I Can Deduce Arts by Slaying Demons

The Daqian Imperial Palace!

The morning light penetrates the nine-layered palace complex, making the gilded hall pillars glow radiantly.

Inside the Yuji Hall, civil and military officials stand on either side like clay sculptures and wooden carvings, not even the wrinkles in their robes move.

Outside the hall, from a bronze crane incense burner, the Dragon’s Saliva Fragrance curls upward, yet it cannot dispel the heavy atmosphere within the hall.

At the front of the civil officials’ ranks, Chancellor Zhao Xian in his purple robe and jade belt, unconsciously rubs the coiling dragon pattern on the jade belt with his knuckles.

At the forefront of the military officials’ ranks, Sun Lingyuan, the leader of the Dragon Soaring Guard, donned in golden armor, his red tassel swaying gently in the wind, his gaze as sharp as a blade, emitting a chill.

But who could have imagined that this Mr. Sun, who holds the power of the Imperial Palace Guard.

In the past, was one of Lu Xuan’s direct disciples of his former self.

Yet now, Mr. Sun stands on the opposite side of the Lu Family.

Below the Dragon Steps, a complete white tiger skin chair stands out, a position of honor exclusively belonging to Mr. Lu of the Lu Family.

Since the founding of the Qian Dynasty, no one has received such an honor.

Allowed to wear a sword to court, and granted a seat in the hall, truly an exalted position!

Beneath one person, above ten thousand!

"His Majesty is arriving—"

The eunuch’s sharp proclamation tore through the silence of the Yuji Hall.

Emperor Qianxi, with steady steps, slowly ascended the Dragon Steps, as his glance touched upon that empty tiger skin chair, the corner of his eye twitched imperceptibly.

The gathered civil and military officials dared not even breathe, fully aware that today’s morning court would surely stir up a storm.

The hall was so silent that a pin drop could be heard, even breathing felt caught in the throat.

Underneath their lowered heads, the faces of the ministers displayed different expressions—some horrified, some suspicious, others secretly pleased.

The shocking event of yesterday had already spread like wildfire across the entire Qian Ning City!

Lu Jinyun, the son of Mr. Lu from the Lu Family, led ten thousand Tiger Roar Guards and broke through the Nine-layered Mysterious Iron Gate of the sky prison!

Lu Haowu, who was supposed to be executed, was thus rescued from the death cell before everyone’s eyes.

Thinking back, the ear-splitting shouts and killing cries still linger, the shattered glazed tiles at the eaves of the sky prison still glint with dazzling light on the palace path.

Several elderly Hanlin scholars were pale, and their legs trembled slightly beneath their official robes.

They knew better than anyone—the sky prison was a symbol of imperial power, its breach no different from invading the imperial palace!

This was to cast the honor of Emperor Qianxi, the supreme dignity, into the mire, allowing iron hooves to trample it!

Among the civil officials’ ranks were several resentful glares, particularly glaring.

Minister of War Chen Jiequan clutched his memorial tightly, his knuckles turning blue.

Yesterday, his only son was stopped by the Lu Family and had his leg broken by the old housekeeper Li Ming.

Minister of Rites Liu Fu’s eyes were red, almost spitting fire—his son still lies unconscious.

The most tragic was the Right Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, Zhang Zhaoran.

This long-serving warden of the sky prison appeared ashen and lifeless as a corpse, his body beneath his official robe trembling uncontrollably.

His son had his legs crippled in the sky prison yesterday, with all bones shattered by Li Ming.

The Imperial Physician diagnosed that he would never recover.

The heartrending cries still echoed in the Zhang residence, each wail cutting into this old father’s heart like a knife.

The breach of the sky prison was already a humiliation of the highest order.

The crippling of his beloved son was an irreconcilable vendetta.

Zhang Zhaoran stared fixedly at the empty tiger skin chair in the center of the hall, as if he could see it soaked with his son’s blood.

His nails dug deeply into his palms, yet he felt no pain—

The humiliation and hatred had already burned his insides to ashes.

Several officials who were on good terms with him could not bear to look at him in such a state.

The once-proud warden of the sky prison now hunched over, with only deep-seated resentment in his eyes.

Everyone knew, Zhang Zhaoran had only one thought in mind now.

And that was to make the Lu Family pay in blood!

Emperor Qianxi glanced over at that empty white tiger skin chair in the hall, his body beneath the imperial robe quivered slightly with fury.

The armrest of the gilded dragon chair groaned under his grip, almost unable to bear the pressure.

His five fingers seemed almost embedded in the intricately carved dragon scales.

"Where is the Tutor?"

Emperor Qianxi’s angry roar was like thunder, shaking the dome and dislodging dust.

Emperor Qianxi snatched up a jade paperweight from the table and hurled it fiercely at the chief eunuch standing by.

"Cao Quan!"

"You dog!"

The Emperor’s vehement outbursts echoed throughout the Yuji Hall!

"Yesterday I explicitly ordered you to personally deliver the decree to the Tutor!"

Hearing this, Cao Quan felt as if struck by lightning and immediately knew things were bad. He stood frozen in place.

Then, Cao Quan knelt heavily, his forehead pressed against the cold golden brick, even his fingers trembled uncontrollably.

At that moment, Cao Quan felt the world spinning around him.

This unwarranted accusation was nothing but a calamitous injustice!

All the officials knew well of His Majesty’s many displeasures with Mr. Lu.

Now this anger inexplicably cascaded down onto him.

A chill rose from the soles of his feet, crawling up his spine to the back of his neck.

Cao Quan felt a deep cold engulfing him, his back long soaked with icy sweat.

He cursed his fate silently—

Yesterday, he had solemnly handed the decree to Lu Jinyun, emphasizing repeatedly that it was an order personally commanded by His Majesty.

Clearly, it was Mr. Lu who deliberately delayed!

A few breaths later, sweat like beads seeped from Cao Quan’s wrinkled face, a hint of determination flickering in his murky eyes.

Facing Emperor Qianxi’s fury, he couldn’t reveal the truth and had to swallow this dumb suffering silently.

He couldn’t possibly announce in front of civil and military officials that he had already delivered the decree to Mr. Lu.

A glimmer of cunning calculation surfaced in Cao Quan’s murky old eyes.