of the Sword Sect is nearly complete. With Elder Luo’s cooperation, we have identified most families and individuals bearing animosity towards the Imperial Court. After the New Year, we will relocate them all into the Secret Realm.....

"...The ideological reform of the Sword Sect’s Sword Team is almost complete. Out of 53,000, while it cannot be said they are absolutely loyal, most have passed the tests....

...The opinion from Commander Zong is that these Sword Sect disciples should be integrated into his Central Army as reserve replacements. This matter is not something I dare to decide on my own. What do you think....."

"...In addition, the Imperial Family has absorbed all of the Sword Sect’s technological reserves, whether it be material smelting methods, equipment, and formation diagrams, or cultivation techniques...."

The Prime Minister’s Mansion takes the land and people, while the Imperial Family takes the technology.

This was the agreement Xu Yuan reached with Li Qingyan.

"...In terms of production, due to the damage from the war, basic production has been restored to half of what it was before the war. The Source Crystal Ore Vein suffered greater damage, with only thirty percent restored. However, with the arrival of resources from the Imperial Court, the recovery speed will increase, reaching the peak resource output of the Sword Sect by March at the latest...." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"...."

"...."

Listening to the clear and orderly report, Xu Yuan gradually outlined the current state of the Sword Sect in his mind.

Bai Zhao did well, mostly meeting expectations, with a small part even exceeding his predictions.

A year has passed since the start of the war, and the Sect Alliance’s war machine has completely started running, with most fronts entering a strategic stalemate phase.

Calculating in his mind, Xu Yuan looked at the middle-aged man, who had finished speaking and was silently waiting for a reply, and said:

"Now that Zhou Chen has already become the deputy division commander of the Black Scale Guards in the Capital Region, you have done even better in these six months and should be rewarded further. I give you two choices: immediately enter the capital, where the Ministry of Personnel has an important position for you, or continue to stay in Hongnong."

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhao, without any hesitation, said:

"I, wish to continue handling external trivialities for you, young master."

Stay in Hongnong?

Xu Yuan glanced once more at this low-born middle-aged man, smiled, and asked:

"Why?"

Bai Zhao hesitated.

"Just speak plainly," Xu Yuan said.

Bai Zhao took a deep breath and quickly said:

"I dare not presume to interpret the Emperor’s intentions, but based on my observations over the past half year, it seems that you and His Majesty intend to transform Hongnong into a bridgehead for the southern advance of the army, serving as the material circulation center for the entire war."

Xu Yuan smiled lightly.

Bai Zhao lowered his head in some anxiety.

After a moment, Xu Yuan said softly:

"This matter is significant; I originally thought of letting my grandfather handle it, but since you have this intention, I cannot let it go to waste. I will let Hua Hong oversee this work, and you will assist him."

Bai Zhao was overjoyed inside.

Elder Hua oversees the circulation of materials across the world and cannot devote all his energy to Hongnong. The likely result of this arrangement is that he will handle the work while Elder Hua reviews and approves it.

If he does well, this would be a great opportunity to shine in front of Elder Hua, and also serve as a stepping stone into the Tian’an Commerce Assembly.

Thud!

With his head touching the ground, Bai Zhao’s voice even carried a trace of tremor:

"Thank... thank you for your trust, young master!"

"...."

Xu Yuan waved his hand, opened his mouth again, no longer talking about official matters, but casually asked:

"You’ve been staying in Hongnong, why didn’t you enter the capital with the Sword Sect’s envoy to report for duty?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhao’s body instantly stiffened, even apprehensive.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan couldn’t help but frown slightly:

"Why aren’t you speaking?"

Bai Zhao dared not keep Xu Yuan waiting long, after a moment’s silence, he forced himself to speak:

"Young master, the Sword Sect’s envoy... was attacked in the territory of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

"....."

The news entered his ears, and a flurry of thoughts instantly surged through Xu Yuan’s mind.

He was not immediately concerned about the safety of the Big Ice Lump; instead, like a cold-blooded machine, he stood from a macro perspective, looking down.

If Ran Qingmo was assassinated, there would inevitably be a rift between the Sword Sect and the Imperial Court, and the usually neutral Heavenly Master Mansion would inevitably be drawn into it.

But from this overarching perspective, Xu Yuan had no choice but to consider other matters.

What if it wasn’t the Sect Alliance?

What if it was the Heavenly Master Mansion?

The Heavenly Master Mansion has been very restrained since the war began, but they also maintain their power by privileges like being exempt from taxes. If they....

Wait.

Thoughts coming to this point, Xu Yuan suddenly realized something.

He looked down at Bai Zhao, who was now like a quivering quail before him:

"Where is Ran Qingmo? What about communication since the assassination attempt? Why didn’t you mention this earlier?"

Bai Zhao swallowed his saliva:

".... I...I."

Seeing this, Xu Yuan immediately understood, rubbing his temples; his Spiritual Vision pressed outward instantly,

But before this happened,

a palace-dressed girl with bare feet first appeared in the elegant room.

She crossed her arms, floating half a foot above the ground.

Her deep golden eyes were like stars,

"Hmph!"