53: Target, Artest and Meng Ruxue!

“Is the Empress perhaps referring to… Jin Mu?”

Feng Tianzheng glanced at her, his voice low.

Empress Lan Ji nodded faintly: “He hasn’t appeared for a long time. Rumor has it he’s in seclusion, but the truth of that… is still unknown.”

Both the Crown Prince and Wang Hancuo’s expressions changed slightly upon hearing the name Jin Mu.

That name, to them, was absolutely like thunder.

Jin Mu is the Grand Commander of the entire Shadow Guard, and also Luo Feng’s direct superior.

More importantly, he only obeys the Great Xia Emperor’s direct orders, and he is not an ordinary Venerable Realm Cultivator.

Looking across the entire Great Xia Dynasty, even Peak powerhouses in the Venerable Realm, such as Shura Venerable and the Sect Master of the Divine Sect, would not be guaranteed a victory against him.

“Mother, if it’s Jin Mu, then wouldn’t that mean…?” The Crown Prince’s face was extremely grim, with even a hint of ferocity in his brows.

The others in the hall also understood his meaning.

The only one in the entire Imperial City capable of commanding Jin Mu is the Great Xia Emperor!

In other words, his Imperial Father wants to deal with them?

Chu Rong’s heart was filled with resentment; this was all Chu Yun’s fault!

If he hadn’t returned, none of this would be happening!

“Your Majesty’s intentions… I fear he has thoughts of making Chu Yun the Crown Prince.”

“For Meng Changzhong to side with Chu Yun, in my opinion, it’s mostly due to His Majesty’s subtle hint,” Feng Tianzheng continued.

Lan Ji’s expression was deep. Having been married to him for many years, she naturally understood his methods.

She was even certain that behind all of this, the Great Xia Emperor’s shadow was surely present.

Perhaps the Great Xia Emperor was even using Chu Yun to gradually remove her influence.

“He wants to change the Crown Prince, but as long as I am still here, it will never succeed!”

“His Five Decays of Heaven and Man will last at most two more months. At that time, it will be the day the Imperial City changes, and he will have no way to reverse the situation!”

“But before that, these matters absolutely cannot be swallowed like this!”

“Since they moved against my people, then naturally, we must respond in kind, an eye for an eye!”

A cold, ruthless glint flashed in Lan Ji’s eyes.

“How does the Empress plan to act against those people?” Feng Tianzheng asked.

Lan Ji thought seriously, then spoke: “We won’t touch Chu Yun for now. With Commander Luo personally protecting him, and possibly Jin Mu secretly present, the chances of killing him are not high.”

“In that case, the Grand Steward in his Prince’s Residence is a good target, and also Meng Changzhong’s daughter. Let’s take these two lives first to whet their appetites.”

“Besides that, I’ve already sent people from the Corpse Yin Sect and Blood God Sect to pressure the Shi Family’s territory, forcing Shura to leave the Imperial City!”

After hearing the Empress’s words, the others nodded slightly.

Acting against Ah Tai and Meng Ruxue was indeed the most likely to succeed, and it could also deal a significant blow to Chu Yun’s side.

Especially Meng Ruxue!

The Great Xia Dynasty’s most beautiful woman of the younger generation—if she were to die, the entire Great Xia would be shaken, including Meng Changzhong, who would no longer remain so calm.

“By the way, Mother, what about the other forces in other prefectures and counties?”

“Who should investigate?” Chu Rong asked at this moment.

“There’s no need to worry about this.”

“The Vice Sect Master of the Divine Sect has personally gone to investigate this matter. I believe there will be results soon.”

Lan Ji remembered something and continued: “Oh, right, tomorrow you all are going to meet that Xiao Yan, aren’t you?”

Chu Rong nodded: “Yes, Mother. The items have already been sent to the Eastern Palace. Tomorrow at dawn, Elder Wang and Black Iron King will go to the Cangfeng Mountain Range to meet Xiao Yan.”

“If nothing unexpected happens, this peerless Prodigy will become my retainer tomorrow. At that time, I will immediately bring him to meet Mother!”

The Crown Prince had great expectations for Xiao Yan, even before meeting him.

Lan Ji nodded: “Good.”

“I also want to see what this legendary figure, who became famous overnight, looks like.”

… … … … … …

Ninth Prince’s Mansion.

Chu Yun was currently sitting in the pavilion, holding the Celestial Splendor Cauldron in his hand, examining it deeply.

A steady footsteps approached from afar, and a figure arrived before Chu Yun: “Si Zhen greets Your Highness.”

Chu Yun nodded: “Rise.”

“Si Zhen, do you have confidence in breaking the Formation within this Cauldron?”

Chu Yun had forgotten for a moment that the Array Venerable he summoned was himself a Cultivator with extremely high talent in the Dao of Formations.

He is a Formation Master.

The Seal on this Celestial Splendor Cauldron could not be broken by Venerable Wan Lei because he was not familiar with the Dao of Formations.

But it might be different for Array Venerable.

Chu Yun had always been curious about what exactly was Sealed within the Formation of this Celestial Splendor Cauldron!

The thousand-year-old great medicine from the Wangxian Taoist Sect had been stolen by Qin Kun and then lost to who knows where.

But Chu Yun had a premonition that the true Sealed item within this Celestial Splendor Cauldron would surely be far more valuable than that thousand-year-old great medicine.

After Array Venerable took it, a blue light flashed in his eyes, and the ancient patterns carved on the Cauldron also lit up.

Then, Array Venerable carefully studied it and gave a specific answer: “Your Highness, this sealing Formation should have been laid by a Peak Formation Master of the Supreme Realm.”

“With my current cultivation, I can indeed break it, but it will require some time.”

“How long?” Chu Yun asked.

“Within two months. The specific time depends on how much of that Supreme Realm Cultivator’s power still remains in those Formation patterns,” Array Venerable replied.

“Two months again? Am I at odds with two months recently?” Chu Yun couldn’t help but complain after hearing the approximate time needed.

“Alright.”

“Then take it and break it. Tell me if you need anything else,” Chu Yun said.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After Array Venerable left with the Celestial Splendor Cauldron, Chu Yun called for Night Devour and Commander Luo.

“Your Highness.”

“Master, what is it?”

Night Devour stood beside Commander Luo, asking curiously.

“Tomorrow at dawn, the ten-day agreement between this Prince and those from the Eastern Palace will be up.”

“At that time, Night Devour, you and this Prince will go to the Cangfeng Mountain Range. Commander Luo, please arrange things at the city gate.”

“Still erase our traces of entering and exiting the city,” Chu Yun said to the two of them.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Don’t worry, Master. They’re just a few Nirvana Realm Cultivators, like ants. It’ll be easy to deal with them.”

Commander Luo: ???

Night Devour’s words were a bit overconfident, and Commander Luo’s expression beside him was slightly stiff.

He was a Nirvana Realm Cultivator, and hearing Night Devour’s words, he felt like hitting him.

Chu Yun glanced at him, then said: “This Prince just received news from Xin’er.”

“The Empress Faction wants to act against Ah Tai and Meng Ruxue. Commander Luo, please inform the Prime Minister to be aware.”

“As for Ah Tai, have him leave the city tomorrow during the day. We’ll directly lure the snake out of its hole…” Thinking of this, Chu Yun couldn’t help but smile.

If the Empress Faction dared to follow Ah Tai out of the city, they would be in for a lot of trouble!