CHAPTER 1167: CHAPTER 735: RUPTURE

Li Yaoxuan turned and walked towards the military formation, decisively, without looking back.

Due to the death of the State Preceptor Ran Jianli, this delicate moment was not suitable for completely tearing off the facade. In the short term, the Imperial Chancellor needed to unite closely on the surface to resist the Sects, but from the moment Xu Yinhè refused Li Yaoxuan, the breach within was already formed.

Walking slowly on the rain-dampened grass, Li Yaoxuan proceeded, and on the horizon ahead lay the imposing military formation, ready for battle.

At nearly a hundred years old, with his life nearing its end, Li Yaoxuan’s way of seeing many things had already shifted from the naïveté of youth to clarity, yet despite much contemplation, he had not anticipated that the two factions of the Imperial Chancellor would ultimately collapse and break over the issue of succession.

In their youth, the two often drank and conversed joyfully, discussing many things, including Xu Yinhe’s unfit attitude towards his family as a ruler.

Who can be emotionless? Li Yaoxuan always wanted family happiness like the Prime Minister’s Mansion, but the loneliness of power forced him to suppress these feelings.

One’s offspring are the continuation of one’s bloodline, the extension of existence, and a vessel for emotions...

Yet each generation of the Imperial Family faces incomparable individuals from among millions! Without ruthless cultivation and careful training, how could one possibly contend with them?

It’s fortunate that Xu Yinhe had good fortune, with three capable children; otherwise, with the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s nurturing mode, Xu Yinhe would have achieved nothing in his lifetime.

It’s known,

what the adoptive daughter did outside, the Emperor of Dayan had heard.

Moreover,

those in power should be emotionless, especially monarchs.

Thoughts are national policy.

Any emotional fluctuations reflected in national policy will be infinitely magnified.

Fortunately, over the past decades, though Xu Yinhe loved his sons, he did not shield them, and even in the face of life and death of those close, he never gave chaotic orders on their behalf.

Li Yaoxuan had never imagined that this Prime Minister would bring him such a great challenge before his deathbed.

He did not understand why Xu Yinhe suddenly changed his tune.

The implication of Xu Yuan’s loss of cultivation was that Li Yaoxuan would remove all obstacles for Wu Yuan’s ascension.

The Imperial Family would sentence Li Zhaoyuan to death, and the Prime Minister’s Mansion only needed to pay the price of Xu Yuan’s cultivation.

This was the essential condition of mutual trust.

Only then would the Imperial Faction recognize Li Qingyan’s legitimacy and allow the Imperial Chancellor to continue down the old path, eliminating local sects and returning power to the central government!

Li Yaoxuan did this to preserve his Lee lineage, but if that were his sole aim, how could he promise the Prime Minister continued life?

The process of sweeping the sects would inevitably be bloody, harming the common people. Following this path, once the Imperial Chancellor won the war, how would they handle themselves without external pressure?

Would two colossal entities with completely different interests wage a second internal war within this already devastated Dayan Territory?

By then, national strength would be weak,

what of the Ancient Abyss?

what of the Western Desert?

and what of the golden-haired demons from the sea?!

Therefore,

Dayan needs Xu Yuan as the key to peace.

With the powerful Imperial Family led by Wu Yuan in power and the Prime Minister’s Mansion dominated by Xu Changge, they should offer the world a respite, turning the second devastating conflict into a power struggle confined to Dayan’s upper echelons.

This will cause deaths, many deaths, but no longer the children of peasants and workers, rather the upper echelons of royalty and nobility.

Lou Ji, Hua Hong, Marquis Wucheng, Wang Shili, these Imperial Ministers might all perish in this high-level power struggle, but at least the lower classes could recuperate.

As for what will happen to the third generation,

whether they will successfully integrate during this century-long pause or become even more divided, is too far off for this old man near death to consider.

Therefore,

Li Yaoxuan, carrying his incomprehension, hunched over and returned to the military formation...

