Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 775: Chapter 771: Breaking the Deadlock

Li Miaotan withdrew her glistening gaze from the strange flowers and turned toward him.

It was like a clear spring coming toward him.

Chu Zhiyuan quietly watched her.

Li Miaotan’s eyes, clear and profound, seemed to want to see through him.

Chu Zhiyuan also wanted to see through her.

The closer he got, the more he felt she was shrouded in a layer of mist.

It was as if his Super Sense had lost its power.

Li Miaotan softly said, ”You’ll be living in the Imperial City from now on, there are some things you need to understand in advance to avoid missteps.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”What things?”

”You should have already understood the situation here, right?”

”I have a general understanding, but Yujing’s ears and eyes here are not very sharp.”

”The most important are my three elder brothers, the Eldest, Second, and Third Brothers.”

Chu Zhiyuan leaned forward, staring at her.

”The Eldest Brother is brave and resolute, fiery in temperament, with a bad temper, but deeply supported by the military.”

”The Eldest Prince’s foundation is in the military.” Chu Zhiyuan nodded slightly.

”The Second Brother is gentle and elegant, modest, flexible, with a reputation for being wise.”

”The Second Prince’s foundation is among the civil officials.” Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

”As for the Third Brother... his nature is too weak, too naive, he actually doesn’t like the imperial throne.”

”Hmm—? ...Doesn’t the Third Prince’s foundation lie in merit?”

As far as he knew, those who supported the Third Prince were descendants of meritorious families, those from the State Duke Mansion and Marquis Mansion.

”The trouble is that the Third Brother is the Empress’s son, he must fight.”

”If the Third Prince has no ambition to fight for the throne... that’s a bit dangerous.”

”You can see this danger too, right?”

”The struggle for the throne is extremely cruel, a soft-hearted person is already at a disadvantage, if their willpower is weak, they are almost destined to fail.”

”Exactly.” Li Miaotan sighed softly and shook her head: ”The Third Brother likes cultivation the most, not mundane affairs, but as the Empress’s son, if he doesn’t take the throne, the Empress will be embarrassed in the future, her days will be difficult.”

The next Emperor to ascend the throne, the current Empress becomes the Empress Dowager by default, and even as the Emperor’s biological mother, she stands behind.

Not to mention what would happen to the Emperor’s biological mother, the Emperor would still feel uneasy and dissatisfied.

If the Emperor is dissatisfied, how could the Empress Dowager’s situation be good?

It is even better to be like an ordinary Imperial Concubine and retire peacefully.

More importantly, as the Empress and Empress Dowager, one has a special treasure that protects them, making them free of diseases and eternally youthful.

Such treasures, once obtained and then lost, are akin to losing one’s life.

The Emperor and Empress of the Phoenix Dynasty were deeply in love, and the Third Prince, being the Empress’s own child, holds a great advantage.

Additionally, he bears a striking resemblance to the Emperor of the Phoenix Dynasty, as if cast from the same mold as the Emperor.

The old ministers of the Emperor are very accepting of him.

All these factors combined have elevated the Third Prince up.

He half-heartedly agrees, unwillingly, always wavering in indecision.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned deeply upon hearing this.

How could the struggle for the throne allow for such indecisive wavering?

This is a sure sign of defeat.

”Luckily, I can offer some help and give some advice.”

”What about the Empress?”

”The Empress cannot, she doesn’t care about these things, she spends her days with flowers and researching medicine.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded thoughtfully: ”That is indeed a good thing.”

If the Empress also helps, it would be counterproductive and provoke the Emperor’s suspicion.

Having the Twelfth Princess help is no big deal, and it’s expected.

She carries the bloodline of two great families, her Martial Arts Talent is extraordinary, and her cultivation is high.

Now she has already transcended the realm of a Princess and is on par with a Prince.

Li Miaotan’s bright eyes flashed with a smile.

The Ninth Prince, indeed, as Li Yuzhen said, is exceptionally intelligent.

It makes sense, someone with such amazing perception could never be a foolish dullard.

People just spread baseless rumors, and given his situation, having his reputation ruined is quite normal.

Among Princes, spreading a few rumors is more than enough, and since no one stands up for him, he won’t be held accountable, so naturally, rumors fly without restraint.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”So you’re actually supporting the Third Prince in the background, involved in the struggle for the throne?”

Li Miaotan replied, ”Even if I don’t want to help, I’d still be categorized into the Third Brother’s camp.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Who told you to be born of the same mother, with bonds that can’t be severed,... The Third Prince must be very dissatisfied with me, right?”

”At this point, even if the Third Brother is dissatisfied, he won’t act rashly, the matter concerning Young Master Xiao Ming was not his idea.”

”Oh—?” Chu Zhiyuan raised his eyebrow: ”Isn’t Young Master Xiao Ming under the Third Prince?”

”He is.”

”So you’re saying that the Third Prince doesn’t have strong control over the various forces under his command, he can’t keep them in check?”

”...Yes.” Li Miaotan said helplessly: ”The Third Brother’s nature is too weak, and each of these merit holders is defiant, it’s hard to suppress them.”

The descendants of those with merit often rise and fall with the nation, naturally they are full of confidence.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned and remained silent.

A leader with weak resolve, subordinates acting like a scattered band, how can this battle be won?

It might be better to just surrender, there’s no need to struggle futilely.

He looked up at Li Miaotan.

Li Miaotan softly said, ”No need to worry about this matter, the Third Brother will handle it.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This Young Master Xiao Ming has a great relationship with the Third Prince, right?”

”They grew up playing together, he’s the Third Brother’s playmate in the Imperial Palace.”

”This sets a bad precedent,” Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”I estimate the attacks from the other two Princes will follow soon.”

Li Miaotan slowly nodded, ”That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Once your own people begin attacking each other, how could the other two Princes pass up this opportunity?

The one who spoke those words in the tavern might not have been Young Master Xiao Ming, it could very well be someone under the other two Princes.

Arriving at the Imperial City and being immediately drawn into the struggle for the throne.

While back in the Jade Dynasty, I had no qualifications to participate in this kind of throne struggle.

This is undoubtedly a great irony.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Now Young Master Xiao Ming is also trapped, everyone in the Imperial City knows he’s dissatisfied with me as the Prince Consort, wanting to replace me.”

”And me,” Li Miaotan pursed her red lips, snorting, ”they also took this chance to pull me down.”

By associating herself with Young Master Xiao Ming, it significantly lowers her status.

No matter how favored a Princess is, marrying into the Marquis Mansion makes her simply the Marchioness.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The best way is to have Young Master Xiao Ming bow to me in public, but that’s impossible, right?”

If he could make Young Master Xiao Ming bow to him, it would elevate the Princess again, and raise himself.

But given Young Master Xiao Ming’s personality, even if the Third Prince forces it, he won’t comply.

This awkward situation is still very difficult to resolve.

No matter how great the Twelfth Princess’s talent, her bloodline, and her cultivation are, the fact that the Prince Consort is incompetent proves she has poor judgment.

A beautiful flower stuck into a pile of dung naturally loses its prestige.

Both for the Twelfth Princess and himself, they are constantly losing reputation.

”Forcing him to bow... is difficult.” Li Miaotan shook her head, ”Especially in public.”

”Is it also because I’m from the Jade Dynasty?”

”...Yes.” Li Miaotan sighed, ”Young Master Xiao Ming has a grudge because you are from the Jade Dynasty.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”This is the best way.”

”””