Chapter 1149: Chapter 720 Imperial Family_2

Here is the translated text as requested:

“Third Young Master, it seems you’ve misunderstood something.”

“Tonight, I invited Yunqing, and you are but an accidental guest.”

“…..”

Xu Yuan immediately grasped the implication of the words, his pupils contracted slightly, his lips parted, but before he could speak, Li Yucheng had already turned to look at him:

“You’re not mistaken. Tonight I summoned Yunqing to entrust everything to him.”

The middle-aged man in a golden python robe half-closed his eyes, his complex voice carrying a sigh:

“Third Young Master, I have thought for a very, very long time about why, as the Crown Prince, I have fallen to such a state. The answer I ultimately arrived at is that I’m unsuitable.”

“The path Father taught me, the temperament he nurtured in me, does not align with the current state of the nation.”

“I understand balance, I understand human hearts, I understand what the people desire. Yet I lack the most critical quality for these times—the ability to wield ruthless power and decisive action.”

“Such traits can be feigned for a moment but cannot sustain me for a lifetime.”

“Since that’s the case,”

“why shouldn’t I make peace with it and yield the position of Crown Prince to the more suitable younger brother?”

“…..”

Xu Yuan stared at Li Yucheng’s expression, observing every subtle change:

“But Li Junqing has already left.”

Li Yucheng’s voice was tinged with resignation:

“Long ago, I actually realized my inadequacies, yet I kept clinging to the position of Crown Prince out of my own desires. Now that Yunqing has departed, I finally let it go completely. Fate is truly capricious.”

“I mean your next move.”

“It seems Zhao Yuan is the only choice left.”

“…”

Xu Yuan remained silent for a while, his voice solemn and heavy as he asked:

“You’re just a step away from the Nine Cauldrons—that position you’ve awaited for decades. Are you truly willing to let it go?”

Without any hesitation, Li Yucheng shook his head:

“Of course not.”

“Then why…”

“Third Young Master, this question—I’ve already answered it.”

Li Yucheng interrupted Xu Yuan’s words.

As he spoke,

Xu Yuan noticed the aura of the man before him abruptly change.

It was a pride unique to the Crown Prince of Dayan.

Glistening under the moonlight cast down upon the mortal world,

the python-robed middle-aged man, whose youthful brilliance had faded, stared at the elegant young man before him and spoke with deliberate resolve:

“Because I am a member of the Imperial Family.”

“…..” Xu Yuan fell silent.

Li Yucheng, on the other hand, laughed—his laughter bright and carefree:

“Third Young Master, the reasons why you’re so insistent on collaborating with me boil down to two points.”

“Firstly, you dislike Zhao Yuan’s methods and fear his capabilities.”

“Secondly, my shortcomings make me easier to control.”

“Since that’s the case,”

“as a member of the Imperial Family, naturally, I cannot let you have your way.”

“Even if it costs me my life,”

“I cannot let the Prime Minister’s Mansion achieve its ambitions!”

“…”

Their gazes met in silence,

while the night breeze rustled through the treetops, swirling fallen, yellowed leaves into the drifting currents of the water.

Xu Yuan gazed at the supervising Crown Prince who smiled with a carefree air.

Admiration?

A little.

But at the moment, he wanted to curse.

If the Crown Prince were willing to cooperate,

his ascension to the throne would save the Prime Minister’s Mansion a considerable effort.

Li Yucheng was a master of balance in internal affairs.

His flaws were equally apparent—after ascending to the throne, it would be difficult for him to swiftly consolidate the Imperial Faction with an iron fist.

This shortfall would provide ample time for the Prime Minister’s Mansion to accomplish much.

Li Zhaoyuan was different.

Step by step, he had clawed his way up from hell.

If he ascended to the throne, with Li Yaoxuan’s collaboration as his time draws near, he would unquestionably seize all power in his grasp at the first opportunity.

And as time passed,

this control would steadily strengthen until it rivaled Li Yaoxuan’s level.

Hell with it.

Isn’t the saying that the imperial family lacks genuine affection?

Isn’t it said that those in power are driven by selfishness?

Why is it at this critical juncture,

these imperial scions turn out to all be so damn treacherous?

Thinking this, Xu Yuan watched the other’s candid smile yet merely exhaled gently and half-jokingly retorted:

“Perhaps I should just go retrieve Li Junqing. That brat should not yet have had the chance to board a ship.”

Li Yucheng gave a faint smile:

“If you can accomplish that, then I promise I won’t go back on my words. But, Third Young Master, if you’re serious about this, please act quickly. Time is truly running short.”

As he finished speaking,

Li Yucheng shifted his tone, asking softly:

“You seem to deeply detest Zhao Yuan, yet if choosing someone to face the sects as allies, Zhao Yuan should be the most suitable candidate—even more fitting than Yunqing.”

“Indeed, that’s true.”

Xu Yuan didn’t deny it.

He could abhor the sea of blood and skeletons beneath Li Zhaoyuan’s feet,

but he couldn’t refute Li Zhaoyuan’s terrifying capacity and competence.

Li Yucheng pondered briefly before suddenly saying:

“Then might I ask why you’re unwilling to work with him—is it because of fear?”

