Free Web NovelChapter 398: Chapter 247: The Crown Prince Rebels, Sends Troops to the Capital City, an Uproar Ensues
I wish to kill the emperor.
A dead silence instantly fell over the scene.
’The Crown Prince is... rebelling!’
Fortunately, the surrounding area was sealed by a barrier, preventing his words from leaking out. Those around him were all Lu Mingyuan’s trusted followers.
However, those who heard these five words froze, their minds suddenly going blank.
Luo Ying was deeply shaken.
Back then, Prince Jin, Lu Guangjing, had schemed and plotted his way through the Imperial Capital, distinguishing himself from the other Nine Dragons. He had been deeply dissatisfied with Emperor Yong’an’s actions and had even tried to break free from the National Preceptor Xun Yu’s machinations, but all his attempts had failed.
At the very least, the Second Prince back then had never even thought of regicide.
On one hand, in this era, influenced by the Confucian Temple’s ideals of loyalty to the emperor and love for the nation, regicide was an absolute act of high treason.
The roles of ruler and subject, father and son, were sacrosanct.
Maintaining the order of a feudal society required this set of ideals as its foundation.
No matter how powerful Prince Jin, Lu Guangjing, became, the fact that he never considered regicide was a testament to the constraints of the era.
Even Luo Ying herself had never considered this possibility.
On the other hand, there was Emperor Yong’an’s immense prestige. An iron-blooded emperor who had taken the throne as a youth and led Great Yan into another golden age, his deeds were known to all, from the highest court officials to the common folk.
All the princes held their father in awe.
Never mind regicide; even talking back to their Imperial Father was something that rarely happened in the Imperial Palace.
The image of a strict father was firmly established in the hearts of all the princes.
To everyone present, these five words were undoubtedly deafening!
The implications of this matter were not as simple as involving one or two factions; the entire Great Yan would be turned upside down.
In truth, Lu Mingyuan didn’t want to make his move now either.
But this was the best, and most necessary, moment to do so.
’He suspected that after he returned to the Capital City this time, the prophecy, "Support will flock from the four corners, gathering the power of the Three Religions, leading to suspicion between father and son," was about to be fulfilled.’
’I can no longer wait for the day I break through to Martial Saint.’
’If news of my great victory reaches the Capital City, my Imperial Father will immediately move against me.’
’The Great Nether Empress has already retreated.’
’I’ve reclaimed Elder Mr. Qi’s coffin and successfully won the world’s approval. Now is the time, while my Imperial Father is still unguarded against me, while he knows nothing of my intentions.’
’A dragon in the ocean, free to roam the Nine Heavens.’
’If I don’t rebel now, when will I?’
’If I go back this time, I’ll be at my Imperial Father’s mercy, completely suppressed.’
With the Champion Marquis and Prince Zhenbei before him, he effectively had military power.
Backed by the Sect Leader of the Celestial Master’s Mansion, who followed the Yuqing Ancestor Master, and with the Elder Celestial Master also present, he commanded the power of a considerable number of Qi Cultivators.
As for the Great Golden Cicada Temple, Lu Mingyuan guessed they were reinforcements sent by the True Buddha Jiang Shan.
The reason for this was easy to figure out.
’Jiang Shan is getting close to me for no other reason than to spread the influence of Buddhism throughout the Central Plains World.’
’Master Jiang Shan has already tried a similar approach in the Silver Frost Empire; he clearly wants to replicate his actions in the neighboring country.’
’After all, the Great Golden Cicada Temple has already become the National Religion of the Silver Frost Empire.’
Lu Mingyuan had a firm grasp on everyone’s motivations.
The current situation, with support flocking from all four corners, was in fact created by the Three Religions’ Influence wanting to curry favor with the Eastern Palace Mansion and win the goodwill of the new Crown Prince.
That was precisely why so many people had come this time.
First, they could gain the prestige of having helped retrieve the Saint and Sage, Qi Xingyan. Second, they could win the favor of the Eastern Palace Mansion and secure a place for themselves within the future of the Three Religions’ Influence.
Who wouldn’t want to kill two birds with one stone?
But none of them had expected Lu Mingyuan to say such a thing.
