Chapter 117: Order To Commit Suicide!!! Empress, You’re Confused— What Can Your Family Use To Resist?
The night grew deep, and the moonlight was like water.
Lin Fan stood outside the prison with his hands behind his back, gazing at the starry sky, a hint of unshedable disappointment in his brows.
He had hoped to get some news from Tudan, but unfortunately, Tudan’s situation was the same as the Saintess; he couldn’t understand why he possessed such power.
He could only consider it a gift from heaven.
Tudan said that he was weak as a child, but as he grew, his body became increasingly robust. By adulthood, he possessed this astonishing power.
As for Tuli Ming, being his descendant, he also possessed his astonishing power. This was not acquired through later cultivation but was inexplicably a natural divine power inherited from him.
Heritage?
Bloodline inheritance?
He couldn’t figure it out, couldn’t understand.
Not the slightest clue.
With a light sigh, his figure silently melted into the night, returning towards his mansion.
If some things cannot be figured out, then there is no need to think about them; thinking too much can easily make one’s head ache.
The next day.
Lin Manor.
A palace-style horse carriage slowly stopped outside the manor gate.
The pearl curtain was gently lifted, and the Eighteenth Princess alighted from the carriage, supported by palace maids.
“Your Highness, we have arrived at Lin Manor.”
“Mm.”
The Eighteenth Princess hummed in response, standing at the manor entrance. There was nervousness in her eyes. Logically, she wouldn’t be this nervous when visiting her sister Ning Yu.
But when the Empress found her and told her those things, learning of what the Eldest Prince had done, it was like a bolt from the blue, causing great shock to her young heart.
She had initially repeatedly refused, feeling unable to take on such a task, but the Empress had pleaded with her so earnestly that she couldn’t refuse.
She had been raised by the Empress since childhood.
This kindness was something she could not forget and had to repay.
She glanced back at the carriage behind her, its curtains lowered. The Empress was inside.
“Mother, I’ll go in first,” the Eighteenth Princess said softly.
“Eighteenth, you’ve worked hard,” the Empress’s voice from inside the carriage sounded weary. Last night, following the Grand Tutor’s instructions, she had the Emperor recall memories of his time with the Eldest Prince.
There was a painting she had treasured. Though it was just simple brushstrokes, it depicted three small figures.
It was drawn by the Eldest Prince when he was four years old.
Father Emperor, your son, Mother.
At the time, when she inadvertently showed it to him, His Majesty, in his anger, stared at it, seemingly reminiscing about past events. But after a moment, His Majesty furiously told her to take it away, to take it away.
At that moment, she understood that His Majesty had softened. At least he hadn’t torn it to shreds, indicating that the painting had indeed awakened His Majesty’s love for the Eldest Prince.
The Eighteenth Princess took a deep breath, ascended the steps, and walked towards the manor. Upon reaching the interior, she saw a figure standing in the courtyard from afar.
The figure standing there, in the Eighteenth Princess’s eyes, resembled a mountain. Although it was a person, his broad and mighty back gave her that impression.
The Eighteenth Princess rubbed her eyes, unsure if it was an illusion, but it seemed as if a faint red light enveloped the Divine Martial Great General. Although weak, it was very noticeable under the sunlight.
“Ah!” she couldn’t help but exclaim softly.
Lin Fan, who was cultivating, stopped as the proficiency notification sounded and turned to look behind him. “Eighteenth Princess, why have you come?”
Ning Yu, sitting by the stone table admiring her master’s cultivation, was also surprised. “Sister!”
At this moment, Lin Fan was still immersed in the joy of cultivation. He hadn’t expected that after achieving the beginner level of the Guiyi Body Refining Method, he could feel a warm Earth Vein Qi actively being absorbed into his body as his feet touched the ground, continuously nourishing his internal organs and tempering his flesh and bones.
This made him think of absorbing Earth Vein Qi by day and emitting the power of the sun, moon, and stars by night.
Bloodline resonance.
His internal organs, flesh, and bones were constantly strengthening.
“I… I came to see Brother Lin and Sister Ning Yu.” This was the Eighteenth Princess’s first time acting as a mediator, so she was inexperienced, appearing somewhat restrained and nervous.
Ning Yu boldly stepped forward, taking her hand. “Sister, why are you standing? Come sit here. I’ll tell you, my master is cultivating, and he’s very powerful, do you understand?”
