How come I'm invincible?

Chapter 117 Death Sentence!!! Empress, are you confused? What can your family do to resist?

As night deepened, the moonlight shone like water.

Lin Fan stood outside the prison with his hands behind his back, gazing at the starry sky, a trace of unyielding loss between his brows.

He had hoped to learn something from Tudan, but unfortunately, Tudan's situation was exactly the same as the saintess's, and he found it hard to understand why he possessed such power.

I simply consider it a gift from heaven.

Tudan said that he was weak when he was young, but as he grew older, his body became more and more robust, and when he reached adulthood, he possessed this astonishing strength.

As for Tulimin, as his descendant, he also possesses his astonishing power. This is not something he acquired through training, but rather a mysterious innate divine power.

inherited?

Bloodline inheritance?
I can't figure it out, I don't understand it.

No idea at all.

With a soft sigh, he quietly disappeared into the night, heading back to his residence.

If you can't figure something out, then don't think about it anymore. Thinking too much will only make your mind uncomfortable.

The next day.

Lin House.

A palace-style carriage slowly came to a stop outside the mansion gate.

The beaded curtain was slightly lifted, and the eighteenth princess stepped down from the carriage with the help of palace maids.

"Princess, we have arrived at the Lin residence."

"Ah."

The eighteenth princess hummed in agreement and stood at the entrance of the mansion, her eyes revealing nervousness. Logically speaking, she shouldn't have been so nervous when she came to find her sister Ningyu.

But when the Empress found her and told her what had happened, she was shocked to learn what her eldest brother had done. It was a devastating blow to her young mind.

She initially waved her hands repeatedly, thinking she was not up to the task, but the Empress's almost pleading tone made it impossible for her to refuse.

She was raised by the Empress herself from a young age.

This kindness has been repaid and will never be forgotten.

She glanced back at the carriage behind her; the curtains were drawn, and the Empress was inside.

"Mother, I'll go in first," the Eighteenth Princess said softly.

"Eighteen, you've had a hard time." Inside the carriage, the Empress's voice sounded tired. Last night, following the Grand Tutor's instructions, she had the Emperor recall the moments he shared with the First Prince.

There was a painting she treasured; although it was just a simple outline, it depicted three little figures.

That was drawn when the eldest prince was four years old.

Father, Your Majesty, Your Majesty.

When she unintentionally revealed it, His Majesty, in a fit of anger, stared blankly at it, seemingly recalling all the past events. But a moment later, His Majesty angrily ordered her to take it away.

At that moment, she understood that His Majesty had softened his heart; at least he hadn't torn it to pieces, which meant that the painting had awakened His Majesty's love for the eldest prince.

The eighteenth princess took a deep breath, climbed the steps, and walked into the mansion. When she reached the inside, she saw a figure standing in the courtyard in the distance.

The figure standing there was like a mountain in the eyes of the Eighteenth Princess. Although he was a person, his broad and majestic back gave her that feeling.

Princess Eighteen rubbed her eyes. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but the Divine Martial General seemed to be enveloped in a thin layer of red light. Although it was faint, it was very noticeable under the sunlight.

"Ah!" she couldn't help but exclaim softly.

Lin Fan, who was cultivating, stopped when the proficiency notification sounded and turned around to look behind him. "Eighteenth Princess, what brings you here?"

Sitting at the stone table, Ning Yu, who was admiring her master's cultivation, exclaimed in surprise, "Sister!"

At this moment, Lin Fan was still immersed in the joy of cultivation. He did not expect that as he entered the Unity Body Refining Method, he would feel a warm earth vein energy being actively absorbed when his feet touched the ground, continuously flowing into his body, nourishing his internal organs, and tempering his flesh and bones.

This made him think of absorbing the earth's energy during the day and exhaling the power of the sun, moon, and stars at night.

Blood vessel resonance.

The body's internal organs and physical functions are constantly enhanced.

"I...I came to see Brother Lin and Sister Ningyu." It was the first time the Eighteenth Princess had acted as a mediator, so she was somewhat reserved and nervous due to her lack of experience.

