Chapter 285: Chapter 207: Maid Bai He, Arrivals from the Demon Country, A Matrimonial Alliance, The Entire Court in an Uproar

"I remember now! The Noble Consort said a new Palace Maid was reporting for duty today. She has an extremely high Cultivation and is Your Highness’s new Guard. Her name is also Bai He!"

"Yes, that’s me," Yun Qinghe nodded.

"What did Mother send you here to do?" Lu Mingyuan asked suspiciously.

"To protect you, of course. Aren’t you about to become the Crown Prince?"

Yun Qinghe said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

’Do I, in my current state, still need your protection?’ Lu Mingyuan thought.

But on second thought, having another expert around was an extra layer of security. It was better than nothing.

The aura flowing around Yun Qinghe now showed that her Cultivation had improved again. He suspected she had already stepped into the Tenth Realm Nascent Soul.

Seeing the reluctant look on Yun Qinghe’s face, Lu Mingyuan smiled. "You don’t exactly look like you came here voluntarily."

"I couldn’t refuse a certain someone’s request."

Yun Qinghe sighed.

"Who is this ’certain someone’? I’m very curious," Lu Mingyuan said with a grin.

"Why are you so nosy!"

Yun Qinghe looked annoyed.

Her mind couldn’t help but drift back to a few days ago, to Senior Sister Sui’s careful instructions.

"You’re currently lying low in the Imperial Palace, a place fraught with danger. The slightest misstep could lead to your discovery by the Great Yan imperial experts. That’s why I found a Tributor from the Wang Family to arrange an identity for you."

Sui Yuqing’s face, as beautiful as an Immortal’s, was filled with seriousness.

Yun Qinghe wore a pained expression. "Senior Sister, are you really making me go be Lu Mingyuan’s Guard?"

Sui Yuqing’s slightly hoarse, magnetic voice held a light chuckle. "I recall he once saved your life and helped you resolve a knot in your heart—a great boon to your Dao. And yet, you seem to dislike him?"

Yun Qinghe pouted. "Because he always argues with me, and he’s never serious."

Sui Yuqing teased, "My mistake. It’s not dislike, then, but affection. Your Senior Sister has been there before, I understand~"

Soon, her expression turned stern again. "On this mission, you must remember to ensure Prince Huai’an’s safety at all costs."

"The Demon Country’s invasion is happening now. The major powers are all tied up, and even the Celestial Master’s Mansion has to send people to defend against the Demon Country’s army on the frontier. As the future Crown Prince of Great Yan, Lu Mingyuan is crucial. He is the key to the Yuqing Lineage maintaining its status within the Taoist Sect."

"I know..."

「Back in the present.」

"It couldn’t be Elder Sui, could it?"

Lu Mingyuan thought for a moment and felt it was very likely Sui Yuqing’s request.

Seeing her excuse immediately exposed, Yun Qinghe said stubbornly:

"It’s not."

"Really not?"

Yun Qinghe changed the subject. "Oh, stop getting sidetracked! Let’s talk about the Crown Prince position. What are your thoughts on it?"

’Damn it, how did he guess it was Senior Sister?’

Her words reaching his ears, Lu Mingyuan saw he was mostly right and smiled. "The Crown Prince position... if it’s gone, it’s gone. Besides, knowing my father’s mind, he’ll surely come a fourth time. Never mind three times, he’d come a hundred times if he had to."

"A hundred times?!"

Lu Mingyuan glanced around, noting the astonishment on Zi Yun’s and Hong Wan’s faces, as well as Yun Qinghe’s frown. He chuckled softly. "Do you all think being Crown Prince is a good thing?"

"Isn’t it?"

Lu Mingyuan shook his head and lamented, "All the world knows Immortals are good; only fame and glory they can’t forget!"

"The Generals and Ministers of old, where are they now? In a desolate tomb, a pile of grass, and gone." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Everyone in the world knows being Crown Prince is good, but how could they know the position is a trap, built upon a mountain of bones?

Most people only stare at the jewels on the throne, but they fail to see the skeletons beneath it.

People build their careers and legacies because they are blinded by passion and have not yet "awakened." But all of it is unreliable. The poem promotes a philosophy of calm observation of life.

Hong Wan, having come from a Noble Family, was naturally discerning. Upon hearing the poem, her first reaction was one of amazement. "Your Highness, this poem is simple and clear, yet it contains profound truth."

"All the world knows Immortals are good..."

Yun Qinghe was also momentarily stunned when she heard this poem.

As the few of them conversed in the Cold Palace, a piece of news from the front lines shot through the Great Yan Imperial Capital with the speed of Thunder.

「The Great Yan Capital.」

「Holy Bright Palace Hall.」

All the civil and military officials of the court rushed over in a great hurry.

After the court session began, the Chief Minister of the Cabinet threw the memorial in his hand down into the hall, and the officials learned a piece of bombshell news.

The Demon Country’s grand army was bearing down on the border! More than half of the Northern Realm’s defense line—including Yulu Pass, Juyong Pass, Baima Pass, and Niu Hu City—had been massively invaded by the Demon Country!

"An entire city of unarmed civilians was massacred, and a defending Great Yan General was beheaded."

"Does the Demon Country truly think our Great Yan has no one to fight back?"

"Is this the result of our concessions?"

Furious discussions erupted. Many of the key ministers practically roared in anger. An entire city of tens of thousands slaughtered—what was the meaning of this?

Most importantly, a Great Yan General had been publicly beheaded.

If the Court ignored this, losing face would be a small matter; the shaking of public and military morale would be the real disaster.

As Chief Minister, Yuan Xuangang remained calm. He looked at the high-ranking ministers below and declared in a resonant voice:

"The Holy Emperor already has a plan to guard against the Demon Country’s retaliation. His Majesty’s illness has also taken a turn for the better. There is no need for any of you to panic and lose your composure."

As soon as he said this, the eyes of many ministers lit up.

"What? The Holy Emperor’s health is improving?"

"As long as Your Majesty’s sacred health is fine, why would our Great Yan fear the Holy Netherworld?"

"Celestial Protection for Great Yan!"

As long as Emperor Yong’an was still around, everyone had a pillar of support.

After all, the current Great Yan Court had been established by Emperor Yong’an. The various deeds and methods of this Iron-blooded Emperor could still inspire them all.

No matter how difficult the war or how dire the situation, what hadn’t Emperor Yong’an seen before?

This was merely a small scene in comparison.