“Mmhmm, mmhmm.” The Eighteenth Princess nodded like a quail. She didn’t understand these things well and naturally wasn’t very concerned.
Lin Fan looked at the Eighteenth Princess’s expression, sat down at the stone table, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea for the Princess, and pushed it towards her. He smiled and said, “Princess, you’ve come for a reason, haven’t you?”
The Eighteenth Princess cupped the teacup in both hands, lowered her head, and said in a very weak voice, “Mm.”
Ning Yu was a little puzzled. Her sister, who usually lived in the palace, was innocent and carefree. How could she have a problem? Given His Majesty’s favoritism towards the Eighteenth Princess, if there were any issues, His Majesty would have resolved them long ago; why would she look so sad?
Lin Fan said softly, “Is it about your Eldest Imperial Brother?”
“Mm.”
“Did the Empress send you?”
“Mm.”
Facing Lin Fan’s questions, the Eighteenth Princess’s only reply was “Mm.”
Ning Yu blinked and said, “Master, Master, what is going on here? What Eldest Prince? What Empress?”
She was truly confused.
Completely clueless.
“Sister, tell me, what is going on?” Ning Yu was eager to know what had happened.
The Eighteenth Princess hid nothing and explained about the Eldest Prince.
After hearing this, Ning Yu’s eyes widened, and she couldn’t help but exclaim, “Ah? He dared to do something like that? I think he’s tired of living!”
Ning Yu truly didn’t expect the Eldest Prince to be so foolish.
Suddenly.
She grasped the key point of information.
She abruptly stood up.
“What? My master led troops to campaign in Japan, and he secretly notified Japan? This is an act of colluding with the enemy and treason! If it weren’t for my master’s divine might, anyone else would have died there?” Ning Yu’s face was flushed with anger, her eyes blazing as if they could spit fire.
The Eighteenth Princess was startled and shrank her head, becoming increasingly uneasy.
“Alright, don’t scare the Princess,” Lin Fan interjected. “This matter has nothing to do with the Eighteenth Princess; she was merely entrusted with a task and couldn’t refuse. Sit down.”
“Oh.”
Ning Yu’s momentum subsided, and she sat down reluctantly, but she still clenched her fists and swung them at the air as if the Eldest Prince were standing before her.
Lin Fan said gently, “Princess, I presume the Empress came with you.”
“Mm, Mother came with me.”
“Very well, then call the Empress. If she has anything to say, she can tell me directly. There’s no need to have the Princess relay the message,” Lin Fan said.
“Then I’ll go and call Mother in now.”
“Mm.”
The Eighteenth Princess, relieved, immediately stood up, lifted her skirt, and hurried away.
After the Eighteenth Princess left, Ning Yu said, “Master, given what the Eldest Prince did, it’s safe to say he has no connection to the throne for the rest of his life. Moreover, it’s his good fortune that you didn’t kill him, yet he still has the audacity to send someone to plead for him. Master, what do you think they are thinking?”
Lin Fan said, “It seems the Emperor was furious after the banquet last night. I didn’t expect that. Now that the Empress has come to plead, she must want me to speak to His Majesty on her behalf.”
“Ah? No, Master, the Eldest Prince tried to pit you to death, and now it’s exposed. How can the Empress, his mother, come to you? Does she really think my master is easy to bully?” Ning Yu felt very indignant about this.
Lin Fan smiled and said, “Ning Yu, didn’t I tell you that the imperial court is not about fighting, but about human relationships and etiquette? Don’t rush; let’s see what the Empress’s attitude is like first.”
Not long after.
Footsteps could be heard from not far away.
Lin Fan watched from afar, not rising to greet her. Only when the Empress was about to approach did he rise with a smile to welcome her, “Empress, I was unaware of your visit. Is there something important you need?”
However, what followed next was beyond his expectations.
The Empress actually bowed to him, her voice filled with sorrow. “Great General, I, today, do not come to see you as the Empress, but as a mother, to beg for your forgiveness and to apologize.”
Lin Fan said, “Your Highness, there is no need for this. Your Highness is the mother of our nation. How can you do this? Please sit.”
The Empress nodded and, supported by the Eighteenth Princess, sat down at the stone table nearby. After sitting down, before Lin Fan could speak, the Empress said, “Great General, I know I have no face to come here. My child has committed a monstrous crime. If he were not a Prince, he would have been dragged to the Meridian Gate and beheaded long ago.”
