The Dossier

The inner courtyard of the Prime Minister's Mansion is not very large, but this is in comparison to the outer courtyard, which occupies several blocks. The total area is at least two or three acres.

Unable to cultivate using the Source Qi, and with no entertainment facilities in the Prime Minister's Mansion, Xu Yuan bid farewell to Xu Changge after learning about Tianyan situation. He strolled along, humming a local tune, until he reached his father's study.

The red sandalwood door beneath the upturned eaves is adorned with elegant and understated carvings.

Standing in front of the door, Xu Yuan glanced around briefly and noticed that this important place was still not locked.

As he casually pushed open the door and entered, Xu Yuan couldn't help but smile at the elegant layout of the room, which had remained unchanged for over a decade.

Pushing open the door, one's eyes are greeted by a silk screen embroidered with ink wash landscapes. Stepping over it, one can see a heavy Bauhinia and Willow wood table placed at the far end of the room.

Although the old man had some knowledge of calligraphy and painting, it was merely a tool he used to curry favor with those in power before he came to power, not a genuine interest.

Therefore, the walls of the study are not decorated with any antiques or paintings; instead, there are bookshelves filled with various documents.

The soft sound of boots hitting the ground rang out, and Xu Yuan plopped down in his father's seat, his gaze sweeping across the entire study.

The subtle fragrance of incense mingled with the scent of books, making the room quiet and serene, as if it could shut out all the noise of the outside world.

For some reason,

Every time he sat in this position, he felt as if he were already sitting on a golden throne.

"."

Shaking his head, Xu Yuan banished the thought from his mind. He then slightly raised his hand and, following his memory, used his Source Qi to retrieve a stack of paper files from the first bookshelf on his right.

Since this study was where the old man handled government affairs at home, the dozen or so bookshelves inside contained no classic texts or Cultivation Method. Apart from the occasional handwriting the old man produced with a wolf-hair brush, they were filled with confidential government documents.

The first bookshelf on the right contained confidential internal reports compiled and presented by subordinates within the past month.

As he pondered this, Xu Yuan couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt.

Why was it that when he sneaked into the study to steal things before, all he could find were his father's calligraphy and paintings, but he never saw these confidential documents?

Thinking this through, Xu Yuan suddenly chuckled and shook his head.

He thought he was being discreet back then, but it turns out his father had tacitly approved of all of this.

As the room was filled with the scent of incense, Xu Yuan raised his hand and began to peruse the files in his hands.

One letter after another.

Until he came across a dossier with gold trim, and after glancing at it for a few lines, Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

This is a document about the war in the Northern Border.

After carefully reading through it all, Xu Yuan frowned.

The contents of the first internal report were quite explosive.

The terrifying plague that was released from the Valley of Ten Thousand Medicines's Ten Thousand People Cave has spread from the major sects of the Northern Continent to various places. From the high-ranking members of the Northern Border to the common people at the grassroots level, once infected, they will turn into vengeful ghosts driven by desire.

These infected commoners and martial artists, along with those high-level cultivators, have already formed a tidal wave impacting counties and prefectures across the land.

The number of people infected has reached tens of millions.

Looking at this information, Xu Yuan immediately retrieved the most crucial details from his mind.

Because of this epidemic, nearly a third of Fengbeizhou has fallen.

and,

Besides Fengbei Continent, the northernmost and most severely affected area of the Great Yan, sporadic reports of the epidemic have also appeared in the other two continents.

The situation in the Northern Border is spiraling out of control.

The orders conveyed in the imperial court were also very simple.

There was no leniency, nor any waiting for a cure to be developed to restore these infected people.

One word: kill.

Kill them directly.

This means that Li Zhaoyuan and Valley of Ten Thousand Medicines have achieved the first stage of their plan.

"."

The study was quiet, with the gentle scent of incense wafting through the air.

Xu Yuan clenched his fist slightly as he held the internal report. He remained silent for a long time before finally putting down the file and silently opening the second one.

This document also concerns the war in the Northern Border.

The only difference is that the date on the signature is much closer than the previous one; it was submitted two days ago.

After reading the contents of this internal report, Xu Yuan took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and unconsciously paced around the study.

In his past life, watching videos about World War II and seeing the number of deaths in various countries would stir his emotions, but since peace had been restored for a long time and the war had occurred nearly a hundred years ago, he could not truly grasp the meaning behind those numbers.

But this internal report made him understand.

Just as he and Lou Ji initially speculated,

Although the infected cultivators and low-level martial artists were fearless, they were not able to form a formation. Under the iron-fisted military might of the Great Yan Dynasty, they could only be slaughtered in one-sided fashion.

With the imperial decree issued, the terrifying epidemic was gradually brought under control within just twenty days.

The price was millions of corpses.

