In the 30th year of the dynasty, the Emperor personally led an army to attack Ancient Han and suffered a tragic defeat. 300,000 soldiers were killed, shocking the Great Jing Dynasty. The atmosphere in the capital was even more tense. All the officials felt insecure because the Emperor was old. When they heard that he had lost, they were afraid that the Emperor would die. At that moment, the Crown Prince had yet to move into the Eastern Palace.
This year, Little King Wei and Ping'an were one year old.
In the courtyard, Jiang Changsheng sat under a tree. The Earth Spirit Tree was already ten feet tall, but the leaves were not lush enough. Right now, it could only produce weak spiritual energy, but it was a good sign.
Not far away, Little Ping'an rode on White Dragon and wandered around. Qing Ku chased after him and played games.
Even though Little Ping'an was born with a lack of intellect, his muscles and bones were indeed extraordinary. At the age of one, he already had the strength of a four to five-year-old child. He could run and jump. In Longqi Temple, he was already recognized as a genius in martial arts.
A figure quickly walked over from outside the courtyard. It was Chen Li. He came to Jiang Changsheng with a worried expression and said in a low voice, "Changsheng, something bad has happened. The Second Prince has disappeared."
Jiang Changsheng did not even open his eyes. "So be it. Didn't your Chen family seek refuge with the Seventh Prince?"
Chen Li said, "The Second Prince is missing, and I'm afraid the Hong Family will rebel. Coincidentally, His Majesty has suffered a defeat in the north. When the capital suffer a rebellion, the situation will be dangerous."
Only then did Jiang Changsheng open his eyes.
Jiang Yuan's life before he turned 60 years old was absolutely glorious. Unfortunately, he had been in power for too long, and he had personally led an army in his old age and suffered a huge defeat. His prestige in the hearts of the people had been greatly reduced, and even the civil and military officials were no longer as afraid of him. If the Hong Family rebelled at this time, even if they did not succeed, the Great Jing would be greatly damaged.
The Hong Family's army was stationed outside the capital to protect it, but now it had become a threat.
Jiang Changsheng said helplessly, "If the Hong family wants to rebel, what's the use of telling me?"
Chen Li said, "Naturally, I want to remind you that once chaos breaks out, how can your Longqi Temple protect itself? Hurry up and hoard food. Even if the Hong Family does not target Longqi Temple, if the city falls into chaos, Longqi Temple will definitely be isolated because the mountain is too suitable for hiding people."
Jiang Changsheng nodded and said, "I understand."
Chen Li sat down and did not care that Qing Ku was beside him. After all, they were acquaintances and Jiang Changsheng had been on good terms with him for as long as eighteen years.
After eighteen years, Chen Li was no longer the high-spirited top scholar. He was now middle-aged.
Unknowingly, time passed so quickly.
Jiang Changsheng looked at Chen Li's weathered face and sighed internally.
Not only Chen Li, but the older disciples in the temple had also gradually stepped into their middle ages, including the Eldest Senior Sister, Meng Qiushuang.
Jiang Changsheng had concocted a total of three Beauty Pills. One was for himself to consume, one was given to the Empress by the Emperor, and the last one was for Hua Jianxin to consume. In any case, Hua Jianxin had given birth to his child and was also his wife, so he naturally had to be biased.
He did not want to interfere with the lives of others, but his youth had gradually aroused the admiration of the disciples.
The Daoist Master was indeed skilled.
Chen Li said, "With the help of the Yang Family, the Crown Prince has two more governors and two ministers. His right to speak in the court is extremely high. Unfortunately, he does not have military power and the experts under him are inferior to the Seventh Prince. I suddenly feel that His Majesty left the capital on purpose and allowed the Crown Prince and the Second Prince to fight. How could the Second Prince win against the Crown Prince? When the Second Prince dies, the Hong Family will rebel and vow to kill the Crown Prince. When the Crown Prince dies, the Seventh Prince can legitimately suppress the Hong Family and make great achievements. The heart of an emperor is really terrifying."
Jiang Changsheng felt that it made sense. It was indeed very likely. In any case, he knew that the Crown Prince would die.
