The Next Of Phoenix
Chapters 10. Audience Or Players

Seven days passed after the day in which Xiao Mingyui plunged himself into a river full of crocodiles for Xiao Jiwang. The woman has now recovered from the condition of her legs that had sprained some time ago.

In Xiao Mingyui's hand was now a white envelope with beautiful purple flowers. The envelope he held was an invitation to a special party to be held at the Palace. Not all nobles get the invitation, only the royal family as well as first and second-rate nobles.

The family that will be present at the party later will be the entire royal family, the Fang clan, Huang, Chen, Gu, Wu. The Rong family was supposed to be present, but since the Host, Rong Wangxia, often traveled outside the Empire, whenever there was a party or other big event, the man never showed up. Since the Emperor's 'cleansing' of the Rong clan, Rong Wangxia has been the only survivor. The man was seen less and less, even if he should return once every five years, the man was never seen. The emperor and especially Xiao Wangfu's side always waited for the man's return, because the services he had given to peel off the crimes of his own family was a big thing. The emperor always sent invitations to Rong Fu whenever there was an event even though the man never showed up.

Xiao Mingyui placed the invitation on the table, then glanced at Bingbing and asked, "Did Xiangqing know this?"

Bingbing nodded. "That's it, your honor. But ... It seems the Prince is not too interested. Today I accidentally heard the Prince's conversation with master Gu Lingchu, he said they were about to spend the night at the headquarters of the Imperial Capital of Xiao Wangfu's army to hold a large meeting."

Xiao Mingyui frowned, then looked mused. Lately, Xiao Xiangqing had always avoided him. The boy refused to eat dinner together or discuss briefly with him. Ever since the day that he knew Xiao Mingyui willingly plunged into a river full of crocodiles to bind the Crown Prince, the child had actually looked glum. The last time they spoke was the night that Xiao Mingyui had just returned from the Palace with the help of a walking stick.

Xiao Mingyui stood up, then walked towards the changing room while saying, "Prepare the horses, today we will have lunch at the Xiao Wangfu Army Capital Headquarters."

Bingbing was surprised, then she nodded obediently. "Good!" The woman rushed out to prepare Xiao Mingyui's equipment.

Not long ago, Xiao Mingyui was now ready with clothes that were commonly used if he wanted to train with his late father or just go to the army headquarters. The woman's hair was no longer carried, now tied simple but still using a white jade hair skewer inherited from her mother. His maroon-red clothes then blending in black really added an unusual impression on him.

"Your majesty." Bingbing appeared in clothes that were not much different, the woman was indeed not very good at martial arts, but at least she could master the basics. The woman handed over the sword that Xiao Mingyui used to use.

Xiao Mingyui took out his sword, a sword specially made by his late father. Every inch of the Capital City and small to large items, all of them contained the memories of both of his parents. The sword with the engraving of the Phoenix bird on the sword body was a witness to how much Xiao Mingyui struggled to master his father's martial teachings which were beyond reason.

"Your majesty." Da Xuan suddenly appeared, the woman would always be present whenever Xiao Mingyui wore battle clothes.

"Let go now." Xiao Mingyui nodded briefly, then quickly climbed onto the horse and spurred his horse through the Xiao Wangfu gate.

Xiao Mingyui's horse led in front, while Bingbing and Da Xuan followed closely behind. All eyes were on him, Xiao Mingyui kept speeding through the crowd of the Capital without caring for their thousands of gazes.

Arriving at the headquarters, a large door made of steel was opened wide by the guards for him. The entire army bowed deeply each time it saw Xiao Mingyui.

Xiao Mingyui got off his horse, yet he had time to enter Xiao Xiangqing's room, Gu Lingchu appeared and stopped his steps.

"Greetings, your honor."

"Where is Xiangqing?" xiao Mingyui asked, his usual cold eyes staring at Gu Lingchu.

Gu Lingchu smiled faintly, then further deepened his bending position. "I'm sorry, your honor. But the Prince advised against receiving guests-"

Xiao Mingyui walked past Gu Lingchu just like that as he said, "I'm not a guest, I'm his Jiejie."

"Master Gu!" Bingbing snorted as she whispered a snap towards Gu Lingchu.

Gu Lingchu scratched the back of his neck, nor did he know what to do other than obey the orders of his superiors even though Xiao Mingyui was similarly sinister.

Da Xuan ignored Gu Lingchu and Bingbing, the woman was now standing right in front of the door of Xiao Xiangqing's room to stand guard as Xiao Mingyui was inside.

Meanwhile Xiao Mingyui who was already inside was now clashing hot and cold gazes with her sister.

"What the fuck?" xiao Xiangqing asked, his forehead folded deeply, as if he was not happy for his brother to squeeze in.