Original internal reference text

Beneath the walls of the cities, mountains of severed limbs and blood lay; the millions of madmen who had charged into battle had all been slain.

In just twenty days,

The generals leading troops in the Northern Border then slaughtered the large crowds that stormed the counties.

This is a race to slaughter.

Li Zhaoyuan, Li Qingyan, Marquis of Martial Achievement, and Zong Qingsheng were all involved.

The winner among them, without any suspense, was the Second Prince Li Zhaoyuan, who had the assistance of the Valley of Ten Thousand Medicines.

He not only led his troops to wipe out the largest wave of madmen who stormed the state capital at minimal cost, but also destroyed a large sect that had been completely infected.

"Da. Da. Da. Da."

Xu Yuan paced back and forth, his slightly hurried footsteps echoing in the quiet study.

suddenly,

"Smack!"

Xu Yuan suddenly slammed the file in his hand to the ground.

He could accept making any sacrifice for a peaceful and prosperous future, but he could not accept the suffering and devastation caused by his own selfish desires.

For the first time, Xu Yuan felt that Li Zhaoyuan was truly deserving of death.

Li Zhaoyuan arranged for the white fox to assassinate him and Li Qingyan, but Xu Yuan simply thought it was just a tactic employed by the other party.

After all, if someone in Li Zhaoyuan's position wants to survive and climb out of hell, they have to stop at nothing.

But perhaps the position of "Crown Prince" in the Prime Minister's Prime Minister's Mansion came too easily, Xu Yuan realized that he seemed to have underestimated the cruelty behind the words "struggle for the throne".

The internal report was concise and to the point, but what it represented was the suffering of countless lives lost.

In his quest for the supreme throne, Li Zhaoyuan was capable of turning tens of millions of ordinary people into mere bones.

Those innocent commoners who contracted the disease have been transformed into military merits.

The countless corpses they transformed into are building a stairway for Li Zhaoyuan to the supreme throne!

"Changtian, calm down."

A deep, reassuring voice suddenly came from the study doorway.

Xu Yuan turned around with a slightly fierce look in his eyes, only to see that Xu Yinhe had already been standing at the door of the study.

Xu Yinhe, seeing the murderous glint in his third son's eyes, slowly walked into the study, his voice steady and gentle:

"A cure for that plague cannot be developed in a short time, and even if it were, it cannot be mass-produced in a short period of time. The situation in the Northern Border cannot afford to wait."

"I know this is the best choice, and I have not questioned your decision or the Emperor's decision, but..."

Xu Yuan's voice was low and somewhat hoarse, his fist clenched tightly beneath his sleeves. "But Father, you should already know which force is behind this plague, right?!"

Xu Yinhe's tall and composed figure swept past Xu Yuan. He bent down to pick up the dossier that had fallen to the ground, dusted off imaginary dust, and turned back, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"Of course I know."

Xu Yuan stared into his father's eyes and whispered:

"Then I want him dead."

"."

The words were spoken, then silence.

Xu Yinhe stared at Xu Yuan for a few moments, then nodded slightly.

"Good,

"But not now."

Xu Yuan quieted down for a moment, lowered his eyes, and asked softly:

"Because of the Emperor?"

Xu Yinhe did not answer the question, but the look in his eyes as he looked at Xu Yuan said it all.

The current emperor, Li Yaoxuan, will not allow Li Zhaoyuan to die.

His breathing became slightly rapid, Xu Yuan raised his eyes, his voice somewhat cold:

"Why?

"Does that old codger Li Yaoxuan really intend to leave the throne to Li Zhaoyuan?"

"."

Xu Yinhe still didn't answer the question directly. Holding the file he had just picked up, he walked behind the desk, sat down, and said softly:

"If Li Zhaoyuan were the Empress's son, all of this would be much easier."

Hearing his father's words, Xu Yuan's breath hitched slightly.

Although not confirmed, this statement already reveals a lot.

This at least shows that Li Yaoxuan really liked Li Zhaoyuan.

Xiao's father

In other words, the current Li Zhaoyuan.

Xu Yuan suddenly felt like laughing, but couldn't manage to.

Lou Ji had told him more than once that his father's blood was no less than that of Li Yaoxuan.

As his thoughts wandered, Xu Yuan suddenly felt an urge to start something new.

He considered himself a rather cold-blooded and rational person, but compared to the hearts of those at the center of power, he was just a nobody.

Perhaps it would be better to have Xu Changge, that arrogant guy, as the successor.

At least, Xu Yuan didn't believe that his elder brother, given his character, would be soft-hearted in such a matter, nor would he waver in his decision because of the lives of millions of commoners.

"Call"

Xu Yuan let out a long sigh of relief, pulled a chair from the side, and plopped down opposite his father.

