How come I'm invincible?

Chapter 116 Father, don't give us the throne, keep it for your Divine Martial General.

"My dear minister, is something the matter?"

The emperor looked puzzled, then looked at the historian with a questioning gaze, but the historian, who had been warned, lowered his head and remained silent.

Lin Fan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it's alright. The historian Wang just felt that since I was going to destroy Japan, it would be unwise to leave some Japanese daimyo alive. He thought that cutting the weeds without eliminating the roots was not a wise choice."

"Oh, I see." The emperor nodded.

Whether you believe it or not is another matter entirely.

The historian was quite embarrassed. He said, "I never said such a thing, but it doesn't matter whether I said it or not now. Let's just pretend I did."

"Your Majesty, let's go back," Lin Fan said.

"My dear minister, now that you are riding with me in the imperial carriage, I have so much to say to you," the emperor said.

"it is good."

At this moment, Lin Fan looked around. Ten miles outside the city, on both sides of the official road, the Imperial Guards stood solemnly, armored and holding halberds, every few steps, their banners obscuring the sun, creating a magnificent scene.

For the officials who came to greet them, this was the highest honor.

Even Qin Li in the past had never received such an honor.

The officials and even the princes who accompanied the emperor all understood that the choice of the next ruler might require even the emperor to consult the Divine Martial General.

The reason the emperor has been unable to decide on an heir for so long is simply because he hasn't thought it through and doesn't know who to choose.

Originally, the officials thought the eldest prince had a great chance, after all, he had the support of the Grand Tutor. But now it seems that the Grand Tutor's influence with the emperor is much weaker than that of the Divine Martial General.

As the imperial carriage moved forward, the three thousand soldiers who had fought alongside Lin Fan in Japan followed in an orderly fashion, heads held high and chests out. The aura of menace they exuded invigorated the officials, making them feel as if they were elite, ruthless warriors.

Inside the jade chariot.

"Your Majesty, these three thousand elite soldiers of mine were transferred from Qin Li's side. They have been used very well since the massacre of the Japanese pirates. I was thinking of placing them in the Divine Martial Division. If Your Majesty feels this is inappropriate, I may think of another way," Lin Fan said.

The Emperor waved his hand, "You may decide for yourself, my dear minister. I will not interfere. Since they have gained your approval, they must be elite troops and capable generals. I will reward them upon their return to the capital."

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

The Emperor said, “My dear minister, now within the imperial carriage, there are only you and me, sovereign and subject. Just now, the historian Wang hesitated to speak. What happened? Knowing you as I do, you would never show any mercy to anyone who displeases you. Could this matter involve someone from the royal family?”

The emperor was very perceptive; no move by his ministers could escape his notice.

Moreover, he knew Lin Aiqing very well.

Even the Grand Tutor couldn't gain an advantage.

How could they tolerate others?

The only possibility is that something happened during this expedition, and the one who made the mistake was the royal family. Therefore, my dear minister did not want to put him in a difficult position, so he chose to keep it a secret.

"Your Majesty, it's alright." Lin Fan waved his hand. He originally wanted to say that, but seeing how old and unwell the emperor was, he worried that if the emperor found out that the eldest prince had secretly colluded with the enemy and informed Japan of his military campaign, he might get angry and cause some problems, which would be a loss.

In his eyes, the eldest prince's behavior was just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. It was like a naughty child seeing a dump truck on the side of the road and having to kick it because he couldn't stand it. If he really took it seriously, he would step on the gas and the dump truck would be dead.

It doesn't even qualify as a speed bump.

If such a person becomes emperor, others may accept it, but he won't. Let them fight and make trouble as they please, this general is not going to kill them all. He'll just give them a beating and send them back to where they came from.

Even the interests of his own country, and indeed the whole world belongs to the emperor, are willing to sell out the interests of his own country in order to kill me. For the common people to be emperor, such a person is nothing short of a disaster.

The Emperor grasped Lin Fan's hand and said solemnly, "My dear minister, you may not speak. But I can ask the historian Wang and Commander Li, and I will surely find out the truth. Rest assured, I can bear it. I am very pleased that you have returned safely. I am also very happy that you have pacified Heian-kyo. At this time of universal celebration, I will not be angry."

