Chapter 46: Chapter 42: The One in the Python Robe Is a Prince

「That night.」

The dark clouds had retreated, and a bright moon hung in the sky.

Under the full moon, figures in the red-caped Brocade Clothing of the Bright Lamp Bureau flitted swiftly across the rooftops, startling only the common folk below.

An alarm bell rang out from the Imperial Palace, signaling an attack and putting the entire city on high alert.

The Three Colleges and Six Departments were all stirred into action. The Bright Lamp Bureau, the Imperial City Bureau, the Yulin Bureau… all were deployed.

Cultivators from the major powers of the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy, Vajra Department Institute, and Drumming Institute watched from the skies above the Imperial City. They made no move, as their superiors had not issued clear orders. It was as if they were being told to remain calm and wait.

’As long as the Mountain Masters haven’t spoken, there’s no need to panic.’

A White-robed Celestial Master with a Peach Wood Sword on his back stood atop the Imperial City, under the flawless light of the full moon. His Daoist Robe fluttered, and a smile graced his young face.

“This is getting more and more interesting. I was right to come to the Capital City.”

Xu Changqing glanced up at the many pairs of eyes hidden in the clouds above—great beings like himself, all looking down upon this grand spectacle.

「Within the Vajra Department Institute.」

The round, honest face of Seventh Prince Lu Yunwan was etched with anxiety. He wrung his hands, looking at the tall, fearsome Monk before him, whose face was covered in hideous scars.

The Five-Finger Mad Monk, Fan Shen.

This was a Middle Fifth Grade expert whom the prince had contacted with great difficulty. His instructions for the night were to stay put in the Vajra Department Institute and not go out or wander around.

“Master, are you sure we shouldn’t make a move?”

Fan Shen placed his palms together, his expression serene. “Let them fight. The fiercer, the better.”

Meanwhile, the Shengjing Academy was brightly lit.

The scholars were filled with righteous indignation, all of them cursing the Eldest Prince’s actions.

“The Eldest Prince dares to rebel? I’m going to report him to the Advisory Platform Bureau!”

“He even wore the Dragon Robe? And led a mob into the Imperial Palace? Bring me my brush!”

“Disgusting! I bet he’s colluding with that Demoness of the Demon Kingdom to overthrow our Great Yan!”

Lu Yunqing watched the chattering scholars, whose curses grew more and more outrageous, and breathed a small sigh of relief. ’It seems I’ve succeeded.’

By tomorrow morning, rumors of the Eldest Prince’s rebellion would be running rampant. At that point, even if he managed to seize control of the Imperial Court, it would be futile.

Compared to simple force, the pressure of public opinion was the real weapon.

Lu Yunqing then left the Academy and headed for the Imperial Palace.

He wanted to make sure his Sixth Brother was safe.

Only one handsome scholar, sitting in a corner in a faded old Confucian Shirt, did not join the dispute. He watched the indignant crowd with a look of utter confusion.

He didn’t understand why everyone was making such a fuss.

Chen Ke didn’t dwell on it and returned to the Holy Sage Books in his hands.

He only hoped to pass the imperial examinations next year.

…

「The southern part of the Imperial Palace.」

The clang of metal on metal was incessant.

At the front were several Commanders of the Imperial Guard, the Director of the Bright Lamp Bureau, and General Ming Guang, Pei Ao. Behind them were Lu Guangyao, the Qilin Guard under his command, his sworn brothers from various Military General Families, and their personal troops.

Lu Guangyao was normally in charge of defending the Imperial City and Imperial Palace. He knew the Capital City’s Arrays like the back of his hand. He had called upon his many sworn brothers in the army to exploit openings and infiltrate the Imperial Palace from various points. With allies among the Imperial Guard in key positions colluding from within, entering the palace had been child’s play.

“Prince Chu, why must you be so obstinate? It’s not too late to turn back now!” General Ming Guang, Pei Ao, shouted.

The response was a silver Long Spear. An apparition of a Golden Martial God manifested behind Lu Guangyao, his vitality surging like a dragon’s. His realm as a Grandmaster was on full display.

With a single sweep of his spear, he blocked a host of Imperial Guards.

But he was still no match for Pei Ao.

Prince Chu, Lu Guangyao, brandished his Long Spear, his domineering aura leaking out. His voice boomed like a great bell. “You dare bark at me, you who have thrown in your lot with traitors? You share no blood with Prince Zhao, so why sell your life for him? With your strength, you should have long been ennobled as a Marquis. If you join my cause, I will grant you the title of a Four Symbols General.”

