Read Novel Full Chapter 1151: Chapter 1145: The Empress
Chapter 1151: Chapter 1145: The Empress
Li Wei appeared beside Li Chang.
Surprisingly, Li Chang seemed quite at ease in the Heavenly Prison.
He no longer bothered leaving his embroidered shoes outside the door.
After spending so much time together in this confinement, his initial wariness of Min Youguo had softened into a comfortable familiarity.
An old man and the Heavenly Prison—it made for a wonderfully tranquil, almost dreamlike sanctuary.
It was no wonder the Imperial Preceptor lingered here, reluctant to leave.
“I imagine the news from the Northern Frontier has already reached the Imperial Capital.”
Li Wei sat between the two men as they drank, watching Min Youguo’s hand pass harmlessly right through his ethereal abdomen to pour the boiling water.
Listening to the sound of the falling water, he also felt a long-lost sense of peace.
The tea Min Youguo brewed was very soothing, but unfortunately, 5,000 Clan Will was too expensive.
As he listened to the two chat about everything under the sun, Li Wei silently waved his hand.
A panel appeared before his eyes, and his gaze lowered for a while.
Two more children returning from the Auric Empire had reached the end of their lifespans on the journey back to the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Heaven was unfair, denying them the aptitude for cultivation. Even when life-extending medicinal pills were pressed to their lips, they couldn’t bring themselves to swallow them.
They knew that even with the pills, breaking through to the next realm was an impossible dream; it would only prolong their suffering for an unattainable result.
No one had the right to self-righteously preach to them that a miserable life was better than a dignified death.
Because those who spoke such words were often the ones who had been favored by Heaven.
Or perhaps, it was he, this Old Ancestor, who hadn’t done well enough…
Exhaling a long breath, Li Wei brushed his heavy thoughts aside, not wanting his sudden sentimentality to accidentally disrupt the cozy camaraderie brewing between the old man and the young man.
He then opened the panel to check on the conditions of his descendants.
[Special Event: Western Frontier Enigma]
[Your descendant Li Yunbing reports to you: The formation set up by the clan near the Golden Toad Divine Palace detected the aura of the Body Integration realm.
The other party concealed themselves extremely well and waited for a long time.
After the matters in the Northern Frontier concluded, all traces of the Body Integration expert’s presence vanished entirely.]
…
[Special Event: A Mighty Figure’s Warning]
[The Ten Deadly Sins occurred, and Ancestor Lan of the Eternal Immortal Sect appeared in Merit City of the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Your descendants Li Qiuming and Li Chuxiu report to you: Ancestor Lan warned that multiple Body Integration realm experts were spying on the Azure Cloud Prefecture, advising the clan to make preparations.
Holy Monk Yidian sent demonic cultivators from the Demonic Cave to the clan to ask if the Li Clan had stirred up some massive trouble.]
…
What trouble had they stirred up? On the contrary, they had solved a scandalous mess regarding the Crown Prince for the Dynasty.
If there was any trouble, it was the resignation report Li Xinghuo submitted to the Grand Tutor’s desk.
The Grand Tutor lost a good employee who charged at the front lines.
However, the Grand Tutor was a sensible person. After what the Li Clan had done in the Northern Frontier, keeping Li Xinghuo there would be tantamount to roasting him over an open fire.
“The probes of these people are nothing more than greed and apprehension at work.
Since the Dynasty hasn’t made a move, they only dare to act as outsiders constantly spying from the sidelines.”
Li Wei pondered for a moment and murmured, “Ancestor Lan, on the other hand, is quite interesting.”
As he spoke, his expression froze slightly.
Having stayed beside Li Chang for two days, there was finally some movement.
Someone arrived inside the Heavenly Prison, reaching the door in an instant.
The visitor wore a gown of hollowed-out golden thread over a long white robe, her head crowned with a majestic phoenix piece draped in a pearl curtain.
As the beads swayed, they radiated a dignified, commanding grace fit for a true phoenix.
“Doesn’t her head feel heavy?”
Li Wei grumbled inwardly, though his sarcastic thought did little to mask his genuine shock.
The movement technique that allowed her to arrive in absolute silence was something even he—a half-step Body Integration expert—couldn’t hope to replicate.
He had always known the Imperial Capital was a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, but he never expected a true phoenix to actually descend upon them.
Even before Wenren Xianyi fully revealed herself, Min Youguo’s hand paused mid-air, his jade cup hovering as sheer vigilance flashed in his eyes.
When the heavy phoenix crown announced her arrival with the sharp clinking of pearls and jade, Li Chang also furrowed his brow, then quickly exhaled a long, steadying breath.
He was a gentleman after all; unlike Xinnian, he couldn’t simply fake a smile whenever he wanted to.
