374: Chapter 172: The Grand Plan of the Thousand-Year Dynasty 374: Chapter 172: The Grand Plan of the Thousand-Year Dynasty Li Mumu did not expect to encounter a familiar acquaintance again in this Thousand-Year Dynasty World.
It was Mr.
Tong, the one who raised Lean Horses, who had somehow transformed into the Minister of Revenue here.
That such a person could become the Minister of Revenue…
It feels like my status as a Princess has been devalued by several percentage points.
But then again, since the Former Dynasty had fallen, what could one expect in terms of outstanding talents to continue harboring such grand delusions?
Lord Tong’s face was taut with tension, and upon entering, he scanned left and right, yet he failed to find the person he was seeking.
Li Mumu had already hidden herself.
“What exactly is so urgent that Lord Tong must see this palace?”
Xia Yubing, seated at the center of the hall, asked emotionlessly.
“Your Highness, I heard that Princess Ping’an has been rescued and brought back?”
Lord Tong quickly lowered his head in greeting and spoke frankly, “May I inquire whether the young Princess is presently with Your Highness?”
“What does that have to do with you?”
Xia Yubing scoffed, “Whoever told you that, seek them out.
Why come here to me?”
“Your Highness, you might be making a grave mistake!”
Lord Tong sighed deeply in distress, “Your Highness is unaware, there were hidden matters behind Princess Ping’an’s departure from the palace.
This concerns the fate of our nation, how could you bring her back into the palace without the Emperor’s permission?”
“And since when did a court official run to my inner palace and spout such nonsense with the Emperor’s permission?”
Hearing Xia Yubing’s reply, Lord Tong’s face turned red with embarrassment, and he said sternly, “My status is not the same as Yours, Your Highness!
I implore you to preserve the decency expected of a woman and not to meddle in the affairs of the Former Dynasty!”
“So, you can come to the harem to handle matters of the Former Dynasty without the Emperor’s permission?”
“I beg Your Highness, please stop being unreasonable!
The matter I wish to address is of great importance!”
“Oh…”
Xia Yubing nodded, and two chains flew out from beneath her sleeves, binding Lord Tong into a bundle and tossing him straight out of the Palace Gate.
“Princess Zhaoning!”
Lord Tong got up in a disheveled state from the ground, shouting angrily, “You foolish woman, you are ruining my plans!
Are you not afraid I will go right now and inform the Emperor, to have you thrown into the Cold Palace?”
“Oh…”
Xia Yubing nodded as her chains whipped around, pulling Lord Tong back from the outside, “You do make a good point.
In that case, it might be best just to kill you and close your mouth for good!”
Suddenly the chains tensed, and Lord Tong, bound and immobilized on the ground, choked, unable to utter a sound.
It was not until his eyes rolled back and his tongue protruded that Xia Yubing loosened the chains, asking coldly, “Are you a bit more awake now, Lord Tong?”
After the ordeal, Lord Tong’s arrogance was thoroughly washed away, and he begged from the floor, “Your Highness, spare my life, Your Highness, spare my life, I know I was wrong!”
“Tell me then, what great matter have I inadvertently ruined?”
Xia Yubing’s face showed a hint of curiosity, “You had the chance to leave but didn’t, so stay and explain slowly.
If you can’t make it clear, you can become fertilizer for my peonies!”
Lord Tong shivered slightly, lifted his head, and smiled bitterly, “Your Highness is unaware, Princess Ping’an…
was actually sent out for a marriage alliance.”
“A marriage alliance with whom?”
Xia Yubing almost thought she had misheard, “Marriage alliance with whom?
Who outside of the Imperial City could merit such an alliance?”
“Naturally, with those Nomads…”
“A Princess in a marriage alliance with Nomads?”
Xia Yubing frowned at Lord Tong, “Do you want to listen to yourself?
Or are you treating me like a three-year-old to fool around?”
“No, no, no, Your Highness, you have misunderstood.
It’s only a nominal marriage alliance!”
Lord Tong quickly explained, “Your Highness might not be fully aware, the Imperial Court should have control over the whole world, but now we can only remain trapped within the Imperial City.
The main reason is the dilution of the Imperial Clan Bloodline, which prevents the Dragon Vein from extending beyond the city.”
“???”
“Therefore, after discussions among the current officials, we have decided to send all the Princesses to the wilderness, to gather the Nomads and nurture the Dragon Vein to reciprocally nourish the fate of the Imperial City…”
“???”
“Princess Ping’an was sent to West Spring Mountain.
She had already settled down and made some achievements.
We didn’t expect you to bring her back, rendering all previous efforts to naught…”
“???”
Xia Yubing’s face was full of question marks throughout.
Li Mumu, who was hiding nearby and eavesdropping, had the same expression on her face.
What the hell are you talking about?
I know you’re speaking Chinese, but why can’t I understand a word?
At most, I could understand that first part about the Thousand-Year Dynasty intending to dispatch those of the Imperial Clan Bloodline to expand the territory.
But why must they send Princesses out?
And have the nerve to call it a marriage alliance?
Marry your big goose egg!
When I first arrived, I was clearly sacrificed in a blood ritual!
Xia Yubing asked the question for her, “If we need the Imperial Clan Bloodline, why not send men out to expand the territory?”
Lord Tong spread his hands and said, “Didn’t I just mention it, Your Highness?
The Imperial Clan Bloodline is too thin, there are no males.
Surely you do not expect His Majesty to lead the war in person…”
“Most of the Princesses in the palace were bestowed their titles later, weren’t they?
Why not bestow more Prince titles?”
No one knew better than Xia Yubing how the title of Princess came to be, which is why she couldn’t understand the reason behind it all the more.
Mr.
Tong’s face paled as he said, “Your Highness must not speak so recklessly.
How could the title of Prince be bestowed lightly?
If we were to confuse the bloodline of the Heavenly Family, we would be inexcusably guilty of a grave crime!”
“Ah???”
So what you’re saying is, bestowing the Prince title randomly would confuse the bloodline of the Heavenly Family, thus it cannot be done.
Bestowing the Princess title randomly would only confuse other people’s bloodlines, so it can be done, and they can be sent out to die at will, right?
Although she had already sensed the double standards of Lord Tong earlier, Li Mumu still couldn’t help but be astounded when she heard him speak so unabashedly.
Can people really be this shameless?
Xia Yubing seemed shocked as well and, after a long silence, she pressed on, “Is there really no other way besides sending Princesses to form alliances?
You’re sending a woman alone to expand the territory for you; what use are all the civil and military officials of the full court?
Cannot they play any role at all?”
Lord Tong said assertively, “We have researched and developed this plan!”
Li Mumu couldn’t hold back anymore.
She ran out from behind and kicked Lord Tong in the chest before he could react.
Her fingernails suddenly grew longer, and she grabbed his head, furiously cursing, “Are you even human?
Why don’t you go die!”
However, Lord Tong, upon seeing her run out, showed delight instead of shock, staring at Li Mumu and smiling, “It’s you!
I remember you!”
Li Mumu’s nerves snapped on the spot, and with a forceful push, her fingers pierced straight into Lord Tong’s brain.
Xia Yubing watched Li Mumu, who was red with anger, and didn’t say much.
She just waited until she calmed down before speaking softly, “He’s just entered the dream, killing him here is useless.
In the real world, he will only treat it as a nightmare.”
“That’s indeed good news.”
Li Mumu let go of the cold corpse, wiping her bloody fingers with his clothes, “Now, I remember him too.”