"Boss, I want to request leave. I want to go wander the martial world. Do you approve?" Xiaoyao asked Guxing. Among those present, only Guxing could change Xiaoyao's mind, he could ignore everyone else.
And Guxing, would she go against Xiaoyao's wishes? Definitely not. She had never stopped whatever Xiaoyao wanted to do, and she also believed Xiaoyao would take care of himself without her needing to worry.
She and Xiaoyao had been together since childhood - how could she not know Xiaoyao's abilities? Even she had been guided by Xiaoyao's hand - how could she not know his capabilities!!
"Approved!" Guxing said very straightforwardly.
"Seventh Sister, are you crazy? How could you agree to this? He'll be very dangerous outside!!" The Young Miss immediately said. She seemed to understand Xiaoyao's meaning, knowing that if Guxing agreed, no one could stop him.
And now, Guxing could have stopped him but permitted it instead, which surprised her somewhat!
"In these ten-plus years, because of me, he has already given up many things. I don't want him to give up what he wants for my sake!!" Guxing shook her head. "Also, you should believe he has the ability to protect himself - he won't be inferior to any of us!! I was brought up by his hand, and you all have more or less received his guidance..."
The Young Miss and the others fell silent for a while. They could feel Guxing's emotions and also seemed to understand the relationship between the two - something others couldn't relate to.
"Promise me, when you encounter danger, just flee. Don't take risks for anything!" Guxing looked at Xiaoyao and said.
"I know. Preserving life is most important. If I see anything wrong, I'll run away!! My escape skills are quite good - even Imperial Aunt couldn't catch up!" Xiaoyao smiled and nodded.
...
"This is indeed true. The first time we met, I chased this kid but never caught up in the end! Although I didn't use my full strength, I believe even if an Emperor-level expert came to chase him, they couldn't catch up! I don't know how this kid does it - clearly his speed isn't very fast, clearly it seems like he could be caught at any moment, but with a slight shift of his body, he escapes..." The Eldest Princess recalled that situation and still found it somewhat incredible, but thinking of Xiaoyao's unfathomable martial arts cultivation, she also felt this matter wasn't really hard to understand.
"..." Regarding this point, the young ladies present were surprised, because they didn't know about this matter. Since the Eldest Princess said so, it meant Xiaoyao indeed had such ability.
But Le Youran felt something strange. The Eldest Princess's meaning seemed to be...
"Eldest Princess, do you agree with him going out to wander the martial world? Haven't you always been very reluctant to part with him?"
Regarding Le Youran's confusion, the Eldest Princess smiled and said, "I'm just worried, but that doesn't mean I disagree. A man's aspirations lie in all directions - I can't make him stay by my side for life. Even if he agreed, I couldn't allow it!!"
The Eldest Princess loved Xiaoyao, but love didn't mean not letting Xiaoyao do anything or preventing him from gaining experience. She more wanted to see Xiaoyao's growth and hoped that he could come to protect himself.
Regarding the matter of protection, it was believed that the Eldest Princess, like other elders, hoped their juniors could grow to the degree of being able to protect themselves. But when that time came, they would still hope they could protect their juniors, this way they could demonstrate their responsibility as elders.
This was a very contradictory thought, and this thought would always exist in this world. As long as there were elders who loved their juniors, this contradictory phenomenon would continue to exist.
"This is also true. Even if we worry about him now, we'll eventually have to face this matter. Rather than overprotecting him, it's better to let him adapt himself and have the ability to protect himself," Nangong Suxin nodded and said.
Seeing this situation, the Young Miss could only say, "So you all agree! It seems my agreement or disagreement doesn't matter either. Fine, Xiaoyao, if you encounter any danger in the future, contact us immediately. Whoever dares harm you, I'll lead troops to eliminate them..."
Hey hey, Young Miss, the army isn't your family's. For one person, you can't randomly lead troops to eliminate anyone!
"On this point, I agree!" Nangong Suxin nodded, making others feel even more helpless.
"I also don't object. Whoever touches my nephew, I want their lives!" The Eldest Princess expressed her position.
"Hey hey, don't bring personal feelings into national military affairs. This puts a lot of pressure on me as emperor!" Just as everyone was expressing opinions, Ning Zhiyuan arrived with Ning Xin'er.
"Even if the pressure is great, you must bear it. Who told you to be the emperor - this is what you deserve!" The Eldest Princess casually replied.
"Xiaoyao, you're awake! We were all worried sick, especially your Imperial Aunt," Ning Zhiyuan said with a smile, changing the topic while also greeting Xiaoyao.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's concern. I'm fine!" Xiaoyao said.