Unfortunately, the other party was not moved. He simply answered with another powerful, righteous fist.

Seeing more and more troops arriving, Lu Changfeng, who was watching from a high tower, gripped the railing with an anxious expression.

“Damn it! Where did this guy get so much military support? He even managed to coordinate an attack from both inside and out. Has the Great Yan Imperial Guard become his private army?”

He turned to a rugged man beside him who carried a Long Sword on his back and a Tiger Talisman at his waist. He bowed and said, “Senior, I implore you to act and eliminate this fiend!”

In an instant, the rugged man vanished.

A flash of sword light suddenly appeared in the sky.

In a blink, a single glint of cold light transformed into a surging Sword Qi River that rolled toward the heavens. The Imperial Palace was lit up as if by daylight as the river of energy washed down toward the troops of the Military General Families.

A Middle Fifth Grade Sword Cultivator from the Military Family!

Four Qilin Officer Marshals stood before Lu Guangyao, trying to block the attack. They lasted only a few breaths before their Armor of Condensed Astral, formed from Martial Dao Primordial Qi, shattered like paper. Their Martial Furnaces churned within them, instantly healing their wounds, but the sharp Sword Qi continued to ravage and destroy their Flesh Bodies. Just as they were about to die…

A seemingly ordinary, long-armed old man with a wrinkled, calm face appeared. A wisp of Purple Gold Qi flowed across his features. With a clench of his five fingers, he crushed the Sword Qi River. He then tapped a finger in the air toward their bodies, and everything smoothed over, like ripples on a lake being calmed.

“Master!”

Lu Guangyao’s face lit up with joy upon seeing this man.

Lu Changfeng, witnessing this, was enraged. “Even the Long-armed Old Monster from Chiyang Mountain has come to oppose me?! Where are the Three Academy Cultivators?!”

“Why haven’t they shown themselves!”

At his side, Cui Qingfeng, with his hands tucked into his Confucian sleeves, frowned. “The Mountain Masters of the Three Academies are all making excuses. They say they can only take orders from Your Highness after the Regency Ceremony tomorrow.”

“Furthermore, the Cabinet has received a flood of petitions from Shengjing Academy, accusing Your Highness of treason and calling for your utter destruction. The reaction from the scholars of Shengjing Academy and the Imperial Capital has been immense, even alerting the Advisory Platform Bureau. We have suppressed the petitions for now, but it seems that because of this, most Cultivators have not taken action.”

Lu Changfeng slammed his palm down, shattering the exquisite stone carving on the railing before him. His voice was icy. “Good. Very good. Everyone is pulling out all the stops for my sake. How could matters of the Imperial Palace have spread to the common folk? Someone must have leaked the information to build up negative sentiment. Since it came from Shengjing Academy, it must be that bookworm, the Eighth Prince, with someone else pulling the strings behind him.

“In that case, no one will be spared tonight. This is a perfect opportunity to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys before the regency. A clean sweep. Immediately issue twelve Golden Orders and command the Three Academy Cultivators to act. If they refuse, we will cut off their incense and destroy their temples!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And another thing…”

Lu Changfeng’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe my third brother could have created such a stir on his own. The other Princes are also suspect. Investigate them for me. If worse comes to worst, throw all the Princes in the Imperial Prison.”

Cui Qingfeng’s expression changed. He cautioned, “If you do that without evidence, it will be true rebellion.”

“Don’t worry,” Lu Changfeng sneered. “There will be evidence.”

…

The palace coup was underway. The entire Imperial Palace was in utter chaos. Imperial Guards were everywhere, brandishing their blades and interrogating people. Consorts dared not leave their quarters, and Palace Maids and eunuchs abandoned their posts, hiding fearfully in the halls.

Yet one place remained as peaceful as ever.

Qingzhu Hall.

“Your Highness, it’s so chaotic outside. I don’t dare to go out,”

Zi Yun said, glancing at the Imperial Guards rushing past the window. She shut the windows and doors, patting her chest in lingering fear. With that motion, it was as if the whole world swayed.

“It’s fine. Have some tea.”

Lu Mingyuan sat in a grand armchair, one leg crossed over the other, rocking gently as he took a light sip of tea.

“Alright.”

Zi Yun obediently poured a cup of tea and began to drink, but she kept glancing outside, clearly still worried.

“You seem very calm, Your Highness.”

