Chapter 45: Chapter 41: Palace Coup

Lu Mingyuan finished examining the three hexagrams.

He couldn’t help but sigh. ’It looks like this war is unavoidable, one way or another.’

He immediately discarded the last two options and looked at the first hexagram.

’A “Swordsman” Fate Grid?’

For the time being, he couldn’t see any connection between this Fate Grid and the hexagram.

All he could surmise was that his current strength was enough to protect himself.

Suppressing his doubts, he smiled at the Eighth Prince, Lu Yunqing. “Eighth Brother, I think this matter requires careful consideration.”

’Although he wished his brothers would die as quickly as possible, Lu Yunqing was, at the very least, trying to help him. For now, he could be considered an ally.’

’And as an ally, he should try to talk some sense into him. Lu Yunqing shouldn’t be dying this early.’

’He’d rather see the Eldest Prince, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and all those other inconsequential fellows die before Lu Yunqing. After all, the Eighth Prince was young. He’d read too many books and hadn’t had time to mature; he simply lacked cunning.’

’He was very likely to meet a sudden end in this struggle for the throne.’

“Sixth Brother, are you worried Father will blame you when he returns?”

Lu Yunqing seemed to guess Lu Mingyuan’s decision and said with understanding, “Father is indeed a man who dislikes having the rules broken. If he knew you left the Cold Palace without authorization, he would certainly be furious.”

He sighed again, his expression dimming. “As the Saint said, ’The gentleman thinks of virtue; the small man thinks of comfort.’ Our relationships should be built on camaraderie, but in the eyes of Eldest Brother and the others, there isn’t a shred of that left—only self-interest. To think they would do something so treacherous for their own gain.”

Lu Mingyuan ignored the remark and instead asked, “What are your and Third Brother’s chances?”

Lu Yunqing’s expression was confident. “Our chances are very high.”

“Third Brother holds military authority and has the backing of many scions from the great Military General Families. Soldiers who fought by his side often get promoted to important posts when they reach the Capital City, and they still drink with him afterward. That’s enough to handle most situations. Even without the Tiger Talisman, we have nothing to fear if Eldest Brother makes the first move.”

Lu Mingyuan nodded silently.

’The Third Prince, Lu Guangyao, has always been underestimated.’

’Everyone thinks he’s just a boor, a muscle-bound meathead who only knows martial arts. In reality, he’s long since gathered a faction around himself, just waiting for the right moment to erupt.’

’He wondered if his maternal grandfather was fanning the flames behind the scenes to help him break free.’

’Otherwise, there’s no way the Third Prince could have mobilized troops into the Imperial Palace so smoothly tonight.’

’Generals only have the authority to lead troops, not to mobilize them. The authority to mobilize troops rests with the Emperor and the Ministry of War.’

’Mobilizing troops without authorization is a crime punishable by the extermination of one’s entire clan.’

’Based on the hexagrams, he couldn’t rule out his maternal grandfather turning a blind eye and muddying the waters tonight, all to get him out of the palace.’

’But the problem is, the Eldest Prince has the support of the Cabinet and holds the Supreme Authority of Regency. While that isn’t directly related to military power, it’s indirectly related. If he issues a written order, wouldn’t the Ministry of War have to obey?’

’It’s truly hard to say who will win and who will lose tonight.’

With that thought, Lu Mingyuan smiled at Lu Yunqing. “Since you insist on trying, Eighth Brother, I won’t stop you. To each their own. I can only wish you success.”

Lu Yunqing nodded lightly, a look of regret in his eyes. “Since you’re unwilling to leave the palace, Sixth Brother, then please, take care. Be careful tonight and stay safe.”

After seeing off the Eighth Prince, Lu Mingyuan took a deep breath.

’Now, what excuse should I find to refuse my maternal grandfather?’

…

「Soon, night fell.」

THUDDA-THUDDA-THUDDA!

The sound of horse hooves rang out as squad after squad of the Qilin Iron Cavalry galloped past. The nobles passing through the Imperial City scrambled out of the way in a panic. They were about to curse out in anger, but one look at the riders’ Beast-faced Qilin Armor was enough to make every last one of them clamp their mouths shut.

The Qilin Iron Cavalry of the Great Yan was world-renowned. Their Qilin Cross Sabers were personally bestowed by the Emperor and could be used to execute any disloyal subject.

The Imperial City had always forbidden galloping horses, but at this moment, that rule seemed to mean nothing.