Ning Yu stepped forward casually, took the other's hand, and said, "Little sister, what are you standing there for? Sit down here. Let me tell you, my master is currently cultivating and is very domineering, do you understand?"

"Mmm-hmm." The eighteenth princess nodded her head like a quail. She didn't understand these things very well, so she didn't care much about them.

Looking at the Eighteenth Princess's expression, Lin Fan sat down at the stone table, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea for the princess, pushed it in front of her, and said with a smile, "Princess, you've come here on business, haven't you?"

The eighteenth princess held the teacup in both hands, her head bowed, and her voice was very weak, "Mmm."

Ning Yu was somewhat puzzled. Her younger sister had always been innocent and carefree in the palace. How could anything have happened to her? With His Majesty's favor towards the Eighteenth Princess, if anything had happened, His Majesty would have resolved it for her long ago. Why would he let her look so worried and distressed?

Lin Fan said softly, "Is it about your eldest brother?"

"Ah."

"Did the Queen send you here?"

"Ah."

When Lin Fan asked her question, the Eighteenth Princess simply replied with "Mmm".

Ning Yu blinked, "Master, Master, what's going on here? What's this about the First Prince and the Empress?"

I'm really a bit confused.

Don't understand at all.

"Sister, tell me, what exactly happened?" Ning Yu couldn't wait to know what had happened.

The eighteenth princess did not hide anything and told the story of her eldest brother.

Upon hearing this, Ning Yu stared wide-eyed and couldn't help but exclaim, "Huh? He actually dared to do such a thing. I think he's tired of living."

Ning Yu truly hadn't expected the eldest prince to be so muddle-headed.

suddenly.

She grasped the key points of the information.

Stand up suddenly.

"What? My master led troops to fight against Japan, and he actually secretly informed Japan? This is an act of treason! If it weren't for my master's bravery, wouldn't anyone else have died there?" Ning Yu's face turned red with anger, his eyes glaring as if they were about to spit fire.

The eighteenth princess shrank back in fear, growing increasingly uneasy.

"Alright, don't frighten the princess." Lin Fan spoke up to stop her. "This matter has nothing to do with the Eighteenth Princess. She was just asked to do something and couldn't refuse. Sit down."

"Oh."

Ning Yu's imposing manner vanished instantly. She reluctantly sat down, but still clenched her fists and waved them at the air a few times, as if the eldest prince were right in front of her.

Lin Fan said gently, "Princess, I presume Her Majesty the Empress came with you?"

"Yes, Mother is with me."

"Very well, summon the Empress here. She can speak directly to me; there's no need for the princess to relay her message," Lin Fan said.

"Then I will go and call the Empress Dowager in now."

"Ah."

The eighteenth princess breathed a sigh of relief, immediately stood up, lifted her skirt, and hurriedly left.

After the Eighteenth Princess left, Ning Yu said, "Master, what the First Prince did means that he has no future with the throne. Besides, it's already a blessing that you didn't kill him. How dare he ask someone to plead for him? Master, what do you think they're thinking?"

Lin Fan said, "It seems that the Emperor was furious after the banquet last night. I didn't expect that. Now that the Empress has come to plead for me, she must want me to intercede with His Majesty."

"Huh? No, Master, this eldest prince was trying to kill you. Now that it's out, how can the Empress, as his mother, have the nerve to come looking for you? Does she really think I'm easy to bully?" Ning Yu was very indignant about this.

Lin Fan smiled and said, "Ning Yu, didn't I tell you that the imperial court is not about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and social interactions? Don't rush, let's see how the Empress reacts first."

It didn't take long.

Footsteps could be heard not far away.

Lin Fan watched from afar without rising to greet her. Only when the Empress was almost in front of him did he rise with a smile and greet her, "Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

However, what happened next was beyond his expectations.

The empress bowed to him and said in a mournful tone, "General, I am not here today as the empress to pay my respects to you, but as a mother to apologize to you."

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, there's no need for this. Your Majesty is the mother of the nation; how can you do this? Please sit down, Your Majesty."

The Empress nodded and, supported by the Eighteenth Princess, sat down at a stone table. Before Lin Fan could speak, she said, "General, I know I have no face to come here. My child has committed a heinous crime. If he were not a prince, he would have been dragged to the Meridian Gate and beheaded long ago."

