My Cultivation Starting from Archery-Chapter 708 - 223: Chaos Under Heaven_6

"Dad, don't be afraid, our family is safe!"

Yan Maoxing comforted, "The original matter was handled cleanly, and Fang Qingyun is just bluffing with inadequate evidence. I have already reached an agreement with Prince Qi and Prince Qin to devise a plan to frame Ming Qingfeng for this."

Elder Yan remained silent, continuing to feed the birds.

"Dad, oh Dad, why aren't you saying anything? Could it be that you really are prepared to wait for death? Forget it! You are old now, and some things are indeed too much for you to handle. Leave them to me! I'll write a letter right now, find a general from the Three Prefectures to provide false testimony, and stir the waters first!"

Having spoken, Yan Maoxing rushed into the study in the courtyard, just as he was about to grind ink at the desk when he froze as he crossed the threshold.

Only to see...

On the desk, there was a tray with a background of golden silk and on top of the gold foil, strikingly lay a piece of white silk and a pot of Imperial Wine, offering a choice between the two.

"Dad, is this, this from the palace?"

Yan Maoxing was somewhat unsteady, supporting himself against the doorframe, "What does this mean? What are they implying? After all that the Yan Family has done for them, the moment there's trouble..."

"It was I who volunteered for death."

The elderly voice of Elder Yan echoed quietly, utterly calm, "I was already nearing the grave. His Majesty is benevolent. As long as after I die, you head to Beiliang and find Changqing, the two of you should flee to West Qi, assume new identities, and refrain from government posts. The silver we have saved over the years will be enough for a lifetime of wealth."

"Quick, go and pack."

"The palace has given me three days, you have three days to leave the Capital City."

...

Duke Wu'an Mansion.

Inside the pavilion.

In front of the chessboard.

"Your Highness, it's time to make a move."

Fang Qingyun slowly picked up a chess piece, "If my estimations are correct, His Majesty has already ordered the death of Elder Yan."

"Same old principle, 'Yan' can only ever be 'overthrown', never truly 'executed'."

"Otherwise, with Elder Yan's death, and additional orders to attack Dongqing to lessen the Spiritual Grain tax, things would become extremely complicated."

"His Majesty is officially heading to Kunlun Mountain tomorrow. We strike en route, whether successful or not, we'll proceed as previously discussed, using Prince Qin and Prince Qi as shields."

"All of us...

"Can then claim just cause."

"Snap!"

He finished speaking.

The chess piece fell heavily.

"Of course, I have made arrangements," said King Yan Cao Zhi, playing with a chess piece and arching his eyebrows, "My fourth and eighth brothers are complete fools, truly more useful than our own men. They'll do whatever they're asked."

"But~"

He paused, "After things escalate, it might not be safe for General Fang to stay in the Capital City alone. Why not leave with us? It'll be beneficial when we raise an army later on, and we will also need Mr. Fang, this Phoenix, to strategize."

"Why not."

Fang Qingyun picked up a Jade Flute from beside the chessboard, "Then, I'll await your command, Your Highness."

...

The seventy-sixth year of Longqing, September 14th.

Emperor Dasheng set off toward Kunlun Mountain to engage in secluded cultivation, burning incense and praying along the way and notifying all the populace.

Suddenly, above the clear sky, a Sword Cultivator appeared, his power surging, already exceeding the Qi Refining 12th Layer.

He stood in mid-air, his voice booming:

"Cao Kai, Cui Zhichen of Seeking Immortal Tower, I've come for your life—"

He finished speaking.

A sword slashed down.

"Assassin!"

"Assassins!"

"Clang—"

The sound of swords being drawn was incessant.

Several other cultivators appeared in the sky.

For a moment, mana surged, and swords sparkled.

Eventually.

Both sides suffered injuries.

Seeking Immortal Tower Cultivators escaped far away, the attempt to extract the Dragon Abyss Sword and assassinate failed.

Emperor Longqing also received injuries, and withdrew from public view to continue his seclusion.

On the same day.

Under instigation, Prince Qi and Prince Qin, along with Yan Maoxing, conspired to assassinate King Jin Cao Huan.

Cao Huan, protected by King Yan Cao Zhi, escaped the Capital City overnight.

Since then, Prince Qi, Prince Qin, along with the Yan Party, controlled the court, refusing to die, causing outrage throughout the realm.

King Jin Cao Huan and King Yan Cao Zhi, fled to the Eastern region, and with the support of local military officers and noble clans under the banner of "Purging the Imperial Side", they rallied an army of eighty thousand, taking control of three states.

"Indeed."

Cao Zhi reminisced about the assassination attempt, "With our strength, we still weren't enough to kill my father, not even able to force out the Dragon Abyss Sword, but thankfully, Mr. Fang had planned ahead. This chaos has now pulled everyone into the water, 'Prince Qin' 'Prince Qi' have become the Yan Party's men."

"If my father wants to kill Elder Yan and his son to calm the situation, what about killing Prince Qin and Prince Qi?"

"If he really kills these two brothers of mine, my sixth brother 'King Jin' and I, allied, would seem as though tied to the assassination attempt by Seeking Immortal Tower, to kill or not to kill?"

"If he kills everyone, the court will have no one left to use."

"Thus, Prince Qin and Prince Qi won't die, nor will Yan Liang and his son."

"My brother has an excellent reputation, no less than the former Crown Prince,targeted by the Yan party, causing outrage across the realm!"

"Once we launch a military campaign for vindication, we are assured of a just cause."

"A fine Phoenix, excellent strategizing, along with that White Robe, has stirred this realm into chaos!"

Thus far.

The people only knew that the Emperor was in seclusion, the Yan Party along with the foolish Princes Qin and Qi, brought calamity to the court, allowing righteous forces to rise in rebellion.

On September 26th in the seventy-sixth year of Longqing.

King Jin Cao Huan issued a decree, requesting aid from the White Robe of Liangzhou to purge the imperial side.

Liangzhou White Robe, righteous cause for taking up arms.

Late October of the same year.

Dongqing, Nan Xu, and West Qi seized the opportunity of the chaos within Dasheng, and attacked from three fronts.

This can truly be said to be, "When Sheng loses the White Robe, the whole world pursues."

Dragon City no longer had a flying general to safeguard the empire.

From then on, heroes rose up.

The realm was thrown into chaos!