Chapter 294: Chapter 210: Golden Qilin Young Dragon, The Crown Prince’s Aura, Condensing the Dragon Soul, Shaping the Dragon Bone

"A declaration for the nation?"

"Does Lu Mingyuan have that kind of power?"

"*Hiss*... Did I hear that right? Lu Mingyuan is actually going to make a declaration for the nation?"

"Throughout history, it’s common for people to establish their own doctrines, but a doctrine for the nation? That’s unheard of! What is he trying to do?"

"Establishing one’s own doctrine is the act of a Saint. But someone to declare a doctrine for the nation... that has truly never happened before."

As Lu Mingyuan’s voice rang out, countless people were utterly shocked.

If Lu Mingyuan were simply establishing his own doctrine today, spouting some passionate, zealous words, they would have said nothing. They wouldn’t have been so shocked, just assuming it was the overjoyed ravings of someone who had just secured the position of Crown Prince.

But what Lu Mingyuan was doing now...

...was making a declaration for the nation.

What did that even mean?

None of the civil and military officials in the entire Imperial Court would dare make a declaration for the nation. Among all the scholars in the world, there are plenty with great prestige and respect, are there not?

Who would dare claim to make a declaration for the nation? They haven’t even established their own doctrine to become a Saint, yet they want to establish one for the country?

But he, Lu Mingyuan, dared.

Not only did he dare, but he had also manifested such a terrifying phenomenon of Destiny.

「At the northern gate of the Imperial Palace.」

Having left the Cold Palace, Lu Mingyuan took his first step out of the Imperial Palace and breathed the air outside for the first time. He took a deep breath.

He savored this hard-won freedom.

’I just want to live a happy life. What’s so wrong with that?’

’Why do you all have to force my hand!?’

’This Crown Prince nonsense...’

’This marriage alliance farce...’

’It’s all bullshit.’

’Once I endure long enough to become a Thirteenth Realm Martial Saint, I’ll be the one calling the shots in Great Yan, naturally.’

’Father Emperor, your son will not forget what you have done behind the scenes today.’

Unfortunately, the heavens had not given him that chance.

An extraordinary figure stepped out of the Imperial Palace, flanked by three maids, each beautiful in her own way. It was Lu Mingyuan, dressed in a deep red Crown Prince’s Python Robe with a jade belt circling his waist. His hands were clasped behind his back, his dragon-crested crown stood tall, and his posture was striking, his face radiating vigor and ambition.

His eyes were like stars, bright and piercing. His features were like those of a deity, and he carried the air of an Exiled Immortal.

But he did not stand still. Instead, he proclaimed in a loud voice:

"Before Great Yan received the Celestial Mandate, it rose from the Ten Kingdoms. It inherited the legacy of the Great Zhou and ushered in an age of prosperity. The Grand Ancestor founded our nation, saving the common people from the depths of fire and water."

"The soul of Great Yan is indelible."

"The shame of the border’s Great Wall must not be forgotten."

"Recently, I have heard that the Holy Netherworld proposes a marriage alliance. I consulted our ancestors; in the seven generations of Emperors since the Grand Ancestor of Great Yan, there has never been a marriage alliance. I, Lu Mingyuan, may be a mere profligate, ignorant of state affairs and military matters, but I know honor from disgrace. As an unworthy descendant, I pray that the spirit of Great Yan’s Grand Ancestor manifests in this world to forge the soul of our Central Plains!"

"The first doctrine of the Great Yan Country:"

"No marriage alliances!"

The moment Lu Mingyuan spoke these words, the three maids at his side helped relay the message, projecting his voice across the Imperial Capital.

His voice instantly spread throughout the entire Imperial City.

「At the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy.」

Fairy Ci Hang, Sui Yuqing, watched it all unfold, her eyes filled with shock.

A few days ago, she had learned from Yun Qinghe that Lu Mingyuan had developed a deep-seated grievance over the marriage alliance.

The Sixth Prince, it seemed, had not wanted to leave the palace so soon.

But because of the Great Nether Empress...

...who had specifically requested that he marry into her court.

This, along with the early confirmation of his status as Crown Prince, had put Lu Mingyuan in his current difficult position.

So, she had performed a divination.

The resulting hexagram, however, was complex.

’Perhaps this is the ’difficulty’ the Yuqing Ancestor Master spoke of?’

She had hoped to help Lu Mingyuan overcome his predicament. However, in her view, his dilemma was quite difficult to resolve and would require a certain amount of time. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Yet she never expected that Lu Mingyuan would refuse to compromise. He didn’t just accept the marriage alliance, nor did he simply take the title of Crown Prince and suffer in silence. Instead, he shattered the rules, and the very first thing he did was to make a declaration for the nation.

Sui Yuqing had more or less guessed Lu Mingyuan’s purpose in doing this.

It was for self-preservation.

If he hadn’t done this, he might have truly been at the mercy of the Cabinet, forced to marry into the Demon Country to ensure the stability of the Great Yan empire, becoming a sacrifice for the current Holy Emperor.

After all, there were far too many people in Great Yan who looked down on him.

’This is a difficulty I couldn’t have imagined.’

Sui Yuqing had also thought long and hard about the marriage alliance, wondering what she would do in his place, but she could not come up with a single solution. She also believed the marriage alliance was improper, but she couldn’t find a way to resolve the matter.

She could only remain silent.

The higher one’s status, the more one had to consider. A momentary rush of passion or a fit of pique could not solve these problems.

Especially since she herself was no longer a young girl.

Maturity had made her consider many things, had given her reservations.

But Lu Mingyuan had done what many wished to do but did not dare.

He had broken the rules.

He intended to use his position as Crown Prince to tell everyone in the world:

He would never marry into another court in a marriage alliance!

「Within the Cabinet.」

Listening to Lu Mingyuan’s voice, Chief Minister Yuan Xuangang fell silent.

If Lu Mingyuan’s national declaration succeeded today, it would bring immense changes to the Imperial Court.

As the Holy Emperor’s hatchet man, he was naturally aware of how much power Lu Mingyuan now commanded, with the schemes of numerous factions surrounding him. To the Holy Emperor, this might not be cause for alarm.

But for him, it was like walking on thin ice.

He was one of the masterminds behind the push for the marriage alliance.

The Holy Emperor’s tacit approval was, in truth, a way to avoid the curses of the common people. That infamy could only be shouldered by him.

This was his sole purpose in the position of Chief Minister.

If this Prince Huai’an were to truly take control of the Eastern Palace, heaven knows what would happen.

’Would he come to settle scores with me?’

’I don’t know.’

He fell silent, countless calculations flashing through his mind in an instant.

But at this very moment in the Great Yan Capital, everyone was staring dazedly at Lu Mingyuan.