After knowing the Crown Prince's fate, Jiang Changsheng's hatred for him disappeared. He did not even pay attention to him. Speaking of which, the Crown Prince was a pitiful person. He was manipulated from the moment he was born. When the Yang Family learned the truth, the Crown Prince would be isolated and helpless, abandoned by the entire world.
Jiang Changsheng said, "Tell me about the underworld."
Hua Jianxin guarded Little King Wei day and night. Occasionally, she would tell Jiang Changsheng about the court, so he did not care.
Jiang Changsheng's only concern for the royal court was the ascension of Little King Wei. However, he was still young and was still far from the throne. Before that, as long as the Great Jing did not fall, Little King Wei would be fine. He would do whatever those people wanted, as his goal was also to cultivate.
Chen Li shook his head and said, "I don't have the time to pay attention to the underworld right now. Oh right, do you remember your senior brother, Li Changqing?"
Jiang Changsheng nodded and said, "Of course I remember."
When he was young, Li Changqing betrayed Longqi Tempke and caused Daoist Master Qingxu to be poisoned by the Devil Sect.
Chen Li sighed. "He entered the Devil Sect for a woman. Last year, that woman died and he went crazy. Right now, he kills everyone he sees in the martial arts world. His reputation is illustrious. Eighteen sects are working together to kill him. I'm afraid he won't live for long."
Jiang Changsheng was silent.
Chen Li comforted him and said, "Don't think too much about it. That's the path he chose. Don't get involved. With the combined strength of the eighteen sects, even a Grandmaster might not be able to escape unscathed."
Jiang Changsheng smiled and said, "Brother Chen, you worry too much. I won't go down the mountain."
Chen Li smiled and then talked about other things.
Li Changqing's encounter had indeed caused waves in Jiang Changsheng's heart. After all, they were old acquaintances.
He thought of Daoist Master Qingxu again and wondered where his teacher had gone.
…
Half a year later, Chen Li's guess was right. As expected, the Hong Family had rebelled. The great general, Hong Lie, led a hundred thousand armored horses into the capital and straight into the palace.
The sounds of fighting echoed in the capital.
Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes, sighed, and stood up.
In the end, he could not let go.
Jiang Changsheng gave White Dragon a few instructions before turning into a sparrow and flew towards the palace.
At the same time, in the palace, armored horses galloped unhindered. The servant maids and eunuchs all knelt on the ground, shivering.
Hong Lie wore thick black armor and rode on a strong black horse as he slowly advanced. He held a large saber in one hand and his expression was fierce.
"Lock down the palace and find the Crown Prince!"
A general raised his sword and roared. The soldiers received the order and scattered to search.
A concubine ran to Hong Lie's side and cried, "Brother, you have to avenge Ming'er!"
Hong Lie glanced at her and said, "Rest assured, sister. The Crown Prince will die today."
The concubine wiped her tears and asked, "Where is Ming'er? Have you sent someone to investigate?"
Hong Lie said, "My soldiers found a corpse outside the city. It was Ming'er's. I can't bear to tell you."
Hearing this, the concubine felt as if she had been struck by lightning and collapsed on the ground.
Hong Lie shook his head and reined in his horse. His expression became unruly as he stared at the distant throne room and muttered, "Brother Jiang, you've been sitting in this land for thirty years. It's time for me to take a seat."
On the other side, in the Empress's bedroom.
The Crown Prince, Jiang Qian, sat at the table with disheveled hair and looked extremely dispirited.
The Empress walked in from outside and closed the door. "This won't do. Hong Lie has already killed his way in, and I can't ask the Yang Family for help."
Jiang Qian forced a smile and said, "Mother, how could the Yang Family not hear such a huge commotion caused by Hong Lie? Before Second Brother disappeared, I already sensed that something was wrong with the Yang Family's attitude. My uncles' attitude towards me was not as enthusiastic as before, and even…"
There was even some disgust!
Jiang Qian did not say that out loud. He could not figure it out no matter how hard he thought about it. In his opinion, all the officials might have abandoned him, except for the Yang Family.
The Empress frowned and asked, "Did you really kill your second brother?"
