Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 248 - 247. The Young Master’s Calculation

247. Mastermind’s Plan

"Young Master Qingchen of Licheng has arrived!"

This straightforward announcement changed the expressions of many people present. The first one to react was Mo Jingqi. Although everyone knew that the rupture between the Northwest and the Great Chu was irreversible, Mo Jingqi stubbornly refused to admit that it was his failure that pushed Prince Ding and the Mo Family Army to break away from the Great Chu. He believed it was Mo Xiuyao’s ambitious rebellion.

As for how the common people thought, no one cared. But in the court, the ministers had to toe the emperor’s line and call Prince Ding a traitor, even though they felt a chill down their spines when they did so. But who could defy the one who provided for them?

Now, Xu Qingchen openly presenting himself as a representative of Licheng served as a slap in Mo Jingqi’s face. What’s more, not only Prince Ding’s Mansion and the Mo Family Army, but also the Xu Family had been driven away by him. With Young Master Qingchen appearing here under Mo Xiuyao’s name, wasn’t he telling the world that Mo Xiuyao dared to use the people Mo Jingqi dared not use? The Xu Family, sidelined in the Great Chu, immediately wielded significant power in the Northwest. Under such a comparison, it was easy to see who was superior. No wonder Mo Jingqi looked upset.

Then came Mo Jingli, Lei Tengfeng, and some other young, talented men who clearly had ulterior motives. After all, in choosing a husband for Miss Murong, a man’s appearance naturally held some advantage. Among those present, there were probably only two or three who could compete with Young Master Qingchen in terms of looks and talent. Everyone felt fortunate that Young Master Qingchen was not skilled in martial arts. Otherwise, the Murong family might have made their choice directly, without any competition.

As for the other two important figures present, Ling Tiehan and Xu Qingchen had no personal feud, and in fact, shared a good relationship, so Ling Tiehan greeted Xu Qingchen with a nod. As for the Southern Garrison Prince, despite Young Master Qingchen’s fame, he had never considered him a competitor, as they were not even from the same generation. Among the younger generation, the only person the Southern Garrison Prince regarded as an opponent was Mo Xiuyao, so he didn’t pay much attention to Xu Qingchen.

How could Xu Qingchen, who had cultivated an imperturbable composure since his youth, care about such a minor scene? Young Master Qingchen, dressed in white, casually walked in, his lips adorned with a smile like pear blossoms in spring. Many ladies from the worldly society gasped, their cheeks turning crimson. Miss Murong, standing next to the Murong Family Head, was also stunned. Despite her high self-regard and having met many talented heroes recently, she had never seen anyone with Young Master Qingchen’s ethereal grace. At this moment, Miss Murong had completely forgotten whatever her grandfather and granduncle had admonished her about, her Xin’er thumping wildly.

"Gentlemen, I apologize for my late arrival," Xu Qingchen said with a smile and a bow.

The Southern Garrison Prince chuckled. "Young Master Qingchen, you are too polite. Please, have a seat. I’m curious, will Prince Ding and the Princess Consort also be attending?"

Xu Qingchen calmly replied, "Thank you, Southern Garrison Prince, for your concern. Prince Ding and the Princess Consort are too busy with various matters to spare the time. Therefore, they have sent me, an idle person, here to join the festivities. I hope no one minds."

Many responded politely. After all, everyone present was a person of status and naturally knew that the man standing before them, with the aura of a celestial being, was no ordinary individual. Although the civil officials under Mo Xiuyao didn’t hold explicit official titles, everyone understood that Young Master Qingchen’s power in the Northwest was no less than that of a state chancellor.

"Hmph!" While the guests were exchanging pleasantries, Murong Xiong, the host, looked displeased.

The Murong family and the Xu Family were among the oldest prominent families. However, the Murong family, despite their abundant wealth, often felt a certain complex regarding the Xu family. The reason was straightforward: the Xu family was renowned for its scholarly heritage, producing generations of esteemed scholars and officials whose fame resonated across nations. In contrast, the Murong family, being merchants, were not even permitted entry into the imperial court. Even with wealth that could rival a kingdom, they had to endure various overt and covert attacks from the imperial family. No one would believe that the Xiling imperial family wasn’t involved in the dwindling numbers of the Murong family. Although both the Xu and Murong families faced pressure and attacks from the imperial family, the Xu family would still be remembered for generations even if they were to decline one day. Indeed, if all the contributions of the Xu Clan were erased, historical records would likely need to be rewritten.

