Chu Zhiyuan's sword-like eyebrows furrowed instantly.
With three Grandmasters arriving in the capital simultaneously, the Imperial Observatory couldn't possibly be unaware, yet they haven't intervened.
These three Grandmasters are different from the four Grandmasters of the Jade Cauldron Sect; they haven't concealed their cultivation, making it clearly visible.
Chu Qingyan reiterated, "Yuan'er, dismiss that thought, do you hear me?"
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "I'm just thinking randomly, I won't act rashly."
Chu Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief, "No matter how strong the Great Meng is, it can't threaten our Great Jing's realm, but if you act recklessly like this, it won't just be a matter of fighting in the Northern Border, it will bring disaster to our Chu family and shake the foundation of the country!"
Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.
In truth, he had a hidden card, which was the Fearless Sect.
Among the evil sects that would kill a prince without hesitation, besides those that needed royal blood, there was only the Fearless Sect.
The Fearless Sect was also on his list of those to be诛 killed; being able to serve as a knife once before their death could be considered making use of trash.
But the consequences of this matter were too great.
Therefore, he had to be extremely cautious.
Moreover, there was no need to use this move; he could suppress the Great Meng with upright means.
Three Grandmasters floated to the three corners of the courtyard, preventing outsiders from approaching and hearing their words.
Su Qiuyan said softly, "Your Highness, the Emperor has decreed that you return to the capital immediately."
Li Hongzhao lightly furrowed her beautiful eyebrows, "How is Father? Is he really seriously ill?"
"The Emperor is… suffering from Qi deviation," Su Qiuyan said softly, "You are needed back there."
"Qi deviation?!" Li Hongzhao's beautiful face darkened, her eyebrows furrowing slightly, "How could he suffer from Qi deviation?"
"Perhaps he was impatient," Su Qiuyan sighed.
Li Hongzhao lightly furrowed her eyebrows, "Impatient? Because of Chu Zhiyuan?
D
"The strength of the Great Jing is rapidly increasing, and the Emperor wants to go a step further, thereby using the Son of Heaven Sword to suppress them."
"With my elder brother here, there's no need for me to return, right?" Li Hongzhao said.
She deeply agreed with Chu Zhiyuan's words.
It was useless for her to return now; she couldn't possibly compete with her elder brother.
Returning like this might make her elder brother's supporters wary, leading them to plot against her.
They would slander her in the court and among the people, ruining her reputation.
Su Qiuyan gently shook her head, "The Emperor urgently summoned you back and insists that you return."
"… Alright," Li Hongzhao slowly nodded, "Then Father, his body…"
Su Qiuyan said, "His cultivation has been mostly ruined, but his life has been saved."
"Thank heavens," Li Hongzhao breathed a sigh of relief.
Su Qiuyan said softly, "Your Highness…"
Li Hongzhao looked at her.
Su Qiuyan glanced at the three Grandmasters and suddenly used voice transmission: "If you really don't want to go back, there's no need to rush."
Li Hongzhao was taken aback.
Su Qiuyan gave her a look.
Li Hongzhao nodded slightly, glanced warily at the three Grandmasters, and sighed, "The Emperor has decreed, so naturally I must obey; I cannot defy the decree."
As a Grandmaster, she was keenly aware.
She could sense the detachment of these three Grandmasters, who didn't want to be associated with her.
This made her feel uneasy.
"Yes," Su Qiuyan nodded.
Chu Zhiyuan, seeing this, discovered that his洞照洞照 could actually hear the words of voice transmission.
The super-sense after becoming a Grandmaster was indeed different from before.
He quickly analyzed Su Qiuyan's words in his mind, wondering what her deep meaning was.
Su Qiuyan actually didn't want Li Hongzhao to go back, obviously harboring concerns.
Did these concerns stem from the Emperor? Could it be that the Emperor wanted to harm Li Hongzhao?
Or rather, even if he wasn't harming her, he would still be unfavorable to her.
As the Emperor, why would he be unfavorable to Li Hongzhao? Was it because of the throne?
Did he want to clear the threat for the First Prince?