"Your Majesty is too kind," Lin Fan said.

The Empress shook her head and said, "General, what I said is true. Even if His Majesty takes him away to be beheaded, I will have no complaints. The expedition is a matter of national importance. General, you are doing this for the country and the people. Instead of helping, you have colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country. This is an unforgivable crime."

Lin Fan said, "The Crown Prince has indeed gone too far this time. As the saying goes, fighting is fighting and playing is playing. When it comes to national affairs, we should unite against external forces. But he informed Japan about my whereabouts, which is really inappropriate."

The Empress wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a silk handkerchief, her voice choked with sobs. "General, I have been with Your Majesty since I was fifteen. I became pregnant many years ago, but unfortunately, the fetus died in the womb. Later, I had him. He was a piece of my flesh and blood, carried for ten months. In public, he deserves to die. In private, he is my child. What mother doesn't want her child to be safe and healthy? Now that he has become like this, it is because I, as his mother, have failed in my duty to raise him."

As she spoke, the Empress became emotional, stood up, and was about to kneel down before Lin Fan.

"General, I beg you to put in a good word for him before His Majesty and forgive him this once."

Logically speaking, a normal person would kneel before the current empress.

We definitely have to stop them.

They even had to kneel and kowtow; how could they dare accept the Empress's obeisance?

But Lin Fan seemed to be frozen in place at that moment, remaining motionless as the Empress knelt before him.

He seemed to suddenly wake up.

"Your Majesty, how can you do this? You're making me feel terrible." Lin Fan quickly helped the Empress up.

The empress gripped his arm tightly, her eyes brimming with tears, and pleaded, "General, I beg you."

Lin Fan took a deep breath, gently freed himself from the Empress's hand, turned around, stood with his hands behind his back, and remained silent for a long time.

Regarding the eldest prince's behavior.

He was naturally furious, but considering His Majesty's situation, he didn't think about what to do. Now His Majesty was furious and imprisoned the eldest prince in Cining Palace. He even wanted to send the eldest prince to Shuoyang, the place where the founding emperor of the Central Plains Dynasty started his reign. There was a special prison for the royal family.

Once members of the royal family are imprisoned there, it is a place of utter darkness and a living hell.

Originally, he didn't want to get involved because of His Majesty's sake, leaving everything to His Majesty's decision. But who could have imagined that His Majesty would really try to kill the eldest prince?

Honestly, there's nothing wrong with how His Majesty treats him.

Now that the Empress is pleading so desperately, he can't just point to the door and tell her to get out. People can be arrogant, of course, but if they are arrogant to the extreme, they will probably even despise themselves.

"General..." came the Empress's pleading voice.

Lin Fan sighed softly and said, "Your Majesty, you should go back first. I understand the situation and will go to the palace to see His Majesty. As a parent myself, I can understand Your Majesty's feelings, and I am by no means a heartless person."

Upon hearing this, the Empress was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, General, thank you, General."

"Ning Yu, let's escort Her Majesty back," Lin Fan said.

"Oh."

Ning Yu nodded.

After everyone left, he looked down into the corridor and saw Huang Xiaojiu standing there dumbfounded, staring blankly at the scene before him.

Lin Fan asked, "Xiao Jiu, what dishes are you planning to cook for lunch?"

Huang Xiaojiu shuddered, then came to her senses and said, "Make your favorite dish."

"Okay, go ahead. Don't say anything you see, it could have a bad influence," Lin Fan said.

Huang Xiaojiu nodded blankly. The scene just now was like seeing a ghost to him. He naturally knew that it was the Empress, but what did he just see?
The Empress actually begged Lin Ge so earnestly that she knelt down.

When he saw the Empress and the Eighteenth Princess, his first thought was to run and hide so they wouldn't find him. Otherwise, if his father found out he had left Zhuoming Mansion without permission, he would be in real trouble.

But what happened next struck him like a thunderbolt, leaving him stunned on the spot.

