A few days passed just like that.
During those days, Jin Hao pretended to be injured and recuperated at First Prince Manor. Everything seemed unusually peaceful, but things happening in Heaven Dou City were anything but.
Under Lin Cheng's deliberate efforts to spread the news, the noble families throughout Heaven Dou City all received word that First Prince Xue Qinghe had been attacked while hunting Soul Beasts to obtain a Soul Ring, and had forcibly absorbed a Millennium Soul Ring as his Second Soul Ring.
Of course, everyone also learned that First Prince Xue Qinghe had benefited from the disaster. Not only had he avoided exploding and dying from absorbing the Millennium Soul Ring, but his Martial Soul had also mutated during the absorption process, becoming the top-tier Ice Attribute Martial Soul, Ice Crystal Swan. His Soul Power had even reached Level 26.
As this news spread, and with the Second Prince and Third Prince now dead, it seemed to these nobles that the struggle for the throne had already been decided. Everyone was thinking about how to get on the First Prince's side. However, they all knew that First Prince was currently recovering from his injuries, so many of them went to visit Lin Cheng, the First Prince's maternal uncle.
How could Xue Ye, the emperor, not know about this news?
It was just that Xue Ye did not want to interfere. There were two reasons. First, Xue Ye had already decided in his heart that Xue Qinghe would be the heir to his throne.
Second, Xue Ye still had to handle the aftermath of his two sons' deaths. Most importantly, he had to find out which family had done it. Someone had attacked all three of his sons within a single day, and only one had survived.
Of course, not all the nobles wanted to get on the First Prince's side.
There were two other groups. They chose not to act and did nothing. Of course, it was not because they did not want to; it was because they were different from the other ministers and nobles. These people held military power and possessed real authority.
Thus, they did not dare. Or rather, they did not dare to do so openly. As people with real authority, they could only show their allegiance to one person: the emperor himself. Even the emperor's sons were out of the question unless the emperor personally gave his approval.
Another group of noble ministers was different from those with real authority. The reason they did not choose to join the First Prince's side was that they had received an invitation from the greatest noble in the entire Heaven Dou Empire besides the emperor.
That person was Prince Xue Xing.
After learning the news, Xue Xing's first reaction was relief. He was relieved that he had brought Xue Beng to his manor that day, allowing him to receive Dugu Bo together with him. Otherwise, Xue Beng would have been assassinated just like the Second Prince and Third Prince.
After learning that Xue Qinghe had benefited from the disaster, he was initially delighted that the Imperial Family had gained a powerful offensive Martial Soul. Then he began wondering why Xue Qinghe had not died and had been allowed to survive.
After all, among the four Imperial Princes, Xue Xing naturally favored the eight-year-old Xue Beng the most. Xue Beng had originally been destined to inherit his title and had stayed by his side all these years. Thus, Xue Xing naturally hoped most for this nephew to inherit the throne.
Therefore, after learning what had happened, Xue Xing guessed that many noble ministers in Heaven Dou City would join Xue Qinghe's side. To build up Xue Beng's strength, he naturally went to win over some noble ministers.
The reason these noble ministers chose to join this faction was also very simple: behind Xue Xing stood the powerful Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo. Besides that, these people were all gamblers—gamblers who wanted to pursue the greatest possible benefits.
If they joined the First Prince's side and the First Prince ascended the throne, with so many people around him, how much benefit would they actually receive?
But what about Xue Beng's side? There were fewer people. What if? What if Xue Beng ascended the throne with Xue Xing's help? Then the benefits these people would receive would be much greater.
Thus, the nobles and ministers of the Heaven Dou Empire became divided in this way. Over the next few days, sixty percent of them entered the gates of General Lin Cheng's Mansion.
Twenty percent took no action, while another twenty percent were invited by Xue Xing to dine with him.
During this time, Xue Xing also found Xue Beng and specifically told him, "You now have a chance to inherit the throne. So from now on, change your current playboy ways. You must show yourself to both the commoners and the ministers, especially so that Xue Ye can see your transformation."
Although Xue Beng was only eight years old, he was not foolish. Previously, he had decided that the throne would never fall to him, so why not live however he pleased? Now that he had a chance and only one opponent remained, Xue Beng naturally knew what he needed to do.
Soon, the time came for the Second Prince and Third Prince to be buried. Jin Hao also knew that it was time for him to go out and face the ministers of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Thus, Jin Hao pretended to have just recovered from a serious illness and rode in a carriage toward the mausoleums of the Second Prince and Third Prince.
By the time he arrived, many ministers had already reached the site. When these people saw Jin Hao's carriage arriving, those who had chosen to step into General's Mansion became excited and kept their eyes fixed on Jin Hao.
Jin Hao stepped down from the carriage and pretended to look sorrowfully at the mausoleums ahead.
When Lin Cheng saw this, he immediately walked over and said:
"Your Highness, how has your injury recovered?"
"It has mostly recovered. I can begin cultivating Soul Power now. I tried it last night and discovered that my cultivation speed was extremely fast. In at most half a month, I may be able to break through to Level 27."
Hearing Jin Hao's words, Lin Cheng deliberately cried out loudly in surprise:
"Your Highness, it's good that you've recovered. You can break through to Level 27 in half a month? That's wonderful!"
As Lin Cheng's words spread, the people who had entered General's Mansion also gathered around and began speaking:
"Indeed. Congratulations, Your Highness, on benefiting from this disaster. With your presence, the Heaven Dou Empire will become even more stable in the future."
"Lord Wang is right. Perhaps Your Highness may even become a Titled Douluo!"
"What do you mean, 'perhaps'? His Highness will definitely become a Titled Douluo."
For a moment, all the ministers poured out flattering words and praises for Jin Hao.
Seeing this scene, Xue Xing and Xue Beng beside him thought, This group only knows how to flatter and curry favor.
At the same time, Xue Xing thought that if Xue Beng could ascend the throne and Xue Qinghe could assist him, that would be ideal. Then the throne would belong to Xue Beng, the person he loved most and was closest to.
And the powerful Martial Soul that had finally mutated within the Imperial Family could also be passed down.
However, Xue Xing also understood that this was impossible. With the Imperial Family's struggle and so many ministers standing behind Xue Qinghe, once things reached that point, Xue Xing could not possibly secure the throne without eliminating Xue Qinghe.
Then Xue Xing thought that fortunately, Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, stood behind him. Otherwise, how could Xue Beng have had any chance with the way he had acted like a playboy before?
Before you continue