The absolute power that had ruled the Dao Court for hundreds of years vanished.
On this day, the entire Tianwu City fell into immense turmoil. The order issued by Emperor Jiayou before summoning the officials became the final imperial decree:
[Order the Imperial City Division to enforce martial law throughout the city]
This imperial decree was originally intended by Emperor Jiayou to disperse the Imperial City Division's forces for easy suppression at any time. Now, however, it became Lu Yang's golden signboard.
After all, Emperor Jiayou and the Three Excellencies went into seclusion without leaving a word. Naturally, the imperial decree issued before his seclusion served as the standard of reference. Not to mention, right before his seclusion, he had praised Lu Yang in front of all civil and military officials, calling him "loyal and devoted to the country." What else was there to say?
Righteousness was on Lu Yang's side.
On this day, the Incense Offering Gods under the Imperial City Division turned out in full force, beginning to detain Capital Skies Division officials "suspected of assassinating Emperor Jiayou" all over the city.
Meanwhile, in Tianwu City, inside the Crown Prince's Mansion.
The eldest son of Emperor Jiayou, the current Crown Prince Wu Longxing, paced back and forth in the study with a flustered expression, his face filled with confusion and terror about the future.
"How could this be... how could this be..."
Father Emperor assassinated, Three Excellencies in seclusion.
This should have been a very pleasant sentence to hear. However, when Crown Prince Longxing learned the details of the assassination, he almost rolled his eyes and fainted on the spot.
The reason was simple:
"When the assassin made his move, he shouted that it was for me???"
After receiving the secret message from the palace eunuch, Crown Prince Longxing was simply dumbfounded, then cursed on the spot: Someone is definitely trying to frame me!
"Your Highness, Your Highness. People from the Imperial City Division are here!" An attendant eunuch walked quickly into the study, speaking urgently.
Crown Prince Longxing's face darkened upon hearing this: "What does that demon dragon mean? Does he really think I secretly colluded with the Demonic Sect in Jiangbei and sent someone to assassinate Father Emperor?"
Behind the seemingly tough attitude lay unconcealable panic. After all, those were the assassin's own words. True or false, it would bring him huge trouble. At the very least, Emperor Jiayou's other sons, his "good brothers," would definitely wish to pin this black pot on his head!
Thinking of this, Crown Prince Longxing gritted his teeth and walked outside.
Meanwhile, outside the Crown Prince's Mansion.
More than eighty percent of the Imperial City Division's Incense Offering Gods had gathered here. Not only the Crown Prince's Mansion, but even the surrounding streets and alleys were completely cleared.
At the very front, Lu Yang stood awe-inspiringly.
"What do you want to do!"
In front of the Crown Prince's Mansion, two streaks of light landed. They were unmistakably the current Junior Guardian and Junior Preceptor. Their gazes toward Lu Yang were full of doubt and vigilance:
"Besieging the Crown Prince's Mansion, do you demon cultivators want to rebel!"
Hearing this, Lu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly but didn't reply.
The next second, the demon cultivator Xiao Shan, who originally stood behind Lu Yang, actively stepped forward and said coldly, "Why are the two Lords appearing here at this moment?"
"According to the martial law order promulgated by Lord Du Huan, all officials who participated in the court assembly this time are suspected of assassinating His Majesty. Before the matter is clarified, they must remain in their mansions and await notification. Acting without authorization and coming to the Crown Prince's Mansion, what exactly is your purpose, my Lords?"
"You! Impudent!"
Junior Guardian Li Taian showed anger, understanding Xiao Shan's implied meaning: saying they were also suspected of assassination and came to the Crown Prince's Mansion with ulterior motives?
In an instant, an official position emerged.
[Eastern Palace Junior Guardian]
The official position triggered the blessing of [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws]. A stature of Foundation Establishment Perfection suppressed the entire field. Five divine abilities hung like the sun in the sky, seeming ready to erupt at any moment.
However, the next second—
Boom!
Xiao Shan looked calm, a ray of Incense Offering divine light blooming from his body. Although without divine ability blessings, his stature was raised out of thin air to the level of Foundation Establishment Perfection. Behind him, several Imperial City Division leaders also released their auras—all were Foundation Establishment Perfection Incense Offering Great Gods!
Although there was a huge gap between Incense Offering Gods and true Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators.
If a real fight broke out, Xiao Shan and the others definitely wouldn't be enough for Li Taian to kill alone. But for a standoff, these Incense Offering Great Gods were quite intimidating.
"Lord Junior Guardian, please do not obstruct the Imperial City Division's investigation."
Xiao Shan took another step forward. Along with him, the group of Incense Offering Gods behind him spoke in unison and stepped forward, instantly making Li Taian's expression even more ashen.
"Demon cultivators... you all harbor unfathomable motives!"
Just as neither side refused to yield and a great battle was about to erupt, the main gate of the Crown Prince's Mansion finally opened slowly. Crown Prince Longxing strolled out:
"Stop it, all of you!"
