Chapter 660: The Crown Prince
Chapter 660: The Crown Prince (Additional Chapter for Subscriptions)
"Every mystic realm may have guardians and realm spirits..."
"This Transcendent Realm is extraordinary, capable of relocating its entrance to evade the pursuit of Dao Lords and Dao Sages. Clearly, it is even more complex..."
Fang Xing remained calm, after all, he was just a cultivation avatar.
Furthermore, through the Heavenly Gate, he could sever any connection to his true self. The worst outcome would be his death.
"Wrong time, wrong place, wrong person!"
A grand, vast voice echoed.
Mists gathered, forming a peculiar face: "But... you still came in. This is the power of a Transcendent!"
The face clearly showed fear.
The ability to forcibly insert someone into the Transcendent Realm was beyond its imagination. Fang Xing’s backing must be incredibly powerful.
Perhaps even surpassing the original Transcendent who set up the legacy!
"I apologize for the intrusion... I only wish to obtain a Primordial Spirit Treasure."
Fang Xing said politely.
"Just a Primordial Spirit Treasure? You are quite courteous... Ever since that cultivator took the Taichi Diagram, no one has been able to take a Primordial Spirit Treasure from the realm..."
The misty face seemed to smile: "However, I am willing to give you this chance... like all legacy seekers, to receive a gift, you must first pass a test."
"Agreed."
Fang Xing nodded. His current avatar was a True Immortal Overlord with the combat power of a Dao Lord.
It was like the Wuling Wanderer challenging the Heavenly Steps he set up. As long as the test was designed for the Spirit Realm, a Spirit Overlord would surely pass.
And as long as it was a True Immortal test, he would certainly pass!
At least, he was very confident.
"Hehe..."
The realm spirit suddenly laughed: "Whether you are a mortal, a cultivator, a True Immortal, a Dao Lord, or a Dao Sage... once you enter the Transcendent Realm, you will face the same test... My master cares not for your talent, insight, luck, or destiny... He set up the realm to test your character!"
"Character?"
Fang Xing was somewhat surprised: "How is this tested?"
"Very simple, once you choose to enter the test, I will seal your memories and cultivation, turning you into a mortal, and send you into a world... Then, everything depends on your own actions."
The realm spirit smiled: "Even with sealed memories, your instincts and character remain... That is the test."
Since the memories of all entrants were sealed, it had no qualms about 'spoiling' the test.
"Indeed, an interesting test."
Fang Xing nodded.
He was a veteran of mystic realms, having seen all kinds of tests.
Tests of combat power, foundation, insight, and so on... countless variations.
He never expected that this realm’s legacy would be so interesting, testing 'character' and even blinding the memory.
"Come then."
He nodded.
"Are you ready? Yes... failure will not lead to death, but given your strong backing, you are clearly expected to succeed."
The realm spirit nodded.
In an instant, Fang Xing vanished.
In the realm, not even a True Immortal Overlord, a top-tier Four-Step Dao Lord, or an Eternal Existence mattered to it. Controlling a mere True Immortal was child’s play.
"However... could this one be the person my master has been waiting for?"
The realm spirit’s eyes sparkled with anticipation...
...
Bang, bang, bang!
The nine layers of the palace gates opened in succession.
The sound of the night watchman’s drumming faintly echoed.
In the Eastern Palace of Dagan, the Crown Prince, Li Rubi, asked, "What time is it now?"
"Your Highness, it is the third watch..."
A purple-robed old eunuch lowered his voice, as if unwilling to disturb the night’s tranquility.
The surrounding maids and young eunuchs were so still, their eyes fixed on their noses, their breathing inaudible, as if they had blended into the walls and corners of the study.
They would only appear when the Crown Prince summoned them.
"Third watch, huh!"
Li Rubi, with his full celestial court, his face like a jade crown, his gait like a dragon’s, exuded an indescribable majesty.
He was the future ruler of the Two Capitals and Sixteen Prefectures, the heir to the throne of Dagan.
The Crown Prince stepped onto a high platform and said, "I wish to be alone. You need not follow me..."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The maids with lanterns and the guards with swords bowed. Only the old eunuch, holding a pure white fox fur coat, said, "Your Highness, the night is cold. Please take care of your health..."
Li Rubi waved his hand, seemingly unconcerned.
'Sigh... Is the Crown Prince troubled because of the censor’s criticism today?'
The old eunuch, looking at the Crown Prince’s back, inwardly seethed: 'When the Crown Prince was in his prime, would a mere censor dare? It’s all because of Prince Tai...'
...
Whoosh, whoosh!
A gentle breeze blew, the ancient, unpolluted sky shimmering brightly.
Li Rubi, or rather, Fang Xing, exhaled deeply: "Where am I now?"
Clearly, his memories had not been sealed.
This was likely because he was just an avatar, with his true self’s consciousness still intact.
And his true self, protected by the attribute panel, was immune to the realm’s sealing rules, further aided by the connection through the Heavenly Gate, thus ‘cheating’.
"Cheating is great, just like using cheat codes in games. I love it."
Fang Xing nodded to himself, sorting through the memories of Li Rubi.
The Dagan Dynasty had been founded for less than thirty years, and the founding emperor, Taizu, was none other than Li Rubi’s father, Li Bianlong. He was a man of exceptional talent, a seasoned warrior who had led four thousand iron-clad cavalry to defeat the six ten-thousand-strong army of King Xia, thereby bringing an end to the chaos and establishing his rule. His governance and military prowess were unparalleled. After founding the dynasty, he reduced taxes and levies, and reformed the household registration system. At the time of the dynasty's founding, there were only two million households, but now the population had grown to 3.27 million. Given the era name "Jingde", perhaps history would remember it as the "Jingde Governance"?
