The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 355 - 167: Planning (Happy Dragon Boat Festival!)

Chapter 355: Chapter 167: Planning (Happy Dragon Boat Festival!)

The great battle of Divine Communication at the front of the Imperial City had passed three days.

When the noble and powerful who had fled the disaster returned, they saw nearly half of the Inner City in ruins, even the Imperial Palace itself had partially collapsed, a sight so shocking it struck terror into one’s heart.

And there were worldly society experts lying dead everywhere. Those who had come to watch the excitement ultimately paid for it with their lives.

Fortunately, not many of the residents of Divine Capital died. The areas close to the Imperial Palace were where the rich and influential lived, and they had all left Divine Capital early to seek refuge. There weren’t many ordinary citizens bold enough to venture from the Outer City far from the center to the vicinity of the Imperial Palace.

The collapse of houses and buildings was actually a minor issue. The real big news was that the Emperor of Northern Zhou was seriously ill and had appointed three Princes as Imperial Princes to oversee the court.

Among these three Princes were Eldest Prince Feng Guanyu, Eighth Prince Feng Qiwu, and Ninth Prince Feng Jiu, but noticeably absent was Sixth Prince Feng Chaonan. This was quite interesting—Ninth Prince Feng Jiu, who was not favored, could become an Imperial Prince, yet Sixth Prince Feng Chaonan could not.

It was said that in recent days, Sixth Prince Feng Chaonan had flown into a violent rage, killing more than a dozen attendants.

"Sixth Prince Feng Chaonan is actually the one among all the princes who most resembles the Emperor," Qing Yu said to Feng Jiu inside a palace of the Imperial Palace.

"The two characters ’Chaonan’ represent the Emperor’s greatest ambition, which shows how much the Emperor once cherished Feng Chaonan, the son who resembled him the most.

But it was this very resemblance that gradually estranged the Sixth Prince from the Emperor. After all, the Emperor knows best what kind of person he himself is. Ask yourself, who would like a person with a profound scheming mind, one who would even kill relatives for power, especially when the throne that person most desires sits right beneath one’s own seat. Plus, it’s likely that throne could be occupied for decades, if not a century.

So, it was destined that this father and son pair, who resembled each other so closely, would drift apart and even become adversaries."

"But Sixth Prince has extensive influence and also has the support of the Si Family. His strength is the greatest among all the princes. By not choosing him as the Imperial Prince, Father is cutting off his possibility of succeeding to the throne, and he must feel extremely unwilling," Feng Jiu said.

"Feeling unwilling is certain," Qing Yu replied with a faint smile, "I think Sixth Prince Feng Chaonan now even harbors thoughts of rebellion and forcing his way into the palace. Look, it’s precisely because of this temperament that the Emperor will not choose him as the Imperial Prince. If he really were chosen, and once he got a real taste of overseeing court affairs, perhaps it wouldn’t even take four years, and the position of Crown Prince would be decided within a year. Of course, the cost would be the lives of all the other princes who sought the throne."

"Choosing you, the Eldest Prince, and the Eighth Prince as Imperial Princes just happens to balance the current situation. Eldest Prince and Eighth Prince are full siblings, born to the Empress, and as legitimate eldest sons, they should logically become Crown Prince. However, due to Eldest Prince’s lack of martial skills and mediocre literary talent, the position of Crown Prince has been hanging in the balance. But ultimately, he is still the person who most represents the court.

As for you, you are the only Prince who stands on the side of Mountain River Academy and greatly valued by the Academy. At a time like this, when the Zen Sect is as powerful as the Northern Zhou, choosing you would stabilize the movements of the Confucian.

As for Eighth Prince, he stands between the Academy and the Emperor, valued by both, but neither side is willing to entrust him with heavy responsibility. He’s just right for playing the mediator, smoothing the relationship between both sides."

"Looking at it this way, my advantage is great," Feng Jiu said with a smile after listening to Qing Yu’s analysis.

Indeed, the advantage was great. Eldest Prince only managed to squeeze into the position of Imperial Prince by virtue of being a legitimate eldest son, but the advantage of the eldest son is actually the smallest. If being the legitimate eldest son was useful, then would the position of Crown Prince still be undecided until now?

To put it unpleasantly, Eighth Prince is like the grass on top of the wall, always hovering between the Emperor and Mountain River Academy. He claims neutrality, but in reality, he’s indecisive. Some instructors within the Academy have long been displeased with him. After Feng Jiu clearly took a stand with the Academy, the scale of dissatisfaction quickly expanded.

And as for Feng Jiu, standing on the side of the Academy certainly made him the target of hostility from people within the Imperial Family, but even if he didn’t stand with the Academy, being a bastard born of a palace maid, he would still face hostility.

Moreover, the strength of the Academy was already the strongest in Northern Zhou. After Feng Tianming was severely injured, relying on the Academy’s support became very beneficial. At least, if it weren’t for the Academy, the Golden Wolf Han Court might have already attacked.

So, Feng Jiu felt his advantage was great, and as long as he endured four years, the Emperor’s throne would be his.

"Merely enduring won’t do; those who suffer through endurance usually end up wearing themselves to death in the end," Qing Yu saw through Feng Jiu’s intentions and said, "Four years is a long time to make moves. If you just think about enduring four years without taking any action, you will definitely be among those who fail in the end."

"The Academy ultimately cannot directly interfere in political affairs, and you have neither troops nor power, nor do you have supporters within the court. If you want to become the victorious last man standing as the so-called chosen Crown Prince by mere virtue of being the best, you are essentially dreaming."

Besides...

Eldest Prince is no simple man.

Qing Yu did not speak these words aloud.

During the Laba Festival banquet last time, even though it was just a fleeting moment, Qing Yu’s ’Heavenly Son’s Qi Observation Skill’ still noticed that Eldest Prince possessed profound Power.

This was completely inconsistent with the usual image of Eldest Prince. Wasn’t it agreed that Eldest Prince had no talent for martial arts?

Moreover, Eldest Prince usually seemed to harbor no resentment for losing his position as the legitimate eldest son and got along well with many brothers. However, based on the recent intelligence reports from Yun Wuyue, Eldest Prince’s ambition for the throne had never ceased.

Isn’t this practice of hiding one’s light very familiar? That’s right, it is what Feng Jiu has been doing all along. Seemingly indifferent to the throne, yet quietly plotting all this time.

"So what should I do?" Feng Jiu asked.

"Sixth Prince must be feeling very impatient right now," Qing Yu gave an answer that was not a direct response.

"Hm?" Feng Jiu expressed his confusion.

"Go to Sixth Prince and make it clear that you have no ambition and just want to be a scholar. Considering the ’Vast Righteous Qi’, he will believe you, and your behavior has always shown that you are not ambitious for the throne. But this isn’t enough—you need to find a way to pass on your position as Imperial Prince to Sixth Prince," Qing Yu said.

"Pass it on to Sixth Prince?"

Feng Jiu, also quick-witted, pieced together Qing Yu’s earlier words and immediately guessed Qing Yu’s scheme, "Do you want Sixth Prince to clear out the other competitors?"

"Isn’t he a suitable knife? At that time, you’d only need to deal with Sixth Prince," Qing Yu said with a smile, "Four years is too long; we strive for the present."

But before this, there was still one matter to resolve—that was the tracing of destiny signals from Dragon Tiger Mountain.

After the great battle of Northern Zhou, the muddled Heavenly Mechanism had begun to clear, and the diviners from Fate Altar at Dragon Tiger Mountain should start calculating Gong Ziyu’s whereabouts.

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