Back then, when he went to Anzhou to become a subordinate and join Brother Lin, he simply wanted to find a capable and protective older brother. Who would have thought that his older brother would make such rapid progress and now come to the capital as the Divine Martial General, holding a high position and great power, even the Empress has to ask him for help.

No... I, Xiao Jiu, am known as the most foolish Ninth Prince. What kind of god-like elder brother did I recognize?

When Huang Xiaojiu left, he thought about it all the way, but he still couldn't figure it out.

Ning Yu returned soon.

“Master, you really agreed?” Ning Yu said with great dissatisfaction, “I think it would be enough to behead that Crown Prince for what he did. Master is just too easily persuaded. People beg him and Master agrees.”

Lin Fan looked at Ning Yu and said, "What did I say? His Majesty is already this old, and you insist on making him lose his son in his old age, right? Even if His Majesty doesn't say anything, everyone has a heart. As parents, who wouldn't feel pain?"

“Master, that’s true, but we can’t let him get away with not paying any price,” Ning Yu said.

She had long disliked the eldest prince.

Relying on being the eldest prince, he flaunted his power and looked down on everyone, not taking anyone seriously. Just thinking about that look in his eyes makes me angry.

"How is the situation at the Divine Martial Division? Have my three thousand soldiers been properly arranged?" Lin Fan asked.

Ning Yu said, "Master, don't worry, everything is arranged. The Shenwu Division has been repaired and everything is in place. The three thousand soldiers have been settled in the camp on the outskirts of the capital."

Lin Fan nodded and said, "That's good. We need to arrange for people to go to various prefectural cities to establish the Divine Martial Bureau and carry out a major purge of officials and gangs throughout the country."

Now that the emperor has granted him such power, he naturally has to use it to the fullest extent; otherwise, it would be a waste to leave it as a mere decoration.

Ning Yu said, "Master, there's something I need to remind you of."

"What's the matter?" Lin Fan asked.

Ning Yu said, "He is Master's cousin-in-law. He claims to be the prefect of Yandu Prefecture. Master said that the Divine Martial Bureau is starting to operate, so he reminded Master."

Reminded by Ning Yu, Lin Fan remembered and said with a smile, "Not bad, as expected of my disciple, Lin Fan, you have a good memory. You can arrange for someone to investigate and find out who arranged the prefect position for him. Nowadays, there are probably very few officials in the whole country who are not corrupt and do not harm the people."

"The appearance of the Divine Martial Division is meant to make them understand that if we haven't discovered them, everything is fine, but once we are discovered, it's a dead end."

Upon hearing this, Ning Yu felt her blood boil. "Yes, Master, I understand."

"You go ahead with your work, I'm going to the palace."

……

At this time, Cining Palace.

The eldest prince sat there dejectedly, his eyes vacant, but the anger and resentment in them still lingered.

creak!

The heavy palace doors were slowly pushed open.

The eldest prince looked up abruptly and saw two figures standing at the doorway. The sunlight shrouded their bodies, making their faces appear dim, and he could not see who they were.

When the two entered the hall.

Only then did they realize that it was Commander Li, the Imperial Guard Commander, who had arrived.

There was also the emperor's trusted eunuch, Eunuch Wang.

"Commander Li, what are you doing here? I am a traitor, a collaborator with the enemy and a rebel against the country. Now I am imprisoned here. Are you here to make fun of me?" the eldest prince asked mockingly.

Commander Li and Eunuch Wang entered one after the other.

Commander Li clasped his hands and said, "This humble general greets Your Highness."

"Hmph, Your Highness?" The eldest prince laughed, "Does my father still acknowledge me as his son? I think that Divine Martial General is his real son."

Suddenly, when the eldest prince's gaze fell on Eunuch Wang, his expression was clearly one of surprise. It wasn't that he saw anything wrong with Eunuch Wang, but rather the tray covered in yellow satin that Eunuch Wang was holding that filled him with a strange sense of dread.

He abruptly stood up, his expression panicked, and pointed at the tray in Eunuch Wang's hands, "What is this? What do you want to do?"

Eunuch Wang said, "Your Highness, this old servant and Commander Li have come by imperial decree to respectfully see Your Highness off on your journey."

