"…" Yuan Venerate Qing almost choked to death. He had not expected Miao Yi to give such an answer and was left speechless for a while. His expression was very interesting as he finally turned around and asked, "Do you have a problem with His Majesty?"
Miao Yi replied, "Your Highness has misunderstood."
That was the end of the answer. No matter how Yuan Venerate Qing asked him, he refused to give the truth. No matter what, he did not believe that Yuan Venerate Qing would punish him for an unreliable statement given his current status.
Seeing that Miao Yi really did not want to talk about this, Yuan Venerate Qing smiled and said, "It seems like Commander Niu cannot tell me everything. However, this is human nature. You and I will interact more in the future and you will know what kind of person I am. If there is a chance in the future, I might go to the netherworld for a stroll. I believe Commander Niu would welcome me, right? "
Miao Yi cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness must be joking. Everything under the heavens belongs to the emperor. No matter where Your Highness goes, no one would dare to not welcome you."
After the two of them exchanged some pleasantries, their first meeting came to an end. They both knew that it was their first time meeting, so there was no point in continuing this conversation. Instead, it would make them feel that it was too fake. In fact, Yuan Venerate Qing had already gone overboard with his questions today.
In fact, Miao Yi could totally refuse to answer some of his questions. Yuan Venerate Qing could not do anything to Miao Yi as he pleased. After all, Miao Yi was not a palace maid that he could beat or scold at will. Miao Yi was a vassal conferred by the Heavenly Court and the only direct subordinate of his mother who held military power outside of the Heavenly Court. Yuan Venerate Qing did not dare offend Miao Yi too much. If he really caused a rift between Miao Yi and his mother, his mother would lose control of the 100,000 elites and be angered. His mother might not be able to do anything to others in the Heavenly Court, but if she really wanted to deal with him, he would not dare to do anything disobedient. He would also have to worry about his father's opinion of him. As long as his father was willing, he could have a second or third son at any time. There was no shortage of fertile women in the harem.
"Zun 'er, how was your chat with Niu Youde?"
Xiahou Chengyu, who was dressed in mourning clothes, immediately stood up and greeted Yuan Venerate Qing.
Yuan Venerate Qing smiled faintly. "This Niu Youde is interesting." He didn't say much. He was graceful and calm, because this was what his mother wanted to see since he was young. If he didn't do well, his mother would punish him severely. Therefore, he always tried his best to behave appropriately in front of his mother.
When he was young, he didn't understand why his mother was so harsh to him. As he grew up, he gradually understood. He understood that his father didn't like his mother and the family behind her. He understood that the woman his father doted on the most was someone else. He understood what his mother was most worried about. She was worried that he would leave a bad impression on his father. He also understood that their mother and son's honor and future were linked together.
Seeing that her son was calm and collected, Xiahou Chengyu nodded in relief. Even if she didn't consider their relationship as mother and son, this son was too important to her. Her future depended on this son.
On the day of Xiahou Tuo's funeral, a grand funeral was unavoidable, even though it was just a cenotaph.
The guests that had come to attend the funeral gradually returned. After the funeral was over, Wei Shu followed behind Xiahou Ling and slowly walked towards the gate of the forbidden garden that no one was allowed to enter without permission.
This time, Xiahou Ling's mood was completely different from before. The closer he got to the gate, the more excited he became. The Forbidden Garden might not be luxurious, but it was actually very simple. However, everyone in the Xiahou Family knew what it meant to be the owner of the Forbidden Garden.
When Xiahou Ling stepped through the gates of the Forbidden Garden, no one stopped him. He felt his scalp go numb, as if an electric current was coursing through his body. This kind of excitement was difficult for outsiders to understand, because outsiders did not know the enormous power hidden within the Xiahou family.
He glanced at the towering tree in the garden, turned slightly, and walked straight to the tree. He reached out and stroked the rough trunk of the tree. It was indeed rough, but he could feel that the tree was as still as a mountain, unshakable by anyone.
He knew that from this moment on, he was the true owner of the Forbidden Garden!
However, he couldn't say this out loud. Instead, he sighed. "Only now do I know why father liked this tree when he was alive. The people standing here are the people who will shelter the Xiahou Family from the wind and rain."
Wei Shu bowed slightly and said, "Master is right."
"But what about some people? What a waste of a son! "Xiahou Ling suddenly turned around, a chill in his eyes.
Speaking of this matter, he was a bit angry. In order to appease the brothers who controlled the power of the Xiahou Family in secret, he had used his status as the head of the family to summon his brothers to come pay their respects in secret. This could be considered a test. Who would have thought that the result of this test would be so miserable? Not a single one had listened. Not a single one had come. Instead, they said that it would be easy to be exposed, or that they couldn't leave at the moment, so they could only pay their respects in the place where they belonged.
Because of this, Xiahou Ling immediately understood. None of the brothers hiding in secret trusted him, and they had even given him a show of strength. What did this mean? It meant that although he had taken over the Xiahou Family, he did not control the Xiahou Family's true power.
