Everyone was certain that the throne was theirs.
But nothing in this world is absolute.
Before things are settled, anything can happen.
The throne seemed within his grasp, but it wasn't that simple.
Not to mention when the Emperor would abdicate, just passing the test of the Emperor's Sword recognizing its master would not be easy.
He also suspected that Prince Ying, Chu Mingrui, had been suppressing his own cultivation level in order to command troops instead of stepping into the Grandmaster realm.
But what if one day he grew tired of commanding troops and stopped suppressing himself, directly breaking through to Grandmaster?
There were even other imperial uncles, some who were secretive and others who had unexpected opportunities.
Until he truly sat on the throne, he couldn't say for sure that it was his.
Chu Yi giggled and said, "Alright, elder brother, you're cautious, but too cautious. Elder brother, you should at least go through all six ministries once, and it's best to go down and take a look."
Chu Zhiyuan glared at her.
Chu Yi smiled, "I heard from Little Sister Li that the other places in Da Jing are completely different from our Yujing City, worlds apart."
Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.
In any dynasty, the Emperor is far away, and the court's power is difficult to reach the countryside, often only reaching the level of prefectures.
Yujing City and other places are indeed two different worlds.
If you use Yujing City as a reference for other prefectures and states, that would be the biggest joke.
Bai Ning霜 said, "Will you be going outside Yujing City to be an official again?"
Chu Yi said, "If Imperial Grandfather wants to groom elder brother, he will definitely have to go to the local areas."
Bai Ning霜 furrowed her delicate brows.
She felt flustered at the thought of Chu Zhiyuan not being by her side.
Usually in Yujing, even if he doesn't come back for dinner, it doesn't feel like much.
But not being in Yujing is completely different.
Chu Yi smiled, "Mother, if you don't go to the local areas, how will you know how the officials below are governing the place? You must go."
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, "There's no such thing."
Chu Yi harrumphed, "Anyway, I think it will be the six ministries first, then the local areas, that's definitely how it will go."
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and looked at Chu Minghou, "Father, is the court telling me to stop appropriately?"
Chu Minghou was silent.
He sighed inwardly, worthy of being Yuan'er, so perceptive.
Chu Zhiyuan harrumphed, "In that case, the court doesn't not know about the growth of the heretical sects, doesn't not know how many innocent people the heretical sects have harmed."
Chu Yi blinked her bright eyes, puzzled, "Elder brother, what does this mean?"
Chu Zhiyuan let out a cold laugh, "They don't want me to continue killing heretical sect members."
Chu Yi's bright eyes flickered, she thought for a moment, and said hesitantly, "Why don't they want elder brother to continue killing heretical sect demons? Is it for the Town Guard? That's impossible, they don't like the Town Guard that much. Then is it to cover up their mistakes? Or is there something else?"
"Only against the Jade Cauldron Sect." Chu Zhiyuan said, "And they haven't even been able to achieve complete success."
"Some things aren't that simple." Chu Minghou shook his head, "It's hard to explain for a while."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Will Uncle-Grandfather come tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll ask Uncle-Grandfather."
"Actually, this involves some of the court's secrets." Chu Minghou sighed.
Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Yi both listened attentively.
"The lairs of the heretical sects are mostly in the Southern Border."
"Yes."
"The Southern Border is not really governed by the court, in fact, it can't be governed. It's unruly and doesn't obey orders." Chu Minghou said, "The court wishes the Southern Border were weak so that it wouldn't cause trouble for the court."
Chu Zhiyuan was thoughtful.
The Southern Border is full of deep mountains and dense miasma, and it is difficult for the army to move an inch.
Therefore, the Southern Border has never been truly conquered. The Southern Border is nominally Da Jing's territory, but it is actually equivalent to being independent.
They completely ignore the court's policies and orders and do their own thing.
In the eyes of the Da Jing people, there are hardly any people living in the Southern Border.
But in the eyes of the court, the Southern Border is a very big threat, a very unstable factor.
If the court is at war, and the Southern Border suddenly makes trouble, it can really shake Da Jing's empire.
How can the threat of the Southern Border be minimized? That is to weaken the Southern Border.
How to weaken it?
These heretical sect disciples can do it.
And no matter how strong they are, it is impossible for them to form a disciplined army, and they are vulnerable to the army.
Chu Yi blinked her bright eyes and hurriedly asked.
Chu Zhiyuan then told her about these inside stories.
Chu Yi was very interested in these things, and her insight was sharp, often hitting the nail on the head.
Chu Zhiyuan also satisfied her curiosity.
Chu Yi harrumphed, "In that case, the growth of these heretical sects is also the result of the court's connivance?"
"Don't talk nonsense, these words must not be spread." Chu Minghou said.
Chu Yi said, "Father, it's okay even if it spreads out."
Chu Zhiyuan agreed.
The Da Jing people don't have a good impression of the Southern Border. Knowing this inside story, they may not blame the court, but instead feel that there is nothing wrong with the court doing this.
This can indeed weaken the Southern Border and maintain its peace at the lowest cost.
Once the Southern Border becomes strong, it will inevitably cause trouble. If the trouble gets big, all the Da Jing people will have to suffer.
"If you really wipe out the lairs of the heretical sects, really exterminate them..." Chu Minghou shook his head.
Chu Zhiyuan slowly said, "What if I don't stop?"
Chu Minghou frowned, "If you still don't stop, you'll really be transferred to the local areas."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Being transferred out of Yujing is indeed a radical solution."
Chu Minghou looked at him helplessly, "Yuan'er, you are a Grandmaster, and also a prince, but no matter how strong you are, you are only one person, you cannot fight against the entire court."
Letting him stop is not the decision of one official, but the overall decision of the entire court.
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "These heretical sect demons should not live in this world."
Chu Minghou said, "They should indeed be killed, but right now..."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "These officials should know that these heretical sects are not only active in the Southern Border."
"You killed so many in the Eastern Border, and in fact, the court officials are already dissatisfied. The memorials impeaching you are flying everywhere. Now you're making this scene in Yujing, even Imperial Father can't stop it."
"Then let Imperial Grandfather issue an edict." Chu Zhiyuan said, "If there is no edict, then I will pretend not to know."
Chu Minghou shook his head helplessly and looked at Bai Ning霜.
Bai Ning霜 said, "Don't look at me, being so stubborn is like you."
"I'm not that stubborn."
"I'm even less so!"
Chu Yi said softly, "Elder brother, are you really going to go against all the officials in the court?"
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "I'm not going against them, but killing heretical sect demons."
"That's going against them." Chu Yi said, "But that's not good."
Even the Emperor cannot go against all the officials in the court. No matter how powerful the Emperor's Sword is, it cannot kill all the officials.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "If I give up now, my thoughts will not be clear, and my cultivation will be difficult to improve further."
That's why he had never really gotten involved in politics.
The path of cultivation and the path of being an official are completely different. One seeks directness, and the other seeks deviousness.
Getting too involved in politics will stain one's state of mind.
He guessed that this was also the reason why the Emperor had always tolerated him holding a position but not doing anything.
"Hmm..." Chu Yi tilted her head and thought, "Can't there be a win-win situation?"
Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "Then I can only let them kill each other."
Kill each other, and his Bright Moon Saber God will not be able to take the opportunity to grow stronger.
That's why he hadn't taken the final step.
Now it seems that the third step must be taken.
