The Sects, at this point, sending such a number of battle formations into the Northern Frontier, the intention is already quite clear.
They wanted to give the Sects of the Three Prefectures in the Northern Frontier hope, induce them to resist to the bitter end, then completely shatter the Three Prefectures and leave The Imperial Court with nothing but ruins.
This arrangement against the Northern Frontier had consumed countless resources and manpower of the Dayan Dynasty.
Now that the Barbarian Tribes had been eradicated and the depleted Northern Border Sects awaited their fate like lambs to the slaughter.
To incite infighting between the Imperial Family and the Prime Minister’s Mansion at this juncture, just as we were about to seize resources from the Northern Border Sects to replenish our drained vitality?
This was, utterly, an act that would see all accomplishments come to naught.
If the Black Scale Army clashed with the Imperial Family’s troops, that would certainly play into the hands of the Sect Alliance.
Seeing that the other had spoken directly, Xu Yuan also sat up straight and laughed, saying,
"It’s just speculation,
"To use the Sects’ blade to slay the men of my Prime Minister’s Mansion, then abandon a Prince who was supposed to die as a scapegoat, loading all blame on Li Zhaoyuan and the Sect Alliance, thus draining the Sects’ strength while my Prime Minister’s Mansion loses man-power."
Speaking, Xu Yuan began to count on his fingers:
"And this is just one advantage to be gained from doing so.
"After the Sect Alliance engages in open conflict with my Prime Minister’s Mansion, their threat in the Northern Frontier would be eliminated, and the stores of the Sects in the Three Prefectures would fall into the hands of The Imperial Court.
"And, with my Prime Minister’s Mansion’s Black Scale Army weakened by this battle, our diminished forces would inevitably lead to a reduction in the amount of resources we could take over from the Northern Border Sects, creating a situation where the less we have, the more belongs to your Imperial Family...."
"Changtian, all your speculations are based on the assumption that Minister Xu can tolerate this."
At this point, Li Qingyan suddenly interrupted Xu Yuan, her tone growing heavy: "If my father, the Emperor, were to do this, what if Minister Xu rebelled?""
Xu Yuan’s eyes narrowed.
Now that the issue had been raised, he had even less to worry about; he let out a light laugh, albeit tinged with irony:
"My father would never rebel. Your father, the Emperor, must have concluded that my father would never turn at this time, which is why he would even consider such a move."
Perhaps the Emperor had forgotten the aspirations of his earlier years, but that father of mine has not.
To fight would mean to lose all hope of realizing those aspirations.
To endure, to wait until your death, by then I would have united the forces of The Imperial Court, and fate would be undecided.
Therefore, that father of mine would never choose to resort to arms.
Thinking this, Xu Yuan gazed at the woman before him, his eyes piercing:
"Qingyan, you should also be aware that your father, the Emperor’s days are probably numbered. As an Emperor ambitious for a great revival, he must have made some plans for the Dayan royal family before his demise, at least to not let his lineage end with his generation, or rather, with the one after his.
"For this, he might do anything, as it is his duty as a member of the royal Li lineage."
Her words fell into silence,
She murmured as if with a smile, then slowly stood up and walked towards the door, her steps light and voice soft:
"Perhaps, but before the fall of the Sects, as long as I live another day, I will never stand idly by as The Imperial Court tears itself apart."
Xu Yuan watched the figure in white, his eyes half-closed:
"What if your father, the Emperor insists on this course?"
Her steps halted, and the pale light from the Inscription Lamp fell upon her pristine white robe.
After a deep silence,
With a light laugh, Li Qingyan slowly turned her gaze back to him, speaking indifferently, deliberately, and softly:
"Then it will fall to me to correct his mistake."