Then let them offer their loyalty!

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Moreover, there's a high probability that after they've been completely exploited, they'll continue to demand more benefits.

Therefore, for Qiu Tu, beauty is an "add-on," not a bargaining chip in the transaction.

Thinking this, Princess Xi took a deep breath. Then she continued to analyze the matter.

The entire Sixth Sanctuary is currently caught in the crossfire of three forces. Princess Xi, as the weakest party, has always been struggling to survive in the cracks.

Therefore, she had to be careful, cautious, and even more cautious with every step she took.

This forces her to think things through to the maximum, not just focusing on the first layer...

'Was this intelligence a coincidence? Or was it deliberately leaked to me by the Kou family or Qiu Tu?'

'If the Kou family leaked this to me, it's most likely an attempt to sow discord...'

'But if it's Qiu Tu, then he's likely holding out for a higher price, wanting me to add more shares...'

Thinking this, Princess Xi's azure eyes became much deeper.

After a moment, as if making a decision, she picked up her special communicator and dialed a number...

......

When Qiu Tu received the call from Princess Xi, he had just finished settling Tang Feifei and Zhao Ji in.

That's right, the protector Qiu Tu found for Tang Feifei was Zhao Ji.

After all, as a goddess descended to earth, Zhao Ji has proven her power multiple times. And in the Northwest region, her power is overwhelmingly absolute!

Therefore, with her protecting Tang Feifei, Qiu Tu can rest assured.

As for how to persuade Zhao Ji to come and help?

It's very simple, just cater to their preferences.

For a powerful evil goddess like Zeki, ordinary treasures no longer have the power to move her. Only things that can pique her interest can persuade her.

Fortunately... Tang Feifei does possess something that Zhao Ji is interested in—absolute perception.

When Qiu Tu told Zhao Ji about Tang Feifei's awakening of "absolute perception," Zhao Ji's first reaction was to start counting down "three."

She probably thought Qiu Tu was flirting with her again.

Finally, it was only after Qiu Tu guaranteed La Ri Luo's sex life that Zhao Ji finally believed him.

So, Qiu Tu took the opportunity to invite Zhao Ji to meet Tang Feifei and ask her for some guidance.

Zhao Ji was clearly also interested in Tang Feifei, so she came too.

As a result... once she arrived, she couldn't leave. Qiu Tu explained that Tang Feifei was going to advance, and then asked Zhao Ji to protect Tang Feifei.

After hearing Qiu Tu's increasingly audacious request, Zhao Ji's expression became noticeably colder.

However, although she completely ignored Qiu Tu, she didn't leave. Instead, she sat cross-legged a short distance away and began cultivating silently, which was clearly a tacit approval...

Therefore, Qiu Tu quickly arranged for Tang Feifei to make a breakthrough.

It was at this moment that Qiu Tu received a call from Princess Xi.

He gestured to Tang Feifei that she could begin her advancement, then Qiu Tu flew to the side and answered the phone.

As soon as the call connected, Qiu Tu heard the somewhat authoritative yet reserved voice of Princess Xi, "Lord Qiu."

Qiu Tu responded and then asked, "Is there something you need from the Princess?"

Princess Xi hummed in agreement, then said meaningfully, "There is something, and it's an important one. I'm worried that if it's not handled properly, it might affect our cooperative relationship."

"So, I wanted to talk to you in advance."

Before receiving the call, Qiu Tu hadn't even considered the possibility that the Kou family had contacted him.

However, upon hearing what Princess Xi said, he immediately felt a chill and then frowned.

'Does Princess Xi know about the Kou family contacting me?'

As a politically astute individual, Qiu Tu's first reaction was the same as Princess Xi's: to ponder whether the information was deliberately leaked by the Kou family or obtained unintentionally by Princess Xi...

Just as he was thinking this, Princess Xi slowly spoke up, "The Kou family contacted me secretly today. They want to negotiate with me to end the war at the 6th Sanctuary."

Qiu Tu:? ? ?

hiss....

Over the years, what kind of tricks hasn't Qiu Tu seen?

He had never seen this kind of operation before.

Princess Xi's words nearly caused Qiu Tu's CPU to explode. His brain raced, analyzing the information conveyed in the message and its veracity...

So he didn't speak easily, but instead gave a thoughtful "Oh?" to show his interest.

Seeing this, Princess Xi said with a serious expression, "There are only interests in the political arena."

"Even if we've already had a major falling out, we'll still cooperate if we find that the benefits of making peace outweigh the benefits of continuing the war."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu countered, "So... do you think the benefits of making peace now outweigh the benefits of going to war?"

Princess Xi gave a faint "hmm".

She said, "Kou Xuan must have guessed that you were supporting me."

"He doesn't have the confidence to defeat you, nor does he want you to interfere in the affairs of the Sixth Shelter."

"Therefore, he hoped to nip the problem in the bud: to reconcile directly with the royalists and jointly govern the 6th Sanctuary again."

"His condition was that the Crown Prince Kang would continue to be a figurehead, but as the Crown Prince's mother, I could rule from behind the curtain and serve as the number one figure in the sanctuary."

"He served as the Chief Prime Minister, which is responsible for all matters, big and small, at the No. 6 shelter."

“I have veto power over all matters. But I have no power over personnel or finances. The Sixth Sanctuary will allocate special funds to the royal family to ensure their livelihood.”

At this point, Princess Xi paused, then concluded, "Actually... this relationship is similar to that between Prince Kang and the Kou family after Prince Kang fell seriously ill."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu frowned slightly.

To be honest, what Princess Xi said was very true; the reasons and conditions for the negotiations between the Kou family and the royalists were logical; in fact, it did seem like something Kou Xuan would do. But Qiu Tu... didn't believe a word of it.