The Northern Hunt had reached the point where it could no longer proceed.

The white deer, released as prey, hopped and disappeared over the horizon, and in such a murderous atmosphere, no strong man in the army dared to leave to catch it.

Looking back over the entire Northern Hunt, the only beneficiary may have been this Auspicious Beast, meant to be hunted down but instead, by a twist of fate, obtaining freedom.

Xu Yinhè remained immobile on the original spot.

The Emperor’s Palace was destroyed, so Li Zhaoyuan found carriages for the Emperor and the Prime Minister to use for transportation. However, only the Emperor returned to the military formation side, and upon boarding the carriage, the Emperor gave no sign of waiting, coldly ordering:

"Return to the capital."

"..."

Li Zhaoyuan hesitantly glanced toward the trenches of the battlefield, a flash of thought crossing his starry eyes, then nodded in acknowledgment.

As military orders were issued one by one, in no time, after several formations changes, tens of thousands of troops were orderly turning south along the official road.

And not once did the Emperor look back until the Imperial Dragon Forest vanished from sight.

...

The military formation moved grandly, and after boarding the carriage, the Emperor did not speak again.

Under the blue sky, forcibly cleared of rain clouds by military might, the rising sun gradually became brilliant, reflecting a sombre light on the armor, as tens of thousands of troops escorted the imperial carriage, steadily heading south.

Li Zhaoyuan rode along on a mystical steed beside the imperial carriage, patiently waiting, for after such significant occurrences, his father, the Emperor, would likely have words to impart to him.

After traveling over twenty miles, a calm, low voice finally came from within the carriage:

"You should be pleased."

".... "

This abrupt conclusion caused a small smile to form at the corner of Li Zhaoyuan’s mouth.

Just as he suspected,

the talks had collapsed.

Even with the curtains tightly shut, it seemed the old man inside could perceive his heir’s smile, and asked blandly:

"Zhao Yuan, did you seem to anticipate my dialogue with the Prime Minister?"

With the horse’s hooves on the ground, Li Zhaoyuan, holding the reins, quietly replied:

"Somewhat unexpected, but given such a change, I could guess a few things."

"Ha...."

A light laugh, as Li Yaoxuan leaned against the soft couch inside the carriage, his voice carried outward: "Do you think I originally intended to kill Xu Yinhè here?"

Li Zhaoyuan did not deny it, responding crisply:

"Indeed."

Li Yaoxuan’s voice carried a hint of interest:

"Oh? The whole world sees this banquet at Hongmen as such. Do you have a different opinion?"

Li Zhaoyuan calmly replied:

"An ordinary Saint can be stopped by a formation of ten thousand; two armies can slay a Saint, and for Xu Xiang and yourself, three armies are insufficient. To subdue and kill would perhaps require five armies, yet I led only thirty thousand troops this time."

Li Yaoxuan asked:

"Why?"

"Because you are very selfish."

"..."

Li Zhaoyuan glanced sideways at the imperial carriage: "Between the great righteousness of the Imperial Family and personal interests, you would be conflicted, but ultimately..."

"You’ve grown bolder."

The voice from the imperial carriage interrupted him, and Li Zhaoyuan lowered his head in apology:

"I have overstepped."

Li Yaoxuan was not angry, but rather sighed:

"In those days, my casual remark about a filial son seems to have become a prophecy now."

Though clearly a compliment, Li Zhaoyuan did not nod in agreement but asked instead:

"Father, may I speak frankly?"

Li Yaoxuan tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden rail, making a thumping sound:

"You seem not to agree with me, but speak on."

"Father, at our core, we are different. You actively vie for the realm, while my original intention was merely to prove something."

By now, many things need not be concealed, and Li Zhaoyuan knew well that his Father would not alter his final decision based on personal likes or dislikes.

Therefore, Li Zhaoyuan spoke straightforwardly, glancing towards the Imperial Dragon Forest:

"Father, do you recall the hunt to the north during the Kuiwei year?"

