Chapter 272: Chapter 203: The Truth of the Succession Struggle, a Nation in Shock, Reputation Shifts, and Meeting Wei the Ninth Again

Eunuch Yan, dressed in a Python Robe, patiently said with gentle reassurance, "Your Highness, pay no mind to the gossip and rumors. The Holy Emperor’s word is final. There is no harm in accepting. Even if your talents are lacking, you can learn as you go."

Lu Mingyuan said with feigned anguish, "Prince Chongwen ought to be more suitable than I. How could I possibly be worthy of the title of Crown Prince?"

"Eunuch, please report back to my Father Emperor for me. Tell him that my talents are lacking and I am unfit for such a great responsibility. He must reconsider and not act so hastily."

Lu Mingyuan let out an incredibly insincere sigh.

Eunuch Yan cursed inwardly.

’This Sixth Prince... he’s the very definition of a hypocrite!’

’If he wants it, he should just accept the edict. Why put on this whole act?’

Little did he know, these thoughts were immediately picked up by Lu Mingyuan’s Observing the Heart.

Upon hearing this, Lu Mingyuan felt his goal had been achieved.

’In reality, the tradition of refusing three times is a way of telling my Father Emperor that I do indeed want to be the Crown Prince, but I have my reservations, which is why I’m feigning reluctance.’

’It’s a deliberate move to make him guess my true intentions.’

’This is the only way to buy myself some time.’

’And hopefully, dispel his suspicions.’

"Everyone covets the title of Crown Prince. To think Your Highness would refuse it so readily... your words and actions are truly surprising," the Piano Demon said, a faint smile touching his lips first.

For the first time, Lu Mingyuan had the opportunity to look directly at this man with black and white-streaked hair, the least famous of the Four Great Tributors.

Even though the Piano Demon was the weakest of the Four Great Tributors, absolutely no one dared to underestimate him.

He was not a pure Qi Cultivator, but rather one who practiced Daoist and Martial Dual Cultivation, having switched over from the Martial Dao.

After a Martial Artist broke through the Dragon Gate, it was not uncommon for those who felt they could not reach the Tenth Realm to use their Martial Dao’s Sea Gazing Acupoint to absorb nature’s spiritual energy. They would then join a Taoist Sect and switch to Qi cultivation, seeking an opportunity for a breakthrough.

While this method granted the power of Daoist and Martial Dual Cultivation, it also increased the difficulty of breaking into the Upper Three Grades, which was tantamount to ruining one’s cultivation path.

Even someone as gifted as Sui Yuqing had been unable to achieve Integration by merging the Buddhist and Daoist Daos.

The Piano Demon was clearly one such top-tier expert who had missed his chance at Breaking Realm.

Rumor had it that on the battlefield, no one could get within ten zhang of him.

Anyone who drew near would be reduced to a bloody mist, pulverized by his Sound Qi and killed instantly.

His Divine Technique was the Great Dao Xiyin. It was both shadowless and formless, capable of taking a life from a thousand li away.

The Piano Demon had earned countless merits on the battlefield; he was one of Great Yan’s deadliest weapons.

Lu Mingyuan stared at him because he sensed a familiar air about the man.

The subordinates of Xun Yu in the Endless Pavilion all shared a single trait.

They didn’t act like human beings.

This wasn’t an insult, but a literal description: they truly did not see others as human.

They saw them as cattle and sheep, to be slaughtered at will.

Only someone who has killed enough people develops that kind of gaze.

Even the bloodthirsty Ren Tu hadn’t given him this feeling.

Ren Tu was unscrupulous, willing to do anything to achieve his goals, and often caught many people in the crossfire. The Piano Demon, however, possessed a fanatical bloodlust and would proactively seek to kill. The result was the same—people died—but their mindsets were different.

Unfortunately, his Observing the Heart picked up nothing from the Piano Demon.

The man’s mind was like still water; there were no thoughts to be heard.

"Lord Piano Demon, with your profound cultivation, you naturally wouldn’t understand something like responsibility. The title of Crown Prince isn’t something one can accept just because one is told to," Lu Mingyuan said.

The Piano Demon, however, did not respond.

Out of professionalism, Eunuch Yan didn’t get angry, but the corner of his mouth twitched as he looked to Qi Xingyan. "Elder Qi, won’t you try and persuade him?"

Qi Xingyan gave a slight smile. "This matter is for His Highness to decide. This old one is powerless to intervene."

"Very well. I will report this matter to His Majesty."

With that said, Eunuch Yan had no choice but to take his men and depart.

No matter how he tried to persuade him, Lu Mingyuan refused to accept the imperial edict. ’It looks like I’ll have to come back two more times,’ he thought. ’And I’ll have to report this to the Holy Emperor again.’

After the four of them left, Zi Yun was the first to speak, her voice rushed.

"Your Highness, why did you refuse so outright?"

"This is the title of Crown Prince!"

In her eyes, the Prince becoming the Crown Prince was the best news imaginable.

Hong Wan mulled it over for a moment before asking, "Your Highness, are you following the tradition of refusing three times?"

"Are you feigning reluctance to improve your standing in the Holy Emperor’s eyes?"

"That’s right."

"How perceptive of you, Your Highness!"

Lu Mingyuan was secretly pleased to see that he had even fooled Hong Wan.

’In my view,’ he thought, ’the Crown Prince’s throne is not so easily occupied.’

’My Father Emperor is watching from the shadows like a tiger, and I don’t know what he’s plotting.’

’This title is a bait he has set out. If I bite, I’ll fall right into his trap.’

He understood this much.

But he doubted Zi Yun and Hong Wan could see it so clearly.

Lu Mingyuan suddenly felt mentally exhausted.

’I’ve outlasted so many people, so how are you still here?’

’Oh, Father Emperor, Father Emperor.’

’You’re almost better at hiding your secrets than I am.’

’Is this a case of ’like son, like father’?’

’Just how many more secrets are you hiding from me?’

Lu Mingyuan even began to suspect...

...that his father had deliberately orchestrated the incident that had sent him to the Cold Palace as a scapegoat.

The Capital City was heavily guarded. The Demoness’s smooth escape was suspicious in itself, making him wonder if his father had given the order from behind the scenes.

As Lu Mingyuan thought this...

...a startling idea suddenly formed in his mind.

’Is it possible...’

’...that my father intentionally let the Demoness go?’

He had once thought the motive behind it was complex, but perhaps the reason was actually quite simple.