Chapter 66: Ji Ning, I'm leaving my father-in-law to you.
Bai Suying shrank the ground to an inch, a single step covering tens of thousands of miles. In just a few breaths, she arrived outside the Zhenbei Army's military camp.
She stood on the mountain's peak, her palace robes fluttering, her beauty unparalleled, as if a celestial had descended to the mortal world.
"Aunt."
Ye Hao received news of Bai Suying's arrival and, ignoring the civil and military officials in his tent, rushed out impatiently. The moment he saw Bai Suying, a broad smile spread across his face.
He was finally seeing his aunt again. It was wonderful.
"Hao'er, the Imperial Capital is in danger. I hope you will immediately withdraw your troops and return to North Liang."
After her initial panic, Bai Suying felt her concern had clouded her judgment. She was being led by the nose by that shameless man, Gu Qing.
She wanted to take advantage of the fact that Luo Li had not yet begun a massacre, have Ye Hao withdraw on his own initiative, and then hide. Luo Li probably wouldn't bother to take revenge on Ye Hao.
After all, the world was vast; where would she even find him?
"Why?"
The smile froze on Ye Hao's face as he asked in confusion. His Zhenbei Army was strong and powerful, with valiant generals like clouds and strategists as numerous as rain.
Even Luo Zhengyang had been defeated by his generals, and the situation was extremely favorable.
With the Imperial Capital nearly within reach, the Luo Clan's dynasty was his for the taking. To withdraw now would mean all his previous efforts had been for nothing.
Could it be that his aunt was loyal to the Imperial Family, had developed feelings for the dog emperor, and didn't want him to overthrow the Luo Clan's dynasty?
But even if he withdrew, the Luo Clan's dynasty was beyond saving. The Divine Phoenix Empire was destined to fall. Moreover, how could he not avenge the grievance of his bones being dug out?
Thinking this, Ye Hao, afraid that Bai Suying would ask him to help the Luo Clan, quickly said, "Aunt, the situation is already irreversible. Even if I give up, the million soldiers under my command will not."
"If I forcibly issue such an order, what if they rebel?"
He knew Bai Suying was softhearted and treated him as family. By saying this, even if she couldn't bear to see the Imperial Family destroyed, she would stand firmly on his side.
Just as he expected, Bai Suying's expression flickered upon hearing his words. She naturally understood what Ye Hao was saying.
A million soldiers had risked their lives to win him his domain. With success and titles just within reach, how could they be willing to give up?
"Is it really impossible to withdraw?" Bai Suying asked unwillingly.
If there were even the slightest chance, she would not consider serving a shameless man. She, the daughter of a Supreme, the mother of a nation, a cultivator with the title of King, how could she so willingly debase herself?
"No."
"I have already promised a Supreme Realm devotee that I would grant him the title of king and ten fiefs."
Ye Hao's gaze flickered as he spoke in a firm, resonant tone. With these words, he didn't believe his aunt would still insist he withdraw.
And indeed, this was the case. Bai Suying did not try to persuade him further. Her heart was like dead ashes. She planned to sacrifice herself to fulfill Ye Hao's grand ambition.
The unsuspecting Ye Hao, thinking his scheme had succeeded, was instantly overjoyed and thought to himself, "I'm sorry, Aunt. I'm doing this for your own good. The dog emperor is not worthy of you."
Thinking this, Ye Hao asked curiously, "Aunt, what danger is there in the Imperial Capital?"
Since he started his rebellion, Bai Suying had not given him any intelligence, as she was strictly guarded by Imperial Family members to prevent her from leaking information. Now that she was suddenly asking him to withdraw, Ye Hao suspected it might be an Imperial Family scheme or that she had been threatened.
If she was threatened... a violent killing intent rose in Ye Hao's heart. Anyone who dared to threaten his aunt, he would make sure the Imperial Family was wiped out, leaving no one alive.
"Luo Li has brought many powerful experts from the Star Temple..."
Bai Suying, not knowing she had been deceived by her most beloved nephew, immediately recounted all the false information Gu Qing had given her.
Hearing this news, Ye Hao was shocked, but also relieved. It seemed he had misunderstood his aunt. As long as his aunt wasn't on the Imperial Family's side, things would be easy to handle.