Lin Fan looked at the emperor. These words sounded very familiar. It was like when a girlfriend asks you if you've cheated on her boyfriend, and you tell her the truth, and she definitely won't get angry.

If you actually believe that, you're just too naive.

But His Majesty is right. Even if we don't say it, the historian Wang and Commander Li will, and they dare not hide it.

Lin Fan sighed softly, "Your Majesty, you must promise me that you will not get angry and harm your health."

"Rest assured, my dear minister, I have weathered countless storms. If I were to get angry over everything, I would be dead long ago," the emperor assured him confidently.

“Ah…” Lin Fan sighed softly and said, “Your Majesty, when I led the troops to fight against Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi already knew of my arrival and ambushed and surrounded me. Later I learned that it was the eldest prince who informed Toyotomi Hideyoshi of my departure.”

As soon as these words came out.

The emperor, who was sitting upright to the side, suddenly froze on the spot, his face turning red at a visible speed. This was not out of embarrassment, but out of anger.

"Cough cough cough..."

The emperor coughed violently.

Lin Fan patted the emperor on the back, "Your Majesty, you promised me not to be angry. I understand this matter. It is my existence that made the Crown Prince feel threatened and wanted to kill me."

The emperor did not speak, but his heavy breathing was clearly heard inside the imperial carriage.

Clenched fists, bloodshot eyes.

This all demonstrates that the current emperor is truly enraged to the extreme, gritting his teeth as he utters the words, "How dare he do this!!!"

This has crossed the emperor's bottom line.

This is an act of treason.

"I want him executed," the emperor said in a low voice, like an enraged tiger.

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, are you going to break your promise to me? This matter concerns the face of the royal family and must not be publicized, otherwise it will surely damage the dignity of the royal family and make us a laughing stock."

With Lin Fan's reassurance.

The emperor's emotions gradually calmed down, but Lin Fan knew that the emperor's anger would not dissipate so easily; it was merely buried in his heart.

"My dear minister, I am so sorry. You have worked tirelessly for the country, even going on a distant expedition to Japan, but my prince has actually..." Before the emperor could finish speaking, Lin Fan interrupted him.

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, an emperor can know his mistakes and correct them, but he cannot admit his mistakes."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor gripped Lin Fan's hand even tighter, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Even now, his beloved minister was still trying his best to uphold the dignity of the royal family, but the more he did so, the more his disappointment and anger towards the eldest prince surged.

Just now.

The imperial carriage suddenly stopped, interrupting the conversation between the emperor and his ministers inside.

"What happened? Why did it stop?" the emperor asked, displeased.

The eunuch outside the curtain hurriedly reported, "Your Majesty, a group of scholars are kneeling on the main road in the city ahead, blocking the way."

"Hmm?" The emperor frowned, his expression displeased.

Soon, he heard the protests of the group of scholars.

"Your Majesty! Your student Chen Wang, along with dozens of students from the capital, risked our lives to petition the Emperor, accusing General Lin Fan of committing the heinous crime of massacring the city while on imperial orders to conquer Japan. His soldiers entered the city, killing indiscriminately regardless of gender or age, and burning down every house they encountered. Their cruelty is outrageous and infuriating. This is not the work of a royal army, but rather the work of a demon incarnate. We, your students, petition this Emperor with tears in our eyes. Lin Fan's evil deeds will surely incur the wrath of Heaven and harm the fate of our Central Plains Dynasty. We earnestly request Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly."

The leader, who called himself Chen Wang, was an elderly man with white hair and beard.

Non-official of the imperial court.

He's just an old pedant.

Lin Fan lifted the beaded curtain, emerged from the jade carriage, straightened his back, and looked at the kneeling scholars in front of him. The surrounding people stared in astonishment at the scene before them.

They had all come to welcome the triumphant return of the Divine General.

Now a group of scholars have jumped out and blocked their way, accusing the Divine Martial General of doing things that are against the natural order, which has left them somewhat bewildered.

The civil and military officials who followed looked at each other, some looking at the Grand Tutor and others at the Second Prince, clearly wondering who had orchestrated this move.

This is not about making a huge fuss.

It's obvious they're targeting Lin Fan, isn't it?
At this moment, the emperor, his face ashen, appeared from his jade carriage.

