Chapter 1166: Chapter 734: The Long Night

Male supremacy and female inferiority — this is a custom dictated by strength among the common folk, but from the moment one steps onto the path of cultivation, this disparity in strength is compensated.

Though the fundamental beliefs and customs may to some extent influence the upper echelons in reverse, this influence is ultimately limited. Among the sects and the imperial realms, the presence of women is not lacking in the upper levels.

Li Yaoxuan’s desire to establish a female emperor did not come as unexpected to Xu Yinhè. In truth, he had considered every royal descendant who could inherit the throne.

Li Yaoxuan was pondering the future, and wasn’t he as well?

However, Li Yaoxuan’s decisiveness in this matter was something Xu Yinhè truly failed to see through.

This old friend concealed his intentions too well.

His method of supporting Wu Yuan was like storing water in a reservoir, flowing steadily. Every move to enhance Li Qingyan’s authority was obscured under larger national policies.

After the unrest caused by Empress Mu concluded, not retracting Li Qingyan’s military power was to stabilize, to send a stop-here signal to the empress’s family, the Marquis of Wucheng’s Mansion.

The Crown Prince remained the Crown Prince.

Wu Yuan still commanded the troops outside.

One inside, one outside.

And naturally, severing the connection between the Crown Prince and Wu Yuan was to prevent a repeat of the “Unrest of Empress Mu.”

Amidst the blizzard and disaster, when the royal fortune was tied to the Prime Minister’s Mansion as they waged war at the Northern Frontier, Xu Yinhè should have seen the sign.

Because he was doing the same thing.

Paving the way for the future heir, using the victory of a great battle to solidify Xu Yuan’s prestige.

Yet after reading the internal reports from the Northern Frontier, he couldn’t help but dismiss this suspicion.

Too rushed, too risky.

In such warfare, a tiny misstep could crack the dam of the reservoir, and twenty years of accumulated flow would vanish in an instant. Furthermore, this old friend staunchly protected Li Zhaoyuan, scheming against Wu Yuan post-event; such actions inevitably drew attention to the Second Prince, who had been oppressed behind the scenes.

It was just Li Yaoxuan’s last words, Lao San’s innate pulse…

Some things, despite the heart having reached a level of certainty in suspicion, always hold a sliver of hope, so hearing the answer from his mouth still brought undeniable sorrow.

With the gradually rising morning sun, Xu Yinhè finally gathered his thoughts:

“Not enough.”

To support the female emperor’s accession, Li Yaoxuan’s preparations were sufficient, but to maintain the cooperation of the Imperial Chancellor before the sects’ celestial insight, those preparations were completely inadequate.

Missing the most critical piece of the puzzle.

“Xu Chang’an’s death?”

A massive pit extended outward into trenches stretching over a dozen miles, the brilliant and colorful light of the sunrise dazzlingly reflected on this “friend” standing atop the mountain peak.

Facing the splendid new sun, the elderly Li Yaoxuan chuckled softly, his wrinkles trembling slightly:

“We both know how fragile the constraints of a marriage alliance are. Bloodline is the bond of inheritance, a blood covenant granted by the heavens, but a qualified leader must not take these into consideration. I am like this…”

At this moment,

Li Yaoxuan’s voice turned deep and robust:

“So are you, and so would Xu Chang’an have been!”

“Hence having Xu Changtian become the Emperor’s Consort is far from enough. It’s also necessary for Xu Changge to become the next head of the Xu Family.

“Prime Minister, I truly admire your eldest son’s disposition… just like Feng Jiuxuan, not lacking in ability, but stubbornly committed to certain things. As long as he has a living brother, until he becomes the master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, he will not rebel.”

As he spoke, Li Yaoxuan glanced at the Imperial Dragon Robe he wore, and said:

“If he comes to power, he could become a tyrant. Even if the officials of your Prime Minister’s Mansion drape this robe on him, he would suppress the matter, waiting for Zong Qingsheng, Hua Hong, Lou Ji, and others to perish of old age. The threat posed by your Xu Family to the imperial power might diminish considerably.