「At the entrance of the Imperial College.」

A serene-looking Female Scholar in a moon-blue, high-waisted dress stepped over the threshold, a book tucked under her arm. She wore peach-pink embroidered shoes and rubbed her brow, as if trying to massage away the day’s fatigue.

’I have to teach a supplementary class at the Imperial Palace School tonight, so I can’t go to the night market again. And the rouge and eyebrow pencils at Ronghua Studio are half-price tonight!’

’Pull yourself together, Qi Muxue. You can’t give up.’

Qi Muxue let out a breath. Even though she was mentally exhausted, she had to force herself to stay alert.

She didn’t particularly enjoy teaching the children of nobility. They weren’t there to learn; they were there to stare at her with wide, round eyes.

Unfortunately, many of the great clans and high nobles specifically requested her as their tutor, and they wouldn’t accept anyone else. There was nothing she could do about it.

Just then, a thin streak of golden light shot down from the sky, forming a faint, crane-shaped image before instantly arriving in front of her.

The streak of light coalesced into a lifelike white crane. As the crane unfolded, large words formed from Literary Qi appeared before her.

This was a technique of the Confucian Family: Paper Crane Messaging.

Qi Muxue was unfazed. Strands of golden Literary Qi materialized in her palm, coalescing into a writing brush in the shape of a Three-legged Golden Crow—a Void Imperial Brush. After she wrote a few words with it, the paper crane took flight once more and sped away.

“What’s the rush?” she muttered.

She abandoned the idea of going home and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

But she soon realized something was wrong.

The atmosphere was strangely grim. The streets were nearly empty, and soldiers on horseback trampled wantonly through the Imperial City. After she entered the Imperial Palace, she saw that the main gates were tightly shut, even though it wasn’t yet the Hour for them to close…

’Besides, aren’t there far too many soldiers on duty in the Imperial Palace tonight?’

Qi Muxue was exceptionally clever. She recalled the things her father had been muttering at home recently—phrases like “too eager for success” and “that whelp is not to be trusted in any scheme.” She’d never been interested enough to ask for details, but now, she was starting to piece it all together.

She glanced back at the locked gates of the Imperial Palace, then had no choice but to continue deeper into the palace grounds.

Soon, she encountered a patrol of fully armed Imperial Guards who stepped forward to question her.

“Who goes there? What is your business?”

Qi Muxue replied coolly, “I am Qi Muxue, a scholar from Shengjing Academy. I am heading to the Imperial Palace School to teach.”

Hearing she was the Prime Minister’s daughter, the lead Imperial Guard became more respectful. He cupped his fist and said, “Miss Qi, it would be best if you didn’t wander about tonight.”

Qi Muxue’s elegant brows furrowed. “Who ordered you to close the gates so early?”

“It was the Eldest Prince’s command. We are merely following orders.”

Qi Muxue thought for a moment, her brow furrowing even deeper.

’Where did the Eldest Prince get the authority to mobilize troops?’

’Is he planning to rebel?’

“Well, if it isn’t Miss Qi. We meet again.”

Just then, a tall figure in a purple Python Robe emerged from beneath the black-tiled eaves of a palace hall. He wore a smile, and his eyes glittered as he looked at Qi Muxue.

It was none other than the Eldest Prince, Lu Changfeng.

Qi Muxue already disliked the man, and seeing his actions now, she couldn’t help but say coldly,

“Your Highness, are your current actions not in violation of both propriety and the Great Yan Law?”

Lu Changfeng was not angered by her words. Instead, he chuckled lightly. “Did Elder Mr. Qi not tell you about this? Then again, the matter is confidential, so it’s only natural you wouldn’t know.”

“There’s no harm in telling you, since it will be happening soon enough anyway. Tomorrow morning, I will formally receive the Supreme Authority of Regency and take charge of the Cabinet.”

“Receive the Supreme Authority of Regency and take charge of the Cabinet?”

Hearing this, Qi Muxue froze.

Her first reaction was disbelief.

’How could Great Emperor Yong’an make such a decision?’

’The Eldest Prince is an ambitious but incompetent man, with no grasp of strategy. How could the Holy Emperor possibly hand the Supreme Authority of Regency over to him?’

After she calmed down, her second reaction was skepticism.

She questioned its truthfulness.

’Could this be a lie the Eldest Prince concocted to justify himself—a veneer of legitimacy to disguise his treason?’

’But her father knew about it… ’

For a moment, she was truly uncertain.

“Miss Qi, why don’t we go inside, sit for a moment, and discuss life over a cup of tea?”

