Volume One, Chapter Twelve: The Emperor’s Strategy, Storms Arise Once More

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Ge Hong and Du Lingfu exchanged a glance. Neither had expected Ye Chen to be waiting here for Ling Aotian.

The Great Yu criminal code did indeed contain such a provision. A demoted member of the imperial clan was still a member of the imperial clan—especially when Ye Chen himself was a prince.

What was more, Ling Aotian had just insulted the Ninth Prince at the Imperial Observatory. Ge Hong could no longer stand by and do nothing.

“Men! Seize Ling Aotian and give him fifty strokes!”

Ling Aotian had long been used to throwing his weight around, relying on his younger sister Ling Aoxue’s status as Imperial Consort Ling.

When he saw the Chief Astronomer personally order that he be beaten, he immediately began shouting.

“Let’s see who dares! My sister is Imperial Consort Ling, and I am the Emperor’s brother-in-law. I count as half a member of the imperial clan!”

To his surprise, Ge Hong replied coldly, “The ancestral laws of the Great Yu imperial family forbid the relatives of consorts from claiming membership in the imperial clan. Not even half a member.”

As he spoke, several disciples rushed forward and restrained Ling Aotian.

“Don’t touch me! I may not be a member of the imperial clan now, but I soon will be. His Majesty has already agreed to make my sister Empress!”

Ling Aotian was horrified, yet he dared not resist. His eyes bulged as he shrieked in fury.

He knew that the Imperial Observatory possessed the authority to execute first and report afterward, as well as the right to inspect the realm on the Emperor’s behalf.

Even the Dali Temple, which handled criminal trials, and the Office of Censors, which oversaw the civil and military officials, were subject to the Imperial Observatory’s supervision.

If he dared resist, he would be killed on the spot!

“How dare you! To openly discuss the appointment of an empress before the entire assembly—you will be stripped of your cultivation and exiled!”

Ge Hong’s thunderous roar left Ling Aotian shaken.

Panicking, Ling Aotian turned imploringly toward Elder Li Zixun.

“Elder Li, hurry to the palace and find my sister! Quickly! If you’re too late, I’m finished!”

Ye Chen watched coldly and said evenly, “During the period of national mourning, the imperial consorts are forbidden to leave the palace.”

At those words, Ling Aotian nearly went mad.

Ge Hong had no desire to waste any more words on him. With a sweep of his hand, he ordered, “No corporal punishment may be carried out during the period of national mourning. Take him to the Imperial Observatory’s prison for now. His punishment will be administered once the mourning period is over.”

As Ling Aotian was led away, Li Zixun was both shocked and furious. Her injuries worsened, and she collapsed limply to the ground.

“Wretched disciple, send Elder Li back to the Heavenly Medicine Sect!”

Jun Moye had just given his fifth junior sister some medicine and was greatly relieved. Reluctantly, he stepped out of the Stargazing Tower.

“This disciple obeys!”

After cupping his hands in salute, Jun Moye helped Li Zixun into a carriage and drove away.

“The rest of you may disperse.”

Only after watching Jun Moye depart did Ge Hong turn back toward Ye Chen and the others.

“May I ask why the Ninth Prince has come to the Imperial Observatory?”

Ye Chen first glanced at Hong Sixiang, then said with a smile, “Before we discuss serious matters, I would like to borrow a place in the Imperial Observatory to heal Commander Hong’s leg.”

Ge Hong understood at once and looked toward Hong Sixiang. “That will be simple. The Imperial Observatory can provide one Meridian-Opening Pill to treat Commander Hong’s leg.”

Hong Sixiang was both astonished and delighted. He was merely one of the many junior commanders among the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the capital.

To receive such treatment left him deeply humbled.

“Many thanks, Chief Astronomer. If Your Excellency should ever require my service, I would gladly risk my life without hesitation!”

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“Do not thank me just yet. The Meridian-Opening Pill cannot completely heal your leg. At best, it will keep you from limping quite so badly.”

As Ge Hong spoke, he looked toward Ye Chen. “That said, I believe the Ninth Prince certainly has a way.”

Half a cup of tea later, a howl like that of a slaughtered pig rang out from the Imperial Observatory’s medical courtyard.

Before long, Hong Sixiang emerged from the courtyard, clutching his lower back.

He had taken the Meridian-Opening Pill, and Ye Chen had personally set his bones. His leg truly no longer limped.

“Your subordinate shall take his leave. I will not disturb Your Highness and the two officials any longer.”

Hong Sixiang knew when to make himself scarce, and he immediately bade them farewell.

“Remember, you must not fight anyone for the next three days!”

Watching Hong Sixiang’s departing back, Ye Chen still called out a reminder.

Deeply moved, Hong Sixiang stopped in the distance and knelt toward Ye Chen.

“The Ninth Prince has shown me a kindness I can never repay. From this day forward, I shall serve Your Highness faithfully and follow wherever you lead!”

After seeing Hong Sixiang off, Ye Chen did not take out the pitch-black command token. Instead, he voiced the question that had long troubled him.

“I have always wondered: Why did Father target me when he set out to strip the vassal kings of their power?”

He genuinely could not understand it. Even if the original owner’s mother was the daughter of King Wu, Zhao Tai, the original owner was still Emperor Qingli’s biological son.

Emperor Qingli had spent five years laying his plans, only to target his own son as a means of threatening his father-in-law. It was truly difficult to comprehend.

At these words, Ge Hong and Du Lingfu exchanged a glance. Both revealed helpless smiles that concealed something deeper.

They then explained in detail how power was structured within the Great Yu Dynasty.

The Emperor’s authority was only one part of the kingdom’s power. Beneath him stood the civil officials’ Grand Secretariat and the military commanders’ Council of War.

Twenty-five years earlier, the dragon veins of Great Yu had stirred. Emperor Qingli had taken advantage of the upheaval to ascend the throne, and rumors spread that his claim to the throne was illegitimate.

At the time, the three vassal kings had all been trusted ministers of the previous Emperor, and they were deeply critical of Emperor Qingli.

After ascending the throne, Emperor Qingli spent twenty years struggling against his own brothers.

In the end, some died while others were exiled. Only then did Emperor Qingli have the time and freedom to turn his attention to the three vassal kings.

Five years ago, Emperor Qingli decided to strip the vassal kings of their authority. The three kings opposed him, and after several rounds of negotiation, the talks ultimately collapsed.

With no other choice, Emperor Qingli decided to resort to force. Yet the only army he could mobilize was the Hidden Dragon Guard.

It was a force created specifically to deal with rebellions—a power that could not be brought into the light of day.

To mobilize the Hidden Dragon Guard, there had to be a rebellion somewhere within Great Yu.

Du Lingfu sighed. “In truth, King Zhou Ji Dongcang and King Nanyue Ma Chengyuan were both forced into rebellion.”

Ge Hong took a sip of tea. “Three years ago, the Fifth Prince and his mother joined forces to falsely accuse King Zhou of forcing them into rebellion. Two years ago, the Eighth Prince, Ye Xu, reported that his maternal grandfather, King Nanyue, had urged him to rebel. In the end, the entire families of King Zhou and King Nanyue were slaughtered. The two princes were driven back to their fiefs and forbidden to leave without an imperial edict.”

At last, Ye Chen understood.

In truth, such things had occurred throughout the history of his homeland. Whenever a new emperor ascended the throne, he would replace the former emperor’s ministers, frame and suppress his own brothers, and sometimes even have them killed—all to consolidate imperial power.

The process had to be reasonable, lawful, and just. No one could be left with grounds for criticism. That required exceptionally sophisticated political maneuvering.

After all, to rule a nation, one might need ruthless methods, but one still had to convince the world through reason.

