Chapter 273: Chapter 203: The Truth of the Succession Struggle, The Court and Public Shocked, A Shift in Reputation, Seeing Wei the Ninth Again

The Great Nether Empress and the former Monarch of the Great Netherworld had a terrible relationship. The root of the problem was that back when the Empress was still the nation’s Saintess, her prestige in the Holy Nether Land was already immense. No ruler would ever wish to see such a situation develop.

The Saintess’s duty was to preside over divine sacrifices and communicate with the Divine Beings. In some respects, her status was even higher than the Sovereign’s.

The Monarch of the Great Netherworld was merely their agent in the Mortal World; the Holy Nether Divine Beings were the true masters of the Holy Netherworld.

Therefore, to eliminate the Great Nether Empress while she was still the Saintess, the Monarch of the Great Netherworld deliberately dispatched a weak army to face Great Yan.

As a result, the army of the Great Netherworld, which had always held the upper hand, lost to Great Yan.

As long as the Demoness was captured by Great Yan, the threat would naturally be eliminated.

The Monarch of the Great Netherworld could then rest easy.

At this moment, Lu Mingyuan seemed to understand why a rebellion had previously broken out within the Great Netherworld.

’What if Father really did let the Demoness go on purpose?’

’Then the goal would be obvious: to use the Demoness to tie down the Monarch of the Great Netherworld and buy himself time?’

’Perhaps the Demoness and Father had some kind of deal.’

Based on this analysis, Lu Mingyuan felt there had to be a shocking conspiracy behind it all.

’Father watching the princes kill each other—was that also part of a pre-written script?’

’Was he fanning the flames from behind the scenes?’

HISS!

As the thoughts raced through his mind, Lu Mingyuan drew a sharp breath.

He didn’t dare to entertain the thought.

’This is just a guess, nothing more.’

’But if the hypothesis is true, why would the Great Nether Empress be attacking Great Yan now?’

’There are still parts that don’t add up.’

The deaths of so many princes... Recalling the details now sent a chill down his spine.

As the truth gradually surfaced, matters that had seemed settled now looked utterly bizarre.

’How could the Fifth Prince, Lu Mingkong, be assassinated in the Capital City without the assassin leaving a single trace?’

’When the Eight Princes were enfeoffed, he personally led the expedition. Why did he have the Third Prince return first? And who was the true culprit behind the forged imperial edict?’

’Before the Eldest Prince was sent into exile in the Border Region, he saw the bracelet on Yang Yingchan’s wrist and assumed he’d been cuckolded. It was the last straw that shattered his Daoxin, leading to a Heart Demon Devouring Body. But it shouldn’t have happened so quickly. Who suddenly attacked him on the road to the Border Region?’

’Was Father truly unaware of what Prince Jin was doing?’

’Perhaps his cleverness was his own undoing. Lu Guangjing, who cultivated the Dragon Slaying Skill, was already on a path contrary to becoming emperor. He became Father’s pawn, and once his value was squeezed dry, he was abandoned in the Wilderness Cave Heaven.’

’With so many princes dead, why did Li Sheng, at that exact moment, so readily accept Lu Yunqing as his disciple?’

’Conveniently, just in time to be used against Lu Guangjing?’

’Lu Yunqing was clearly being used by him as well.’

’Everything Lu Yunqing has, one could say, was given to him by Father.’

’His identity, his status, his subordinates—even his ideals.’

’To take it to an extreme, maybe Lu Yunqing was the target Father chose from the very beginning.’

’Obedient, well-regarded, and easy to manipulate.’

’And now, that chosen one has become me.’

So, Lu Mingyuan asked his heart: was he truly a match for his father?

At this thought, Lu Mingyuan sank into deep thought.

"Yuan’Er!"

Suddenly, a shout broke him from his thoughts.

A graceful and noble-looking woman stepped through the gates of Qingzhu Hall.

At that moment, Wang Zhaoyan had just arrived at the Cold Palace in her sedan chair.

With a look of joy on her beautiful face, she said hurriedly:

"Let Mom see! What does the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace Jade Seal look like!"

Hearing this, Zi Yun and Hong Wan grew anxious and didn’t answer right away.

Lu Mingyuan could only offer a bitter smile.

Zi Yun blinked her big, beautiful eyes and said cautiously, "Reporting to Your Ladyship, His Highness... His Highness..."

"What about His Highness?!"

Frantic, Wang Zhaoyan grabbed Zi Yun’s arm and demanded an answer.

Zi Yun steeled herself and shouted, "His Highness rejected the position of Crown Prince!"

Upon hearing this news, Wang Zhaoyan was completely stunned.

"Rejected... the position of Crown Prince... rejected..."

After a long moment, she finally processed it and agitatedly questioned Lu Mingyuan, "Yuan’Er, why would you refuse to be the Crown Prince?"

Lu Mingyuan gave a helpless smile and sighed. "I did it to spare Father a difficult decision. If we let the news of Lu and Wang’s Heart Learning circulate for a few more days, he will definitely send someone again."

"But what if he doesn’t!" Wang Zhaoyan cried, unable to accept it.

"I can’t take that gamble!"

"Don’t worry, he will," Lu Mingyuan said with a smile.

News of the edict to name the Crown Prince would soon spread throughout the entire Capital.

’What is the biggest controversy surrounding me right now?’

’It’s the case of letting the Demoness of the Demon Kingdom escape, which led to the Great Nether Empress taking the throne and making a comeback.’

’But that whole affair was shrouded in mystery to begin with. Now, with the emergence of Lu and Wang’s Heart Learning, there is no longer any doubt.’

’Even Chen Ke, who comprehended the Learning of the Mind, trusts me so completely.’

’He even said things like, "Only by introspecting on good and evil can one attain the knowledge of goodness."’

’Most people will start to believe that Prince Huai’an was framed and that the Court, unable to find the real culprit, simply pinned the blame on him.’

’When a person is outstanding enough, no matter what they do, countless people will rush to explain it for them.’

’What I need to do is use this trend to build up my own power!’

...

「Great Yan Imperial Capital.」

Thanks to two things—the edict to name the Crown Prince and Lu and Wang’s Heart Learning—Lu Mingyuan had become the hottest topic in the Capital City for the past two weeks. He dominated the headlines of the Great Yan Mansion Report, and notices posted by the Imperial Guard were plastered inside and outside every Government Office.

The news even showed signs of spreading to all corners of Great Yan, reaching everyone from the common folk of the Capital to the scholars of the Academies.