Chapter 116: Father Emperor, Don’t Give Us This Throne—leave It To Your Divine Martial Great General
“Beloved Minister, is something the matter?”
The Emperor wore a confused expression, then his gaze turned questioning towards Historian Wang, but the warned Historian Wang lowered his head, remaining silent.
Lin Fan chuckled, “Your Majesty, it’s nothing. Historian Wang simply feels that since I’m to destroy Japan, yet still leave some of its Daimyo alive, he thinks that not eradicating the roots isn’t a wise choice.”
“Oh, I see,” the Emperor nodded.
As for whether he believed it, that was another matter.
Historian Wang was extremely embarrassed. I never said such a thing, but now it’s not important whether I said it or not, let’s just assume I did.
“Your Majesty, let’s go back,” Lin Fan said.
“Beloved Minister, ride the Imperial Carriage with me. I have many things I wish to discuss with you,” the Emperor said.
“Alright.”
At this moment, Lin Fan looked around. Ten li outside the city, on both sides of the Official Road, the Imperial Guards’ honor guard stood solemnly, armed with weapons. Every few steps, banners blocked out the sun, creating a magnificent scene.
For the officials who came to welcome him, this was the highest honor.
Even Qin Li, in the past, had never received such a distinction.
The accompanying officials, and even the Princes, understood that the choice of the next monarch might even require the Emperor to consult the Divine Martial Great General.
The Emperor’s long delay in naming an heir was simply because he hadn’t decided who to choose.
Originally, the officials thought the First Prince had a great chance, after all, he had the Grand Tutor’s support. But now, it seemed the Grand Tutor’s influence with the Emperor was much weaker compared to the Divine Martial Great General.
As the Imperial Carriage moved forward, the three thousand soldiers who had fought alongside Lin Fan in Japan followed behind in an orderly fashion, heads held high. The murderous aura they exuded invigorated the officials; what elite soldiers they were.
Inside the Imperial Carriage.
“Your Majesty, these three thousand elite soldiers were transferred from Qin Li. After the campaign to pacify Japan, they proved very effective. I was thinking of assigning them to the Divine Martial Department. If Your Majesty finds it inappropriate, I can think of other solutions,” Lin Fan said.
The Emperor waved his hand, “Beloved Minister, decide as you see fit. I will not interfere. Since they are recognized by you, they must be elite and capable. Upon returning to the capital, I will bestow rewards upon them.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Lin Fan said.
The Emperor said, “Beloved Minister, now it is just you and I, Emperor and subject, inside this Imperial Carriage. Historian Wang seemed hesitant to speak earlier, what exactly happened? From my understanding of you, Beloved Minister, if anyone displeases you, you never let them off lightly. Could this matter involve someone from the Imperial Family?”
The Emperor was very perceptive; how could the actions of his ministers escape his notice?
Moreover, he understood Beloved Minister Lin exceptionally well.
Even the Grand Tutor couldn’t gain an advantage.
How could he tolerate anyone else?
The only possibility was that during this expedition, something happened, and the wrongdoer was from the Imperial Family. Therefore, Beloved Minister Lin did not wish to make him difficult, and chose to conceal it.
“Your Majesty, it’s nothing,” Lin Fan waved his hand. He had originally intended to speak, but seeing how aged and unwell the Emperor was, he worried that if the Emperor learned the First Prince had secretly colluded with the enemy and leaked the clues about his expedition to Japan, any resulting distress might not be worth it.
The First Prince’s actions, in his opinion, were like child’s play, not worth mentioning. It was like a naughty child seeing a construction vehicle on the road and wanting to kick it; if he truly meant it, and the construction vehicle stepped on the accelerator, that child wouldn’t survive.
He wouldn’t even qualify as a speed bump.
For such a person to be emperor, others might accept it, but he wouldn’t. Disputes were disputes, quarrels were quarrels, but could he kill them? At most, he would give them a beating and send them back where they came from.
To sell out the interests of their own country, even to the extent of putting his own life at risk, such a person as emperor would be a disaster for all the common people under heaven.
The Emperor grasped Lin Fan’s hand, his expression serious, “Beloved Minister, you don’t have to say. But I can ask Historian Wang, or Commander Li, and I will eventually find out the truth. Rest assured, I can handle it. I am greatly comforted that Beloved Minister has returned safely. I am also delighted that Beloved Minister has pacified Heian-kyō. During this time of universal celebration, I will absolutely not lose my temper.”
