Because Li Ran was blind, no lamps had been lit in his room, leaving it pitch-black.
Perhaps because palace maids and eunuchs occasionally cleaned it, the room was not particularly dirty.
After the two talked seriously for a while, Li Ran told Li Chen something.
If he wanted to become emperor, he needed both strength and followers.
As for followers, Li Ran certainly could not help him there. He was crippled now, and his mother was dead. Most of her faction had probably been wiped out or defected to other factions.
The only thing Li Ran could do for Li Chen now was provide him with a wealth of resources.
As the saying went, even a camel starved to death was bigger than a horse. The rare treasures Li Ran's mother had collected during her lifetime were hidden in a secret location.
Only Li Ran and his mother knew about that place.
Li Chen could use those resources to strengthen himself and cultivate his followers. If possible, he could also bring some into the palace for Li Ran.
"If you work with me, I can tell you where it is. Ah, honestly, I'm not even qualified to call this a partnership. I'm really begging you to help me."
Li Ran had already humbled himself completely, adopting the attitude of a supplicant throughout.
He knew that if Li Chen went back on his word after taking the resources, there would be nothing he could do.
"All right, I'll stop messing with you. I'm the emperor now, and I'm in the Saint Realm. I was just passing by when I sensed someone practicing an evil art here, so I came to take a look."
Li Chen spoke casually, but to Li Ran, those words were a thunderbolt out of a clear sky.
What the hell? Do you even hear what you're saying?
We were just talking about how we brothers could rise again.
And now you fucking tell me you've already reached a realm I couldn't attain even in my dreams?
It was like two miserable beggars discussing whose doorstep they should beg at for their next meal.
Then one beggar suddenly stood up and announced that he was done pretending and would lay his cards on the table: he was a billionaire.
The other was utterly stunned.
That was exactly how Li Ran felt now, having had someone's success flaunted right in his face.
So while I was pouring my heart out just now, you were treating me as nothing but entertainment.
More importantly, Li Chen had briefly released a trace of his aura. Li Ran could not tell whether Li Chen was truly in the Saint Realm, but that terrifying, dread-inducing sensation proved he was not lying. At the very least, he was more than a hundred times stronger than Li Ran.
Li Ran sat with his mouth hanging open. Only after a long while did he say, "Then why did you spend all that time talking to me?"
Li Chen shrugged and replied, "I was bored."
"You-"
Li Ran desperately wanted to swear, but his upbringing told him he could not say such things.
"You really are the emperor?"
"Why would I lie to you? The crown prince suddenly died a while ago, and all the other princes were hiding far away outside the palace. A few days ago, something happened to His Majesty too, and he passed away just like that. The Empress Dowager started saying things like, 'The nation cannot go a single day without a ruler,' and insisted I become emperor. I figured I was already in the Saint Realm, so what was there to fear? I agreed."
"And then? They didn't give you trouble?"
"On my first day attending court, Second Brother caused a scene in the Imperial Court."
Li Chen gave him a brief account of what had happened.
"Hahaha, that's hilarious! Those bastards never dreamed you'd be in the Saint Realm. No wonder your throne is so secure. It's just a shame I'm blind and couldn't see their ugly faces."
Li Ran found what Li Chen had done immensely satisfying. How entertaining it must have been for those people, always scheming and laying plans, to suddenly run into someone beyond their ability to measure.
After thinking for a moment, Li Ran asked in puzzlement, "Since you know I'm practicing an evil art, aren't you going to deal with me? You're the emperor, after all."
Li Chen said, "You're practicing an evil art because you want revenge, aren't you? I'm not the one who hurt you. Why should I interfere?"
Li Chen had deliberately claimed he wanted to become emperor earlier to see whether Li Ran would be honest with him.
Li Ran's attitude had been decent, so Li Chen could not be bothered to deal with him.
Besides, the evil art Li Ran practiced merely used his own negative energy for cultivation. He had not harmed anyone.
Many evil arts in the world fell into a gray area. The Blood-Burning Art, for instance, harmed its practitioner, sacrificing lifespan to increase cultivation.
If Li Ran had truly been cultivating through murder, Li Chen would never have given him a chance to speak.
