Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 466: Chapter 463: Dissuasion

Chu Zhiyuan was surprised, if Prince Ying returned to the capital, who would take over the Northern Territory?

The current Northern Territory has already turned the tide and is evenly matched with Da Meng.

But this is due to Prince Ying’s reputation and strong control over the military.

With Prince Ying’s prestige and outstanding military talents, he managed to reverse the disadvantage.

Neither the dukes nor the generals have Prince Ying’s prestige or command ability.

Once Prince Ying leaves, it can be foreseen that the situation in the Northern Territory will immediately deteriorate.

After he received the letter, he suddenly received another letter, sent by Li Hongzhao, inviting him to Bright Moon Tower.

...

Chu Zhiyuan arrived at the elegant room in Bright Moon Tower that Li Hongzhao always favored.

Li Hongzhao was quietly sitting by the table, dressed in a fiery red outfit, her expression calm.

After entering the room, Chu Zhiyuan sized her up a few times.

”What are you staring at?!” Li Hongzhao put down her wine cup with a snort.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”The sun must be rising from the west; it’s truly rare to see you looking like this.”

Since knowing Li Hongzhao, every meeting was a clash of words, with neither showing weakness.

It’s rare to see her in such a peaceful manner now.

”I’m going back to Tianjing,” Li Hongzhao said flatly.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her.

Li Hongzhao said, ”I plan to set off tomorrow.”

Chu Zhiyuan wanted to see if she was speaking the truth and found out she was, and then said, ”In such a hurry?”

Although her departure is sudden, after all this is Yujing, not Tianjing.

She was going to leave sooner or later, it seems her cultivation is nearly enough, she can continue to practice slowly without having to entangle with him.

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”Don’t you have anything to ask?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Have you offended the Emperor? Or does the Emperor think you are ineffective and want to replace you?”

Li Hongzhao said, ”I heard the two dynasties are about to start peace talks.”

”Peace talks?” Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”How is that possible.”

Li Hongzhao shook her head and said, ”I also find it strange, but this news does not come from nowhere.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned in thought.

He would think it’s a joke.

Da Meng and Da Jing have never been at peace; it’s always east wind overpowering west wind, or west wind overpowering east wind.

When Da Meng waned, Da Jing’s Northern Territory was peaceful.

When Da Meng rose, Da Jing’s Northern Territory was filled with smoke, embroiled in conflict.

Whether it is war or peace depends entirely on Da Meng’s strength.

Da Jing almost always maintains a defensive stance, rarely crossing the Northern Territory into Da Meng.

The relationship between Da Jing and Da Meng is different from that between Da Jing and Da Zhen.

Da Jing and Da Zhen have similar customs and have been separating and reuniting for thousands of years.

But Da Jing and Da Meng have never united, never had peace talks, always in a state of war.

The two dynasties are now actually going to have peace talks, how ridiculous does that sound.

Li Hongzhao said calmly, ”Since they want peace talks, there’s no use for me here.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Why peace talks? Because of a secret land? Has Da Meng also discovered a secret land?”

Li Hongzhao shook her head.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned and said, ”Then why? ... Without significant benefits or changes, the two dynasties can’t possibly cease fighting, unless... could there be an upheaval with Da Meng’s Emperor?”

Da Meng and Da Jing have been fighting for so many years, and the current Da Meng Emperor is in a phase of vigorous reform, how could he possibly cease the battle?

Unless there’s great benefit, like a new secret land appearing, or another significant event.

But he hasn’t heard any such news at all.

”Father is gravely ill,” Li Hongzhao said indifferently.

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback.

Li Hongzhao coldly said, ”I am very curious why Father is gravely ill.”

”Gravely ill...” Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

As an Emperor, naturally, his cultivation would be that of a Great Grandmaster, and a Great Grandmaster wouldn’t suffer from any illnesses.

Unless he reaches the end of his lifespan, he would then pass away suddenly without illness.

