Chapter 1155: Chapter 725 The Beginning of Turmoil_2

It symbolizes the chaotic era of ceremonial collapse and the breakdown of order.

In their plan,

this chaos ought to begin with Xu Yinhe, the Master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, bearing the weight of the countless lives that will perish.

Yet Lou Ji couldn’t understand why Xu Yuan was so insistent.

For merit?

Or perhaps, for prestige?

Lou Ji couldn’t discern the reasons, but she could vaguely grasp his intentions, speaking softly:

“Actually, rather than bearing everything alone, Changtian, you can rely a little more on us old fellows. Your father is stronger than you imagine.”

“I know.”

Xu Yuan smiled faintly, his gaze lowering slightly.

The memories of his previous life in “Cangyuan” flowed through his mind like water, finally freezing on the scenes of the collapse of the Prime Minister’s Mansion:

“…But those he faced were just as formidable.”

Speaking softly,

Xu Yuan gently tucked the letter with its vermillion envelope into the inner lining of his robe, gazing at the increasingly towering Palace City ahead, his voice calm and slow:

“Sister, what I’m doing now is merely what falls within my duty.

“Hold the position, take charge of the matters.

“Reap the benefits, bear the responsibilities.

“If I can’t even achieve this, then I might as well follow Li Junqing and secure my retreat early.”

..

.

After a long silence, Lou Ji left.

Before leaving,

she couldn’t resist messing up Xu Yuan’s meticulously tied long hair into a bird’s nest.

This was Lou Ji’s mischievous habit, but it also reflected her powerlessness.

When things reached this point, when events escalated to the level of the dynasty, this elder sister could no longer shield the path she had once chosen for this troublesome younger brother as she had before.

Thinking pensively, Xu Yuan gazed through the window lattice at the looming mountain peaks and the magnificent palace buildings shrouded in the rainy night, sighing softly without realizing it.

When the carriage arrived at the gates of the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Guards in golden heavy armor were already standing in rows outside the city gates, silent and stern in the curtain of rain.

Xu Yuan held no official rank, merely a viscount title granted by the Emperor at birth. Technically, he had no privilege to enter the palace alone, but today he rode the Imperial Family’s carriage, making an exception under the pretext of his conferred title.

Thus, as the carriage approached, the towering city gates of the palace began to slowly open. The carriage moved along the path between the two rows of Imperial Guards, the sound of the wheels echoing through the long archway.

Inside the archway, the light was dim. Xu Yuan, while tying his hair, casually pondered the matters of court.

He was unfamiliar with the court etiquette of Dayan.

Over the past few days, he had been busy—busy understanding the various information under the Prime Minister’s Mansion, busy perfecting his cultivation technique, busy chasing Li Junqing, the mischievous young man.

Regarding court etiquette, he had only skimmed through a book on the subject before his journey.

It somewhat resembled the ceremonies of his previous life.

But now, it no longer mattered,

for as the carriage passed through the archway, Xu Yuan saw a dense crowd of people waiting in the rain outside the Meridian Gate—a sea of officials dressed in various colors of official attire.

By the laws of Dayan,

such officials should have been punished.

The appointed time for court was at the hour of the mao, yet now it was already three-quarters through the hour, and these people were still standing there—an act of blatant disrespect toward imperial authority.

The inscription lamps flickered faintly in the dim rain-soaked night. The carriage halted before the Meridian Gate, and besides the drizzle of autumn rain, silence prevailed.

“Creak….”

The carriage door opened,

a pair of boots stepped out into the rain,

and a man clad in the court attire of a viscount appeared before the crowd.

It was his first time attending court, and Xu Yuan dutifully wore the prescribed attire.

Using Origin Qi to shield himself from the falling rain, Xu Yuan stood upon the carriage threshold, scanning the surroundings. Seeing the familiar faces he remembered from the internal reports, he suddenly realized that the blame for this act of disregard toward imperial authority might fall on him.

These people were all members of the Prime Minister’s Party.

The wind had spread the word three days in advance.

If he didn’t come, the Prime Minister’s Party wouldn’t dare to enter first.

Indeed, there are no small matters in choosing sides…

Amid the silence of the group, Xu Yuan chuckled lightly. He stepped into the rain, but as he passed the tightly shut Meridian Gate, his footsteps suddenly halted.

He raised his gaze to the eunuch guarding the palace wall, his calm voice expanding through the rain curtain before the gate:

“Eunuch, as the legitimate son of the Xu Family, which gate should I enter?”

“…”

After a brief exchange of glances, the eunuch immediately replied:

“By the laws of Dayan, Viscount Xu, you should enter through the left gate with the civil officials…..”

Before his words finished,

the eunuch’s pupils abruptly contracted.