Xu Yinhe looked at the three sons, whose expressions were gradually returning to calm, and asked:

"How does it feel to be involved in something at this level for the first time?"

Xu Yuan leaned back in his chair, gazing at the exquisite ceiling of the study:

"I'm not feeling well, and I'm even thinking of letting Xu Changge."

Upon hearing this answer, Xu Yinhe's graying temples trembled slightly, but his wrinkled face showed no surprise; instead, a smile appeared on his lips.

"If you're too cold-blooded, you'll forget many things."

As he spoke, Xu Yinhe casually picked up another file, flipping through it while saying in a gentle voice:

"Looking at these things makes me uncomfortable, but to keep going, I have to accept them, be patient, and wait for an opportunity."

Speaking of this,

Xu Yinhe suddenly raised his eyes, a fleeting hint of tenderness appearing in his deep gaze, and said gently:

"If Changtian does not wish to, I will not force him."

Hearing his father's words, Xu Yuan smiled and casually said:

"Father, the royal family is fighting tooth and nail for the throne, and I feel like the position of the eldest son in our Prime Minister's Mansion has become a hot potato?"

A hint of amusement flashed in Xu Yinhe's hawk-like eyes:

"Changge and Xin Yao are both very respectful to their father, but you are not bound by etiquette at all."

Xu Yuan spread his hands:

"Don't you know what kind of person I am, Father?"

As he spoke, Xu Yuan glanced at the bookshelf where his father's calligraphy and paintings were stored.

"Being cynical has its advantages."

Xu Yinhe put down the dossier in his hand and gently tapped the table with his fingertips. "Your eldest brother is too bound by etiquette. If he takes over the Prime Minister's Prime Minister's Mansion in the future, he will only follow my path, but my path may not be suitable for him."

"As for Xin Yao, those sects are probably all hoping that she can take over the Prime Minister's Mansion."

"If it were your second brother..."

Speaking of this,

Xu Yinhe's words came to an abrupt halt, his eyes dimmed, and his slightly wrinkled face seemed to age considerably in an instant.

So, it's just me after all.

Xu Yuan shook his head and chuckled half-jokingly, "I roughly understand what you want to do, Father, and I'm willing to continue down your path, but I need some time to adapt."

Xu Yinhe quickly composed himself, but the sadness still lingered in his eyes, and he said softly:

"I should be able to walk this path most of the way, but the finishing touches will probably have to be left to you."

"."

broken.

Xu Yuan suddenly realized that his father was starting to make a bold statement, so he immediately changed the subject:

"Father, how much longer does Li Yaoxuan have before he dies?"

"."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yinhe raised an eyebrow slightly, staring at Xu Yuan with a somewhat helpless expression.

He knew the three boys were direct, but these kinds of things should at least be discussed indirectly.

With a soft sigh, Xu Yinhe asked in a low voice:

Why do you want to know this?

"Make some preparations in advance."

As soon as Xu Yuan finished speaking, the gentleness in his father's eyes vanished, and a sinister and imposing aura instantly pressed down on him.

"." Xu Yuan.

Xu Yinhe's voice was soft, but undeniably firm:

"Don't get involved in matters of the royal family."

A mountain of pressure surged forth, but Xu Yuan withstood it, smiled, and said with slight difficulty:

"Father, no matter what I say, he is, in a sense, a prince consort. This matter is a family affair."

"."

Hearing this defiant statement, Xu Yinhe sighed helplessly and withdrew his imposing manner.

"Alright, are you worried that Li Yaoxuan will attack his father before he dies?"

"."

Xu Yuan opened his mouth as if to deny it, but looking at his father's eyes, he finally nodded slightly.

Xu Yinhe smiled slightly, raised his eyes and glanced in the direction of the palace, his gaze seemingly piercing through everything:

"Changtian, Li Yaoxuan alone is no match for me."

"But."

"No buts."

Xu Yinhe interrupted Xu Yuan, his gaze shifting slightly as he drew a pile of framed envelopes closer.

"You've finished reading the files. This is the letter that Li Junwu sent you when you went to the Northern Border. Go back to your room and take a look."

"."

Xu Yuan knew this was the other party telling him to get lost, so he silently accepted the envelope and prepared to leave the study.

He had only taken two steps when he was called back. Turning around, he saw a brocade box floating towards him.

Xu Yinhe looked at his three sons, a smile in his eyes:

"I know you can't stay idle. This is the latest human skin mask that Jiang He has come up with. It contains your new identity. If you want to go out, take it with you, but remember not to leave the capital."

Xu Yuan took the brocade box, hesitating slightly:

"I remember this thing."

"Rest assured, no one below the level of a sage can see through this thing. With your black Source Qi, even a sage would need to exert their power to see through it."

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