stonecrandall Chapter 1133 is both cooperation and a threat!
Chapter 1133 is both cooperation and a threat!
“Your Highness,” Gao Yao’s face was inches away, and Li Yunrui could clearly see the cold glint in his eyes, “I thought I had made myself very clear. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment; that’s a fatal mistake.”
Yan Xiaoyi roared and charged forward despite his severe injuries. His hands traced mysterious trajectories in the air, and the full power of a ninth-rank expert erupted at that moment, forming a visible wave of energy.
Gao Yao didn't even look back.
His left foot seemingly kicked backward casually, the movement as light as brushing dust off a piece of clothing. But this seemingly effortless kick produced a sharp whistling sound. Yan Xiaoyi was sent flying backward as if hit head-on by a charging bull, crashing heavily against the wall.
"boom--"
The walls shook, and dust fell in a flurry. Yan Xiaoyi spat out another mouthful of blood. This time, he didn't even have the strength to stand up. He could only collapse to the ground, looking at Li Yunrui with despairing eyes.
Gao Yao released his grip. Li Yunrui collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Her delicate hair was now disheveled, with a few strands clinging to her sweat-dampened forehead. She had never felt death so close before—with just the slightest pressure from that hand, her throat would have shattered like a withered branch.
"Fan Xian is a pawn used by Emperor Qing to maintain a balance of power in the court." Gao Yao's voice regained its calm, as if his previous ruthless actions had never occurred. "Killing him would disrupt Emperor Qing's entire plan. Who do you think Emperor Qing will suspect first then?"
Li Yunrui didn't speak, but just covered her neck, her eyes filled with complex emotions—fear, anger, resentment, and a trace of awe that she herself was unwilling to admit.
"Who is Emperor Qing?" Gao Yao squatted down to look Li Yunrui in the eye. "He is a man who has mastered the art of power. He needs the Crown Prince and the Second Prince to fight each other, he needs you to be at odds with Fan Xian, and he needs different voices in the court. Only in this way can he secure his throne and control everything."
He reached out, and unexpectedly, his movements were exceptionally gentle. He helped Li Yunrui up from the ground, even straightening her disheveled clothes. Then, his arms encircled Li Yunrui's waist.
Li Yunrui's body stiffened for a moment, but she ultimately did not resist. She could feel the warmth emanating from that hand, and she could also sense the terrifying power contained within it.
“What Your Highness needs to do now is not to attack, but to retreat.” Gao Yao’s voice rang in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe. “Apply to Emperor Qing to leave the capital and go to Jiangnan, the most prosperous region in Southern Qing, or to the northern border where the most troops are stationed. With your influence in the court, plus your willingness to retreat, Emperor Qing will not refuse.”
Li Yunrui's heart skipped a beat. She understood Gao Yao's meaning—to leave the capital, the center of power, and go to the provinces to build up her strength. Without Emperor Qing's constant surveillance and the overt presence of the Censorate, there were so many things she could do.
"Jiangnan Province accounts for one-third of Qing Kingdom's taxes, and the northern border has 300,000 border troops," Gao Yao continued. "With Your Highness's abilities, and with my help, how long would it take to secretly control these forces? Three years? Five years?"
“But…” Li Yunrui still hesitated, “Leaving the capital means giving up our connection with the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, and abandoning our foothold in the court…”
“Foolish.” Gao Yao’s voice turned cold. “Do you really think Emperor Qing doesn’t know about your dealings with the Crown Prince and the Second Prince? The reason he turns a blind eye is because it’s all under his control. What you need to do is step out of this game and become another player.”
He released Li Yunrui and sat back down in his chair, his posture languid, as if nothing had happened: "After returning to the palace, cry to Emperor Qing and tell him that Fan Xian has repeatedly targeted you, the Censorate is pressing you step by step, you are exhausted, and you want to go to Jiangnan to recuperate. Remember, you must appear disheartened, and you can even say that you are too old and do not want to participate in these struggles anymore."
Li Yunrui remained silent. Her mind raced, calculating the feasibility of the plan—leaving Kyoto was indeed extremely risky, but as Gao Yao had said, staying in Kyoto meant she would forever remain just a pawn on Emperor Qing's chessboard. Going elsewhere...
“I need time to think about it,” Li Yunrui finally said.
Gao Yao nodded, seemingly having anticipated this answer: "Of course. However, Your Highness would be best to make a decision soon, since Fan Xian will be entering the palace in three days."
He clapped his hands, and two maids immediately entered from outside the door. They were both from Gao's Restaurant and their movements were respectful and well-trained.
"Send His Highness back to the palace," Gao Yao ordered, then looked at Yan Xiaoyi, who was slumped on the ground. "Commander Yan's injuries are not serious; he will recover in half a month. During this time, I will send people to protect His Highness's safety."
The last sentence sent a chill down Li Yunrui's spine. It was both protection and surveillance.
She gave Gao Yao a deep look. This young grandmaster was more terrifying than she had imagined—not only did he possess absolute martial prowess, but he also had a deep and cunning mind. More importantly, he seemed to know everything about the Qing Kingdom, the royal family, and everyone in the court.
"Farewell." Li Yunrui resumed her demeanor as a princess, nodded slightly, and walked towards the door with the help of her maid.
As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped, without turning around, and asked softly, "One last question, sir, why did you help me?"
Gao Yao's low laughter came from behind: "I've already said it, because there are too many grandmasters in this world. And Your Highness... happens to have value that I want to use."
It's straightforward, cold, but also very real.
Li Yunrui didn't ask any more questions and stepped out of the room. Night had fallen, and the long street outside Gao's Restaurant was deserted; only the sound of carriage wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs carried far in the quiet night.
Inside the room, Gao Yao sat alone by candlelight. He sat up, his inner energy flowing through his body like a surging river. He extended his right hand, slowly closing his fingers, and a soft popping sound filled the air. This was not a simple release of inner energy, but a sign that his physical strength was powerful enough to shake the very air.
Gao Yao's skin, though seemingly ordinary, is actually tougher than refined steel. He once secretly tested it, having his eighth-rank martial artist, Ran Min, slash at him with all his might. The blade chipped, but Gao Yao himself only had a white mark on his arm, which disappeared in an instant. Even amidst a thousand troops, with arrows raining down and swords and spears flying like a forest, they could not harm him in the slightest.
But that's precisely the problem.
Gao Yao walked to the window, pushed open the wooden window, and frowned slightly as he looked at the sparse stars in the night sky.
Invincible defense doesn't equate to unparalleled combat prowess. Over the past six months, he had secretly observed the aura of that being deep within the Qing Kingdom's palace three times—the Qing Emperor lurking in the shadows, also a Grandmaster. Gao Yao was confident he could exhaust his opponent's true energy in a protracted battle and ultimately win. But if his opponent wanted to leave, he couldn't stop him.