Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

[Ah, is no one watching the New Year’s Gala? I know I’m not... *sniffle*, I’ve been writing this whole time. I’ll probably only get to catch the famous comedy sketch! I wonder how many people are still here with me tonight. Thank you, everyone! Thank you to the friends who are still spending New Year’s Eve with Xiaodao. But still, I hope you all can make time to be with your families! It’s the New Year, after all—a time for reunion~]

"Do not!" The Crown Prince’s cold eyes flashed as he spoke in a low voice. "Our foundation is not yet stable. We must not provoke that troublemaker! If we touch his family, the consequences will be more than we can handle for now. Hmph. After today, not only will I not punish the Ling Family, I will even continue to bestow more honors upon them! Let thousands of favors be showered on one family. If anyone gets jealous, they can be the ones to deal with them... Haha!"

"Your Highness is brilliant!" Night Owl chuckled darkly. In truth, he didn’t think the Crown Prince’s plan was brilliant at all. ’Since we have the support of a great hidden sect, why not get rid of that hidden threat, the Ling Family, at the same time? It was nothing short of foolish sentimentality!’

However, he was well aware of his place and knew what to say and what to keep to himself.

Inside the room, the Old King held the Empress’s hand and said gently, "In this life, I have faced countless dangers, big and small. I have weathered every storm imaginable. To think that today I would fall at the hands of my own son. Could it be... is this truly retribution for the great slaughter of my past? And to think I was always so worried about the Ling Family. The Old Marshal was right; the one I should have feared most was my own ’good’ son!"

The Empress looked at the swaddled infant beside her, then at the Old King, and said softly, "Your Majesty, when it comes down to it, it was I... I should not have taken that Elixir. If only..."

Before the Empress could finish, the Old King covered her mouth with his hand. He smiled and shook his head, saying, "Even without this, he would have made this move sooner or later. I know him!" As he spoke, a cold smile touched his lips. "To think he could take my life so easily... My ’good’ son severely underestimates his father!"

Saying this, he stood up and walked out. The moment His Majesty the King stepped outside, the densely packed army felt an immense pressure bearing down on them! This was not the overwhelming aura of a peerless expert, but the Emperor’s Aura, cultivated over many years as a sovereign!

The pressure was so intense it was difficult to breathe. Even the face of the Crown Prince, who stood surrounded by heavy protection, changed drastically.

"Li Wu Zhi, are you committing treason?" The Old King’s somewhat gaunt figure stood at the entrance to the Empress’s chambers. He looked coldly at his eldest son, the Crown Prince of the Lanyue Empire, Li Wu Zhi, who was surrounded by innumerable guards.

He then looked with disdain at the fully armored soldiers, his voice booming like a great bell. "You... are all soldiers of the Empire! Your duty is to defend our lands! To protect your family, your friends, your lovers... to protect all those you care for from being invaded by our enemies! From being slaughtered by our enemies! To protect your women from becoming other men’s women! To protect your children from calling another man ’father’! Who... who made you commit such a mad act as to point your weapons at your own country’s King? The Crown Prince? Turn around and look at that worthless creature! Look at how many guards surround him! He has the courage to send you to your deaths, but why isn’t he standing at the front? Standing before me! To tell me to my face... that he wants to kill me, his father! Go on, ask him! Does he dare?!"

The Crown Prince’s face was livid. Fortunately, he had worn a mask when he came today, so no one could see the expression behind it. However, many people saw that the Crown Prince’s flickering gaze never dared to meet the King’s.

"Hahaha, so this is my good son, my patricidal good son! You soldiers, I know you are the Death Warriors he has raised for many years. But have you ever thought, is it worth selling your lives for someone like him? Perhaps one night, while you are in a sweet sleep, you will fall victim to his treacherous hand, hahahahaha!" His Majesty the Old King was also immensely powerful, and his soul-shaking words, combined with his Emperor’s Aura, washed over the soldiers.

Although not a single one of them spoke, a slight commotion had already started within the ranks. Clearly, some among them... were being swayed by His Majesty the Old King’s words.

"Don’t listen to his rambling! Crossbowmen..." Behind his mask, the Crown Prince’s face was twisted and savage. The words, incomparably cold, were forced through his gritted teeth: "Ready!"

All of the Crown Prince’s Death Warriors raised their heavy crossbows, aiming them at His Majesty the King. At that moment, earth-shattering battle cries erupted from outside!

Evidently, the soldiers loyal to His Majesty the King had reacted and had begun to clash with the other contingent of troops brought by the Crown Prince!

Meanwhile, the guards at His Majesty the King’s side, all at the level of Demon Sword Master, had already been slain by the few experts from the Sword Sect brought by the Crown Prince!

His Majesty the King had been right about one thing: experts with power exceeding that of the Sword Sect had a huge impact on the balance of power among the various Royal Families on the continent! It made imperial authority seem so fragile in the face of overwhelming martial might!

A satisfied smile finally touched the Crown Prince’s lips, and the calm of someone holding a winning hand returned to his eyes. He had prepared for this day for many years! He even had several backup plans in motion!