“Your Highness speaks too harshly,” Lin Fan replied.
The Empress shook her head. “Great General, what I say is the truth. Even if His Majesty had him beheaded, I would have no complaints. The expedition is a matter of national importance. You fought for the country and its people, yet he not only failed to help but colluded with the enemy and committed treason. This is an unforgivable crime.”
Lin Fan said, “What the Eldest Prince did this time was indeed excessive. As the saying goes, you can fight, but you can also play, but when it comes to national matters, we must unite against the outside. Yet he notified Japan of my whereabouts. It was truly wrong.”
The Empress wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a silk handkerchief, her voice choked with emotion. “Great General, I followed His Majesty at the age of fifteen. In the early years, I was pregnant, but sadly, the fetus died in utero. Later, he was born. Ten months of pregnancy, he is a piece of flesh from my own body. Publicly, he truly deserves to die. Privately, he is my child. What mother does not wish for her child to be safe and healthy? Now that he has become like this, it is I, his mother, who has failed in my upbringing.”
As she spoke, the Empress became agitated, stood up, and was about to kneel before Lin Fan.
“Great General, I implore you to speak kindly to His Majesty and spare him this once.”
Logically speaking, any normal person seeing the current Empress about to kneel.
Would definitely try to stop her.
They would even prostrate themselves and kowtow, not daring to accept the Empress’s obeisance.
But Lin Fan seemed to be under a spell, motionless, allowing the Empress to kneel before him. The moment the Empress knelt.
He seemed to awaken abruptly.
“Your Highness, how can you do this? This is an insult to me,” Lin Fan quickly helped the Empress up.
The Empress tightly grabbed his arm, her eyes tearful. “Great General, I beg you.”
Lin Fan took a deep breath, gently pulled away from the Empress’s hand, turned around, and stood with his hands behind his back, remaining silent for a long time.
Regarding the Eldest Prince’s actions.
He was naturally angry, but considering His Majesty’s situation, he hadn’t considered how to proceed. Now His Majesty was in a thunderous rage, confining the Eldest Prince to Ci Qing Palace, and even planning to send him to Shuoyang, the place where the Central Plains Dynasty’s founder started his rise, which had special prisons for the Imperial Family.
Once a member of the Imperial Family was imprisoned there, it was a life of darkness, worse than death.
Originally, he had deferred to His Majesty’s face and didn’t want to interfere, leaving everything to His Majesty’s decision. But who would have thought that His Majesty was truly determined to destroy the Eldest Prince?
He asked himself, how had His Majesty treated him? Naturally, there were no complaints.
Now that the Empress was desperately pleading, he couldn’t just point to the door and tell her to get out. One could be arrogant, but to be arrogant to the extreme, even he himself would come to detest himself.
“Great General…” the Empress’s pleading voice was heard.
Lin Fan sighed slightly and said, “Your Highness, please return first. I have this matter in hand and will go to the palace to see His Majesty. As a parent, I can understand Your Highness’s feelings, and I am by no means heartless.”
The Empress’s face lit up with joy upon hearing this. “Thank you, Great General, thank you, Great General.”
“Ning Yu, escort Her Highness back,” Lin Fan said.
“Oh.”
Ning Yu nodded.
After they left, he looked at the distant corridor and saw Huang Xiaojiu standing foolishly in the corridor, staring blankly at the scene before him.
Lin Fan said, “Xiaojiu, what dishes are you preparing for lunch?”
Huang Xiaojiu trembled all over, snapping back to reality. “The ones you like best.”
“Mm, go on. Don’t say anything you see; it might cause trouble,” Lin Fan said.
Huang Xiaojiu nodded numbly. What he had just witnessed was like seeing a ghost. He naturally knew it was the Empress, but what had he just seen?
The Empress was actually begging Brother Lin, and she even knelt down.
When he saw the Empress and the Eighteenth Princess, his first thought was to run, to hide quickly, so they wouldn’t discover him. Otherwise, if Father Emperor found out he had left Zhuoming Prefecture without permission, he would be truly finished.
But what happened next struck him like lightning, leaving him stunned on the spot.
Back then, when he went to Anzhou and voluntarily became a subordinate, pledging allegiance to Brother Lin, he just wanted to find a capable and protective elder brother. Who would have thought that his elder brother would advance so rapidly? Now, arriving in the Imperial Capital as the Divine Martial Great General, he was of high status and power, and even the Empress had to plead with him.