“Of course, it might not, but these are things out of my hands. To plot for one generation, then for a second, plotting for three generations is not a human endeavor either.”

After these words,

Li Yaoxuan pronounced deliberately:

“Thus, Xu Chang’an must die.”

Xu Yinhè, unyielding, with deep black eyes:

“Was it you?”

“You already investigated his death back then, didn’t you?”

“Too shallow.”

“Not just back then; your third son has faced numerous assassinations upon this path, have you forgotten so quickly? The sects’ conduct is always unrestrained.”

“Is that so.”

Xu Yinhè seemed relieved.

Li Yaoxuan frowned:

“You believed it?”

Xu Yinhè gazed steadily:

“You now have no need for false words, just as you stated earlier. I am like you. Even if you admit to this matter now, I will tolerate it for the greater good.”

Li Yaoxuan remained silent for a few beats, then softly said:

“Too fast…..”

Xu Yinhè raised an eyebrow.

Li Yaoxuan’s eyes held memories as he spoke:

“I know your stance on blood relatives, so every plan had to be considered with extreme caution. This was true for Xu Changtian, and even Xu Chang’an. But that time, the sect acted decisively; the intelligence came only a day later, and Xu Chang’an was assassinated.”

The implication was clear.

He had prior knowledge of some inside information but did not stop it.

Xu Yinhè’s fingertips trembled slightly beneath his sleeves:

“No need for further words.”

“Not unnecessary.”

Li Yaoxuan shook his head with a smile, taking a deep breath, and looking toward Di’an, speaking slowly:

“Some words, if suppressed, are always unsettling. Near the end, besides those national affairs, I always find myself pondering trivial matters.

“Xu Yinhè,

“Tell me… after going this far together, is the bond between you and me rooted more in friendship or enmity?”

“…”

Xu Yinhè remained silent, showing no intention of answering the question.

He understood him too well.

This question was posed for self-answering, not expecting a response from him.

And what happened next was as Xu Yinhè anticipated.

“After much thought, I’ve realized these things no longer matter. Between us, things must eventually come to an end.”

Li Yaoxuan wielded the Blunt Heavy Sword casually, stirring up a Gang Wind that messed up both their robes, and then with a thud, the sword tip slammed into the ground, unleashing a vast power that tore the earth apart instantly:

“Enough, I’ve said a lot, you surely understand my intent. I do not wish to see an internecine struggle among the Imperial Chancellor, but neither do I wish to see the imperial power collapse after my demise.”

Xu Yinhè glanced at the new trench cleaved by the heavy sword.

Extending several miles,

not half the might of Ran Jianli’s sword.

Yet,

This was merely the Emperor’s casual swing.

The implication was clear.

While Li Yaoxuan might not be able to kill Xu Yinhè, he could have something from the heavens do so.

Silently, Xu Yinhè lowered his gaze, and said:

“I do not understand.”

Li Yaoxuan paused, gripping the heavy sword with a slight tremble, his face’s wrinkles deepened, whispering hoarsely:

“Do not understand…..

“Why not understand….

“We have come this far, if only you were to abolish your third son’s cultivation, the Imperial Chancellor could continue… the weighty affairs of the world, the millions of common folk, the century-long ideal, is it just because he is your kin, you don’t understand?”

As he spoke to here,

Li Yaoxuan suppressed a certain emotion, urgent, saying:

“Yinhè, I allow you to live, to live to witness the future we desire. Is this feasible?”

“…..”

But after the words landed, silence prevailed.

The stalemate continued as time passed.

“Clang!”

The Blunt Heavy Sword was thrust into the ground.

Li Yaoxuan appeared exhausted, turning his hunchbacked self around, lifting his eyes to the brilliant sun above the sky, smiling, his voice seemed to exhaust all energy:

“Prime Minister, Dayan’s long night is coming, I am weary, you… also return to the capital to prepare properly.”