After leaving Qingzhu Hall.
The Imperial Guards conducting the search were still murmuring amongst themselves. The Imperial Guard had recently been reshuffled, so most of the men on this search were new to their posts, transferred from the Great Yan Army. They were quite curious about matters of the Harem and had seen many things along the way that they never would have encountered in the military barracks.
Zhou Pingfu, fully armed in armor and carrying a crossbow, saw these ill-mannered grunts. His eyes narrowed as he snapped,
"How dare you, as Imperial Guards, gossip about the affairs of the Harem? It seems you're tired of living."
Seeing his unfamiliar face and unremarkable armor, the new guards concluded he wasn't an officer. One of them sneered, "What's it to you? Who the hell do you think..."
Zhou Pingfu focused his Qi in his Dantian. With an explosive burst of Martial Arts Qi, he struck with the speed of a thunderclap. His fist sent the man, armor and all, flying several meters and coughing up blood.
"That is discipline."
"Kneel and apologize."
The other guards started to move forward but were stopped in their tracks by his intimidating presence. A companion at their side whispered a warning,
"He's a former Imperial Captain, an expert in the Martial Arts Fourth Realm. If he hadn't messed up, he wouldn't have been demoted to our rank."
"He's not someone you can afford to provoke. Just apologize."
Only then did the new guards realize they had run into a hardened veteran. Their faces paled, and they offered a military salute as they apologized.
"You're right, sir. We spoke out of turn."
Zhou Pingfu gave a slight nod, then warned them coolly, "If I hear you gossiping about the Holy Emperor's bedchambers, or about Qingzhu Hall, again, you will face military justice."
Having taught the men their lesson, he turned and rejoined the main party, paying them no further mind.
He owed his life to the Sixth Prince, so he naturally couldn't stand by and let people gossip like that.
They searched the area but found no clues. The Imperial Commander, standing at the head of the formation, was met by a eunuch.
Zhou Pingfu recognized the man; he was a long-serving eunuch from the Holy Emperor's Qianyuan Palace.
Having served as an Imperial Guard in the palace for seven or eight years, he was well aware of who was who and what was what.
After speaking with the eunuch, the Imperial Commander turned and announced to the guards, "A new Holy Decree from the Holy Emperor! Starting tomorrow, the palace's elite will be assembled and sent to the military camp for a show of force! We've got another job, brothers!"
"Another war?"
"Looks like it. The order just came down tonight."
"We just fought the Demon Country the month before last. I thought we'd get to enjoy a few peaceful days in the Imperial Palace, but now we have to fight again. Who is it this time?"
"Just some small border country. Nothing to worry about."
Hearing this, Zhou Pingfu thought, 'I have to go.'
'At my age and with my record, I'll never get a higher position otherwise. The only way to get promoted is through military merit. In the Great Yan Army, the first to breach enemy lines can be promoted three ranks at once. I have to seize this opportunity.'
.....
Within the Capital City, in a grand residence.
Imposing soldiers in black iron armor, holding great halberds, flanked the entrance.
The residence housed a lavish Jade Tower, yet it was utterly silent, devoid of the usual sounds of music and celebration.
Martial Artists awaited orders, and advisors stood at the side. Everyone was exceptionally respectful, bowing their heads to the young man at the head of the room.
In the center sat a handsome young man dressed in an ink-black robe embroidered with a python-dragon. His deep eyes were calm and placid, making it impossible for an ordinary person to discern his true thoughts.
The Second Prince, Lu Guangjing, sat on the main seat. He addressed his advisors and retainers below him, saying lightly, "The assassination attempt on Lu Mingkong in Changle Palace today is quite suspicious. In his rage, my Father Emperor actually agreed to Goryeo's request to dispatch troops. Gentlemen, what do you make of this?"
A sinister-looking middle-aged man stepped forward with a smile, cupping his hands in a salute.
