...
As night deepened, the noise subsided.
With the "misunderstanding" cleared up, this sensational "kidnapping case" that rocked Tiandou City finally came to an end as a farce.
Although Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe still had many doubts, especially about Xuan Hao's identity and purpose, they were deterred by Dugu Yan's "testimony" and Xuan Hao's unyielding attitude, which made them ready to overturn the table at any time.
After exchanging a few polite words, they left in a hurry.
As for Prince Xuexing, seeing that his biggest backer had left, he could only slink away from the Royal Knights surrounding the hotel, filled with resentment and unwillingness.
The hotel, which had been packed with people, quickly returned to tranquility.
...
In Tiandou City, there is a secluded mansion.
This is the private villa of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo.
"Speak."
Dugu Bo dismissed the servants and sat on the grand chair.
"What exactly happened?
Don't try to fool me with those 'winner takes responsibility' nonsense. I may be old, but I'm not senile yet."
"You're my granddaughter, don't I know your temper? You would massage the shoulders and back of an eight or nine-year-old kid?
Even if you lost the bet, with your personality, you would have made a scene long ago, how could you be so calm?"
Dugu Yan sat opposite, holding a cup of hot tea, and remained silent for a long time.
"Grandpa, if it weren't Xuanhao today, what would have happened to us if it had been someone else?"
"What will happen next?" Dugu Bo sneered.
"I am a titled Douluo, who dares to do anything to me?"
"Yes, no one dares to do anything to you. But..." Dugu Yan put down her teacup, "Today, you almost fought with Xuan Hao to stand up for Xue Beng.
If Xuan Hao hadn't been so confident, wouldn't an ordinary person have been crippled by you today?"
"But if... Xuan Hao really has a stronger force behind him than you, what would be the consequences if this fight broke out today?"
Dugu Bo frowned: "Since I dare to take action, I am naturally not afraid of the consequences."
"Then do you know why the royal family mobilized the Imperial Guards in such a grand manner?"
Dugu Yan asked.
"Xuanhao told me that the royal family did this not to save me, nor to capture Xuanhao.
They were putting on an act for you!
To make you think the royal family is loyal, so you'll be willing to risk your life for them!"
"And if a real fight breaks out, the royal family will definitely hide in the back and let you fight alone!
If you win, it will be because of the royal family's good leadership; if you lose... or even die, it will be because of your personal grudges, and it will have nothing to do with the royal family!"
"Bullshit!!" Dugu Bo slammed his fist on the table and roared, "This kid is trying to sow discord!
The royal family may sometimes act unethically, but they're not shameless enough to be this brazen!"
"Really not?" Dugu Yan looked directly into Dugu Bo's eyes.
"Grandpa, think about it carefully.
Xue Beng was beaten up in the street, so why didn't Prince Xue Xing go to someone else or the Royal Knights?
Why did he have to travel all the way to Sunset Forest to ask you to come out?"
"How old is Xuan Hao?
Is it really necessary to call upon a Title Douluo just to bully a child?"
"This…" Dugu Bo was speechless.
"Because they know this is a tricky matter!
The other party is not someone to be trifled with!"
Dugu Yan's voice rose a few decibels, "They don't want to risk their own people, so they pushed you out!
If they win, the royal family will regain face; if they lose, it's because Poison Douluo is less skilled!"
"From beginning to end, my grandfather and I were the fools who were sold out and still helped the seller count the money!"
"..."
Dugu Bo fell silent.
Although he was not good at political maneuvering, he was no fool after all, having lived to such an old age.
He had been blinded by his own involvement before, and Xuexing had saved his life, so he hadn't thought things through.
Now that his granddaughter has pointed it out, and considering the subtle attitudes of the royal family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School today...
"Grandpa, why do you insist on getting involved in that good-for-nothing Avalanche's affairs?"
Dugu Yan couldn't help but ask, her tone tinged with reproach, "You are a Title Douluo, a free and unrestrained powerhouse.
Why do you put yourself in such a passive position for the sake of a spoiled brat from the royal family?"
Dugu Bo sighed, "Yanyan, there are some things... you don't understand."
"I don't understand?"
Dugu Yan looked at him stubbornly.
"I'm not a child anymore!
Xuan Hao is several years younger than me, and he can understand it, so why can't I?
Do you think I'm brainless, so you don't tell me anything?"
"I used to think that with you around, no one would dare to scheme against us.
But today… I'm really scared.
I'm afraid that one day you'll be sold off, and I won't know where to find your body!"
Dugu Bo sighed, his heart softening as he looked at his granddaughter's stubborn eyes.
"Never mind."
Dugu Bo waved his hand, "It's fine to tell you. But remember, keep this to yourself and don't tell anyone."
"This matter... involves the deepest secrets of the Heaven Dou royal family, and may even concern the survival of the empire."
Dugu Yan immediately sat up straight and held her breath.
"You only know that Avalanche is an incompetent playboy, but you don't know that this is actually a mask he has to wear in order to survive."
"Avalanche... is actually just pretending to be stupid."
"Pretending to be stupid?" Dugu Yan was stunned.
"That's right." A glint of light flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes. "Do you remember the Second Prince and the Third Prince who died unexpectedly a few years ago?"
