Chapter 334: The Scenery from High Up
“What?”
Inside the tent, the Third Prince said in disbelief, “Huo Ningxue wants to summon all officials to court? And she wants this prince to join her?”
“Is that woman crazy? Isn’t she afraid that this prince will bring the Tianlang Wei and control all the civil and military officials, declaring himself emperor on the spot?”
Next to him, General Xu Yourong pondered slightly, puzzled, “It is indeed strange.”
“Where does Huo Ningxue get the confidence to confront us now? Surely she wouldn’t want that Demon Cultivator country master helping her in front of all the officials, right?”
“Impossible.” The Third Prince shook his head decisively, “That would be cutting off her own escape routes, admitting to colluding with outsiders. If that were true, Grand Eunuch Qin would never just sit back and watch.”
“I don’t care what her schemes are. As long as she dares to let me bring the Tianlang Wei to court, I will dare to cause a scene and force her out.”
“As long as I ascend to the throne, no matter what trump cards she has, they will be of no use.”
Ignoring Xu Yourong’s musings, the Third Prince directly addressed the nearby Tianlang Wei: “Have several generals of Tianlang Wei prepare their troops immediately! Tomorrow morning, we go to court.”
Xu Yourong merely furrowed his brows and said nothing.
Once the Third Prince left the tent, General Huang, who had met Young Master Sang during the battle with Floating Splendor Commerce, entered to see Xu Yourong.
“Marshal, about this…”
“I know.” Xu Yourong frowned, “If Huo Ningxue dares to confront us like this, she must have a trump card to turn the tables.”
“The only person I can think of as her trump card is… that individual.”
Li Shanyan.
General Huang hesitated, “But the Third Prince had sworn that person wouldn’t intervene.”
“Marshal, do you think the Third Prince’s words… can be trusted?”
This was actually what troubled Xu Yourong the most.
To say he didn’t trust it? He wouldn’t question the power behind the Third Prince that had resurrected him.
But to say he did trust it.
These past few days, Xu Yourong had been both amused and exasperated by the Third Prince’s outrageous maneuvers.
For a moment, he suddenly understood why Li Shanyan had chosen Huo Ningxue over him.
The guy seemed knowledgeable but was just regurgitating dead knowledge, foolish and arrogant, blinded by hatred for Huo Ningxue.
Cooperating with him left Xu Yourong feeling unsure.
“Since that’s the case, let’s see how things unfold tomorrow?”
Xu Yourong said quietly, “If that individual really intervenes, I will no longer have any reason to support this fool. Worst case, I can just abdicate gracefully.”
“Such a pity, to have an opportunity for a comeback, only to be crushed by that individual again.”
General Huang was silent for a moment before suddenly asking, “If I may be so bold, Marshal, you are already in a high position. Even if the Third Prince successfully revolts, it would be hard to advance further.”
“Why still take the risk of offending Li Shanyan to support the Third Prince’s rebellion?”
This rough, one-eyed scar-faced man turned to General Huang, hesitated for a while, then sighed with his hands behind his back:
“Do you remember how I got my eyes and the scar on my face?”
“…I remember. I heard it was done by Li Shanyan.”
“Exactly.” Xu Yourong said softly, “At that time, I had yet to take over Tianlang Wei, and was just a bandit king in the southwestern mountains.”
“Over three hundred years ago, I intercepted a batch of carriages from the Holy Kingdom, and it just so happened to contain a royal consort. As a result, Li Shanyan stormed my mountain gate, nearly costing me my life.”
“I eventually surrendered, narrowly escaped, and after relentless training, entered the Great Ascension stage, achieving my current status.”
General Huang hesitated for a moment, asking, “So… does that mean you still hold a grudge against Li Shanyan?”
“No.” Xu Yourong shook his head, “I don’t hate him.”
“I was just suddenly enlightened that day over three hundred years ago when he got me by the throat with a whisk, as if killing me was as easy as squashing an ant.”
“In this world, the only thing to rely on is power.”
“So for so many years, I willingly led Tianlang Wei, working hard to improve my cultivation with resources from the Holy Kingdom, yet I’ve only reached the third level of Great Ascension.”
“I’m not content.” A glint flashed in Xu Yourong’s eyes.
“I fantasize continuously about the day I can finally witness the world through that old man’s eyes.”
“But now, as I cultivate, I increasingly feel the limits of my potential, and even with the Holy Kingdom’s resources, the results have been meager.”
“The only way to turn my fate around… is that Ten Thousand Year Blood Demon Dan.”
“Tell me,” he said calmly, “if you were in my shoes, would you take the risk?”
General Huang fell silent.
Such matters never had right or wrong.
In the realm of cultivation, there was hardly ever an absolute right or wrong.
Right and wrong were relative, defined by those with power.
Xu Yourong wanted to become the one who set the rules.
Just like Li Shanyan.
So if one were to put it that way, it wasn’t hate he felt. Instead, it was more akin to admiration.
“One day, I’ll stand at the same height as that person, looking down on everything in the world.”
Xu Yourong murmured, “For that, I’m willing to pay any price.”
“The subordinate… understands.”
——
——
The next day, at the palace.
Early in the morning, the anxious officials could be seen, one after another, hesitating at the palace gates, greeting each other with awkward smiles.
“Ah, Lord Wang, please go in first.”
“No, no, no! Lord Li, you go first.”
But everybody knew.
Once they went in, there was a chance they might not come back out.
However, soon, when the Third Prince arrived with a procession of Tianlang Wei, these officials had no choice but to silently follow the crowd into the palace.
Along the way, the Third Prince strutted as if inspecting his own palace.
His face practically shouted victory.
He swaggered into the palace, where only three people awaited in the grand hall.
The quietly obedient young prince Huo Ming on one side, and on the other side, Grand Overseer Qin Xiuyuan, bowing respectfully.
Sitting on the dragon throne was the aloof and regal Empress Huo Ningxue, her light golden eyes emanating an aura of authority.
“Royal sister, long time no see.” The moment the Third Prince saw Huo Ningxue, his eyes turned bloody for a moment.
Huo Ningxue merely frowned slightly, displeased, and said, “Royal brother, did you take a trip to the underworld and forget the basic etiquette Father taught you?”
“You shouldn’t call me royal sister. As long as I’m on the throne, you should only refer to me as… Your Majesty.”
The Third Prince’s gaze gradually turned cold.
“How long do you think you can revel in your victory?”
“Ah, I old fool believe… Your Majesty will continue to prosper for generations to come.”
An old voice rang out from the side, causing everyone to gasp in surprise, especially Xu Yourong, whose pupils contracted.
The old man with white hair and an otherworldly demeanor slowly stepped forward, smiling as he stroked his beard and said:
“Third Prince, long time no see.”
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
