The Prince Can Do Divination

Chapter 372 - 236: War of the Nation, Crimson Gold Fate Grid: True Dragon Emperor, The Great Contention, I Have Gained the Celestial Mandate

"If we seize this opportunity to face the Empress of the Demon Country in a decisive battle, the outcome is still unknown. We might even be able to turn the tables and tear a chunk of flesh from the Demon Country. Since its founding, our Great Yan has never shied away from war, and we certainly do not fear it now."

Evidently, this new Chief Minister had compared the losses on both sides and concluded that if Great Yan steeled its heart and gambled the next decade or so of its national strength on an expedition against the Demon Country, defeating this behemoth that had dominated the Northern Realm for millennia would be a feat for the ages.

"Lin Qing... makes a good point."

Emperor Yong’an considered this seriously for a moment. "As the Crown Prince said, ’The Emperor guards the nation’s gates, and the King dies with the state.’ Those were very fine words indeed."

At the mention of this matter, the expressions of the assembled ministers turned somewhat subtle.

In recent days, news of the struggle between the Crown Prince and Prince Chongwen in the Capital City had long since spread throughout the Capital.

No one knew how the two of them were faring now.

Suddenly, Yuan Xuangang stepped out from the ranks. "Your Majesty, this subject has another matter to report."

"Speak freely."

He raised his head and reported, "The Crown Prince is headstrong and self-willed, disrupting the order of the Court and showing no regard for the rules of the Capital City. He has privately mobilized the Xuanwu Gate Imperial Guard, drawing impeachment from many of the Nobility. He is also suspected of plotting to harm several Princes, including the Eighth Prince. As Crown Prince, he has engaged in private struggles with other Princes. Ethically, he has failed in his duty as an elder brother; in terms of his station, his actions are both improper and unreasonable."

"Oh? Such a thing happened?"

Emperor Yong’an looked astonished, as if he truly knew nothing about it.

"Is there any proof?"

"It is still under investigation," Yuan Xuangang said, lowering his head.

"No proof? Then they are just rumors." Emperor Yong’an put on an act of complete trust in Lu Mingyuan, smiling reassuringly as he said, "The Crown Prince speaks for the nation. How could he possibly do something so treasonous? You must investigate this thoroughly and clear the Crown Prince’s name. There can be no carelessness."

"Yes!"

Yuan Xuangang nodded in affirmation.

At this moment, the Minister of War spoke up again. "Your Majesty, if you intend to go to war, we must discuss the relevant matters as soon as possible and decide who will replace Qi Xingyan to command the front lines. After all, Duke Qi has already sacrificed his life. The choice of a commander is of the utmost importance."

Emperor Yong’an nodded slightly. "What my dear Minister says is absolutely right."

"The Cabinet must discuss this matter and reach a conclusion swiftly. There can be no mistakes."

"We are a bit weary. The selection of a general is not to be taken lightly. Let us discuss it again tomorrow."

After he finished speaking, the old eunuch announced in a loud voice, "Court is dismissed!"

...

KNOCK KNOCK!

Two muffled knocks sounded on the door of the luxurious room.

The Eastern Palace Mansion was very quiet today. Luo Ying found that even her hand hesitated as she knocked.

"Enter."

Dressed in a sleek black outfit, she pushed the door open.

"Your Highness?"

Luo Ying stepped across the threshold and saw Lu Mingyuan standing by the window, a sorrowful look on his face, his brows knitted with gloom.

This was the first time she had seen His Highness show an emotion other than composure and optimism.

Luo Ying realized that this Crown Prince, about whom the outside world had mixed opinions and who was known to be full of schemes, was actually an ordinary person too.

The profligate Sixth Prince of his early years was completely unrecognizable in the man before her now.

He, too, could feel sorrow.

He, too, could feel guilt.

"What is it?" Lu Mingyuan asked faintly.

Luo Ying bowed her head. "The Endless Pavilion in the Imperial Capital is now entirely under this subordinate’s control. I have also contacted and persuaded the leaders of several Infinite Faction branches to pledge allegiance to you, Your Highness, and serve you.

"They include the Nanli Prime Minister, Lu Zhengchun, and Fist Venerable Luo Shengmiao of Golden Court Mountain in Luoshui Grotto Heaven. If Your Highness needs the power of the Endless Pavilion, you can mobilize it at any time."

"Alright, I understand."

Lu Mingyuan’s reaction to this was flat.

"This subordinate will take her leave."

Luo Ying gave his back a deep look, knowing that now was not a good time to disturb him. After finishing her report, she closed the door behind her as she left.

Hearing the door close, Lu Mingyuan looked at the letter in his hand, and tears streamed down his face.

He had finished reading the letter left by Lu Yunqing.

He just hadn’t expected this to be the result.

The letter read:

"Sixth Brother, by the time you read this letter, I will have already lost this game. But I have no regrets. In fact, I feel a sense of relief. I finally don’t have to endure such difficult choices, don’t have to carry everyone’s expectations, and don’t have to worry about disappointing our teacher again. It’s just a pity that I no longer have the face to see Ning’Er."

