Chapter 304: Chapter 214: Mr. Shuijing’s Recommendation, Talent for Assisting the King, Sect Leader of the White Lotus Ancient Sect

All the ministers who had resigned were escorted to prison by the Imperial Guard.

The hall fell utterly silent.

Save for the clatter of armor outside, there was no other sound.

「A quarter of an hour later.」

Lu Mingyuan, who had occupied the Chief Minister’s seat, tore his gaze from the empty Dragon Throne. He rose to his feet and faced the remaining ministers, his eyes sharp as he declared:

"Do any of you have any objections?"

His cold tone made it clear this was not a negotiation.

The ministers exchanged glances. Though their hearts seethed with a thousand complaints, none dared to voice an objection.

They were afraid the Crown Prince would order them to be dragged out of the hall right then and there.

A new official always makes a show of force upon taking office.

To say nothing of a Crown Prince assuming power?

Lu Mingyuan’s gaze swept across the court. Seeing that no one dared to meet his eyes, he declared with a flick of his wide sleeve:

"Since there are no objections, we will proceed according to the imperial edict."

"Court dismissed!"

The matter of establishing the Eastern Palace Mansion was thus decided, allowing for no delay.

Without the Cabinet’s meddling, Lu Mingyuan brought the court session to a swift conclusion.

「After the court session ended.」

A young Celestial Master was waiting in the rear hall, dressed in a white Daoist robe with a Peach Wood Sword slung across his back.

Lu Mingyuan recognized him at a glance.

Xu Changqing, Vice Mountain Master of the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy and one of the twelve Celestial Masters of the Celestial Master’s Mansion.

He had remained at the entrance, clearly having something to say.

Few from the Three Academies ever held official posts. Their primary role was to maintain order within the Great Yan Dynasty. Even when they attended the Imperial Court, they were little more than window dressing, uninvolved in any political activities. Only if a terrifying Demon appeared, or if the Demon Dao carved out its own territory, might they step forward and offer their services.

In truth, this was the case for the vast majority of officials. There were very few who could both propose and implement new policies.

’That’s why my father, the Emperor, felt at ease handing the Supreme Authority of Regency to me. He was certain I would be unable to accomplish anything in the Imperial Court.’

"Ah, Celestial Master Xu."

Lu Mingyuan was quite courteous toward the young Celestial Master; after all, the man had helped him during one of his lowest points.

’If I could persuade him to join the Eastern Palace,’ Lu Mingyuan thought, ’he would be a powerful asset.’

It was a known fact that only those who had surpassed the Twelfth Realm were qualified to be called a Celestial Master.

In total, the Celestial Master’s Mansion had no more than twelve such masters.

The most powerful of them all was the Elder Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, an existence on par with Daoist Monarchs and Saints. He had once single-handedly crafted a Heaven and Earth Thunder Talisman that suppressed a million members of the Demon Race across an entire continent.

The Elder Celestial Master wielded the Immortal Artifact, the Celestial Master Seal, and served as the current Sect Leader of the Celestial Master’s Mansion, making his status unparalleled.

Xu Changqing glanced at Lu Mingyuan, and then at Yun Qinghe, one of the maids standing behind him. A Talisman between his fingertips burned to ash, and a barrier formed around them. He smiled and asked, "The Crown Prince was certainly impressive today. But has Your Highness considered that you may have offended every minister in the Imperial Court?"

Lu Mingyuan nodded frankly. "I have. But if I hadn’t, the situation would only be worse."

"Pray, elaborate."

Xu Changqing said with a faint smile.

Lu Mingyuan explained earnestly, "On the surface, I command the Supreme Authority of Regency. In reality, without my own Cabinet or a direct decree from my father, the Emperor, I can accomplish nothing in the Imperial Court."

"So, Your Highness’s anger was a deliberate act?"

Realization seemed to dawn on Xu Changqing.

It wasn’t just Xu Changqing; Yun Qinghe also understood Lu Mingyuan’s intentions. She chuckled softly. "You want to put the Holy Emperor at ease."

"Exactly."

Lu Mingyuan nodded. "If the atmosphere had been too harmonious, that would have been the real danger."

’If I were getting along perfectly with the court ministers, that would be truly bizarre. My father, the Emperor, would probably suspect I’d fed them some kind of bewitching potion.’

’But if I fall out with the ministers and fly into a thunderous rage, my father will naturally be pleased to see it.’

’It would only further prove that I’m incapable of getting things done.’

’He’d be all the more reassured.’

’My father, the Emperor, clearly wants to see me full of ambition, yet utterly incapable of acting on it.’

’If that’s the case...’

’...then in the meantime, I’ll have ample time to build my own faction.’

’Without Zhou Pingfu, the Commander of the Imperial Guard,’ Lu Mingyuan sighed to himself, ’that scene in the Imperial Court just now would have been far more humiliating for me.’

’If not for him, I doubt the Imperial Guard would have moved at all.’

’Perhaps I should consider poaching Zhou Pingfu.’

’After that scene, Zhou Pingfu’s days in the Imperial Palace are likely numbered.’

"You didn’t seek me out just to discuss matters of the court, did you, Celestial Master?" Lu Mingyuan asked tentatively.

He didn’t believe this matter alone would be enough to make the renowned Xu Changqing wait for him for so long.

"Your Highness is as perceptive as ever."

Xu Changqing extended a hand, pointing toward the other side of the main gate outside the hall, and said softly,

"I have come to make an introduction on behalf of another. Please follow me, Your Highness."

"On behalf of another?"

Lu Mingyuan repeated, puzzled. He followed Xu Changqing toward the gate and soon saw two promising young gentlemen.

One was a tall man with a handsome, heroic face. His hair was bound in a Confucian-style headscarf, and he held a feather fan. He was clean-shaven and fair-skinned, dressed in a white Confucian robe embroidered with auspicious clouds, and he exuded a natural, unhurried composure.

The other man, dressed in a blue Confucian shirt, was smaller and thinner. His long hair was worn loose, giving him a somewhat slovenly air, yet he possessed a pair of deep-set eyes that seemed capable of seeing into a person’s heart. He looked like the type of shrewd master strategist who leaves nothing to chance. His eyes were slightly sunken, his skin was rather dark and covered with stubble, but his expression was exceptionally calm and dignified.

"And these two are...?"

Lu Mingyuan could tell from their attire and auras that they were scholars who cultivated the Confucian Dao.

Xu Changqing introduced them with a smile. "These two are scholars recommended by Mr. Shuijing. They have traveled a great distance, all the way from the Nanli Dynasty. It seems Mr. Shuijing was aware of your... unspoken difficulties."