Li Wei immediately saw why Chang had struggled so much in the Imperial Capital’s officialdom all these years.
“Greetings, Empress.”
…….
Li Chang took a deep breath.
He hadn’t expected Wenren Xianyi to come in person, but he couldn’t conceal the anger in his heart over her killing Feng Tu that day.
It was true that imperial scandals could not be spread to the public, but City Lord Feng Tu was originally just a soldier in the Northern Frontier.
He suffered the bitter cold of the Northern Frontier, and later faced the Wu Tribe’s blades in the Western Frontier.
All of this was pure merit and hard work, yet in the end, he was slapped with a fabricated charge and arbitrarily stripped of his life.
One could silence the mouths of the world, but it was difficult to overturn the raging hearts of the common people.
“Lord Imperial Preceptor, Lord Li.”
Wenren Xianyi was elegant and dignified.
She waved her hand at Min Youguo and Li Chang and sat in Li Chang’s seat.
Li Chang furrowed his brow but proceeded to serve tea and pour water.
After exchanging a few words with Min Youguo, Wenren Xianyi said sincerely,
“Nowadays, the situation is turbulent. Both the Wu Tribe and the Demon Race bully our Dynasty.
With internal strife and external threats, the Imperial Preceptor actually manages to find leisure amidst the chaos, which truly makes one envious.”
Min Youguo lowered his head and smiled bitterly, flicking his sleeve.
“Empress, please do not mock this old man. Nowadays, the people of the world all know that the rebellious and unfilial descendant of my family is committing evil.
The red moon hangs high in the Western Frontier without falling, and who knows how many people think it’s this old man indulging him from behind the scenes.
I can only prove my innocence by staying in the Heavenly Prison, to prove it to His Majesty.”
“Then what if the Grand Tutor wants to rebel?”
Wenren Xianyi’s calm remark caused Min Youguo’s face to turn instantly cold.
Min Youguo hesitated for a moment.
“Are Your Highness’s words true? Lin Jiu is loyal to our Human Race.
His Majesty entrusted the Northern Frontier to him, and he once swore never to retreat half a step from the Northern Frontier. If he were to retreat, even the Demon Race wouldn’t believe it.”
“But precisely because of this oath, there are very few times he ever leaves the Northern Frontier.
He might be able to endure it, but over a hundred thousand years have passed; how can the massive forces he commands in the Northern Frontier endure it?”
Wenren Xianyi’s expression remained calm.
Min Youguo said in a deep voice,
“To raise a lifetime’s worth of adopted children without ever keeping them on a leash…
I warned Lin Jiu long ago: what he forged might not be an impregnable fortress of bronze and iron, but a sharpened blade meant for slaughter.
There is nothing in the Northern Frontier but snow and demons. The people he raised were bound to reach a point where they could no longer stomach the freezing winds.”
“Whether you step forward or not, it’s entirely up to the Imperial Preceptor to decide.” Wenren Xianyi finally revealed a smile.
“Very well.”
Min Youguo frowned and nodded.
Li Chang remained silent, but then he heard Wenren Xianyi say, “Lord Li, come with me.”
He had no choice but to obey.
A flash of light came from his Spatial Ring, and a white cloth appeared in his hand.
He vigorously wiped his hands, yet couldn’t wipe away any traces.
Even he couldn’t tell whether he was wiping away physical dirt or the corrupting filth of power he had inadvertently touched.
Wenren Xianyi walked in front, and Li Chang followed behind.
His thoughts drifted back to the chaotic period after Crown Prince Fei Heng’s disappearance, before Wenren Xianyi had officially become Regent.
Back then, Wenren Xianyi had sought him out.
It was for no other reason than the Li Clan’s important status in the Southern Frontier; the Dynasty’s new upstarts always attracted these great figures in the imperial court like ducks to water.
At that time, Wenren Xianyi was outspoken, directly asking who would take charge of the overall situation in the Dynasty if the Crown Prince were to lose his life.
These imperial princes and crown princes came and went, taking turns appearing on stage.
For Wenren Xianyi to recommend herself was indeed a novel trick to Li Chang.
Wenren Xianyi had said she wanted to make a bet with Li Chang: stay by her side for three years.
If she could stabilize the Dynasty and suppress the complex situation within the Imperial Capital within three years, then Li Chang would have to assist her in the palace.
If she couldn’t achieve this, she would give the Li Clan a providence of the Body Integration realm.
In the end, Li Chang fell for the trick.
With the great calamity in the Western Frontier and the clan in crisis, heaven knew how tempting a Body Integration providence was.
As a result, over the past three years, besides utilizing the Wenren Immortal Clan, Wenren Xianyi also borrowed the influence of the Li Clan.
