Chapter 1148: Chapter 720 Imperial Family

Footsteps halted, moonlight shimmered upon the flowing stream.

Xu Yuan remained silent for a long time.

This question would be of no use even if he answered it.

Because Li Yucheng had only spoken half a sentence.

“What about you?”

“What about your household retainers?”

If the Prime Minister’s Mansion were merely a regional warlord faction, no matter how vast, there might still be room for negotiation.

In the form of splitting the land and granting titles.

But unfortunately, the Prime Minister’s Mansion is entrenched directly in the heart of Dayan, already infiltrating through Dayan’s veins and marrow into every corner of the Imperial Dynasty.

The conflict is irreconcilable.

The eruption has only been delayed because the sects still exist.

Once the calamity of the sects is resolved, what awaits is the cage fight between Imperial Chancellor and Imperial Chancellor.

Xu Yuan took a deep breath, avoided directly answering, and said:

“It’s not a good habit to give up eating for fear of choking. I didn’t come tonight to discuss this matter with you.”

Li Yucheng withdrew the hand he had lightly placed on Xu Yuan’s shoulder:

“Holding high office requires constant foresight.

“I understand that you came tonight seeking the possibility of continued cooperation between the Imperial Family and the Prime Minister’s Mansion, the possibility of working together before the fall of the sects.”

Li Yucheng continued walking forward.

Amidst the sound of trickling water from the stream,

he walked very slowly, his voice equally soft.

As he paced through the quiet valley, covering dozens of meters, Li Yucheng turned back, his star-like eyes weary, his smile faint:

“If you wish to pursue ‘peace’ with the Imperial Family, you should seek Zhao Yuan outside the northern city. I cannot do it.”

“….”

Xu Yuan’s eyes twitched, and an unnamed sense of fury surged in his heart:

“Crown Prince, such words should not be spoken heedlessly.”

“….”

The middle-aged man clad in a Golden Python Scale Robe simply met his gaze with calm and candid eyes.

Proclaimed Crown Prince for sixty years, Supervising Country tens of thousands of days and nights.

Time had exposed Li Yucheng to boundless experiences.

Years aged him, stripped his youth, and reshaped his mindset—arrogance, humility, pride, despair—all swept past like smoke before his eyes…

Born amidst reverent praises, he grew under the weight of academia and responsibility, and his bloodline destined him to bear an immense burden from early memory. Those around him constantly reminded him that his future was to ascend to the Nine Cauldrons Seat, carrying the fate of the dynasty’s prosperity and decline.

But now he had long passed the age of knowing destiny.

Power slipped from his fingers like grains of sand.

The so-called Nine Cauldrons Seat grew increasingly distant.

In those nights and days, he felt fear, trepidation, and sought ways to break the impasse and secure his position, only to realize that his fate seemed sealed from the moment he was born.

His entire life existed for his father, yet as his father faced the twilight of life, he was cast aside.

Though he acknowledged that during that critical juncture of the past, his father indeed had groomed him as the future ruler.

Li Yucheng truly did not blame that father,

yet at this point…

“I am a little tired, Third Young Master.”

“….”

This was bad.

As soon as the words fell, Xu Yuan glimpsed the deep fatigue in the Crown Prince’s eyes. He hesitated no longer and immediately said:

“Crown Prince, if you’re willing to cooperate, I can promise you something—that Qingyan will stand beside you.”

Li Yucheng was slightly astonished at the words:

“You would have Qingyan support me?”

Xu Yuan deliberated briefly before asking:

“Crown Prince, how much do you know about your sister?”

Li Yucheng pondered for a moment before smiling and replying:

“To my shame, Third Young Master, I suppose my understanding of Qingyan is not as deep as yours.”

Xu Yuan lifted his gaze to glance at the vermillion palace walls atop Nine Dragon Mountain and said:

“Qingyan is a woman who despises weakness and detests incompetence.”

Li Yucheng raised an eyebrow and calmly countered:

“So, in your view, Qingyan is not supporting Zhao Yuan but considers me weak and inept?”

“No.”

Looking at the white-haired middle-aged man before him, Xu Yuan replied earnestly:

“Crown Prince, for you to have governed for so long demonstrates your capability and substance, but compared to Li Zhaoyuan, you lack one critical quality.”

Li Yucheng lowered his eyelids and asked:

“What you speak of is resolve, a force capable of swallowing mountains and rivers, isn’t it?”

His words were anticipated, and Xu Yuan’s gaze showed slight surprise.

Li Yucheng chuckled softly, his tone calm, without any agitation from revealing his shortcoming, still as gentle as a spring breeze:

“Why be so surprised? I’ve lived this long; if I were unaware of who I am, it would be truly pitiful.”

Xu Yuan was speechless.

He found himself somewhat admiring this Crown Prince.

After a pause, he finally spoke:

“Since you know, securing Qingyan’s support should be simple.”

“Third Young Master, habits change with difficulty, and innate nature even more so.”

“Inherent nature is hard to change, but it can be concealed.”

“It can be concealed for a time but cannot be concealed forever.”

“…..”

Hearing these words, unease began to rise within Xu Yuan. He spoke directly:

“Concealing for a time is enough to help you ascend to that Nine Cauldrons Seat.”

“Yes, but what then?”

“…”

Xu Yuan suddenly stopped walking.

Li Yucheng also paused, turning with a soft smile.

As their gazes met,

Xu Yuan’s expression darkened bit by bit, and he spoke each word slowly:

“I now find myself somewhat unclear as to the meaning of your words. Could you explain?”

Li Yucheng’s expression remained composed, his demeanor unaffected, his trademark gentle smile still in place:

“The literal meaning—what does it matter if I ascend the throne?”

Xu Yuan’s tone grew colder:

“Crown Prince, are you mocking me tonight?”

How could he not grasp the implication behind Li Yucheng’s words?

This Crown Prince seemed to have given up the fight for succession.

Li Yucheng paid no mind to Xu Yuan’s gaze, leisurely moving forward with deliberate steps, his voice imbued with a faint, carefree laugh: