Douluo Continent: Starting from Awakening the Vermilion Bird Martial Soul

Di Hong frowned slightly. Why was Xue Yu suddenly entering the palace at this time?

Is he going to mobilize troops too?

Chapter 66: The Arrow is on the String

Chapter 66 The arrow is on the string

Upon seeing Xueye, Xueyu neither left immediately nor showed any displeasure; instead, she was very enthusiastic.

"Big brother." He walked over and greeted Xueye with a smile.

"Second brother." Xueye responded with a smile. To outsiders, the two brothers seemed to have a very good relationship, but in reality, they were like strangers.

This enthusiasm was merely a facade; after all, this was the imperial palace, and they had to put on a show for the emperor.

After greeting him, Xue Yu's gaze lingered on Di Hong for a moment, but Di Hong noticed it.

The moment she turned around, Xue Yu frowned slightly.

With Di Hong protecting Xue Ye, killing him wouldn't be an easy task. Moreover, he was wondering why Xue Ye was in the palace at this time. Could it be that he had sensed something and that's why he came?

But he quickly dismissed his doubts. His plan was very secretive, and those involved in the planning were all his trusted confidants. Now everything was ready, the only shortcoming was that the people he sent to the Häagen-Dazs Kingdom had not yet returned, and he did not know what the Häagen-Dazs Kingdom's attitude was.

Now that the arrow is on the bowstring, he has no choice but to release it.

Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. If you're going to do something, be determined and never give up halfway.

Upon arriving at the palace, Emperor Hong did not go in, but instead stood guard outside.

Looking around, the guards inside the palace were even more stringent than those on the outer perimeter. He sensed nearly ten Soul Masters at the Soul Emperor level, as well as the auras of two Soul Saints and one Soul Douluo. Assassinating the emperor would be no easy task.

Even a titled Douluo might not be able to accomplish this.

Moreover, it wasn't just Soul Masters; the surrounding area was teeming with patrolling Imperial Guards and Royal Knights, so not even a fly could get in.

He could clearly feel several pairs of eyes secretly watching him, having been on his radar ever since he entered.

While waiting outside, the emperor's violent coughing could be heard from inside the palace from time to time, and Di Hong could even smell a medicinal odor.

After a long while, Xueye and Xueyu emerged together.

"Big brother, I'm going back now."

"Hmm." Xueye nodded slightly.

After Xueyu left, Xueye's smile disappeared.

"My second brother is thinking the same thing as us."

"The Second Prince is also mobilizing troops?" Di Hong was somewhat surprised. He had guessed correctly; Xue Yu's entry into the palace was indeed to mobilize troops as well.

Xueye said, "That's right, my second brother is also going to send the Imperial Guards out for training, a total of 30,000 men, and he will go there in person."

"Isn't the intention too obvious? Has His Majesty agreed?"

"Yes." Xueye sighed.

While in the palace, he and Xueyu both suggested troop training, but to their surprise, the emperor agreed to let Xueyu lead troops out for training.

Di Hong frowned deeply. How could the emperor not see something so obvious? How had he been emperor for decades?

Logically, the emperor should have noticed; could he have done it on purpose?

This idea was quickly confirmed. Just after leaving the palace, news arrived that several generals had entered the palace, including the commander of the Royal Knights. It was clear that the emperor had also seen that Xue Yu was planning a rebellion and had agreed to let Xue Yu leave with his troops, which was also giving him an opportunity.

If he returns peacefully after training his troops and relinquishes his military power, nothing will happen. But if he were to rebel, he would have no choice but to reluctantly give up his son, since what is a son compared to the throne?

Anyway, he has three sons.

After returning to the Earl's mansion.

Tang Yuehua was practicing the zither in the garden. Although he and Xueye were close, the Earl's mansion rarely had any guests, mainly because they were not familiar with each other. He was happy with this and wanted some peace and quiet.

Standing outside the pavilion, listening to the beautiful zither music coming from inside, Di Hong did not disturb her.

After the music ended, the beauty in the pavilion noticed that Emperor Hong had returned.

"When did you come back?"

"Just got back." Di Hong walked into the pavilion.

After sitting down, Tang Yuehua naturally poured him a cup of tea. Although she hadn't been staying for long, she had practically become the mistress of the Earl's mansion. Everyone knew that her relationship with Di Hong was unusual and definitely not a normal romantic relationship.

Therefore, Meng Yuan and the others listened to Tang Yuehua's words, after all, who knows when Tang Yuehua might become their mistress.