"Yes."

"That time, my mother advised me to hide my talents and not to seize the first prize in the northern hunt, lest others become jealous. Back then, I thought nothing of it, believing the world was fair, that effort would bring reward, that those capable would ascend! But as you know, due to the Empress’s decree, my mother and I were sent to Hanwei Palace for seven years."

Li Zhaoyuan stared into the vast sky ahead, speaking calmly and resolutely:

"Father, over these years, I’ve heard many rumors saying my establishment of a manor and office was to seek revenge on the Empress for persecuting my mother and me, to prevent others from bullying us again, striving to reach the top step by step. Do you think such claims true?"

"..."

Li Yaoxuan did not respond, only listened quietly.

After several breaths without an answer, Li Zhaoyuan continued, his dark eyes flickering with desire:

"I don’t deny it, because as a person, I hate and resent, but my desire to compete for this world is not for trifles like these; I just want to prove to the world... that effort will bring reward, and those who are capable will ascend!"

Li Yaoxuan exhaled gently, asking with a smile:

"But you are ultimately of the Imperial Family, if not..."

"Then I would become the Prime Minister."

"......"

Li Yaoxuan was startled and instinctively glanced sideways, as though recognizing his offspring for the first time.

A chaotic mandate from the Empress wasted the best seven years of Li Zhaoyuan’s life, yet despite this, he remains unchanged...

After a moment of silence, he laughed softly and said:

"But whether you ascend to the throne depends ultimately on another’s uncertain thought."

"I would find a way to turn that uncertainty into certainty."

"What if you can’t?"

"Ha, father..."

Li Zhaoyuan chuckled, inhaling deeply, and said:

"Without the willingness to face loss, I would never have embarked on this path."

Li Yaoxuan’s tapping finger paused, as he gently opened the tightly drawn curtains of the imperial carriage:

"Can you see what just happened?"

"......" Li Zhaoyuan hesitated in his words.

The upheaval in Di’an came from a sound transmission, and even Li Yaoxuan found the occurring fight abrupt, let alone Li Zhaoyuan, who had not received any transmission.

"Did you secretly learn the military formation?"

Without time to think, the indifferent question emerged from the carriage again, but Li Zhaoyuan replied calmly:

"Naturally, the foundation of the Imperial world is the military formation, without understanding it, how could I have reached this point?"

"....."

A silence followed within the carriage, broken only by the sound of galloping hooves.

After a long time, several dozen miles passed, and Li Yaoxuan’s ethereal voice sounded again from within:

"Zhaoyuan... have you ever had thoughts of treason?"

"......"

The question took Li Zhaoyuan by surprise.

He didn’t know how to respond.

As an iron rule for a ruler, be emotionless, unmoved by joy or sorrow; though Li Yaoxuan neared his end, this question seemed too treasonous.

To admit wanting to kill him to his face?

"Did you hear and yet not answer?"

Li Yaoxuan glanced casually at his son’s profile:

"Xu Yinhè just said, if you have thoughts of treason here, I would be gratified, as I also believe so."

Li Zhaoyuan paused, turning his gaze, earnestly staring at those shriveled silent eyes:

"Father, I am but the child of a palace maid, having wasted seven of my best years."

"I see..."

Meeting his eyes briefly, Li Yaoxuan nodded with a smile, his wrinkles trembling slightly as he sighed:

"To reach this point, it is my own doing...."

Saying this,

He slowly withdrew his gaze, and the curtain in the carriage closed, but Li Zhaoyuan did not retract his gaze from the carriage.

The sounds of wheels, hooves, birds squawking, and all noises of the heavy armed forces seemed to freeze at this moment.

Then,

The Emperor’s calm voice came from within the carriage:

"Zhaoyuan, return to the capital.

"Also,

"Once back, dispose of your messy military formation cultivation technique.

"If you are to learn.....

"Then study our Imperial Family’s Saint Technique."