After speaking, Eunuch Wang lifted the yellow satin. On the tray, there was nothing else but a seven-foot-long piece of pure white silk, as white as snow.

"Insolence! Insolence!!" The eldest prince was struck as if by lightning, staggering backward and roaring hoarsely, his voice filled with disbelief and panic, "I am the eldest prince of the Central Plains Dynasty, how dare you... how dare you plot against me? Did Lin Fan send you here? I want to see my father, I want to see my mother."

Eunuch Wang said, "Your Highness, His Majesty said that you are a prince and should understand that the crime of a prince colluding with the enemy and betraying the country is an unforgivable crime. In order to give an explanation to the world, I urge Your Highness to calm down and depart with dignity."

"Impossible! My father would never let me die!" The eldest prince roared furiously, his body trembling uncontrollably as he backed away, shrinking into a corner.

"I want to see my father, I want to see my mother."

At this moment, the eldest prince was so frightened that he was completely at a loss and did not know what to do. He never expected that the final outcome would be that he would be sentenced to death.

He was, after all, the eldest prince.

It is the future of the court.

He couldn't believe it was true.

Without saying a word, Eunuch Wang skillfully tossed the seven-foot-long white silk ribbon onto the roof beam, tied a tight knot, and then pulled the knot upwards, hoping that His Highness would not have the knot pressing against his throat on his journey, thus making him more comfortable.

Commander Li took a few steps forward.

"How dare you! Step back! I, the Crown Prince, told you to step back!" The Crown Prince angrily pointed at Commander Li. "Impossible! How could Father Emperor bear to let me die? Impossible!"

Commander Li looked at the deranged Crown Prince and said respectfully, "Your Highness, His Majesty did not sleep a wink last night, but he should not have done that. Your Highness has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country. As for Japan, I have gone there. They are wolfish and ambitious. They will destroy Silla in three years and pacify the Central Plains in five years. General Shenwu's actions are to quell the rebellion and chaos for the dynasty."

"I won't listen, I won't listen!" The eldest prince shook his head desperately, covered his ears, and cried out, "I was confused for a moment, I acted impulsively, I regret it. Go back and tell Father that I know I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again. Please beg him to forgive me this time, just this once."

Commander Li didn't say much; it seemed he would have to do it himself. He took another step forward, his imposing figure completely enveloping the eldest prince, his voice low and resolute.

"Your Highness... I apologize."

……

Royal study room.

The emperor was engrossed in reviewing memorials; he had too many affairs of state to spare a moment.

"Your Majesty, General Lin requests an audience," a eunuch said respectfully.

Upon hearing this, the emperor's furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and he immediately put down his pen. "Quickly, let the Grand General in."

Lin Fan entered the imperial study, bowed to the emperor, and saw the emperor walk over warmly, smiling and saying, "My dear minister, please sit here."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lin Fan said.

The emperor asked, "My dear minister, what brings you here today?"

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, I have nothing to do myself, but I wanted to ask about the First Prince. Although the First Prince he..."

The words are not finished yet.

There was a voice outside the door.

"His Majesty."

Eunuch Wang and Commander Li were waiting outside.

Lin Fan looked in the direction of the sound, somewhat puzzled, but soon, when he saw a token on the tray that Eunuch Wang was holding, his heart skipped a beat.

But I still have some doubts.

After all, it's probably impossible.

However, soon, hurried footsteps came from outside, along with the eunuchs' attempts to stop them.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you cannot go in!"

"Let me go!"

Before the words had even faded, a figure broke through all the barriers outside the door and staggered into the Imperial Study.

The person who arrived was none other than the Empress.

At this moment, the Empress's phoenix crown was askew, her hair was disheveled, and her former dignified and noble demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes were bloodshot, like those of a mad bull.

"Empress, what are you doing?" the Emperor asked.

"Emperor! How cruel you are! How vicious you are!" the Empress cried out in anguish. "That's our child! Our son! You actually...you actually ordered his death! He's my own flesh and blood, your own son! How could you...how could you do this?!"

Lin Fan looked at the emperor in astonishment.

Executed?
The emperor roared, "Guards, take the empress back! Without my permission, she is not to step out of the palace gates even once!"

"That's my child, give me back my child."