"Good that you're fine!" Ning Zhiyuan smiled. "Just right, now that you're awake, I want to discuss something with you."
Ning Zhiyuan's visit this time wasn't purely to inquire about Xiaoyao's condition. Even within the palace, he wouldn't be so free to come again and again. He had other matters, and he was also very straightforward in getting straight to the point.
Perhaps it was because Ning Zhiyuan knew Xiaoyao's character - straightforward and disliking beating around the bush!!
Perhaps it was because the Eldest Princess was here, so he didn't want to go in circles!
"What matter?" Xiaoyao asked, while the Eldest Princess and others also watched from the side, wanting to know what Ning Zhiyuan wanted to say.
"It's just a small matter - help by serving as an envoy to the Baiyue Kingdom!" Ning Zhiyuan said with a smile.
"Baiyue Kingdom?" Xiaoyao and the others were all somewhat puzzled, not understanding what Ning Zhiyuan meant by this. Why have Xiaoyao serve as envoy to Baiyue Kingdom?
Why go to Baiyue Kingdom? Why Xiaoyao? These were all confusing questions.
"The situation is this: the king of Baiyue Kingdom is holding a martial competition for his daughter Princess Wen Ya's hand in marriage. People of any background can participate!" Ning Zhiyuan said.
"What's special about it?" Xiaoyao asked directly. If there wasn't anything special, how could Ning Zhiyuan have him go? He could just send anyone.
"What's special is this Princess Wen Ya!" Ning Zhiyuan frowned, seeming somewhat troubled, but the degree didn't seem very great. It appeared that even if this matter couldn't be completed, it wouldn't have too great an impact on him.
"What's special about her? Is she prettier than the Young Miss?" Xiaoyao asked directly, not knowing what he meant by directly comparing her to the Young Miss.
"What do you mean..." The Young Miss glared at Xiaoyao. Are you trying to make me look bad!!
Generally speaking, if a princess made such a big commotion and attracted Ning Zhiyuan's attention, she must be the type to bring disaster to the country. The Young Miss didn't think she could compare to such a type.
"Hehe!" Nangong Suxin giggled on the side.
"What are you laughing at? I'm prettier than you anyway!" The Young Miss said disdainfully.
"Stop arguing, you're both embarrassing yourselves. Actually, you two are about the same..." Xiaoyao interjected.
"Ahem, Xiaoyao, don't speak about General Mo Yu like that. She's a bit prettier than that Princess Wen Ya, at least not inferior!" Ning Zhiyuan coughed.
"If she's not even as good as the Young Miss, that means it's not because of her appearance that she's gained your attention! Baiyue Kingdom has always been famous for sword-forging. Almost half of the divine weapons on the weapons rankings are from Baiyue Kingdom. Recently, there's a woman whose skills are beyond imagination, she's become the most powerful sword-forger in Baiyue Kingdom's history," Xiaoyao said slowly. Regarding this information, he was quite clear - as long as someone had spread rumors about it.
"Could it be that this Princess Wen Ya is the woman Xiaoyao mentioned - that most powerful sword-forger?" The Young Miss asked, following Xiaoyao's meaning.
"Correct, it's this woman!" Ning Zhiyuan nodded.
"Are you worried her sword-forging techniques will be obtained by other countries?" Xiaoyao looked at the sky beside him and said indifferently.
"There is some worry, so I want you to make a trip!" Ning Zhiyuan also very directly admitted.
"What use would I be? Do you want me to go marry her? First, I have no such interest. Second, my status is very ordinary - you could call anyone else who would be more suitable than me!!" Xiaoyao directly declined this proposal. As he said, it wouldn't be his turn no matter what.
Because of this, the Eldest Princess and others also felt it strange why His Majesty would look for Xiaoyao to do this - there was completely no reason.
"First, I'm not asking you to marry her. You just need to go through the motions - others will handle everything else. Second, you are the most suitable candidate because you can represent us, but if anything happens, we can make excuses to disavow responsibility. You understand this, right?" Ning Zhiyuan looked at Xiaoyao and said.
"This part about making excuses to disavow responsibility, I understand. But what I don't understand is what you mean by me representing you. My status doesn't seem to represent anything," Xiaoyao said.
"You're our Young Prince, how can you not represent anything!" Ning Zhiyuan said irritably.
"Ah?!"
"What?"
"What Young Prince?"
Xiaoyao, the Young Miss, and the others were very surprised, looking at Ning Zhiyuan somewhat stunned.
(End of Chapter)