Prime Minister's Residence.
In the main hall, Chu Yun and Meng Changjiu sat facing each other, while Luo Feng sat quietly to one side in silence.
Meng Changjiu brewed a pot of tea. From the moment Chu Yun entered the residence, he had known that the Ninth Prince had already understood his intentions.
"Your Highness came here today to put on a show for those people as well, I presume."
"Since that is the case, has Your Highness considered how you will respond next?" Meng Changjiu asked leisurely.
Chu Yun smiled faintly. "With the Prime Minister on my side, what does this prince have to fear?"
"Besides, isn't the Prime Minister and Father Emperor's goal to make them act?"
"If they do not move, then everything we are doing will lose its meaning instead."
Meng Changjiu continued, "Your Highness must already know who the true culprit behind what happened back then was."
"Over the years, His Majesty has considered deposing the Crown Prince more than once, but due to various factors, the idea was always stillborn."
"Now that Your Highness has returned and displayed talents plain for all to see, you surpass the Crown Prince in every regard."
"This can also be considered giving His Majesty the chance to carry out that idea completely."
Chu Yun took a sip of tea. Hearing these words, he felt deeply moved, and his expression turned solemn. "I am not that kindhearted. For the vengeance of that year, merely taking the position of Crown Prince is far from enough."
"Only their blood can settle the score."
"This Imperial City will ultimately be unable to avoid a great bloodbath."
Meng Changjiu said nothing upon hearing this.
Those who had never tasted another's suffering had no right to urge them toward kindness.
What was more, Chu Yun was a man destined to inherit the throne. His heart naturally had to be ruthless enough.
"Your Highness, since I have already taken your side, I will naturally help you seize everything in the end."
"I have also received news that the Imperial Advisor went to the Eastern Palace. Most likely, he intends to enter the Imperial Palace with the Crown Prince to meet the Empress."
"Based on my understanding of them, they will soon retaliate against me, including Your Highness."
Meng Changjiu's tone was calm. Even knowing that the Empress Faction was about to retaliate against him, he showed no hint of urgency.
Chu Yun was the same. His uncle was still within the Imperial Palace.
Even if the Empress Faction wanted to deal with him, the first thing they would have to do was find a way to lure him away.
Otherwise, with his uncle here, even if the Sect Master of the Divine Sect came personally, he would be unable to harm Chu Yun!
"How does the Prime Minister think they will strike?" Chu Yun asked calmly.
Meng Changjiu shook his head and lifted his teacup. "I do not know."
"But one thing is certain: for now, they will not make a move against Your Highness's safety."
"Asura Venerable is still in the city. They do not have that capability."
A smile touched Chu Yun's lips. "Prime Minister, since we are waiting for them to act, why not turn passivity into initiative and strike first?"
Meng Changjiu paused with the teacup in his hand and looked at him. "Your Highness means to make a move against those Lineages within the city?"
Chu Yun smiled. "Since we have already torn off all pretenses, why not rip the opening even wider?"
"I also understand the Prime Minister's concerns. You are worried that making too much noise within the city will let the Empress Faction seize evidence against us, correct?"
Meng Changjiu looked somewhat startled. "Since Your Highness knows this, could it be that you have a solution?"
"What if I said that neither the Empress nor the Imperial Advisor would be able to seize even the slightest piece of evidence?" Chu Yun revealed a confident smile.
Meng Changjiu gazed deeply at him...
More than half an hour later, Chu Yun and Luo Feng finally left the Prime Minister's Residence.
The main reason Chu Yun had dared to come to the Prime Minister's Residence this time was because he knew Meng Ruoxue had been injured and would definitely prioritize healing herself. Thus, Chu Yun was not worried about running into her.
Otherwise, even if Chu Yun absolutely had to visit the Prime Minister's Residence, he would have needed to wear a mask after entering.
Otherwise, if he encountered Meng Ruoxue, things would be disastrous.
That night, Chu Yun's Prince's Mansion welcomed two distinguished guests.
Both wore black robes that concealed their identities.
Only after entering the main hall did they remove their black robes.
One of them was Yan Song, the Grand Elder of the Yan Family.
The other looked younger than Yan Song. He was a middle-aged man, but his temples had already begun to turn white. The aura around him was overwhelmingly powerful, far surpassing Yan Song's.
"Elder Yan Song, we meet again."
"This must be Yan Ding, the Yan Family Head. I have long heard of your great name."
Chu Yun smiled politely at the two of them.
He had sent Sky Demoness to the Yan Family to summon Yan Song and the Yan Family Head here.
Because of what had happened last time, Yan Song already admired this Ninth Prince to the extreme.
Deep in his heart, Chu Yun had completely won over this Grand Elder of the Yan Family.
"Your Highness the Ninth Prince is too courteous."
"Your Highness is the truly outstanding one, exactly as the rumors say," Yan Ding said politely.
Chu Yun smiled. "Come, sit."
After they sat down, Chu Yun did not beat around the bush. "The two of you have likely already guessed some of why I summoned you here tonight."
"Therefore, I will speak plainly."
"With the current situation, only one side between myself and the Empress Faction can survive."
"The Yan Family has always remained neutral and avoided entanglement in imperial power struggles. But once this battle for imperial power fully unfolds, none of the powerful clans and noble families within the Imperial City will be able to escape unscathed!"
"Yan Family Head, you should understand what I mean."
Chu Yun's words were blunt, directly laying everything bare.
Once this struggle for imperial power began, the neutral forces within the Imperial City would ultimately have no choice but to enter the fray. They could not remain neutral forever.
Unless they were powerful enough to contend against the entire Great Xia Dynasty!
The two men of the Yan Family fell into deep thought as they listened.
"Ninth Prince, I understand what you mean."
"Indeed, as you say, once this vortex of imperial power spreads, the Yan Family cannot remain neutral forever."
"But I want to know why the Yan Family should choose you."
"To be honest, although the Prime Minister's Residence now stands on your side, the Eastern Palace still has greater odds of victory than you."
Yan Ding had also opened the skylight and spoken plainly.
If Chu Yun wanted the Yan Family to choose him, then he had to provide a reason persuasive enough for them.
"Because I am Xiao Yan, and because of this."
"I wonder if Yan Family Head thinks that is enough?"
As soon as Chu Yun's words fell, the aura of a Venerable Realm Evil Infant blanketed the entire room.
Merely a wisp of its pressure made the two men of the Yan Family feel as though they had fallen into an abyss, their hearts shaken to the core.
Ye Tun's Evil Infant phantom appeared behind Chu Yun. Those wicked eyes seemed capable of ruling over every aspect of their lives.
At that moment, Chu Yun was like a god of Evil Infants, commanding all directions!
"An Evil Infant at the Venerable Realm!!!"
Under the terrifying pressure, Yan Ding's face was drenched in sweat as he cried out in shock.
Yan Song was utterly dumbfounded as well!
Wasn't it still at the Nirvana Realm Peak last time?
How had it become the Venerable Realm today?!!
What kind of joke was this?!!
One realm a day?!!
"Alright."
"That is enough."
Only at Chu Yun's signal did Ye Tun withdraw that wisp of pressure.
The two men of the Yan Family felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted. That single wisp of pressure had rendered them completely unable to move—it was simply too terrifying!
Friends who are able, I hope you can spare some money for instant noodles for this impoverished author. My endless gratitude!
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