To allow the Son of Heaven Sword to acknowledge its master, there must be no fratricide, but as the Emperor, he could directly confine Li Hongzhao with a single word.
But it didn't seem necessary, did it?
Li Hongzhao was not yet a Grandmaster, and in the Emperor's eyes, she couldn't inherit the throne yet; what threat did she pose?
Even if there was a threat, as long as the First Prince became the Emperor, there would be no threat.
This matter was unpredictable, with too many variables.
Thinking of this, he said softly, "Uncle, if there is only one Grandmaster among the princes, but their prestige is insufficient, can the Son of Heaven Sword acknowledge them?"
Chu Qingyan said, "The Son of Heaven Sword is a sword spirit, and its intelligence is even higher than that of humans. In the absence of choice, it can only choose the only Grandmaster; it can't cut off the inheritance. But if the crime of fratricide is committed, it will not acknowledge its master."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then what if there are two Grandmasters, but neither has enough prestige?"
"… Then it can only choose the one with better character and higher prestige."
"If there is only one person, then it can only reluctantly acknowledge them as master?"
"The sword spirit will pay attention to priority, cultivation, character, and merit. Cultivation and character are essential, and merit and prestige can be compromised," Chu Qingyan said, "What are you asking about this for?"
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and smiled, "The Son of Heaven Sword is still very intriguing."
"Do you want to fight for the throne?" Chu Qingyan said, "Your progress is too fast; it's really hard to say whether you can win or not."
He shook his head, "Originally, you had a great chance, but you didn't listen to advice."
It was not appropriate for outsiders to interfere in the struggle for the throne; his imperial brother would definitely be dissatisfied.
The most he could do was remind him to cultivate slower, not so fast.
He couldn't say it explicitly, saying that being too fast would lead to being unable to enter the army to gain merit, thereby being unable to compete for the throne.
That would be a taboo.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Imperial Grandfather is in his prime, I'm still early; maybe several imperial uncles and tenth uncle can break through."
"Old Ten is almost impossible… As for the others, they can't even reach the completion of the Grandmaster realm, let alone break through!" Chu Qingyan sighed, "It's thanks to you, otherwise, it would be very uncertain!"
If there really wasn't an heir, and the Chu family line didn't produce a Grandmaster, then it would be the beginning of turmoil for the Great Jing.
Perhaps the Chu family line would completely decline and lose this realm.
"There's also Second Uncle."
"Him?" Chu Qingyan snorted coldly, "He doesn't count as part of our Chu family!"
"Ninth Uncle," Bai Ning霜 said softly.
Chu Qingyan waved his hand, "Alright, alright, don't talk about him… In short, don't rush; what's yours can't run away, and what's not yours is useless even if you rush."
Chu Zhiyuan's situation still depended on fate, on whether Chu Mingrui and the others could break through to become Grandmasters.
If not, the Son of Heaven Sword would have no choice.
Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.
His thoughts turned to Li Hongzhao, wondering what the Great Meng Emperor wanted Li Hongzhao to do back there.
And the Great Meng's First Prince…
He recalled the First Prince Li Haotian in his mind, and all the information obtained by the Supervisory Division.
Li Haotian was obsessed with practicing martial arts, and his aptitude was also superb; a Grandmaster in his fifties.
He usually spent almost all his time practicing martial arts and was indifferent to court affairs.
But the Great Meng Emperor was young, and among the current princes, only the First Prince had broken through to become a Grandmaster.
If he didn't take the throne, who would?
Even if Li Hongzhao became a Grandmaster, she was a woman after all and not suitable to become an emperor.
But if Li Hongzhao became a Grandmaster, then the First Prince would not be the only choice.
Who knew who the Son of Heaven Sword would choose? What if it really chose Li Hongzhao?
If he were the Great Meng Emperor, what would he do?
He would probably suppress Li Hongzhao's cultivation, not allowing her to break through to become a Grandmaster, thereby allowing the First Prince to smoothly take over the Son of Heaven Sword.
So how would he suppress Li Hongzhao's cultivation?
Let her leave the Jade Capital, not allowing her to have an environment for improvement.
A slight delay would not hinder the First Prince's accession to the throne.
