Chapter 299: Chapter 212: Forming the Crown Prince’s Lineage, Luo Ying’s Peril, the Endless Pavilion Splits

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

As Gongyang Hu was led away, the crowd’s discussions resumed.

"Not only did the Grand Ancestor manifest his spirit to bless the prosperity of our Great Yan, but His Highness the Crown Prince’s own Dragon Fortune is also quite strong. That Tenth Realm Great Sage from just now couldn’t even harm him in the slightest."

"Since ancient times, National Fortune has represented the rise and fall of a Dynasty. When the National Fortune is strong, the Dynasty enters a golden age; if the National Fortune is weak, the Dynasty’s decline is imminent.

It’s not just His Highness the Crown Prince who is protected by the National Fortune—the current Holy Emperor is as well. Even the Three Religions’ Saints wouldn’t dare to touch Great Yan’s True Dragon Emperor for fear of a backlash from the National Fortune."

Lu Mingyuan shifted his gaze away from the [Dragon Robe and Phoenix Attitude] Fate Grid.

He generally understood that it was a support-type Fate Grid related to combat. In terms of usefulness, it was still somewhat inferior to [Qilin Martial Lord]. Considering it was only at the Basic Level, it should have room to improve in the future.

"His Highness the Crown Prince petitions for the common people and thinks on behalf of the citizens of the Central Plains. He is truly favored by the heavens."

"Next, His Highness the Crown Prince should take up residence in the Eastern Palace. If His Highness can lead us on a crusade against the Demon Country, it would be our greatest fortune."

At that moment, a clear, elevated voice rose from the crowd.

Lu Mingyuan was taken aback. ’Whose voice is that? It’s different from all the others singing my praises. It sounds like a transcendent expert. And with that tone... is he on my side?’

The crowd parted, and a man in a brown Daoist Robe appeared before Lu Mingyuan. He had a smile on his face, his collar open to reveal his chest, and an uncommonly heroic air about his features. On his head, he wore a Tai Chi Crown.

"And you are...?"

Lu Mingyuan asked, certain he had never seen this person before.

The man in the Daoist Robe bowed to him and introduced himself. "This humble Daoist is named Yu Da Dao, with the Daoist name Qingxuan. I am a Maoshan Grotto Heaven Daoist from the Shangqing Lineage. Currently, I work in the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy, serving as a Departmental Envoy in one of the Twelve Daoist Departments. Your Highness may call me Yu the Envoy, or you can simply call me Da Dao."

"Yu Da Dao," Lu Mingyuan said with a light chuckle. "Your name is certainly domineering enough."

The Three Great Yan Institutes: the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy, the Vajra Department Institute, and the Drumming Institute.

Each had its own internal division of responsibilities.

As the Taoist Sect’s representative within the Court, the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy was responsible for managing the Taoist Sects of the Central Plains World on the Court’s behalf. Its duties included exterminating Demon Fiends throughout Great Yan and supervising the discipline of Qi Cultivators. It was also the place where the Court trained Qi Cultivators and recruited Tributors from the Taoist Sect.

In terms of status, it naturally couldn’t compare to the Dao Alliance, which was formed by the Taoist Sects themselves.

Its influence was also far inferior, but it did, after all, represent the Great Yan Court and had the shadow of the Dao Alliance behind it.

The Dao Alliance was established a hundred thousand years ago, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It was composed entirely of orthodox Sects, both large and small, weak and strong. Ten powerful lineages formed its ten great powers, and every hundred years, they would elect an Alliance Leader.

The Celestial Master’s Mansion of Dragon Tiger Mountain was one of those ten great powers.

He had also heard of this Maoshan lineage; their strength was not to be underestimated, comparable to that of the Celestial Master’s Mansion.

It was like the United Nations from his previous life; the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy was more like a branch office, but it had its own institutional structure and followed the commands of the Great Yan Court.

The Central Plains World contained the territories of Twelve Great Continents, which could be seen as twelve territories. Within each continent, there were countless States, Counties, and nations.

The Dao Alliance was located on the Cyan Nether Continent, monopolizing the Destiny of an entire continent. Its prestige among Qi Cultivators was second to none.

’He, Yu Da Dao, is from a Daoist Department of the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy. What is he doing here, looking for me?’

Just as Yu Da Dao arrived, an imperial edict was announced.

He produced it from his sleeve out of thin air.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims."

"Regarding the recent matter of the marriage alliance, which has caused endless debate, and the plot to switch the Crown Prince, We were unaware. The Cabinet concealed this matter and failed to report it, thus bearing the primary responsibility. Great Yan was founded on Martial strength; how can we speak of marriage alliances! Therefore, within one month, the Cabinet shall be reorganized and the bureaucracy rectified. The Crown Prince shall assume the regency, with all officials to assist him. There must be no errors."

"The matter of the marriage alliance is hereby nullified. Furthermore, because the Great Yan Crown Prince, Lu Mingyuan, spoke out for the nation, he caused the Grand Ancestor’s spirit to manifest, adding to the boundless Great Yan’s Fortune. This is the first great merit of the Sixty-Eighth Year of Yong’an."

"Therefore, We bestow upon Lu Mingyuan three King’s Pearls. The Ministry of Rites is to retract the marriage proposal, inform the Holy Netherworld, and then select a site in the Imperial Capital to construct a new Crown Prince’s Mansion. A grand ceremony for the Crown Prince is also to be held on a subsequent day."

"We have been long afflicted by illness. Considering that the myriad affairs of state cannot be neglected for long, We hereby command the Crown Prince to establish his own administration and recruit talented individuals, to manage the government’s affairs, and to bear the duties of the regency. The Crown Prince may deliberate on all matters reported by the various departments."

"The National Fortune has been strengthened. This is a joyous occasion for both the sovereign and the people. Let there be feasts and banquets held throughout the Capital for seven days in celebration."

"Furthermore, grant a general amnesty to the world."

Thus concluded the imperial edict.

It revealed the current Holy Emperor’s attitude toward the recent events.

We were unaware.

The Cabinet takes full responsibility.

The Crown Prince will act as regent.

He will establish his own administration.

These four points summarized the content of the imperial edict.

This incident with the marriage alliance could be considered completely and utterly closed.

To handle this marriage alliance affair, he had even gone so far as to reorganize the Cabinet.

Emperor Yong’an had completely shirked his own responsibility, throwing the entire blame onto the Cabinet—which is to say, onto the head of Chief Minister Yuan Xuangang.

This steadfastly loyal Chief Minister, who had served the Court for thirty years, was still unable to escape the fate of being charged with dereliction of duty.

At the same time, this also meant that his maternal grandfather’s position as Prime Minister was likely gone.

This was not good news.

’In the Court, I’ve lost my only pillar of support. Within the Cabinet, I will have no one.’

Lu Mingyuan himself couldn’t count how many times his grandfather had helped him within the Cabinet, or how much he had done for him.

The reason he had been able to live so comfortably in the Cold Palace was in large part due to the protective umbrella Wang He’fu provided from the outside.

Contrary to what Lu Mingyuan had imagined, his Imperial Father had not maintained his previous attitude of having him merely assist the Cabinet, without the Supreme Authority of Regency.