"Yes. Not only did the Empress survive, she stood behind your imperial father and supported him. The greatest contributor to his rise from an Unknown and Uncelebrated prince to supreme ruler was not actually Xie Tianxia, but the Empress."
The Crown Prince looked thoughtful. "So this was Imperial Father's trump card. He really hid it deep. A-Xin, if you hadn't told me, I would probably have remained in the dark, then suffered a crushing defeat when I confronted him."
"Lianshan Xin" smiled faintly. "Your Highness treated me as a statesman of the nation, so naturally I must repay you as one. Besides, His Majesty's concealment of the Empress's existence was itself a sign of distrust toward the Nine Heavens. Everyone knows the grievances between the Empress and the Nine Heavens. Your Highness, His Majesty chose the Empress. Will you choose the Nine Heavens?"
The Crown Prince was delighted at first, then immediately calmed down. "A-Xin, I understand what you're saying, but the Heavenly Queen still supports Imperial Father, and she has the final say in the Nine Heavens."
"The Heavenly Queen will certainly stand with the Nine Heavens. If she doesn't, another Heavenly Queen will emerge, just as the Empress Dowager did back then. Your Highness, you must understand that the Nine Heavens has powerful reserves behind it too. Otherwise, the Empress would not have suddenly suffered qi deviation five hundred years ago."
A smile appeared on the Crown Prince's face. "Then of course I stand with the Nine Heavens. A-Xin, make sure you convey my words to its vein masters."
"Certainly. Get some rest, Your Highness. I shall take my leave. I hope you can take first place at the Dao Discussion Conference and win the Dao Chief's favor."
Leaving his well wishes, "Lianshan Xin" bowed and withdrew.
Then