The Grand Tutor caught a glimpse of the Emperor's gaze out of the corner of his eye, and his heart skipped a beat; he knew something was wrong.

His Majesty is truly determined to kill!
That look reminded him of a major case decades ago that involved nearly ten thousand people, when the young emperor had such a cold and chilling murderous intent in his eyes.

There is no difference.

Suddenly, the Grand Tutor was horrified. The Emperor's gaze was fixed on him, as if questioning, "Did you do it?"
The Grand Tutor understood the Emperor's gaze and was so frightened that he immediately knelt down. The civil officials following behind him also knelt down, not knowing why the Grand Tutor was kneeling.

On the contrary, the eldest prince was secretly pleased.

He did not want to return in triumph, but it did not matter. A group of scholars who were full of righteousness and morality blocked the emperor's carriage in the street and accused the Divine Martial General. This would surely be recorded in the history books.

At the same time, the emperor had to consider many factors.

Historical evaluation, the balance of power within the court, and so on, are all things that a qualified emperor needs to consider.

The old man, Chen Wang, was unaware of the gravity of the situation and cried out, "Your Majesty, you are a wise ruler, and history should record you as such. But the crimes committed by the Divine Martial General are, throughout history, nothing short of the infamous reputation of a butcher!"

"Your Majesty, the Central Plains Dynasty is a celestial empire. We should subdue people with virtue and transform barbarians with propriety. When Emperor Taizu destroyed the Western Barbarians, he did not resort to such a plan of exterminating the entire population. Therefore, the four barbarians submitted to him."

"The actions of the Divine Martial General may seem to promote the prestige of the Central Plains dynasty, but in reality, they have cut off the path to assimilation for other countries and sown the seeds of blood feuds for generations to come."

"If they can slaughter the Japanese today, will they dare to slaughter the Chinese people if His Majesty punishes them in the future?"

The old man lay prostrate on the ground, desperately making his accusations.

Lin Fan looked at the situation before him calmly, without any fluctuation. He was as still as water, completely undisturbed. His gaze was also on the Grand Tutor, the First Prince, the Second Prince, and others.

Who is this brilliant strategist who insists on fighting him to the bitter end?

is it necessary?

It's completely unnecessary, okay?

By doing this, you make me seem difficult to deal with, yet you dare not confront me directly with your real names, so you have to resort to these underhanded tricks.
Just as Lin Fan was about to speak and tell them to go back to where they came from,

The emperor, who was standing to the side, finally exploded, roaring angrily, "Guards! Guards! Seize them and throw them into the dungeon! The Three Departments are not to interfere. The Imperial Guards will interrogate them and find out who ordered them to dare to deceive my beloved ministers like this!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As His Majesty's confidant, Commander Li naturally understood that His Majesty was now utterly enraged.

With a wave of his hand, numerous imperial guards, like ferocious tigers, seized the kneeling scholars. Some scholars panicked completely, seeing that His Majesty was furious and about to take real action, and shouted repeatedly.

"I won't do it again, I won't do it again."

"Let me go."

"I was just brought in to make up the numbers."

Chen Wang cried out, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what I have said is the law of Heaven. The crimes of the Divine Martial General have angered Heaven and the people!"

"Drag them away!" the emperor roared.

Lin Fan said softly, "Your Majesty, there's no need for this. Just send them away."

The emperor took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "My dear minister, you are too merciful, which is why you have been bullied like this. I shall protect my beloved minister. These scholars, instead of studying hard and serving the country, have banded together to attack my beloved minister who is bringing glory to the nation. This is a capital offense."

"Rest assured, my dear minister, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. No matter who is behind it, I will make them pay the price."

The word 'cost' was emphasized very heavily.

The surrounding officials heard it clearly and felt a sudden tremor in their hearts.

They understood that the emperor was thoroughly enraged.

The aging emperor has become very mild-mannered in recent years, often turning major issues into minor ones and minor ones into nothing. He has also not killed anyone in a long time. Unconsciously, they have come to think that the emperor seems to be very easy to talk to.

Some officials have also discussed behind his back that His Majesty seems to be showing signs of becoming a tyrannical ruler as he gets older, and his control over the court is not as strict as it used to be.

At this moment, the royal historian was making records.

The emperor turned to look at him, "Wang, the historian, how did you record this?"

