Ten years of dormancy: Starting as a martial arts master at the pinnacle

After giving Li Changsheng instructions, the two brothers went their separate ways.

Logically, Li Changqing should have personally visited the old nobles in Kyoto.

But he didn't do that.

His appearance versus Li Changsheng's carries entirely different implications. Li Changqing represents not only himself, but also the Qin Prince's Mansion.

He appeared at the homes of those nobles and chatted happily with them.

What will those nobles think in the future?

Even if they didn't intend to participate in the struggle for the throne, their close relationship with Li Changqing would naturally lead them to favor the Prince of Qin's mansion.

Needless to say, the Qin Prince's Mansion already had a high chance of winning.

Once all the nobles in the court become supporters of the Prince of Qin's household, the struggle for the throne will become a joke. From the perspective of the nobles themselves, this will also be a huge challenge.

Whether they can maintain neutrality in the future is hard to say.

After all, everything is difficult at the beginning, and once you start, there will be endless troubles.

Li Changqing, as a member of the Great Zhou royal family, is the future regent and the underground emperor.

He is naturally unwilling to break rules that are in his favor.

Li Changqing prepared generous gifts and personally went to the Duke of Qi's residence.

Upon receiving the news in the palace, Li Zheng burst out laughing: "I thought that kid was a romantic like his father. It seems that's not the case; he just doesn't want to waste time on romantic entanglements."

"That's good! Whether it's for Qing'er or for the Great Zhou royal family..."

Inside the Duke of Qi's mansion.

Upon receiving the news, the Duke of Qi went directly to the main gate.

"I was unaware of the arrival of the Prince of Qinghe. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

The current Duke of Qi is only in his early forties, in the prime of his life.

Li Changqing could easily judge his strength from the aura emanating from him.

The Realm of Freedom.

Clearly, this Duke of Qi thought the same way as the King of Qin: he did not intend to go any further before consolidating his foundation.

They all have higher aspirations and do not intend to stay at the level of Great Freedom, but rather want to become a half-step Supreme!

To become the true player in this world.

Behind the Duke of Qi, besides his sons and his younger brother, were four girls.

Their ages range from fourteen or fifteen to seventeen or eighteen.

Li Changqing's gaze swept over the girls, and he noticed that several of them were secretly sizing him up.

Clearly, the girls understood why they were there.

The evil old society.

Li Changqing turned his gaze back to the Duke of Qi.

"These young ladies are all exceptionally beautiful; I wonder if any of them are the Duke's legitimate daughters?"

"Your Highness, both of these women are my legitimate daughters. Especially her, this is my eldest legitimate daughter, Consort Qi. The other two are my own daughters."

There are no side branches, no external relatives.

All four were the daughters of the Duke of Qi, two of whom were his legitimate daughters.

The status of these two is basically equivalent to that of princesses in the Great Zhou royal family.

Even if the King of Qin ascends the throne in the future.

Apart from Li Changqing's eldest sister, Princess Chang Le, Li Changqing's other two sisters were of far lower status than the two in front of him.

Such a person was actually arranged by the Duke of Qi's mansion, which had the backing of the supreme ruler, to be his concubine.

Li Changqing saw desire in the eyes of the Duke of Qi.

This Duke of Qi not only understands the significance of the World Society, but he's also shameless!

In order to get the Duke of Qi's family involved and get a share of the profits, he actually planned to make his eldest daughter a concubine.

He didn't even think about fighting for his eldest daughter.

"Miss Qi, you are exceptionally beautiful. Are you willing to accept the arranged marriage by your family? If you are not willing, just tell me, and I will make the decision for you. I dare not say anything else, but I can guarantee that, apart from the patriarch, no one in the Qi State Duke's Mansion will dare to go against your wishes or force you to do something you do not want to do."

Right at the gate of the Duke of Qi's mansion, Li Changqing acted as if he didn't take anyone in the Duke of Qi's mansion seriously at all.

Even the King of Qin and the Crown Prince would never dare to say such things, let alone have such an arrogant attitude.

This is the Duke of Qi's mansion, as described by the Emperor of the Great Zhou, which represents the status of the Vice Emperor of the Great Zhou.

The young masters of the Duke of Qi's mansion already showed anger on their faces.

Even if Li Changqing is the Prince of Qinghe, he has no right to be so presumptuous in the Duke of Qi's mansion.

Qi Mingfei had a face that symbolized peace and prosperity; she was the kind of exceptionally beautiful woman.

She looked up at Li Changqing and suddenly laughed: "If it were before meeting Your Highness, I would have been somewhat unwilling."

As the eldest daughter of the Duke of Qi's family, she was already qualified to marry the future crown prince and become his consort.

Why should I become a concubine to a prince?

Even if the concubine was a wife recognized by the royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and was one of the three wives.

But in the eyes of the world, wasn't she still just a concubine?

"But now, having met Your Highness in person, I am willing."

Even as a concubine?

Li Changqing had not yet met the others.

But he was certain that even if eight Luo Qingqings were tied together, they would still be no match for Qi Mingfei.

This woman was not raised as a girl from the beginning; she should be one of the heirs of the Duke of Qi's mansion.

"This humble woman is willing."

Qi Mingfei's bright smile seemed to become even more radiant.

Li Changqing instinctively wanted to refuse, and he looked at the other three women.

Unsurprisingly.

Even though Li Changqing was more handsome than they had expected, and his status seemed much higher.

As daughters of the Duke of Qi, they were unwilling to become concubines.

Their glances at their eldest sister were tinged with a mixture of confusion and pity.

I wonder what my eldest sister, who is always as beautiful as the moon in the sky, is thinking?

Li Changqing secretly shook his head. Qi Mingfei didn't want to marry him at all; she wanted shares in the World Society.

It seems that simply giving dividends won't be enough; they'll also have to relinquish some management control.

Li Changqing could also refuse.

Since the Duke of Qi's mansion has already recognized the value of the Heaven and Earth Society, and they can't get it from Li Changqing, they will definitely think of other ways.

Copying, suppression, exclusion, competition...

Sometimes, those in positions of power are also helpless.

"I have been appointed by my grandfather, the Emperor, as the Grand Marshal of the Northern Frontier. Although our Great Zhou has no shortage of elite troops and strong generals, we still lack many martial arts masters. I wonder if Your Excellency, the Duke, could lend a helping hand?"

Li Changqing didn't even want to go to the mansion for tea anymore.

For the first time in his life, he felt so helpless, as if he were just a heartless tool in an arranged marriage.

"If Your Highness requires any assistance, the Duke of Qi's mansion will certainly provide full support. Two Great Free Spirits, eight Free Spirits, and fifty Grandmasters and Grandmasters—I wonder if Your Highness is satisfied?"

As expected of the Duke of Qi's mansion, their move left Li Changqing speechless!

If they cannot gain the support of the Duke of Qi's mansion, they will instead become adversaries of it.

The plans of the World Society will certainly not be smooth sailing.

"Thank you very much, Your Highness. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave!"

Li Changqing didn't even enter the inner courtyard of the Duke of Qi's mansion. He just chatted for a few words inside the gate before turning around and leaving.

……