The Imperial Family Was Shaken

Deep within the forbidden grounds of the Imperial Clan Affairs Office.

This place was usually solemn and dignified, and was rarely opened except for major ceremonies or when the nation faced calamity.

Yet at this moment, the forbidden grounds—symbolizing the highest authority and deepest foundations of the Xiao Clan Imperial Family—were brightly lit and filled with people.

In the outer area, many young members of the imperial family had gathered in groups of three or five. Their faces were full of unease and suspicion as they murmured among themselves.

"What on earth happened? Why were even several of our granduncles and great-uncles, who have been in seclusion for years, roused?"

"I don't know. I was just listening to music at the Music and Dance Bureau when I was urgently summoned back."

"Looking at this scene, could an enemy army be pressing against our borders?"

"Impossible. If there were fighting at the border, the Ministry of War would have erupted into chaos already."

In the core area of the forbidden grounds, the atmosphere was so heavy it was suffocating.

Gathered here were the true upper echelon and the deepest foundations of the imperial family.

One white-haired elder after another sat or stood about, their auras as deep as the sea. Each radiated the authority of someone long accustomed to high office, along with powerful fluctuations of cultivation.

Among them were princes and commandery princes who had retired from public life years ago, Clan Elders who managed the Imperial Clan Affairs Office and the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and several martial elders who served as the imperial family's pillars, having spent years in seclusion to break through to higher realms.

Even the current emperor of the Wei Kingdom, Xiao Zhengshan, had to pay his respects as a junior before these highly senior Old Ancestors. He dared not show the slightest neglect.

Yet at this moment, these great figures—whose every stomp could make the Wei Kingdom tremble three times over—wore rare expressions of gravity, even a trace of... disbelief.

"Have you confirmed it?"

"Is it true?"

An elderly man in a purple robe embroidered with coiling dragons, his face ancient and austere, asked in a grave voice. He was Xiao Tong, the emperor's Imperial Granduncle.

"Reporting to you, Imperial Granduncle, it is absolutely true."

A middle-aged official in charge of the imperial family's formation hub knelt on the ground, his voice trembling.

"Half an hour ago, control of the 'Kun' region of the Heavenly Prison's defensive formation was... forcibly seized.

"The other party's methods were extraordinarily sophisticated. Their understanding of the formation's ley lines was... simply... simply inconceivable.

"The three Attendants stationed at the hub joined forces to try to regain control, but... but they couldn't even break through the other party's defenses. Instead... instead, their spiritual senses were injured."

At these words, the whole hall was stunned.

"What?!"

The purple-robed elder abruptly rose to his feet, his eyes blazing.

"The Heavenly Prison formation is one of the foundations on which our Xiao Clan built the nation. It has been reinforced and perfected over hundreds of years and can trap a grandmaster.

"The control hub is also protected by layers upon layers of restrictions. How could someone so easily seize control?

"Could it be... that a Formation Grandmaster from another kingdom has infiltrated the Capital City?"

"No... it doesn't seem that way."

The official was drenched in cold sweat. "The other party's methods of control... are unheard of and unprecedented. Moreover, judging by the energy fluctuations and traces of spiritual sense, the other party... seems to be inside the Heavenly Prison."

"Inside the Heavenly Prison?"

The Clan Elders were shocked once more.

The Heavenly Prison held nothing but serious criminals and condemned prisoners. How could anyone with such divine mastery of formations be among them?

"Could it be... some Old Monster in captivity who has been hiding his strength?"

Someone ventured a guess.

"Whoever it is,"

a sharp glint flashed through the purple-robed elder's eyes, "the Heavenly Prison formation must not be allowed to fail. If it falls out of control, not only might the prisoners escape, it will also compromise one part of the Capital City's defensive system."

"Guards, issue the orders at once."

"First, seal off all news. This must not be spread beyond these walls, lest it throw the court and the people into turmoil."

"Second, mobilize the Imperial Guards and the Dragon Martial Guard to surround the Heavenly Prison at once. No one may enter or leave. Anyone who trespasses without a warrant from the Imperial Clan Affairs Office is to be killed without mercy."

"Third, request that Elder Xuan leave seclusion. He is the foremost Formation Grandmaster in our imperial family, and our only grandmaster. Only he might be able to match this mysterious person."

"Yes!"

Everyone answered in unison, and the atmosphere grew tense in an instant.

At the same time, at Jing Prince's Estate.

Xiao Jingfeng and Xiao Fenghua had also received an urgent order and troop-mobilization warrant from the Imperial Clan Affairs Office.

"Father King, the Imperial Clan Affairs Office has issued an urgent order. They want us to mobilize troops at once and help the Dragon Martial Guard surround the Heavenly Prison. No one is to enter or leave."

Holding the warrant, Xiao Fenghua entered the study with a grave expression.

Xiao Jingfeng took the warrant. He only needed one look for his expression to change. "Surround the Heavenly Prison? What happened? Why would they use the Imperial Clan Affairs Office's highest-level troop-mobilization order?"

"I don't know. It only says there's been a disturbance at the Heavenly Prison, one that concerns the imperial family's safety."

Xiao Fenghua's brows knitted together, and the unease in her heart grew stronger. "Father King, I can't shake the feeling... that this has something to do with Zhang Yu."

"Zhang Yu?"

Xiao Jingfeng was taken aback, then shook his head with a laugh.

"Fenghua, I know Zhang Yu is mysterious and unfathomable, but you're giving him too much credit.

"The Imperial Clan Affairs Office has made such a huge show of force, and may even have roused several of the Old Ancestors. This concerns the very foundations of the entire imperial family.

"No matter how formidable Zhang Yu is, he's still just a young man in his early twenties. How could he possibly..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence, because he had seen the unprecedented gravity and certainty in his daughter's eyes.

Xiao Fenghua took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

"Father King, we were all wrong about him before.

"We haven't even begun to fathom Zhang Yu's true depth.

"What happened with President Du, what happened with Chen Dongpeng, and that bizarre cultivation of his...?

"The Heavenly Prison incident happened at such a coincidental time. If you say he had nothing to do with it, I find that very hard to believe."