The Prince Can Do Divination

Chapter 401 - 249: The Crown Prince’s Collusion with the Demon Country? A Common Man’s Fury, Blood Splashes 10 Paces

At dawn, the sky revealed the first pale light of morning.

The city gates swung open. Caravans laden with goods slowly entered the magnificent Imperial Capital. Among them were many vegetable farmers carrying the freshest fruits and vegetables, replenishing the Empire with a ceaseless vitality.

The extravagant feasts of the Noble Families, the ambitious passions of the scholar-gentry, the gold and silver treasures of the Royal Family.

Every grain of rice eaten, every drop of wine drunk, every sheet of Xuan paper used, every gram of gold, iron, and silver ore refined—all of it came from the common people at the very bottom.

To them, the rise and fall of the Dynasty was not truly that important.

No matter how the eras changed, they remained the true foundation.

For example, when the Crown Prince of Great Yan returned in great victory, the common people of Great Yan were naturally happy. But as for how much attention they paid, enough to think about it for a week or half a month straight? Not really.

Everyone had their own lives to live.

The struggles right in front of them were everything.

Beyond the imposing gates of the Imperial Capital, a vast, dust-covered army marched into the Capital’s line of sight.

"Your Highness, the Capital City is just ahead."

Su Youhuai, the General Manager of the Eastern Palace, reported with a clasped-fist salute.

"There’s no rush. Let these farmers entering the city go in first."

Lu Mingyuan reined in his horse, halting. He ordered the standard-bearer beside him to stop waving the advance banner, and the entire army came to a stop.

Luo Shengmiao looked at the city gate, already bustling with traffic so early in the morning, and frowned in confusion.

"Your Highness’s grand plan is more important right now. How can you let these farmers delay such a crucial matter?"

Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly. "After all, they are the true masters of this country."

Hearing this, Luo Ying, Su Youhuai, and the Cultivators following beside him all showed thoughtful expressions.

"Everything is proceeding according to plan. What difference does a little earlier or a little later make?"

"Weren’t we already fully prepared for this return to the Capital?"

Amidst the vast army, however, the figures of the Champion Marquis and Prince Zhenbei were nowhere to be seen.

Clearly, Lu Mingyuan had already laid his plans back in Celestial Water City.

This return to the Capital was the beginning of putting his words to the test.

"Thank you..." an old farmer selling melons said, passing in front of the army with trepidation. He offered a word of thanks before leaving.

Lu Mingyuan chuckled and nodded, then instructed:

"It’s normal that some people need to wait and see. Since they still have their concerns, I will shatter those concerns for them."

"Rest assured, my Imperial Father will not just sit back and wait for death."

"Your Highness..."

Su Youhuai sighed softly, still worried.

Lu Mingyuan knew full well that the trip to the Capital City was fraught with danger, yet he still chose to return rather than secede and rule a territory of his own.

Wasn’t this, in its own way, a decision made for the good of Great Yan as a whole?

If Great Yan were to truly split, with the north and south in opposition, a great war would erupt and an age of chaos would begin. The only ones who would suffer would be the common people everywhere.

Lu Mingyuan did not have the many elders of the Three Religions accompany him, choosing instead to face the Capital’s dangers by himself.

Not just anyone could muster such courage.

’I can only hope the plan His Highness laid out outside Celestial Water City will work.’

The common folk ahead had mostly passed.

Only then did the army slowly enter the city gates.

When the defending General saw who was arriving, he became extremely excited, quickly leading his men down from the city walls to greet them.

"Your Highness! It’s really you!"

A rough, familiar voice reached Lu Mingyuan’s ears.

He looked up and saw a sturdy, muscular man walking toward him.

Lu Mingyuan laughed. "It’s you... Zhou Pingfu? What are you doing guarding the city walls?"

Zhou Pingfu, who had once served as the Commander of the Imperial Guard in the Imperial Palace.

’What’s he doing with this kind of dirty, tiring work?’

He had known Zhou Pingfu for a very long time.

He had met the man right after he was sent to the Cold Palace.

Back then, Zhou Pingfu was just an ordinary member of the Imperial Guard.

Later, Lu Mingyuan had watched him join the Eastern Expedition Army, accumulate merits, and climb step by step to the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard.

Back then, in the Imperial Court, the Cabinet was being dissolved.

When all the officials opposed him, Zhou Pingfu, as the Commander of the Imperial Guard on duty, had dared to help him drag away the Great Buddha that was Yuan Xuangang.

He probably offended quite a few people because of that.

At first, Lu Mingyuan had wanted to recruit him into the Eastern Palace Mansion, but for the sake of placing a hidden chess piece for a future move, he had decided against it.

Zhou Pingfu shook his head repeatedly, seeming not to want to discuss the matter in detail. He waved his hand. "Ah, it’s a frustrating business. Better not to talk about it."

