This scoundrel is a bit of a swordsman.

"Do you know that what you said to the Crown Prince almost caused me to lose a Crown Prince?"

Xiao Xingchen nodded. He had considered this question; anyone who heard such words would likely have their faith shattered. Nevertheless, he responded.

"The Crown Prince still needs more experience. Let's take that sentence as a test for him. Those who achieve great things in ancient times not only possessed extraordinary talent, but also unwavering determination."

"That's true, but unfortunately, your relationship with that person is too deep, so I dare not use you."

The curtains were drawn back, revealing a graceful figure.

She was dressed in red, her hair disheveled and falling over her shoulders. She leaned against the bed armrest, one leg propped up on the bed, the other dangling casually off the bed.

Holding a wine jug in his left hand, he tilted his head back and took a swig of wine. You could even see, on the other side of the bed, a phoenix coronet and robes tossed haphazardly together like trash.

Coupled with the woman's stunning beauty, Xiao Xingchen was momentarily stunned.

Answer me one question, and I won't kill you.

"Very well, Your Highness, please ask."

What is your relationship with Murong Fenghua?

"It doesn't matter,"

Upon hearing this, Consort Xian rose and slowly descended the steps. Her long red dress trailed on the ground, and in the cold, dark underground palace, the sight of her in red was rather eerie and unsettling.

Is this the virtuous concubine who now commands respect and grace? Even in this empty place, she exudes the illusion of being the center of attention with just a few steps.

Her steps stopped in front of Xiao Xingchen. Because of the steps, the position was exactly where Consort Xian was looking down, and he had to look up.

"This proves that what you said is true,"

The Virtuous Consort spoke again, her voice filled with unquestionable authority and majesty—the aura of a superior.

Anyone else might have been intimidated, but Xiao Xingchen had faced the Martial Emperor directly, so he was relatively accepting of this pressure. He looked up at that stunningly beautiful face with neither arrogance nor servility, and then smiled.

"The truth will never be hidden, and falsehood will never become truth."

"You're very shrewd, but unfortunately, no one can fool me. Do you know that just because of what you said to the Crown Prince, I could disappear?"

"I believe you, so I took the initiative to come to see Consort Xian. Everyone has secrets, you have them, and I have them too. These are not the point. The point is that we have a basis for cooperation. I came to seek cooperation with you, so there is no need to be so tense."

"cooperate?"

The Virtuous Consort smiled disdainfully, flicked her red robe with a wave of her hand, and the robe swept past Xiao Xingchen, completely obscuring his view.

As soon as the red robe disappeared, a sharp sword was already thrusting towards his eye, stopping just millimeters from his pupil.

"Weren't you afraid I'd kill you? Why didn't you hide?"

The Virtuous Consort stood tall and straight, holding a sword in one hand and a wine jug in the other, high above everyone else. But in Xiao Xingchen's eyes, he saw more of a desolate, lonely, and even helpless bewilderment.

He secretly guessed that this virtuous concubine must be a woman with a story to tell. As for the sharp blade in front of his eyes, it wasn't that he didn't dodge, but rather that he hadn't expected her to suddenly draw her sword, and he hadn't had time to react.

"Your Majesty reminds me of someone,"

"Oh? Who?"

"Invincible East,"

"Who is this?"

Xiao Xingchen finally realized who the Virtuous Consort resembled at this moment. According to his previous understanding, a Virtuous Consort should be dignified, composed, virtuous, and gentle. But what he saw today was more of a chivalrous spirit in her. Such a woman should not belong in the palace.

This reminded him of the most dashing and imposing version of Dongfang Bubai; even the way he was currently holding the wine jug and pouring wine was strikingly similar.

“An old friend from my hometown, who was undefeated in the east, was called Dongfang Bubai (Invincible East) because he was the number one martial arts master in the world.”

Xiao Xingchen explained,

A hint of melancholy appeared in Consort Xian's eyes. Her gaze had never lingered on Xiao Xingchen, but this time, she turned and carefully examined him.

"What you've said is of no use to me. The reason I'm willing to say these things to you isn't because I'm afraid of you, but because you're the first person in all these years to guess my identity. Your appearance reminds me that perhaps I've still made a mistake after all these years. As for anything else, I'm not interested in you. Do you understand?"

"I understand that I have no value to you now, but I still came. Your Highness, would you like to hear my conditions first?"

"Speak, I haven't left the palace for a long time, and I'd like to see what makes this young sword immortal so extraordinary."

The Virtuous Consort leaped across the platform, landing once more within the curtained area above.

Xiao Xingchen knew that whether things would succeed depended on whether her next words could move Consort Xian.

Seeing this, he became even more certain that if he were to look for someone with powerful connections, he must look for someone like Consort Xian. She could not only influence Emperor Wu's judgment but also determine the course of events in the realm. Countless intelligence reports from the Flower Language Pavilion would fall into her hands every day; such a person might be even more terrifying than Emperor Wu's intelligence agency.

Moreover, this place is adjacent to the imperial city, so this underground passage is probably the Consort Xian's own access point.

The sheer number of these things combined isn't frightening, but the fact that they were all accomplished right under Emperor Wu's nose is what truly terrifies Xiao Xingchen. He has personally experienced Emperor Wu's terrifying power, and the current Consort Xian seems even more cunning and frightening than Emperor Wu himself.

With that in mind, he no longer held back.

"First, I can help the Crown Prince. As long as I'm here, neither the Eldest Princess nor any of the other princes can possibly bring him down from the Eastern Palace,"

The first sentence had barely been uttered when it was immediately met with a denial from Consort Xian.

“You’re not qualified enough. You’re not even eligible to participate right now, so don’t try to make empty promises. Give me something concrete.”

Xiao Xingchen's eyes widened in surprise, and he was momentarily speechless. This rendered all the words he had prepared meaningless.

His greatest advantage is his youth, which may even allow him to foresee the course of history. However, as Consort Xian said, saying this sounds like empty promises.

“I am a disciple of the Second Sage,” he said again.

"That's not enough. Those people at the Confucian Temple are all pedantic. You won't benefit from it; you'll only get yourself into trouble."

It was rejected again.

"I am a rare sword immortal, surely..."

"not enough,"

“I know the secret of the Sword Immortal Xiao,”

"not enough,"

"Your Highness, you don't need to be so dismissive of me. In other people's eyes, this is my bargaining chip, so why do I feel worthless in your eyes?"

Xiao Xingchen was speechless. This was unfair. They didn't even give him any room to bargain. How could they negotiate like this?

"Hehe, not bad, I knew what you were saying was worthless,"

The Consort Xian extended her right hand, her thumb and forefinger pinched together, and between her fingers, an ant was struggling.

"You're like dust in my eyes, utterly insignificant. I'm only talking to you because I'm bored. If you have no value whatsoever, I'll crush you like an ant."

These words were truly hard to accept, but they also jolted Xiao Xingchen awake. Although he had accomplished several great things, in the eyes of powerful figures, he was still no different from an ant. He had become somewhat arrogant these past few days.

Thinking about this, for the first time, he felt a pang of regret for coming to see Consort Xian. This woman was the most terrifying person he had encountered since his transmigration.

It seems that in Consort Xian's eyes, everything is an ant. That arrogant attitude of looking down on all living beings was definitely not something that could be developed overnight. Most importantly, she is insightful. This Flower Language Pavilion can continuously transmit information from all sides, and she even knows that she is the legitimate son of the Xiao family.

"You have about an incense stick's time. If you can't convince me before I return to the palace, you'll be in trouble, hehe."

The words of the virtuous concubine were like the call of death. A murderous aura swept across his face, causing his clothes to flutter loudly.