When Jiang Qian heard that, he immediately became anxious. He gnashed his teeth and said, "How is that possible? He was the one who constantly wanted to fight with me, not the other way around. Mother, haven't I been enduring for so many years? Why am I enduring this? Isn't it because of our brotherhood? I never thought of killing my second brother. Even if I were killed by him, I would never kill my brothers!"
Even though he was the Crown Prince, the Emperor and the Empress had been cold and warm to him since he was young. As a result, he cherished the relationship between brothers. When he was young, his younger brothers needed him and respected him. He had always wanted to protect his younger brothers. Otherwise, his fight with the Second Prince would not have lasted for years.
He was the Crown Prince, and he wielded great power in the imperial court. It would be easy for him to deal with the Second Prince!
He could even ask the Emperor to send Jiang Ming to the border.
The Empress sighed and looked at Jiang Qian with a complicated expression.
Jiang Qian was in a state of panic, fear, and anger, so he did not notice the look in her eyes.
The sound of hooves and footsteps could be heard from outside the hall. From the sound, it was obvious that a large number of soldiers were rushing over.
"Your fourth brother went to war with your father. Otherwise, with him and Zong Tianwu here, you can still be saved," the Empress said helplessly.
Jiang Qian gritted his teeth and stood up. "Mother, please don't come out. If I go out alone, only I will die. Why should the Jiang Family be afraid of death?"
With that said, he walked to the gate without any hesitation and pushed the door open. The courtyard outside was filled with black masses of soldiers. Hong Lie rode on a horse on the corridor outside the courtyard and looked at him from afar.
Jiang Qian took a deep breath and tidied his hair. He stepped forward and said in a loud voice, "General Hong, if you don't believe me, I have nothing to say. You can kill or torture me as you wish. When my father and fourth brother return, you will not be able to escape death."
The soldiers were silent. None of them moved immediately as they waited for General Hong to speak.
Jiang Qian added, "General Hong, even if Second Brother is really dead, what's the use of getting angry? You're dragging the Hong Family down with you. There's only one prince the Hong Family can rely on!"
Hong Lie leaned forward and smiled contemptuously. "Since I don't have the prince's support, I shall wear a royal robe. I wonder what Your Highness thinks?"
"You…"
Jiang Qian widened his eyes and trembled with anger. All of a sudden, he was enlightened.
Could it be that Jiang Ming's disappearance was related to Hong Lie?
The soldiers laughed and shouted, "Long live Emperor Hong."
Jiang Qian was furious and rushed towards Hong Lie. He had never trained in martial arts, so he was like a scholar. He was directly kicked over by a soldier and his sword pierced through his body, spilling blood on the ground.
Jiang Qian's mouth was full of blood as he stared at the soldier in front of him. There was no longer fear in his eyes, only anger.
"Impudent! Hong Lie, are you really disregarding our old friendship?"
The Empress's voice sounded. Her words were cold as she walked out of the hall.
Hong Lie laughed out loud and said, "Sister-in-law, I didn't expect you to still be so beautiful after dozens of years. I wonder what rare treasures His Majesty has fed you. I've already come to this point. Do you think I have a way out?"
"Men, capture the Empress and escort her to my… my mansion. Hahaha!"
Hong Lie laughed wildly and directly changed the way he addressed the Empress. He had gone crazy because in his opinion, the throne was right in front of him.
The soldiers immediately stepped forward. Jiang Qian raised his hand and cursed. "Hong Lie, you're not human! You won't have a good death!"
The soldier pressing on him immediately slit his throat. He covered his throat with both hands and could not speak. Blood surged and could not be stopped.
The Empress was so frightened that her beautiful face turned pale. She retreated in succession and leaned against the door.
At that moment, a voice gently sounded.
"A dog of Great Jing wants to wear a royal robe? Arrogant and ignorant. Today, you will die a miserable death."
Everyone looked up and saw a figure appearing on the eaves of the Empress's bedroom. This person wore a shabby black Daoist robe and a wooden mask on his face. He did not have a weapon in his hand, but he gave off an extremely dangerous feeling as he stood there.