At this moment, a woman in a fox-tail skirt looked at the Elder Seal Master and asked:
"Elder Celestial Master, what is your view on this matter?"
Lady Qingqiu lived up to her name, noble and elegant. She wore a cyan palace gown with a peony pattern, her hair was done up with silver hairpins and precious jade, and nine enormous, snow-white fox tails added a touch of allure to her entire being.
A handmaiden stood beside her, holding a pink Luo Umbrella.
The Elder Celestial Master said flatly, "Since the Yuqing Ancestor Master chose to bet on His Highness, the Crown Prince, he must have his reasons. I will naturally comply."
Lady Qingqiu furrowed her brows and remained silent for a long time.
She had been ennobled by the Great Yan Government Office, so she naturally stood on the side of the Court. freewёbnoνel.com
She had no intention of participating in the Court’s struggles. As long as Great Yan still stood, she would be fine.
But, just as she was thinking this...
...the Qingqiu Temple had received a formal plea, one carried by Literary Qi and incense.
The plea clearly stated that if she wanted the Qingqiu Temple to advance further, she should go to Celestial Water City.
Looking at it now, it was clear this had been premeditated for a long time.
At this very moment, Prince Zhenbei stepped forward and asked doubtfully:
"Is what Your Highness says true? It is so hard to believe that I cannot calm myself, hence my question."
"Even if it is true, with Your Highness’s strength, how can you contend with the Holy Emperor and the Court?"
In his view, Lu Mingyuan was indeed very strong, strong enough to defeat the Great Nether Empress.
But deep down, Prince Zhenbei still believed the current Holy Emperor was unfathomable.
Emperor Yong’an was not as simple as just an Eighth Realm Martial Artist.
Unless he has reached the Upper Three Grades...
...in the end, it would still be difficult to be a match for the Court.
The Court had nurtured far too many masters.
The Mountain Masters of the Three Academies alone were each peak Twelfth Realm experts.
And then there were the ten masters of the Inner Court, whose Cultivation was by no means low.
Lu Mingyuan replied calmly, "I have already reached the Late Stage of the Eleventh Realm. It won’t be long before I reach the Twelfth Realm. After emerging from the Grand Thousand Canglan Map, I am confident I can make a push for the Thirteenth Realm Martial Saint."
What?!
Everyone was once again jolted by Lu Mingyuan’s words.
’Is His Highness’s Cultivation really only at the Eleventh Realm?’
’With just the Cultivation of the Eleventh Realm, he could already fight the Twelfth Realm Great Nether Empress to a standstill?!’
Monster!
An absolute monster!
Many people’s expressions went slack with shock. Only then did they recall that a mere three years ago, the Sixth Prince had been nothing more than an ordinary person, unskilled in either literary schemes or martial strategy.
In just three years, he had already ascended to the Eleventh Realm, becoming a Late Stage Feather Transformation Realm Martial Artist.
’In other words, what in the world has he been through?’
The Sect Masters and Sect Leaders from other factions were all shocked to varying degrees.
’Could someone really break through to the Eleventh Realm in such a short time? And as a Martial Artist, whose realms are the hardest to break through? Even those peerless prodigies said to be reincarnated Immortals couldn’t be this fast, right?’
They were now even more convinced.
His Highness, the Crown Prince, had been hiding his strength!
Lu Mingyuan scanned the shocked and astonished gazes of the crowd and said calmly, "If a man is without the Dao, Heaven shall strike him down. If a ruler is without the Dao, I shall strike him down."
"The current Holy Emperor has colluded with the Great Nether Empress, poisoned the masses, and secretly devoured Destiny. I am willing to list his ten crimes and proclaim them to the world."
"Everyone, are you willing to submit to me?"
As soon as he said this, everyone’s gaze fell upon this swiftly rising True Dragon. Their faces showed a mixture of stirred emotions, deep contemplation, and complex feelings.
The Champion Marquis took a deep breath, brandished his Three-foot Prince, and ordered:
"Form ranks! Our destination—the Capital City!"
...
I had some things to take care of today, so I wrote very little. I’m not trying to shortchange everyone; the big climax just needs the right amount of setup. I’ll make it up to you all with two Chapters tomorrow. They won’t be short ones, either—each one will be over 3,000 characters.
