Having many children brings many blessings; the struggle for power begins with marriage.

North Palace.

study.

Lu Chen sat at his desk and carefully organized the intelligence gathered over the past month regarding the disappearances of martial artists from the Great Xia Dynasty.

According to statistics from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the number of missing persons has exceeded 20,000.

These are over 20,000 martial artists of the fifth rank or above.

This event has shaken all the major dynasties, and some forces within the Great Xia territory have been so frightened that they have migrated to the Northern Kingdom or other dynasties.

As the Crown Prince who was in charge of the country, Lu Yi had already sent many people to investigate the matter, but they found nothing. It seemed that these people had really disappeared into thin air.

Of course, the people Lu Yi sent out to investigate were not from his faction. The situation in the capital was becoming increasingly dangerous, and his own people had to stay in the capital or nearby. What if something happened if he sent his people out to do something else?

The imperial court did not take this matter seriously, which left the forces behind it completely unrestrained. They became increasingly rampant, and even martial artists began to disappear in the capital.

Looking at the intelligence reports on the table, Lu Chen wondered if his father had also learned a similar technique to the Absorption Technique, which was why he captured so many martial artists and absorbed their power.

However, even if Emperor Xia had truly mastered the Absorption Technique, he still wouldn't have been able to become a Celestial Being through it.

To become a Celestial Being, one must pass the trials of this world. This is a hard requirement, and even Lu Chen, who has a system cheat, cannot bypass this requirement. Lu Chen does not believe that the Xia Emperor can bypass the trials of this world.

Of course, it is possible to temporarily elevate a person's strength to the Celestial Realm through certain means.

Lu Chen thought to himself, perhaps his father was worried that the Northern Kingdom would one day march south to compete for the throne, so he prepared in advance to deal with the Heavenly People of the Northern Kingdom.

At this moment, Lu Chen's gaze fell upon a piece of intelligence, which mainly concerned the heavy cavalry of Jiangnan.

After investigation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it was basically confirmed that the heavy cavalry did indeed go south to transport something. However, because the Embroidered Uniform Guards who conducted the investigation were only of the fifth rank or below, it was difficult to find out what the heavy cavalry were transporting.

Not only did the Embroidered Uniform Guard not know, but even no one in the imperial court knew why the heavy cavalry would march south. People only knew that it was an order from Emperor Xia. As for why Emperor Xia gave such an order, only Emperor Xia himself probably knew.

However, recently there have been many rumors within the Great Xia territory. Some say that the Xia Emperor discovered an island at sea inhabited by immortals, and that the heavy cavalry were actually transporting elixirs of immortality.

If Emperor Xia takes the elixir of immortality, his body may be restored.

This rumor made the princes even more restless. If Emperor Xia recovered, it would be even more difficult for them to seize the throne.

They had waited so long for Emperor Xia to be on the verge of death, only to hear that there was still hope for him. How could they not be anxious?

Lu Chen put down the intelligence in his hand, raised his hands, and rubbed his temples.

Martial artists of the fifth rank or above within the Great Xia territory are now too dangerous, which has restricted the actions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Investigating whether the disappearances of those martial artists are related to the Xia Emperor is not an easy task.

However, Lu Chen had a vague feeling that the large number of missing martial artists was likely related to the item that the Xia Emperor had ordered the heavy cavalry to transport back to the capital from Jiangnan.

The fact that these two events happened to coincide with each other inevitably raises suspicions, but he has no concrete evidence, and everything is currently just speculation.

At this moment, he muttered to himself, "Forget it, whatever he's doing, I'll lead my troops south as soon as Yao Yao and Nan Yan's child is born."

Lu Chen thought that after Yelü Nanyan and Xiao Wenyao's child was born, the system would most likely reward him with some troops and strongmen. With more soldiers and strongmen, his chances of going south would be greater.

"Your Highness, Commander Liang requests an audience!"

Hearing the maid's voice, Lu Chen snapped out of his reverie and said, "Come in."

Liang Zong immediately entered the study, and before he could even bow, Lu Chen asked, "Is there any news from the capital?"

