Chapter 397 - 246: The Holy Emperor’s Secret, the Crown Prince’s Return, Discussing the Grand Plan of Regicide
Chapter 397 - 246: The Holy Emperor’s Secret, the Crown Prince’s Return, Discussing the Grand Plan of Regicide
Most of their conversations had been about Lu Mingyuan.
His eldest daughter seemed to hold Lu Mingyuan in very high regard, and her words even hinted at affection. She had once hoped that he would support the Sixth Prince.
However, he had always put her off.
That is, until one thing happened.
The Champion Marquis arrived at the Northern Pass in his capacity as Governor, joining him to defend the Northwest.
At first, he thought the Champion Marquis wouldn’t be easy to get along with. After all, as the number one Marquis in all of Great Yan, it was only natural for him to be arrogant.
But after spending more time with him, he soon discovered he was wrong.
The Champion Marquis was actually just like him—a soldier loyal to the core, willing to live and die for Great Yan.
He wasn’t one for scheming.
His position as Prince Zhenbei had never been an easy one.
The Imperial Court had always been wary of him, a fact he himself was well aware of.
That was why he had kept a low profile all these years, careful not to cause any trouble.
And the Court had no leverage against him.
Yang Xiao knew that if anything happened to him, his soldiers and the people of the Northwest border would lose the peace and stability they had come to depend on.
The Court would undoubtedly move against the military garrisons in the Northwest and carry out a complete reshuffle.
Now, Lu Mingyuan was the Crown Prince, and he was on excellent terms with his daughter.
If he became the new emperor, then he could finally cast aside his worries and serve peacefully as Prince Zhenbei.
Therefore, if anyone tried to move against Lu Mingyuan, he could not simply stand by and watch.
He frowned and said,
"For all these years, I have remained at the border, diligent and devoted to my duty. I have never participated in any factional struggles. But if anyone dares to harm the people of the Border Pass or my soldiers, I will be the first to show them no mercy. If Your Highness has suffered any injustice, please, speak freely."
Lu Mingyuan sighed. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally told the two of them everything—the full story of the Nine Dragons Struggle for the Throne, including Elder Mr. Qi’s elaborate schemes and his own suspicions about what his father, the Emperor, had been doing within the Deep Palace.
Emperor Yong’an never truly intended to name a Crown Prince.
The Nine Dragons Struggle for the Throne was, in fact, a trap...
The Holy Emperor actually wanted me to be defeated, which is why the troops he dispatched were nothing but a disorganized mob...
It’s highly likely that my imperial father deliberately had Elder Mr. Qi killed...
In short.
The current Holy Emperor is not a benevolent ruler. He is no longer the good Emperor everyone revered and praised, but a treacherous and cunning schemer, full of malice.
The Champion Marquis and Prince Zhenbei listened to his every word.
It was like a bolt from the blue.
For a long time, neither of them could come to their senses.
After a long moment, their expressions grew complicated, as if they still hadn’t fully digested the meaning of his words.
’If what His Highness says is true...’
’...then what is the Holy Emperor’s true goal?’
Having said so much, Lu Mingyuan took a deep breath, his own heart turbulent with emotion.
"Everyone has desires, even the Emperor is no exception. But to cast everything aside for the sake of desire is to become a Demon. If what you say is true, my disciple, then it is very likely the Holy Emperor has already become a Fallen Demon, his worldly attachments transforming into a Heart Demon."
Prince Zhenbei, however, was uncertain. "Whether Your Highness’s words are true or false... If they are true, then this is a matter that concerns the very survival of the Central Plains World. This is not a good time for such a crisis to erupt."
Although he was on Lu Mingyuan’s side, the sheer volume of information was too much for him to process in the moment.
In truth, it was not only him. The Elder Celestial Master of the Celestial Master’s Mansion, Lady Qingqiu of Qingqiu Temple, the Abbot of the Great Golden Cicada Temple, and other beings of the Upper Three Grades were all watching every move made on the mortal plane.
However, they remained silent, all waiting to see what Lu Mingyuan’s stance would be.
Then, his expression calm, Zhao Xuanwu slowly asked,
"My disciple, what are your thoughts on this?"
Lu Mingyuan was silent for a long time before he spoke slowly.
"I want to kill the Emperor."
...
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