Starting as the young master of a medicine shop, he practiced swordsmanship for twenty years.

Chapter 332 The Great Qian Emperor's Desire to Eradicate the Lu Family!

The Great Qian Imperial Palace!

Snapped!
The gilded imperial desk was smashed to pieces with a single blow, and memorials scattered like snowflakes.

The emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, Emperor Qianxi, wore a black dragon robe that fluttered without wind, causing the jade beads on his twelve-tassel crown to collide violently, producing a rapid, crisp sound.

"What a fine tutor!"

"What a magnificent Grand Marshal of all the armies under heaven!"

The Qianxi Emperor, who was nearly thirty years old, had a hoarse voice and bulging veins on his neck.

The next moment, Emperor Qianxi suddenly grabbed the urgent report from the Ministry of War and slammed it down on the steps below the imperial palace.

"Ten thousand Tiger Roar Guards!"

"Shatter the Xuan Iron Gate of the Heavenly Prison!"

"Is this my beloved mentor?"

"Does he even have any respect for me anymore?!"

Every word Emperor Qianxi uttered seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with boundless hatred.

"Minister Chen, I will take care of the matter concerning the three of you!"

After venting his anger, Emperor Qianxi suddenly composed himself, and the shouts and curses gradually subsided in the empty hall.

He raised his hand and stroked the swirling cloud patterns on the dragon robe, his fingertips brushing against a cracked gold thread, only then realizing with a start that he had torn his court robe in his rage.

Immediately, Emperor Qianxi's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, turned sharply to the area below the steps, where a purple official robe swayed slightly in the candlelight.

An elderly man with white hair and a long beard stood with his head bowed, beads of sweat glistening in his wrinkles, yet his back remained ramrod straight.

It was none other than Zhao Xian, a veteran of three reigns and the Prime Minister of the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Zhao Aiqing".

"Tell me, how should this be resolved?"

Currently, only the Lu family can control the military forces of the entire country.

In short, it's already quite good that the Lu family didn't rebel.

Emperor Qianxi ran his fingertips along the dragon relief on the armrest of the dragon throne, the sharp claw-like patterns digging painfully into his palm.

"The pillar supporting the heavens of the Great Qian Dynasty?"

Emperor Qianxi suddenly chuckled. What was he, the emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, then?

The Great Qian Dynasty has always had only one pillar supporting the heavens, and that is me!

Emperor Qianxi had long harbored murderous intent towards the Lu family. This behemoth that had dominated the court for many years was always a thorn in his side.

However, the existence of Lu Xuan, the pillar of the Lu family, has forced this emperor to remain patient until now.

As one of only three supreme grandmasters in the Great Qian Dynasty, Lu Xuan not only possessed unparalleled martial arts skills, but also held military power over the entire country.

Everyone in the court and among the people knew that even the Qianxi Emperor had to be wary of them.

There are even rumors circulating that if Lu Xuan were to truly lead his troops into the palace, even the emperor would have no choice but to remain silent.

Such power transcends the limitations of a subject.

Zhao Xian stepped forward slowly with a solemn expression and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this matter is strange."

"Grand Tutor Lu has always been an upright and honest man, but his actions this time are quite different from usual."

He frowned and continued his analysis: "When Lu Haowu was imprisoned before, Grand Tutor Lu was clearly impartial and showed no favoritism."

"Based on my understanding of him, such a reckless act as raiding the Heavenly Prison is definitely not his style."

At this point, a hint of doubt flashed in Zhao Xian's eyes: "When I first heard of this, I thought it was some fool spreading rumors and misleading the public. But now..."

Now, Zhao Xian believes it.

Not only did Lu Jinyun appear with the military tally, but even Li Ming, the reclusive old steward of the Lu family, personally took action.

This was clearly at the behest of that old bastard Lu Xuan.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xian's expression suddenly changed, and he lowered his voice, saying, "Could it be... that old guy has already seen through our plan?"

Zhao Xian unconsciously frowned.

It was he who meticulously planned and had his daughter, Zhao Ningxue, frame Lu Haowu.

The intention is to start with the younger generation of the Lu family and gradually dismantle this behemoth.

Now it seems that this move may have been seen through by that old guy Lu Xuan.

The events of that year are still vivid in my mind.

The death of Lu Haowu's biological father, Lu Jintian, was a trap deliberately set by Emperor Qianxi and Zhao Xian.

Now, looking at the little bastard child left behind by Lu Jintian, his martial arts talent is gradually becoming apparent.

It was exactly the same as what happened to him back then.

Thinking of this terrible consequence, Emperor Qianxi unconsciously clenched his hands, which were hidden in his dragon sleeves.

"We must never allow the Lu family bloodline to continue growing..."

A ruthless glint flashed in the emperor's eyes.

He knew better than anyone that Lu Xuan had made the royal family feel like they had a thorn in their side.

If another Grandmaster of the Lu family were to emerge, the Great Qian Dynasty might have to change hands.

A sharp glint suddenly flashed in Zhao Xian's eyes. He strode forward, stopped abruptly three feet from the imperial desk, and lowered his voice.

