Chapter 424: Sing an Empty‑City Stratagem with the Crown Prince!

Seeing this scene, all the onlookers—common folk and jianghu figures—displayed expressions of disbelief.

"N‑no way…?"

"The Lotus Divine Maiden was killed so easily?"

"She's dead! She's really dead!"

"This can't be true, it must be false, right?"

"She just died like that? Even if it's not… shouldn't there have been a three‑hundred‑round battle first?"

Everyone felt very disappointed.

Suddenly someone noticed that the cliff half‑way up the mountain was on fire.

"Look! There's a cluster of houses over there!"

"Could it be a Lotus Sect stronghold?"

"That place has always been off‑limits to ordinary people, guarded by someone, and we never knew whose manor it was. Yet today it's ablaze—must be the Lotus Sect's lair, right?"

"I heard that last year that place was wiped out, wasn't it?"

"The Lotus Divine Maiden returned, so people have started coming again."

"Is the Lotus Divine Maiden missing her mind? To set foot again in such an ominous place—she's just asking for extermination!"

News that the Lotus Divine Maiden was executed atop Qishan quickly spread back to Jinling.

The whole of Jinling instantly became bustling, streets filled with people.

It was like New Year; everyone was jubilant, beating drums and gongs to celebrate this universally welcomed joyous event.

When the Crown Prince learned of it, a faint sense of disappointment brushed his heart.

Yet she had followed him for five years…

She had also given him sincere affection and considerable wealth, even the Lotus Sect's power was almost at his disposal.

Humans are not plants; who can be without feeling?

Moreover, since her childhood, he had known her exceptional nature.

He had once taken some pride in having obtained such a special woman.

The ideal realm she desired, he had even truly imagined.

Only…

It was utterly inconceivable.

No one in this world would allow such a doctrine to actually appear and rule this continent.

Those aristocratic families.

【9】 Those noble houses.

Those aspiring nobles.

Those hidden great scholars whose lineages have been rooted on this continent for centuries.

If their fundamental interests are threatened, not even an ideal realm, even the entire DaLiang dynasty, is something they could easily replace.

They are the very foundation of DaLiang.

Although the Duan clan steers DaLiang, without these foundations the Duan family would be nothing.

Therefore, Duan Rongyin never truly, sincerely thought there could be any ideal realm.

His political adviser Yu'er was merely a pawn on his board.

If she obeyed, he could keep her in his hand and cherish her.

If she disobeyed, crushing her would be no more than a grain of sand.

Soon, Crown Prince Duan Rongyin was rapidly overwhelmed by waves of praise and flattery.

"Congratulations, Your Highness, felicitations, Your Highness, you have once again secured glorious military merits for DaLiang."

"Indeed, Your Highness, now the Lotus Evil Cult has been completely uprooted from DaLiang, even the Lotus Demoness has been eliminated by Your Highness, finally restoring a peaceful and prosperous era to DaLiang, a realm of clear seas and tranquil rivers."

"The common folk are now singing your praises in the streets, calling you a wise and martial ruler, a sovereign who cares for the world and loves the people like a child."

"Yes. How long has Your Highness been back in the Eastern Palace? Already you have removed the Lotus Sect, a major internal threat!"

"Truly a pillar of the nation, a model for the Crown Prince, and the beloved enlightened ruler of the people!"

The Crown Prince's close ministers all knelt on the ground, unabashedly chanting loudly throughout the Eastern Palace.

Soon, this news reached the Zi Chen Hall.

Emperor Yan was seated cross‑legged on the Dragon Throne, meditating and practicing cultivation.

Inside the hall stood a Great Cauldron.

Within the cauldron were elixirs refined by the State Master Yun He Immortal.

Thus the entire Zi Chen Hall was filled with smoke, permeated with the scent of medicinal herbs.

After the trembling little official finished speaking, Emperor Yan gently opened one eye.

"You mean the Crown Prince independently dispatched troops, went to Qishan, exterminated the Lotus Sect, and killed its leader?"

Little official: "Yes… indeed, Your Majesty, half of the courtiers are now in the Eastern Palace, congratulating the Crown Prince on this matter."

"And the common people are, all, saying…"

Emperor Yan: "Saying what? Speak!"

The little official, wiping sweat, said: "The people are singing that the Crown Prince is the future enlightened ruler, describing him as wise and martial, caring for the world, and that when he inherits the great throne he will bring DaLiang back to the peace of the founding ancestors."

Emperor Yan furrowed his brows tightly: "A peaceful era?"

"Could it be that the DaLiang I govern is a chaotic age after all!?"

"And I am not yet dead, yet he already thinks of succession!"

"I let him act as regent, and he dares to steal the military token and launch troops without even a formal decree!"

"Truly a fine Crown Prince!"

He grew angry, his eyes opened wide and round.

The Cloud Crane Immortal seated at the lower seat also just opened his eyes now and advised, "Your Majesty, we Daoists value following the heart's inclination. If you keep anger bottled up, it will greatly hinder your cultivation."

"Although all worldly fame and wealth can be cast aside, Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, and cannot avoid considering the state, the realm, and the welfare of the people."

"Therefore, please, Your Highness, broaden your mind and regulate yourself; if there is any displeasure, you must overcome it promptly, so you can continue your cultivation."

"There are millennia awaiting Your Majesty; by then, not only a peaceful age but even unifying the whole continent will be within reach."