Seeing the silent Qi Muxue, Lu Changfeng felt as if supreme power was already in his grasp and victory was in sight. His voice swelled with confidence as he took a step closer to her, reaching out with a large hand to pull her into his embrace.

But Qi Muxue reacted instantly, stepping back to avoid him. Golden ink materialized at her fingertips as she warned,

“Prince Zhao, control yourself!”

Seeing her reaction, Lu Changfeng’s face darkened. “Qi Muxue, don’t be ungrateful,” he said, his voice turning grim. “Sooner or later, I will be the Crown Prince. When that time comes, your Qi Family will be celebrated for its service, and I will certainly come to your door to propose a marriage alliance. You won’t have a choice in the matter then.”

Clearly, he was tired of being rejected by her time and again.

Qi Muxue was furious. Her smooth, jade-like face flushed with anger. “My father truly misjudged you!”

Lu Changfeng snorted. “Your father didn’t misjudge anyone. I will be the ultimate winner in this struggle for the throne. You’re the one who’s being ungrateful, unable to see which way the tide is turning.”

Just as Qi Muxue was about to say more, an Imperial Guard’s report came from outside the courtyard.

“Your Highness, there’s a disturbance outside the palace!”

A soldier ran up to Lu Changfeng and dropped to his knees.

“What?”

Lu Changfeng frowned and pressed, “What kind of disturbance?”

“The Third Prince has brought men into the palace!”

Hearing this, Lu Changfeng flew into a rage. His eyes blazed, and his voice was like ice. “Insolence! Is he trying to rebel?”

He no longer had time for Qi Muxue. He took his soldiers and marched toward the main gate of the Imperial Palace.

Qi Muxue glanced at the grim Imperial Palace, then immediately wrote a message in the air. The golden words, like leaping sparks, formed a paper crane that flew out of the Imperial Palace. She then turned and ran alone, deeper into the palace.

…

There was no peace in the Great Yan Imperial Palace tonight.

The entire Imperial City was in an uproar.

Before the main gate of the Imperial Palace, ranks of black-armored soldiers stood like a forest, their shields forming a wall. The air was thick with the grim tension of imminent battle.

Lu Changfeng stepped past the shield wall and saw the man at the head of the opposing force. He wore Bright Light Flood Dragon Armor over the corner of a Python Robe. The tall, powerfully built man was none other than the Third Prince, Lu Guangyao.

“Third Brother, are you trying to stage a rebellion?”

Lu Changfeng demanded loudly.

Lu Guangyao, holding a silver long spear taller than himself, pointed it at Lu Changfeng and sneered. “I’d say you’re the one staging a rebellion. Daring to mobilize troops to surround the Imperial Palace and control the Cabinet? Are you acting like Father is already dead?”

Lu Changfeng retorted angrily, “I am the regent personally appointed by our Father! I will officially take power tomorrow! I am securing the Imperial Palace now and mobilizing troops to prepare for tomorrow’s Regency Ceremony. What is wrong with that?”

Lu Guangyao laughed as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world. “Bullshit Supreme Authority of Regency! I am also a king—King Chu! How is it that when I was breaking through the siege to leave the front lines, I never heard Father make such a decision?”

“That’s because you weren’t worthy of knowing!”

Lu Guangyao wasn’t listening. He stared at Lu Changfeng with an icy gaze and sneered, “Stop making excuses, Eldest Brother. You’re just looking for a pretext to rebel, that’s all. Don’t think I don’t know how many officials you’ve contacted in secret, just waiting for the day Father left the capital, weren’t you?”

Seeing that his brother refused to listen to reason, Lu Changfeng gave up trying. He snorted coldly. “I control the Imperial Palace’s entire Imperial Guard, the Bright Lamp Bureau, and the Three Academy Cultivators—all the military power in the Imperial Capital. What do you have to fight me with?”

“Is that so?”

Lu Guangyao gave a meaningful smile and brandished his battle halberd.

“Do you really take my brothers from the Qilin Guard’s Tiger Camp for freeloaders?”

He glanced back, his fierce gaze sweeping over his men. His voice thundered, “Brothers, what say you?”

Row after orderly row of Qilin Guards in their Beast-faced Qilin Armor banged on the Tiger Head Shields in their hands and roared in unison:

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

Lu Changfeng’s face turned ugly. He was so angry he began to laugh as he pointed at them.

“Fine, fine, fine! Then let’s just see who lives and who dies tonight!”

…

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