Liang Zong replied, "Your Highness, our men still haven't found out what that heavy cavalry was escorting. I have some other news to share today."

Lu Chen asked, "What news?"

Liang Zong placed the note on Lu Chen's desk. Upon seeing that it was a note, Lu Chen knew it was a message sent by carrier pigeon, and it seemed to be particularly urgent information. Lu Chen immediately picked up the note and glanced at it.

Upon seeing the above content, Lu Chen frowned.

Two nights ago, Emperor Xia was poisoned and assassinated, but the assassin failed. After investigation, more than 100 people were found to be directly related to the incident, and all the evidence pointed to the Lin family as the culprit.

The entire Lin family is now under house arrest, and no one is allowed to leave. Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Xiuming have been taken to the prison to await interrogation.

This happened just two nights ago, and in less than a day, everyone involved has been identified. That's incredibly fast.

The key question is that the mastermind behind it all is actually Lin Gaoyuan?

This is clearly a frame-up.

Lin Gaoyuan had long since pledged allegiance to the Northern Kingdom. Since the Crown Prince took over the reins of government, he had kept a low profile in court. How could he possibly get involved in such matters?

It is obvious that someone sees the Lin family as an obstacle and wants to eliminate the entire Lin family.

Lu Chen pondered for a moment, wondering who was most likely to have orchestrated this event—the Crown Prince? Or one of the other princes?

However, he will most likely remain the crown prince.

Lin Gaoyuan has not yet made his stance clear. As far as the Crown Prince is concerned, Lin Gaoyuan is still on the Emperor Xia's side. Since the Emperor Xia fell ill, apart from the Imperial Advisor and those around the Emperor Xia, only the two prime ministers, Lin Gaoyuan and Zhao Wenhan, have been able to see the Emperor Xia.

Zhao Wenhan has clearly sided with the Crown Prince, so for the Crown Prince, Lin Gaoyuan is his biggest threat in the court. Therefore, he can take this opportunity to get rid of Lin Gaoyuan as well.

In this way, apart from the Imperial Advisor, only Zhao Wenhan could see the Xia Emperor, which prepared them for what they might do later.

For example, falsely conveying imperial edicts or altering imperial wills.

At this moment, Liang Zong asked, "Your Highness, should we save the Lin family?"

Liang Zong is the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and he has access to core intelligence. Therefore, he knows very well that Lin Gaoyuan is a man of the Northern King. Now that Lin Gaoyuan is imprisoned, the Embroidered Uniform Guard should probably take action.

Lu Chen thought for a moment and then said, "Not for now. My father will not see Lin Gaoyuan eliminated. However, if their lives are in danger, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will find a way to take the Lin family out of the capital."

Emperor Xia is not a fool. Lin Gaoyuan is a minister without a stance. As long as Lin Gaoyuan does not side with any of the princes, then Lin Gaoyuan is Emperor Xia's man.

Now that the Crown Prince wants to get rid of his people, how could Emperor Xia possibly agree? So Emperor Xia will most likely step in to protect the Lin family. Emperor Xia is just pretending to be sick, he's not really dead.

Liang Zong said, "I understand."

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

"Okay, go ahead and do your thing."

……

a few days later.

The Great Xia Dynasty, the capital city, the imperial prison.

Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Xiuming were locked in adjacent cells. Although they were imprisoned, the jailers treated them very politely and dared not do anything to them.

Lin Xiuming sat cross-legged on the ground and asked, "Father, what should we do now?"

Lin Gaoyuan lay on the bed, his eyes closed, and said calmly, "Keep waiting."

Seeing that Lin Gaoyuan didn't seem anxious at all, Lin Xiuming said in bewilderment, "Father, it's come to this point, why aren't you worried at all? Assassinating the emperor is a crime that will surely lead to the extermination of nine generations of your family."

Lin Gaoyuan chuckled and said, "What's the use of your anxiety now? Do you think you can escape from prison? If you really do escape, the Lin family's crimes will be confirmed."

Upon hearing Lin Gaoyuan's words, Lin Xiuming paused for a moment, then hesitated to speak.