No… I, Xiaojiu, known as the most foolish Ninth Prince, who have I recognized as an elder brother?
As Huang Xiaojiu left, he thought all the way and couldn’t figure it out.
Soon, Ning Yu returned.
“Master, you really agreed?” Ning Yu said with dissatisfaction. “Given what the Eldest Prince did, I think chopping him up would be enough. Master is too easily persuaded; someone asks, and Master agrees.”
Lin Fan looked at Ning Yu. “What are you saying? His Majesty is already this age. Do you want him to experience the death of a child in his old age? Even if His Majesty says nothing, people have hearts. As parents, who wouldn’t grieve?”
“Master, that’s what you say, but he shouldn’t get away without paying any price,” Ning Yu replied.
She had long disliked the Eldest Prince.
Relying on his status as the Eldest Prince, he was arrogant and looked down on everyone, not taking anyone seriously. Thinking of that look made her angry.
“What’s the situation with the Divine Martial Department? Have my three thousand soldiers been arranged properly?” Lin Fan asked.
Ning Yu replied, “Master, rest assured, everything has been arranged properly. The Divine Martial Department has finished its renovations, and all preparations are complete. The three thousand soldiers have been stationed at the military camp outside the Imperial Capital.”
Lin Fan nodded. “That’s good. We’ll need to arrange for people to go to various prefectural cities to establish Divine Martial Department yamen and conduct a thorough purge of all officials and gangs nationwide.”
Since His Majesty has granted him this authority, he naturally must use it to its fullest. If he doesn’t use it, is he supposed to leave it as a decoration?
Ning Yu said, “Master, there’s something I need to remind you of.”
“What is it?” Lin Fan asked.
Ning Yu said, “It’s about your sister’s cousin’s husband, who claims to be the Prefect of Yandu Prefecture. Master, you mentioned the Divine Martial Department is about to start operating, so I wanted to remind you.”
Reminded by Ning Yu, Lin Fan recalled. He smiled and said, “Excellent, you are indeed my disciple, Lin Fan. You have a good memory. You can arrange for people to investigate for me and see who arranged the prefectural official position for him. Nowadays, honest officials who don’t take bribes or harm the people are probably very few nationwide.”
“The emergence of the Divine Martial Department is to let them know that if nothing is discovered, everything is fine. But once discovered, it’s a dead end.”
Ning Yu’s blood boiled upon hearing this. “Yes, Master, your disciple understands.”
“You go ahead and busy yourself. I’m going to the Imperial Palace.”
…
At this time, in Ci Ning Palace.
The Eldest Prince sat there dejectedly, his eyes vacant, but the anger and resentment in his gaze still remained.
Creak!
The heavy palace door was slowly pushed open.
The Eldest Prince looked up sharply and saw two figures standing at the doorway. Sunlight enveloped their bodies, casting their faces in shadow, making it impossible to see who they were.
When the two entered the hall.
They discovered that the visitors were the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Li Tong Ling, and Eunuch Wang, a confidant of His Majesty.
“Commander Li, what are you doing here? I am a traitor, colluding with the enemy and committing treason. Now that I am imprisoned here, are you here to mock me?” the Eldest Prince asked mockingly.
Li Tong Ling and Eunuch Wang entered one after another.
Li Tong Ling cupped his fist. “Your subordinate pays his respects to Your Highness.”
“Hmph, Your Highness?” the Eldest Prince laughed. “Does my Father Emperor still recognize me as his son? I think that Divine Martial Great General is his real son.”
Suddenly, as the Eldest Prince’s gaze fell upon Eunuch Wang, his expression became noticeably stunned. It wasn’t that he saw anything wrong with Eunuch Wang, but the tray held by Eunuch Wang, covered with yellow silk, filled him with an inexplicable sense of dread.
He suddenly stood up, his expression panicked, pointing at the tray in Eunuch Wang’s hand. “What is this? What are you trying to do?”
Eunuch Wang said, “Your Highness, this old servant and Commander Li have been ordered to see Your Highness off on your journey.”
After speaking, Eunuch Wang lifted the yellow silk. The tray held nothing but a seven-foot white silk ribbon, as white as snow.
“Insolent! You are insolent!!” The Eldest Prince was struck as if by lightning. He staggered backward, shouting hoarsely, his voice filled with disbelief and terror. “I am the Eldest Prince of the Central Plains Dynasty! You… you dare to harm me! Did Lin Fan send you? I want to see Father Emperor, I want to see Mother!”
