The Prince Can Do Divination

Chapter 377 - 238: Father-in-law’s Backup Plan, The Technique of Pleading Guilty to Atone with Merit, A Dragon Returns to the Sea, The Crown Prince Leads the Army to Battle

Lu Mingyuan frowned. "In Father Emperor’s eyes, I’m not someone with Mastery in military affairs. How could the ministers of the Court allow someone so ignorant of such matters to lead troops to guard the Border Pass?"

Su Youhuai smiled. "Doesn’t that play right into the Holy Emperor’s hands?"

Lu Mingyuan quickly grasped the key point and nodded in realization. "You’re right. If I had too much Mastery in military affairs, Father Emperor would never have given me military authority. As he is now, Father Emperor naturally hopes my reputation gets worse and worse. If I return in utter defeat from this battle, the Eastern Palace Mansion will lose all its power."

After going over it again and again, Lu Mingyuan felt he had grasped Emperor Yong’an’s motive.

’Dissolving the Cabinet, letting the Court fill with negative controversy about me.’

’Making a big show of having the Bright Lamp Bureau investigate me, not directly addressing the rumors about me killing my brothers, and just watching public opinion ferment—it was all to suppress me.’

’All so I would be easier for him to manipulate.’

’What a venomous mind.’

Originally, he could have secured his position as Crown Prince through the prestige he’d gained by speaking up for the nation. But now, he faced ostracism from the Court.

Su Youhuai offered a reminder. "Whether or not you can leave the Capital City will depend on Your Highness’s acting skills."

Lu Mingyuan chuckled. "Don’t worry. When it comes to acting, I’m a professional."

...

「Several days later.」

「Imperial Garden.」

In an octagonal pavilion beside a misty, willow-lined pond, a man in a Dragon Robe listened to a report from the eunuch beside him, a flicker of keen interest in his eyes.

"You’re saying that after the Crown Prince learned of Qi Xingyan’s sacrifice, he was so overcome with grief that he hasn’t eaten for three days and three nights, and the entire Eastern Palace Mansion is in mourning?"

"Yes."

Eunuch Yan nodded.

"Furthermore, the Crown Prince has petitioned the Court, stating that he must go to the front lines to hold the final rites for one of Great Yan’s few Saints and Sages and bring back Qi Xingyan’s coffin."

"He also mentioned the case of Prince Chongwen’s sudden death, declaring that while he was a victim, he was also at fault. He failed to guide Lu Yunqing onto the right path, which was a failure in his duty as an older brother, thus leading to this disaster."

"The Crown Prince wishes to atone for his faults through meritorious service, quell the public outcry on behalf of the Court, and lead the army on an expedition to the Celestial Profound."

After listening, Emperor Yong’an mused for a moment, then asked, "Eunuch Yan, tell me, do you think the Crown Prince has been blinded by rage, or is this intentional?"

"He must have been blinded by rage," Eunuch Yan said after some thought.

"The Crown Prince and the Crown Prince Consort are deeply in love. He was also exceptionally respectful of his father-in-law; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they were close friends. Now that his seclusion has ended, it’s understandable that he would want revenge."

Eunuch Yan asked seriously, "Your Majesty, are you really going to let the Crown Prince leave the capital?"

"This servant believes it is absolutely out of the question. If we let him retrieve Qi Xingyan’s body, wouldn’t that just cement his reputation for loyalty and filial piety?"

Emperor Yong’an chuckled. "I, on the other hand, think the opposite. This is an excellent opportunity to control the Crown Prince."

"The Sixth Son has never held military power. He is ignorant of military affairs and knows nothing of warfare. If we let him command the army, first, it will stabilize the morale of the soldiers on the front lines without any risk of mutiny. Second, if he goes to the Border Pass in a state of blind rage and fails to even bring back the coffin, he will be scorned and despised by the entire world."

"When that time comes, it will be much easier for me to absorb the Destiny of the Three Religions. There will be no resistance. A weak Eastern Palace Mansion is what I want to see."

Eunuch Yan considered this and realized it was true.

’In any case, Lu Mingyuan knows nothing of warfare. With a little meddling behind the scenes, it would be easy to cause an ’accident’ within the army.’

’As long as Lu Mingyuan messes up the task of retrieving Qi Xingyan’s coffin...’

’All of Qi Xingyan’s former students, the scholars he taught who are now everywhere under heaven, would surely be the first to object. They would come out and furiously condemn the Crown Prince.’

’Then the prestige Lu Mingyuan has just accumulated in Great Yan will cease to exist.’

Emperor Yong’an spoke with extreme confidence. "What waves can the Crown Prince possibly make now?"

"Does he think he can oppose me with just the Infinite Faction and a few Twelfth Realm masters? Any single one of the Imperial Experts under my command could destroy the entire Eastern Palace Mansion."

Eunuch Yan said admiringly, "The Holy Emperor is wise. Everything is under your control."

"It’s just that the Court... I fear there will be controversy."

Emperor Yong’an said dismissively, "What does a little controversy matter? Since the Cabinet was reorganized, my word has been law. The suggestions of the officials are irrelevant."

...

「Late autumn, in the Sixty-Eighth Year of Yong’an.」

The Eastern Palace Mansion issued a public apology, requesting to atone for Lu Yunqing’s death through meritorious service by helping to transport Qi Shengxian’s coffin back to the Capital City.