The empress struggled and lunged forward to grab the emperor, but was quickly stopped by the imperial guards and terrified palace maids.

All her strength seemed to be drained away at that moment, and she could only be half-supported and half-dragged out. Her shrill cries echoed for a long time inside and outside the Imperial Study, growing farther and farther away until they disappeared.

no……

I had just arrived to plead for the prince when he was executed.

You can't blame me for not pleading for them.

But he knew it was really annoying.

It seems the empress will have to oppose him from now on.

As the Empress was taken away, the Emperor took a deep breath. He looked very haggard, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "My dear minister, I know why you came. I understand."

"But my dear minister, do you know that the Central Plains dynasty is not my dynasty, but the dynasty of all the people? A prince who colludes with the enemy and betrays the country is a serious crime."

"The fact that you are safe and sound is due to your bravery, but if you had been a different general, it would have been a catastrophe."

"If he dares to collude with the enemy and betray the country today, he will be even more audacious and do something even more outrageous after I pass away."

"The emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people. This is not just a saying. I must live up to the expectations of the people and I do not want the country to suffer a catastrophic disaster because of him."

"Foreign enemies are all wolves in sheep's clothing and cannot be trusted."

Listening to what the emperor said.

Lin Fan was silent.

The emperor said, "My dear minister, I am a little tired. You should go back and rest."

"Your Majesty, please rest well. I shall take my leave." Lin Fan rose and left. As he reached the door, he turned back to look at the emperor sitting there, his temples graying, his expression haggard and forlorn.

His heart trembled slightly.

From his time in Yong'an until now, as the Divine Martial General, his thinking has always been very simple: to rely on his own strength, play around casually, and beat up anyone who doesn't like him.

But now, he realizes that His Majesty bears a heavy burden. He carries the hopes of the entire dynasty and millions of people on his shoulders, and every action he takes will affect the fate of the whole dynasty.

For Lin Fan, the so-called treason was a useless tactic.

But to the emperor, a prince of such high status had actually done such a thing. If he dared to communicate with Japan today, he would dare to communicate with other countries tomorrow. And a prince could also know important matters within the court.

Indeed, just as the emperor said.

He led the troops into battle, sweeping away everything with absolute force. Any conspiracy or trickery was nothing but paper in the face of absolute power.

But if a different general were chosen, the consequences would be unimaginable.

To others, the person in the Imperial Study is the emperor, but to Lin Fan, he is an elderly man in his twilight years who is devoted to the country and its people and only wants to manage the dynasty well in his remaining time and select a qualified emperor for the people to come.

"You still have to read books; your mind won't develop properly if you don't read."

Lin Fan thought for a while.

This strengthened my resolve to study.

I'll get a few books to read later.

……

Grand Master's Mansion.

At this time, the Grand Tutor was unaware of the situation in the palace or the outcome of the First Prince's fate. However, according to the news he had just received, the Empress had gone to the Lin residence and came out with a relieved smile on her face.

Clearly, the talks went quite well.

Sudden.

The butler rushed in, his face ashen. "Master, news has just come from the palace that the... the eldest prince has been put to death by His Majesty."

The Grand Tutor, who was sitting in the living room drinking tea, seemed not to have heard clearly and remained calm. But suddenly, he stood up abruptly, his eyes wide, and demanded, "What did you say?"

The steward said, "News has come from the palace that the eldest prince has been sentenced to death."

"Ah!" The Grand Tutor staggered backward, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. The steward beside him quickly helped him up. "Master, what should we do now?"

Everyone knows that the Grand Tutor is from the First Prince's faction.

Now that the eldest prince has been sentenced to death, it means that the path that the Grand Tutor has painstakingly planned and laid out for one or two decades has been cut in half, with no room for turning back.

The Grand Tutor trembled all over, gripping the armrests of his chair. His face was deathly pale, devoid of any color. His mind was blank. He sat down in a daze, picked up his teacup, which trembled violently. Tea spilled onto him, but he was completely unaware.

"This old man...this old man."

The Grand Tutor had a lot to say, but at this moment, he didn't know what to say.

He looked up at the butler, "Tell me... what should I do?"