The historian Wang said, “Your Majesty, I have recorded the facts as they are. These scholars do not study for the country, but instead attack the great general who has rendered meritorious service to the country. I have recorded Chen Wang’s name so that he will be infamous for ten thousand years.”

"Um……"

The emperor nodded in satisfaction.

The eldest prince, who was accompanying the group, was taken aback. No, this was not what he had expected.

The imperial carriage continued its journey.

The Grand Tutor did not follow closely, but instead pulled the eldest prince aside and asked softly, "Your Highness, tell this old minister the truth, did you do this?"

The eldest prince was startled and shook his head, saying, "Grand Tutor, I didn't do it."

The Grand Tutor stared intently into the Crown Prince's eyes. After a moment, he said, "Very well, then this old minister believes in Your Highness. You must not oppose him now. His Majesty just now truly showed murderous intent. You must know that although you are the Crown Prince, the throne is not something that can be passed down to anyone but you. The strategy needs to be adjusted. From now on, this old minister will treat Lin Fan with utmost respect, while you need to do everything in your power to win him over. Even if you cannot win him over, you must at least make him neutral, otherwise it will be too late."

"Grand Tutor, I understand." The First Prince nodded.

……

night.

As an exception, the emperor held a banquet in the palace, with three thousand soldiers in attendance. Although it was outdoors, it was something these soldiers could never have imagined in their entire lives.

At this moment, the most excited person was none other than Lieutenant General Liu.

His face was flushed, and he trembled with excitement. He had never been to the capital in his life, let alone been personally ordered by the emperor to host a banquet in the palace for all of them.

Now, many soldiers are whispering among themselves.

"Are you dreaming? We can really eat in the palace?"

"Nonsense, aren't we right here now?"

"I really want to tell my parents how successful I am now."

“That’s right. As long as I go back and tell my parents about this, my family will definitely put a separate page for me in the family genealogy.”

Just as they were getting excited, the eunuch's shrill voice rang out, "His Majesty has arrived."

In an instant.

The soldiers fell silent, all turning their gazes toward the inner city wall of the palace.

The emperor looked down with a smile on his face and said, “My soldiers, you have done a great job in suppressing the Japanese pirates. I am very pleased. Come, drink this wine to the brim. I toast you all.”

A eunuch stood respectfully to the side, holding a tray with a cup of wine on it.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The soldiers said respectfully.

The emperor said, "You soldiers have made great contributions under my divine and mighty general, and you should naturally be rewarded. Proclaim the decree."

The eunuch stood on the city wall, holding the imperial edict. He opened the edict and read it aloud.

The soldiers below listened intently.

When they heard the contents, they all became very excited.

The reward for an ordinary soldier was thirty taels of silver.

This was the amount of money they could earn in several years, and they were even given official positions, albeit insignificant ones. But for them, it was enough to make them so excited that they couldn't sleep.

What's even more unbelievable to them is...

They actually want to build a monument to commemorate the victory against the Japanese pirates in their hometown, and engrave all their names on it.

Upon hearing this news, all the soldiers were so excited they almost jumped for joy. If the emperor hadn't been there, they probably would have rolled around on the ground in excitement.

The emperor said, “Soldiers, this monument commemorating the victory against the Japanese pirates was proposed by your great general. From now on, you will be incorporated into the Divine Martial Division. You must train hard and do your job well in order to repay the great general’s kindness.”

The soldiers shouted, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, General!"

Standing on the city wall, Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, it's getting cold at night. Let's go back to the palace first."

"Hmm." The emperor nodded.

……

At the palace banquet.

The emperor sat in the main seat, with Lin Fan on his left and the empress on his right. The eldest prince, the second prince, and even the grand tutor sat below.

The banquet seemed to have a pleasant atmosphere.

But the eldest prince always felt something was wrong. He found that his father’s gaze was always fixed on him like a knife. It was not a knife that had been sheathed, but a knife that had been drawn and sharpened to a very sharp point.

The eldest prince, who had excellent facial expression control, was originally all smiles.

But under the emperor's gaze.

He kept his head down, his eyes darting around, avoiding eye contact.

Lin Fan leisurely ate the food in front of him, then suddenly took out some snacks and put them in his mouth. His poison resistance had now reached LV3, and he had made more than halfway through the process.

