Chapter 83: To Repel the Foreign, First Pacify the Internal

"I do not wish to follow the path laid out by others, but I have no choice but to act according to Mr. Chu's arrangements. Although it is suffocating, I can still accept it willingly. Mr. Chu, with your commanding presence, even without showing yourself, you have created a lofty identity for yourself with just your own efforts. Furthermore, through various strategies, you have clearly demonstrated your ambition to not be subordinate to anyone, making it impossible for me to force you! I can only discuss matters of state and military affairs with you as a partner!"

Tie Butian smiled helplessly, gently shaking his head. "Mr. Chu, you have created such a situation all by yourself, with such ingenious planning, precise calculations, and seasoned control, I am truly in awe! The term 'talent' is well-deserved by Mr. Chu."

Chu Yang narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Regarding such praise, I always accept it without hesitation, the more the better."

The negotiation time had passed, and Tie Butian had already made concessions. Chu Yang naturally wanted to ease the tension and relax a bit.

Tie Butian was taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh, quickly regaining composure, covering her mouth with her hand, and then subtly wiping the corner of her mouth, smiling warmly. "Mr. Chu is truly witty."

At this moment, Chu Yang was suddenly filled with dread, almost ready to flee in panic!

Prince! What is a prince? Can a woman be a prince? That's a princess, right?

But Tie Butian was clearly a man, yet at this moment, he displayed a completely feminine demeanor! That smile, the glint in his eyes... Chu Yang's eyes widened, and his mouth twitched.

Heaven!

You want me to reverse fate and history, but to work with a hermaphrodite?

Chu Yang felt his heart constrict, and he finally understood: no wonder this guy practices the Ice Heart Thorough Jade Bone Divine Skill. Such a demeanor, if not for that... it would be a waste...

When Tie Butian, as if to cover up, wiped his mouth and then resumed his regal demeanor, Chu Yang felt his hair stand on end, and the world seemed to spin.

"Mr. Chu? Mr. Chu?" Tie Butian saw that he was distracted and asked.

"Uh... uh..." Chu Yang felt cold sweat trickle down his forehead; thinking about having to work with this hermaphrodite for at least two years, Chu Yang suddenly felt a bleak future and a tragic life...

"Mr. Chu, given the current state of Tielu, if Mr. Chu were to take charge, where would you start?" Tie Butian smiled, seemingly unaware of Chu Yang's emotional changes, and asked more composedly.

"Hmm, this, this... I need to think about it first." Chu Yang put his hand to his forehead, pretending to think. He wasn't really thinking; the scene just now was too shocking.

"To repel the foreign, first pacify the internal." Chu Yang forcibly activated the Nine Tribulations Nine Heavens Divine Skill, suppressing his turbulent thoughts.

To repel the foreign, one must first pacify the internal... Tie Butian couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. How familiar this phrase was! The first time he heard it, the Tielu imperial court underwent a great change; the second time, three million soldiers became bones on the battlefield; the third time, in the imperial court, the royal uncle, Tie Longcheng, raised the butcher's knife, culling the entire court, causing rivers of blood to flow!

Now, Chu Yang has come here, and his first proposal is still this phrase.

Could it be, another storm of blood and wind?

"That's a good point." Tie Butian smiled. "But the problem is... the external enemies are in the open, while the internal enemies are in the shadows."

"It's just a matter of screening." Chu Yang smiled confidently.

"What if I entrust this matter to Mr. Chu?" Tie Butian smiled, formally proposing the collaboration.

"Not enough!" Chu Yang shook his head.

"Not enough?"

"Have you heard that His Majesty founded the Heaven Mending Pavilion?" Chu Yang asked politely, then rolled his eyes and said coolly, "Since we are to cooperate, we should trust each other. I want the Heaven Mending Pavilion!"

Tie Butian looked at him coldly, his gaze icy and unmoving for a long time.

After a long while, Tie Butian stood up, hands behind his back, and slowly walked to the railing of the pavilion, looking at the lake and the scenery, silent for a long time. A gentle breeze blew, making his white cloak flutter.

"Before I was eleven, I was just a child; my father was loving, and my mother was gentle; I had six older sisters, and everyone treated me like a treasure. I was carefree, knowing only that the world was beautiful." Tie Butian's back was to Chu Yang, his eyes misty, but his voice remained calm.

"Since my birth, my father was always melancholy and kept my existence a secret. I didn't know why at the time."

"That year, my father, in golden armor and helmet, personally led the charge! In my eyes, my father was like a god of war, invincible! But, in just half a year, the sky suddenly collapsed! My father returned, but he was carried back, barely alive."

"My mother went to attend to him, but my father suddenly went mad and stabbed her to death! He killed the woman he loved the most!" Two tears slowly rolled down Tie Butian's cheeks.

Chu Yang's body trembled, and he couldn't help but look up. He was also taken aback by this. Why did the Tielu emperor kill his own wife?

"Then, my father changed completely, issuing orders to execute my six sisters and their husbands' families! He also ordered my second uncle to lead the battle-hardened army to attack the palace, killing everyone inside! Blood flowed in the capital, and everyone knew that my second uncle was rebelling, but later they found out it wasn't."

"Then my father held my hand and said only one sentence before falling into a coma." Tie Butian's body was straight, his voice low and trembling, firm yet painful. "From now on, you are called Tie Butian! The sky of Tielu has already collapsed, and I hope you can mend it. Remember, to be a ruler, you must be ruthless! You must be able to kill your enemies and also be able to kill yourself!"

"Having said that, my father grabbed my second uncle's hand and said, 'It's yours.' Then my father fell into a coma..."

Chu Yang frowned, silent, but his mind was racing. Tie Butian's words were vague, but one thing was certain: when the Tielu emperor killed his wife and daughters, he was fully conscious! Even a tiger does not eat its own cubs; why did he do this?

Chu Yang vaguely felt that there seemed to be a great secret here!

Tie Butian took a deep breath. "I hate my father, hate him for killing all my family! But my second uncle was very strict with me. He announced to the world that I was the crown prince of Tielu, and when I grew up, I would be the ruler of Tielu. From then on, my second uncle hired countless teachers to teach me. Every day, at least ten teachers waited for me, and I only slept for one and a half hours. Even while eating and drinking, someone would be lecturing me. If I forgot, my second uncle would beat me severely. In a year, out of 365 days, I had at least 300 days where my body was bruised and swollen. My second uncle's strictness exceeded that of any strict teacher in the world!"

Tie Butian said softly, "I often went to see my father. Sometimes he would be lucid, but when he was lucid, he would try to commit suicide, and when stopped, he would cry silently. He would often cry over the memorial tablets of my mother and sisters, often fainting from crying, and his health deteriorated over time..."