Xiao Mingyui took a sitting position on the seat that was inside quietly. "I'm the one who has to ask that question. What the fuck is all this? You avoid your Jiejie at all times like an enemy."

Xiao Xiangqing sighed, the handsome face of the man looked extremely tired. Xiao Xiangqing leaned back in his chair, then massaged his forehead slowly. "I'm not-"

"You yes. You obviously avoid me. What's up?"

"No one, Jiejie."

"Oh my God, there really isn't!"

Xiao Mingyui looked at her sister's annoyance, the coldness in her eyes growing more and more visible. The woman stood up and approached, then pulled the sword from her waist and stuck it on Xiao Xiangqing's desk. "Xiangqing!!"

Xiao Xiangqing was startled, the man spontaneously stood up to take some distance with his brother's sword. "Hey! All right, I'm honest! I wasn't so happy when I heard that Jiejie threw himself in a river full of crocodiles and accidentally injured his own leg to get the Crown Prince!"

Xiao Mingyui was stunned, then he again pulled out his sword and stored it away again. The coldness in Xiao Mingyui's eyes slowly diminished, then asked, "Only that?"

Xiao Xiangqing widened his eyes and repeated Xiao Mingyui's words. "That's all?!"

Xiao Mingyui let out a thin sigh, then returned to his original seat while folding both hands. The woman looked at her sister inside. "Listen, Xiangqing. I'd like to ask. If you don't want me to do all that, do you have another better solution? Do you have a better quality plan? What do you have?"

Xiao Xiangqing was silent. To be honest he did not have any plans to get the Crown Prince to join him, since it was indeed from the very beginning that he and the Crown Prince had a not so good relationship. But, seeing her brother doing such things even seemed to be teasing the Crown Prince like a lowly woman made her blood boil. He would rather fight to the death than have to let his sister take such a path.

Seeing his sister being silent for quite a while with a gloomy look on her face, Xiao Mingyui immediately stood up and walked over to Xiao Xiangqing again. The woman stopped right beside her sister and hugged Xiao Xiangqing tightly.

"I know it's hard for you to take Fu qin's place all of a sudden, but .. You're not alone, Xiangqing. If you can't trust the officials, then you can trust this brother of yours. Forget all your pride, prestige, fear, hate, and anger for now. No matter the judgement of others whether it is good or bad, that is obviously all this we do to defend our Xiao Wangfu, our home. Understood?"

Xiao Xiangqing was silent in his brother's arms, the man's heart felt extremely heavy. He never thought that the great chaos would come destroying his happy life.

"Xiangqing, do you remember the message Fu qin and Mu qin first?" xiao Mingyui asked, his eyes staring at Xiao Xiangqing's wide open window and displaying a bright blue sky with extreme coldness.

Xiao Xiangqing only nodded briefly, his gaze looking extremely sad and angry.

Xiao Mingyui smiled, then said, "Mendiang Fu qin advised, if the enemy is unable to make a good retreat, then instantly remove his head. While the late Mu qin advised, if the enemy can not we make a retreat properly, then play with the contents of his head."

Xiao Xiangqing slowly raised his head to stare at Xiao Mingyui, then retracted his gaze by staring at the empty object.

"Jiegk." Xiao Xiangqing suddenly called out to Xiao Mingyui.

Xiao Mingyui raised her left eyebrow briefly, then took off her embrace. "Yes?"

Xiao Xiangqing smiled faintly, then said, "What if we combine the two messages into one?"

Xiao Mingyui was stunned, then nodded briefly. "certain."

Meanwhile, in another place, Xiao Jiwang was sitting at his desk with a serious look. In front of him now stood General Shu and the Son of Minister Wu who will soon replace his father as host. Arguably, the man was Xiao Jiwang's maternal cousin.

"Your highness, it's very likely that the Fang family's side will make a move tonight. Given the condition of the party would definitely be very crowded, making them have a chance to make a troublemaker." General Shu expressed his opinion, he was very confident in this opinion of his.

Today they gathered to discuss the Fang family, as it was likely that they would be able to move on tonight.

"But it seems like tonight they are not harassing the Crown Prince," Wu Lang said, making General Shu look at him confused.

The understanding Xiao Jiwang smiled faintly, yet he did not say anything.

"Then who?" ask General Shu.

Wu Lang looked at Xiao Jiwang, then replied, "Daughter Xiao Mingyui, remembering her name was recently aggressively juxtaposed with the Crown Prince. And again, wasn't the Fang family also targeting Xiao Wangfu's army secretly?"

General Shu fell silent, his head nodding briefly in agreement.

Xiao Jiwang deepened his smile, and his gaze cooled. "We'll see tonight, about what role the Fang family has assigned us. Either the role as a spectator or a performer?"