What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 294 - 290: We Are Destined to Be Together

The mountain ridge rose from the ground some ten yards high, with a spacious flat area on top. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

On the flat land, a temple faced south as it stood.

Tang Xiaobai loved standing before the temple, looking down from her vantage point.

This was once the perspective of the Xiongnu people, then the Turkic people.

Now, it was her perspective.

What she saw was not just the fertile prosperity across the Yellow River banks, but also the fledgling city taking shape less than a hundred meters below the ridge.

Soon, this city would dominate the northern bank of the Yellow River, south of Yin Mountain, becoming the first line of defense against the Turks.

The site for the city was finally decided upon three locations.

The city below Fuyun Heap was central, with one each several hundred miles to the east and west.

The progress was swift; in just a month, it had taken shape.

"Before June, it should be completed," Li Mu said.

"So soon?" Tang Xiaobai was astonished.

Without the Turkic threat, Li Mu simply diverted all the garrison troops to build the city.

But constructing three cities in two months was still remarkably fast.

"By June at the latest, we can return to the Capital City," Li Mu’s tone unintentionally carried a hint of excitement.

Tang Xiaobai was also excited.

After more than a year away from the Capital, she also missed home dearly.

"My brother wrote that after the western city is finished, he will also petition to return to the Capital," Tang Xiaobai said.

Currently, the three cities hadn’t been named and were temporarily referred to by their positions: East City, Central City, and West City.

The West City was near Liangzhou, so it was overseen by Tang Ziqian, who remained there.

Once the cities were completed, they could return to the Capital and reunite!

However—

"I wonder how things are in the Capital City now?" Tang Xiaobai sighed.

The news of the broken peace talks had reached the Capital, and although their ancestor had proactively blamed Ashina Duoduo, who had fled to the Northern Desert, this blame shifting was not convincing.

Anyway, it had already caused a major commotion in Court, and perhaps even before the cities were completed, the court decree summoning their ancestor back would arrive.

"Let them do as they wish, I have my own plans," Li Mu said dismissively.

Tang Xiaobai’s heart skipped, and she whispered to him, "Is it... that Ren Zhi Palace is also going back to the Capital?"

Li Mu lowered his eyes to look at her, nodding.

Tang Xiaobai responded with a "Hmm," feeling clear-minded.

The ancestor was returning to the Capital with his troops, and the Crown Prince was also going back. It seemed likely that a battle for imperial power was about to unfold.

Therefore, there was no need to fear the coming storms upon returning, for they were already planning to stir up a tempest.

Tang Xiaobai felt a bit nervous at the thought, but then she heard him say out of the blue, "Why don’t you name these three cities?"

Tang Xiaobai was taken aback, "I get to name them?"

Li Mu nodded, "You were the first to suggest their construction; it’s most fitting for you to name them."

"Is that... am I really up to the task?" Tang Xiaobai was flattered and surprised.

Li Mu furrowed his brow, "If not you, then who?"

Tang Xiaobai pointed in the direction of the Capital City, "Will His Majesty the Emperor agree to this, naming the city? Can it be entrusted to me so easily?"

"He will agree," Li Mu replied.

Tang Xiaobai wasn’t sure how much truth was in his words, but since the ancestor had said so, she felt obliged to oblige him.

After some thought, she said, "Let’s call it Surrender City! Once it’s built, may it no longer be disturbed and only accept surrenders."

Li Mu didn’t respond for a moment, but just gazed at her profile.

Tang Xiaobai turned her face, "What? Not good?"

"Good!" He said, paused for a moment, and then, a bit quieter, "Ah Jiao, we are destined to be together."

Only she would lead him down this path.

Only he could help her fulfill these wishes.

Tang Xiaobai: "..."

What happened? How did such an embarrassing line suddenly pop out?

"Don’t you think so?" he persisted in asking.

Whether she thought so or not was beside the point, but such a mushy line, Tang Xiaobai’s soul rejected.

But the ancestor was still staring at her intently.

Tang Xiaobai blinked and suddenly pointed behind him, "Look, Mo Huan is here! He must have something to discuss with you!"

Mo Huan: "..."

He should be at the mountain’s base, not at the top.

"What is it?" The Crown Prince’s voice was noticeably displeased.

Mo Huan had no choice but to awkwardly walk forward, "Lv Xia, the official from Yunzhong County, has arrived—"

...

Lv Xia was someone Tang Xiaobai wanted to invite.

Once the three Surrender Cities were completed, troops would need to be stationed there.

Since people would be living there, the necessary facilities had to be set up.

The land along the riverbank was fertile, perfect for both farming and grazing.

If fields could be cultivated, or lands fenced for horse breeding, it would be optimal.

Therefore, a batch of officials knowledgeable in agriculture needed to be transferred here.

Tang Xiaobai thought of Lv Xia.

"Mr. Lv was in charge of agriculture in Shuozhou’s State Mansion before; would you be willing to come cultivate fields along the northern banks of the Yellow River?"

Lv Xia looked in the direction she pointed, his eyes trembled, "I, Lv, will exert my utmost effort until death!"

Tang Xiaobai laughed, "Expansion is a joyous matter, we should do it happily, why talk about life and death?"

The land here was good, but due to constant wartime devastation, it had laid fallow.

Tang Xiaobai, having nothing better to do today, decided to take Lv Xia for a tour around the area.

Li Mu had initially planned to join as well, but when they reached the mountain’s base, someone approached him to whisper a few words.

After listening, his brows knitted with concentration, then he said, "I have to return for some matters."

Tang Xiaobai nodded.

She was close to him and vaguely heard "Ren Zhi Palace," guessing it might be some command from the Crown Prince there.

"Don’t stray too far," Li Mu advised.

Tang Xiaobai nodded again.

"Return to the camp before it gets dark," he reminded once again.

Tang Xiaobai, under Lv Xia’s surprised gaze, blushed and couldn’t resist glaring at Li Mu, "Just go already!"

Li Mu chuckled and then took his leave.

"Young Master Qin seems much more cheerful than back in the Capital," Lv Xia remarked with a smile.

Tang Xiaobai feigned indifference, "Growing up and gaining more experience makes one different than before."

Of course, it wasn’t because of her, nor could it be because of their romantic relationship!

The little girl’s pretense amused Lv Xia, though being straightforward, he couldn’t tease her, and simply chuckled twice.

Tang Xiaobai, feeling guilty, became uneasy from his smiling, and couldn’t help but argue, "Isn’t that so? Mr. Lv, you’ve changed a lot since leaving the Capital too."

Lv Xia’s expression suddenly froze.

Tang Xiaobai remembered his past, realized she had touched a sore spot with her slip, and felt a bit regretful.

Just as she was about to change the subject, Lv Xia smiled once more and sighed, "Yes, Lv has also changed a lot."

Tang Xiaobai awkwardly grinned, "Everybody changes..."

Lv Xia shook his head with a smile, "I studied in Qingzhou for twenty years. Although I dare not boast about my learning, when recommended to the Gu Family Academy, I felt no uncertainty."

He wasn’t uncertain, but Tang Xiaobai felt a bit guilty, "Unfortunately, I had no teacher-student fate with Mister..."

Back then, she and the ancestor almost regarded Lv Xia as a vile individual, using every possible means to obstruct his entry to the Gu Family Academy—

Hmm?

Wait!

Why didn’t the ancestor want Lv Xia to join the Gu Family Academy back then?

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