Eunuch Wang said, “Your Highness, His Majesty said that you are a Prince and should understand that the crime of colluding with the enemy and treason is unforgivable. To give an explanation to the world, please calm down, Your Highness, and depart with dignity.”
“Impossible, my Father Emperor would never let me die,” the Eldest Prince roared madly, his body trembling uncontrollably. He stepped back, retreating into a corner.
“I want to see Father Emperor, I want to see Mother.”
At this moment, the Eldest Prince was truly terrified and at a loss. He never expected that the final outcome would be a decree of death.
He was the Eldest Prince.
The future of the Imperial Court.
He refused to believe this was true.
Eunuch Wang remained silent, skillfully tossing the seven-foot white silk ribbon over the beam, tying a knot, and then pulling the knot upwards, hoping that when Your Highness departed, the knot wouldn’t press against his throat, making it more comfortable.
Li Tong Ling stepped forward several paces.
“Bold! Step back! I, this Prince, order you to step back,” the Eldest Prince angrily pointed at Li Tong Ling. “Impossible, how could Father Emperor bear to let me die? Impossible.”
Li Tong Ling looked at the frenzied Eldest Prince and said respectfully, “Your Highness, His Majesty did not sleep all night yesterday. But Your Highness should never have colluded with the enemy and committed treason. I have been to Japan, and their ambitions are great: to destroy Silla in three years and pacify the Central Plains in five. The Divine Martial Great General’s actions are to quell unrest and rebellion for the dynasty.”
“I don’t want to hear it, I don’t want to hear it,” the Eldest Prince shook his head desperately, covering his ears, wailing. “I was momentarily confused, acted on impulse. I regret it. Please go back and tell Father Emperor that your son knows he was wrong. I will never dare to do it again. I beg him to spare me this once, just this once.”
Li Tong Ling said no more, realizing he would have to act himself.
He took another step forward, his burly figure completely engulfing the Eldest Prince, his voice low and resolute.
“Your Highness… I must offend you.”
…
Imperial Study.
The Emperor was engrossed in reviewing memorials. The affairs of state were too numerous to allow for leisure.
“Your Majesty, General Lin requests an audience,” a eunuch said respectfully.
The Emperor’s furrowed brow eased slightly upon hearing this, and he immediately put down his brush. “Quick, let the Great General in.”
Lin Fan entered the Imperial Study, bowed to the Emperor, and saw the Emperor enthusiastically walk over, smiling. “Beloved Minister, please sit here.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Lin Fan replied.
The Emperor said, “Beloved Minister, is there something you have come here for?”
Lin Fan said, “Your Majesty, I have no personal matters, but I wanted to inquire about the Eldest Prince. Although the Eldest Prince…”
Before he could finish.
A voice came from outside the door.
“Your Majesty.”
Eunuch Wang and Li Tong Ling were waiting outside.
Lin Fan looked towards the sound, somewhat confused, but soon, when he saw a token placed on the tray held by Eunuch Wang, his heart suddenly jolted.
But he still had some doubts.
After all, it shouldn’t be possible, right?
However, soon, hurried footsteps could be heard from outside, along with the sounds of eunuchs trying to block someone.
“Your Highness! Your Highness, you cannot go in!”
“Let go of me!”
Before the voices faded, a figure burst through all the barriers outside the door and stumbled into the Imperial Study.
The person who rushed in was none other than the Empress.
However, at this moment, the Empress’s phoenix crown was askew, her hair disheveled, and the grace and dignity she usually exuded as the mother of the nation were gone. Her eyes were bloodshot, like those of a maddened bull.
“Empress, what are you doing?” the Emperor said.
“Emperor! You have such a cruel heart, such a poisonous heart!” the Empress cried out mournfully. “That is our child! Our Prince! You actually… actually had him executed! That is my flesh and blood, your own son! How could you… how could you bear to do it!!!”
Lin Fan looked at the Emperor in shock.
Executed?
The Emperor roared, “Guards, take the Empress back! Without my permission, the Empress is not to step out of the palace.”
“That is my child, give me back my child!”
The Empress struggled, lunging forward to grab the Emperor, but was quickly restrained by the guards and trembling palace maids.