Lin Fan looked at the Emperor. These words sounded very familiar, like when a girlfriend asks her boyfriend if he cheated, and he says, “I definitely won’t get angry,” implying the opposite.
Only a naive person would believe him.
But His Majesty had a point. Even if he didn’t say it, Historian Wang and Commander Li would, as they wouldn’t dare to conceal anything.
Lin Fan sighed lightly, “Your Majesty, you must promise me you won’t get angry and harm your health.”
“Beloved Minister, rest assured. What storms haven’t I weathered? If I lost my temper over every little thing, I would have died long ago,” the Emperor vowed solemnly.
“Alas…” Lin Fan sighed lightly, “Your Majesty, when I led my troops on the expedition to Japan, Toyotomi Hide already knew of my arrival and ambushed me. Later, I learned that the First Prince had informed Toyotomi Hide of my movements.”
As these words were spoken.
The Emperor, who had been sitting upright, suddenly froze in place. His face visibly turned red, not from embarrassment, but from rage.
“Cough cough cough…”
The Emperor coughed violently.
Lin Fan patted the Emperor’s back, “Your Majesty, you promised me not to get angry. I can understand this matter. It is my existence that made the First Prince feel threatened and want to eliminate me.”
The Emperor did not speak, but his heavy breathing was palpable inside the Imperial Carriage.
His clenched fists, his reddened eyes.
All indicated that the Emperor was now furious to the extreme. Gritting his teeth, he uttered a few words, “How dare he do this!!!”
This had touched the Emperor’s bottom line.
This was an act of treason.
“I will have him executed,” the Emperor said in a low voice, like an enraged tiger.
Lin Fan said, “Your Majesty, did you not promise me? Do you intend to go back on your word? This matter concerns the Imperial Family’s reputation. It must absolutely not be publicized, otherwise, it will surely damage the Imperial Family’s dignity and make us a laughingstock.”
With Lin Fan’s calming words.
The Emperor’s emotions gradually subsided, but Lin Fan knew that the Emperor’s fury would not dissipate so easily; it was merely buried deep within his heart.
“Beloved Minister, I have wronged you. You worked tirelessly for the country, campaigning in Japan, yet my own son…” Before the Emperor could finish, he was interrupted by Lin Fan.
Lin Fan said, “Your Majesty, a Son of Heaven can know and correct mistakes, but he cannot admit them.”
Hearing this, the Emperor clutched Lin Fan’s hand even tighter, his heart filled with a mix of emotions. To think that Beloved Minister was still doing his utmost to protect the Imperial Family’s reputation at this moment. The more he did so, the more his disappointment and anger towards the First Prince surged.
At this very moment.
The advancing Imperial Carriage suddenly stopped, interrupting the conversation between the Emperor and his minister within.
“What’s going on? Why have we stopped?” the Emperor asked with displeasure.
A eunuch outside the curtain hurriedly reported, “Your Majesty, a group of scholars are kneeling on the Official Road ahead, blocking our path.”
“Hmm?” The Emperor frowned, his expression displeased.
Soon, the protests of the scholars reached his ears.
“Your Majesty! I, student Chen Wang, along with dozens of scholars from the Imperial Capital, have risked our lives to petition you. We accuse Divine Martial Great General Lin Fan, who was ordered to conquer Japan, of committing atrocities of city-slaughter. His soldiers entered the city and, without regard for men or women, young or old, killed anyone they saw and burned every household. Their actions were so brutal that they have incurred the wrath of both gods and men. This is not the behavior of a righteous army, but rather the descent of Asuras. We students weep and submit this memorial. Lin Fan’s evil deeds will surely incur the wrath of heaven and harm our Central Plains Dynasty’s fortunes. We implore Your Majesty to investigate!”
The elder who called himself Chen Wang was an old man with white hair and beard.
He was not an official of the Imperial Court.
He was an old scholar.
Lin Fan lifted the beaded curtain and emerged from the Imperial Carriage, straightening his back and looking at the kneeling scholars ahead. The surrounding common people watched the scene with astonishment.
They had all come to welcome the Divine Martial Great General’s triumphant return.
Now, a group of scholars had stepped out to block their path and accuse the Divine Martial Great General of acts that harmed heavenly harmony, leaving them bewildered.
The accompanying civil and military officials exchanged glances. Some looked towards the Grand Tutor, others towards the Second Prince, clearly wondering who had orchestrated this scheme.