"The fundamental reason the Holy Emperor is dispatching troops is because of the recent escape of the Demoness of the Demon Kingdom and the exposure of the pawn Your Highness had placed. The attempt on Lu Mingkong's life was merely a pretext, a little drama staged by the Eldest Prince. The Holy Emperor was provoked and had to respond. Our Great Yan is a superior nation, yet we have repeatedly lost both face and Destiny. We must reclaim them from a lesser country to display the might of Great Yan.
Furthermore, the Eastern Island Country has been in close contact with the Demon Country recently. There is a clear danger they will be tainted by the Demon Barrier and become a vassal state. This threat must be eliminated. That is the Holy Emperor's reasoning for sending troops."
Lu Guangjing nodded slightly and smiled faintly. "Your thoughts are much like my own. As expected of a Seventh Realm Gentleman from the Confucian Temple, your reputation is well-deserved. Your title, 'Poison Scholar,' is certainly no empty boast. However, you did miss one thing."
"Please, enlighten me, Your Highness."
The sinister-looking man cupped his hands again.
"Let Mr. Ji explain it to you."
Lu Guangjing waved his hand languidly. From among the advisors, a tall, slender man with a goatee and dressed in green robes stepped forward.
He stroked his goatee and said gravely, "The assassination attempt on Lu Mingkong was not the Eldest Prince's doing. It was the work of the Taoist Sect."
The sinister-looking man frowned. "How is that possible? The Mountain Master of the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy is extremely close to the Eldest Prince, and that Daoist Nun is still missing. When the Holy Emperor questioned the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion, they claimed no such person existed and refused to acknowledge her. Besides, what does the Taoist Sect stand to gain from this?"
The green-robed advisor waved his feather fan, a mysterious smile on his face. "The cause of all things lies at the very top. Naturally, this is about the one on the throne. If the Holy Emperor weren't supporting the Confucian Dao and patronizing the Confucian Temple in an attempt to shatter the balance in the mortal world, the Taoist Sect wouldn't have been so desperate as to take such an enormous risk."
At these words, the sinister-looking man immediately understood. His eyes glinted sharply as he said, "The Three Religions have jointly governed the realm for hundreds of years. The Holy Emperor wants to make the Confucians the sole power, snubbing the other two, all to strengthen the Dragon Fortune?"
"Because since ancient times, the Confucian Temple has used the Dragon Supporting Skill to aid the monarch, thereby strengthening its own Destiny. If the Confucian Temple truly became the sole dominant power, it could gather the Incense Smoke and Destiny of all Three Religions. Great Yan's National Fortune would then swell to a level unprecedented in all of history!"
"And he could even... attain eternal life."
Lu Guangjing nodded. "Correct. My Father Emperor doesn't dare vent his anger on the Taoist Sect. His silence shows he has clearly realized this."
Then, a chillingly captivating smile appeared in his eyes.
"All of you have been snubbed and cast out by the Confucian Temple, your great talents left to waste. If you use the Dragon Slaying Skill to help me eliminate my rivals, I shall reward you handsomely in the future."
The green-robed advisor smiled faintly. "Rest assured, Your Highness. Besides the Eldest Prince, the other Princes have yet to gather enough Destiny to matter. As for the Eldest Prince, he is incompetent, mediocre, and deeply suspicious by nature. He is utterly indecisive and has no mind of his own, always running to that old Confucian Scholar, Elder Qi, for instructions. We need only sow a little discord between them. Once their master-student relationship shatters, the rest will be effortless."
"The Taoist Sect acted this time without informing the Eldest Prince, which shows they are also displeased with him. Your Highness should extend an olive branch to them. Promise that when you ascend the throne, you will establish the Taoist Sect as the National Religion. Your chances of success will be that much greater."
"In any case, the Dragon Throne is destined to be yours, Your Highness."
Lu Guangjing's eyes narrowed, his face expressionless. "We cannot afford to be careless. All the other Princes must disappear from my sight, leaving no loose ends. The only difference is that the first to go will be Lu Changfeng."
...