Reaching LV4 is only a matter of time.

"Your Majesty, I heard that the envoy from Mengye Kingdom is still in the capital?" Lin Fan asked, changing the subject.

The Emperor said, "Hmm, the envoy is still here, wanting to ransom Tudan. What do you think, my dear minister?"

Lin Fan smiled and said, "Let them redeem him. I don't care. That Tudan is nothing special. I can capture him and bring him back. It's just a matter of whether I want to or not."

"Haha, as expected of my divine and mighty general, truly the best in the world." The emperor laughed, he just loved his beloved minister's domineering nature. Now that his beloved minister was here, the sense of oppression that Mengye Kingdom gave to the Central Plains Dynasty had long been forgotten by him, and he didn't care about it at all.

Even the pressure from the Grand Tutor and Qin Li seemed insignificant.

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty flatters me. May I ask what Mengye Kingdom intends to offer in exchange?"

The emperor said, "King Meng is willing to cede the mountain gate, along with cattle, sheep, and warhorses..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan pondered. Shanmen Pass was indeed a crucial border pass; capturing it would significantly enhance the border security of the Central Plains Dynasty. As for cattle, sheep, and warhorses, these were less important. Of course, the warhorses of Mengye Kingdom were far superior to those of the Central Plains Dynasty. In terms of cavalry, the Central Plains Dynasty was considerably weaker, primarily due to the lack of suitable warhorses.

"Your Majesty, it seems that Tudan is indeed very important to the Mongol King," Lin Fan said.

The emperor picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "Of course. Tudan is the symbol and pillar of the Mengye Kingdom, just like my beloved minister. They are both so important."

These words made Lin Fan smile.

The officials at the banquet looked at each other.

Look, this is how blatantly they're showing it now.

It was a blatant way of telling them that the Divine Martial General was the one I valued most.

You lot better not go looking for trouble and going against my great general, or you'll regret it.

Lin Fan said, "Your Majesty, since Mengye Kingdom is so sincere, let's agree to the exchange."

"Very well, I will do as you say, my dear minister," the emperor said.

time flies.

As the banquet drew to a close, the officials departed, and Lin Fan also left.

The emperor was still sitting upright in the main seat, his face slightly flushed, from drinking. The empress beside him said softly, "Your Majesty, it's time to rest."

The emperor did not reply.

The atmosphere remained very oppressive.

The second prince and the other princes looked at each other, realizing that something was wrong with the atmosphere. Their father was in a bad mood tonight. Although everyone was laughing and talking, they felt that his smiles were forced.

It looks like it was forced out.

"Come here and kneel down." The emperor looked at the eldest prince with a fierce gaze and imposing manner.

The eldest prince, who was sitting there, stood up shakily, not knowing what had happened for a moment, but still knelt down below the stage with trepidation.

"Your Majesty, this is..."

"Shut up!!!" the emperor roared.

The Empress was so frightened that her face turned deathly pale; she hadn't seen His Majesty so angry in a long time.

The emperor rose, walked to Commander Li, and with a clang, drew Commander Li's sword. He then approached the eldest prince step by step, frightening the prince into retreating repeatedly. "Father, Father, what have I done wrong?"

"You unfilial son, how dare you collude with Japan and leak the whereabouts of the Divine Warrior General! You truly deserve to die! I will kill you!" The emperor roared angrily, brandishing his sword, as if to kill the eldest prince.

The Empress rushed over and clung tightly to the Emperor's leg, crying, "Your Majesty..."

Many princes also knelt down, saying, "Father, no! How could my elder brother do such a rebellious thing? Father, there must be another reason behind this."

At this moment, the second prince also had to kneel down and beg the first prince for mercy.

He just didn't expect that the eldest prince would actually collude with Japan; this was simply too audacious.

This is a complete disregard for the Emperor.

The emperor, trembling, held his sword, the sharp blade pointing at the eldest prince. "Speak! Who exactly ordered you to collude with Japan? How could you, the eldest prince of the Central Plains dynasty, commit such a treasonous act?"

"Father, I didn't! Even if I had the guts of a bear and the gall of a leopard, I wouldn't dare to collude with Japan!" The eldest prince cried out, his face pale with fright.