Although the clan kept a low profile at the time, in the eyes of others, they were diehard loyalists to Crown Prince Fei Heng.
With Wenren Xianyi taking Li Chang everywhere, everyone assumed she was genuinely searching for Fei Heng.
As a result, this “assistance” turned him into a musician for decades.
Li Chang looked at Wenren Xianyi’s unattainable back, his eyes mostly filled with coldness.
Over these past decades, he had offered many admonishments, and Wenren Xianyi had always considered them carefully.
It was the first time in the Dynasty he felt his talents were recognized.
Yet in the imperial court, his chest full of aspirations was splashed with cold water.
“Using Crown Prince Fei Heng to avert disaster in the Northern Frontier is exactly the same as Lord Li’s methods.”
Wenren Xianyi didn’t even turn her head; Li Chang only heard the clinking of her pearl ornaments.
“To report to the Empress, it was out of absolute necessity.”
Li Chang replied.
The path through the Heavenly Prison gradually darkened, leaving only the sound of footsteps.
Li Chang was finding it increasingly hard to see clearly just how many more schemes this Empress had waiting for their clan.
“Very good.”
Wenren Xianyi broke the silence.
“Under the Ten Deadly Sins this time, it was also my negligence that almost caused a loyal subject to be wrongly accused.
Fortunately, Lord Li handled it properly, which is a blessing for our Dynasty.”
As she finished speaking, she slowly turned around.
They had already arrived at the entrance of the Heavenly Prison.
The afterglow of the sunset outside the formation illuminated Wenren Xianyi from behind, truly displaying the grace of the Mother of the World.
Wenren Xianyi’s smile gradually became gentle, carrying a hint of apology.
“Lord Li, regarding the matter in the imperial court that day, the majesty of the Dynasty is of great importance.
City Lord Feng could have lived, but he insisted on speaking of the Crown Prince’s matter, so I had no choice but to kill him.
Imprisoning Lord Li was also something I had to do. I have already been investigating the truth.”
While speaking, Wenren Xianyi smiled softly.
“I just didn’t expect that Lord Li’s methods would be as ingenious as ever.”
“The Empress flatters me.” Li Chang smiled bitterly.
“It’s also fortunate that I came to the Heavenly Prison; I had a very pleasant conversation with the Lord Imperial Preceptor.”
“The Imperial Preceptor’s idea?”
Wenren Xianyi raised an eyebrow, a trace of coldness in her eyes.
“It doesn’t matter whose idea it was, as long as the Li Clan is safe and sound.
However, the Li Clan’s Ten Deadly Sins have also allowed me to see quite a few rebellious factions whose appearances do not match their true intentions.”
She handed a jade slip to Li Chang.
“This is?” Li Chang was slightly stunned.
“Under the Li Clan’s Ten Deadly Sins, these are the ones spying on the Li Clan.
Since your Li Clan returned from the battle in the Western Frontier, your momentum has been too fierce, drawing covetousness and jealousy.
Over these past days, I have had people record them one by one, so the Li Clan can be somewhat prepared in the future.”
Li Chang probed the jade slip with his divine sense, and his expression changed.
Zishu Ling, Gongyang Ju, Master Qiuyue… and even an Elder surnamed Han from the Eternal Immortal Sect.
It was even mentioned that the Peerless Hall had fueled the flames from behind the scenes, allowing them to capture Feng Tu in such a short time.
The details were meticulous.
Li Chang’s face turned pale.
The jade slip stated that these people were still spying on the Li Clan, allying with one another, and preparing to probe the Li Clan’s depths at any time.
Li Chang hurriedly said, “Empress, this matter concerns the safety of my Li Clan. I must quickly return and report this to the elders.”
“Why the rush to go home?” Wenren Xianyi’s expression was gentle, carrying a trace of a smile.
“Are you afraid that your delicate wife in the Azure Cloud Prefecture is worried about your safety?”
Li Chang lowered his head, bowed to Wenren Xianyi, and passed by her.
However, just as half his leg crossed the formation, Wenren Xianyi’s voice sounded from behind.
“Lord Li, I have one matter to ask. Is it I who am beautiful, or your wife?”
A trace of displeasure flashed through Li Chang’s eyes.
He then respectfully bowed backward, staring down at the ground, and told a small lie.
“The Empress is a divine figure; how could my clumsy wife compare to the Empress?”
He immediately turned around and stepped through the formation of the Heavenly Prison, breathing in the fresh air.
Step by step, he walked toward the bustling area of the Imperial Capital.
Passing by the tightly closed doors of the merchant lineage, he silently gripped the ancestor’s spiritual tablet in his sleeve.
Li Wei weaved through the crowd, walking shoulder to shoulder with Li Chang.
