78: The second prince, the son of destiny, and the mysterious person Yun Nian Niang!

“Very few!”

“Within the entire Imperial Dynasty, besides the commanders of the four great legions and the two Venerable Realm generals guarding the border, the only others are the Grand Commander of the Shadow Guard and your Imperial Father.”

“This matter is a military secret of our Imperial Dynasty; even the Minister of War and the Prime Minister are not qualified to know,” Consort Shi replied.

Upon hearing this, Chu Yun frowned instantly: “Then if the border defenses were leaked, the only suspects would be these few people?”

Chu Yun thought for a moment, then asked again: “Mother Consort, among the people you mentioned earlier, are there any from the Empress Faction?”

Consort Shi couldn't help but say: “Yun'er, you suspect the Empress Faction did it?”

Chu Yun was unusually solemn: “Although there’s no evidence yet, I always feel that this matter is inextricably linked to them.”

“It couldn’t be such a coincidence that as soon as Venerable Ke died, they suddenly fell into calm, and then something happened at the border.”

“If there’s no trickery involved, I absolutely don’t believe it!”

Chu Yun’s sixth sense was also incredibly accurate; he was convinced that the Empress Faction was definitely behind this matter.

Hearing him say this, Consort Shi explained: “Among these people, none are too close to the Empress.”

“Of course, we cannot rule out that some of them have already been bribed by the Empress and secretly defected to her.”

Chu Yun pondered for a moment, then said: “Mother Consort, if there’s an opportunity, you can tell Imperial Father my suspicion and ask him to take more precautions.”

“I understand; I will go to the Imperial Study later and tell your Imperial Father,” Consort Shi said.

“Mother Consort, then your son will head back first.”

Chu Yun stood up to bid farewell and left the Imperial Palace.

Upon returning to the Princes Residence, Luo Feng immediately came to greet him: “Your Highness, Wan Lei has returned.”

Chu Yun nodded calmly: “I know. Have Wan Lei and Night Devour come over; I have something to discuss with them.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Immediately, in the main hall.

Chu Yun sat calmly in his seat, and soon after, Wan Lei and Night Devour walked in one after another.

“Master (Your Highness).”

Chu Yun nodded, “Night Devour, how have you assimilated Venerable Ke’s power?”

Night Devour replied joyfully: “Reporting to Master, I have already refined everything from Venerable Ke, and now I have touched the threshold of the Middle Stage of the Venerable Realm.”

Chu Yun nodded: “Then tonight, I will let you have another feast.”

Chu Yun had a plan in mind.

Since the Empress Faction chose to remain calm, he would do the opposite!

“Master! Is there another target?!” Night Devour immediately rubbed his hands together and licked his lips, appearing somewhat impatient.

Chu Yun said: “Wan Lei, tonight, you will go to the Thousand Kill Mercenary Group. You know what to do with the people inside.”

Thunder Celestial Venerable immediately replied: “Your Highness, rest assured.”

Chu Yun nodded: “Night Devour, tonight, the two of us will go to the Cloud Mist Tower.”

Night Devour immediately said: “Yes, Master!”

The Thousand Kill Mercenary Group and the Cloud Mist Tower were both pillars of the Empress Faction within the Imperial City.

Without the two of them, it would definitely be a considerable blow to the Empress’s power within the Imperial City!

………………

Eighth Princes Residence.

The Eighth Prince Chu Hao and the Sixth Princess Chu Xinyan were currently seated in a side hall.

At this moment, a woman wearing a yellow palace dress slowly walked in through the door. She had an extraordinary demeanor, exuding a sense of maturity from the passage of time, yet her skin and appearance were still radiant and youthful as she stepped in expressionlessly.

“Mother Consort.”

Chu Hao and Chu Xinyan both stood up in unison, bowing in greeting.

This person was indeed their birth mother.

The Noble Consort of the Great Xia Dynasty, Song Yeling.

The Noble Consort nodded and walked straight to the seat at the head. Chu Hao immediately gave up his seat and invited her to sit down.

After the Noble Consort sat down, she glanced at them, signaling for them all to sit down.

Chu Hao sat on a nearby chair, closing his fan, and said: “Mother Consort, you came in person; is there something important?”

The Noble Consort said calmly: “You all know about the border unrest, right?”

Chu Xinyan nodded: “Yes, Mother Consort, Hao-di and I were just discussing this matter.”

“The leak of the defense plans leading to the border’s fall indicates that there must be an internal traitor within the four great legions.”

“But I didn’t expect Imperial Father to even dispatch two great legions to suppress the rebellion. Isn’t he afraid that the traitor is among those two commanders?”

The Noble Consort’s expression was unusually calm: “This is a trick your Imperial Father left. If the traitor truly is one of them, then it would be exactly what he wants.”

“However, from my perspective on the border situation, the traitor did not defect to an enemy Imperial Dynasty; instead, it was to the Empress.”

Chu Hao raised an eyebrow: “Mother Consort means that these are all smoke bombs released by the Empress, with the purpose of attracting Imperial Father’s attention?”

The Noble Consort’s expression was serene: “She must have been afraid that their plot regarding your Imperial Father’s Five Decays of Heaven and Man period would be exposed, so she resorted to this desperate measure.”

“But unfortunately, by doing so, she has instead forced the Second Prince to return.”

“Your Second Brother, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, is very likely already on his way back to the Imperial Dynasty.”

Chu Hao’s expression became slightly solemn: “Second Brother… Mother Consort, Second Brother is without support. Although he has trained at the border for many years, even if he returns this time, he will hardly pose any threat to the Empress and her faction, right?”

The Noble Consort shook her head: “You are mistaken.”

“This Second Brother of yours is the one among all you princes with the most Heaven-Defying Luck.”

“I once tried to control him, but I didn’t expect that a wisp of a remnant soul was hidden within his body, almost injuring me.”

“If he has a desire for imperial power, then people like Chu Yun and Chu Rong are like ants to him, incomparable.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Hao and Chu Xinyan were both shocked.

They knew how powerful their Mother Consort was.

It was no exaggeration to say that even their Imperial Father, if he truly fought, would find it difficult to harm their Mother Consort.

And their Second Brother, Chu Huang, actually possessed such good fortune!

It truly shocked them beyond measure.

“Mother Consort, will this disrupt our plans?” Chu Hao asked cautiously.

“I am also worried about unexpected complications.”

“Therefore, Hao'er, tonight, you will go see someone for me,” the Noble Consort said.

Chu Hao couldn't help but ask: “Who?”

“The Cloud Mist Tower’s Tower Master, Cloud Nianniang,” the Noble Consort said.

“Cloud Nianniang? Isn’t she the Empress’s person?”

“Why do you want to see her?” Chu Hao was utterly confused.

Chu Xinyan, who was beside him, also looked bewildered.

The Noble Consort smiled faintly: “She is no ordinary person. Her concealment is no less than mine.”

“I only coincidentally discovered her true identity during a chance encounter before.”

Chu Hao became even more curious: “Mother Consort, who exactly is she?”

PS: You common men, do not hoard books!

If the data keeps up, there might be three updates next month. The main reason is that I don't get full attendance pay this month, which is too difficult…