The Emperor's Calculation, the White Dragon is Born

"The assassin must have been a top expert, able to infiltrate the palace, assassinate the Second Prince, and then escape. His Majesty is furious and has ordered a city-wide search for the assassin."

Chen Li said with emotion. He had no fondness for the Second Prince, but neither did he dislike him. He was just amazed by the strength of the martial arts experts.

Jiang Changsheng frowned. Weren't there experts at the Heaven Reaching Realm in the palace? How could an assassin succeed?

That's ridiculous!

Could it be the work of those powerful nobles?

But would the Emperor allow those guys to attack his own son?

Jiang Changsheng asked, "Is the Second Prince alright?"

Chen Li said, "They say he's seriously injured, but it shouldn't be life-threatening. Otherwise, Great General Hong would go crazy. The Second Prince's mother is not to be trifled with."

Jiang Changsheng suddenly couldn't understand the Emperor.

After talking with Qingxu Taoist Priest last time, he suspected that his replacement might have been orchestrated by the Emperor. Besides the Emperor, who else could have such great power?

If it was the Emperor, then it would be easier to explain. The palace is full of experts. How difficult would it be to take him out? If the Emperor turned a blind eye, then it would make sense. But the Emperor allowed those people to attack his other son. What does that mean?

Does he want to kill all his sons? Could it be that this Emperor of his was the one who was really replaced?

Even now, Jiang Changsheng couldn't understand why the Emperor wanted someone to replace him.

"I heard you injured that Demonic Taoist. Well done! After the Demonic Taoist was injured, His Majesty rarely saw him again. However, recently, His Majesty has been attending court four or five times a month. I don't know what he's up to in the palace. Now that the Second Prince is injured again, the court is in turmoil. The Prime Minister even took the opportunity to try to get the Crown Prince to oversee the country. It's ridiculous! If there's a rift between father and son in the future, wouldn't the country be in chaos?"

Chen Li spoke indignantly about the affairs of the court, not at all afraid of the Emperor or the Crown Prince.

Jiang Changsheng asked, "Did His Majesty agree?"

Chen Li said, "I don't know. That day, His Majesty didn't attend court. After the lords of the Three Departments told His Majesty about the matter, there was no further news."

The Great Jing Dynasty implemented the system of the Three Departments and Six Ministries, which is similar to some dynasties in China, but also somewhat different. The Three Departments are the Chancellery, the Secretariat, and the Department of State Affairs, whose positions are higher than the Six Ministries. They are all second-rank important officials who directly face the Emperor. The Prime Minister is the head of the Three Departments, at the same level as the Three Departments, but in terms of power, he is higher than the important officials of the Three Departments.

Jiang Changsheng asked curiously, "Brother Chen, which prince do you support?"

How can one not take sides when serving as an official in the court?

Chen Li said, "I naturally respect the Crown Prince. Since ancient times, the eldest son of the legal wife has been the head, which is the right way. However, it is more harmful than beneficial for the Crown Prince to take power in advance."

Damn.

You're actually a member of the Crown Prince Party!

Jiang Changsheng was speechless, but Chen Li shouldn't be his enemy, otherwise he wouldn't have said so many rebellious things.

"Speaking of which, His Majesty's attitude towards the Crown Prince is sometimes good and sometimes bad. In recent years, he has even begun to neglect the Empress. Perhaps His Majesty is beginning to be wary of the Empress's faction," Chen Li said with emotion.

Jiang Changsheng asked, "Is the Empress's faction very strong?"

It's difficult for him to understand the affairs of the palace in the Taoist temple. Qingxu Taoist Priest wouldn't say much either.

Chen Li sighed and said, "It's more than just strong. It can already shake the foundation of the country. The head of the Imperial Guards stationed in Jing City is the Empress's elder brother. Two of the Three Departments are the Empress's younger brothers. When His Majesty started his uprising, he relied on the Yang Family. His Majesty married the Empress, and the Yang Family strongly supported him, so he had the money to recruit soldiers and buy horses. At that time, the Yang Family was a wealthy merchant, who exhausted his family wealth to support His Majesty. The men served as soldiers and generals for His Majesty, and the talented men served as strategists for His Majesty. Through ups and downs, no matter whether His Majesty won or lost, the Yang Family always followed him. They were the most trusted force of His Majesty, until they helped His Majesty build this great country."

