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After Black and White Impermanence left, Qin Tian and Murong Ao set off alone.

Sure enough, whether there were no more assassins or Black and White Impermanence had indeed dealt with everyone who planned to kill Qin Tian, their journey was smooth, and they soon reached a small town ten kilometers outside the Imperial City.

”We’ve finally arrived, Lord of Pingxi. My task is completed.”

Arriving in town, Murong Ao breathed a sigh of relief and, together with Qin Tian, headed to an inn where someone was already waiting for them, inviting Qin Tian to board a carriage.

”These are Fourth Prince’s people. You can relax. They’re letting you board the carriage mainly to avoid being discovered when you return to the Imperial City, causing unnecessary trouble. Your disguise is too obvious and can be easily recognized.”

Murong Ao looked at the disguised Qin Tian and laughed, ”I’ll take my leave now and claim my reward.”

”Wait a moment.”

Qin Tian called out to Murong Ao.

”Is there something else?”

”How has Murong Fei been lately?” Qin Tian asked.

”Oh, I forgot to inform you. She’s doing quite well. Last year, my uncle almost forced her into a marriage, but the Fourteenth Prince intervened and stabilized the situation. Now, she seems to have moved on and is fully immersed in cultivation, constantly keeping an eye out for news about you.”

Murong Ao gazed at Qin Tian and said, ”Why don’t you write her a letter? She’ll certainly be very happy.”

”Alright.”

Qin Tian had intended to do so, and in the inn, he took some paper and a pen to write a comforting letter to Murong Fei, which he handed over to Murong Ao to take back to the Murong Mansion.

After Murong Ao left, Qin Tian boarded the carriage. Accompanied by two drivers, he easily entered the Imperial City, appearing just like ordinary people.

Upon entering the Imperial City, the two drivers slowly took Lin Feng towards the center of the city. Before long, they arrived at the back gate of a courtyard, where the two invited Qin Tian to disembark and enter together.

All the way, Qin Tian memorized the route. He could roughly guess they were around Wolong Street in the eastern part of the Imperial City.

”Lord of Pingxi, my master is inside waiting for you. Please, come in.”

As Qin Tian entered the backyard, a man who looked like a housekeeper warmly approached and invited Qin Tian inside.

Qin Tian smiled and nodded, following the housekeeper into a room where a finely dressed man was already seated, having waited for a long time.

”Lord of Pingxi, you’re finally here. Please, have a seat.”

The man smiled faintly and gestured for Qin Tian to sit down.

Qin Tian looked at this man. Judging by the sound of his voice, he seemed to be in his thirties, but by appearance, at least forty. Naturally, Qin Tian knew this was the previously inconspicuous Fourth Prince, known as ”Lord Four.”

”I’ve seen the Fourth Prince,” Qin Tian saluted.

”No need for formalities, please be seated.”

On the table, food and wine were already prepared. The Fourth Prince invited Qin Tian to sit down, with a light smile on his face, saying, ”Lord of Pingxi, you must have had a tiring journey. Let’s eat and chat.”

The Fourth Prince didn’t bother with excessive pleasantries and was quite direct from the start.

Qin Tian didn’t stand on ceremony either. After sitting down, he began to eat and said, ”This time, thank you, Your Highness, for your assistance.”

”It was a mere trifle, not worth mentioning,” the Fourth Prince replied.

A mere trifle?

Qin Tian paused, wondering internally whether the Fourth Prince was pretending to be calm or had always been hiding his immense capabilities, able to deploy experts like Black and White Impermanence.

Qin Tian glanced at the Fourth Prince, who was aware and looked back at him: ”This must be our first meeting and conversation, correct?”

Previously, in court, they both knew of each other’s existence but had never interacted.

”Yes,” Qin Tian nodded.

”So, you’re quite curious about me? Curious why I would help you?”

”Indeed.”

”Actually, you don’t have to be curious. You are a pillar of the Tianyuan Dynasty. I couldn’t bear to see you being persecuted by the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince. Talents should be utilized, not persecuted.”

The Fourth Prince’s words were cryptic, and Qin Tian genuinely didn’t understand his underlying meaning. Cautiously, he said: ”Does Your Highness also know that the Crown Prince and Ninth Prince intend to harm me?”

”Hahaha... I can’t believe you think I wouldn’t know.”

The Fourth Prince stared at Qin Tian and frankly said: ”We’re both smart people. You don’t need to test me. Honestly, I helped you for my own reasons, but I can assure you I have no sinister intentions towards you.”

”I haven’t thought otherwise. Please rest assured, Your Highness,” Qin Tian quickly replied.

”Hehe, serving the country is a duty. Lord of Pingxi, I’ve witnessed your talent in commanding troops. Some people in court can’t accommodate you, which is unfair. So, I wish to lend you a hand at this time.”

The Fourth Prince remained straightforward, ”I will meet the Emperor, clarifying the stakes. The Emperor will surely protect you.”

He spoke confidently, but Qin Tian found it amusing, thinking, ’Can you really sway the Ice Emperor?’

However, Qin Tian refrained from saying this and instead asked: ”But the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince...”

”I will assist you on that front too,”

The Fourth Prince smiled, ”Their desire to persecute you is merely for profit. Whatever interests are involved, can be negotiated. Politics is merely a balance of interests.”

”...”

Qin Tian found himself unable to refute the Fourth Prince’s words. This prince, who had always been quite low-key, surprisingly had a thorough understanding of the court’s dynamics and power struggles.

Qin Tian continued, ”In the letter Your Highness sent me, you mentioned that my friends and family in Qilin City might be in danger. That was the initial reason for my hurried return from afar. I wonder if Your Highness could assist with this matter...”

At present, Qilin City was under the control of the Ninth Prince. Should Qin Tian take action, the Ninth Prince would likely become furious and take deadly retribution against Qiao Wenxuan and the others.

Since they were under the Ninth Prince’s control, Qin Tian dared not act rashly at the moment and could only adopt a roundabout strategy.

Qiao Wenxuan and others, given their limited cultivation, stood no chance against the Ninth Prince’s people; they were too vulnerable.

The Fourth Prince had anticipated Qin Tian would ask this question and seemed prepared, saying: ”Rest assured, since this issue has been raised, I will certainly do my utmost to assist you. Of course, this matter also requires your cooperation.”

”Your Highness, please instruct, I will fully cooperate,” Qin Tian responded.

”I intend to request the Emperor to let you lead forces to eradicate bandits in the East,” the Fourth Prince revealed.

”Bandit eradication?”

”Yes, recently, a band of outlaws emerged in the East, composed entirely of Cultivation Immortality Sects. They burn, kill, rob, and commit every crime imaginable, affecting over a dozen cities. I currently oversee government affairs appropriately, but this severely impacts my governance.”

Qin Tian’s gaze fixed on the Fourth Prince, unsure of his intentions, he asked: ”Is it likely the Emperor, the Ninth Prince, and the Crown Prince will agree to my leading troops to the East for bandit eradication?”