This was not simply trying to escalate the matter.
It was clearly aimed directly at Lin Fan!
At this moment, the Emperor’s face turned as dark as water as he emerged from the Imperial Carriage.
The Grand Tutor’s gaze swept past the Emperor, and his heart suddenly leaped. He knew something was amiss.
His Majesty was truly contemplating murder!
That look reminded him of a major case tens of thousands of years ago, which involved nearly ten thousand people. At that time, the young Emperor had a similar chilling murderous intent in his eyes.
There was no difference whatsoever.
Suddenly, the Grand Tutor was shocked. The Emperor’s gaze was fixed on him, as if questioning, “Is it you?”
The Grand Tutor understood the Emperor’s gaze and hurriedly knelt down. The civil officials following behind also knelt, not knowing why the Grand Tutor was kneeling.
The First Prince, on the other hand, felt a secret joy.
A triumphant return was not what he wanted to see. But it was fine. A group of scholars, full of talk about benevolence and righteousness, blocking the Imperial Carriage in the street and accusing the Divine Martial Great General, would surely be recorded in history.
At the same time, the Emperor would have to consider many things.
Historical evaluation, the balance of the court, and all sorts of other factors were things a qualified emperor needed to consider.
The elder Chen Wang was still unaware of the severity of the situation and shouted, “Your Majesty, you are a wise ruler, and history should record you as such. However, the sins committed by the Divine Martial Great General are such that throughout history, they are branded as the deeds of a butcher!”
“Your Majesty, our Central Plains Dynasty is a celestial empire. We should subdue others with virtue and civilize the barbarians with propriety. In the past, even when the Great Ancestor conquered the Western Barbarians, he did not employ such extreme measures, thus earning the submission of the Four Barbarian Regions.”
“Now, the actions of the Divine Martial Great General, while seemingly promoting the might of the Central Plains Dynasty, have in reality closed off the path for other nations to assimilate. He has sown seeds of blood feud for generations to come.”
“If he can slaughter Japan today, what if Your Majesty punishes him tomorrow? Would he dare to slaughter our own Central Plains citizens?”
The elder prostrated himself, desperately accusing.
Lin Fan watched the situation with a calm expression, showing no reaction. His mind was as still as water, undisturbed. His gaze also fell upon the Grand Tutor, the First Prince, the Second Prince, and the others.
Which of these brilliant minds was it that insisted on confronting him to the bitter end?
Was it necessary?
It was completely unnecessary.
With you acting like this, doesn’t it make me seem too difficult to deal with, yet you still dare not use your real name to confront me head-on, resorting to these underhanded tactics?
Just as Lin Fan was about to speak and tell them to go back where they came from.
The Emperor beside him finally erupted, his face full of rage as he roared, “Guards! Guards! Seize them! Throw them into the dungeon! The Three Judicial Offices are not to interfere. The Imperial Guards are to interrogate them. Find out who instructed them to dare to treat my Beloved Minister like this!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Commander Li, being the Emperor’s confidant, naturally understood that His Majesty was completely enraged.
With a wave of his hand, numerous Imperial Guards, like ferocious tigers, directly apprehended the kneeling scholars. Some scholars were completely panicked. Seeing that His Majesty was truly furious and serious, they repeatedly cried out:
“I dare not! I dare not!”
“Let me go!”
“I was just dragged along to make up the numbers.”
Chen Wang shouted, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what I said is the principle of heaven! The Divine Martial Great General’s crimes are such that heaven and men are indignant!”
“Drag them away!” the Emperor roared.
Lin Fan said softly, “Your Majesty, there’s no need for this. Just send them away.”
The Emperor took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart. “Beloved Minister, you are too kind, which is why you are bullied like this. My Beloved Minister should be protected by me. These scholars, instead of studying diligently and serving the country, have banded together to attack the Beloved Minister who brought glory to the nation. This is a capital offense.”
“Beloved Minister, rest assured, I will investigate this thoroughly. No matter who is behind it, I will make them pay the price.”
The word ‘price’ was emphasized heavily.
The surrounding officials heard this clearly and their hearts trembled.
They understood that the Emperor had been thoroughly provoked.
The aged Emperor had been very gentle in recent years, often smoothing over big issues and minimizing small ones. He hadn’t killed anyone in a long time, which had led them to believe he was perhaps too easy to deal with.
Some officials had even gossiped behind his back, saying that after getting old, His Majesty seemed to be showing signs of being a foolish ruler, and his control over the court was not as strict as before.