Because before he could finish speaking, the Third Young Master of the Xu Family headed straight toward the Meridian Gate, which was supposed to be reserved for the Emperor alone…

“Tap….”

“Tap….”

As Xu Yuan advanced, a deep rumbling sound, akin to the growl of a giant beast, echoed beneath the Meridian Gate.

“Boom——”

The heavy palace gate trembled before slowly opening a sliver.

Through this narrow opening,

Xu Yuan glimpsed the Golden Throne Palace atop the layered architectural peaks.

Behind him, the crowd of Prime Minister’s Party officials witnessing this scene began to react—

some wiped away cold sweat, while others gazed with fervent eagerness.

However, after forcing the gate open a sliver, Xu Yuan didn’t proceed further in violating the etiquette.

He felt a gaze upon him,

an investigation coming from the depths of the Imperial Palace falling to the front of this Meridian Gate.

According to the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s internal records, the imperial family had four Saints.

Three humans and one beast.

The beast remained unnamed; the humans had visible traces.

The Emperor Li Yaoxuan, Marquis Wucheng Mu Zhenbei, and the Imperial Family Head.

That gaze earlier should have originated from the esteemed Family Head.

The Prime Minister’s internal records contained very little information about this Family Head,

so little that all that was known was that the imperial family’s Grandmaster included such an individual.

The person was an elder from a bygone imperial generation—a reclusive figure who would only act if the family faced extinction.

But Xu Yuan’s Spiritual Vision was an unreasonable ability; even with merely a fleeting encounter, he could discern the general cultivation level of this Family Head.

Mysterious, yet the strength was not beyond expectations.

This era brimmed with countless brilliant new talents and numerous ancient masters hidden for centuries; the diluted prestige of this Family Head seemed inevitable.

Quietly keeping this information in his mind, Xu Yuan turned and walked toward the left gate, his gaze lowered as he proceeded deeper into the palace.

On this path, Xu Yuan refrained from further breaches of etiquette, patiently following the crowd of Prime Minister’s Party officials northward. After a series of elaborate ceremonies, the majestic Fengtian Hall finally came into view.

At five-quarters past the hour of mao,

the autumn rain had ceased, clouds still lingered above the sky dome, the guards’ golden armor gleamed dimly, standing solemn before the steps of the hall, with the hundred officials gathered below.

The ceremony of entering court should have long been completed,

but the officials on duty from the Honglu Temple, the Imperial Censor, and the Bell and Drum Department were all aligned with the Prime Minister’s Party. They refused to perform the ceremony, the Imperial Censor neglected his duty, and unless the Regent Crown Prince spoke, the officials would remain waiting before the hall.

Xu Yuan smiled faintly.

He did not understand why Li Yucheng had changed his mind,

nor did he comprehend the deeper intent behind it,

but he knew that for now, the imperial family and the Prime Minister’s Mansion could avoid clashing swords.

With the eventual arrival of later officials, the ceremony of entering court slowly commenced.

The process was not truly lengthy, yet every official’s thoughts fixated upon the young man in their midst.

They wished to see the choice of the legitimate son of the Xu Family.

To see whether he would ascend the Imperial Path just as his Prime Minister father had.

But contrary to expectations,

Xu Yuan simply stood quietly at the end of the line of civil officials, moving forward with the procession.

Surprise, confusion, relief, reassurance.

The various expressions revealed the officials’ inner states.

As everyone stepped into the Fengtian Hall,

waiting silently for the governor of the hall to recite the various ceremonial phrases…..

“Tap…..”

A faint sound of footsteps fell upon each gathered individual’s heart.

From the end of the civil officials’ line, Xu Yuan took a step sideways.

Under the astonished gazes of the many senior officials, he stood at the center of the grand hall.

In this moment,

Xu Yuan could feel his heartbeat accelerating uncontrollably.

His hand reached into his clothing, gently searching.

When his fingers touched the letter tucked inside, they trembled slightly—an involuntary response.

In this instant,

visions seemed to flicker in Xu Yuan’s eyes, and he appeared to glimpse the future of this dynasty.

The flourishing lights transformed into raging flames,

white brilliance turned into scarlet torrents,

orderly districts dissolved into desolate ruins,

the tranquility of night gave way to tumultuous smoke, consumed by agony and cries.

These visions gripped Xu Yuan with suffocating intensity.

But,

with a serene expression, Xu Yuan retrieved the letter with the vermillion envelope from the inner lining of his robe.

The sunlight of a new day pierced through the clouds, and he stood against the first glow of morning light streaming into the hall, presenting Dayan’s declaration of war toward the sects to the imperial court.

“Your subject seeks to address a matter.”