Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 249 - 193: Return to Imperial Capital

Chapter 249: Chapter 193: Return to Imperial Capital

Head to the Northern Frontier or return to the Imperial Capital.

A classic choice of two distinct paths.

Xu Yuan did not rush to make a decision, carefully weighing the matter in his heart, while Lou Ji sat opposite him, quietly awaiting his response.

After a long while,

Xu Yuan leaned back in his chair and smiled, saying,

"I think I’ll go back to the Imperial Capital."

Lou Ji did not express her opinion, but reminded him,

"This question was asked by your father, you know."

"I know."

Lou Ji asking him so directly was, in all likelihood, under the instructions of that old man in the Imperial Capital.

As a result, Xu Yuan’s expression revealed a sense of helplessness under Lou Ji’s gaze.

Lou Ji gently tapped her fair cheek with her finger, her eyes somewhat uninterested,

"Hmm... I thought you would choose to go to the Northern Frontier with your sister."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan smiled and asked,

"Sister, what can I do at the Northern Frontier right now?"

He, Xu Yuan, had always been very aware of his limitations; he was not some prodigy born with innate knowledge.

The situation in the Northern Frontier was no trivial skirmish like those of the Myriad Manifestation Sect; the forces involved on both sides were probably nearing a million.

He neither understood Military Formation Techniques nor battlefield strategies, and with a cultivation level so low he might as well be cannon fodder, everyone active on such a battlefield in the Northern Frontier is a formidable character; the situation is also overwhelmingly complex.

Go to the Northern Frontier under these circumstances?

To the Northern Frontier to become a god of war made of earth and wood?

Of course, even if Xu Yuan wanted to play the role of this god of war, it wouldn’t be his turn.

The current situation up north is a game set by the Emperor; at most, their Prime Minister’s Mansion is considered an assistant.

Lou Ji’s voice was slow as she stared into Xu Yuan’s eyes, reminding him,

"At least you could go and broaden your horizons. Zong Qingsheng is not very familiar with you."

Pausing for a moment,

Lou Ji said with heartfelt earnestness, "Although your sister has no complaints about you, your father does not only have a daughter, some things still need something tangible to convince the crowd."

"....."

Xu Yuan blinked, instantly grasping the old aunt’s meaning.

His father wanted him to go to the Northern Frontier to earn some credit and, by the way, to make his presence known in front of Zong Qingsheng, who holds the military power of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

However, after pondering for a moment, Xu Yuan declined,

"Let’s not. The opportunity to earn credit for convincing the crowd will come another day. As for Mr. Zong..."

After a brief pause,

Xu Yuan looked at Lou Ji and smiled helplessly,

"Sister, what status do you think I should use to approach Mr. Zong?"

"...."

Lou Ji was momentarily taken aback and then laughed out loud,

"You’re quite thorough in your considerations, you little rascal."

Xu Yuan simply spread his hands in resignation,

"No choice, there are only two identities for me going to the Northern Frontier now: one is not to tell Mr. Zong and assume the role of the most ordinary aide, the other is as the legitimate son of the Prime Minister’s Mansion. The former is likely to die quickly, the latter is likely to annoy Mr. Zong."

Annoy, not in the sense of the actual act of causing annoyance.

Rather, as long as Xu Yuan went there, even if he did nothing at all, his mere existence would be a bother to the other party.

Dayan is a standard feudal Immortal Dynasty.

The heir to the Prime Minister’s Mansion is not determined by a vote from the upper echelons below but by a single decree from Xu Yinhè, and the core high-level officials of the Prime Minister’s Mansion are basically aware of his circumstances now.

Going to see Zong Qingsheng now is almost like the Crown Prince visiting the Border Army to supervise the war.

Of course, in such a large-scale war, Xu Yuan would most likely not have any real power, but in terms of status, it would be like having a retired emperor placed above Zong Qingsheng’s head.

Lou Ji could naturally understand this point, and tilting her head to think for a while, she commented softly,

"Knowing that old man as I do, he probably wouldn’t care about these things. Hmm... He’s a very traditional military officer, loyal, meticulous, but when it comes to executing military affairs, sometimes he won’t even listen to your father’s orders."

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes and rejected again,

"That still won’t work, one must know their own limits."

"....."

Lou Ji stared at him without speaking, clearly not believing this reason.

Seeing the look in her eyes, Xu Yuan stopped making excuses and let out a sigh, revealing in a low voice the most crucial reason,

"Sister, do you think that Father’s and the Emperor’s plans will really succeed this time? I am too weak right now, and the situation in the Northern Frontier is too chaotic."

In other words, my cultivation level is low; I am afraid of dying.

The thirty thousand elite Black Scale Guards that Zong Qingsheng took with him should be able to lift the siege of Dali Mountain by surprise, and they might even pull off a victory through coordination from within and without.

But what happens after that?

Once the three divisions of the Northern Border Army arrive and join up with the two divisions left in the Northern Frontier, alongside the forty thousand Imperial Guards and the nearly one hundred thousand Black Scale Army from various postings under the Prime Minister’s Mansion scattered throughout the Northern Frontier, the advantage indeed lies with us.

But this advantage is only against the Barbarian Tribes.

What kind of desperate moves the Sects will pull next is completely unknown to them.

Discarding sixty thousand elite troops along with two Primordial powerhouses without a second thought isn’t strange, nor would it be surprising if they generated some big news again.

And due to the special nature of military formations, Zong Qingsheng, the general in charge, will need to move with the main camp, so if Xu Yuan wanted to blend in and gain achievements, he would have to follow along as well.

Let Xu Changge go—her cultivation is high, and if our side’s formation were to collapse, she would still have a chance to escape.

If Xu Yuan went, with just half the Saint’s Remnant Soul, he would most likely be trapped in the middle of it.

Silence.

Lou Ji quietly pursed her red lips and let out a sigh, standing up,

"Alright then, since you, Changtian, have said so, I will convey it to your father."

With that, she swayed her hips and left.

...

...

...

"So, Changtian has refused?"

The calm and deep voice emanated from the Communication Crystal, softly echoing in the dimly lit secret chamber.

Lou Ji crossed her arms and leaned against the wall of the secret chamber, responding with dissatisfaction,

"His cultivation is too low; he shouldn’t be sent in the first place."

"Is that so?" The voice betrayed no emotion.

Lou Ji frowned at the voice, her tone carrying a hint of discontent,

"Prime Minister, you’re not thinking of forcing Changtian to go, are you?"

Upon hearing this, there was a brief silence, and when the middle-aged man’s voice came through again, it was steady and resolute,

"What if I say I am?"

Lou Ji’s fists tightened slightly, but she didn’t directly confront him; instead, she said,

"Then we’ll have to wait until I activate the Black Scale Guards’ intelligence network in the Northern Frontier. It’s too dangerous for him otherwise."

"Lou Ji, you do seem very protective of him."

"Hmm?"

"I never intended to send him to the Northern Frontier from the beginning."

"...." Lou Ji

Holding her chest, Lou Ji tapped her shoulder with her fingers, and let out a breath of relief,

"Then why did you ask me to inquire with him?"

"Young people like to prove themselves. I thought that after dealing with the affairs of the Myriad Manifestation Sect, his mindset might change a bit. But it seems I was wrong."

After a pause, the voice came through again,

"You yourself should set out for the Northern Frontier as soon as possible. This incident was sudden, but we should cooperate with Li Yaoxuan as much as possible. If this succeeds, the Three Prefectures of the Northern Frontier will have no external worries for a hundred years."

Upon hearing this, Lou Ji’s beautiful eyes narrowed, and she slowly stood up straight,

"Understood. What about Changtian?"

"Changtian... just let him return to the Imperial Capital on his own. The matter of the marriage agreement has to be made clear to him, and besides, it has been a long time since I last saw him."