Lu Mingyuan smiled. “Of course. What was that old saying from the ancestors? ’He who does not compete, none in the world can compete with him.’ It means if you don’t strive for personal achievement, fame, or profit, you’ll have no faults or resentments, and you can remain at peace.”

Zi Yun looked at him with admiration.

“It seems Your Highness really has been reading a lot lately.”

Lu Mingyuan shook his head and pursed his lips. “I’m good enough to talk a big game, but if I try to elaborate, I’ll be exposed.”

Lu Mingyuan glanced at the night outside the window. ’Grandfather should be here soon,’ he thought.

Sure enough, only a moment later.

RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE!

A sound came from the courtyard.

“Who’s there?”

Lu Mingyuan asked warily. He walked to the window and peeked through a crack, seeing several masked Palace Maids.

“We were sent by the Chief Minister to escort the Sixth Prince.”

The speaker removed her veil as she responded.

Lu Mingyuan found her very familiar. It was his mother’s sole Grandmaster protector—likely a Death Warrior raised by the Wang Family.

Lu Mingyuan looked at them and fell into thought.

’According to my divinations, leaving the palace is definitely risky.’ He opened his mouth to say, “Go back. Tell my grandfather for me that tonight…”

But the masked Palace Maids didn’t seem interested in his opinion. They walked right up, hoisted him onto their shoulders, and with a single leap, cleared the palace wall, landing outside Qingzhu Hall.

“Hey, hey, hey… Wait!”

Lu Mingyuan flailed his arms and kicked his legs, struggling and even using a wisp of Martial Dao Primordial Qi.

The Palace Maids clearly hadn’t expected the prince to be so strong. Caught off guard, they were all pushed to the ground. They got back up, rubbing their heads.

Just then, the sound of Imperial Guards running down the main path, weapons in hand, reached them.

“Who goes there!”

Lu Mingyuan cleared his throat and said calmly, “I am the Sixth Prince, Lu Mingyuan, just out for a breath of fresh air.”

But the grunts over there didn’t seem to care. A muttered conversation could be heard.

“The Eldest Prince said that anyone in a Python Robe is a Prince and therefore highly suspicious. We can’t let a single one get away!”

“Then let’s grab him! It’ll be a great merit!”

As the Imperial Guards advanced to attack, the masked Palace Maids suddenly moved. They swept across the ground like grass in a gale, becoming a blur of afterimages. In a few quick moves, they took care of all the guards.

The lead Palace Maid turned, cupped her fist, and urged, “Your Highness, please come with us quickly. If we don’t leave now, it will be too late.”

Lu Mingyuan shook his head. “I’m not leaving. If I go, what will happen to my mother? What about my grandfather? Won’t they be in danger?”

“Do you want to watch the Wang Family be completely destroyed?”

“Your Highness, please don’t make things difficult for us.”

Seeing that the masked Palace Maids intended to take him by force, Lu Mingyuan called out:

“Zi Yun!”

“Here.”

Zi Yun appeared in an instant, blocking his path. Her expression was solemn. No matter who it was, no one would stop her from protecting her prince.

In the short time they had been delayed, more and more Imperial Guards were rushing toward them, including some with powerful auras.

Seeing this, the group of masked Palace Maids grew anxious.

Lu Mingyuan took off his Python Robe and gave a cold command, “You all put on these clothes and follow me back to the Cold Palace. You,” he said, pointing to one, “put this on.”

Seeing the situation, they had no choice but to obey.

They tossed the unconscious Imperial Guards into the bushes, stripped off their Armor and Masks, and put them on.

The Palace Maid with the Grandmaster Cultivation put on Lu Mingyuan’s Python Robe and took on the duty of luring away their pursuers. She began running at full speed, drawing a large number of soldiers after her.

“Don’t run!”

“The one in the Python Robe is a Prince!”

“That’s right, the one in the Python Robe is a Prince! Don’t let him get away!”

From under his mask, Lu Mingyuan watched the departing Imperial Guards and breathed a sigh of relief.

He was just about to head back to the Cold Palace; after all, it was probably the safest place right now.

Suddenly, a Commander stepped out from a passing squad and barked at them,

“What are you few standing around for? We’re short on manpower right now. Aren’t you going to come with me and help catch him?”

Lu Mingyuan and the few people beside him exchanged glances.

They had no choice but to fall in at the rear of the squad.

Lu Mingyuan sidled up to a nearby soldier and asked while jogging along:

“Brother, I just got here. May I ask who the Eldest Prince wants us to catch?”

“I don’t know either. I think it’s a woman.”

“A woman?”

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep