Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 857: The Gradually Growing Great Dou Dynasty

After Shi Lei and the others turned themselves in under Lu Yang’s reformative influence, old, buried cases were unearthed one by one, all of which were acts committed by the Fifth Imperial Prince to win over people’s hearts.

The Ministry of Justice became even busier than when they were handling the Fourth Imperial Prince’s rebellion case.

The Fourth Imperial Prince’s rebellion was no small matter, but it was only a single case, with at most some trouble during the arrest.

But this time, it was different with the Fifth Imperial Prince. The cases were numerous, their scope broad, involving many officials in the imperial court.

The Ministry of Justice interrogated Shi Lei and the others through the night. The good news was that Shi Lei and the others displayed a good attitude, admitting their mistakes and answering every question. Furthermore, since Shi Lei and his group were responsible for the Fifth Imperial Prince’s dirty work, they possessed a large amount of evidence, saving the Ministry of Justice considerable effort.

~~~

The First Imperial Prince, Jiang Qun, somewhat regretted disguising himself as his father to sit on the imperial throne. The endless court documents, the bitter medicinal decoctions said to slightly prolong one’s lifespan, navigating the harem and maneuvering among the elders...

“Fortunately, the Right Chancellor and Left Chancellor are not in seclusion and can share some of the load for me.”

Many less important court documents were handled by the Right Chancellor and Left Chancellor, allowing the First Imperial Prince to catch his breath a little. Although handling these court documents wasn’t difficult for him, it was boring. And now, as he was using his father’s identity, there were many things he couldn’t do.

“Traveling incognito among the people is still better. I wonder how far Emperor Father has progressed.”

Jiang Qun opened a court document from the governor of Yù Province[1], reporting traces of Great Yu’s remnants in Yù Province, suspected to include a Great Yu Transcendent Tribulation cultivator. The provincial governor had contacted the army stationed in Yù Province to jointly search for Great Yu’s remnants. But considering the remnants’ strength was uncertain, he requested reinforcements from the imperial court.

“In that case, send the Luoshui Guard to Yù Province.”

Just as Jiang Qun prepared to review the next court document, Eunuch Li came to report. “Your Majesty, the Minister of Justice, Xu Xin, seeks an audience.”

“Let him in.”

Xu Xin entered the hall with measured steps and kowtowed to Jiang Qun. “Xu Xin pays respects to Your Majesty."

“Rise, Minister Xu.”

“Yes.”

“What brings you here, Minister Xu?”

Xu Xin produced a small booklet, which Eunuch Li then presented to Jiang Qun.

Receiving the booklet, Jiang Qun was slightly baffled. “This is?”

“Your Majesty, these are the crimes committed by the Fifth Imperial Prince.”

“Who?” Jiang Qun thought he misheard.

“The Fifth Imperial Prince, Jiang Tang.”

Startled, Jiang Qun quickly scanned the booklet with his spiritual consciousness, and his eyelid twitched. The booklet clearly listed the Fifth Imperial Prince’s various crimes, explaining many of the imperial court’s long-standing unsolved cases.

“Time is tight, and this subject was worried about alerting the enemy, so only some crimes have been verified with evidence.”

Even if these were only a portion of the crimes, they were significant enough. If all the crimes were substantiated, the Fifth Imperial Prince’s fate wouldn’t be much better than the Fourth Imperial Prince’s.

The only difference was that the Fifth Imperial Prince’s crimes didn’t require the nine familial exterminations, so Jiang Qun wouldn’t need to pardon himself again.

...Wait, Old Four’s matter just settled down. Why is it Old Five’s turn to act up?

I’ve only been the interim emperor for three days, and two brothers have fallen into my hands.

Emperor Father, why didn’t you deal with anyone when you were emperor? And why have all these matters come as soon as you left?

Throughout history, imperial princes serving as regent were not uncommon, but never had an imperial prince used the regency to deal with other imperial princes.

Dealing with one is fine, but dealing with two? How would later generations view this period of history?

“How did you uncover these things?” Jiang Qun knew Xu Xin was meticulous and reliable and that he wouldn’t fabricate things to deceive him.

Besides, even if he fabricates something, he wouldn’t dare fabricate something like this.

I’m just curious.

“The Fifth Imperial Prince’s retainers, Shi Lei and the others, confessed it all.”

“Shi Lei was that honest?” Jiang Qun furrowed his brows.

“According to Shi Lei and the others, Lu Yang persuaded them to turn themselves in at the Ministry of Justice.”

Jiang Qun couldn’t help but hold his forehead. Old Four’s matter was reported by Lu Yang, and Old Five’s matter is also connected to Lu Yang. Lu Yang, are you bent on sending all my brothers into prison to clear a path to the throne for me?

“Lu Yang alone persuaded them to turn themselves in?”

“That I don’t know. However, Shi Lei and the others said that when Lu Yang persuaded them, there was also a cultivator named Xia Tian present.”

Jiang Qun, “...”

Isn’t Xia Tian Emperor Father’s damned alias?

I knew this matter wasn’t so simple! It’s indeed Emperor Father’s intention!

