Chapter 13: The Oppressed "Xue Qinghe" Finally Obtains Yaoguang Brew

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A cool breeze blew gently. The two sat on the ground, enjoying grilled fish with a carefree ease. Xue Qinghe pondered for a moment, then asked, “At your age and at this time, coming to Tiandou City—could it be that you intend to enter the Tiandou Royal Academy?”

He continued, “The admission standards of the Royal Academy are quite high.”

“I can’t let you eat my fish for free; perhaps I can put in a good word for you.”

Li Zhexian wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth and tilted his head to look at the young gentleman in white whom he had just met.

Hmm.

His complexion was fair, his features delicate and refined, dressed in white robes embroidered with golden edges—clearly from a wealthy family.

“You’re quite impressive,” Li Zhexian remarked.

“To be able to speak to the Royal Academy is no small feat.”

“But as for me, I’m the least fond of schooling.”

Watching the young man in a simple white hemp shirt lying back on the grass, Xue Qinghe shook his head with a smile.

In his eyes, this person was drunk.

To speak so nonchalantly about the Tiandou Royal Academy!

One must know, everyone admitted there is a somewhat renowned genius.

At such an age, how could one not aspire to enter?

Finding it amusing, Xue Qinghe pressed on, “Then what do you want?”

Li Zhexian sat up and joked, “If you’re really that capable, bring me a jug of Yaoguang Brew.”

“Yaoguang Brew?” Xue Qinghe swallowed the fish elegantly, packed up his fishing rod, and began to walk away.

After some distance, his voice floated back, “One meal of fish won’t get you a jug of Yaoguang Brew.”

Watching the other’s retreating figure, Li Zhexian took a sip of wine and murmured softly, “Judging by his tone, it seems he really can get Yaoguang Brew.”

“Yaoguang Brew is coveted even by the royal family.”

“So who is he…”

Several names flashed through Li Zhexian’s mind.

At this age, with such refined looks and scholarly demeanor, and with Lotus Lake just a kilometer from the imperial city—not a place without visitors.

More likely, it was the private estate of some powerful noble.

The answer seemed to reveal itself.

Li Zhexian’s lips curved into a smile.

“Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of Tiandou.”

“Perhaps… calling him Qian Renxue would be more fitting.”

“Enough, enough.”

“I have no interest in such power struggles.”

“Whether Xue Qinghe or Qian Renxue, as long as he can bring me that Yaoguang Brew, it’s fine.”

“One meal of fish is not enough, then I’ll have several.”

The sun hung low in the west.

They headed home.

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That night was again spent in cultivation.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, Li Zhexian eagerly made his way to Lotus Lake.

He was there to fish.

But this was no ordinary fishing.

Yet, even as the sun climbed high, there was no sign of Xue Qinghe.

Li Zhexian sat under the shade of a tree, glanced at his full basket of catches, and sighed regretfully.

...

Inside the Tiandou Imperial Palace.

As usual, Xue Qinghe went to the Qianqing Palace to pay respects to Emperor Xue Ye.

“Your son, Xue Qinghe, pays respects to Father Emperor, may you be well.”

He knelt on one knee, presenting a cup of hot tea with both hands.

Emperor Xue Ye’s complexion was rosy as he reviewed memorials.

“Rise.”

Taking the tea from Xue Qinghe’s hands, the emperor sipped and nodded approvingly.

“Qinghe, your tea-making skills have improved.”

A smile appeared on Xue Qinghe’s delicate face.

“I’m glad Father Emperor likes it.”

Emperor Xue Ye smiled and returned to reviewing the documents without further comment.

Xue Qinghe bowed respectfully, standing quietly to the side.

Time passed moment by moment.

Only when the sunlight brightened did a eunuch remind Emperor Xue Ye that the time had come.

The emperor put down the memorial and looked at Xue Qinghe.

“Qinghe, how is your study of the Tiandou Code progressing?”

The Tiandou Code was the legal compendium of the Tiandou Empire, a political text the crown prince had to master.

Xue Qinghe bowed slightly and answered, “Your son has mastered it.”

“Good, then I shall test you.”

The test continued until the sun blazed fiercely.

Finally, Emperor Xue Ye concluded the examination.

“Your son takes his leave.”

Leaving Qianqing Palace, weaving through the high red walls and tiled roofs of the imperial compound.

Xue Qinghe’s expression shifted from calm to cold.

A coldness so deep it seemed to frost his very bones.

Back in his own palace, he stood by the window, staring blankly at the flowers in the garden, withered and scorched by the harsh sun.

Only minutes later, another eunuch reported that a certain minister had been waiting for some time, seeking an audience with the crown prince.

Xue Qinghe swiftly shed the cold expression, his face softening once more.

Half an hour later, after seeing the minister off, with barely time to rest, he went as the crown prince to visit the Tiandou Royal Academy, meeting the talented students of this generation.

On his way back to the palace, Xue Qinghe’s face was expressionless.

The Porcupine Douluo and Snake Spear Douluo exchanged glances, steeling themselves to speak.

“Young Master, His Holiness the Pope has informed you that the infiltration of the Tiandou Empire is proceeding too slowly, and the poison administered to Emperor Xue Ye has been too mild.”

“His Holiness commands you to take full control of the Tiandou Empire within five years.”

“Additionally, His Holiness also says…”

Xue Qinghe remained expressionless.

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But his hand inside his sleeve clenched tightly until the knuckles turned pale.

He stopped walking, closed his eyes, and exhaled slowly.

Reflecting on how for years he had lived this way, endlessly busy with tasks he loathed.

A profound weariness seeped into his soul.

“Tell that woman…”

“I do not need her interference in my affairs!”

The Porcupine and Snake Spear sighed and silently stepped aside.

Seeing Xue Qinghe change direction, they hurriedly asked, “Young Master, where are you going?”

“Lotus Lake.”

Xue Qinghe’s cold voice did not waver as he did not look back.

“Do not follow me.”

...

Lotus Lake.

Willows swayed gently, reeds fluttered softly.

The breeze carried the scent of lotus blossoms.

Seeing the white-shirted youth with a mouthful of oily fish, Xue Qinghe blinked and briskly approached.

Without any concern for decorum, he plopped down opposite the young man.

Grabbing a fish, he popped it into his mouth.

Li Zhexian was taken aback for a moment.

Then he laughed and scolded, “You’re something else—didn’t eat when I gave you fish yesterday, now you’ve lost all manners, huh?”

Xue Qinghe took up chopsticks and stirred the fish in the pot.

“Today’s fish is a bit overcooked.”

Watching the other’s rogue-like expression, Li Zhexian laughed in spite of himself.

He stretched his greasy hand toward Xue Qinghe.

“Give it to me.”

With fish in his mouth, Xue Qinghe looked up.

“What?”

Li Zhexian said, “Yaoguang Brew.”

“One meal of fish won’t get you Yaoguang Brew, but you’ve eaten two meals of mine.”

Xue Qinghe curled his lips.

“A jug of Yaoguang Brew is worth a fortune.”

“Your fish is really expensive.”

Li Zhexian never expected to trade just two meals for Yaoguang Brew.

He stood, patted his seat, and headed toward the lake.

“The fish in this pot is old, I’ll catch some fresh ones.”

A few minutes later, Li Zhexian returned.

He saw Xue Qinghe still quietly eating fish as if he hadn’t eaten all day.

On the seat opposite Xue Qinghe,

There was a translucent three-inch glass bottle.

Inside flowed a wine shimmering like a starry river…