Chapter 308: Chapter 215: The Eastern Palace Mansion Takes Shape, the Suspicious Endless Pavilion, 3 Major Factions

But he could see that Qi Muxue was in high spirits and having a great time, holding onto Lu Mingyuan’s arm with a sweet smile perpetually on her face.

It seemed as though much of the gloom in her heart had dispersed.

Huo Hongling, on the other hand, rarely seemed to go shopping. She was silent the entire time, simply looking around everywhere. When she saw novel items at the street stalls, she would pick them up for a closer look.

Lu Mingyuan let out a breath, feeling quite content. ’As long as I can make my wife happy, a little exhaustion is worth it.’

Before Qi Xingyan had left the Capital, he had instructed Lu Mingyuan to spend more time with Mu Xue.

Her heart was burdened with sorrow and needed comforting.

When they had done enough shopping, he led them to a lavishly decorated Jade Tower. There, he ordered a sumptuous banquet worth fifty taels of silver and guided everyone into a private room to eat first.

After they sat down, Lu Mingyuan turned to the Director of the Bright Lamp Bureau standing nearby. "You can all wait outside. My wife and I are just having a meal. You’re not needed here."

Seeing them remain motionless, Lu Mingyuan chuckled. "Do you really think that with your strength, you could defeat this maid of mine?"

He gestured toward Yun Qinghe at his side.

At this, the Director of the Bright Lamp Bureau finally waved his hand and retreated outside. Other patrons passing by saw the Imperial Capital Brocade Clothing guards in their neat Flying Fish Robes, their aura stern and imposing. Everyone’s face filled with awe, knowing that the person dining in the private room must be a major figure.

Yun Qinghe was rendered speechless by this.

’He really has no qualms about this, treating me completely like a maid.’

’I just hope this guy doesn’t take it too far.’

’He won’t make any outrageous demands of me in my capacity as a maid, will he?’

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the person you commissioned..."

These were Yun Qinghe’s first words after the Bright Lamp Bureau had withdrawn.

She had changed into casual attire—a plain white dress—and had her hair in a maid’s bun, revealing the delicate pink curve of her ears. The look had a certain charm, and her lovely face was as exquisite and radiant as ever.

But as soon as she spoke, Lu Mingyuan interrupted her with an inquisitive "Hm?"

Yun Qinghe pouted. "You... The person you commissioned me to investigate... we’ve gotten results from the interrogation. The testimony from the Daoist Academy has been compiled."

"The man’s name is Gongyang Hu. He was formerly with Prince Jin’s Mansion, serving as a Staff Officer, and is a remnant of the rebellious faction from the Confucian Temple."

"Ever since Prince Jin’s Mansion fell, he’s been wandering the streets of the Capital. We asked him who was behind it, but he insists that you, Your Highness, are the true culprit who killed Prince Jin. We’ve even used torture, but it’s no use."

Hearing this, Qi Muxue furrowed her brow in confusion. "Why does this man insist that my husband is the true culprit? It’s very strange."

"Well..."

Lu Mingyuan considered how to explain it.

"You don’t need a reason to frame someone," Huo Hongling interjected, her red-lacquered lips pursing as she spoke coolly. "This man has malicious intentions. He must have accomplices. Is there truly no sign of a faction backing him?"

Yun Qinghe nodded. "There is, actually. It seems to be connected to an organization called the Endless Pavilion."

"The Endless Pavilion."

Qi Muxue and Huo Hongling both murmured the name.

"The Endless Pavilion..."

For a moment, Lu Mingyuan’s memories drifted back.

He had once been undercover with Prince Jin, but because he had spent so long in the Wilderness Cave Heaven, the memories had become distant.

Luo Ying had made him a Great Protector, but then he had vanished for two months.

That was something entirely unexpected.

More than two months had passed, and his clone had been dormant for a long time.

’I wonder how Luo Ying is doing now. After Prince Jin’s fall, did she manage to seize control of the Imperial Capital’s leadership?’

"Do you have any other intelligence on the Endless Pavilion?"

Lu Mingyuan looked at Yun Qinghe, his gaze serious.

Yun Qinghe hadn’t expected Lu Mingyuan to be so interested. She thought for a moment. "I remember the Daoist Cultivators mentioning that Prince Jin’s Mansion had an inseparable relationship with the Endless Pavilion."

"The Endless Pavilion is a force under the command of the Infinite Faction. It’s spread throughout the Central Plains World and serves as a hiding place for many factions of the Demon Dao. Its founder remains unknown, but it has seven powerful leaders."

"Based on current intelligence, Prince Jin’s Mansion was likely the hiding place for the Endless Pavilion in the Imperial Capital, and Prince Jin was probably one of the leaders."

"Now that Prince Jin is dead, the entire Endless Pavilion in the Imperial Capital has split into three factions: the Surrender Faction, Prince Jin’s Old Faction, and the Self-Salvation Faction."

"It’s that complicated?" Lu Mingyuan asked, astonished.

’To think the Endless Pavilion has already fractured like this internally.’

Yun Qinghe sighed. "That’s right. The most powerful among them is probably the Surrender Faction. They are pinning their hopes on the other leaders and colluding with the Infinite Faction from other Dynasties. Their strength is growing by the day. The Three Academy Cultivators are also investigating, but the specific identities of the other leaders remain unknown."

"Prince Jin’s Old Faction consists of those loyal to him. They have now basically crumbled and been all but wiped out under the encirclement of the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy."

"Gongyang Hu must be part of Prince Jin’s Old Faction," Lu Mingyuan mused, stroking his chin.

Yun Qinghe shook her head. "Even a Soul Search yielded no results. We couldn’t trace anything, as if the Celestial Secrets were deliberately shielded. It’s just like when we searched the souls of many Endless Pavilion Death Warriors—we were unable to find out who the mastermind of the Infinite Faction truly is."

A familiar name surfaced in Lu Mingyuan’s mind.

It was Xun Yu, the one who had once targeted Lu Yunqing and set a death trap for him.

The mastermind of the Endless Pavilion often goes by the title "Teacher" and rarely reveals their identity.

But after lying low in the Endless Pavilion for so long, and with Qi Xingyan’s reminder...

...He was almost certain the person behind the scenes was Xun Yu.

’Could it be that Xun Yu erased the memories from these people’s minds to avoid exposing himself?’

’If that’s really the case...’

’...then that slippery old fox is even more cautious than I thought.’

"What about the Self-Salvation Faction?"

Lu Mingyuan asked, realizing there was one she hadn’t mentioned.

Yun Qinghe continued her explanation. "The so-called Self-Salvation Faction is a group that neither allies with the other leaders nor remains loyal to Prince Jin. Instead, they harbor considerable ambition and want to unify the Endless Pavilion in the Imperial Capital for themselves. They don’t pose much of a threat right now. Half a month has passed without a peep from them."

"Why are you asking for so much intelligence on the Infinite Faction?"

Yun Qinghe suddenly realized something and asked, puzzled.

Lu Mingyuan smiled. "Have you noticed the characteristics of the people in the Infinite Faction?"

Yun Qinghe pondered this. "For the most part, they’re a mysterious bunch who hide their identities. They mostly live on a knife’s edge. Their cultivation may not be high, but when it comes to doing dirty work, they’re experts."

Gradually, a look of astonishment appeared on Yun Qinghe’s face.

It wasn’t just her; Qi Muxue and Huo Hongling beside her also seemed to sense what he was getting at.

"My husband, don’t tell me you intend to bring the Endless Pavilion under your command?" Qi Muxue asked in astonishment, using a voice transmission.

She was so shocked by the idea that she had resorted to using the technique.

Lu Mingyuan replied calmly, also by voice transmission, "You’ve all seen the current situation."

"In the Imperial Court, I have no allies. In the Mortal World, jackals and wild dogs are everywhere. Any slight move I make will attract the attention of the Deep Palace. It won’t be easy to escape this predicament."

Hearing this, all the women fell silent.

Clearly, this was a situation they had not anticipated.

What should have been an excellent situation had turned into a complete mess that very morning.

They, too, were gradually realizing that something was amiss.

Becoming the master of the Eastern Palace was not proving to be as smooth as they had imagined.

First, concerning the subordinate officials for the Eastern Palace Mansion, the Holy Emperor had shown no intention of recommending anyone.

Nor had any Imperial Court officials volunteered to take up the matter.

His Highness’s position as Crown Prince was proving to be a rather stifling one.

In fact, Lu Mingyuan had had this idea for a long time.

’If I were Emperor Yong’an, I would never sit back and watch the Eastern Palace Mansion grow powerful. From Lu and Wang’s Heart Learning and speaking out for the nation, to the marriage alliance with the Demon Country, and even the dissolution of the Cabinet today—none of it has threatened my Father Emperor in the slightest.’

’The Civil Servant Group and the major Nobility remain largely intact. The key figures of the Three Academies and the many experts within the Imperial Palace are all holding their positions, unmoving.’

’My opponent is in the shadows, while I am out in the open.’

’I don’t even know the true extent of my Father Emperor’s power.’

’Right now, I don’t have the capital for an open confrontation.’

His father-in-law, Qi Xingyan, had once told him that in the current court, aside from the Four Great Tributors of Great Yan, the greatest powers were the Three Academies and the Imperial Experts. Beyond that, the Holy Emperor had another hidden asset under his command, one that was rarely used and was specifically responsible for handling the Royal Family’s dirty work.

’For now, I still have value to him, so I can maintain this status quo for a while.’

’I must gather all the forces I can. Every little bit helps.’

...