"Your Majesty, this is a golden opportunity!"

His fingers, hidden in his brocade sleeve, trembled slightly uncontrollably, yet he still forced himself to suppress his inner ecstasy.

“Lu Jinyun is incredibly audacious. He dared to mobilize troops and force his way into the prison. According to the Great Qian Law, this is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of his family.”

"If that old man dares to protect..."

At this point, Zhao Xian suddenly looked around to make sure everyone in the hall was one of his own. He then disregarded the proper etiquette between ruler and subject and moved directly to the imperial desk, his voice barely audible.

"In my humble opinion, this is the perfect opportunity for us to eliminate the Lu family's influence."

His withered fingers traced lightly across the table. "Either force Lu Xuan to hand over his rebellious son and confidant, and make him cut off his own arm."

“Either…” Zhao Xian suddenly clenched his fist, making a strangulation gesture.

"We can then seize this excellent opportunity to strip them of their military power, and do so with complete legitimacy!"

As soon as he spoke, Zhao Xian suddenly realized his lapse in composure.

He quickly took three steps back, straightened his somewhat disheveled court robes, and resumed his respectful posture, saying, "However, this matter still needs to be considered carefully."

"In my opinion, the best way to consolidate power is to first intimidate with overwhelming force, and then proceed gradually."

Zhao Xian raised his wrinkled eyes and carefully observed Emperor Qianxi's expression.

"Grand Tutor Lu has cultivated his power over many years, and his old subordinates in the army are spread throughout the court and the country."

"We might as well use this incident to test his bottom line first, and then win over his old subordinates one by one."

Zhao Xian stood bowing in the hall, a sinister glint in his cloudy eyes: "For this reason, this old minister has devised a comprehensive plan for Your Majesty, which will surely resolve this great calamity."

His thin fingers trembled slightly inside his sleeve, but his voice was unusually steady.

"Firstly, at tomorrow's morning court session, we should use the pretext of the raid on the imperial prison to force Grand Tutor Lu to give an explanation in front of all the civil and military officials."

"Secondly, under the pretext of purging the rebels, the military power of the Xuanwu and Zhuque battalions in Qianning City will be gradually transferred to the control of His Majesty's trusted confidants."

Thirdly.

Zhao Xian suddenly lowered his voice and leaned close to Emperor Qianxi's ear, saying, "Send people to continue to eliminate the direct descendants of the Lu family."

"This old minister has already ordered men to secretly monitor the various branches and heirs of the Lu family, awaiting only Your Majesty's approval."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianxi's eyes flashed with a terrifying light.

The humiliation of being suppressed by the Lu family for many years has now transformed into a burning ambition.

He slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, his dragon robe billowing as he displayed imperial majesty: "Excellent!"

"Minister Zhao is truly my right-hand man!"

"deliver an imperial order!"

Emperor Qianxi's voice echoed in the Golden Palace, "Tomorrow morning at court, I want to see with my own eyes how long this traitor can remain so arrogant!" Thunder roared outside the palace, illuminating the emperor's ferocious face.

It's time to put an end to the humiliation of the Great Qian Dynasty being held back by the Lu family for more than sixty years.

Emperor Qianxi made a solemn vow in his heart.

I swear I will not be a ruler until the entire Lu family is exterminated!

The next day, the sun rose.

As the morning sun pierced through the carved window lattices, it cast dappled light and shadow on the bluestone floor of the main hall of the Lu residence.

These four key figures of the Lu family, all over forty years old, gathered together, each exuding an aura of seasoned veterans.

The white morning light cast a sharp outline on their figures.

The second young master, Lu Jinyun, stood in the hall in a black brocade robe, with a jade token symbolizing his authority over the Lu family hanging at his waist.

As the de facto head of the Lu family, his brows revealed the composure and shrewdness honed over more than twenty years of managing family affairs.

The third young master, Lu Jinhua, was wearing the standard armor of the Tiger Army, with nine gilded tiger stripes on his chest gleaming under the lamplight.

This youngest general of the Great Qian Dynasty, with his mastery of martial arts, caused the air within a three-zhang radius around him to freeze.

As the second most important figure in the army after Lu Xuan, he exuded the demeanor of a general in every gesture.

The fourth young master, Lu Jinwu, wore a gold belt with a vermilion bird pattern around his waist, and a crimson longsword hung diagonally at his waist.

As the commander of the Vermilion Bird Army in Qianning City, his aura as a minor Grandmaster was like a raging fire.

Even when deliberately restrained, one can still feel that burning fighting spirit.

His 50,000 Vermilion Bird Guards were arguably the sharpest blade in the Lu family's army.

The Fifth Young Master Lu Jinchang's Xuanwu Iron Armor gleamed with a ghostly light, and the sharp edge of a newly-entered Grandmaster flowed in his eyes.

Although the youngest commander remained silent, the imposing aura of the 50,000 Xuanwu Guards had permeated every inch of his being.

The hall was silent, and the four young masters all turned their gazes toward the head of the table.

There, Lu Xuan's figure appeared exceptionally majestic in the morning sun.