As for the Murong family, who would remember them once they perished? Moreover, the Xu Family had now found a powerful nephew-in-law and also had the capable son of their fifth brother. Once Prince Ding’s power stabilized in the future, the Xu Family was clearly poised for a second ascent, potentially surpassing their former glory. In contrast, the Murong family was now so ’poor’ that all they had left was money. How could people not sigh at this?

This soft snort, however, sent a jolt through the hearts of everyone present. Xu Qingchen’s expression changed slightly. Though he didn’t feel it deeply himself, he understood from the reactions of the Southern Garrison Prince and Ling Tiehan nearby that this snort was not simple. He turned, looked at Murong Xiong seated in the main seat, bowed, and said, "My apologies, Murong Senior. Please forgive my discourtesy."

Murong Xiong’s snort carried a special internal force, effective only against those who also possessed internal energy, and its impact was greater on those with deeper cultivation. Unfortunately, he had been in seclusion from the worldly society for too long and hadn’t even considered the possibility that Xu Qingchen might not know martial arts. Furthermore, Xu Qingchen’s demeanor was outstanding, his brilliance restrained, and he interacted with top masters like the Southern Garrison Prince and Ling Tiehan without any sign of retreat. This only made Murong Xiong more convinced that Xu Qingchen had used some special technique to conceal his martial cultivation, as such techniques existed in the worldly society. Seeing Xu Qingchen’s unchanged expression and calm composure, Murong Xiong’s face grew even darker.

"Why did Prince Ding not come?" Murong Xiong asked in a deep voice. His tone was quite domineering, immediately displeasing many present. People like the Southern Garrison Prince, who possessed extraordinarily sharp minds, thought far more deeply than ordinary individuals. Although most of them were not on good terms with Mo Xiuyao, no one disputed his capability and status. This old man’s arrogant and patronizing tone showed he not only disregarded Mo Xiuyao but also them. The Southern Garrison Prince’s expression remained unchanged, but his gaze swept lightly over Ling Tiehan, Mo Jingli, and others, his eyes chilling. Does this old man think that after decades of absence, his sudden reappearance means the whole world should obey him? Foolish!

Xu Qingchen was not angry; the smile on his face did not diminish in the slightest. He calmly said, "Prince Ding and the Princess Consort are occupied with numerous affairs and do not have the leisure to attend this year’s Martial Arts Conference. I have already apologized on their behalf to the Southern Garrison Prince and Pavilion Master Ling, and they did not mind."

With Mo Xiuyao’s martial skill and status, only the Southern Garrison Prince and Ling Tiehan were his equals. If it was just about the Martial Arts Conference, and these two didn’t mind, then naturally no one else was qualified to say anything. Besides, participation in the Martial Arts Conference was voluntary; if Prince Ding chose not to come, who could compel him?

But Murong Xiong was not satisfied with this answer. He said in a deep voice, "I sent an invitation to Prince Ding. Why didn’t he come?"

Xu Qingchen frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping disinterestedly over Miss Murong, who stood beside the Murong Family Head. Instead of immediately answering Murong Xiong, he turned and walked to an empty seat beside Ling Tiehan and sat down. Just as Murong Xiong was about to lose his composure and erupt in anger, Xu Qingchen leisurely stated, "Our Prince said he is not interested in matters extraneous to the Martial Arts Conference itself."

A hush fell over the crowd. What did he mean by matters extraneous to the Martial Arts Conference itself? Almost all eyes simultaneously turned to Miss Murong. She, who had been gazing infatuatedly at Young Master Qingchen, now flushed with shame and anger, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

"Impudent brat!" Murong Xiong roared in anger, striking out with his palm towards Xu Qingchen’s seat. An almost suffocating wave of energy surged through the air, pressing down on Xu Qingchen.

"Young Master Qingchen!" The two guards beside Xu Qingchen cried out in alarm, simultaneously moving to shield him, one in front and one behind. Ling Tiehan, sitting next to Xu Qingchen, also placed a hand on Xu Qingchen’s shoulder at the same instant. The guard in front of Xu Qingchen swayed but quickly steadied himself. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but he wiped it away as if feeling no pain and, with his companion’s support, repositioned himself behind Xu Qingchen. Ling Tiehan also calmly withdrew his hand, his gaze remaining warily fixed on Murong Xiong, a hint of eagerness to test his strength in his sharp eyes.

Xu Qingchen sat calmly behind the table, not even a strand of his hair disturbed, as if that murderous palm strike had never occurred. Lifting his teacup, he took a sip. Young Master Qingchen then elegantly said, "Thank you, Murong Senior, for your leniency."