At this moment, Historian Wang was taking notes.
The Emperor turned to him, “Historian Wang, how are you recording this?”
Historian Wang said, “Your Majesty, I am recording it truthfully. These scholars, instead of studying for the country, are attacking the Divine Martial Great General who has rendered meritorious service. I have already recorded Chen Wang’s name, ensuring he will be reviled for all eternity.”
“Hmm…”
The Emperor nodded with satisfaction.
The First Prince, who was accompanying them, was stunned. This was not what he had expected.
As the Imperial Carriage continued to move forward.
The Grand Tutor did not follow closely but pulled the First Prince aside and asked softly, “Your Highness, tell old me the truth, did you do this?”
The First Prince was startled and shook his head, “Grand Tutor, I did not.”
The Grand Tutor stared intently into the First Prince’s eyes. After a moment, he said, “Very well, then old me believes you. Now, you must absolutely not oppose him. His Majesty truly harbored murderous intent just now. You must understand, though you are the First Prince, the throne is not exclusively yours. We need to adjust our strategy. From now on, I will be exceedingly respectful towards Lin Fan, and you must strive your utmost to win him over. Even if you cannot win him over, you must at least make him neutral. Otherwise, it will be too late.”
“Grand Tutor, this Prince understands,” the First Prince nodded.
…
Night.
The Emperor made an exception, holding a banquet within the Imperial Palace. All three thousand soldiers were present. Although it was outdoors, for these soldiers, it was something they could never have imagined in their lifetimes.
At this moment, Liu Canjiang was perhaps the most excited.
His face was flushed, and his whole body trembled with excitement. When had he ever been to the capital before? Let alone the Emperor personally ordering a banquet within the Imperial Palace to invite them all.
Now, many soldiers were whispering among themselves.
“Are we dreaming? Can we really eat in the Imperial Palace?”
“Nonsense, aren’t we here now?”
“I really want to tell my parents how accomplished I am now.”
“Exactly. As soon as I go back and tell my parents about this, my family will definitely create a special page for me in the family genealogy.”
Just as they were becoming increasingly excited, a eunuch’s sharp voice announced, “His Majesty has arrived.”
Instantly.
The soldiers fell silent, all turning their heads in unison towards the inner city wall of the Imperial Palace.
They saw the Emperor looking down with a smile, “My brave soldiers, your victory over the Japanese has greatly pleased me. Come, drink this wine to the full. I toast you all.”
A eunuch beside him respectfully held a tray, on which was placed a cup of wine.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The soldiers said respectfully.
The Emperor said, “You soldiers have achieved great merits alongside my Divine Martial Great General, and naturally, you deserve rewards. Announce the decree.”
A eunuch held the decree on the city wall, opened it, and read it aloud.
The soldiers below listened with bated breath.
When they heard the contents, each and every one of them became extremely excited.
The reward for ordinary soldiers was thirty taels of silver.
For them, this was wealth they could earn in several years. They were also being granted official positions, although they were all minor, insignificant posts, it was enough to make them so excited they couldn’t sleep.
What was even more unbelievable to them was.
A memorial stele commemorating their victory over Japan was to be erected in their hometowns, with their names all inscribed upon it.
Immediately, such news caused all the soldiers to be so excited they almost jumped up and down. If the Emperor hadn’t been present, they probably would have rolled on the ground.
The Emperor said, “Soldiers, this Memorial Stele of the Pacification of Japan was proposed by your Great General. From now on, you will be incorporated into the Divine Martial Department. You must train diligently and perform your duties well to repay the Great General’s kindness.”
The soldiers shouted, “Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Great General!”
On the city wall, Lin Fan, standing beside the Emperor, said, “Your Majesty, the night is cold. We should return inside.”
“Mm,” the Emperor nodded.
…
Inside the palace banquet.
The Emperor sat at the main seat, with Lin Fan to his left and the Empress to his right. The First Prince, Second Prince, and others, as well as the Grand Tutor, were all seated below.
The banquet, seemingly, had a good atmosphere.
But for the First Prince, something felt wrong. He noticed the Emperor’s gaze was like a sharp knife constantly fixed upon him. It wasn’t a sheathed knife, but one drawn and sharpened to an extreme.
The First Prince, with his excellent control over his expressions, had initially been smiling.
But under the Emperor’s gaze.
He lowered his head, his eyes darting away, unable to meet his gaze.
