Tiandou Empire, Tiandou Imperial City, Imperial Palace.

Xue Qinghe was sitting in his study room, using his rare free time to enrich himself by reading.

This kind of time is not much for him.

As the crown prince of the Tiandou Empire and the most trusted eldest prince of Emperor Xue Ye, Xue Ye would leave many things to Xue Qinghe, and Xue Qinghe would never disappoint his father's expectations and do everything to perfection.

outstanding.

Therefore, after Emperor Xue Ye felt that his body was becoming increasingly unwell due to his age, he gradually delegated more power to Xue Qinghe, allowing Xue Qinghe to have more contact with national affairs and interact with more important ministers of the country.

I hope that in the future, Xue Qinghe can inherit his will and become the true emperor of the Tiandou Empire, the one who can rule the world with one word.

As the most outstanding emperor of the Tiandou Empire in the past few generations, Xue Ye clearly understands the current situation of the Tiandou Empire as "strong on the outside but weak on the inside".

Although on the surface the Tiandou Empire is a super empire that can compete with the Star Luo Empire and can defeat all forces except the Star Luo Empire and the Spirit Hall, in Xue Ye's eyes, these are just illusions.

Over the years, the Star Luo Empire has become more and more extreme and terrifying under the leadership of that lunatic-like guy.

Everyone's future is basically fixed when they are born, and they are placed in the position that best suits them. The entire country operates at high speed according to his own will, and power is firmly held in his hands in a highly centralized manner.

And the emperor of Xingluo has never been content with the status quo. The inheritance method of their entire country has led to a problem, that is, the emperor of Xingluo cannot tolerate anyone who may be able to compete with him.

He will destroy his opponents in any way possible.

Before he succeeded, his opponents were other princes, but after he succeeded, it was the Tiandou Empire.

If it weren't for Wuhun Palace's strong obstruction, Xue Ye felt that the huge Tiandou Empire might have been ruthlessly shattered by Xing Luo many years ago.

However, Wuhun Palace is not a philanthropic force. In Xue Ye’s view, the previous pope and the current pope of Wuhun Palace are very ambitious guys. The reason why they help the Tiandou Empire is just because of the current situation.

The situation is more conducive to the status and development of Wuhun Palace.

Although Wuhun Palace is the "Holy Land" in the eyes of all soul masters on the mainland, as the highest leader of a country, Xue Ye naturally does not view Wuhun Palace from the perspective of a soul master.

From Xue Ye's point of view, the Tiandou Empire that now needs the help of Wuhun Palace is just drinking poison to quench its thirst, but he has no way to do it.

The external situation is like this, and the internal situation of the Tiandou Empire is not optimistic either.

Although he is the emperor of a country, Xue Ye actually has very limited power. Unlike the emperor of the Star Luo Empire and the pope of the Wuhun Palace, the power of the Tiandou Empire is dispersed among various nobles.

Take the four principalities as an example. Although Xueye can interfere with the selection of their kings and the strategy of governing the country, the kings still have great autonomy. Not only can they independently formulate tax items and laws, they can even have their own army.

.

The same is true for the power within the empire. The great nobles hold important positions in the empire. You sing and I come on stage. In terms of confronting the imperial power, the great nobles are simply twisted into a rope, and the imperial power is limited.

All in all, within the Tiandou Empire, there were military principalities that were "separated" in four directions at the local level, and there were great nobles in the center who held power but had no military power.

Thinking of this, Xue Ye got a headache.

Coupled with the fact that his two sons had died of poisoning earlier in the year, Xue Ye felt very vigilant.

Is it an assassination from the Star Luo Empire? Or is it a struggle within the empire?

Xue Ye doesn’t know.

Over the years, Xue Ye has worked hard to suppress the local momentum, divide some of their military power and return it to the central government, and find opportunities to ban the power of several big nobles, and return it to the emperor or distribute it to small groups who support the imperial power.

noble.

But this is far from enough, Xue Ye knows very well.