All her strength seemed to drain away at that moment, and she could only be half-supported, half-dragged away. Her mournful cries echoed inside and outside the Imperial Study for a long time, gradually fading until they disappeared.
No…
I just came to plead, and the Eldest Prince was executed.
This cannot be blamed on me for not pleading.
But he knew, it was really annoying.
This Empress would likely be antagonistic towards him from now on.
As the Empress was taken away, the Emperor took a deep breath. He appeared very haggard but forced himself to remain calm, saying, “Beloved Minister, I know your intention. I understand.”
“But does Beloved Minister know that the Central Plains Dynasty is not my dynasty, but the dynasty of the common people? A Prince colluding with the enemy and committing treason is a grave crime.”
“That Beloved Minister is unharmed today is due to your divine might. But if it were any other general, it would have been a catastrophe.”
“If he dares to collude with the enemy and commit treason today, then after I am gone, he will become even more audacious and do something worse.”
“The Son of Heaven breaks the law like a commoner. This is not just a saying. I must be worthy of all the people under heaven, and I do not wish for him to bring disaster upon the country in the future.”
“All foreign enemies have ulterior motives and cannot be trusted.”
Listening to the Emperor’s words.
Lin Fan remained silent.
The Emperor said, “Beloved Minister, I am somewhat tired. Please go back and rest.”
“Your Majesty, please rest well. Your subject takes his leave.” Lin Fan stood up and left. As he reached the door, he looked back at the Emperor sitting there, his temples graying, his expression haggard and lonely.
His heart trembled slightly.
From the time he started in Yong’an until now as the Divine Martial Great General, his thoughts had always been simple: to rely on his own strength and play around, beating anyone he disliked.
But now, he realized that the Emperor’s burden was heavy. He bore the hopes of a vast dynasty and countless people. Any action or behavior would affect the fate of the entire dynasty.
For Lin Fan, the so-called collusion with the enemy and treason was just a useless tactic.
But for the Emperor, for a Prince of the Dynasty to have done such a thing, if he dared to collude with Japan today, he would dare to collude with other countries tomorrow. And the Prince would also know important matters within the court.
Indeed, as the Emperor had said.
He was the one leading the troops to campaign. With his absolute martial power, he could sweep away everything. Any schemes or tricks were like paper in the face of absolute strength.
But if it were another general, the consequences would be unimaginable.
In the eyes of others, the person in the Imperial Study now was the Emperor, but in Lin Fan’s eyes, it was a venerable elder who cared for the country and its people, wanting only to manage the dynasty well in his remaining time and to select a qualified Emperor for the future populace.
“One must read books; without reading, one’s thinking is insufficient.”
Lin Fan pondered.
He solidified his resolve to study.
He would go back and read a few books.
…
Grand Tutor’s Mansion.
At this time, the Grand Tutor was still unaware of the situation in the palace or the outcome for the Eldest Prince. However, from the news he had just received, the Empress had gone to Lin Manor and emerged with a look of relief.
Clearly, the conversation had gone quite well.
Suddenly.
The butler rushed in with a pale face. “Master, just now, news came from the palace that the Eldest… Eldest Prince has been decreed to die by His Majesty.”
The Grand Tutor, who was drinking tea in the living room, acted as if he hadn’t heard clearly, appearing very calm. But then, he suddenly stood up, his eyes wide. “What did you say?”
The butler said, “News came from the palace that the Eldest Prince has been decreed to die.”
“Ah!” The Grand Tutor stumbled backward, feeling the world spin and his head swim. The butler quickly supported him. “Master, what should we do now?”
Who didn’t know that the Grand Tutor was a supporter of the Eldest Prince’s faction?
Now that the Eldest Prince had been decreed to die, it meant that the path the Grand Tutor had painstakingly planned for twenty years was cut short, leaving no room for retreat.
The Grand Tutor trembled all over, leaning on the armrest of the chair, his face ashen, devoid of any color. His mind was blank, and he sat down in a daze. He picked up his teacup, his hand shaking so violently that the tea spilled onto his body, but he didn’t notice.
“I… I…”
The Grand Tutor had many things he wanted to say, but at this moment, he didn’t know what to say.
He looked up at the butler. “Tell me… what should I do?”
The butler was dumbfounded by his master’s question.
You ask me? Who should I ask?
Master, I haven’t studied much.
The Grand Tutor understood that once the news of the Eldest Prince’s decree to die spread throughout the court, his officials, both civil and military, would undoubtedly seek to protect themselves and choose new supporters.