Jiang Changsheng suddenly understood and suddenly understood why the Emperor wanted to replace him.

He also felt a little sympathy for the fake Crown Prince.

This fellow is destined for tragedy!

The Emperor swapped him out, and one day, when he reveals that the fake Crown Prince is not his own, wouldn't he be able to depose the Crown Prince?

Although the Yang Family is angry, they can't find the real Crown Prince and can only allow other princes to ascend the throne, and the Yang Family will be gradually weakened.

However, the Yang Family still has an ace in the hole, and that is the Fourth Prince, Jiang Yu.

Wait!

That Jiang Yu...

Jiang Changsheng felt a chill; even tigers don't eat their cubs, but his imperial father is truly ruthless.

Great Jing takes faith and righteousness as the foundation of the country. The Emperor initially promised to share the world with the Yang Family after conquering it, so he naturally can't directly destroy the Yang Family. He needs methods, he needs reasons.

Which of the disgraced high officials in recent years wasn't accused of rebellion, oppressing the people, and so on? Because of this, the Emperor still hasn't abandoned faith and righteousness; it's those officials who courted death.

Chen Li chatted with Jiang Changsheng for another incense stick's worth of time. After he left, Jiang Changsheng was still in the room, lost in thought.

There is no family affection in the imperial family; it turns out it's not just empty talk.

Jiang Changsheng sighed in his heart. He has no interest in being the Emperor. Even if he were made Emperor now, he wouldn't know how to manage the dynasty, but being schemed against like this, even by his own father, still makes him unhappy.

As he said before, he is no gentleman if he doesn't avenge this!

Jiang Changsheng's eyes flickered, and he gradually had a bold idea.

Inside the imperial palace, in the Second Prince's bedroom.

Jiang Yuan, with half-white hair, sat by the bed, looking at Jiang Ming on the bed with a face full of heartache. Jiang Ming had already woken up, but his face was bloodless, and his lips were chapped. Compared to his spirited appearance at Dragon Arising Temple that day, he was like a different person.

"Ming'er, go out less in the future. Although the world is settled, remnants of the previous dynasty still exist, understand?"

Jiang Yuan patted the back of Jiang Ming's hand and sighed with worry.

Jiang Ming gritted his teeth and said, "But I wasn't assassinated outside the palace, I..."

Jiang Yuan glared and sternly scolded, "Wasn't what you did at Dragon Arising Temple impressive enough? I don't even dare to fully protect someone, yet you, as a prince, dare to guarantee someone forever. Wouldn't others think you're arrogant?"

"And you spread the word throughout Jing City, ridiculous!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ming broke out in a cold sweat.

Behind Jiang Yuan was the Crown Prince, Jiang Qian. He had a refined temperament, like a scholar, lacking the spirit of Jiang Yu and Jiang Ming.

Jiang Qian said, "Father, Second Brother was just speaking rashly and has no other intentions. Moreover, he is injured. Why should Father frighten him?"

Jiang Ming gave him a grateful look.

Jiang Yuan glanced at Jiang Qian and snorted, "You, ah, you only know how to indulge your younger brothers."

Jiang Qian smiled and didn't respond.

The old eunuch behind Jiang Qian was Eunuch Li, who had been following Jiang Yuan for many years and was also the one who sent Jiang Changsheng out of the imperial palace.

Eunuch Li bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the time has come to ask the heavens."

Jiang Yuan listened, flicked his sleeves, stood up, put his hands on his hips, and laughed, "Take good care of your injuries. Next year, when the Grand Canal is initially completed, I will take you two to Jiangnan. From childhood to adulthood, you have never left Jing City. I will take you to see the great country I have conquered."

Having said that, Jiang Yuan flicked his sleeves and left, walking with vigorous strides. Eunuch Li hurriedly followed.

Jiang Qian shook his head and chuckled, looking at Jiang Ming on the bed, and said with a smile, "Second Brother, take good care of your injuries. I have to go and get busy too."