A Great Grandmaster gravely ill has only one possibility, sustaining severe injuries.

The Da Meng Emperor wields the Emperor’s Sword, who in the world could seriously harm him?

Even if it were the Da Jing Emperor or Da Zhen Emperor, they couldn’t, unless the two joined forces.

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”Why do you think Father is gravely ill?”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled slightly, ”I don’t know.”

”No information?”

”Not a shred,” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Do you have any suspicions?”

”... Hard to say.” Li Hongzhao’s expression was grave.

Chu Zhiyuan stood up, walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, and finally stopped, ”Actually, the best response is to watch and wait, there’s no rush to return.”

The Emperor is tied to the entire world, a single issue will incite turmoil, if anything happens, the whole world will be in upheaval.

The closer one is to the Emperor, the more intense the turmoil, the Imperial Family, and the nobility along with Tianjing will each be a vortex, and a slight misstep could mean total destruction.

It’s unwise for Li Hongzhao to return at this time.

First, determine what exactly is happening with the Emperor before returning, it wouldn’t be too late.

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”If I stay here, I won’t catch anything at all.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and smiled, ”You’re letting ambition cloud your judgment, even if you are a Great Grandmaster now, what use would it be? With your merits, can you make the Emperor’s Sword acknowledge you as its master?”

”In the entire Imperial Family, only my elder brother has reached the Great Grandmaster stage, and he doesn’t like these worldly affairs,” Li Hongzhao said, ”I am also about to become a Great Grandmaster.”

She felt that she could step into the Great Grandmaster stage on her way back to Tianjing from here.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Once you become a Great Grandmaster, you can become an Emperor?”

”Not necessarily impossible.”

”Let alone passing the Emperor’s Sword, the Eldest Prince, even though he doesn’t care for worldly affairs, is a man, and you are a woman, the people’s support will not be with you.”

”...”

”Unless you have colossal achievements far surpassing the Eldest Prince, and the people’s support ..., wait a few decades, you might have a chance, now there is no hope at all, no need to act recklessly.”

”But...”

Li Hongzhao’s expression became solemn.

She finally calmed down, but still felt a bit unwilling.

Chu Zhiyuan calmly said, ”Moreover, we still don’t know what exactly is happening with the Emperor, did he order you back?”

”Father did not order anything,” Li Hongzhao said.

”If the Emperor is in trouble, returning won’t help, if he’s fine, rushing back would be too conspicuous, drawing attention and revealing your ambition.”

”I’m worried about Father, there’s nothing wrong with being anxious to return.”

”Who would believe that? ... Not the Emperor, nor the Eldest Prince, nor the other Princes and courtiers, I fear none would believe that?”

”...”

”And Mr. Su? Have Mr. Su go back and take a look first, a Great Grandmaster travels faster.”

”Mr. Su has already gone back to assess the situation.”

Li Hongzhao was already moved, but did not agree right away.

Immediately agreeing would seem like listening to Chu Zhiyuan, and she couldn’t swallow her pride.

”By the way,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”when can those Evil Sect statues from Da Meng arrive?”

”I have no mood for supplying you with these now!” Li Hongzhao said irritably.

Chu Zhiyuan snorted, ”Is this Evil Sect matter a minor issue? Maybe it’s the Evil Sect who did it this time! ... And about Tenth Uncle, are you really not involved?”

”Absolutely not!” Li Hongzhao answered decisively.

Chu Zhiyuan gave her a deep look, ”Alright, bring the statues as soon as possible.”

”Just your Da Jing statues won’t do?”

”Regardless if Da Jing, Da Meng, or Da Zhen, as long as there are Evil Sect statues, I want them.”

”... Alright.” Li Hongzhao snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan had mentioned it previously.

These Evil Sect statues are of no use, giving them to Chu Zhiyuan is nothing.

If the Evil Sect can be eliminated, all the better, it will keep Chu Zhiyuan preoccupied and out of other affairs.