World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 946 - 440: Abandon Suo Lun? Zhi Li’s suicide!_2

Chapter 946: 440: Abandon Suo Lun? Zhi Li’s suicide!_2

Suddenly, Zhuang Zhixuan took a long breath and felt that her entire back was already soaked with sweat.

"Let’s go back, it’s getting late, time to sleep," Suo Lun said.

"Yes," Zhuang Zhixuan replied.

...

Zhi Yan kissed Suo Lun’s face and said, "Husband, what do you think Yuanyuan means?"

Suo Lun let his breathing settle and replied, "She has business in the royal city. The reason she came to our house to take Zhuang Zhixuan away was simply by the way."

Zhi Yan asked, "Then what business does she have in the royal city?"

Suo Lun pondered for a moment, then shook his head, not knowing.

But no matter what the four secret continents are up to, it cannot affect Suo Lun’s reorganization of the court.

Now that Zhi Li is finished, Suo Lun has become the ruler of the Rage Wave Kingdom.

This means all the investments of the four secret continents in the Rage Wave Kingdom have gone down the drain, so they will definitely make a move.

However, because the previous generations of kings were quite competent, the Dragon Temple and the four secret continents’ infiltration into the Rage Wave Kingdom weren’t that severe. They could cause some sabotage, but it was impossible for them to manipulate the Rage Wave Kingdom’s political situation.

In the Rage Wave Kingdom, only BaiHuo City was completely controlled by the Dragon Temple. The rest of the vassals were fence-sitters who would swing whichever way the wind blew, depending on who held more power.

"My husband..." Zhiyan Princess lifted her head and said earnestly, "Do we really need to be at such a standoff with the Dragon Temple?"

Suo Lun knew she was referring to Marquis FuE’s matter.

Last night, Fu Lingxi came to Suo Lun to plead for mercy, which was considered a half-extended olive branch from the Dragon Temple.

If Suo Lun took the easy way out and released Marquis FuE, then the relationship with the Dragon Temple could naturally be eased.

But now, whether it was Zhi Yan or Suo Lun himself, they had completely cut off any hope of reconciliation with the Dragon Temple and were in an absolute cold war.

Suo Lun said, "Don’t worry, now is not the time to turn against the Dragon Temple. I know what I’m doing. But remember, unity through struggle leads to survival, but unity through compromise will perish."

Although using the word ’unity’ with the Dragon Temple wasn’t quite appropriate, the principle was the same.

Suo Lun continued, "As soon as we give in a little, the Dragon Temple will certainly press us step by step. Zhi Li and the Dragon Temple have signed countless unequal treaties, like allowing the Sanctuary Legion to expand fourfold, reaching a hundred thousand strong. And specifically carving out half a province as a special administrative region for the Dragon Temple. What do we do when the Dragon Temple demands we honor these treaties?"

Princess Zhi Yan nodded and said, "Alright, let’s follow your plan, let’s go to sleep."

...

Because Zhuang Zhixuan and Gao Yin protected her, Zhi Yan did not accompany him to the royal palace and instead stayed in the Princess Mansion.

This was also done to dispel rumors about the royal family intending to use and then discard Suo Lun once he was no longer needed.

Two hours after Suo Lun left, a female Samurai entered to report that Priest Yan Ping from the Dragon Temple had come to visit.

Zhi Yan thought at the moment Ashi Liren was in the Princess Mansion, and Yan Ping was once Ashi Liren’s husband. Could he have come to see his so-called ex-wife?

Unexpectedly, Priest Yan Ping actually came to visit Zhi Yan herself, and he did so quite openly.

"Yan Ping pays his respects to Zhiyan, Your Highness," Yan Ping greeted meticulously.

He was genuinely ordinary-looking, but his eyes brimmed with wisdom and breadth of knowledge.

His face, his temperament, were truly like that of fine jade, filled with warmth and affability, making one feel as if bathed in the breeze of spring.

If it were not for him showing a fierce and wicked face in the Liren Mansion previously, anyone might think he was a refined gentleman.

He and Fu Lingxi were known as the rising stars of the Dragon Temple.

He was only in his thirties but had already become one of the sixteen Priests of the Dragon Temple, and his future was immeasurable. Even ascending to the position of Holy Priest of the Rage Wave Kingdom was not out of the question.

In this relatively peaceful era, he infiltrated the Ashi Clan for over a decade, exposing Ashi Luo, the Hell Knight, which was a tremendous merit.

"Please, take a seat!" Zhi Yan said.

Yan Ping sat down respectfully opposite Zhi Yan and said, "Zhi Li committed heinous crimes, and with Your Highness succeeding to the throne, there is no suspense. Congratulations, Your Highness."

"Thank you," Princess Zhi Yan replied.

Yan Ping said, "Holy Priest Ge Li has returned from the Yanjing Holy Temple, and he also brought greetings from Your Excellency Ning Er."

Holy Priest Ning Er, who was once Princess Zhi Yan’s mentor.

"Thank you," Zhi Yan said.

Yan Ping continued, "We can now clearly feel that Lord Suo Lun, the Regent Duke of your country, bears a distinct hostility towards our Dragon Temple. This is very detrimental to the relationship between us. What do you think?"

Zhi Yan said, "Both I and my husband, Lord Suo Lun, value our relationship with the Dragon Temple very much."

Yan Ping said, "However, Lord Suo Lun actually arrested Marquis FuE and subjected him to inhuman torture, behavior that is very unwise and infuriating. What do you think?"

Zhi Yan said, "But Marquis FuE indeed committed unforgivable crimes."

Yan Ping narrowed his eyes and said, "Your Highness, there’s one thing you cannot ignore. After your marriage to Lord Suo Lun, His Majesty the King will abdicate immediately, and you will ascend to the throne at once. But with such a strained relationship with the Dragon Temple, who will perform your coronation?"

Princess Zhi Yan frowned.

What did Yan Ping mean by this? Was the Dragon Temple using the coronation as a threat?

Yan Ping continued, "For thousands of years, without the Dragon Temple’s coronation, it has meant no divine dragon’s blessing, implying that the kingship is illegitimate and unrecognized. Surely you wouldn’t want to see that outcome, Your Highness?"