Dugu Yan nodded.
"That was no accident at all," Dugu Bo sneered. "Where do so many accidents come from in this imperial palace?
And those who died were all intelligent and talented princes."
"Many people suspect that it was the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, who did this."
"Xue Qinghe?" Dugu Yan's eyes widened.
"That gentle and kind-hearted Crown Prince?"
"You can know a person's face but not their heart." Dugu Bo shook his head.
"Beneath that broad mask may lie a heart more venomous than a snake or scorpion.
To be willing to turn against one's own brother for the throne, and to do it so flawlessly, that kind of person... is terrifying."
"Prince Xue Xing saw through this, which is why he had Xue Beng pretend to be a spoiled brat and cause trouble all day long, just so that Xue Qinghe would think he was a good-for-nothing and posed no threat to him, thus saving his own life."
"The reason why Prince Xuexing risked his life to protect Xue Beng was also His Majesty's will."
"What does Your Majesty mean?"
Dugu Yan was even more confused.
"The art of imperial rule…" Dugu Bo sighed. "The second and third princes are already dead.
If another avalanche occurs, then Xue Qinghe will be the only heir to the throne.
At that time, the only obstacle for Xue Qinghe to ascend the throne will be His Majesty the current emperor."
"A man who would kill all his brothers for the throne, who can guarantee he wouldn't... commit regicide to seize power sooner?"
Dugu Yan felt a chill run through her body.
She never imagined that such a chilling conspiracy and bloodshed were hidden deep within that magnificent palace.
"Therefore, avalanches must not kill or destroy lives."
Dugu Bo continued, "Once an avalanche occurs, His Majesty, the royal family, and even the entire court will feel great fear and distrust towards Xue Qinghe."
"Who would dare serve a monarch who slaughtered all his brothers before even ascending the throne? Who would dare entrust the future of the empire to him?"
"At that time, no matter how outstanding Xue Qinghe is, His Majesty will inevitably depose him for the sake of the empire's stability!"
"Otherwise, the royal family of the Heavenly Dou Empire, along with the princes who control fiefdoms and command armies, will never agree to this.
They might even unite and rebel under the pretext of 'purging the court of corrupt officials,' because they dare not gamble on whether Xue Qinghe will turn against them after ascending the throne.
At that time, the Heavenly Dou Empire will inevitably fall into turmoil and may even split apart."
Dugu Bo looked at Dugu Yan and said earnestly:
"That's why I stepped forward. It's not just to repay Xue Xing's favor, but also for the peace and tranquility of the Tian Dou Empire."
"If the Heavenly Dou Empire is thrown into internal strife due to the struggle for succession, and its vitality is severely weakened, the Star Luo Empire, which has always been eyeing it covetously, will surely take the opportunity to launch an attack.
At that time, war will rage and lives will be lost."
"Although my grandfather was aloof and didn't like getting involved in these power struggles, he couldn't just stand by and watch the world descend into chaos."
Dugu Yan pursed her lips. Although she understood her grandfather's noble cause, she still felt aggrieved.
"But Grandpa, even for the sake of the greater good, we shouldn't be so passively used as pawns.
This time, Xuanhao meant no harm, but what if something like this happens again, and the other party really wants to fight you to the death?"
"You are a Title Douluo, not a royal guard dog."
A hint of relief flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes as he patted Dugu Yan's head: "Don't worry, Grandpa knows what he's doing.
This time, Grandpa was careless and got a little carried away by Xue Xing. With this lesson learned, it won't be so easy for them to use me as a pawn again."
"but..."
Dugu Bo's expression turned serious, and he solemnly instructed:
"What Grandpa told you tonight—about Xue Beng feigning ignorance and his speculations about Xue Qinghe—you must keep it all to yourself!
Don't let a word of it slip, not even in your dreams!"
"If this gets out and Xue Qinghe finds out that the avalanche was a hoax, he might take the risk and eliminate it directly!"
"At that time, His Majesty and the imperial clan, in order to uphold the legitimacy and bottom line of imperial power, will not tolerate such a ruthless crown prince who even dares to act under their noses!"
"That will be a real catastrophe!"
Dugu Yan nodded solemnly: "I understand, Grandpa. I will definitely not tell."
"Hmm." Dugu Bo sighed. "Actually, His Majesty's thoughts are also conflicted.
His decision to have Ning Fengzhi become Xue Qinghe's teacher may have been intended to use the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to check and balance the Crown Prince."
"After all, both brothers are flesh and blood.
Although His Majesty favors the more capable Xue Qinghe and believes he is better able to protect the country than Xue Beng, harming one's own brother is ultimately a taboo for an emperor and is chilling."
"Therefore, the current situation is very delicate."
"Avalanche must survive, and he must be a useless piece of trash.
If he also displays amazing talent and makes His Majesty waver in his choice of successor... then the Heavenly Dou Empire will probably really be plunged into bloodshed."
Dugu Yan was terrified and silently lowered her head, saying nothing more.
She suddenly felt that compared to the bloody and scheming royal family, the noble children in the academy who fought over jealousy were simply adorably innocent.
Read 20+ chapters ahead at Patreon
patreon.com/TaroYamato
patreon.com/TaroYamato