Anyone could understand that the Xiahou Family's power was not displayed on the surface. What was truly feared was in the shadows. If he couldn't control the Xiahou Family's underground power, it meant that he, as the head of the family, was just an empty shell. What was going on?
Previously, the mourning period for the Old Master had not passed, so he had been enduring. Today, he wanted to lay his cards on the table with Wei Shu!
Wei Shu naturally knew who he was referring to. He lowered his head slightly and said nothing.
Xiahou Ling said in a low voice, "Wei Shu, if the Old Master was still alive and encountered someone who disobeyed his orders, how would he deal with it?"
Wei Shu lightly said, "He would not tolerate it. He would kill one to warn a hundred!"
Xiahou Ling stared at him. "Then what do you think I should do?"
Wei Shu, "Kill!"
Xiahou Ling breathed a sigh of relief at this reply. His scrutinizing gaze also softened. He clasped his hands behind his back and turned around. "After all, we are all brothers. Unless there is no other choice, it is best not to do this."
Speaking of this matter, it had been better if he hadn't understood the Xiahou Family's background before. But after understanding it, he felt a little angry. The crux of the problem was the structure of the Xiahou Family's underground power. He discovered that it was very difficult for him, who had just taken over, to be as arbitrary as the Old Master.
He tilted his head to look at Wei Shu and added, "Presumably, when the Old Master was still alive, he had a way to keep my brothers in check."
Wei Shu nodded and said, "The way to keep each other in check is very simple. That is, they don't know each other's background. Letting those lords maintain an unknown fear is the best way to keep each other in check."
Xiahou Ling then added, "What if someone really causes trouble?"
Wei Shu said, "No one will easily cause trouble. It is not in everyone's interest. Although those lords have their own power, they are always clearly separated from each other and support each other. The key point that binds all the lords together is the family head. When the Old Master was alive, he had always maintained this structure and maintained everyone's independence. It was to prevent one side from causing trouble for the others, and also to prevent one side from becoming uncontrollable. After the Old Master spent a lot of effort to stabilize the structure, the lords will not easily interfere with the other lords' sphere of power. In order to ensure their own interests, they will guard their own territories and not let other powers intervene. Otherwise, it will cause conflict. In this way, the power of the lords is very singular, and they can't cause trouble alone. For example, some lords need information to support each other, and some lords need money to support each other, but no one wants to be controlled by other forces. Therefore, for the lords, it is in their interest to ensure that they support each other and maintain the original order. No one wants the Xiahou Family to be in trouble. If there is trouble, no one will benefit. Whoever dares to cause trouble will definitely be attacked by others. I think no one is willing to give up the huge benefits in their hands to rely on the Heavenly Court and become a servile subject with an uncertain future. Besides, if he betrays the Xiahou Family, the Heavenly Court may not be able to protect him. "
Xiahou Ling's expression was complicated. He wanted to say something but stopped. However, some words were better to say in front of Fu Tong, who he had killed with his own hands. At least, it wasn't to the point where he could talk freely with Wei Shu yet. He changed his words and sighed. "The Old Master is very meticulous, but I'm worried that we can't unite when there is trouble!"
Wei Shu: "At least for the Old Master, no force can uproot the Xiahou Family even if the Xiahou Family encounters a big trouble. Even the Xiahou Family doesn't know how many tentacles they have. Even if they encounter a big storm, they can always keep some foundation to make a comeback, and the Xiahou Family won't be completely destroyed … Maybe this is the most important thing for the Old Master. Even the Old Master himself didn't expect the Xiahou Family to be smooth sailing forever."
Xiahou Ling slowly closed his eyes and said slowly, "But this is a problem for me to completely control the Xiahou Family."
Wei Shu: "Maybe the Old Master is worried that you will completely control the Xiahou Family."
Xiahou Tuo suddenly opened his eyes and looked at him. "What do you mean?"
Wei Shu: "Master, do you still remember what your servant had reminded you before? That was actually what the Old Master wanted me to tell you. "
Xiahou Tuo's eyes flickered. "What did you say?"
Wei Shu: "The Old Master hopes that the Xiahou Family will always maintain this state of concealment. The Old Master is worried that the successor will not be willing to submit to others after knowing the details and strength of the Xiahou Family and will use all the strength of the Xiahou Family to climb to the top. The Old Master once predicted that if that day really comes, the Xiahou Family won't be far from destruction. Everything is laid out in the open. It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but it's hard to guard against a stab in the dark. No matter how strong you are, you can't stop the open schemes and plots of the people in the world. The Demon Monk Nan Bo is a good example!"
Xiahou Tuo was silent for a long time and asked softly, "Again, what if one of my brothers causes trouble?"