He took a sip of tea, the fragrance of green tea blooming in his mouth, leaving a refreshing aftertaste. After all, he was a count in the empire, and what he enjoyed was far beyond what ordinary people could experience. Moreover, he now enjoyed Xue Ye's deep trust.

He often delivered things to the Earl's mansion on snowy nights.

For example, the tea he's drinking now doesn't taste bitter; it has a lingering aftertaste.

Looking at Tang Yuehua, who was smiling at him, Di Hong suddenly felt a surge of emotion.

"Sometimes, having a lady of the house is not a bad thing."

"Then you should hurry up and go to Haotian Sect to propose marriage." Tang Yuehua didn't shy away from the matter and spoke very directly; there was no point in avoiding such a thing.

She couldn't wait.

Di Hong shook his head: "No rush, no rush, I'm only fourteen years old, and you're only fourteen years old too."

"We're still kids, really."

"It's too early to talk about these things now."

Tang Yuehua didn't think it was too early: "We can settle things first."

“Father and the elders of the sect have always wanted to meet you. They have heard about you, but they have never seen you. And you never go to the Haotian Sect.”

"I'm afraid if I go, your sect's people will smash me with sledgehammers."

"Why would they swing a sledgehammer at you? You have no conflict with them." Tang Yuehua looked at him in confusion.

Di Hong pointed at her.

"If I were to kidnap you, do you think they wouldn't smash me with sledgehammers?"

"Especially Tang Zongzhu, you are his precious darling, the cabbage he raised with great difficulty, and now it's going to be eaten by a pig. How can he be happy about that?"

Tang Yuehua couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, her jewel-like eyes full of amusement.

"What are you saying? It's like a cabbage being eaten by a pig. How can you talk about yourself like that?"

"Don't worry, Father isn't as irritable as you think, and the sect elders aren't like that either. You don't need to be afraid to go to Haotian Sect."

"Then I'll go when I have the chance in the future." Right now, Di Hong doesn't have the time to go to Haotian Sect.

"By the way, I suggest you don't go to the hunting competition."

Xue Yu will definitely rebel during the hunting tournament. Tang Yuehua is not a Soul Master and is a girl. If something goes wrong, it will be difficult to explain. He can't be by her side to protect her all the time.

"Has something happened?" Tang Yuehua asked with a serious expression.

Di Hong told her that something must happen at the hunting festival.

Di Hong did not hide anything: "The Second Prince may be planning a rebellion, and it will happen on the day of the hunting festival."

"The Second Prince is going to rebel!" Tang Yuehua was shocked; this was no small matter.

"Do you need my help? If so, I can write to my father. With the Haotian Sect around, quelling the rebellion will be a piece of cake."

"No need, we are already prepared." Di Hong waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for Haotian Sect to get involved in this matter.

Chapter 67 Hunting Tournament (Part 67)

Chapter 67 Hunting Tournament (Part 1)

The Imperial Royal Hunting Grounds are located fifty kilometers southwest of Tiandou City. The terrain is vast and varied. Normally, it is the training ground for the Imperial Guards and the Royal Knights, but it becomes the royal hunting ground during hunting seasons.

Young members of the royal family also receive training here.

This place is strictly off-limits to civilians; they can't even get close. The Royal Knights have stationed tens of thousands of troops here.

There are many kinds of wild animals in the hunting ground, but no soul beasts. This hunting ground was not built by man. It is just a fence that surrounds a mountain forest and is used to isolate it from the outside world.

Early this morning, the entire Tiandou City came alive with activity. The Imperial Guards stood on both sides of the road, and the entire street was swept clean. The usually bustling and prosperous Tiandou City seemed to fall silent in an instant.

Today is the day of the hunting festival. The emperor got up early and changed into his military uniform. Although he is old and his health is deteriorating, he still insisted on holding this hunting festival.

Standing in front of the mirror, two palace maids were carefully adjusting his armor behind him.

Looking at his aged reflection in the mirror, the old emperor sighed.

He was once so full of vigor and ambition, ascending to the throne at a young age, and he also wanted to make great achievements, revitalize the Heaven Dou Empire, and make it surpass the Star Luo Empire.

But over the decades, repeated failures have constantly battered him, and Xingluo is stronger than Tiandou Empire in almost every aspect.

Even their royal family is stronger than the Tiandou royal family. The repeated defeats on the battlefield have long since extinguished his desire to revitalize the empire. Now he is also seriously ill, withered and frail, and his lifespan is running out.

The two sons continued to fight, and of course, all of this was caused by him.