"Our teacher often said that the so-called Emperor’s Dao means one can abandon a person for a family, a family for a city, and even a city—or several cities—for the sake of the nation. I have always held this as the truth."

"I can see that you desire the throne, Sixth Brother. If not for my many entanglements, I would have simply given it up to you. But your younger brother has never faced such an impossible choice, and even after much persuasion from my Staff Officers, it was hard to change my mind. Perhaps, from the very beginning, I was never suited to compete for this position. Maybe I really was wrong."

"In contrast, you, Sixth Brother, have never believed in any Emperor’s Dao, yet you still have a group of trusted people by your side. Look at me, your younger brother—nearly everyone around me was placed there by Father Emperor. It wasn’t until you, my Imperial Brother, moved into the Eastern Palace that our teacher personally told me the truth. Only then did I realize I was merely a pawn, moved at others’ whims."

"To die and be done with it all—is that not a form of liberation? I can only hope that one day in the future, you will ascend the throne, Imperial Brother."

"Please accept this generous gift."

Lu Mingyuan clutched the snow-white Wolf Hair Brush in his hand, an indescribable grief and sorrow filling his heart. He murmured, "If an Emperor must use the lives of a few as bargaining chips to secure peace, then such an era and such a nation will not last long, let alone prosper for ten thousand years."

His eighth brother had died in peace, choosing to fulfill Lu Mingyuan’s destiny, yet he couldn’t feel any happiness at all.

This was Lu Yunqing’s Lifebound Treasure.

A snow-white Wolf Hair Brush.

This brush contained all of Lu Yunqing’s Cultivation Qi Mechanism, including his Confucian Dao Fortune.

And now, Lu Mingyuan’s own Flesh Body was incredibly active, his pores wide open. It was because Lu Yunqing’s Confucian Dao Fortune was so potent, containing a remarkable power that his Flesh Body coveted.

Almost uncontrollably, all of the Destiny flowed into Lu Mingyuan’s body, causing his aura to begin to swell.

His original Silverfish Supreme Body began to advance toward Perfection.

Then, his marrow and heart began to transform from bright silver to a brilliant gold!

From the gaps in his sternum, a vast amount of golden splendor emerged.

Lu Mingyuan felt as if his blood gained a new, revitalizing power as it passed through his chest. It emitted a faint golden light, becoming sacred. He could see a great river of gold formed by countless streams of light converging in his chest!

An intangible aura of the Great Dao surged from his body.

He had officially reached the third stage of the Tenth Realm: Vajra Supreme Body!

Lu Mingyuan felt an unparalleled power rise from his Dantian, erupting from within him like a volcano awakening after an eight-hundred-year slumber.

The Vajra Supreme Body was known as a Venerable Physique. The fundamental reason for this was its terrifyingly fast Cultivation speed and recovery ability.

[Prince Chongwen Lu Yunqing’s Daoxin has scattered into the Grand Thousand Canglan Map. The Heart Inquiry Bureau has concluded with the Life Master’s victory. The Eighth Prince is dead, his spirit extinguished. The Confucian Dao Fortune has become ownerless. The Dragon Fortune has dissipated.]

Lu Mingyuan looked at the prompt before him and slowly closed his eyes.

But the prompt did not disappear.

[Emperor Orange Fate Grid - Trapped Dragon in the Abyss, Refinement Level has increased to 100%]

[Promoted to Crimson Gold Fate Grid - True Dragon Emperor!]

[Crimson Gold Fate Grid (True Dragon Emperor): With the Celestial Dao Revival, a True Dragon is born. Its spirit soars, and the Five-Star Radiant Spirit shines. Its might extends over the Four Seas, its rule encompasses the Eight Desolations. An Emperor above, the Lord of Humans below. In the great struggle of this era, I have received the Celestial Mandate!]

[Refinement Level has reached 5%, unlocking Life Chart Trait - Celestial Mandate (Basic Level)]

[Celestial Mandate (Basic Level): I am the True Dragon; I shall receive the Celestial Mandate. Blessed by the Celestial Dao Fortune, you can receive the blessing of a National Fortune Phenomenon. Your Cultivation will be greatly boosted by the National Fortune, which can protect the Life Master, making you impervious to Demon Fiends. Your Cultivation will grow along with your Destiny.]

The instant the "True Dragon Emperor" Fate Grid settled upon him, Lu Mingyuan felt the momentum of his body surge dramatically.

In that moment, the phantom of a long-haired man in a Golden Robe of the Emperor, possessing supreme and mighty power, appeared behind Lu Mingyuan. Behind this figure was a river of time flowing through countless resplendent stars, and his gaze was one of disdainful command.

This was his emperor’s aura.

It was as if everything in the world was beneath his notice, unworthy of a second glance.

...

The father-in-law might not be completely dead... and the Empress didn’t kill him...

I didn’t want to say it, but some people were flaming me too hard. Spoiling this to save my own skin.