The Holy Emperor readily agreed, praising the Crown Prince’s actions. To comfort the soldiers on the border, he dispatched the Crown Prince to personally lead the army and serve as the Guardian Envoy of the Celestial Profound Continent. Additionally, the Marquis Wuan, atoning for past crimes, would serve as his second-in-command and Governor of the army.

「On the day the army marched.」

The entire city turned out.

The common people all knew what was happening, and many came to send the army off.

Atop a Jade Tower, an unremarkable-looking man in a Python Robe gazed down at the vast, dark mass of the army below and remarked with a strange sense of emotion:

"What a grand spectacle."

An ancient voice echoed in his mind. "It’s a pity that Qi Xingyan died. The man had an exceptional grasp of the bigger picture. I once hoped to recruit him into the Infinite Faction, but even under the crushing weight of reality, I could not shake his Wen Dan."

It was the first time Lu Yunhuang had heard his teacher praise someone so highly. He asked in confusion:

"Teacher, was Qi Xingyan really that formidable?"

The ancient voice replied, "If the Confucian Temple hadn’t marginalized the Li Sheng Lineage, he would have had a place as the Dean of the leading of the four Academies of the Confucian Temple."

Lu Yunhuang nodded thoughtfully and continued to ask, "Teacher, as for this journey, are you optimistic about Lu Mingyuan’s chances?"

The ancient voice laughed. "I wasn’t at first, but he did, after all, emerge from the Grand Thousand Canglan Map as a chosen one. I respect that. Every person who can step out of that map has a chance to reach the Fourteenth Realm."

"He’s that incredible? Then do I, your disciple, still have a chance?"

The voice’s source went silent after a moment.

"Don’t be anxious. Your turn to take the stage will come soon enough."

...

「At the gate of the Imperial City.」

The army stood in neat formation, their banners and standards magnificent. Lu Mingyuan was wearing black and gold armor for the first time. He looked extraordinarily valiant and heroic, his handsome face so perfect and fair that it resembled a precious jade.

His memories felt somewhat hazy.

On the surface, it was true he had never been on a battlefield.

But in his first life’s memories, he had charged across battlefields more than once. Holding the reins now, he felt a thrill of pleasure and excitement in his heart.

It was a long-lost feeling.

Everyone from the Eastern Palace Mansion had come to see him off.

The destination for this expedition was the Celestial Profound Border, where he would directly face the Great Nether Empress and the Demon Army of the Holy Netherworld. It was certain to be dangerous, so Lu Mingyuan did not have Zi Yun, Hong Wan, or the others go with him.

Qi Muxue and Huo Hongling were also staying behind in the Capital City.

If Lu Mingyuan had taken all of them with him, it would have given his Father Emperor the wrong impression.

’Is he planning to flee with his family and never return?’

To prevent such an idea from forming,

Lu Mingyuan could only leave them settled in the Eastern Palace.

The same went for Yun Qinghe.

Her cultivation was among the highest of all the women present. He hoped Yun Qinghe could stay behind as a representative of the Celestial Master’s Mansion to ensure their safety. At the same time, he had also entrusted this task to Sui Yuqing.

Therefore, none of his maids would be going.

Only Cyan Shadow would follow him on his journey north.

"You only returned a few days ago, and now you must leave on another long journey. Isn’t this too hard on you, Your Highness?"

Qi Muxue’s eyes glistened as she spoke, her tone full of heartache.

Lu Mingyuan looked at Qi Muxue’s concerned expression and smiled. "Don’t worry. I will bring Father-in-law’s coffin back."

"Mm, I’ll wait for you to come back."

Qi Muxue nodded lightly, her voice gentle.

After exchanging a few more words before his departure, Lu Mingyuan waved to them and soon disappeared from sight.

As he journeyed, Su Youhuai’s parting words came to Lu Mingyuan’s mind.

"Shen Yuanxi is from the Confucian Temple Military Family and has achieved Mastery in military strategy. He will be going to the Border Pass with Your Highness, so you don’t need to worry too much. Your Highness only needs to command from the rear."

Lu Mingyuan couldn’t help but sigh, his gaze sharp. ’If I just command from the rear, how could I possibly gain the support of the Three Religions? If I can’t make contact with the Three Religions’ Influence on this trip out of the capital, then it will be a failure.’

As he was lost in thought, an Imperial Guard rode up and said, cupping his fist, "Reporting to Your Highness, someone is blocking the road ahead. They say they’re looking for you."

Lu Mingyuan looked in the direction the soldier indicated and saw a familiar face.

Yun Qinghe had appeared in the middle of the army’s path.

Lu Mingyuan was visibly stunned for a moment. He dismounted and asked, "What’s wrong? Is something the matter?"

Yun Qinghe seemed to gather herself for a moment, as if she had been pondering something for a very long time and couldn’t move past it.

She slowly stepped forward and handed Lu Mingyuan a Sword-shaped Jade Pendant.

"This is for you."

Lu Mingyuan’s gaze froze. He was completely dumbfounded. "I remember this," he said, puzzled. "Isn’t this the Protective Talisman from your childhood?"

"If you give me this Protective Talisman, won’t you miss your master?"

Yun Qinghe pressed her moist, red lips together and gave a faint smile, appearing incomparably cool and pure.

"No."

"Because from now on, Your Highness will be the one I worry about."

...

The departure from the capital was no side story; it was over quickly...