Lu Mingyuan saw the expression on his face—a strange mix of joy, confusion, and anxiety.

Zhou Pingfu glanced around and whispered to Lu Mingyuan, "Your Highness, my superior isn’t here yet. You should leave the Capital City right now."

"The atmosphere in the entire Capital City is very unfavorable toward you right now."

"A lot of scholars have gone crazy. They’re all saying that you, Your Highness, colluded with the Demon Country, and that’s the only reason you could win the war."

"Ever since traces of Demon Country remnants were discovered in the Eastern Palace Mansion, many great families among the Nobility have had their homes ransacked. The Eastern Palace Mansion has also been sealed and its residents placed under house arrest. The Capital City is a mess right now."

"I’m worried you’ll be implicated, Your Highness. That you’ll be affected by this and put under house arrest in your mansion, just like the scions of those Noble Families."

"Oh?"

Although Lu Mingyuan had expected this, he was still surprised by Zhou Pingfu’s sharp instincts.

"What do you mean? What exactly has happened in the Capital City?"

Just as he was about to ask for more useful information, a cold, indifferent voice interrupted them.

"So, it is the Crown Prince returning to court in triumph. Zhou Pingfu, why haven’t you fully opened the gates to welcome His Highness?"

Another man, a Senior Third Grade City Gate Grand Commander clad in Dragon Scale Armor and carrying an Imperial Saber, came up behind Zhou Pingfu and clapped a large hand on his shoulder.

This subtle movement did not escape Lu Mingyuan’s notice.

He glanced back. At some point, numerous Qi Cultivators and Martial Artists with high Cultivation had appeared atop the towering gatehouse.

Among them, a Confucian Scholar in a conspicuous purple official’s robe, with the Emperor’s Golden Seal hanging from his waist, stood proudly, looking down upon the returning army.

Imperial Experts.

This formation, which at first glance seemed like a protective detail, was actually more like surveillance and shadowing.

It wasn’t just Lu Mingyuan; the Sect Qi Cultivators who had returned with him all showed expressions of displeasure.

Someone pointed to the Saints’ Coffin in the Central Army and said irritably:

"We won a great victory and performed a great service. Why does it feel like we’re returning to the Capital as criminals?"

"After Your Highness hands over the Commander’s Seal, please come with me. The Holy Emperor has been waiting in the Imperial Palace for a long time."

The City Gate Grand Commander looked at Lu Mingyuan with considerable indifference.

Lu Mingyuan gazed coolly at the many Cultivators before him and replied, "My Commander’s Seal was bestowed by the Holy Emperor himself. If I am to give it up, I will give it to the Holy Emperor personally. What right does a mere Senior Third Grade Grand Commander like you have to make such a demand?"

The Grand Commander frowned. "This is the Holy Emperor’s decree."

"Where is the proof?" Lu Mingyuan said, displeased.

The Grand Commander’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze lowering. "Your Highness, please do not make trouble. My job is not easy..."

Lu Mingyuan sneered, "Your job isn’t easy, so mine is? I should be considerate of you, is that it?"

He looked at the crowd, his gaze utterly calm. "Follow me back to the Eastern Palace. I’d like to see which dog of an official dares to seal my Eastern Palace Mansion."

"No! You must see the Holy Emperor now!"

The Senior Third Grade City Gate Grand Commander gave a meaningful look, and the surrounding Cultivators of the Capital City began to close in.

Lu Mingyuan warned coolly, "I do as I please. Do you dare try to apprehend me?"

The Confucian Scholar with the Golden Seal at his waist slowly descended to the ground and said calmly, "The Eastern Palace Mansion was infiltrated by spies from the Demon Country. It is suspected of disrupting the order of Great Yan and plotting treason. The Cabinet ordered the mansion to be sealed. If Your Highness has something to say, you can take it up with the Cabinet!"

Lu Mingyuan snorted coldly. "The Cabinet is a piece of shit!"

"The Cabinet serves the Holy Emperor! Is Your Highness planning to rebel?!"

the City Gate Grand Commander demanded loudly.

However.

BANG!

Lu Mingyuan backhanded him with a slap. It whistled through the air, heavy with momentum—simple and unadorned. The power of the Eleventh Realm erupted without reservation, directly shattering the City Gate Grand Commander’s skull.

Brain matter splattered like a watermelon hitting the ground, and all sorts of fluids sprayed across the floor.

In an instant, the scene fell silent.

The Crown Prince had killed a City Gate Grand Commander on the spot.

’What is he trying to do?’

Lu Mingyuan clapped his hands clean and said coolly, "This man contradicted me, the Crown Prince, spouted nonsense, showed disrespect to the Holy Emperor, and tried to sow discord between me and my Imperial Father. He deserved to be executed."

"Who agrees? Who objects?"

...