As his voice fell, a brilliant light instantly bloomed. The official position of [Crown Prince Chengyun Jiye Longxing] emerged, like a gentle breeze blowing past.
In an instant, the [Junior Guardian] official position above Li Taian's head vanished without a trace, its divine abilities fading. After all, he was the Crown Prince. Aside from Emperor Jiayou and the Three Excellencies, Crown Prince Longxing held the highest official rank. If everything went smoothly, his taking over the Dao Court after Emperor Jiayou's seclusion would be perfectly logical.
However, this time was different.
Crown Prince Longxing's official position suppression fell on the group of Incense Offering Gods of the Imperial City Division, yet it had no effect whatsoever, not weakening their divine ability stature in the slightest.
Seeing this scene, Crown Prince Longxing's expression changed slightly.
The next second, Lu Yang, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. His gaze was impartial, looking at Crown Prince Longxing with a frank appearance:
"Imperial City Division Du Huan, pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Before his voice faded, the Imperial City Division cultivators beside him seemed to receive a signal. They quickly retracted their auras, took a step back, and placed their hands on the side of their heads:
"LOYALTY!"
Such an attitude instantly improved Crown Prince Longxing's expression significantly. He said in a deep voice, "Du Huan... why bring people from the Imperial City Division to surround my home?"
"Answering His Highness the Crown Prince." Lu Yang looked solemn. "With the drastic changes in the world, His Majesty summoned the officials but was assassinated by Capital Skies Division Right Commander Chen Yuanli. Before acting, he even shouted that it was for Your Highness. His motives are truly unfathomable. This subject came to protect Your Highness."
Hearing this, Crown Prince Longxing was instantly stunned:
"Protect me?"
Not here to arrest me?
"Of course!"
Lu Yang raised his voice: "As everyone knows, the assassin Chen Yuanli colluded privately with the Demonic Sect in Jiangbei. How can his words be fully believed? He must be slandering Your Highness!"
After speaking, he looked at Li Taian beside him with a sincere face: "As for why the officials are asked to remain in their respective mansions, it is because we are unsure if there are still assassins among them. In case there are, and they have targeted Your Highness... this subject is truly worried Your Highness might be harmed by villains."
"Of course, the Junior Guardian is definitely innocent."
Then Lu Yang looked at Xiao Shan and scolded, "The Junior Guardian is a disciple of the Three Excellencies. Even if he violated the ban and came to the Crown Prince's Mansion, how could he harbor ill intentions?"
"Apologize to the Junior Guardian immediately!"
Xiao Shan didn't hesitate at all. He immediately looked at Li Taian and bowed deeply: "This subordinate was momentarily agitated and offended Your Lordship. I hope Your Lordship will forgive me."
The speaker had intent, and the listener took note.
Li Taian didn't react, but Crown Prince Longxing's eyes changed slightly—one must know, the Emperor and the Three Excellencies had always been in competition.
If the Emperor is strong, imperial power is in hand.
If the Three Excellencies are strong, the Prime Minister rules the court.
Lu Yang's words just now were neither heavy nor light, but the key was one sentence: Strictly speaking, the Junior Guardian, as a disciple of the Three Excellencies, was actually a potential rival to Crown Prince Longxing!
Compared to that, what about Lu Yang?
Thinking of this, Crown Prince Longxing's thoughts instantly became active: The Imperial City Division, in the end, has no foundation and cannot compete with me for power and position...
After all, you don't even have an official position; what do you have to compete with?
Meanwhile, as Lu Yang faced Crown Prince Longxing, seeing [Unwilling to be Subservient] light up again, a deep smile appeared in the depths of his eyes.
Immediately after, his expression turned solemn, and he said to Li Taian:
"The court situation is precarious. This subordinate only ordered the Imperial City Division to enforce martial law throughout the city out of a heart to save the country. I ask the Junior Guardian to sympathize with this subordinate's feelings."
Then he looked at Crown Prince Longxing:
"Now that His Majesty is in seclusion, the country cannot go a day without a monarch. This subject asks the Crown Prince, for the sake of the world, to enter the Tianwu Hall and preside over the government, so as to settle the hearts of the subjects and people of the world."
Is this... supporting me as Emperor?
For a moment, the way Crown Prince Longxing looked at Lu Yang changed. No wonder Father Emperor favored this True Dragon so much recently; he truly was loyal and devoted to the country!
Even Junior Guardian Li Taian beside him was somewhat surprised.
Could it be he really misunderstood?
This demon dragon has no selfish motives?
Only Lu Yang, seeing this, sneered in his heart: The Imperial City Division is now acting as the Commander of the Nine Gates. Once inside the Tianwu Hall, cut off from the inside and outside, it won't be up to you anymore...
This was Lu Yang's plan.
He knew very well that with his status in the imperial court, usurping the Dao Court was almost impossible. So he had to borrow—borrow Crown Prince Longxing's identity.
Controlling the officials by holding the Crown Prince hostage!