"Fine. You're the emperor now, so I'm even less qualified to negotiate terms with you. But you know your brother's talent. Get me some resources, and once I reach the Saint Realm, how about I become your enforcer?"
Li Ran knew he was painting a grand pie in the sky with those words, but talent was the only advantage he had left.
Who would not want a Saint Realm subordinate? And what Saint Realm expert would willingly serve someone else?
If Li Chen helped him now, he truly would be willing to become Li Chen's subordinate.
"We're fucking brothers. Talking like that makes us sound like strangers. Go wherever you want. It's no big deal."
Li Chen's words were a little crude, but Li Ran was deeply moved.
Most children of the imperial family were enemies from birth. Li Ran did not ask that Li Chen help him. Simply not harming him was already the greatest help Li Chen could offer.
Since Li Chen had said as much, Li Ran solemnly promised, "I know you don't like troublesome matters. From now on, I'll handle all your troubles. Second Brother, Third Brother, even the Empress Dowager-as emperor, you can't easily act against them without earning a bad name. Leave them all to me."
Li Chen coughed and said, "Leave the Empress Dowager out of it. She and I don't have any conflicts for now."
Hearing that, Li Ran's lips curved into a slight smile, his expression saying, I get you.
He immediately said, "I understand. I'll clear away the Empress Dowager's faction for you and leave her for you to enjoy."
Li Chen froze briefly, his expression seeming to say, You don't understand shit, but that suggestion works too.
When Li Chen did not respond, Li Ran continued, "Don't underestimate the Empress Dowager. When my mother was fighting her back then, she investigated her. She seemed to have ties to the Former Dynasty Remnants, but my mother couldn't find any evidence. You know how the previous dynasty fell, right?"
Li Chen replied, "No."
Li Ran: "..."
Li Ran was genuinely surprised by that answer. Wasn't this part of the princes' "compulsory education"?
Then he considered how Li Chen had cultivated all the way to the Saint Realm without anyone paying attention. Perhaps the Previous Emperor truly had not cared about him.
Li Ran briefly explained that the powerful nobles of the previous dynasty had used living people to cultivate, extending their lifespans and increasing their cultivation. They employed special methods to drain the blood essence from their living victims.
The exposure of this practice had shaken the entire nation and filled the people with fear.
"Are you saying the Previous Emperor's death might have had something to do with the Empress Dowager?" Li Chen asked.
"Not necessarily. Quite a few Former Dynasty Remnants infiltrated the harem," Li Ran replied.
"Why did the Previous Emperor keep so many Former Dynasty Remnants in his harem? Was he looking for a thrill?"
"Don't forget, many of those so-called hereditary nobles came from powerful aristocratic families of the previous dynasty. They betrayed its imperial family and joined our Li clan. That was what allowed our Li clan's rebellion to succeed-no, our uprising,
"Even our Li clan held a certain standing under the previous dynasty."
Now Li Chen understood. The harem was actually that complicated. Thank goodness he had not made a move.
That night, Li Ran revealed many things his mother had investigated in the past. After the Li clan captured the imperial palace, people from the previous dynasty had set a great fire.
Many crucial things in the Library Pavilion might have been burned, or they might have been moved away beforehand.
As agreed, the Founding Emperor had forbidden the practice of evil arts, with all offenders to be beheaded. Then, through gradual development, the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty had attained its present glory.
Li Ran knew an enormous amount of information, far more than he could recount in a single night.
Li Chen asked, "So you're saying any woman connected to the previous dynasty is off-limits?"
Li Ran smiled faintly and replied, "Not necessarily. As long as we find those five volumes of the Emperor Dragon Sutra from the previous dynasty, you'll be able to counter these sinister arts and strengthen your physique too. With your abilities, forget a harem of three thousand-even thirty thousand would be no problem."
Li Ran could no longer perform as a man, but he knew what men liked.
After talking for so long, he knew Li Chen had a taste for this sort of thing, and naturally found a way to please him.
Hearing that, Li Chen patted Li Ran on the shoulder and said, "Brother, I'm leaving this matter to you!"
As long as you get this done, we'll be brothers who'd stake our lives on each other!
Before you continue