Murong Xiong grunted and sat back down, saying nothing more, but his eyes, fixed on Xu Qingchen, were filled with dark scrutiny. Of course, Murong Xiong couldn’t possibly kill Xu Qingchen. Perhaps killing Xu Qingchen would be easy; Murong Xiong even felt that with his own martial prowess, killing Mo Xiuyao wouldn’t be difficult. But as long as he wasn’t mad, he wouldn’t do it. He could kill Xu Qingchen and Mo Xiuyao, but he couldn’t kill the hundreds of thousands in the Mo Family Army. In that case, the likely outcome would be the Mo Family Army trampling over the Murong estate. A bargaining chip is only a chip because it’s held in hand, unused. Once played, it becomes a life-or-death struggle.

With Murong Xiong publicly rebuffed by Xu Qingchen, the Murong Family Head naturally looked displeased as well. The lengthy speech he had prepared was also set aside, and he announced the start of the Martial Arts Conference with a somber, brief statement.

Actually, by custom, the first day of the Martial Arts Conference offered little excitement. It mostly featured newcomers from the worldly society engaging in combat; the real highlights were on the second and third days. Of course, sometimes the third day’s competitions concluded quickly, while other times they extended to the fourth or fifth day, depending on the strength of the remaining top contenders. Once the matches on the platforms began, the spectators were naturally roused with excitement, but those seated in the viewing stands below were already somewhat preoccupied.

Not far away, under a tree, Ye Li leaned against Mo Xiuyao, frowning as she watched the people on the platforms. Mo Xiuyao gently patted her and whispered comfortingly, "Don’t worry, Big Brother is fine."

Xu Qingchen had clearly calculated that Murong Xiong wouldn’t dare kill him. By choosing to sit beside Ling Tiehan, as long as Murong Xiong didn’t attack with his full power, Ling Tiehan could block it for him. Then, regardless of whether Xu Qingchen was injured, Murong Xiong’s reputation for attacking someone with no strength to even truss a chicken would be sealed.

Ye Li nodded and asked, "How skilled is Murong Xiong in martial arts?"

Mo Xiuyao frowned. "Far above myself and Ling Tiehan."

This conclusion wasn’t surprising. Murong Xiong was much older than them. Not to mention that Murong Xiong was a martial arts genius; even if his aptitude were ordinary, at his age, his abilities could not be underestimated.

"What did Murong Xiong mean by his words just now?" Ye Li asked, her brows furrowed.

Mo Xiuyao chuckled grimly. "What could he mean? Seeing I didn’t attend, he felt our Prince Ding’s Mansion disrespected him. Some old people always like to flaunt their seniority, thinking the whole world should defer to them, without considering if they even have the capability."

Ye Li tilted her head, looked at the people on the platforms, then smiled faintly. "I think... Miss Murong might hold a different opinion from Murong Xiong and the Murong Family Head. However... that Miss Murong will not be able to enter the Xu Family."

Since Xu Qingchen’s appearance, Miss Murong’s eyes had not left him. If not for her veil providing some concealment and the matches on the platforms diverting everyone’s attention, many present would have likely discerned her feelings.

Mo Xiuyao supported Ye Li and whispered with a smile, "Does Ah-Li dislike her?"

Ye Li smiled lightly. "It’s not a matter of liking or disliking. Big Brother and the Xu Family will not like her."

Mo Xiuyao wasn’t interested in who Xu Qingchen liked or disliked. He straightened up and said, "It seems there’s nothing much to see today. Let’s head back to the city. Perhaps there will be a good show tomorrow or the day after."

The two quietly departed without attracting much attention. Their early return to Ancheng City, however, rather surprised the innkeeper of Qingyuan Inn. After all, with such excitement unfolding outside the city, it was somewhat strange for these two to return so soon. Mo Xiuyao merely smiled faintly and said his beloved wife was feeling unwell, so they had returned early. The innkeeper immediately adopted an understanding expression and respectfully escorted them upstairs. After all, no matter how handsome this young master was, he was already married; naturally, he had no prospects with Miss Murong. So, whether he watched the competition or not wasn’t that important, was it?

Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li did not personally attend the competitions on the first two days. An expert of Mo Xiuyao’s caliber naturally wouldn’t deign to watch the so-called minor skirmishes of those supposed experts on the platforms. They did hear, however, that several young masters had distinguished themselves over these two days, breaking into the top ten, among them Ren Qining, whom they had encountered by chance several times. Furthermore, at the end of the second day’s competition, the Murong Family Head announced that he would select a husband for his granddaughter from among the top ten experts. This declaration stirred up countless ripples. Simultaneously, a letter from Xu Qingchen was delivered to Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao’s room.

Inside Xu Qingchen’s room, Ye Li sat at a table sipping tea, while Mo Xiuyao leaned casually by the window, admiring the distant scenery. Xu Qingchen sat to one side, glanced at Ye Li, then turned to Mo Xiuyao. "Does the Prince have any thoughts?"

Mo Xiuyao turned back, saying lazily, "Hasn’t this matter already been entrusted to Brother Qingchen? Brother Qingchen can handle it as he sees fit. Surely such a small matter won’t trouble Brother Qingchen?"

Xu Qingchen remained noncommittal. "Murong Xiong’s idea is indeed fanciful, but there are undoubtedly many interested parties. After all... the Murong family’s wealth, enough to rival a country, is no jest. Before today, Mo Jingqi had already sent people to contact the Murong Family Head."

Mo Xiuyao snorted coldly. "Mo Jingqi is certainly becoming less selective; he’ll take anything now, whether it’s fragrant or foul."

Xu Qingchen gave a helpless smile. "Your Highness needn’t be so harsh. Setting aside Miss Murong for the moment, the Murong family’s wealth alone is enough to tempt anyone to try their luck."

From the perspective of a subject, Xu Qingchen would also advise Mo Xiuyao to marry the Murong lady; after all, what’s not to like about gaining such immense wealth by marrying a woman? However, Mo Xiuyao was not only the man he was pledged to assist but also his brother-in-law. For Li’er’s sake, the Murong family shouldn’t even dream of setting foot in Prince Ding’s Mansion. But what Prince Ding’s Mansion didn’t want, others couldn’t be allowed to obtain either! A glint of coldness flashed in Xu Qingchen’s gentle eyes.

"Big Brother?" Ye Li looked at Xu Qingchen with concern. Xiuyao has willfully pushed all these matters onto Big Brother. Although Big Brother is exceptionally intelligent, he now has to deal with people from the martial arts world, who often act before they think. So, there’s a certain danger involved.

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "It’s nothing, Li’er, rest assured. Big Brother will handle everything." No one could threaten Li’er’s position and happiness. Not even the foremost master from fifty years ago.

"Prince, if you were to confront Murong Xiong, what are your chances?" Xu Qingchen asked.

Mo Xiuyao frowned, pondering for a moment before replying, "At most, only a thirty percent chance. Murong Xiong’s internal energy is far superior to mine. If it’s not a swift battle, I’ll likely be the one to lose in the end."

Fights between ordinary masters involve skill, internal energy, and stamina. But for experts at their level, so-called stamina is almost meaningless. As long as Murong Xiong isn’t on his deathbed from old age, they wouldn’t have a chance to outlast him in stamina, because he could suppress them firmly with his internal energy alone. Thus, Murong Xiong’s advanced age was hardly a weakness.

Xu Qingchen idly tapped the tabletop, asking after a while, "If one Prince is not enough, what about two, or three?"

"You mean..." Mo Xiuyao stood up, staring at Xu Qingchen.

Xu Qingchen lowered his gaze, saying calmly, "The Murong family has considerable ambition, and Murong Xiong is old and cunning. That temperament of his... he’ll be a scourge sooner or later!" His composed tone carried a faint killing intent.

Mo Xiuyao stared at him for a moment, then said, "There’s no need for three. Myself, along with either Ling Tiehan or Lei Zhenting, would be enough to deal with Murong Xiong."

"Excellent," Xu Qingchen nodded with satisfaction. "In that case... perhaps it won’t even require Your Highness to act." If Mo Xiuyao, along with Ling Tiehan or Lei Zhenting, could handle Murong Xiong, then it was also possible to deal with Murong Xiong without Mo Xiuyao.

"Big Brother, Murong Xiong’s martial skill is exceedingly high, and the Murong family is likely not without its own martial resources. You must be extremely careful," Ye Li said softly.

Xu Qingchen nodded, his smile gentle and warm, yet his brow held a hint of sharpness. "Li’er, rest assured."

"Reporting to Young Master Qingchen, Miss Murong requests an audience," a guard announced respectfully from outside the door.

Xu Qingchen’s brow twitched slightly. He said calmly, "Invite Miss Murong up."