A mere seventh level of the Saint Realm, he didn't even take them seriously. If he had enough time, let alone a Saint, he could even summon a Divine Fire Realm expert.
Furthermore, even if the Star Temple didn't come looking for trouble, he would seek revenge from Ji Ning. She dared to kill his most capable assassin; even with the Star Temple behind her, she would have to pay the price.
Thinking this, Ye Hao smiled faintly, "Don't worry, Aunt. I have my own ways to deal with a mere Saint."
"What ways do you have?" Bai Suying asked, her expression stunned as she stared blankly at Ye Hao.
What did he mean by "a mere Saint"? That was a transcendent great power who surveyed the heavens and earth, standing above the mortal world, watching as ages turned seas into mulberry fields.
The entire Eastern Region combined had fewer than ten Saints. They didn't even have the qualification to request an audience with a Saint, let alone ask one to handle their affairs.
If Ye Hao had a Saint on his side, he probably would have made the Luo Clan change its dynasty long ago. The more Bai Suying thought about it, the more unpleasant her expression became.
How long had it been? Ye Hao had actually learned to speak so arrogantly.
"You'll know when the time comes."
Seeing Bai Suying's disbelief, Ye Hao gave a mysterious smile, full of confidence. He had one Saint and seven Supreme Realm experts under his command, but saying so suddenly would be difficult to explain, so it was better not to tell his aunt for now.
"Sigh..." Bai Suying sighed. She wanted to reprimand Ye Hao, but the thought that she would soon have to give herself to a shameless man left her feeling utterly weary.
"Aunt, why don't you not return to the Imperial Capital?"
Seeing this, an idea struck Ye Hao, and he advised, "Aunt, you and the emperor are outwardly harmonious but inwardly divided. With a great battle imminent, I'm afraid the emperor will do something against you."
"I have your grandfather's protection. Besides, I am a King Realm cultivator; nothing will happen to me," Bai Suying said, shaking her head before continuing.
"Hao'er, you are no longer a child. You are now the commander of the Zhenbei Army. You should get married and have children soon to stabilize the morale of the troops."
A ruler must have an heir. Otherwise, if an accident were to happen, what would all the subordinates do?
The glory and wealth, so hard-won, would it not be destroyed in an instant.
Once Ye Hao had an heir, he would not cause any trouble even if he joined the Star Temple in the future.
It could be said that Bai Suying had worried herself sick over Ye Hao.
Yet Ye Hao was thinking of how to conceal and deceive, measuring a gentleman's heart with a villain's mind by suspecting she was loyal to the Imperial Family.
This also gave Gu Qing an opportunity to exploit.
If Ye Hao had been honest about his trump cards, Gu Qing would not have been able to threaten Bai Suying in the slightest.
"I want to, but there is no one suitable."
As Ye Hao spoke this, a scorching heat flashed in his eyes. He pretended to be calm as he looked at the incomparably beautiful Bai Suying.
Those vulgar women with their powder and paint could not compare to a single strand of his aunt's hair.
That's right, Ye Hao had long had designs on Bai Suying.
This was because he had once unintentionally overheard that Bai Suying and his mother were not blood relatives.
Bai Suying was merely a daughter adopted by Bai Wuya.
"How can there not be? I think Shangguan Yan'er, and also Chu Wei, Zhao..."
Bai Suying named more than ten people in one breath. These were all daughters of heaven.
They had talent and family backgrounds, barely making them a match for Ye Hao.
"They are just a bunch of people who cling to power and influence."
Ye Hao's face was full of disdain, his tone indifferent.
No matter how beautiful they were, even if they were goddesses pursued by all, in his heart, they still could not compare to a single strand of his aunt's hair.
These people could only share wealth and honor, not adversity.
He did not want to walk the same path as his previous life.
In his previous life, Ye Hao had pursued his wife obsessively from high school until entering society.
The result was that the goddess in his heart was actually a bootlicker for someone else. They even used the money he earned from delivering food to pay for a hotel room, which was truly hateful.
What was even more hateful was that this vile couple was fooling around in their marital home, directly angering him to death.
However, that vile woman probably never would have dreamed that the male god she was fawning over was actually a scoundrel who swindled money and sex.
When that vile woman's money was all swindled away, she would surely regret it for the rest of her life.
