“In Qingyang Town, and later in Linzi, Lord Qingyang’s conduct has been impeccable. His talent and aptitude, surpassing even Wang Yiwu in the same realm, leave no room for doubt.”

Qin Lian smiled, a touch of amusement in her eyes. “Your assessment is no different from that of most people in Linzi.”

From beginning to end, Jiang Wuxie never once referred to himself as “I, the orphaned one” in Jiang Wang’s presence, only using “I,” maintaining an air of intimacy. Yet, when it came to conditions, he was utterly unyielding.

He gently buried his chin in the woman’s soft, white neck, greedily inhaling her scent for a moment before saying, “You say I don’t understand him? I can’t accept that.”

A slender, jade-like finger pressed against his lips, pushing back his increasingly fervent breath.

Qin Lian chuckled. “The man’s already gone, and you still won’t admit it!”

“Jiang Qingyang values loyalty and righteousness; it’s his strength, and why I favor him.”

No matter how Qin Lian pushed, Jiang Wuxie simply held her waist tightly. “Whether good or bad, everyone in this world appreciates goodness. Even those dwelling in the gutter yearn for sunlight. The darkest, most depraved, and opportunistic individuals still enjoy warmth and morality, even if they are unwilling to contribute themselves… That’s why I admire Jiang Qingyang.”

“Today, he’d risk the Fishing Sea Tower for Zhu Biqiong. Before, he suppressed Wang Yiwu for Chongxuan Sheng. In the future, he will slaughter all who oppose me!”

“That’s why I will choose him, unwavering in my choice.”

“Then is it that the conditions don’t allow it?” Qin Lian asked, a hint of curiosity in her tone.

Jiang Wuxie playfully sucked on her jade finger, his speech unaffected. He grinned. “I’m not exactly a paragon of virtue. Since he values his friends so much, so treasures his commitments, why shouldn’t I demand more?”

“What are you doing!”

Qin Lian quickly pulled her finger away, her face flushed with embarrassment, pushing Jiang Wuxie away. “Do you know no shame?”

With a gentle tug, Jiang Wuxie pulled her back into his embrace, their eyes meeting.

This woman’s beauty was one of dignity and grandeur, a beauty that commanded respect, a beauty that was utterly convincing.

This man’s beauty was delicate and bewitching; a glance, a slight purse of his lips, could make one’s heart pound.

In terms of appearance alone, they were truly a match made in heaven.

Jiang Wuxie embraced her waist, seeking her crimson lips. “Affection between man and woman is as natural as the turning of seasons. Our hearts are true to each other; there’s no shame in that. It’s Heaven that should be ashamed of itself.”

Qin Lian raised a hand, gently stopping his chest, preventing him from coming closer, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “Though a noble can be deceived with propriety, I don’t believe Jiang Qingyang is so inflexible.”

“Naturally.” Jiang Wuxie chuckled, it was unclear whether he was laughing at the woman’s weak resistance or Jiang Wang’s pointless departure. “I will take the initiative to find him later and lower the timeframe for loyalty. Give him hope after disappointment, and we can get even better conditions.”

“Aren’t you afraid he’ll find another way?”

“Chongxuan Sheng is clever, exceptionally so. Jiang Qingyang came to me after meeting with Chongxuan Sheng. That shows I am the best option.”

Jiang Wuxie’s voice was confident. “And this Fishing Sea Tower matter is not something just anyone can handle. If I didn’t have such high hopes for him, compared to the difficulty of this matter, Jiang Wang wouldn’t really be worth it. Looking at all of Linzi, who is more willing to help him than I am? He will realize, after a few rejections, that I am not being harsh on him.”

Looking at his confident, alluring face, Qin Lian couldn’t help but relax her grip, being drawn closer to his lips.

In the heat of his breath, she murmured, slightly dazed, “Wuxie, you want too much…”

Her voice was then swallowed by a long, deep kiss, it was unclear whether it had been heard.

*River wind, thoughts without guile.*

Jiang Wuxie’s tactics of playing hard to get were not subtle, or rather, he was certain that Jiang Wang had no better choice.

Therefore, Jiang Wang said that they had neither kindness nor resentment between them.

Jiang Wuxie considered the maximum benefit from a transactional perspective. Talk of friendship and feelings, naturally, was out of the question.

And from another perspective, Jiang Wuxie’s confidence also proved the difficulty of rescuing Zhu Biqiong.

Otherwise, why would he demand Jiang Wang’s allegiance from the outset?

If Jiang Wuxie failed to seize the throne, Jiang Wang, as a Heavenly Paragon of Great Qi, might not be in a position inferior to him in the future.

Jiang Wang himself may not have a deep understanding of this, because his rise to fame in Qi was still relatively short. Although he had received some invitations and adulation after defeating Wang Yiwu and Lei Zhangan consecutively, he soon left the country and didn’t experience more of it.

Chongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wuxie, however, were very certain of Jiang Wang’s future value.

Of course, Jiang Wuxie could not be considered to be making excessive demands. To rescue the sacrifices of the Fishing Sea Tower’s Sea Offering ceremony was to openly oppose the Fishing Sea Tower, which was almost equivalent to cutting oneself off from the nearby sea islands. He was essentially exchanging the future interests of the Nourishing Heart Palace in the nearby sea islands for Jiang Wang’s future.

Whether it was worth it was a matter of opinion.

At least Jiang Wuxie thought it was worth it.

And Jiang Wang, was unwilling.

For Jiang Wang, Jiang Wuxie was one of the options, and also the most likely option.

He was even less familiar with the other Palace Lords of Great Qi.

Jiang Wuxie’s attitude was very telling, he probably wouldn’t get better conditions from the others either. But he still went.

He was the kind of person who would still walk forward even when he saw the outcome, and giving up without trying was not his style.

The Hua Ying Palace occupied a vast area and had a magnificent form.

Such a majestic palace seemed to naturally explain the ambition of its master.

Unlike Jiang Wuxie, who lived in the Warm Jade Waterside Pavilion all year round, Jiang Wuyou’s food, clothing, housing, and transportation were usually in the Hua Ying Palace.

When Jiang Wang came to visit, Jiang Wuyou was practicing martial arts.

Probably because he had made an appointment in advance, and Jiang Wang had indeed made people remember him in Linzi. The guards on duty even did not report the message, and directly led him into the palace.

He was led all the way to the outside of a training field before the guard stopped. “Lord Qingyang, Your Highness is practicing martial arts and will have been doing so for three hours soon, so she should take a break. Please wait a moment.”

Jiang Wuxie was extremely indulgent, but his older sister Jiang Wuyou had a sense of hard work and self-improvement.

The entire Hua Ying Palace, if one put aside the extravagance belonging to the Qi Royal Palace, was simply like a huge military camp. Simple, orderly, and stern.

The maids and guards here were all well-trained and had a neat military appearance.

Along the way, everyone was focused on their own affairs and did not look sideways.

At this moment, the guard finished speaking, and without caring whether Jiang Wang had heard him clearly, he turned and left directly.

Of course, Jiang Wang had no time to pay attention to this guard.

At this moment, his sight had already been completely attracted by the figure in the training field that was as agile as a soaring dragon.

The Master of the Hua Ying Palace, Jiang Wuyou, was practicing her halberd in the palace, completely oblivious to herself.

A painted halberd stirred up wind and thunder, shaking the low air with booming sounds, but it did not spread far, showing her near-perfect control.

A tight-fitting martial uniform outlined her athletic figure very clearly, and between her movements, there was a heart-stopping beauty.

This kind of beauty was not something that ordinary women could have.