Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 305 - 223 Northern Border City

Chapter 305: Chapter 223 Northern Border City

The next day, at Beihua Gate.

Before the break of dawn, the darkest night still enveloped the entire massive city.

The gigantic and majestic city gates stood wide open, resembling the maw of a colossal beast under the illumination of the large Bright Pattern Lamps.

The colossal city at the heart of Dayan never closed at night but set up checkpoints, swallowing and regurgitating the myriad necessities required by countless civilians daily.

And among the myriad merchants and their caravans, a small trade group with only seven or eight carriages took advantage of the last shadows of night to quietly depart from the Imperial Capital, making their unhurried way towards the Northern Frontier...

As they took to the official road, the Demonic Beasts up front gradually picked up speed, their hoofbeats carrying far into the distance.

Within one of the carriages in the middle of this convoy,

Xu Yuan sat quietly in his seat, cultivating, with Li Qingyan beside him, eyes shut in rest, and across from them sat two familiar old acquaintances.

The Second Prince, Li Zhaoyuan, and the Third Prince, Li Junqing.

Li Junqing was drinking from a blue-and-white porcelain brew left over from the previous night, while Li Zhaoyuan was engrossed in an unknown volume.

The carriage gently swayed with the trotting of the Demonic Beasts up ahead,

and it seemed somewhat incongruous that four top figures from Dayan’s younger generation were crammed into this modest coach.

The carriage was quiet,

with no one speaking except for the occasional rustling of pages as Li Zhaoyuan turned them in his ancient book.

After an indefinite amount of time had passed, Li Junqing slowly set down his cup and suddenly spoke with a chuckle,

"Second Brother, what kind of books do you read all day long?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Li Zhaoyuan, who had been flipping through his book, paused slightly and responded with a faint smile,

"A local gazetteer of the Northern Frontier."

Upon hearing this, Li Junqing let out a long sigh and leaned back on the soft couch,

"A gazetteer? Why bother with that?"

Li Zhaoyuan’s features, with his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, remained composed as he said,

"Little Brother, the Northern Frontier is in turmoil. Should one become stranded, familiarity with the local customs might at least allow one to disguise oneself."

The look in Li Junqing’s eyes flickered for a moment, and he flashed a grin,

"We are only there to gain some military experience, why be so cautious?"

"It’s always wise to be prepared for any eventuality," Li Zhaoyuan replied patiently.

Li Junqing sighed softly,

"Ever since we were young, Second Brother, you seemed to always want to account for everything."

A moment of silence followed, as the Demonic Beasts galloped swiftly on the official road, causing the whole carriage to shake mildly.

Li Zhaoyuan gave an ambiguous answer to this observation,

"I’ve learned this from the Crown Prince."

Li Junqing shook his head as if deliberately provoking,

"Big Brother is not as composed as you. He always seems slow and hesitant. Hesitation doesn’t equate to composure."

Li Zhaoyuan kept his reply official,

"The Crown Prince is set to inherit the empire. One should not make rash decisions about important national matters. He must think thrice before acting. How can I compare to the Crown Prince..."

"Ha..."

It was then that Xu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, chuckling lightly, interjecting,

"Second Prince, you’re being modest. My father thinks much more highly of you than of the Crown Prince."

Upon those words, an instant silence fell within the carriage.

Li Qingyan continued to rest with his eyes closed, maintaining a detached demeanor.

Li Junqing was momentarily taken aback, his smile taking on a hint of amusement.

Li Zhaoyuan’s expression remained unchanged, but he did not immediately respond.

This journey to the Northern Frontier, although its ultimate purpose was the exchange of royal hostages between the Imperial Family and the Prime Minister’s Mansion,

the selection of the hostage was indeed thought-provoking.

Not from the side of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, but from the Imperial Family’s.

The Second Prince had the support of many on the court, yet he lacked the backing of a top minister.

In such a situation, the Second Prince’s voluntary offer to serve as a hostage and head towards Prime Minister Zong Qingsheng’s military camp, and the acceptance of this offer, was difficult not to regard with suspicion.

But were these things that could be openly discussed?

For Xu Changtian to speak so bluntly was almost equivalent to putting Li Zhaoyuan on the spit.

After a while,

Li Zhaoyuan simply smiled and chose not to hide anything, straightforwardly saying,

"I am flattered by Minister Xu’s high regard. I am aware of my shortcomings and hope this trip to the Northern Frontier will help me address them."

He paused for a moment,

Li Zhaoyuan subtly glanced at Li Qingyan sitting opposite him.

A family knows its own affairs.

The Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and the Ninth Princess were all born to the Empress.

Li Junqing had no wish to compete for the throne, and Li Qingyan, being a daughter, could only support the Crown Prince.

The powerful ministers backing these individuals almost formed an iron curtain on his path to the throne.

But at this point, there was no turning back for him.

Compared to these three full siblings, he, as a son of an Imperial Concubine, was an outsider.

If things were different, Li Zhaoyuan really wouldn’t want to work with Xu Yin He, that cunning old fox.

Working with Xu Yin He is like negotiating with a tiger for its skin and could easily leave one as a puppet.

In the silence,

Li Qingyan suddenly opened her eyes, her sharp phoenix eyes sweeping a cold look across the Third Prince and the Second Prince,

"Now that Dayan is faced with external threats and internal troubles, and our soldiers are shedding blood on the front lines, is it not shameful that as members of the Imperial Family, you’re contemplating power struggles instead of considering the greater good?"

"......"

Li Zhaoyuan fell silent for a moment, his face showing a hint of guilt, but his mind was quickly turning.

This statement took him by surprise.

He had always thought that this prestigious sister would back the Crown Prince, but her words suggested she had no wish to participate.

Upon reflection, it made sense – Qingyan grew up in the Northern Frontier, engaged in constant warfare, so how connected could she be to the Crown Prince, and what common interests could they possibly share?

With that in mind, the stance of Marquis Wucheng... would be neutral as well?

Marquis Wucheng is a loyal supporter of the Royalist Party, but he has not made clear which prince he supports.

Thinking this, Li Zhaoyuan took another look at Li Qingyan.

If he could understand the desires of this Imperial Sister, perhaps he could persuade her to join his side...