After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Upon hearing this, Chu Jingyu's thoughts seemed to be instantly pulled back to the day before his departure.

The emperor dismissed his attendants, leaving him alone.

"Yu'er, my throne will be yours sooner or later. This empire will be handed over to you sooner or later."

Emperor Cangqi's voice was extremely low, his tone obsessive and twisted, "But Xie Dai must die! His achievements are too great for the emperor, he holds considerable military power, and his intentions are despicable!"

"I merely did what I was supposed to do. For the stability of the empire, and so that you can firmly sit on this throne in the future!"

He gasped for breath, his eyes hardening with even more ruthlessness: "Go to Qingzhou and do two things for me. First, find Chen'er and bring him back alive. The Tiger Tally must also be retrieved!"

"Secondly, Xie Dai's death demands an explanation from both the court and the public!"

"Jiang Dusheng and Chen'er are entangled, and Jiang Dusheng possesses extraordinary abilities. Xie Dai is definitely an obstacle to their being together. Just pin everything on Jiang Dusheng, saying that she plotted to kill Xie Dai out of love turned to hate! As for the evidence..."

Emperor Cangqi revealed a chilling smile: "Abbot Hong'an will prepare everything for you."

"Remember, this is crucial to your securing your position as Crown Prince and your future smooth ascension to the throne! I don't care about the process, I only care about the result! This filthy mess caused by Xie Dai's death must be thoroughly cleansed!"

The words spoken that day, like a venomous snake, lingered in Chu Jingyu's heart.

At this moment, Abbot Hong'an saw that Chu Jingyu remained silent, his eyes shifted, and he secretly condensed golden light in his hand, which struck Chu Jingyu.

He then raised his voice, his tone becoming increasingly forceful:

"Your Highness, His Majesty's earnest entrustment is a matter of national importance, every word crucial to the stability of the nation! Have you... forgotten it?!"

"Are you really going to disregard the stability of the country, forget the bonds of father-son relationships, and put your own future and life in danger?!"

Every word is piercing to the heart, every sentence is like a knife.

Chu Jingyu clenched his fists, feeling a sudden fog in his mind.

Just then, a calm voice pierced through Hong An's aggressive words and entered Chu Jingyu's ears:

"Ming Zhao."

It was Xie Jinchen.

These two words struck Chu Jingyu like a sharp blade.

The image, almost buried deep in his memory, resurfaced in his mind.

In the magnificent palace, an elderly man with clear eyes held his still-childish hand.

"Yu'er, today I bestow upon you a single character—Mingzhao."

"Ming means to clearly distinguish right from wrong, to have a heart like a clear mirror, not to be blinded by evil or clouded by selfish desires; Zhao means to illuminate the world, to act like the sun and moon, to establish oneself with justice and to show others with openness."

"This throne is the most important thing in the world. The person who sits on it holds the power of life and death. With a single thought, they can decide the life and death of millions, and with a single word, they can determine the rise and fall of the nation..."

"But you must remember, what matters more than the throne are the hearts of the people and justice!"

"I hope that no matter what position you hold in the future, or what choices you face, you will never forget the word 'clarity'."

"To be a ruler whose heart is as clear as a mirror and as bright as the sun and moon, rather than... a lonely figure who only knows how to play power games and distrust loyal people."

The images in his mind faded, and Chu Jingyu suddenly raised his head, his confusion and struggle instantly replaced by clarity.

Meeting Abbot Hong'an's piercing gaze, he suddenly tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a cold smile:

"Of course I remember."

These five words made Abbot Hong'an secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Ultimately, he was young and could not defy His Majesty's secret orders and pressure.

However, Chu Jingyu's next words instantly froze his smile on his face.

"I remember every word of my father's instructions," Chu Jingyu's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unprecedented iron will:

"But I remember even more that as the Crown Prince of Xicang, I bear the responsibility for the Chu dynasty's empire, the safety and well-being of hundreds of millions of people, and the fate of this world—"

He paused, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over Xie Jinchen before finally fixing on Hong An's face, uttering each word slowly and deliberately:

"Justice prevails!"

