Chapter 265 Truth Is The Most Effective Leverage.
Ye Yue played the Qin and a melody began to echo in the surroundings. This was her way of casting a spell that would make the people relax. She was not trying to hypnotize them, but only to find out the true motives and then plant the seeds of manipulation.
After the song came to end, apart from Qin Yuan and her disciple, the rest of the people were dazed. They all were entranced by the music and their senses were dazed. Ye Yue asked in a soft voice, as if it were a whisper, "If in the future, Crescent Moon Kingdom decides to expand, would you rather fight to death or give in?"
The question was directed to the three royal representatives, Princess Dai Shanguang replied in a daze, "Royal family of the Samsara Empire is manipulated by the courtiers, the current emperor is a puppet. They will give in."
Duke Wen replied softly, "We will fight to death, the Fortune Throne belongs to me."
Ye Yue raised her brow, and Maya Okudera smiled as she recorded the scene before her. They did not expect that Duke Wen Kain would have such an intention to rebel. Well, a civil war will help them. Finally, Crown Prince Long Ruyan of the Windchime Nation said, "We will fight to death. We may be small but we will not give up."
Ye Yue sighed, and then she looked at the rest of the people before using the same whisper tone, "What would you all do if the Kingdom allows you to keeping doing your own thing? However, remember, if you tried to pull a stint against the royal family you will suffer a fate worse than death."
The people from various forces were not royals, and they only wished to continue on the path of cultivation and Dao. They all agreed to stay away from the conflicts unless the Crescent Moon Kingdom does not threaten their safety.
Ye Yue smiled and then she clapped her hands. The trance broke, and the people woke up. They all found that the music has come to an end, and Ye Yue was looking at them with a sad expression.
Long Ruyan asked, "Senior Ye, what happened?"
Ye Yue replied, "Is my music so bad that none of you praised me?"
The people were stunned and then they all cheered and applauded her skills while saying that they were lost in the music and forgot to do anything else.
...
Hao Mei came to the study and knocked on the door gently. Hao Ren said, "Come in, Meimei."
Hao Mei pushed the door and behind her Xiao Mei, the AI companion also entered the room. Han Lingshi was surprised to see the robot, although the appearance looked same, but the aura radiating from Xiao Mei made her look like a cultivator.
She asked out of utter bafflement, "How come you have the aura of a cultivator?"
Xiao Mei smiled and walked up to her before giving her a tight hug. She said, "Under the face skin is the body made of an alloy. This compound was created by me, and is the lightest and hardest to destroy metal in the southern continent.
Yes, I am awesome. When they forged my parts from this metal, I made sure to have Sister Yan inscribe all sorts of arrays, like fortitude, defense, attacking, acceleration, and space. With the help of a spirit circuit inside my body, I can mobilize the spiritual energy directly from the spirit stone tank inside. I can fight a nascent soul cultivator with ease and take them down with me if need be."
Han Lingshi thought for a bit and asked, "You have supplementary bodies hidden in remote locations, and you can export your data bank through the server to retain your memories. Clever, Xiao Mei."
The robot nodded and Hao Ren asked, "What bought you guys here? Is it about the royal reception hosted by Xiao Yue?"
Hao Mei nodded and played the clipping sent by Maya Okudera. Han Lingshi thought for a bit and said, "The civil war can be used as an opportunity. We can rescue the civilians over their and establish a benevolent image, while at the same time, provide support to the rebel forces. Once that is done, we will move in to take command."
Hao Mei nodded and replied, "I had the second thought in my mind. First we need to install people in the military arrangement and make sure that the military forces of the nation stay intact."
Hao Ren also agreed with this line of thought and said, "All that is fine, you can handle these things, just tell me when you are going against the crown bearer. I am sure the old relics in the Fortune Dynasty will also come out to have some fun."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Hao Mei nodded and then said, "Samsara Nation is the easiest target and Windchime is the hardest. What do you think we should do?"
Han Lingshi looked at the young man and said, "We can send Ye Yue over to the Resonance Music School as an exchange student, or someone who wishes to improve her skills. This way, she can use her skills to create a mass movement in the Windchime Nation. As for the Samsara Empire, their Princess can serve as the retainer of that nation. She was sent here as a shell, but in reality, she harbors a lot of ambition.
She does not wish to see her step brother, Dai Wang Hu, to hold the reins. That guy is a silk-pants and does nothing for the betterment of the Empire. With him on the throne, the court vultures will swallow that place and be done with it. It is better if we have someone who is renowned there to handle things. It will lower the degree of conflict. We do not have to control her like a machine, just let her do well for the people with our banner."
Hao Ren leaned back in the chair and said, "Spoken like a true Business Mogul. Take over the business and employee the owner. Indeed it will reduce the chances to have meaningless conflict and with the other two forces subdued, it would become even more meaningless to raise one."
Han Lingshi and Hao Mei nodded, Xiao Mei said, "I will arrange for spies."
After a discussion, the sent the two away, and they began to cultivate. It was in the middle of the night when Han Lingshi asked, "Ren, what am I supposed to wear tomorrow? I am very nervous you know."
Hao Ren smiled and shook his head before he took out a gilded brocade costume from his space ring. Han Lingshi took a look at the costume and asked, "Where did you get it?"
Hao Ren smiled and replied, "I designed it."
Han Lingshi took a deep breath and turned to him. She walked up to him and asked cheekily, "Are you trying to seduce me?"
Hao Ren raised his brows and asked, "Is it working?"
Han Lingshi took a deep breath and shook her head. Hao Ren then took out a crown from his space ring, and asked, "What about now?"
Han Lingshi snatched the crown and picked up the robes before she dashed to her room. Hao Ren followed her slowly, and when he arrived at the door, the guards nodded to him, the young man walked past them with his hands behind his back.
The living quarters for Han Lingshi were akin to a mini palace as well. The young man walked over to the room and found her standing before the mirror, dressed up in the robe and crown. She asked, "You better have a matching one, Hao Ren, or some people might think bad."
Hao Ren chuckled and said, "Don't worry, even if I arrived there naked they would still bow their heads."
Han Lingshi chuckled and said, "Don't tempt me."
The two people frolicked with each other immersed in joy.
...
Ye Yue was sitting with the Princess of the Samsara nation, and asked, "Your Highness, thank you for staying behind and giving me your time."
Dai Shanguang shook her head and said, "The pleasure is mine, Minister Ye. Please tell me what do you want to discuss?"
Ye Yue took a sip of tea and said, "I have sources, just like your nation has to find information about the neighboring countries. From what I know the situation in the Samsara nation is not looking good, right?"
The princess did not show any change on her face and said, "I don't concur. Samsara Empire is stable like ever. Why are we discussing this?"
Ye Yue smiled and said, "Your Highness, truth is the most effective leverage. Your step brother is nothing but a puppet raised and placed on the throne by Prime Minister Yang, and you are their biggest bargaining chip."
Dai Shanguang was sixteen years old and she was a marriage connection chip. She was not surprised that Ye Yue knew all this, what shocked her was what Ye Yue said following this, "Your highness, if the Empress allows you to bear her banner and lead the Samsara Empire, would you agree?"