In the morning light, Lu Jinyun suddenly stepped forward, her eyes flashing with astonishing light: "Father!"

Lu Jinyun's voice trembled slightly with excitement as he spoke of "Haowu."

"Not only have his injuries healed, but he has also broken through to the peak of internal energy!"

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent.

Third Young Master Lu Jinhua's pupils suddenly contracted, and his hands under his armor unconsciously clenched.

The Vermilion Bird battle robe of the Fourth Young Master Lu Jinwu fluttered without wind; his master-level perception made him instantly understand the weight of those words.

Fifth Young Master Lu Jinchang suddenly looked up, and the Xuanwu Iron Armor made a crisp clanging sound.

Without their father's orders, the three of them dared not leave their military camp.

Therefore, their understanding of Lu Haowu was still based on the news that his father had sent him to prison.

Although they were very anxious, they dared not leave the military camp in the face of their father's authority.

Because their father really would punish them.

It wasn't until yesterday, when Lu Jinyun sent someone to deliver a message, that the three of them dared to leave the military camp and return to their family.

They also learned that Lu Haowu had been crippled.

Immediately afterwards, Lu Jinyun took a deep breath and continued, "I saw it with my own eyes."

"Hao Wu's internal energy surges like a dragon, and he has already reached the peak of the Inner Qi Realm!"

Lu Jinyun's voice grew increasingly excited, "With his talent, given time..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present understood the unspoken meaning.

The six realms of martial arts in the Great Qian Dynasty: third-rate, second-rate, and first-rate are merely ordinary martial artists.

Internal energy cultivation, mastery, and supreme grandmaster are the true paths to enlightenment.

Lu Haowu, at only twenty-four years old, had already touched the threshold of perfect internal energy!

The four people present understood this better than anyone else.

That means that the rise and fall of the Lu family for the next century will depend on Haowu.

The Lu family must protect a genius who has the potential to become a Grandmaster at all costs.

Lu Jinyun's eyes were bright and piercing, radiating a terrifying light.

Not to mention that Haowu was wronged by others.

Even if it were true, Lu Jinyun would risk her life to protect Lu Haowu.

"Father, you are wise to see the truth."

Lu Jinyun suddenly knelt on one knee, her voice filled with suppressed anger.

"Haowu said it himself: on that day, he clearly saw Miss Zhao being kidnapped and tried to save her, but was instead framed."

He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "This was a meticulously planned trap!"

"Someone is secretly targeting our Lu family!"

Lu Jinyun didn't say it explicitly, but everyone present knew it.

Looking across the entire Great Qian Dynasty, there are only a handful of people who would dare to lay such a cruel hand on the Lu family.

And among them, the most motivated and the most capable...

"Zhao Xian, you old dog!"

Lu Jinwu suddenly roared, "It must have been that old bastard who set this up!"

An eerie silence suddenly fell over the hall, and the impassioned shouts of Lu Jinyun and the other three abruptly ceased.

On the surface, they were indignant, but in reality, their gazes unconsciously drifted towards Lu Xuan, who was seated in the main seat.

A barely perceptible hint of unease flashed in everyone's eyes.

Lu Jinyun's clenched fist trembled slightly, and her knuckles turned white from excessive force.

He knew better than anyone that the scheme before him was flawless—Zhao Ningxue's testimony, the identification of passersby, and even the "torn" clothes as physical evidence.

The entire chain of evidence was so perfect it was almost despairing.

“Father…” Lu Jinyun’s voice suddenly lowered, and his previous imposing manner receded like a receding tide.

"Regarding Haowu's case... I am powerless to help. I beg you to show leniency. I am willing to take the punishment in Haowu's place!"

Lu Jinhua, standing to the side, trembled almost imperceptibly beneath her gilded armor.

He recalled how, twenty years ago, his father had personally sent his third uncle, who had disobeyed military orders, to the execution ground.

Even if that person is his own cousin.

The Vermilion Bird Sword had been sheathed at some point. Lu Jinwu lowered his head, and the flame patterns on his battle robe dimmed slightly.

He stole a glance at the head of the table, afraid of seeing the familiar, stern, and impartial glint in his father's eyes.

The youngest, Lu Jinchang, even unconsciously took a half step back, and the Xuanwu Iron Armor made a slight clanging sound.

He suddenly realized that their impassioned speeches might have stemmed from the same deep-seated fear they all harbored—

She feared that her father would, as in the past, abandon his own bloodline for the sake of "greater good."

The morning light inside the hall grew brighter, casting long shadows of the four generals, yet they could never reach the imposing figure seated on the main seat.

Everyone was waiting, waiting for the voice that would decide Lu Haowu's life.

Lu Xuan sat upright in the grand chair, his knuckles tapping the armrests repeatedly, producing a dull sound.

"In that case, let those witnesses and physical evidence disappear!"

"And that woman, shut her up too!"

The tone was so flat, as if he were talking about something trivial.

When faced with unsolvable problems, Lu Xuan usually prefers to kill the person who raised the question.

That way, there won't be any worries.

(End of this chapter)