As for him, he had no opportunity to choose again.
At that time, he would be isolated and powerless in court, completely sidelined.
There was only one path left for the Grand Tutor to choose: to resign and return to his hometown to live out his days. If it went smoothly, this would be his best outcome.
Simultaneously.
What happened in the Imperial Palace could not be kept secret.
The Princes and even the high officials of the court all learned of the Eldest Prince’s death at the first opportunity.
The greatest impact was on the Second Prince.
The competition between him and the Eldest Prince was fierce and open. Now that the Eldest Prince was dead, a warning bell seemed to have appeared above his head, constantly reminding him.
He quickly invited the Grand Tutor and Grand Protector, two elder officials.
“Your Highness, this matter was not instigated by the Divine Martial Great General to have His Majesty decree the Eldest Prince’s death. It is because the Eldest Prince touched His Majesty’s bottom line by colluding with the enemy and committing treason, which is absolutely unforgivable. This is also a warning from His Majesty to all the Princes.”
The Grand Tutor said gravely.
The Second Prince’s voice trembled. “Grand Tutor, no matter what, he was still His Father Emperor’s son. To decree his death so readily, is it not a bit…”
Without giving the Second Prince a chance to finish, the Grand Tutor waved his hand. “Your Highness, what is said now is meaningless. Your Highness must engrave this matter in your heart and absolutely not repeat the same mistake.”
The Second Prince said, “With something like this happening, even if I were given ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare.”
The Grand Protector said, “Your Highness, in my humble opinion, Your Highness needs to pay attention to one matter.”
“What matter?”
“Regarding the Empress. Now that the Eldest Prince has been decreed to die, the Empress will absolutely not let this matter rest. She will definitely seek revenge on Lin Fan with a storm of fury. At that time, someone might come to sow discord with Your Highness, but Your Highness must absolutely not believe them. The current Divine Martial Great General is an existence that absolutely cannot be provoked. Your Highness only needs to diligently do your own part and, at the same time, maintain a good relationship with the Divine Martial Great General. The throne will undoubtedly be yours in the future.”
The Grand Protector clarified the strategy.
As long as the Second Prince didn’t make any fatal mistakes, the throne was already within his grasp.
“Is that true?” The Second Prince was very excited.
“Mm, it is certain, there is absolutely no mistake. Currently, there is no one who can compete with the Second Prince. However, Your Highness must remember, you must never make a mistake,” the Grand Protector said. [Truncated: Max tokens]
“Yes, absolutely, there is no mistake. Currently, no one can compete with the Second Prince. But Your Highness must remember, you absolutely cannot make a mistake,” the Grand Protector said.
The Second Prince patted his chest and said, “Teacher, rest assured, this Highness is not as foolish as he. I naturally know what can be done and what cannot be done.”
Afterwards, the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector left this place.
There are many things they need to do now. The officials who originally supported the Eldest Prince are now leaderless and in utter panic. If we extend an olive branch at this moment, they will surely fall into our net and come to pledge allegiance.
At this moment, the Second Prince was incredibly cheerful, even excitedly gesticulating. He then took out a pill called ‘Immortal’s Joy’. After swallowing it, one would feel as if floating in bliss, experiencing joy as if tumbling through the clouds.
He only took it when he was in a good mood.
Double the joy.
……
Lin’s manor, dining table.
“Ah? Master, the First Prince was executed?” Ning Yu’s eyes nearly popped out when she heard the news.
Lin Fan said, “Mm, he’s dead.”
The Ninth Prince, who was eating, suddenly looked up, and was directly shocked by this news. His eyes blinked extremely quickly. To him, this news was like a bolt from the blue, fiercely striking his head.
Ning Yu said, “Master, isn’t His Majesty too decisive? But Master, aren’t you in trouble too? The Empress will surely shift the blame onto you.”
“I don’t think they want to shake it off, they want to force it on,” Lin Fan said.
Ning Yu’s eyeballs spun extremely fast, and she suddenly thought of something, “Master, I think something big might be about to happen.”
“How so?”
Ning Yu said, “Master, the Empress’s maternal family is a powerful aristocratic clan from Yunnan. They hold military power and guard the southwest. When the Empress entered the palace, it was through a political marriage to utilize her family’s influence to stabilize the southwest. Now that the First Prince has been executed, their hopes are shattered. They certainly won’t obediently guard the southwest; they will definitely make a move.”