The butler was dumbfounded by the master's question.

You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?

Sir, I haven't read many books.

The Grand Tutor understood that once news of the Crown Prince's execution spread throughout the court, his civil and military officials would inevitably prioritize their own safety and choose new supporters.

But he had no chance to choose again.

At that time, he will be isolated and helpless in the court, and completely sidelined.

Now there is only one path for the Grand Tutor to choose: to resign and return to his hometown to retire. If all goes well, this will be the best outcome for him.

at the same time.

What happens in the palace cannot be kept secret.

The princes and even the most important officials in the court all learned of the news of the eldest prince's execution immediately.

The one most affected was the Second Prince.

The competition between him and the eldest prince was fierce and open. Now that the eldest prince had been sentenced to death, it was as if an alarm bell had appeared on his head, constantly reminding him.

He quickly invited the two senior officials, the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector, to come.

“Your Highness, this matter was not instigated by General Shenwu to order His Majesty to execute the First Prince. Rather, the First Prince crossed His Majesty’s bottom line by colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. This is something that must never be crossed. At the same time, this is also a warning from His Majesty to the princes.”

The Grand Tutor said in a deep voice.

The second prince said in a trembling voice, "Grand Tutor, no matter what, he is still Father's child. To order his execution so easily, isn't that a bit..."

Before the Second Prince could finish speaking, the Grand Tutor waved his hand and said, "Your Highness, there is no point in saying these things now. You must remember this matter and never repeat the same mistake."

The second prince said, "Even if I had ten lives, I wouldn't dare to do something like this."

Taibao said, "Your Highness, in my opinion, there is one thing Your Highness needs to pay close attention to."

"What's the matter?"

"As for the Empress, now that the First Prince has been sentenced to death, the Empress will definitely not give up. She will surely launch a fierce revenge against Lin Fan. At that time, someone may come to sow discord with Your Highness. Your Highness must not believe it. The current General Shenwu is an existence that cannot be provoked. Your Highness only needs to do your job step by step and at the same time maintain a good relationship with the General Shenwu. In the future, the throne will surely be Your Highness."

Taibao clarified the underlying logic.

As long as the second prince doesn't do anything reckless, the throne is already in his grasp.

"Really?" the Second Prince asked excitedly.

"Yes, absolutely, there is no mistake. There is no one who can compete with the Second Prince now, but Your Highness must remember this and never make a mistake," the Grand Tutor said.

The second prince patted his chest and said, "Teacher, don't worry, I'm not as stupid as him. I know what I can and cannot do."

Afterwards, the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector left the place.

They have a lot to do now. The officials who originally supported the Crown Prince are now leaderless and in a state of panic. If they extend an olive branch now, they will surely fall into the trap and come to surrender.

At this moment, the Second Prince was in an extremely cheerful mood, even excited to the point of dancing around. He then took out a pill called "Divine Bliss," which, once swallowed, would make one feel as if floating on clouds, experiencing a blissful state.

I only take it when I'm in a good mood.

Double the happiness.

……

The Lin family residence, at the dining table.

"Ah? Master, the First Prince has been sentenced to death?" Ning Yu was so shocked when she heard the news that her eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

Lin Fan said, "Yes, he's dead."

The Ninth Prince, who was eating, suddenly looked up and was immediately startled by the news. His eyes blinked rapidly. To him, the news was like a thunderbolt, hitting him hard on the head.

Ning Yu said, "Master, His Majesty is too decisive. But now you're in trouble too. The Empress will definitely blame you for this."

"I think he's not trying to dribble past me, he's trying to slam me down," Lin Fan said.

Ning Yu's eyes darted around rapidly, and suddenly she realized something. "Master, I think something big might be about to happen."

"How to say?"

Ning Yu said, "Master, the Empress's family is a powerful and influential family in Yunnan. They have military power and guard the southwest. When the Empress entered the palace, it was a marriage alliance. They used the Empress's family background to stabilize the southwest region. Now that the eldest prince has been sentenced to death, their hopes have been shattered. They certainly won't obediently guard the southwest. They will definitely take action."

Lin Fan said, "You've really thought ahead."