Emperor Yan then took a few deep breaths and nodded slightly: "I have taken your lesson."

"Let us end here for today; thank you, Grand Preceptor, for accompanying me in meditation, you may return and rest."

After the Grand Preceptor left, Emperor Yan rose and walked toward the alchemy furnace.

A sinister smile appeared on his face: "I seek the Path of Immortality; this realm… you will forever remain only the Crown Prince!"

The Crown Prince drank until he was dizzy.

He sat upright on the main seat, a gentle smile on his face, occasionally raising his cup to signal the crowd, and his every gesture displayed the bearing and elegance of a Crown Prince.

Looking at all his trusted officials seated, he seemed to already envision his boundless realm.

The table was laden with exquisite delicacies.

The court officials kept laughing and chatting merrily.

The dancing maidens moved lightly, their long sleeves fluttering as they twirled.

Like spring's fluttering Hudie, they left the crowd entranced, immersed in the delicate music of celebration.

Yet, his heart still felt that something was missing.

The Crown Prince ordered someone to summon the Crown Princess.

But a servant hurriedly reported: "Your Highness, the Lady returned to the Grand Tutor's Residence early this morning."

The Crown Prince thought that on such a splendid day, Su Miaoyu, as Crown Princess, was unexpectedly absent.

A displeased look crossed his face: "She still hasn't returned? How indecorous!"

The servant: "Yes, Your Highness, the Lady also took the little Princess back with her."

"She said she might stay at the Grand Tutor's Residence for a few days."

A hint of annoyance flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes.

His Crown Princess was a virtuous and gentle noble lady.

Back then, while still in the inner chambers, she was already the most renowned lady of Jinling, praised by all.

These years, as Crown Princess, she has indeed been flawless.

She bore children for him, shared hardships, and walked through storms together.

Moreover, she is dignified and graceful; even at her age, time has left not a trace upon her.

She possesses the bearing of a mother who governs the world.

The only flaw is her temperament is too cold.

Just a few years ago when they first married, the Crown Prince could still feel her tenderness.

But as years passed, an invisible wall seemed to separate them, and now they drift further apart.

The Crown Prince even could not understand when the change began.

When she accompanied him to the Southern Palace annex, didn't she repeatedly promise to walk with him forever, unafraid of wind, rain, or frost?

Now she has become that very frost.

The Crown Prince especially loathes Su Miaoyu's occasional cold glances at him.

It seems her eyes write endless voids and disappointment…

What exactly is she disappointed about?

Isn't he now back in the Eastern Palace, having restored her Crown Princess title?

What else could she possibly be dissatisfied with!?

Unwilling to dwell on these vexing thoughts, Duan Rongyin quickly pushed Su Miaoyu out of his mind.

He slowly rose, raised his cup to the crowd, and shouted loudly: "May Daliang Chao enjoy peace and prosperity, flourishing and thriving!"

In an instant, the court officials in the Eastern Palace blushed and shouted excitedly: "Crown Prince Your Highness, thousand years, thousand years, countless years—"

Just then, the Empress rushed in, carrying her legitimate eldest grandson.

Her expression still bore a hint of urgency.

"Yin, something's happened!"

The Crown Prince rose calmly and asked: "Empress, what's the matter?"

"Empress, do not rush; today is a joyous day. I have eradicated the remaining remnants of the Lotus Sect!"

"However, the Father Emperor has lately been obsessed with cultivation and alchemy; I heard the Grand Preceptor is still there, so I did not immediately report to the Father Emperor."

"Tomorrow morning after court, I will promptly go to request the Father Emperor to dispatch troops…"

The Empress's urgency, however, was not about this.

She, with a pale face, halted the Crown Prince, whose face was still beaming with joy, and said: "Stop speaking quickly!"

"Yin, it's truly an incident. Miaoyu, she has been captured by the Lotus Sect!"

The Crown Prince's smile froze: "Empress, what did you say?"

"Hasn't the Crown Princess returned to the Grand Tutor's Residence?"

"She travels with guards, and the Grand Tutor's Residence is heavily guarded."

"Moreover, the Lotus Sect was already exterminated by Jiang Ruiqi at Qishan, how could…?"

Before the words finished, Jiang Ruiqi, clad in silver‑white armor stained with blood, appeared in a disheveled state at the main hall entrance of the Eastern Palace.

"Your… Your Highness—"

No, not good.

We, we've been ambushed!

The Crown Prince swayed and nearly fainted.

The eunuch at his side hurried to hold him up, "Your Highness, don't rush. Please take care of your health..."

The Crown Prince shoved aside the person beside him, heedless of decorum, rushed out and grabbed Jiang Ruiqi: "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Wasn't a great victory reported?

Didn't you kill her with your own hands?

Weren't all those Lotus Sect followers wiped out cleanly, and their buildings burned to the ground?

These reports had long been sent back to Jinling; what are you coming back to tell me now...

An, an ambush?

What ambush could there possibly be!

You lead the five-thousand-strong Northern Map Army; what ambush could you possibly fall into!

Jiang Ruiqi looked shocked: "Your, Your Highness, I have never reported any great victory!"

I did indeed stab the Lotus Sect goddess on Qishan with a sword, but only after she fell did I realize she was merely a straw-stuffed dummy!

Moreover, the Lotus Sect's lair caught fire before the Northern Map Army could reach it; as for those shadows all over the mountain, they're all fake!

They've put on an empty-city stratagem for us!