Politics is indeed all about self-interest. But... reputation and righteousness are equally important.

Unless they are truly driven to a dead end, it will be very difficult for the Kou family and the royalists to reconcile.

Because they all find it difficult to explain to the outside world why they would forgive the other party for the crime of murdering the monarch/husband.

If this problem isn't solved, it's like leaving a huge time bomb beneath Shelter 6.

However! The possibility mentioned by Princess Xi also served as a reminder to Qiu Tu.

He cannot oppress Princess Xi and the Kou family indefinitely.

If things get really desperate, it would be much better for the two sides to reach a settlement and make peace than to be pressured by Qiu Tu. In that case, Qiu Tu would lose the opportunity to intervene in the 6th Sanctuary.

Among them, the attitude of Princess Xi, who is a royalist, is of paramount importance.

The reason why the Kou family wanted to win over Qiu Tu was because "Princess Xi had Qiu Tu's support."

Therefore, once Qiu Tu agrees to cooperate with the Kou family, and Princess Xi realizes she has no chance of winning and directly sides with the Kou family... then the Kou family will definitely be unwilling to give up so many benefits to Qiu Tu in exchange for support.

This is practically a cyclical, mutually restraining triangle; it requires a game-like mentality from all three parties involved...

Thinking this, a smile appeared on Qiu Tu's face.

He sensed that Princess Xi was quite something...

After learning that the Kou family had contacted her, she did not expose the matter. Instead, she cleverly used this method to remind and warn Qiu Tu that she also had the ability to overturn the table.

'That's interesting...that's interesting...'

Thinking this, Qiu Tu turned his head slightly, and then smiled and said, "Your Highness, there is something I also need to discuss with you."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Princess Xi on the other end of the phone put on an almost superb acting performance, saying "Oh?" and asking, "What is it?"

Qiu Tu didn't expose him, and said calmly, "The Kou family also came to see me."

As he spoke, Qiu Tu briefly explained his conversation with Su Wanqing to Princess Xi.

Upon hearing this, Princess Xi on the other end of the phone was "furious," and then angrily retorted, "This is outrageous! Aren't they deliberately trying to sow discord between us?!"

Hearing Princess Xi's words, Qiu Tu also chimed in, "Yes. I also think this is an attempt to sow discord."

"So, as soon as Su Wanqing finished stating her conditions, I told her unequivocally: In this civil war in the 6th Sanctuary, I will only support you, Princess Xi!"

"As for other forces, I have no interest in them whatsoever."

"Whether they try to lure me with Shelter No. 1, bribe me with 'Yamane,' seduce me with dozens of exotic beauties, or try to please me with dozens of boxes of materials..."

"I wasn't tempted at all."

Princess Xi's eyelids twitched slightly on the other end of the phone...

This is no longer a hint, but a direct demand.

Qiu Tu, “I still firmly told them that I only support you.”

"And... if you lose this civil war, then the Sixth Sanctuary will cease to exist!"

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's domineering declaration, Princess Xi's expression became even more subtle.

But what could she say? She could only say calmly, "Lord Qiu, rest assured, I can fulfill all the conditions the Kou family has promised."

"As long as we win?" This was Qiu Tu's response.

Qiu Tu's simple sentence pointed directly to the biggest problem in their cooperation: because the Kou family acted too quickly, all the resources promised by Princess Xi were actually in the hands of the Kou family.

All of Princess Xi's promises now are just empty words.

Therefore, Princess Xi on the other end of the phone froze for a moment.

Seeing this, Qiu Tu said meaningfully, "Your Highness, you should be able to meet all the conditions set by the Kou family."

"But there's one thing you seem unable to meet?"

Princess Xi asked, "What?"

Qiu Tu: "Su Wanqing said... she herself can also be a bargaining chip."

Princess Xi: .....

On the other end of the phone, Princess Xi leaned quietly against the large chair, her eyes slowly closing...

Qiu Tu may have sensed Princess Xi's emotions, and said calmly, "Princess... in fact, you don't have the foresight of the Kou family."

"The reason they wanted to bet on me was because they realized my heart wasn't in Shelter 6 at all."

“Shelter No. 6 was just a stepping stone for me.”

"When I have accumulated enough strength, I will jump out of Shelter 6 and go to a wider sky."

"So... if you cooperate with the Kou family, you'll need to endure and scheme against them for the rest of your life."

"But if you cooperate with me, you will only have to endure for a while, or even... a very short time."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Princess Xi's expression gradually relaxed.

She quietly pondered Qiu Tu's words, as if genuinely considering the differences between them...

After a moment, as if she had made up her mind, she bit her lip lightly and said, "I...I might not be able to do that."

"But... I can try."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu's smile gradually broadened...

He knew that if he wanted to achieve something, he couldn't rush it. So he said slowly, "It's alright. We can take it one step at a time."

"And... you can try it in your dreams first."

At this point, Qiu Tu paused, then added, "Of course, I'm not forcing you."

He said meaningfully, "I just feel that maybe if our relationship is closer, we won't have to worry so much about the enemy's provocations."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Princess Xi on the other end of the phone bit her lip, as if she were having an internal struggle.

But thinking of what Qiu Tu had said, and the Kou family's relentless pressure, Princess Xi remained silent for more than ten seconds before finally replying, "See you in my dreams tonight."

After saying that, she quickly hung up the phone.

Hearing the "beep...beep..." sound coming from the receiver, Qiu Tu's smile grew even wider.

The Emotional Handbook [108 Ways to Enhance Relationships] #83: Crossing the Line.