“Master, this isn’t me being far-sighted; it’s something I should know. If the eldest prince were to become emperor, the empress’s family head would be the emperor’s maternal uncle. Now that their nephew is gone, their hopes are gone too. How could they possibly let this go so easily?” Ning Yu said.

Lin Fan knew very little about the situation in the imperial court.

I hadn't paid attention to it before.

After hearing what Ning Yu said, Lin Fan understood that he had to take precautions.

Internal and external troubles... no, there are no external troubles for now.

Mengye Kingdom doesn't have that kind of courage yet.

a few days later

The news of the eldest prince's execution did not spread among the common people; it was only known to the court officials. Since the emperor had not mentioned it, they naturally pretended not to know.

This morning.

"Your Majesty, this old minister is advanced in years and humbly requests Your Majesty's permission to retire and return to my hometown," the Grand Tutor said, stepping forward and bowing.

The officials glanced at the Grand Tutor, but no one spoke. If the eldest prince were still alive, the officials would surely have pleaded with him to stay, shouting that the Grand Tutor was a pillar of the court and should not return to his hometown.

But now there is complete silence.

The Grand Tutor's lips curled into a bitter smile. It was truly a case of people growing cold after leaving a place. In recent days, few ministers had come to see him, and even fewer had actually come.

The emperor looked at the Grand Tutor and said, "Granted!"

The answer was very straightforward.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!" the Grand Tutor exclaimed, also letting out a sigh of relief. Being able to retire gracefully and land safely was undoubtedly the best possible outcome.

After the Grand Tutor returned to his seat, the Emperor looked at Lin Fan and asked, "Minister Lin, how are the preparations of the Divine Martial Division progressing?"

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, the Divine Martial Bureau is already operational. I have arranged for people to set up Divine Martial Bureau offices in various prefectures and cities. In at most half a month, they should be distributed throughout the country."

The emperor nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work, my dear minister. If you have any needs, please feel free to tell me."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Just now.

"Report!!!"

A hurried sound came from inside.

A messenger rushed into the hall and shouted, "Your Majesty, the general guarding Yunnan has raised an army in rebellion, joined forces with the Da Guang Dynasty, and is advancing towards the Central Plains."

This incident occurred.

There was an uproar at the scene.

The civil and military officials all showed expressions of shock. No one expected it to happen so quickly. In their view, the Empress's family would definitely take action after learning that the eldest prince had been sentenced to death.

But who could have imagined that this action would happen so quickly?

How long has it been since?

What surprised them even more was that the Daguang Dynasty was also involved. This country was not powerful and was only average, but the barbarians from all directions had always coveted the fertile land of the Central Plains.

Once they seize an opportunity, they will not let it go.

"You scoundrel!" the emperor roared in fury.

Lin Fan really didn't want His Majesty's emotions to fluctuate so much, as it would be a burden on his body. Without waiting for them to discuss it, he took the initiative to step forward.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops there," Lin Fan volunteered.

He has recently read a lot of military books and feels very good about himself. He feels that his mind is full of methods of marching and deploying troops, and he can test what he has learned recently.

Now, the only person the emperor can use and trust is Lin Fan.

"Very well, issue an imperial edict to me, appointing General Shenwu as the Grand General for Pacifying the Rebellion, and dispatching five military camps... a total of 30,000 troops, to set off immediately, with provisions to be transferred from various prefectures and counties." The emperor proclaimed.

The Grand Tutor's expression was very complicated.

He never expected it would come to this.

Queen.

You're so confused.

This Divine Martial General Lin Fan is no ordinary person. He personally takes action. How can your maternal family possibly resist him? Don't you see that even the mighty Mengye Kingdom's army, which is as strong as a ferocious beast, cannot stop his advance?

……

a few days later.

"Master, don't worry, I promise I'll be obedient and won't run around."

On the road to Yunnan, the army marched on in a grand procession. Ning Yu, who was following along, made a solemn promise that when she learned that her master was going to quell a rebellion, she begged him to take her to see the world without hesitation.

She had never seen anything like this before in her entire life.

"War is not child's play; we must be honest and straightforward."

"Yes, master."

(End of this chapter)