He listened to Li Chang’s low murmurs.
“Old Ancestor, I don’t understand. Has the blood we shed for the Dynasty not been enough?”
Li Wei shrugged, noticing the unwillingness in Li Chang’s eyes.
Shedding blood for the Dynasty wasn’t quite accurate; it was merely for self-preservation.
But this Empress was truly a ruthless character, killing without shedding a single drop of blood.
…
Within the Heavenly Prison.
The Empress stood silently for a long time.
In the darkness, a shadow suddenly appeared and took an identical jade slip from her hand.
She said indifferently, “Replicate this jade slip and send it to everyone recorded within. Let them know that the Li Clan will eventually come to settle the score with them.”
The shadow took the jade slip and vanished without a trace.
Wenren Xianyi’s delicate brows furrowed deeply, unknown what she was pondering.
Only the sound of slow footsteps from behind could be heard; it was Min Youguo approaching.
This Imperial Preceptor ultimately couldn’t hold back and stepped out of the Heavenly Prison.
Though he was in the Heavenly Prison, nothing could escape his eyes.
He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, “When the same intelligence falls into the hands of both sides, sooner or later, a trivial matter will escalate until they face each other in a life-and-death struggle.”
“It’s just that, Empress, this old man implores you to revoke this order. The Li Clan absolutely harbors no thoughts of rebellion.”
Wenren Xianyi was silent for a good while.
She asked quietly, “Then what about after tomorrow?”
“This…” Min Youguo was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Several hundred years ago, Li Kuangren caused an uproar in the imperial court.
Back then, it was we who allowed the Azure Cloud Region to suffer the disaster of the Wu Tribe, resulting in Li Kuangtu dying at the hands of the Wu Tribe.
Now that his elder sister, Li Kuanghua, has cultivated into a Bodhisattva, can she forget?
Can Li Kuangren forget?
Can the experts of the Azure Cloud Prefecture who survived back then forget?”
“With the heavenly calamity unleashed by the Lord Imperial Preceptor and the Grand Tutor, so many of the Li Clan died.
Can you be sure that the Li Clan has never harbored any resentment?”
“Li Tianyue indirectly lost her life at the hands of Fei Heng. Can Li Yunbing and Li Xinnian ever be utilized by our Dynasty again?”
“If that truly is the case, then they don’t need to hide their strength, except to guard against the Dynasty.”
Min Youguo wanted to retort.
But he saw Wenren Xianyi’s gentle, smiling face.
“Lord Imperial Preceptor, I have grown tired of handling these unfinished matters for all of you. Please handle Lin Jiu appropriately, Lord Imperial Preceptor.”
Having finished speaking, Wenren Xianyi departed.
Min Youguo exhaled a long breath.
As the sunlight from outside the Heavenly Prison shone in, he suddenly felt that it was quieter inside the Heavenly Prison after all.
A’Hei of the Emberwing Guard, who followed Min Youguo year-round, hurriedly came to welcome him.
With lingering worry in his eyes, Min Youguo asked heavily, “A’Hei, have you found out about the matter I asked you to investigate?”
“I found out, I found out.”
A’Hei grinned, revealing a row of large yellow teeth.
“Lord Imperial Preceptor, this Empress of ours is truly a motherfuc… truly black-hearted and ruthless.”
“Get to the point!” Min Youguo glared at him.
A’Hei quickly straightened his posture.
“The secret guards of the Zishu family traveled far to the Northern Frontier and lured a young dragon of the Demon Race to expose its tracks to Li Zhijing, transmitting the message to Qiu Xunfa of the Qiu Clan.
Now, the secret guards of the Zishu family are controlled by the Empress.”
As he finished speaking, he saw Min Youguo’s face turn as dark as water and continued,
“My brothers and I figured it out. This Empress is the truly ruthless one. She wants to force Lin Jiu to rebel.
The Li Clan going to the Northern Frontier was just to test Lin Jiu’s bottom line.
Aside from the Li Clan, who else would dare rush from the south all the way to the north?”
A’Hei, who used to secretly complain endlessly about the Li Clan, was now quite full of praise.
“She is aiming straight for Lin Jiu’s imperial throne.
And as for the Li Clan’s side, separated by the Li Clan is the Westfall Prefecture.
With so many Body Integration experts suddenly eyeing the Southern Frontier, that old geezer Ancestor Lan must be terrified.
I reckon her moving against the Li Clan is fake, just to confuse the public; her moving against Ancestor Lan is the real goal.”
“That is, after all, the number one person below the Mahayana realm.”
—
Donate on Ko-fi ➡️ [] ⬅️
Get Early Access to 90 Chapters: Search for “Dark Tea” on Ko-fi (Explore tab) and join my membership to read ahead!