Lin Fan, on the other hand, leisurely enjoyed the food in front of him, casually taking out some snacks and popping them into his mouth. His Poison Resistance had now reached LV3, and he was more than halfway to the next level.
Reaching LV4 was only a matter of time.
“Your Majesty, I heard that the envoy from Mengye Country is still in the capital?” Lin Fan asked, changing the subject.
The Emperor replied, “Yes, the envoy is still here, wanting to ransom Tudan. What do you think, Beloved Minister?”
Lin Fan smiled, “Ransom them, let them ransom him. I don’t care. That Tudan is nothing special. If I wanted to capture him, it would only depend on whether I wanted to or not.”
“Haha, as expected of my Divine Martial Great General, truly the greatest in the world!” The Emperor laughed, he simply loved his Beloved Minister’s assertiveness. Now that he had his Beloved Minister, the pressure exerted by Mengye Country on the Central Plains Dynasty had long been forgotten and was not taken to heart at all.
Even the pressure from the Grand Tutor and Qin Li seemed insignificant.
Lin Fan said, “Your Majesty flatters me. What does Mengye Country intend to offer in exchange?”
The Emperor said, “The Mongol King is willing to cede Shanmen Pass, along with cattle, sheep, and warhorses…”
Hearing this, Lin Fan pondered. Shanmen Pass was a rather important border defense pass. If they could obtain it, the border security of the Central Plains Dynasty would significantly improve. As for the cattle, sheep, and warhorses, these items were not important. Of course, Mengye Country’s warhorses were much better than those of the Central Plains Dynasty.
In terms of cavalry, the Central Plains Dynasty’s cavalry was somewhat weaker. The main difference lay in the issue of warhorses.
“Your Majesty, it seems that Tudan is indeed very important to the Mongol King,” Lin Fan said.
The Emperor picked up his wine cup and drank it down in one gulp, “Naturally. Tudan is the symbol of Mengye Country, its pillar of support, much like my Beloved Minister; both are so important.”
This statement made Lin Fan smile.
The officials at the banquet exchanged glances.
See? This is how blatant it is now.
It’s clearly stating to them that the Divine Martial Great General is the one I value most.
You people had better not go looking for trouble and oppose my Great General, or you’ll regret it.
Lin Fan said, “Your Majesty, since Mengye Country shows such sincerity, agree to the exchange with them.”
“Alright, I’ll listen to Beloved Minister,” the Emperor said.
Time passed quickly.
The banquet was nearing its end, and the officials left, as did Lin Fan.
The Emperor was still seated at the main seat, his face slightly flushed from drinking. The Empress beside him said softly, “Your Majesty, it’s time to rest.”
The Emperor did not reply.
The atmosphere remained very oppressive.
The Second Prince and the other Princes exchanged glances. They also noticed something was amiss. Their father’s mood tonight was very poor. Although there had been laughter throughout the hall, they felt the Emperor’s smiles were forced.
As if he was putting on a show.
“Come here, kneel,” the Emperor’s gaze fell upon the First Prince, his eyes like a tiger’s, full of power.
The First Prince, who was sitting there, trembled as he stood up. For a moment, he didn’t know what had happened, but he still cautiously knelt below the stage.
“Your Majesty, this…”
“You shut up!!!” the Emperor roared.
The Empress was so frightened her face turned pale. She hadn’t seen His Majesty so enraged in a long time.
The Emperor stood up, walked over to Commander Li, and with a clang, drew Commander Li’s sword. He then advanced step by step towards the First Prince, terrifying the First Prince, who retreated repeatedly. “Father Emperor, Father Emperor, what crime has your son committed?”
“Rebellious son! You dared to collude with Japan and leak the Divine Martial Great General’s whereabouts! You truly deserve death! I will kill you!” the Emperor roared, holding the sword and making a move to strike the First Prince.
The Empress rushed forward and clung to the Emperor’s leg, “Your Majesty…”
Many Princes also knelt down, “Father Emperor, no! How could Eldest Brother do such a heinous thing? Father Emperor, there must be another explanation.”
At this moment, the Second Prince also had to quickly kneel and plead for the First Prince.
However, he hadn’t expected that the First Prince would collude with Japan. This was simply too audacious.
This was completely disregarding Father Emperor.
The Emperor, sword in hand, trembled all over. The sharp blade pointed at the First Prince, “Speak! Who told you to collude with Japan? As the First Prince of the Central Plains Dynasty, how could you commit such a rebellious act?”