“No, it’s revulsion.”

“Excuse me?” Li Yucheng looked momentarily stunned.

“Because of revulsion, thus aversion. Isn’t that reason enough?”

“…Ha.”

Li Yucheng first chuckled softly,

then burst into laughter as if he’d heard an extraordinarily amusing joke.

He lost the decorum of a Crown Prince and laughed like an ordinary middle-aged man.

When he’d laughed enough,

Li Yucheng exhaled deeply, speaking softly:

“Third Young Master, your strong dislike of Zhao Yuan’s methods makes it hard to reconcile that you are the very same Mr. Wang who proposed those Five Strategies for Governing the People to me years ago.”

Back when he had feigned death, Xu Yuan had once met this Crown Prince under a false identity, though he hadn’t expected Li Yucheng to deduce his true identity afterward.

Xu Yuan shrugged and replied:

“Back then, I already clarified that those Five Strategies were told to me by a monk named Shang Yang.”

Li Yucheng neither affirmed nor denied the explanation, instead speaking softly:

“Fine, let’s assume it was his words, but what I said that night is something I could never achieve—I only hope, Third Young Master, that you won’t use Lord Shang’s cruel tactics to govern the people in the future.”

Xu Yuan didn’t give a direct answer but rather teased in response:

“Your Highness, the way you put it sounds as if you are conceding that my Prime Minister’s Mansion will prevail in the end.”

Li Yucheng shook his head, his eyes narrowing with a smile:

“Who told you that you’re the only one I’ve said these words to?”

“…”

Xu Yuan squinted.

This Crown Prince might appear warm and gentle, but he clearly had a calculating mind.

While claiming disuse, he clearly intended to adopt these teachings—he just didn’t want to bear the infamy for it himself.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on such matters.

Xu Yuan softly inquired:

“Your Highness, is your decision truly final?”

Li Yucheng nodded with a faint smile:

“Indeed, if I were to become a ruler that leads the country to ruin, how would I ever face the imperial ancestors after my death?”

Xu Yuan let out a deep sigh and said:

“Then I hope I can retrieve that brat Li Junqing; otherwise, tonight will be a total waste of my time.”

With that,

Xu Yuan raised his hand and patted the python-robed Crown Prince’s shoulder:

“Burdened with state affairs, I bid you farewell.”

Li Yucheng glanced at the hand on his shoulder,

and in the next moment,

it vanished completely.

The elegantly robed figure standing by Xu Yuan’s side appeared dozens of feet away in an instant.

Gazing at the swiftly retreating shadow, Li Yucheng suddenly spoke, his voice projected across the distance:

“Third Young Master,”

“when you mentioned convincing Qingyan with boldness earlier, what exactly was that referring to?”

“…..”

Upon hearing this, the figure that had been moving further and further away abruptly stopped in its tracks.

Standing atop a hundred-meter banyan tree,

Xu Yuan slowly turned back, his gaze crossing the vast distance with a trace of puzzlement:

“Your Highness, I had just begun to foster some respect for you, but now you’re pulling this stunt—won’t it make your resolve appear insincere?”

Li Yucheng neither affirmed nor denied, instead chuckling softly:

“I’m merely curious—what kind of monarch Qingyan is waiting for. You don’t have to answer.”

Xu Yuan smiled faintly and transmitted his voice across the space:

“Never mind, it doesn’t matter. If you change your mind, it would be advantageous for my Prime Minister’s Mansion. Lately, many memorials regarding the Western Desert Incident have been presented at court, correct?”

Li Yucheng pondered for a moment before judging and replying:

“That should have no connection to Qingyan.”

Xu Yuan spoke confidently:

“So I’m not referring to the incident itself but the instability it has caused.”

Li Yucheng furrowed his brow slightly:

“The memorials advocating for unified sect taxation reforms?”

“Precisely.”

Xu Yuan’s voice was neither hurried nor slow, a chilling undertone weaving through it:

“If Your Highness wishes to obtain Qingyan’s support, then as Regent Crown Prince, pass those reforms through.”

“…..”

There was a sudden silence.

After a long pause,

Li Yucheng finally spoke in a somber tone:

“But if that were done, conflict would truly become inevitable. And Father…”

“If the future ruler lacks even the courage to take responsibility, what then of ambitions to conquer the nation? How would they ever secure Qingyan’s support? And how would they earn His Majesty’s approval?”

Xu Yuan glanced at the Crown Prince and chuckled, waving his hand before vanishing into the moonlit night, leaving only one remark reverberating in the air:

“Three days from now,

“I shall attend court to receive honors for the Western Desert Incident and personally present the new tax reform.”

“I hope Your Highness weighs this carefully.”

“…..”

Once Xu Yuan’s presence had completely dissipated, Li Yucheng remained standing in place, gazing at the clarity of the moonlight and reflecting on the words spoken before the departure.

After a long while,

Li Yucheng sighed faintly, lowering his gaze to his trembling hand:

“So…is it truly impossible?”

His hand suddenly clenched tightly, and Li Yucheng turned away, hands behind him as he strode toward the courtyard, a faint smile curving his lips:

“But if it’s to pave the future of the Imperial Family, a temporary pretense should be feasible.”