Ye Chen now understood why Emperor Qingli had targeted the original owner and his mother.

The Emperor merely needed an excuse to launch a campaign against King Wu, Zhao Tai.

Du Lingfu was deeply anxious. “Now that the Retired Emperor has passed away and the princes have returned to the capital, a bloody storm is about to descend upon the city!”

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Ge Hong’s next words weighed even more heavily upon Ye Chen’s heart.

“I received news today that King Wu’s three sons were ambushed by the Hidden Dragon Guard. Two are dead, and one is missing.”

“Under these circumstances, after proving your innocence yesterday, Your Highness may instead cause King Wu to believe that you conspired with His Majesty.”

“Furthermore, with the Retired Emperor’s death, King Wu, Zhao Tai, will certainly come to the capital to pay his respects. When that happens…”

Ge Hong did not finish, but Ye Chen already understood. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

According to the original owner’s memories, his maternal grandfather, King Wu Zhao Tai, had always doted on him.

From the age of six until he was nine, the original owner had lived at the King Wu’s residence in Longxi. Those three years had been the happiest period of his childhood.

Ye Chen’s head began to ache. “Father has truly set me up for disaster!”

Ge Hong glanced at the time. Seeing that Ye Chen showed no intention of producing the military tiger tally of the Imperial Observatory, he reminded him, “Ninth Prince, Grand Preceptor Du, we should go to the Hall of Ancestral Tribute to mourn the late Emperor.”

“Also, there is to be a general amnesty during the national mourning. The Ninth Prince should pay His Majesty a visit as well.”

Du Lingfu slapped his forehead. “I would have forgotten if you had not mentioned it. We must go—especially the Ninth Prince. After mourning the late Emperor, he must pay his respects to His Majesty.”

Ye Chen understood. Since he could not leave the capital for the time being, meeting Emperor Qingli would at least allow him to test the Emperor’s attitude toward him.

…

At the same time, in the Palace of Serene Nourishment.

Emperor Qingli wore a smile at the corner of his mouth as he read the intelligence delivered by his spies.

King Wu Zhao Tai of Longxi had personally led his army to intercept the Hidden Dragon Guard and avenge his sons.

The two forces had encountered each other in the Helan Mountains, where a fierce battle had erupted.

More than half of the Hidden Dragon Guard had been killed or wounded. Its commander, General Yuwen Ji, a third-grade martial cultivator, had suffered severe injuries and led the remnants in a breakout.

At that moment, Falcon appeared.

“Your Majesty, I have just received word that the Ninth Prince has gone to the Imperial Observatory. In addition, the Council of War has received an eight-hundred-li emergency dispatch from King Wu. It reports rebel forces appearing at Shanhai Pass, Yanmen Pass, and Yang Pass. All three of King Wu’s sons died in battle while resisting the rebels. King Wu has already led his army to suppress the uprising and submitted a memorial requesting posthumous titles for his dead sons.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qingli clenched his fists. He had not expected Zhao Tai to be so cunning and experienced.

Ye Chen’s proof of innocence the previous day had, in fact, demonstrated that someone else was responsible for the rebellion.

This only made Emperor Qingli appear incompetent and foolish.

Zhao Tai had calculated that the Hidden Dragon Guard could not be openly acknowledged. He had therefore declared them rebels and turned the accusation back upon the Emperor.

“Damn it!”

In his fury, Emperor Qingli released his cultivation power, suppressing Falcon until he could not raise his head.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the hall.

“Your Majesty is occupied, Your Highness. Please return later!”

Ling Aoxue’s voice followed. “No, I must see His Majesty now… I beg Your Majesty to save my brother…”

“Let her in.”

Emperor Qingli’s voice came from within the hall.

Ling Aoxue rushed inside, fell to her knees before him, and began sobbing out her complaint.

“Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince colluded with Chief Astronomer Ge Hong to falsely accuse my brother of insulting the imperial family. I beg Your Majesty to deliver justice for him!”