Chapter 1487: The King Is Wise

He Lingchuan cupped his hands toward him and said, "General, please don't take offense. I merely spoke casually, offering a few examples."

Yuwen Yong took a sip of wine, his cup obscuring a smile at the corner of his lips. Not a single word He Xiao uttered was casual.

"I've seen the birthday gifts and the martial arts display, so I'll take my leave now," Qingyang said, her anger suppressed, her demeanor outwardly calm again. Yet, this calm was like a live volcano hidden beneath the ocean's surface; no one knew when it might erupt.

She bowed to King Yao and, word for word, stated, "May my King's life be as long as the heavens, and may every year bring this day."

With that, she departed with her retinue, head held high.

Wherever Qingyang passed, officials hastily stepped aside.

The Regent's aura was truly intimidating; who would dare to block her path?

Seizing the moment of confusion, King Yao whispered to He Lingchuan, "You were too heavy-handed."

While feeling a surge of satisfaction and relief, he also harbored some concern.

Conflict, after all, hinges on intensity.

With He Yang's death, the intensity of his struggle with Qingyang would automatically escalate.

He Lingchuan gave a wry smile, "He Yang was determined to kill me; I had no choice but to fight with all my might."

King Yao had witnessed the entire battle, understanding how fierce it was, especially the destructive power of the small round mirror. He knew He Lingchuan spoke the truth and could only sigh.

He Yang had been intent on taking He Xiao's life, and his hands were full of powerful treasures, each incredibly potent. If He Lingchuan had been even slightly careless, he wouldn't be standing here talking to King Yao now.

The final moment, when He Yang was torn apart, was an accidental killing.

Qing Palace's own treasures had killed a disciple of Qing Palace.

In such a life-and-death battle, holding back meant seeking death.

So, King Yao didn't dwell on it. Since matters had come to this, he decided to enjoy today's victory.

In fact, he had another calculation in mind:

What was a mere He Xiao?

Once these matters blew over, if Regent Qingyang still harbored resentment, it wouldn't be too late to offer He Xiao to her.

He Yang was killed by He Xiao, not by him, King Yao.

Why should the folly of a foreign merchant be attributed to him?

Besides, He Xiao was never meant to leave Yao State alive anyway.

In an instant, Regent Qingyang's figure disappeared from Jade Spring Palace.

More than ten breaths later, the entire hall remained silent.

He Lingchuan, under the gaze of all, slowly returned to his seat.

Everyone present looked at him with changed eyes.

Who could have imagined that a foreign merchant would be so powerful as to kill Regent Qingyang's most capable subordinate on the spot?

This was clearly beyond common sense.

Those with sharper minds would think further:

Did King Yao know his capabilities and bring him here to deal with Qingyang, even allowing him to stir up trouble in Yao Capital?

An old palace attendant stepped out from behind King Yao, coughed forcefully a few times to draw everyone's attention, and then announced loudly, "Imperial martial arts display, next group!"

The next group of martial artists quickly ascended the stage and began their serious contest.

A new round of wine and delicacies flowed onto the tables, and high-ranking officials resumed their lively conversations and placed bets.

He Lingchuan turned and reached out to the bookmaker, "I won! Money, money!"

Before the fight, his odds were higher than He Yang's. Now, besides getting back thirty thousand taels, he had also won an additional fourteen thousand!

The crowd below looked on with envy.

A minor official next to Fan Shuang whispered, "Ah, the rich just keep getting richer!"

"Isn't that true? It's so easy for the wealthy to make money."

Fan Shuang glared, "Easy? Why don't you try stepping onto the performance arena? You'd probably be knocked out in an instant!"

The two minor officials mumbled, daring not to speak further, and could only offer a polite smile.

Only then did Fan Shuang raise a hand to the bookmaker, "I also bet on Island Lord He to win. Where's my money?"

"Calculating now! Here's your principal." The palace attendant counted out two thousand taels for him, and an additional nine hundred thirty-three taels, saying, "This is your winning!"

With so many people present, Fan Shuang couldn't openly sniff the banknotes for the scent of money. Instead, under the envious gazes of the two minor officials, he calmly tucked them into his robe.

Listening to Island Lord He was certainly correct; he had easily earned nearly a million in cash!

The atmosphere inside and outside the arena gradually grew lively again, returning to normal.

After all, the conflict between Qingyang and He Xiao was merely a minor interlude. The birthday celebrant beneath the tree was the true protagonist of today's ceremony.

Qu Ruhai raised his cup to He Lingchuan, "This toast is for your ability to emerge unscathed. You've hidden your strength remarkably well; I completely misjudged you before!"

He Lingchuan drained his cup, "I am a merchant. Had Sir He not insisted on challenging me, I would have always preferred peace."

Jing Yuanxun also approached, holding his wine cup, "Brother He, you're amazing. I was sweating for you just now."

Officials from all around came to offer toasts, each speaking more flatteringly than the last.

After toasting He Lingchuan, Yuwen Xu returned to his brother's side, "That Sky-Overturning Seal is truly remarkable! Given Brother He's performance, he's bound to become famous."

Yuwen Yong nodded, "That's a priceless ancient artifact. If you really wanted to put a price tag on it, it would be at least two or three hundred thousand. Such treasures consume an astonishing amount of energy. Just those few dozen breaths of manifestation probably cost twenty or thirty thousand taels."

Ancient and medieval treasures are powerful, so why are most unusable today?

Either they have many restrictions, or their energy consumption is ridiculously high.

Qing Palace was immensely wealthy, with an endless supply of magical artifacts. Yet, He Xiao coincidentally used his own magical artifacts to counter them. Today's match was a display of sheer extravagance!

He Xiao not only gained fame from a single battle but also used their own methods against them.

Whether it was by accident or design, the more Yuwen Yong looked at this person, the more he felt he was extraordinary.

Gu Xuan, from the side, interjected, "A man's reputation precedes him, like a tree's shadow. Brother He has now put himself at the forefront. I just hope the Regent doesn't hold a grudge."

Yuwen Xu shook his head, "He Yang was the one who provoked first, and it was at the King's birthday ceremony, with all the officials watching. If the Regent were to attack Brother He, the King would have to step in to protect him."

Firstly, He Xiao was a sharp blade, and King Yao would definitely want to utilize him well.

Secondly, He Xiao had "charged into battle" for King Yao, thoroughly offending Qingyang. If King Yao were to turn around and betray him, wouldn't other officials be disheartened by such a sight?

If morale plummeted, how could King Yao lead his faction?

There was no small amount of envy in Yuwen Xu's words: "He has certainly secured this golden ticket."

While King Yao and Qingyang wrestled for power, most nobles were caught in the crossfire, suffering silently. Unlike them, He Xiao had found his perfect position as soon as he arrived in Yao State.

Yuwen Xu replayed the events many times but couldn't understand how He Xiao had managed it.

Just then, snow suddenly began to fall again from the sky.

Pink, white, and off-white flakes drifted down, and a rich fragrance permeated the air.

The grand spectacle of Jade Spring Palace, "Jade Spring Flying Snow," had begun.

Everyone reached up to the sky, catching the falling pear blossoms, then held them in their palms, closed their eyes, and prayed devoutly.

They heard this old pear tree was quite efficacious. Hurry, hurry, make your wishes quickly.

Only King Yao frowned.