The Imperial Palace, Jingyuan Hall.
The eldest prince, Ling Chengyuan, sat behind a long table, with a freshly brewed cup of spiritual tea in front of him.
The tea has a strong aroma.
But he didn't drink it.
Zhao Yuangeng stood inside the hall, his official robes still carrying a hint of the night wind's chill.
He had just returned from the vicinity of the palace.
Although Ling Changkong ordered everyone to leave, as a royal retainer, he had already seen enough.
"Your Highness, tonight the Blood Baleful Intent Tower broke into the palace. Three golden-masked assassins attacked Shen Qianyue. Later, the purple-masked deputy tower master personally appeared and struck the palace where His Majesty was in seclusion."
Zhao Yuangeng lowered his voice slightly as he said this, " Ling Changkong was forced to reveal himself and blocked that palm strike."
Ling Chengyuan tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.
"Oh? That elder has shown up?"
His tone was unreadable, but his eyes darkened.
The true strength of the Great Qian Imperial Family has never been limited to the five retainers.
It was the clan elder in the forbidden area behind the mountain.
As long as Ling Changkong is still around, anyone who wants to harm the royal family will have to consider whether they can withstand the counterattack of a Dao Mysterious Realm Second Stage expert.
Zhao Yuangeng continued, " Ling Changkong's blood and qi are declining, and he is much weaker than he was ten years ago. However, he still managed to block the deputy master of the Blood Baleful Intent Tower with his punch just now. He probably won't have to worry about his lifespan for a while."
Ling Chengyuan narrowed his eyes.
"And what about Father?"
This is what he truly cares about.
Zhao Yuangeng looked up at Ling Chengyuan and said in a low voice, "A corner of the palace roof was shattered, and black poisonous mist is seeping out from the breach. The mist is cold and eerie; even I felt a stinging pain in my soul when I got close."
Ling Chengyuan's fingers, which were tapping on the armrest, stopped.
Zhao Yuangeng said, word by word, "It is true that His Majesty was poisoned."
The hall fell silent.
Ling Chengyuan picked up his teacup and finally took a sip.
As the warm tea went down his throat, the joy that had been suppressed for so long in his eyes could no longer be concealed.
It's true.
Father Emperor has indeed been poisoned and fallen into a coma.
Over the years, he had never dared to fully unleash his potential, fearing that Ling Zhantian's so-called seclusion was merely a test.
He feared that revealing his ambition would result in a cold, hard decree from his father after he emerged from seclusion.
But tonight, the Blood Baleful Intent Tower will storm the palace.
Ling Zhantian still did not appear.
Even when a corner of his secluded palace was shattered by the Dao Mysterious Realm palm print, he didn't react at all.
That's enough to illustrate the point.
Ling Chengyuan put down his teacup, a gentle smile returning to his face.
"So, my sister was in such a hurry to go to the Pill Pavilion to buy the Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill in order to stabilize Father's soul?"
Zhao Yuangeng nodded. "That's my judgment too. If His Majesty's poison has been neutralized, the princess wouldn't need to be in such a hurry. The fact that the poisonous mist is still there means that the poison hasn't been eradicated. At most, that Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill can only delay the decline of the soul."
Ling Chengyuan's smile deepened.
"My dear sister has really had a tough time these past few years."
Zhao Yuangeng did not respond.
He knew that there was little brotherly or sisterly affection in the eldest prince's words.
Ling Chengyuan leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting towards the depths of the palace.
As long as Ling Zhantian doesn't wake up.
As long as Ling Changkong doesn't get involved in the struggle for the princes' positions.
The throne will eventually fall into his hands.
As for Ling Xueyao, no matter how strong she is, she is still just a princess.
But Zhao Yuangeng's next words quickly made Ling Chengyuan turn his head away again.
"Your Highness, there is one more thing."
"Explain."
Zhao Yuangeng took out three visiting cards from his sleeve and placed them on the long table. "Just half an hour ago, Qin Hao, the Holy Son of the Cangyun Sect, Yue Chenzhou, the Holy Son of the Puppet Sect, and Wu Changge, the Holy Son of the Divine Martial Sect, simultaneously submitted visiting cards to the royal family, stating that they wish to visit the palace tomorrow."
Ling Chengyuan frowned slightly.
"The Holy Son of the Three Sects?"
Ling Chengyuan picked up one of the visiting cards, glanced at the name on it, and a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.
With the Seven Sects Grand Competition approaching, it's not surprising that the prodigies from each sect have entered the imperial city ahead of schedule.
But tonight, just as something happened at the palace, the three holy sons of the three sects sent their visiting cards at the same time, which is quite intriguing.
"Why are they entering the palace at this time? Are they trying to find out what happened tonight?"
Zhao Yuangeng shook his head.
"Not necessarily."
He said in a deep voice, "Although there was a great commotion in the palace tonight, not many people truly know the inside story. The three holy sons are still young, and even if they each have someone behind them, they shouldn't be in such a hurry to test the royal family."
Ling Chengyuan put down the visiting card.
"Then why did they come?"
Zhao Yuangeng glanced at the direction of the palace gate to confirm that the formation was still operating before continuing, "It's already spread outside the capital that Her Highness the Princess has a chosen consort, and that guy named Chu Yunfei offended Qin Hao at the entrance of the Pill Pavilion tonight."
A strange light flashed in Ling Chengyuan's eyes.
Chu Yunfei.
It's him again.
That young man who had just entered the palace and made his second brother suffer in public had actually provoked the Holy Son of the Cangyun Sect.
Zhao Yuangeng continued, "A year ago, the Cangyun Sect, the Puppet Sect, and the Divine Martial Sect all proposed marriage to the royal family. Although they didn't say it explicitly, all three sects had their eyes on a princess."
Upon hearing this, Ling Chengyuan finally smiled.
"I see."
He leaned back in his chair, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"My younger sister is extremely arrogant, looking down on even the seven holy sons of the sects. Now she has suddenly brought back a discarded disciple of the Azure Mystic Sect and publicly recognized him as her consort. If those sect's prodigies can swallow this insult, they wouldn't be like young people."
Zhao Yuangeng whispered, " Chu Yunfei is no simple man. The Second Prince has suffered a loss before, and Qin Hao was also publicly humiliated by him. If the three sects' holy sons enter the palace tomorrow, he might take the opportunity to cause trouble."
Ling Chengyuan's smile remained unchanged.
"Isn't that perfect?"
Zhao Yuangeng looked up at him.
Ling Chengyuan picked up the three visiting cards and gently pressed his fingertips along the edges of them.
" Chu Yunfei has only just arrived in the capital and has already stirred up so much trouble. I'd like to see just how capable he really is."
"If he is suppressed by the three sects' holy sons, the princess's so-called consort will become a joke. If he can truly suppress the three sects' prodigies, then he will offend the sects behind them."
Zhao Yuangeng understood.
The eldest prince wanted to use the three holy sons to test Chu Yunfei's abilities and suppress the princess.
Regardless of the outcome, the initiative lies with the eldest prince.
"What are Your Highness's plans?"
Ling Chengyuan placed the visiting card back on the table, his expression returning to calm.
A banquet was held at the Japanese Imperial Palace in the Ming Dynasty.
"Under the guise of the royal family receiving the seven prodigies, we invited the holy sons of the three sects to the palace, and then sent invitations to my second brother, third brother, and imperial sister."
Zhao Yuangeng hesitated for a moment.
"What if the princess doesn't come? She just bought the Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill from the Pill Pavilion, and something happened at the palace tonight. She might not be willing to show up at this time."
Ling Chengyuan smiled faintly.
She will come.
Zhao Yuangeng remained silent.
Ling Chengyuan picked up his teacup, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable certainty.
"With the Seven Sects Grand Competition approaching, the Holy Sons of the Three Sects have paid a respectful visit to the Royal Family. As the eldest brother, it is only proper for me to host a banquet in welcome. As long as Ling Xueyao remains a princess of the Great Qian Imperial Family, we cannot allow outsiders to perceive that the Royal Family has been disrespectful."
He put down his teacup, his gaze gradually darkening.
"Besides, wasn't Chu Yunfei the prince consort she herself recognized?"
"Since he is the prince consort, what's wrong with him meeting the seven prodigies of the Seven Sects?"
Zhao Yuangeng felt a slight chill.
This banquet appeared to be for three guests.
In reality, it was to put Chu Yunfei in the spotlight and let everyone see whether he was qualified to stand next to Ling Xueyao.
If he resigns, his title as the imperial son-in-law will be utterly tarnished.
If he does not retreat, he will have to face the sharp edge of the three sects' prodigies head-on.
Ling Chengyuan picked up his pen and wrote the last line on the invitation.
The ink was still wet.
Outside the hall, eunuchs were already bowing their heads and awaiting orders.
Ling Chengyuan pushed the invitation out, his voice as gentle as an ordinary elder brother inviting relatives for a small gathering.
"Tomorrow at noon, I will be hosting a banquet in the Jingyuan Hall. Princess, please bring your consort to the banquet."