Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 140: Chapter 138: The Imperial Decree

"We’ve been defeated again?" Chu Mingxuan couldn’t help but say, "That’s two defeats already, and this is the third?"

"A military town has been seized." Chu Zhiyao’s face was grave as he spoke slowly, "This completely breaches the Northern defense, and now there’s big trouble!"

"Tenth Brother should have stepped in long ago!" Chu Mingxuan snorted, "Those old guys in the Court are always worrying about this and that, afraid Tenth Brother will raise an army and rebel. Do they not realize Tenth Brother would never do such a thing!"

"Eighteenth Uncle, mind your words!" Chu Zhiyuan hurriedly interjected.

Chu Mingxuan sneered, "They’re just making excuses; in reality, it’s all about power struggle. They’re afraid their own power will be diminished, as if no one knows this. Yet they put on the pretense of considering Father’s interests, so dignified and righteous!"

"If the troops in the Northwest are mobilized..." Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "Eighteenth Uncle, maybe we should wait a bit longer."

Chu Mingxuan was puzzled, then his expression changed slightly as he understood what Chu Zhiyuan meant.

Originally he was to go to the Northwest, now it would be towards the Northern Territory.

The Northern Territory now was extremely dangerous.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "If it’s really not possible, find a way to change course and join the Inspection Department."

It was inappropriate for a Prince to enter the Military Suppression Department, but joining the Inspection Department was acceptable, with many roles there to fill.

"It’s unchangeable." Chu Mingxuan spoke helplessly, "Once decided, it cannot be altered."

"Things are done by people." Chu Zhiyuan replied, "Otherwise, join the Ministry of Rites and become my colleague?"

"Rules are rules, they can’t be changed." Chu Mingxuan sighed.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of changing his mind, but when he mentioned it to the Emperor, he was immediately refused. The Emperor said that the Chu Family men choose their paths and must follow them to the end, even if on their knees.

That closed off all possibilities for change.

"How about letting Tenth Uncle speak up?"

"This..."

"If Tenth Uncle really wants to dispatch troops, the Imperial Grandfather should give him some face, right?"

"...Alright, I’ll give it a try." Chu Mingxuan chuckled, "If it was the Ministry of Rites, I’d want to be a Vice Minister, your superior."

"That couldn’t be better." Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

——

Chu Zhiyuan left Mingwu Hall.

He was deep in thought as he walked.

In his mind, he recalled the situation when he faced off against Chu Qingfeng, recalling the Super Sensing that detected the changes in Chu Qingfeng, the mysteries of the Great Grandmaster.

The Great Grandmaster’s aura is spiritual energy, based on Gang Qi, it contains spiritual power.

Thus, when Gang Qi comes into contact with spiritual energy, it immediately becomes disoriented and is influenced.

The Qingying Sword can calm and soothe the mind, right now showing its wonderful use to maximally avoid the influence of spiritual energy.

No matter how strong an arrow is, if it doesn’t hit the bull’s eye, it’s useless.

No matter how fierce or pure and powerful the Grandmaster’s Gang Qi is, in front of spiritual energy, it’s like a blind person waving a sword, without any power to speak of.

Without the Qingying Sword, it was very likely that he would direct the Gang Qi into the void rather than at Chu Qingfeng.

When Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters clash, the outcome is often decided in an instant; aiming at the void couldn’t possibly lead to victory.

If Chu Qingfeng’s Gang Qi could eliminate the spiritual power, the difference in power would not be as vast as imagined, like the difference between rain and a waterfall.

Power varies, but there’s no qualitative difference.

He then sighed.

He had the Super Sense, the Divine Dragon’s Thought, and the Qingying Sword combined, only then could he achieve this; otherwise, there’d be no strength to counter it.

Ultimately, the Great Grandmaster’s overwhelming power over the Grandmaster was evident.

His steps were slow, and unconsciously he arrived outside the Duke An Mansion.

The gatekeeper at the Duke An Mansion, upon seeing him, hurriedly ran inside to report.

A moment later, Xiao Ruoyu hurried over.

"Why have you come, Princely Heir?" he asked, puzzled.

Clad in a blue combat uniform, with sweat still on his forehead, his face was flushed, clearly he had been practicing martial arts vigorously.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "I came to see if Father-in-law has returned?"