At this moment, he clenched his fist and slammed it into the ground, instantly creating a crater.

Lin Xiuming was extremely resentful. His Lin family had done nothing wrong, yet they were accused of regicide.

Are they just supposed to wait to die in the prison now?

Seeing his son so agitated, Lin Gaoyuan said directly, "Xiuming, you don't really think you can destroy the Lin family with just that little bit of evidence, do you?"

Hearing his father's words, Lin Xiuming was stunned for a moment, then said, "Father, that's regicide, and so much evidence was found in our house. Isn't that enough to convict us?"

Lin Gaoyuan sneered and said, "His Majesty will not believe their framing tactics."

Lin Xiuming said, "But now His Majesty..."

Lin Xiuming didn't continue. He wanted to say that the Xia Emperor was about to die, so how could he care about the Lin family? The Crown Prince would most likely be the one to judge them next, and the Crown Prince probably had no intention of keeping the Lin family alive.

Lin Gaoyuan said, "Father knows what you want to say, but things are probably not as simple as you think. Haven't you noticed that the heavy cavalry of Great Xia went to Jiangnan?"

"Don't you think about who controls the heavy cavalry now?"

Lin Gaoyuan initially thought that Emperor Xia might have gone mad, but he didn't think Emperor Xia would die so soon.

When he learned that the Xia Emperor had mobilized heavy cavalry, he became even more convinced of his guess that the Xia Emperor was probably not at all harmless, but was plotting something.

So even though the Lin family was framed, Lin Gaoyuan was not flustered at all. He was one of the few ministers who had not yet taken sides. He did not belong to any prince's faction. He was Emperor Xia's man. Emperor Xia would not watch the Lin family be eliminated by the Crown Prince.

Next, the Crown Prince's faction is about to run into trouble. They poison the Xia Emperor and attempt to seize power. Lu Yi's reign as Crown Prince is over.

Just then, the clanging of chains came from not far away.

Realizing that someone else had come in, Lin Gaoyuan stopped talking.

The next moment, familiar figures appeared in front of Lin Gaoyuan and his son.

Zhao Wenhan was dressed in prison clothes, and his entire body, including his hands and feet, was shackled.

Seeing this, Lin Gaoyuan laughed heartily and then said, "Lord Zhao, what brings you here to keep me company?"

Hearing this, Zhao Wenhan glared at Lin Gaoyuan with venomous eyes, then sneered, "Lin, don't be too smug. The Northern King has already sided with the Crown Prince. Even if you leave now, you'll be back sooner or later!"

Just then, the jailer arrived at the cell door where Lin Gaoyuan was being held, opened the door, and bowed and scraped as he said to Lin Gaoyuan, "Prime Minister Lin, the matter has been investigated and cleared up. You may leave now."

Lin Gaoyuan got out of bed without hesitation and walked straight out. Once in the corridor, he said to Zhao Wenhan, "Lord Zhao, even dragons have scales that cannot be touched; to touch them is certain death. You've served His Majesty for decades; don't you understand this principle?"

"Once you're in here, the only way out will be to the execution ground."

After saying this, Lin Gaoyuan walked straight outside, ignoring Zhao Wenhan's curses.

In the following days, the Lin family was exonerated, and Lin Gaoyuan returned to the court. However, the Crown Prince's faction was either killed or arrested.

Although Lu Yi has not yet been deposed as crown prince and is still overseeing the country, Lu Yi already has a very strong sense of crisis.

If the rumors are true, and there really is such a thing as an elixir of immortality, then if he continues to wait, his father will surely return to the court, and he, as the crown prince, will surely be deposed!

No! He can't just sit here and wait to die!

He was determined to get to that position no matter what!

Over the next month, Lu Yi tried to win over Situ Ce while also trying to get close to the Grandmaster of the royal family, and later won over some military generals.

In order to avoid suffering the same fate as the Eighth Prince, Lu Yi contacted Lu Chen in advance, telling him that if he failed, he would flee to the Northern Kingdom.

Finally, when Lu Yi felt everything was ready, he led his troops straight into the palace one night.

...(End of this chapter)