Just as he turned around, Jiang Ming's voice floated over, causing him to stop.

"Big Brother, do you think someone in the palace wants me dead?"

His tone was intriguing, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, not looking at Jiang Qian.

Jiang Qian turned his head slightly, his profile facing Jiang Ming, and said, "Second Brother, read less history books. Our Jiang family is the home of the True Dragon, how could we kill each other? I will investigate personally, and I will not allow such a thing to happen."

With that, he stepped out of the room.

Jiang Ming revealed a mocking smile, then slowly closed his eyes.

After the Second Prince was injured, he didn't send anyone to deliver gifts again. Jiang Changsheng was happy to have some peace and quiet so he could concentrate on practicing his skills.

A month later, the snake egg finally hatched, and a small white snake appeared. It was thinner than Jiang Changsheng's little finger and nearly ten centimeters long. The newborn snake was no different from ordinary small snakes. Jiang Changsheng had to take care of it personally, even feeding it as carefully as possible, for fear of choking it to death.

In this year, Jiang Changsheng did not encounter any more dangers. The Second Prince did not come to visit him, and those powerful figures who were hostile to him did not send anyone to assassinate him again.

The eighteenth year of Kaiyuan!

In this year, the emperor took the Crown Prince and the Second Prince on a boat into the Grand Canal, heading to Jiangnan.

The Grand Canal, running from north to south, was still under construction, but most of it had been completed and was sufficient for boats to travel on.

The emperor leaving Jing City was a major event. The disciples of Dragon Arising Temple also learned about it. Jiang Changsheng heard it from Qing Ku. Since the founding of the Great Jing Dynasty, it was the first time the emperor had left Jing City.

Jiang Changsheng didn't care. If the emperor was not in Jing City and those powerful figures attacked, it would be a good opportunity to give him survival rewards.

He spent most of his time every day on the Dao Follows Nature Skill. His spiritual power was vast. Compared to him, calling a top expert one-thousandth of his strength was already an exaggeration.

On this day, in the courtyard.

Jiang Changsheng sat on the threshold, with two children standing in front of him, both six years old, one boy and one girl. The Taoist robes draped over them looked loose, but also made them look more adorable.

Looking closely, the two Taoist children were motionless, their pupils faintly glowing with golden light, which was extremely strange.

On the other hand, Jiang Changsheng's eyes were golden. Even in broad daylight, they appeared dazzling. He was using the Illusory God Eyes to tamper with the memories of the two Taoist children.

He suddenly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his pupils returned to normal. The two Taoist children woke up in surprise.

The girl Taoist child asked sweetly, "Senior Brother Changsheng, why did you stop?"

This was the memory that Jiang Changsheng had changed for them, making them mistakenly believe that they were listening to the Dao. In fact, they had just arrived, and Jiang Changsheng had not even started preaching.

The boy Taoist child scratched his head, equally confused.

Jiang Changsheng smiled and said, "It's nothing. Let's stop here for today. You can come again tomorrow, and I will teach you some martial arts."

The two cheered upon hearing this and then left.

After they left the courtyard, Jiang Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief. Just changing the memories of two children for nearly five minutes made him feel a little dizzy. The side effects of this Illusory God Eyes were really strong.

Jiang Changsheng was not disappointed, but rather invigorated. If he was strong enough, could he directly alter a person's memories of their first half of life, thereby reversing their personality and even using them for his own purposes?

Too domineering!

A white snake emerged from the back of Jiang Changsheng's neck, flicking its tongue at his cheek, appearing extremely affectionate.

More than half a year had passed, and the white snake was almost half a meter long. It was gentle, understood human nature, and Jiang Changsheng named it White Dragon, hoping that one day it could transform into a dragon.

That evening, Chen Li came to visit.

"Changsheng, you must be careful. With the Emperor away from Jing City, undercurrents are surging within the city. The Jianghu heroes of my Chen Family have learned that the Devil Sect is preparing to enter Jing City, most likely to avenge the Ghost Eye Evil King." Chen Li's tone was serious, his face full of worry.

Thanks to Wen A for the 5000 starting coin reward.