Huang'er's mind was exceptionally keen. Though she had remained at the Young Master's Manor without setting foot outside, her grasp of the situation in the Glazed Glass Royal Capital was remarkably precise.
She had analyzed every detail with thoroughness, and the myriad complexities of the capital were laid out before Jiang Chen in her orderly, methodical narration.
After hearing Huang'er's report, the furrow on Jiang Chen's brow only deepened.
"No wonder there's a pill shop suddenly appearing right at the entrance to Taiyuan Pavilion. This was clearly aimed squarely at Taiyuan Pavilion — a provocative probe, nothing less."
A sudden sense of clarity washed over Jiang Chen.
He felt certain that even if the pill shop hadn't been directly ordered by the Asura Great Emperor, it was undoubtedly closely connected to him.
"Brother Chen, this matter is Huang'er's fault. Taiyuan Pavilion had been sending distress calls to the Young Master's Manor for some time. Pill King Bu, Pill King Lü Feng, Lin Yanyu, and Mu Gaoqi all requested permission to go down the mountain to aid Taiyuan Pavilion. But Huang'er took it upon herself to keep them all here at the Young Master's Manor, not allowing them to leave even a single step."
Huang'er appeared delicate and gentle by nature, but when she took charge, she possessed a quiet authority that left no room for anyone to question her decisions.
Pill King Lü Feng and Pill King Bu were both defiant, unruly individuals, yet before Huang'er, they didn't dare cause a ruckus.
When Huang'er refused to let them leave the mountain, each of them grumbled inwardly but ultimately complied, remaining docilely within the Young Master's Manor.
Jiang Chen knew that if Huang'er had made this decision, there had to be a good reason behind it.
"Huang'er — were you worried there might be some kind of trap behind all this?"
Huang'er didn't deny it. She nodded. "Brother Chen, ever since the rumor of the Peacock Great Emperor's death spread, the situation in the Glazed Glass Royal Capital has become incredibly tangled and uncertain. Everything that has happened since seems to be interlocking links in a chain, all closely connected. So Taiyuan Pavilion's distress calls and the sudden, unexplained appearance of those pill shops — I believe they are all probing maneuvers, perhaps even attempts to lure us out of hiding… Rather than playing into the enemy's rhythm and letting them lead us by the nose, we're better off standing firm and letting the situation develop on its own."
It had to be said, though Huang'er was young, she possessed extraordinary composure. At critical moments, she kept her head cool and didn't rush in with a hot temper the way Pill King Lü Feng and the others had.
If someone dared open a pill shop right next to Taiyuan Pavilion — dared to challenge them head-on, as if slapping them across the face — they clearly had confidence to back it up.
Jiang Chen had seen firsthand the Pill Dao expertise of Grand Pill King Hong. In terms of raw Pill Dao ability, Grand Pill King Hong was absolutely not inferior to Pill King Lü Feng or the others.
Mu Gaoqi and Lin Yanyu were both gifted beyond the ordinary, but they were still young. Given time, they would certainly surpass Grand Pill King Hong's achievements.
But for now, not a single one of them was capable of matching Grand Pill King Hong in a contest of alchemy.
Moreover, Grand Pill King Hong was likely nothing more than one pawn in a larger game. It was entirely possible that more moves were in the works, that even more formidable figures lay hidden in the shadows.
After weighing every angle, Huang'er had resolutely decided to send no one to Taiyuan Pavilion's aid.
Not even Peerless Great Emperor, Lady Yun, or the Geng brothers were permitted to leave the Young Master's Manor. Everyone was to stay put.
Huang'er was Jiang Chen's dao companion, and she herself was outstanding in both talent and bearing. In daily life, she conducted herself with poise and generosity, earning everyone's respect and trust.
Because of this, Peerless Great Emperor was the first to publicly voice his support for her decision.
When even a figure of Peerless Great Emperor's stature stood behind Huang'er without hesitation, what ground did anyone else have to object?
Besides, no one believed themselves to be smarter than Miss Huang'er.
Hadn't the Young Master entrusted all affairs of the Young Master's Manor to Miss Huang'er before he left? What did that signify?
It showed how highly the Young Master valued her.
Miss Huang'er represented the Young Master himself. Her will was his will.
Huang'er hadn't pulled rank or leveraged authority to coerce anyone. Instead, she had patiently explained to everyone, analyzing the situation outside, walking through every possible scenario.
In the end, she won them all over, and everyone came to accept her judgment.
It had to be said — in terms of sheer personal charisma, Huang'er possessed a natural advantage.
Listening to Huang'er's impeccable analysis, Jiang Chen couldn't help but praise her. "Standing firm and letting the situation unfold — exactly right. That's precisely what should be done! With you here, Huang'er, I can rest easy."
Huang'er smiled softly.
Receiving her beloved's approval made all the time and effort she had invested more than worthwhile. The praise itself wasn't what mattered most — it was knowing that her dedication had been recognized.
"Brother Chen, all Huang'er can do are small things. The situation in the Glazed Glass Royal Capital right now is incredibly delicate. The slightest gust of wind or stirring of grass could trigger an earthquake. Under circumstances like these, I'm afraid there will have to be a decisive break before anything can be resolved. Otherwise, this situation will never become clear."
"A decisive break?" Jiang Chen's tone carried a note of complexity. "Does this mean the Glazed Glass Royal Capital is ultimately going to be consumed by internal strife no matter what?"
There was a trace of frustration in his voice, but the truth was, he had always known. The Glazed Glass Royal Capital had long harbored this enormous underlying conflict.
This conflict could even be said to have been nurtured by the Peacock Great Emperor himself.