“Father Emperor, your son did not! Even if I had the courage of a bear and the gall of a leopard, I would not dare to collude with Japan!” the First Prince cried, his face pale with fear.
If he didn’t admit it, he wouldn’t admit it, even if he died!
“Still denying it? My Beloved Minister annihilated the Toyotomi regime, and Toyotomi Hide himself confessed! You still refuse to admit it?” The Emperor’s chest heaved, his emotions in turmoil, his eyes wide. For any other matter, he wouldn’t have been this angry, but for something like this, how could it be done?
It couldn’t even be thought of.
“Father Emperor, your son did not! It must have been that Toyotomi Hide sowing discord! How could your son have done such a thing?” the First Prince shouted.
“Good, good! At this moment, you still refuse to admit it! Do you think this Imperial throne is exclusively yours?” The Emperor angrily threw the sword in his hand in front of him. “Take your own life. Down below, go and beg for forgiveness from the former Emperors.”
The First Prince looked at the sword in front of him in terror, not daring to touch it.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this concubine begs you! This is our child!” The Empress never expected such a cataclysmic event to erupt after a pleasant banquet.
“You shut up,” the Emperor said angrily.
The First Prince roared, “Father Emperor, I am your son! Why do you only believe outsiders and not your own child? Is the Divine Martial Great General your son?”
“He is arrogant and treats the court as his personal domain. Who in the court doesn’t fear him? Could it be that Father Emperor wants to wait until he is a hundred years old, for him to wield supreme power, and the Emperor himself to be just his puppet?”
When he said these words.
The Princes who were kneeling and pleading with their heads lowered, all widened their eyes in horror at what the First Prince had said.
These were thoughts they might have had, but never dared to speak aloud.
“Bastard!!!” The Emperor strode forward and kicked the First Prince to the ground. “Bastard, you are truly a bastard! How my Divine Martial Great General is, I understand better than any of you.”
The First Prince, with red eyes, got up and said, “Yes, yes, Father Emperor understands better than anyone. That’s why you dote on him and trust him more than us sons. Since Father Emperor trusts him so much, then pass the throne to him. Don’t pass it to us, so we don’t have to be oppressed and controlled by him our entire lives.”
The Empress cried frantically, “Stop talking! Hurry and kneel to confess your guilt to your Father Emperor!”
The First Prince roared, “Confess what guilt? This Prince is the First Prince, the eldest son! The throne should naturally be mine. But Father Emperor has never issued a decree, allowing us brothers to fight. Father Emperor, you are the Son of Heaven, the Lord of the Central Plains Dynasty! Keep this position well. Give it to whomever you wish, but not to us. Give it to your Divine Martial Great General.”
“You… you.” The Emperor’s breathing became rapid, his chest heaving violently. Commander Li quickly stepped forward to support him.
The Empress was even more frightened, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger, calm your anger!”
The Emperor said with difficulty, “Commander Li, seize him and send him to Ci Qing Palace. Do not allow him to see anyone.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Soon, Imperial Guards entered and took the First Prince away. Simultaneously, an imperial physician rushed over to conduct a full examination and administer acupuncture to the Emperor, which allowed him to recover slightly.
However, judging by his pale complexion, it was evident that this incident had caused him immense distress.
The Empress was still pleading, but the Emperor didn’t even glance at her. Supported by Commander Li, he left the palace banquet with difficulty.
The kneeling Princes exchanged glances, feeling a sense of dread. No one expected the heavenly wrath to descend so quickly. And what the First Prince had said was not just rebellious, it was suicidal.
The Second Prince now felt no joy whatsoever, but rather a sense of apprehension and unease.
After the First Prince’s outburst.
The remaining Princes would also find their paths difficult.
…
Lin Residence.
In the courtyard, Ning Yu rested her chin on her hand, watching her Master exercising. As she watched, she suddenly gasped, rubbing her eyes as if she had seen a ghost.
“Master, Master…”
Lin Fan, who was using a wooden stake to strike his body, stopped his actions and asked in confusion, “What is it?”
Ning Yu said, “Master, your body was glowing just now! This disciple saw radiance flowing into your body.”
“Ah?”
Lin Fan was stunned. He looked down at his muscular physique, not noticing any problems.
The biggest change just now was entering the Guiyi Body Refining Method.
Of course, he didn’t think Ning Yu would be mistaken. Could it be that after entering the Guiyi Body Refining Method, there were other changes?
