Chapter 296: Chapter 211: The Hidden Dragon Mingyuan’s Day Has Come; Who Under Heaven Does Not Know Him

No one could have expected it.

With just five sentences, Lu Mingyuan had summoned the spirit of the Grand Ancestor of Great Yan from the ancestral temple.

He was blessed with a massive amount of Dragon Fortune, causing his cultivation to rise like the tide.

The Grand Ancestor’s achievements rivaled those of any founding Human Emperor in history.

The civil and military officials heard the commotion and watched everything unfold, utterly astonished.

They never imagined that Lu Mingyuan would make such a powerful national proclamation for Great Yan. ’How truly awe-inspiring!’

In the Imperial Palace, Emperor Yong’an mulled over those few sentences again and again. An unusual glint appeared in his eyes, and he then said with a faint smile:

"What a fine saying! ’The Emperor guards the nation’s gates! The King dies with his state!’"

"This sixth son of mine truly hides his strengths well. It seems my decision was correct after all. I really must push him to see what he’s truly made of."

Eunuch Yan, at his side, asked in confusion, "For Prince Huai’an’s words to summon the Grand Ancestor... But he isn’t well-read, nor is he an expert in the Great Yan National History, and he certainly doesn’t understand statecraft. How could he have uttered such a world-shaking proclamation? Your Majesty, could someone be advising him from behind the scenes?"

Emperor Yong’an gave him a casual glance. "Some things are not as they appear. It’s like my sixth son secretly practicing martial arts in the palace. What realm do you suppose he’s in now?"

Eunuch Yan recalled, "Ever since the Sixth Prince’s cultivation broke through to the Fifth Realm, a misty aura has surrounded him, making it impossible for anyone to discern his true level."

Emperor Yong’an narrowed his eyes. "Someone is shrouding the Celestial Secret for him."

Eunuch Yan thought for a moment. "Could it be the Tributor, the Sword Venerable?"

Emperor Yong’an said nonchalantly, "He’s not that capable. How would a mere Martial Artist be skilled in the techniques for concealing one’s destiny? My guess is, it’s someone from the Celestial Master’s Mansion."

Eunuch Yan said, "The Sixth Prince’s current Destiny has exceeded all expectations. It seems just as Your Majesty said—he has obtained the blessing of the Three Religions’ Destiny, and his Dragon Fortune has surged as a result. However, I am still most curious as to how he managed it."

"It’s something the other eight Princes failed to do. But Prince Huai’an... he did it."

Emperor Yong’an replied, "Qi Xingyan of the Li Sheng Lineage, Jiang Shan of the Great Golden Cicada Temple’s Seven Ancestors Lineage, and the Celestial Master’s Mansion of the Yuqing Lineage... all of them are legacies imbued with the rich Destiny accumulated over tens of thousands of years. That part is hardly surprising."

Eunuch Yan nodded. "It seems Your Majesty’s plan can proceed smoothly."

「Meanwhile.」

Lu Mingyuan’s voice rang out once more. "The Grand Ancestor has shown his divine presence! Rest assured, everyone! I, Lu Mingyuan, will absolutely not marry into the Holy Netherworld! I believe the Holy Emperor, in his divine wisdom and martial might, will give you all a satisfactory answer!"

His voice was sonorous and powerful, ringing in everyone’s ears.

At his words, the people of the Capital erupted, shouting at the top of their lungs:

"We pay homage to the Crown Prince!"

"We pay homage to the Crown Prince!"

Amidst the thunderous shouts, the people bowed to Lu Mingyuan again and again, showing their respect.

It was a clear sign that they had accepted this new Crown Prince.

At this moment, inside the Great Yan Imperial Palace, Emperor Yong’an said nothing more, nor did he show any intention of intervening.

He had never wanted the marriage alliance in the first place.

His was a dynasty founded on martial prowess; a political marriage was naturally out of the question.

In fact, the scheme to swap the prince could never have been carried out without his tacit approval.

The marriage alliance was simply a convenient ploy to draw Lu Mingyuan out into the open.

The only things he hadn’t anticipated were the Great Nether Empress’s insistence on having Lu Mingyuan...

...and Lu Mingyuan’s audacity to make a proclamation for the nation.

He had established such a towering image in the hearts of the common people.

A Crown Prince like that would not be so easy to control.

But circumstances had forced his hand. Now that the Grand Ancestor himself had appeared, he could not possibly object.

Besides, after ascending the throne, every Emperor in the dynasty’s history had strictly abided by the rules laid down by the Grand Ancestor.

This five-part proclamation had received the Grand Ancestor’s approval; it could not be ignored.

At this point, no one dared to voice any further complaints. They did not dare to defy the Grand Ancestor, much less the will of the people.

The people were already deeply dissatisfied with the marriage alliance. Now that the Grand Ancestor had intervened, the consequences for anyone who still refused to comply would be dire.

But just then, a voice unexpectedly rang out from the crowd.

He was dressed in tattered cyan robes, his former respectability long gone. Only the scholar’s coronet in his hair offered a hint of his "Confucian" origins.

His eyes, fixed on Lu Mingyuan, were filled with coldness and hatred, as if Lu Mingyuan had once committed some heinous act that had deeply wronged him.

"Lu Mingyuan."

"Do you have any idea what you’re doing?"

"By stopping this marriage alliance, you will plunge the Great Yan Dynasty and the Demon Country into war! There will be mountains of corpses and rivers of blood!"

"What is so wrong with this marriage alliance? Are you going to sacrifice countless lives for your own selfish words, your own selfish desires? I say you’re just a coward, afraid to die!"

The officials from the Ministry of Rites were shocked that someone would still dare to confront Lu Mingyuan at a time like this. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Lu Mingyuan’s Primordial Consciousness instantly locked onto the man’s figure. He looked vaguely familiar.

The Cyan-robed Scholar felt as if he were being watched by a ferocious beast, and his heart skipped a beat.

’So it’s him.’

Lu Mingyuan narrowed his eyes.

He recognized the man.

A Staff Officer of the Endless Pavilion, a remnant of Prince Jin’s faction.

The cyan-robed strategist, Gongyang Hu.

Lu Mingyuan had seen him before, back when he was working for the Endless Pavilion.

The man was a subordinate of Prince Jin, Lu Guangjing.

He had been Prince Jin’s right-hand man, a trusted confidant who had no doubt committed countless evil deeds in the shadows.

Given his identity, Lu Mingyuan could understand why the man hated him so much.

He had killed Lu Guangjing, causing the downfall of the Prince Jin’s Mansion.

Now, these underground rats had all lost their hiding places, so they were scurrying out to take their revenge on him.