As soon as he finished speaking, facing the Imperial Guards he had brought, his voice suddenly rose, filled with a dignified and righteous aura:

"Someone come here!"

He shouted sharply, his finger suddenly pointing at Abbot Hong'an and the monks beside him:

"Capture all those heretical monks from the Protectorate Temple who are spreading falsehoods and plotting to assassinate me and Prince Xie!"

Chu Jingyu paused briefly, then added, his killing intent palpable:

"Any resistance will be met with death!"

Upon hearing this, Ling Han's expression changed drastically. He abandoned all pretense of etiquette, abruptly straightened up, and stared at Chu Jingyu in disbelief, exclaiming:

"Your Highness! Are you...are you defying the imperial decree?! Are you going to rebel too?!"

The hundreds of imperial guards behind him were also in an uproar, many looking at each other in bewilderment.

Chu Jingyu remained unfazed, his gaze sweeping over the agitated Imperial Guards. His voice, steady and powerful, drowned out the commotion:

"Listen, my lords! It is not that I intend to rebel, but that the wicked monks of the Protectorate Temple, under the guise of Buddhism, are bewitching the emperor, framing the pillars of the nation, and murdering the descendants of loyal officials. Their actions deserve to be punished!"

He abruptly raised his hand, pointing at Hong An again, his words like knives: "This man, though called Abbot, is in reality a demon!"

"You all witnessed firsthand how his disciples acted with ruthlessness, attempting to take lives without asking any questions! He himself even held His Majesty hostage, forcing the Crown Prince into a private conversation. How is his behavior any different from that of a treacherous minister?!"

"Today, I, Chu Jingyu, stand here in the name of the Crown Prince of Xicang..." His words were resounding, "to purge the court of corrupt officials, eliminate evil influences, restore order, rectify the court, and bring peace to the world!"

"Fellow soldiers!" Chu Jingyu's gaze burned fiercely, like a blazing flame. "You who eat the king's food are obligated to serve him. You should be able to distinguish between loyalty and treachery, and uphold the righteous path!"

"Today, follow me to eliminate the treacherous officials; tomorrow, history will record your merits in protecting the nation and upholding justice! Those who hesitate, fail to act, or even aid and abet the wicked..."

His tone suddenly turned stern: "They are guilty of the same crime as these wicked monks! It is considered treason, and their entire family will be executed!"

Just then, about two hundred of the five hundred imperial guards originally under Ling Han's command silently moved and stood neatly behind the crown prince, turning their weapons around.

Clearly, the Crown Prince had already made arrangements in secret after leaving Changling, replacing some of the Imperial Guards in key positions.

Ling Han was left with less than three hundred people, many of whom looked hesitant.

Seeing this, Ling Han's face darkened completely. He slowly stood up and looked at the cold-faced Crown Prince opposite him:

"This humble servant was unaware that Your Highness possessed such shrewdness, secretly replacing so many people."

He suddenly drew his long sword from his waist, its blade gleaming, and pointed it at the prince:

"Fellow soldiers!" Ling Han shouted, his voice echoing throughout the valley, attempting to bolster his troops' morale.

"Look carefully! His Highness the Crown Prince has long since betrayed his emperor and father, secretly plotting and scheming against the emperor!"

"How can such disloyal, unfilial, and immoral individuals be fit to be the Crown Prince of Xicang?! We are deeply grateful for the Emperor's favor and enjoy the court's stipends; we should be loyal to the Emperor!"

His gaze swept over Abbot Hong'an, and after receiving a tacit nod from the man, he gave a stern order:

"Everyone, listen to my command! Assist Abbot Hong'an in capturing the Crown Prince and Xie Jinchen alive! As for that vixen Jiang Dusheng, kill her without mercy!"

"kill!"

The less than three hundred imperial guards around him roared and charged towards the Crown Prince's camp.