Therefore, when Xue Qinghe was still young, Xue Ye made a very bold decision, appointing Ning Fengzhi, the leader of the Qibao Glazed Sect, as the Crown Prince and Tutor. An outsider was added to the center of power of the Tiandou Empire, and the equally ambitious

Ning Fengzhi came to help him divide the power of the great nobles.

Furthermore, as the Qibao Glazed Sect is the third highest sect, there is no doubt about its power and influence. Let it help Xue Qinghe. After Xue Qinghe officially ascends the throne, with the help of the Qibao Glazed Sect, it will be easier to consolidate the dispersed power within the empire.

This is undoubtedly very dangerous. Introducing outsiders to resolve internal conflicts can easily lead to someone picking off the fruits of victory. But Xue Ye believes in the methods of himself and Xue Qinghe, and if it really develops to that point, I believe that not only the royal family, but also the

The nobles and Wuhun Palace will also join forces to stop Ning Fengzhi.

Xue Qinghe's performance over the years has made Xue Ye believe that he will be a more powerful monarch than himself.

Now that I am old and have lost the courage of my youth, I will protect the current situation for him, and then let him be the greatest emperor in the history of Tiandou.

In the study, Xue Qinghe put down the book in his hand and looked up at the door. He heard the footsteps coming from the corridor outside the door, which were the innocent and brisk footsteps of a girl.

"Da da da~"

In Xue Qinghe's somewhat pleased eyes, the door was opened from the outside, but there was no one there. He stood up and walked towards the door. Xue Qinghe looked at the right side of the door with a smile on his face and said:

"Huh? Who is it? Why are you looking for this prince?"

"Wow!"

Just when Xue Qinghe was about to reach the gate, a girl with short hair jumped out from the right side of the gate.

Wearing a white uniform short skirt, it was embroidered with exquisite patterns, complex and noble, covering the girl's already slender figure. Her face, which was somewhat similar to Xue Qinghe's, was full of smiles and full of energy.

A pair of eyes that looked like autumn water also turned into a shining crescent moon at this moment.

"Ah~"

Seeing that his dearest little sister was trying to scare him again, Xue Qinghe jumped back in cooperation and screamed.

Seeing that her favorite eldest brother was startled by her again, Xue Ke was obviously very proud and laughed like a bell shaking.

"Brother, why are you still so timid? You are always scared by me."

Seeing that he was successful in the battle, Xue Ke couldn't help but teach his elder brother a lesson.

"Isn't that because you hid very well, Xue Ke? I didn't notice you hiding behind the door at all." Xue Qinghe stroked Xue Ke's short hair lovingly, opening his eyes and talking nonsense.

The naive Xue Ke didn't realize that Xue Qinghe was lying to her, or she discovered it but pretended not to notice it. She slapped her elder brother's hand on her head away, and Xue Ke pretended to be a mature adult:

"Brother, you can't do this. You are the one who will take over the important responsibilities from my father in the future. How can you be so vigilant? There is no way. It seems that your smart and cute little sister Xue Ke and I have to train you.

La!"

"Okay, okay, then I'll leave it to you, Xue Ke!" Xue Qinghe also cooperated very well with his favorite little girl.

"By the way, why are you looking for me? Normally you wouldn't choose this time to come to me."

Hearing his elder brother's words, Xue Ke puffed up his little mouth, like an inflated puffer fish, and stared straight at Xue Qinghe: "Can't I just come to you if I have nothing to do? Brother, didn't you do it before?

Such……"

After saying that, Xueke covered her eyes with both hands and pretended to be crying. However, the gap between her fingers was too large, allowing people to clearly see that she was observing her elder brother's reaction.

After pretending to cry for a while, but seeing that Xue Qinghe didn't respond, Xue Ke stopped the performance, coughed, looked around a few times, then leaned close to Xue Qinghe's ear, as if telling a shocking secret, and whispered:

"Brother, let me tell you a secret. You can't tell anyone else!"

"Um."

"Lingling told me a secret..."
Chapter completed!