I refuse to admit it, even if it kills me.

"Still being stubborn! My beloved minister destroyed the Toyotomi regime, Toyotomi Hideyoshi said it himself, and you still don't admit it?" The emperor's chest heaved, his emotions running high, his eyes wide open. He wouldn't be this angry over anything else, but how could he do something like this?
You can't even think about it.

"Father, I didn't do that! It must be Toyotomi Hideyoshi who stirred up trouble. How could I dare to do such a thing?" the eldest prince shouted.

"Fine, fine, even now you're still stubbornly denying it. Do you think this throne is rightfully yours?" The emperor angrily threw the sword in his hand in front of him. "Take your own life and go down to the underworld to beg forgiveness from our ancestors."

The eldest prince stared in horror at the long sword before him, not daring to touch it.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I beg you, this is our child!" The Empress never expected that such a devastating event would occur after the pleasant banquet.

"Shut up!" the emperor roared.

The eldest prince roared, "Father, I am your son! Why do you only believe the words of outsiders but not even the words of your own child? Is General Shenwu your real child?"

"He is arrogant and treats the court as his personal fiefdom. Who among the civil and military officials is not afraid of him? Could it be that Father Emperor intends to wait until after his death so that he can hold absolute power and even the emperor will be just his puppet?"

When he said this.

The princes, kneeling and begging with their heads bowed, all stared wide-eyed in shock at the eldest prince's words.

They only think about these things at most.

How could I dare to tell the truth?

"You scoundrel!!!" The emperor stepped forward and kicked the eldest prince to the ground. "You scoundrel, you are truly a scoundrel. I know better than any of you how my Divine Martial General is."

The eldest prince, his eyes red, got up and said, "Yes, yes, Father Emperor knows better than anyone else, which is why you dote on him and trust him more than we sons do. Since Father Emperor trusts him so much, then pass the throne to him, not to us, so that we won't be oppressed and controlled by him for the rest of our lives."

The Empress shouted frantically, "Stop talking! Kneel down and confess your sins to your father!"

The eldest prince roared, "What crime are you admitting? I am the eldest prince, the first son. The throne should rightfully be mine, but Father has refused to issue a decree, allowing us brothers to fight over it. Father, you are the supreme ruler, the master of the Central Plains Dynasty. You can keep this position for yourself and give it to whomever you want. Don't give it to us. Keep it for your Divine Martial General."

"You...you." The emperor was breathing rapidly, his chest heaving violently, and Commander Li quickly stepped forward to support him.

The Empress, even more frightened, cried out, "Your Majesty, please calm down, please calm down!"

The emperor said with difficulty, "Commander Li, seize him and send him to Cining Palace. He is not allowed to see anyone."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Soon, imperial guards entered and took the eldest prince away. At the same time, the imperial physicians rushed over, gave the emperor a full examination, and administered acupuncture treatment, which finally helped the emperor recover.

But judging from his pale face, it was clear that this matter had caused a great deal of anger.

The Empress was still pleading, but the Emperor didn't even glance at her. With the help of Commander Li, he left the palace banquet with difficulty.

The kneeling princes looked at each other, feeling terrified. None of them had expected the wrath of heaven to come so quickly, and what the eldest prince had said was not just treasonous, it was practically courting death.

The second prince felt no joy whatsoever; instead, he was filled with fear and unease.

After the eldest prince's outburst...

Their other princes will likely face similar difficulties.

……

Lin House.

In the courtyard, Ning Yu rested her chin on her hand, watching her master exercise. Suddenly, she was startled and rubbed her eyes, as if she had seen a ghost.

"Master, master..."

Lin Fan, who was ramming the wooden stake into his body, stopped what he was doing and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Ning Yu said, "Master, your body was emitting light just now. I saw the light flowing into your body."

"what?"

Lin Fan was taken aback. He looked down at the muscular body but didn't see anything wrong with it.

The biggest change just now was that I've mastered the basics of the Unity Body Refinement Method.

Of course, he didn't think Ning Yu would be wrong. Could it be that after entering the Guiyi Body Refining Method, there were other changes?
Sudden.

As if sensing something, he emptied his mind and allowed his body to reach a very relaxed state. Suddenly, he felt as if the power of the sun, moon, and stars was flowing into his body with the breathing of his internal organs.