Thinking this, a look of gratification appeared in Ye Hao's eyes, along with a tinge of regret that he would not be able to see that vile woman's remorse.
Shaking his head, Ye Hao retracted his wandering thoughts and looked at Bai Suying with scorching eyes.
At his most difficult moment, it was Bai Suying who held up the sky for him, taking him away from the cold stone bed and giving him heavenly materials and earthly treasures to heal his injuries.
She even defied the entire world for him.
This was true love.
Ye Hao clenched his fists, secretly vowing that he would not marry anyone but Bai Suying in this life and would never fail her sincere heart.
"Nonsense, they are all ladies from prestigious families, daughters of heaven. How can you slander them so carelessly?"
Bai Suying scolded.
The families of these women had all pledged allegiance to Ye Hao. Marrying them was not only to continue the lineage but also to stabilize the regime.
How could Ye Hao belittle them so?
"Aunt, I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, I know how to handle it."
Seeing Bai Suying's anger, Ye Hao said with a cheeky smile.
He was not bothered by her scolding in the slightest; in fact, he rather enjoyed it. As long as Bai Suying was talking to him, he found whatever she said to be lovely.
"Oh, and how do you plan to arrange them?" Bai Suying asked with a frown.
"They are just for political alliances, aren't they? If that's the case, it's the same to have them form alliances with my generals."
"..."
Bai Suying hesitated to speak.
Although gifting women to subordinates was not unheard of and could even help control them better, unifying ruler and subject... for him to have no women himself yet gift them to his subordinates was truly... Bai Suying found it hard to put into words.
In the end, Bai Suying said nothing more and left with a belly full of frustration.
She felt that Ye Hao's personality and way of thinking had major problems, things that could not be explained in just a sentence or two.
Now was a time of many troubles. Once everything had stabilized, she would have to correct Ye Hao's improper way of thinking and personality.
"Aunt, you can go without worry. Everything is with me."
"You once held up the sky for me; now I will hold up the sky for you."
"Just wait, I will soon break through the city. At that time, I will take the mountains and rivers as my betrothal gift and the sun and moon as my presents, welcoming you as my empress with great splendor."
Ye Hao looked in the direction she disappeared, his expression resolute as he secretly vowed.
After a moment, he returned to the military camp and assembled all his officers and soldiers.
Ye Hao's expression was cold as he spoke indifferently, "Fengxian, I will give you one hundred thousand Great Snow Dragon Cavalry. Can you trample Dingyang City within a day?"
"Young Master, rest assured. This general will not fail his mission."
The tall and mighty Lu Bu said with an excited expression, cupping his fists.
This was military merit.
The more cities he conquered, the more rewards he could obtain: enfeoffment as a marquis, appointment as a high minister, and countless beauties, all there for the taking.
"Good. If you cannot take Dingyang City in a day, come back with your head."
"Yes."
"Yanliang, Wen Chou, I will give you one hundred thousand Great Halberdiers. Take Fuwei City in a day. If you are late, come back with your head."
"Yes."
Ye Hao issued more than a dozen orders in a row, all ending with "come back with your head."
Everyone was already used to this.
Only the local generals who had just joined the Zhenbei Army were utterly bewildered.
Military orders were like mountains. A commander-in-chief could not say "come back with your head" so casually.
As Ye Hao was deploying his troops, Gu Qing was not idle either. He found a powerful Marquis of Xiliang and told him to go intimidate Bai Suying.
Gu Qing said to Ji Ning, "Ji Ning, I'm leaving my father-in-law to you."
"..."
Ji Ning's mind was in an uproar.
To ask her to fight her own old father-in-law, you really thought of that.
To think that she, an invincible Supreme, would join forces with Gu Qing to do something wicked. Truly, the world is unpredictable.
"Don't worry, I know what to do. I guarantee I'll make your father-in-law look utterly miserable without harming his life."
Ji Ning nodded, indicating that she knew what to do.
Her figure changed rapidly. In the blink of an eye, she transformed into a peerless female demon lord with red-tinted eyes, a head of red hair, and red clothes, her aura violent and ferocious.
"Mm, very good. After this job is done, I'll give you a surprise."
Gu Qing was extremely satisfied.
Ji Ning was very much to his liking. After this time, he must give her the Treasure Liquid and the Method of Bathing in Fire and Nirvana.
...
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