Xiao Ruoyu looked up at the bright sunshine, "He should be returning soon."

After the morning Court session, Duke An would return home for a meal and then go for a walk to the Ministry of Rites, returning or dining with colleagues at a restaurant at noon.

The evenings were the same.

The only definite time he would eat at the mansion was this morning meal.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "Then let’s have breakfast together."

"Father would be delighted," Xiao Ruoyu said, "Elder Sister is in the back garden, let’s go into the mansion quickly."

Compared to his own blood son, Father preferred spending time with the Princely Heir.

——

Xiao Ruoyu led Chu Zhiyuan to the back garden, where they found Xiao Ruoling sitting in a small pavilion beside a peculiar rock formation.

A small red clay stove on the stone table in the pavilion was simmering with steam rising continuously.

She sat immobile beside the stone table, dressed in a pale purple palace gown, her hands in a handprint, exuding an ethereal presence, like a celestial fairy untainted by the dust of the mortal world.

Xiao Ruoyu called out loudly, "Sister, the Princely Heir is here."

Xiao Ruoling opened her bright eyes, looking deeply and enigmatically at them, then smiled radiantly, brilliant and dazzling.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and clasped his fists in greeting.

Xiao Ruoling chuckled, "Come in."

Two little maids were sticking close to the red pillars of the pavilion, watching Chu Zhiyuan with smiling eyes.

Seeing Chu Zhiyuan looking over, they brightly bowed and saluted, "Greetings, Young Master."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile, lightly entered the pavilion, and sat opposite Xiao Ruoling.

Xiao Ruoyu said, "Sister, you two chat, I need to go practice. I’m just shy of finishing, if I delay any longer, I won’t have time to eat."

Xiao Ruoling waved her jade-like hand.

The two were just about to speak when a little maid ran over from a distance, saying Lord State Duke had returned from Court.

So everyone quickly went to the front.

...

As Chu Zhiyuan ate, he spoke with Xiao Youping about matters in the Court.

"This defeat was considerable." Xiao Youping’s face was grave, he sighed, "Losing a town has completely opened a gap in the defense line, the impact is terrible!"

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Will there be punishment?"

"General Zhen Yuan Li Haoyuan will be brought back to the capital!" Xiao Youping said solemnly, "Prince Ying will command the Northern Territory!"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Finally, Tenth Uncle is being sent to the Northern Territory."

"If the Court hadn’t delayed like this, this third defeat might not have happened." Xiao Youping snorted, "The people in power today are all culprits!"

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Has the Imperial Grandfather not punished them?"

"Just scolded them heavily," Xiao Youping snorted, "Threw a fit, he truly got angry."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Li Haoyuan is skilled at defense, this defeat shouldn’t have happened, right?"

Actually, it was the Emperor’s fault, shifted onto the ministers.

"I heard it was due to internal espionage," Xiao Youping sighed, "Li Haoyuan’s bedfellow caused the trouble, colluding inside and out... this time, he cannot escape blame!"

His expression turned dark, he said coldly, "Negligent about the household defenses, causing at least a loss of over a thousand Iron Cavalry for Da Jing!"

Chu Zhiyuan’s expression grew solemn, "Over a thousand men?"

"At least a thousand," Xiao Youping said, "The deaths, injuries, and captives combined are no less than a thousand. The generals outside tended to downplay, reporting a hundred, but according to what the Emperor knows, it’s at least a thousand!"

Chu Zhiyuan’s face was heavy.

A thousand cavalrymen, at first glance it might not seem like much, but these weren’t ordinary cavalrymen. They were veterans, intensely trained and battle-hardened.

Losing even one was painful, yet a thousand were lost at once.

The elite cavalry of a town amounted to only two thousand, losing a thousand nearly wiped out their fighting power, necessitating retreat from the battlefield.

Thus, the town was seized.

"This time the Military Suppression Department will be mobilized, along with the Ministry of Rites," Xiao Youping looked at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback, and couldn’t help but ask, "Isn’t this unrelated to me?"

Xiao Youping slowly said, "You will represent the Ministry of Rites, going to the Northern Territory to deliver the decree."

Chu Zhiyuan was stunned.