With each breath he took.

Ning Yu rubbed her eyes again, and she saw that ray of light again, like a thin veil, slowly falling from the sky, clinging to her master's body, and then gradually fading away.

[Proficiency in the Unity Body Refinement Technique +1]

Ah!
Lin Fan suddenly opened his eyes, his expression one of astonishment.

What exactly is going on?

Without needing any external force to strike him, simply by actively allowing his internal organs to breathe, he could clearly feel subtle changes in his blood and veins.

This feeling came from above his head. He looked at the starry sky and blinked. Could it be that after mastering the Unity Body Refinement Technique, he could actively sense and absorb the power of the sun, moon and stars?
He then continued to try.

After a long time.

[Proficiency in the Unity Body Refinement Technique +1]

Lin Fan laughed loudly, "Disciple, your master is about to succeed."

"Master, what's going on?" Ning Yu's eyes widened. She knew her master wasn't human and was definitely hiding something good.

Lin Fan shook his head, "I don't know either."

"what?"

"I'm completely baffled right now and don't know the specifics, but don't worry, as I gradually come to understand, I'll find a way to help you out," Lin Fan said.

Ning Yu exclaimed excitedly, "Is it possible for me to be able to smash someone to pieces with a single blow, just like my master?"

"Don't be so rude all the time. It's so cruel to beat people up. Go to sleep first. I need to think about this," Lin Fan said.

"Master, I won't bother you. I'll just watch and you can figure it out."

Ning Yu never expected that when she watched her master train, she would see a radiance flowing into her master's body.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes...

She couldn't believe it.

at this time.

Lin Fan fell into deep thought, completely clueless, or rather, unable to understand it.

Is this spiritual energy?
No, it's definitely not spiritual energy, because he could feel that this power was drawn from the sun, moon, and stars, and he didn't feel any flow of spiritual energy within his body.

If one cultivates immortality, wouldn't it be about condensing spiritual energy within one's body, and then being able to feel a river of spiritual energy within one's body, like a small stream?
But he didn't feel it at all.

Strange, what exactly is going on?
Think of this.

He got dressed and prepared to go to the dungeon to see Tudan.

"Master, where are you going?"

"If you have something to do, go to sleep. Don't follow me. Listen to your master."

"Oh!!!"

……

Grand Master's Mansion.

Just as the Grand Tutor was about to fall asleep, the steward rushed over and said, "Master, the Empress has arrived and is already in the study."

"what!?"

Upon hearing that it was the Empress, the Grand Tutor was immediately startled, and a sense of foreboding arose within him.

The scariest thing in life is when someone suddenly arrives at night.

If Lin Fan knew the Grand Tutor's thoughts, he would definitely agree with them, because what children fear most is receiving a phone call from home in the middle of the night, and what parents fear most is their children who contact them once a week suddenly starting to call more frequently.

This must mean that something has happened.

The Grand Tutor hastily threw on a robe and rushed to the study. But when he reached the door, he took a deep breath, slowly pushed the door open, and respectfully said, "This old minister greets Your Majesty the Empress. May I ask what brings Your Majesty here so late at night?"

He noticed that the Empress's expression was very unpleasant.

It was even somewhat pale.

The Empress said, "Grand Tutor, something has happened."

"Ah?" The Grand Tutor opened his mouth slightly and quickly asked, "Your Majesty, what has happened?"

"The eldest prince..." The Empress recounted what had happened after the palace banquet.

Pfft!
The Grand Tutor's body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground. He then struggled to his feet, walked to the chair, and sat down with trembling legs. "Your Majesty, this...this is not a joke, is it?"

"Grand Tutor, at this point, do you think I would joke with you?" the Empress said.

"Oh dear, the Crown Prince is so foolish! I have told him not to have such thoughts, but he won't listen. He even dares to say such treasonous things. What am I to do?"

The Grand Tutor was truly dumbfounded.

He has now placed all his bets on the eldest prince, and has even used all his power in the court to ensure that the eldest prince inherits the throne.

Logically, if everything goes smoothly, the second prince should not be able to compete with the first prince.

But now, the eldest prince is clearly stabbing himself three times with a knife.

Every cut draws blood; every cut is deadly.

The Empress said, "Grand Tutor, what do you think we should do now?"