Lin Fan said, “You are quite far-sighted.”
“Master, this is not about my foresight, but something I should naturally know. If the Eldest Prince were to become Emperor, the head of the Empress’s family would be the Emperor’s maternal uncle. Now that the nephew is gone, their hope is gone. How could they possibly give up?” Ning Yu said.
Lin Fan knew very little about the situation of the Imperial Court.
I haven’t paid attention to it usually.
Now that Lin Fan heard what Ning Yu said, he understood that he had to guard against it.
Internal strife and external troubles… no, there are no external troubles for now.
Mengye Country doesn’t have the guts for that yet.
A few days later
The news of the Eldest Prince being sentenced to death did not spread among the common people. Only the ministers in the Imperial Court knew, but since the Emperor did not mention it, they naturally pretended not to know.
On this day, during the morning court session.
“Your Majesty, this old minister is advanced in years. I implore Your Majesty to allow me to retire and return home.” The Grand Tutor stepped forward voluntarily and prostrated himself.
The officials cast their eyes to the Grand Tutor. No one spoke. If the Eldest Prince were still here, the ministers would surely have implored him to stay, shouting that the Grand Tutor was the pillar of the Imperial Court and could not return home.
But now there was silence.
The Grand Tutor’s lips were very bitter. Indeed, favor fades when a person is gone. During this period, not many ministers sought him out; only a handful came.
The Emperor looked at the Grand Tutor and said, “Granted!”
The reply was very direct.
“Thank Your Majesty for your great favor,” the Grand Tutor shouted loudly, while also breathing a sigh of relief. To be able to retire from the turbulent currents and land safely was undoubtedly the best outcome.
After the Grand Tutor returned to his seat, the Emperor looked at Lin Fan, “Lin Ai Qing, how is the Divine Martial Department prepared?”
Lin Fan replied, “Your Majesty, the Divine Martial Department is operational. I have already arranged for people to go to various prefectural cities to establish Divine Martial Department government offices. It should be distributed nationwide within half a month at the latest.”
The Emperor nodded, “I have troubled you, Ai Qing. If you need anything, just tell me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Just then.
“Report!!!”
A hurried voice came.
A messenger rushed into the hall, shouting, “Your Majesty, the General guarding Yunnan has raised an army in rebellion, and has allied with the Dag Guang Dynasty to advance towards the Central Plains.”
With this matter.
The scene was in an uproar.
The civil and military officials all showed shocked expressions. No one expected it to come so quickly. In their opinion, the Empress’s maternal family, upon learning that the First Prince had been executed, would surely take action.
But who would have thought that the action would be so swift.
How much time has passed?
What surprised them even more was that the Dag Guang Dynasty was also involved. This country was not powerful, being rather ordinary, but the barbarians from all directions had always been coveting the fertile lands of the Central Plains.
As long as they found an opportunity, they would surely not let it go.
“Scoundrel!” The Emperor was furious.
Lin Fan truly did not wish for His Majesty’s emotions to fluctuate so greatly, as it was a burden on his health. Before they could discuss, he voluntarily stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops,” Lin Fan volunteered.
He had recently read many military treatises and felt very confident, with his mind full of methods for military deployment. This was a good opportunity to test his recent studies.
Currently, Lin Fan was the only one the Emperor could use and trust.
“Good. Issue an imperial decree, enfeoff the Divine Martial Great General as the Great General for Quelling Rebellion, mobilize the Five Army Camps… for a total of 30,000 troops. They shall depart immediately, and grain and fodder will be requisitioned from the prefectural and county governments,” the Emperor declared.
The Grand Tutor’s expression was very complex.
He did not expect that it would come to this in the end.
Empress.
How foolish you are.
This Divine Martial Great General Lin Fan is no longer an ordinary mortal. If he personally takes action, how can your maternal family resist him? Do not forget that even the formidable army of Mengye Country, like a fierce beast, could not stop his advance.
…
Several days later.
“Master, don’t worry, I promise to behave and I won’t run around.”
On the road to Yunnan, the army marched forward mightily. Ning Yu, who was following, gave her solemn promise. When she learned that her Master was going to quell the rebellion, she didn’t think twice and begged her Master to take her along to see the world.
In her entire life, she had never witnessed such a grand occasion.
“War is not a game. Behave yourself properly.”
“Yes, Master.”