Wei Shu: "The Old Master has already established a very good system. If someone really causes trouble, it's the same as before. Even if it's for everyone's own benefit, the Old Master only needs to issue an order, and everyone will obey the Patriarch's command to quell the internal strife. The Old Master actually didn't spend too much energy governing his subordinates when he was still alive. He only had one thing in mind, and that was to protect the system he established. He only paid attention to whether any of the lords' areas of influence were out of line. If he found any, he would immediately suppress them. With this method, he could easily obtain the full support of the lords whose areas of influence were violated. As long as he continues to make clear the boundaries of the lords' areas of influence, as long as he grasps this point, the Xiahou Family won't easily have internal strife. "
Xiahou Tuo slowly turned to look at the house he used to live in. He seemed to be muttering to himself, "The Old Master has just passed away. I'm afraid a storm is inevitable …"
"Who are you contacting?"
Nether Hell Presidential Manor. As soon as Miao Yi returned, he took out the Star Bell and contacted someone. He didn't want to disturb Yun Zhiqiu, who had just entered the house. Yun Zhiqiu only asked after he stopped contacting her.
"Yang Qing," Miao Yi replied.
Yun Zhiqiu knew him too well. She couldn't help looking him up and down and asking, "What happened?"
"I asked you about it when I was in the Albatross Manor."
"Yuan Venerate Tianzi Qing?"
"Yeah."
"I've interacted with him quite a few times. He's always been like that. He doesn't care about people he doesn't like. No matter how much he tries to restrain himself, he just doesn't say anything. He only talks to people he likes. This shows that he has a good impression of you. You should be at ease."
"How could it be that simple for someone who grew up in a harem filled with intrigue and strife?"
"Hehe! Although his reasoning is good, it depends on the person. After all, there aren't many in the Sky Palace who would dare to give him a hard time. He hasn't experienced any setbacks. Even though he always pretends to be shrewd, he's still a little too inexperienced. "
Miao Yi nodded his head slightly and smiled. "In that case, it seems like I've been worrying too much. Yuan Venerate Qing has asked me so many questions the first time we met. I've been feeling uneasy along the way, so I asked Yang Qing for his opinion."
Yun Zhiqiu asked curiously, "What opinion does Yang Qing have?"
Miao Yi muttered, "We can isolate ourselves, but we can't cut ourselves off from the world. As long as Xiahou Chengyu needs it and we can do it, we will do our best to support him. Yuan Venerate Qing is Xiahou Chengyu's lifeblood. We can only befriend him and not make him our enemy! This is the general direction we should take now. "
Yun Zhiqiu blinked. "Xiahou Ta is dead. Someone might want to test Xiahou Ling's limits and support Xiahou Chengyu. Isn't Yang Qing afraid of getting himself into trouble?"
Miao Yi shook his head. "I'm also worried, but what Yang Qing said makes sense. I've come this far because of Master Qing's suppression. None of the officials in the imperial court dare to openly support me. The strength of the Netherworld Commander Manor alone is not enough to withstand the risks of the imperial court. Unless I want to give up on the foundation I've laid, I can't do it alone. For now, although Xiahou Chengyu isn't the best backing for the Netherworld Commander Manor, he's the best choice. What Yang Qing means is that as long as the Xiahou family doesn't fall, Xiahou Chengyu won't fall so easily. Yuan Venerate Qing is Master Qing's son after all. No matter what happens in the future, Yuan Venerate Qing isn't at the point where Master Qing will despise him unless he's hopelessly stupid. Therefore, as long as we can get the support of both mother and son, we might be able to get some degree of support from Master Qing and the Xiahou family. "
Yun Zhiqiu pondered. "The Xiahou family is easy to deal with. They're already within our calculations. You betrayed Master Qing, so it won't be easy to change his mind."
"Yang Qing is still very smart." Miao Yi chuckled and said, "Go and ask Fei Hong to come see me."
A new palace had been built in the Imperial Garden 9,000 years ago. It was called the Heavenly Palace and had been specially built for Yuan Venerate Qing.
After the emperor had become an adult, Master Qing had ordered the construction of this palace. There were too many beauties in the harem, so it was reasonable for Yuan Venerate Qing to move out.
Inside the palace, Yuan Venerate Qing was cultivating in a small hall when someone suddenly announced, "Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned you."
Yuan Venerate Qing quickly stopped cultivating and left.
The supervisor of the Heavenly Palace, Ye Xiao, was waiting outside. He was a stout middle-aged man who always had a smile on his face. He was the housekeeper that Master Qing had personally chosen for Yuan Venerate Qing.
Yuan Venerate Qing asked, "Has Father come out of seclusion?" After returning from the Xiahou family, Master Qing had been cultivating in seclusion, so the father and son hadn't seen each other.
Ye Xiao bowed slightly and said, "I think so."
Yuan Venerate Qing rolled his eyes at him and quickly took to the skies. A group of guards immediately followed after him.
PS: I'm tired, so I let myself rest for a day to adjust my state. I'll resume updating tomorrow.
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