~~~

In Luotian Forest, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy held a meeting, sitting in a circle with Ao Ling, Jiang Lianyi, Jin Caiwei, and the Xia Emperor.

“It’s rare for everyone to gather together. Today’s meeting has only one objective—I intend to establish a brand-new dynasty. I’ve even thought of the dynasty’s name; it’ll be called the Great Dou Dynasty.

Ao Ling and the other three straightened their backs slightly, startled by the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s words.

Some were shocked at the intention to establish a new dynasty, while others were shocked by the dynasty’s name.

“The sages said that the position of the ruler under heaven should belong to the virtuous. An innately virtuous person like me should become emperor.”

Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi clapped vigorously, their eyes blazing as they gazed at the Everlasting Immortal Fairy. Does Everlasting-jiejie finally have the heart to vie for supremacy?

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy flashed a smile and lowered her hands, signalling to Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi that they didn’t need to act like this. “

“Looking across the long river of history, every change of dynasty was filled with blood and fire, with the world plunged into abject misery. This goes against my will.”

The draft for the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s speech was written by Lu Yang in the mental space. While reading it, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy also improvised freely.

“I believe that establishing a brand-new dynasty doesn’t necessarily have to involve war; it can be achieved through peaceful means.

“For example, I once collaborated with the Fourth Imperial Prince and reported him for rebellion, planning to cause the Jiang Family to collapse by itself through the nine familiar exterminations.

“However, I didn’t expect the Jiang Family ancestor to have some methods, setting up a pardon system in advance and thwarting my plan. Truly an intractable opponent!

“But that’s fine. Nothing is smooth-sailing. The process of founding an enterprise is always arduous. I believe that as long as we’re united, no difficulty is insurmountable!”

Standing on the table, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy raised her hand and yelled, “Everyone, are you willing to follow me in establishing a new dynasty?!”

“I’m willing!”

Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi went without saying; whatever the Everlasting Immortal Fairy did, they would support her unconditionally.

“Good, then I shall appoint you two as grand generals.”

After shouting, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy hopped down from the table and looked at Jin Caiwei. “Little Tiger, what about you?”

Jin Caiwei had no particular thoughts about establishing a new dynasty. But since Ao Ling and Jiang Lianyi supported it, if she didn’t, she felt that she would lose face, something she couldn’t tolerate.

“I am also willing!”

“I shall also appoint you as a grand general.”

The four women simultaneously turned their gazes toward the Xia Emperor. Their eyes seemed to say, “And what about you?”

The Xia Emperor felt his scalp tingle under their stares. You’ve all agreed; if I disagree, wouldn’t that make it seem like I don’t fit in?

He had no choice but to slowly raise his hand. “I also agree.”

“I shall appoint you as Prime Minister.”

The Transcendent Tribulation cultivator responsible for secretly protecting the Xia Emperor witnessed this scene and clicked his tongue in amazement. Despite having lived several thousand years, he had never encountered something like this.

1. This is a different Yù Province from the one mentioned in previous chapters. Both are “yu” in English, but the one here uses the fourth tone, while the one in earlier chapters uses the third tone. To distinguish the two, I will use the pinyin version for the second Yu Province. ☜