Suddenly.
As if sensing something, he cleared his mind and let his body reach a very relaxed state. Suddenly, he felt that with each breath of his internal organs, it was as if the power of the sun, moon, and stars was flowing into his body.
With each inhale and exhale.
Ning Yu rubbed her eyes again. She saw that streak of light again, like a thin veil, slowly descending from the sky, attaching itself to her Master’s body, and then gradually fading.
【Guiyi Body Refining Method Proficiency +1】
Ah!
Lin Fan suddenly opened his eyes, his expression bewildered.
What was going on?
Without needing external force to strike him, he simply actively breathed with his internal organs and clearly felt subtle changes in his bloodline.
This feeling came from above his head. He looked at the starry sky, blinking. Could it be that after entering the Guiyi Body Refining Method, he could actively sense and absorb the power of the sun, moon, and stars?
He then continued to try.
After a long while.
【Guiyi Body Refining Method Proficiency +1】
Lin Fan burst out laughing, “Disciple, your Master is about to succeed!”
“Master, succeed at what?” Ning Yu widened her eyes. She knew her Master was not ordinary and was definitely hiding something good.
Lin Fan shook his head, “Your Master doesn’t know either.”
“Ah?”
“Your Master is also confused right now, not sure about the specific situation. But don’t worry, when your Master gradually gains some understanding, I’ll figure out a way to help you then,” Lin Fan said.
Ning Yu excitedly asked, “Does this mean I can also break someone with a single blow like Master?”
“Don’t be so rough all the time. Breaking someone is too cruel. Go to sleep first. Your Master needs to ponder this.” Lin Fan said.
“Master, I won’t disturb you. I’ll just watch while you ponder.”
Ning Yu hadn’t expected that by watching her Master exercise, she would see radiance flowing into his body.
If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes.
She wouldn’t have believed it at all.
At this moment.
Lin Fan sank into thought, completely without a clue, unable to figure it out.
Was this spiritual energy?
No, it definitely wasn’t spiritual energy, because he could feel that this power was being drawn from the sun, moon, and stars, and there was no sensation of spiritual energy flowing within his body.
If one were cultivating, wouldn’t they condense spiritual energy within their body and then feel a spiritual energy river like a small stream flowing within?
But he felt absolutely nothing.
Strange, what was going on?
Thinking of this.
He put on his clothes and prepared to go to the dungeon to see Tudan.
“Master, where are you going?”
“There’s something. You sleep, don’t follow. Listen to your Master.”
“Oh!!!”
…
……
Grand Tutor’s mansion.
At this moment, the Grand Tutor was just preparing to sleep when the butler hurried over, “Master, the Empress has arrived and is already in the study.”
“Huh!?”
The Grand Tutor was startled to hear that the Empress had arrived, and a sense of foreboding appeared.
The most feared thing in life is someone arriving unexpectedly at night.
If Lin Fan knew what the Grand Tutor was thinking, he would definitely agree very much, because as children, they feared receiving a call from home in the middle of the night the most, and as parents, they feared their children who contacted them only once a week suddenly calling frequently.
This must mean something has happened.
The Grand Tutor simply threw on some clothes and hurried to the study. Upon reaching the door, he took a deep breath, slowly pushed it open, and respectfully said, “Your old minister greets the Empress. I wonder, Your Majesty, what brings you here so late at night?”
He found that the Empress’s complexion was very bad.
It was even a little pale.
The Empress said, “Grand Tutor, something has happened.”
“Ah?” The Grand Tutor slightly opened his mouth and quickly asked, “Empress, what has happened?”
“The First Prince…” The Empress relayed the events after the palace banquet concluded.
Plop!
The Grand Tutor’s body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground. He then struggled to get up and approached the chair, his legs trembling. He sat down with difficulty, “Your Majesty, this… this isn’t a joke, is it?”
“Grand Tutor, at this hour, do you think I would joke with you?” the Empress said.
“Alas, the First Prince is muddled. This old minister told him not to have such ideas, why doesn’t he listen? Moreover, he dares to utter such treasonous words. What… what is this old minister to do?”
The Grand Tutor was truly bewildered.
He has now placed all his bets on the First Prince, even using all his influence in the Imperial Court, all for the sake of ensuring the First Prince inherits the throne.
By rights, with everything going smoothly, the Second Prince would have no way to contend with the First Prince.
But now, the First Prince is clearly stabbing himself in the heart three times.