The Grand Tutor's head was throbbing with pain, and his face was filled with despair. "Your Majesty, you ask this old minister what to do. This old minister also wants to know what to do. His Majesty has clearly decided to kill the First Prince. He is currently imprisoned in Cining Palace, which seems like he has been banished to the cold palace. But once His Majesty has recovered, I'm afraid things will get even more intense."

The Empress said, "Grand Tutor, you must think of a way."

The Grand Tutor frowned, increasingly at a loss for what to do. "Your Majesty, there is only one way now: to go to the Divine Martial General. If he speaks up, there may still be a glimmer of hope. But whether we can seize that glimmer of hope depends on whether the First Prince has the fate to do so."

"What does the Grand Tutor mean?"

The Grand Tutor said, "If General Shenwu is willing to plead for the Crown Prince, His Majesty will surely release him. After all, blood is thicker than water, and His Majesty may also want to find a way out. However, the throne is definitely out of the Crown Prince's reach. Time is the key to his survival. If from now on, the Crown Prince can treat General Shenwu honestly and respectfully, he may still have a chance."

This was the only solution the Grand Tutor could think of.

The Empress hesitated, "Should I plead on their behalf?"

The Grand Tutor shook his head and said, "No, Your Majesty, you should go to the Eighteenth Princess for this matter. The Eighteenth Princess has a good relationship with Ning Yu. Ning Yu can take Your Majesty to plead with Lin Fan. Perhaps that will be of some use."

"Then, I wonder if the Grand Tutor can come along?" the Empress asked.

The Grand Tutor shook his head and said, "No, he has a lot of grievances against me. If he sees me, he will definitely be angry. A good thing will turn into a bad thing. Your Majesty, based on my understanding of Lin Fan, he is a man who responds to gentleness but not to force. We must not force him, otherwise things will backfire and the consequences will be even more serious."

After hearing what the Grand Tutor said.

The Empress pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"understood."

"Your Majesty, please return to the palace immediately. His Majesty is currently very angry. Your Majesty should not mention the matter of the First Prince. Instead, stay by His Majesty's side and try to guide him to recall the warm moments he shared with the First Prince when he was young, or perhaps the affection he shared with Your Majesty. This might make His Majesty feel more reluctant to let go and thus give him a lighter punishment."

At this moment, the Grand Tutor's mind was racing, and his brains were steaming.

He only learned of this matter from the Empress Dowager; naturally, other officials would not have known.

We need to minimize the impact as soon as possible.

The longer it drags on, the more problems are likely to arise.

After the Empress left.

The Grand Tutor was wide awake and paced back and forth in his study, looking very uneasy. He was extremely anxious, as this matter would surely involve him as well.

"Oh dear, how foolish! How could I have never realized that the Crown Prince was so foolish?"

The Grand Tutor was truly furious.

The Second Prince must be laughing in his sleep now. After all, his strongest and most powerful rival has stabbed himself in the back. Who wouldn't laugh? Who could hold back?

At this moment, inside the dungeon.

The jailer respectfully led Lin Fan to the deepest part of the dungeon.

"General, Tudan is inside. Just call me if you need anything," the jailer said respectfully.

"Yes, thank you for your trouble." Lin Fan took out a small piece of silver and handed it to the jailer.

"General, how could I dare to accept your money?"

"Take it."

"Eh."

The jailer accepted the silver coins respectfully and left to wait in a corner not far away.

Today, Tudan is bound tightly with iron chains.

As Lin Fan appeared, Tu An opened his eyes, his gaze as fierce as a beast's, staring intently at Lin Fan. Thinking of his own ordeal, he angrily shook the iron chains wildly.

"Lin Fan, if you have the guts, let me go and fight you one-on-one."

"Don't be silly. If I were to get serious, I could kill you with one punch. I'm here today because I have some questions for you. Just tell me honestly."

"Hmph, do you think I'd cooperate with you?"

"Is that so? Your Mongol king came to ransom you, and we agreed. If you really don't cooperate, this general will cripple your limbs, break your tendons and bones, and make you a cripple to go back to."

As soon as these words came out.

Tudan's fierce expression gradually faded, replaced by a clear one.

"Ask away, I'll tell you what I know."

(End of this chapter)