As for the Crown Prince, Li Rubi, he was Li Bianlong’s legitimate son. Li Bianlong and his empress had a harmonious relationship, and her family had greatly contributed to his rise to power. They had three sons and four daughters, but many had died young, leaving only the youngest son, Li Rubi. He was initially enfeoffed as the Duke of Wei and later promoted to Crown Prince upon reaching adulthood.
Li Rubi had a pleasant childhood. His parents loved each other, his siblings got along well, and his maternal relatives were very supportive. Astrologers said he had a noble face, with the features of a dragon and tiger, and the appearance of a celestial being.
However, in the 20th year of Jingde, the empress passed away, and in the 23rd year, the Crown Prince’s maternal uncle, the Duke of Ying, Zhang Yang, the foremost military noble, died from a relapse of his old illness. The loss of these two pillars left the Crown Prince feeling as if he had lost his wings, and he became dispirited.
As the emperor's other sons, Prince Tai and Prince Kang, came of age, rumors began to circulate that the emperor was considering replacing the Crown Prince. The atmosphere in the Eastern Palace became tense, and the Crown Prince, despite his efforts to improve, only made things worse. He was repeatedly criticized by censors for his "improper conduct", "frivolous behavior", and "typos in his memorials, suggesting contempt for the emperor."
Now, the Eastern Palace seemed to be a facade of prosperity, but in reality, it was caught in a deadly deadlock.
"Hmph..."
After digesting these memories, Fang Xing glanced in the direction of the Diligence Hall and let out a cold laugh, immediately seeing the root of the problem.
Everything boiled down to Emperor Li Bianlong. Without the emperor's tacit approval, would his younger brothers dare to challenge the Crown Prince? Would mere censors dare to trouble him?
Li Bianlong was an extremely formidable emperor, having risen to power at the age of fifteen and unified the realm by twenty. He was a paragon of wisdom and courage. At just forty-six, he still diligently handled state affairs, reviewing memorials late into the night, and indulging in the favors of his concubines. This year alone, he had given Li Rubi a younger brother and three younger sisters.
The Crown Prince, by nature, would challenge the emperor's authority. With such a strong and ambitious ruler, who still had grand ambitions, how could he tolerate the loss of power?
Even his own son was not exempt!
Furthermore, the Crown Prince's maternal relatives had been too powerful, secretly manipulating him in a power struggle against the emperor.
The more capable the emperor, the harder it was for the Crown Prince to survive, and the more likely he was to be eliminated.
Could a Crown Prince hold the position for forty years?
Well, such cases did exist, but in those instances, the monarch was a constitutional ruler with limited power, entirely different from the centralized feudal system of the present.
Li Rubi was fortunate to have only been reprimanded so far. If things continued, it could only get worse, possibly even leading to his second demotion, like the Crown Prince during the Kangxi era.
As a wise and powerful ruler grew older, he could become increasingly tyrannical and difficult to serve. Any slight displeasure could mean disaster!
Cultivators on the brink of death might transform into Longevity Demons!
It was even harder to imagine what a nearly omnipotent emperor would do in his final moments.
So, this was the test of character?
What should he do next?
If he indulged in debauchery and faced his doom without resistance, he would certainly receive no favorable judgment.
This realm sealed one’s memories, forcing one to act on instinct, thereby testing one’s character.
How could he break this deadlock?
Fang Xing pondered: To act, he must first understand what power he possessed.
In this world, there were no traces of cosmic laws, and even the power of the Dao was rejected, making it a purely mundane realm.
Although there were Taoist priests and monks, they possessed no extraordinary abilities. Even the bravest soldiers in the army would be killed by a few strong men wielding weapons if they were not armored.
The power of the Dao should be adaptable to the world, but the Transcendent Realm had somehow managed to confine even Dao Lord and Eternity realms.
Fang Xing felt a chill run down his spine.
Without any extraordinary powers, the emperor could crush him with ease, regardless of righteousness, reputation, or strength.
His strongest asset, the palace guards, numbered only five units, a mere 250 men. How many of them were loyal was uncertain. They would protect the Crown Prince diligently, but if it came to rebellion, they would likely capture him first!
Perhaps, for now, he should show more deference. Li Rubi and the emperor still had some father-son affection. By opening his heart, expressing his loyalty, and cutting his ties with the powerful nobles, he could demonstrate the qualities of a wise ruler. If he endured for ten or twenty years, he might secure the throne.
After all, he had regained his memories, his greatest advantage.
Whether it was steel production or fertilizer, developing the economy would bring benefits and attract supporters, allowing him to be a virtuous Crown Prince.
Li Bianlong was a founding emperor with a hero’s spirit. Among his sons, the Crown Prince was the strongest and the most legitimate. Why couldn’t he pass the throne to him?
However, the next ten to twenty years would be fraught with variables. Any small change could be fatal!
He would have to be diligent and respectful for a decade or more, which would be exhausting.
When the emperor grew old and ill, if someone in the palace were to frame him or issue a false imperial edict, he could easily be killed. History was full of such examples.
Why should he entrust his life to the whims of others?
No matter how great an emperor, if he threatened Fang Xing’s safety, he must die!
(End of Chapter)
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