Every blow drew blood, every blow was lethal.
The Empress said, “Grand Tutor, what do you think we should do now?”
The Grand Tutor’s head ached fiercely, his face filled with despair. “Your Highness, how am I to act? I too wish to know how to act. His Majesty has clearly decided to kill the First Prince. He is now imprisoned in Ci Qing Palace. It appears to be a cold palace, but once His Majesty recovers, the situation will likely become even more intense.”
The Empress said, “Grand Tutor, you must think of a solution.”
The Grand Tutor frowned, thinking harder and harder, unsure of what to do. “Your Majesty, the only solution now is to seek out the Divine Martial Great General. If he speaks up, there might still be a glimmer of hope. Whether this glimmer of hope can be grasped depends on whether the First Prince has the fate for it.”
“What does the Grand Tutor mean?”
The Grand Tutor said, “If the Divine Martial Great General is willing to plead for the First Prince, His Majesty will surely release him. After all, blood is thicker than water. His Majesty might be waiting for an excuse. However, the throne will certainly be out of reach for the First Prince. But time is of the essence for this glimmer of hope. If from now on, the First Prince can be honest and respectful towards the Divine Martial Great General, perhaps there is still a chance.”
This was the only solution the Grand Tutor could think of.
The Empress asked with difficulty, “Should I go and plead?”
The Grand Tutor shook his head. “No, Your Majesty. For this matter, you must find the Eighteenth Princess. The Eighteenth Princess has a good relationship with Ning Yu. Then, Ning Yu will take Your Majesty to plead with Lin Fan, which might be effective.”
“Then, may I ask if the Grand Tutor can accompany us?” the Empress asked.
The Grand Tutor shook his head. “No, he has a significant opinion of me. If he sees me, he will undoubtedly be angered, and what should be good will turn into bad. Your Majesty, based on my understanding of Lin Fan, this person responds to kindness, not force. We must not pressure him, or the opposite will happen, and the consequences will be even more severe.”
After hearing what the Grand Tutor said.
The Empress pondered, then nodded.
“I understand.”
“Your Majesty, please return to the palace quickly. His Majesty is currently furious. Your Majesty should not mention the matter of the First Prince, but rather stay by His Majesty’s side and try to guide him with certain topics to recall the warm times he shared with the First Prince in their youth, or perhaps the affection between you and His Majesty. This might make His Majesty reluctant to punish him severely.”
At this moment, the Grand Tutor’s mind was racing, his brain felt like it was smoking.
This matter, even he only learned about when Your Majesty informed him. Naturally, other officials would not know.
He had to seize the opportunity to minimize the impact quickly.
The longer it dragged on, the more trouble would arise.
After Your Majesty left.
The Grand Tutor was completely devoid of sleep. He paced back and forth in the study room, appearing very uneasy. He was very anxious now; this matter would surely involve him as well.
“Ah, foolish, how did I never realize the First Prince was so foolish before?”
The Grand Tutor was truly exasperated.
Now, the Second Prince must be laughing in his dreams. After all, his strongest and most formidable competitor had shot himself in the foot. Who wouldn’t laugh? Who could hold back their laughter?
At this moment, in the dungeon.
The jailer respectfully led Lin Fan to the deepest part of the dungeon.
“Great General, Tudan is inside. If you have any instructions, just call me,” the jailer said respectfully.
“Mm, thank you for your trouble. You’ve worked hard.” Lin Fan took out a piece of broken silver and offered it to the jailer.
“Great General, how could I dare to accept your silver?”
“Take it.”
“Ah.”
The jailer accepted the broken silver and left respectfully, waiting in a nearby corner.
Tudan was now bound tightly with iron chains.
As Lin Fan appeared, Tudan opened his eyes. His gaze was like that of a fierce beast, full of ferocity, staring intently at Lin Fan. Thinking of his own plight, he shook the iron chains in a fit of rage.
“Lin Fan, if you dare, release me and let us fight one on one.”
“Don’t be difficult. If this general gets even a little serious, I can kill you with one punch. I came here because I have some questions for you. Just tell me honestly.”
“Hmph, do you think I’ll cooperate with you?”
“Is that so? Your Mongol King came to ransom you, and we agreed. If you truly refuse to cooperate, this general will cripple your limbs and break your bones, sending you back as a cripple.”
As soon as these words were spoken.
Tudan’s ferocious expression gradually faded, replaced by clarity.
“Ask away. I will tell you whatever I know.”
