Chapter 44: We Don

Those invited by Feng Huai are all loyal ministers of the late emperor.

They have served as officials for years, with many students and great power, all real power brokers.

In court, these are all senior figures; anyone wanting to move them must weigh whether they’re even qualified.

Today, none of those present expected that Minister of Justice Feng Huai would start taking sides—choosing the Second Imperial Prince.

It seems the Second Imperial Prince promised him certain benefits, plus his resentment toward Li Chen, so he firmly chose the Second Imperial Prince.

When Feng Huai said this, many court ministers thought: Feng Huai is no impulsive man—he rarely does anything without certainty.

After the Second Imperial Prince Li Xian was humiliated in court last time, he must have sought his master’s help.

That is, the renowned sect powerhouse of the Tian Ce Dynasty.

They had never met the Top Heaven Man, but they knew such a person existed.

It’s said this individual is respected not just in the Tian Ce Dynasty, but across the entire continent.

He is a true top-tier powerhouse.

Now it seems the Top Heaven Man has likely agreed to help.

And Feng Huai probably knows this, which is why he decided to stand with the Second Imperial Prince.

If he had judged the Second Imperial Prince incapable of dealing with Li Chen, he would never have dared to take sides.

No one believes the young Li Chen could be a match for the Top Heaven Man.

Unless Li Chen can secure other allies.

But given Li Chen’s current connections, who could help him?

He’s just a lone man with no support.

Many of the elderly ministers attending Feng Huai’s banquet look up to him; upon hearing his proposal, they immediately agreed and began envisioning a bright future.

A few elderly ministers were uncertain, as they truly did not wish to join the imperial succession struggle.

They had worked hard to reach their current position—Li Chen only revoked their special privileges, but their official authority remained intact.

They had interacted with the new emperor Li Chen for some time and felt he was not a suspicious, paranoid man.

As long as they did their duties properly, their official robes would remain secure.

Taking sides means risking their lives for no reason, adding unnecessary danger.

If the Second Imperial Prince wins, fine; if he loses, won’t they be implicated?

Confiscation of property, execution, extermination of nine clans—this is no joke.

Several court ministers wanted to leave, but at that moment, they sensed movement outside the door.

The Ministry of Justice has many elite warriors, and Feng Huai has cultivated numerous guests.

These external energies are likely Feng Huai’s pre-arranged men, serving as a warning.

Now the court ministers understood: Feng Huai had spoken so boldly today precisely to bind them all to the same boat.

At this point, offending Feng Huai was clearly unwise, so they abandoned their desire to leave and all agreed to side with the Second Imperial Prince.

Taking advantage of their shared hostility, Feng Huai produced the “oath of allegiance” and had everyone sign it.

Once you sign this, don’t think you can run or betray me.

If I die, you die with me.

Feng Huai’s banquet was no simple affair—if anyone refused to sign, he would not let that person leave alive.

This is a moment of life and death; no carelessness is allowed.

After years in the position of Minister of Justice, one must have some ability.

Deep within the imperial palace, in the Empress Dowager’s chambers.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager lay lazily on her bed, her stacked chest pressing into a striking indentation on the mattress.

The thin gauze robe revealed her graceful figure unmistakably.

If Chu Ruoyan were here, she’d probably bleed from the nose.

The Empress Dowager greatly favored Chu Ruoyan.

She felt Chu Ruoyan’s gaze was intensely focused, fixed on her as if memorizing every word she spoke.

Other people, when speaking to the Empress Dowager, either lowered their heads or avoided eye contact, as if harboring their own agendas.

Of course, Li Chen was the exception—the Empress Dowager couldn’t read him.

Chu Ruoyan’s gaze was utterly “sincere,” her “reverence” for the Empress Dowager plainly visible on her face. Most importantly, this girl spoke little and had no desire to show off.

She never uttered awkward, forced words of loyalty to flatter her.

This made the Empress Dowager see her as a well-behaved child.

Thus, the Empress Dowager and Li Chen reached agreement: Chu Ruoyan’s entry into the palace pleased everyone.

Just as she was about to rest, her trusted maid quietly entered.

Seeing the Empress Dowager was still awake, she presented the Second Imperial Prince’s secret letter.

The Empress Dowager picked up the letter, glanced at it briefly, and showed little interest.

The letter’s opening naturally contained the Second Imperial Prince’s flattery—these sycophantic words the Empress Dowager could easily skip.

Later in the letter, the Second Imperial Prince subtly expressed his desire to return to the capital.

He was testing, seeking to know whether the Empress Dowager supported his return.

!

Only after her reply could he make his next move.

Unlike Feng Huai, who deeply resented Li Chen, the Second Imperial Prince only needed to promise grand rewards to win him over.

Besides, he was a former minister of the late emperor; siding with the Second Imperial Prince wasn’t betrayal of the imperial clan.

In the past, both the Crown Prince and the Second Imperial Prince treated Feng Huai well, visiting him during festivals and holidays.

Now that the Crown Prince is dead, Feng Huai naturally favors the Second Imperial Prince.

As for Li Chen—he’s truly unfamiliar with Feng Huai.

The Second Imperial Prince found it unsurprising that he could recruit Feng Huai, a senior court minister.

But the Empress Dowager is different—remember, Li Chen was placed on the throne by her; unless her demands are excessive, Li Chen will likely agree.

This letter from the Second Imperial Prince was essentially telling the Empress Dowager: I don’t ask you to help me, but don’t interfere when I act.

If you do help me, I will grant you the power you desire once I ascend the throne.

The Second Imperial Prince’s strategy was to create division between Li Chen and the neutral factions, then recruit those who disliked Li Chen.

The Empress Dowager clearly understood the letter’s meaning.

The trusted maid asked: “My lady, whom should we support?”

The Empress Dowager yawned lazily and said: “Compared to the second son, I actually prefer the sixth.”

It seems the Empress Dowager still remembers the “favor” of Li Chen’s hot pot.

The trusted maid nodded and asked: “Should I inform His Majesty?”

The Empress Dowager replied: “If you tell His Majesty, are you going to help him solve the problem?”

This left the trusted maid speechless.

Indeed—Li Chen’s nature is such that whoever presents him with a problem must solve it themselves.

The Minister of War still hasn’t returned to the capital precisely because he hasn’t completed Li Chen’s task.

If I say this, Li Chen will truly make me deal with the Second Imperial Prince.

“Then what is your lady’s intention?”

Since she couldn’t figure it out, the trusted maid directly asked her mistress.

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and said calmly: “We have no need to take the initiative, but we must prepare for both possibilities—give the sixth son more support.”

Now the trusted maid understood: it meant laying multiple plans to respond to whichever prince ascends the throne.

The Empress Dowager wants Li Chen to come begging to her—she has ways to handle the Second and Third Imperial Princes.

But if Li Chen doesn’t beg her, she won’t act.

Her goal is Li Chen himself!

Controlling a Saint Realm emperor in the palm of her hand—isn’t that more thrilling than gaining more power?

Is there anything in the world more satisfying?

Though the Empress Dowager spoke little, the trusted maid fully understood her meaning.

Within the Tian Yan Divine Sect, a private pavilion exclusively belonging to Li Xian.

His subordinates were reporting recent developments.

(End of Chapter)