Shi Lang led the army and advanced to settle the rebellion. The people called themselves rebels, but they were all bandits grouped. They would plunder the villages in the name of gathering funds. Their actions were simply a stain on humanity and liberators.
Shi Lang was also cruel and did not spare any single bandit he found these days. Since the night in the valley, one month has passed, and the spoils of this time were being reported to the Imperial Palace.
Shi Lang was categorized as an aid to Shi Ning because the young man had not joined the military through any formal procedures. The messengers were reporting things in great detail.
At this moment, Tian Longjian was walking through the palace corridors. He was heading to the royal court. Elder Yu followed the Prince silently. He could not help but ask, "Your Highness, do you have any guesses why His Majesty called you to the royal court?"
Tian Longjian said, "Elder Yu, you need to stop testing me. I am not the same as I was before. It is obvious that you reported my time with the Shi family, and His Majesty wants to ask me about it, given how Shi Lang has settled things at the front these days."
Elder Yu looked around and asked, "Your Highness, this is the palace. Don't you think your words are a bit too direct?"
The young man replied, "The sword is also direct. I had no interest in the Throne earlier, nor do I have it now. If they try to hamper my peace, I will have them know what it is like to hold a sword."
Elder Yu could not help but raise his eyebrow. The young man before him was going to pursue the path of the sword; for that, he needed to be decisive. After his visit to the Shi Family Manor and his exchange with Shi Lang, the last trace of hesitation in his heart was clear. Nothing could stop him now.
Elder Yu could not help but look forward to the day when Shi Lang returned to the palace and wanted to see how well the young man reacted to the Emperor's words. A sovereign always wanted to hold talents in his court.
Shi Lang was too proud and would not be bound by any forces in his pursuit. However, an invisible tension existed between the Imperial Family and the Spirit Heart sect. The young man was a wild tiger who could not be tamed but only killed.
Elder Yu and Tian Longjian reached the court. The Prince suddenly stopped and said, "Elder Yu, wait here. I will go inside alone."
That said, the young man did not wait for the old man to acknowledge his command and walked inside the court after the guard made an announcement.
Tian Longjian walked inside and gazed at his father. The young man bowed to the dignified middle-aged man and said, "I have seen the Imperial Father."
The middle-aged man nodded and said, "You seem to have grown stronger."
The young man replied, "His Majesty has eyes like a torch. I have indeed broken through to the Sword Grandmaster realm."
The King nodded and replied, "Congratulations on your breakthrough."
As his voice fell, the courtiers followed the example and congratulated the Prince. Tian Longjian asked, "May I ask how I can be of service to the throne?"
The King did not make a scene, he knew that his third son was not satisfied with his behavior in the past, and thus he grew up to be estranged. Unlike the other two sons, this young man had no interest in the Throne or the kingdom.
He asked, "Can you tell me about this newly risen Commander Shi Lang?"
Tian Longjian nodded and said, "He is a talented person. Although his cultivation is not very high, his attainment of the sword is not lower than a sword saint."
The King was startled by the mention of a sword saint. He could not help but mutter a sentence, "A sword saint can shatter nations with a blade."
The courtiers all grew solemn. They were too shocked. An old man stood up from the left of the throne and asked, "Your Highness, what is the age of this personage?"
Tian Longjian nodded and said, "He must be around twenty years old."
The people were even more shocked and had no idea how to express their feelings. Tian Longjian looked at the King and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to make a request."
The King nodded, and the young man said, "These past few years, I have been holding back when faced with the constant attacks from my two brothers in their race for ascension. I have never shown any interest in the throne. However, if these attacks continue, I will no longer hesitate."
The people shivered at this claim. They never expected the Fourth Prince to say something like this. The King was startled but could perceive the meaning of these words. Tian Longjian was threatening the two princes in front of the entire court. This was audacious behavior.
The King stomped and stood up and hollered, "What gall! You dare to threaten your brothers in front of me."
The prime minister exclaimed, "Your Majesty, the Prince is young. Please calm your anger."
However, Tian Longjian stood unbothered. He replied, "If His Majesty is angry over a threat, then why did he not try to stop the two princes from hindering me when I stated clearly that I have no interest in the throne?"
The King did not expect the Prince to act in such a manner. The Prince said, "Today, I will announce that I, Tian Longjian, will strive for the throne. They can come at me if the two Princes have it in them."
The King shivered in rage. This young man was being so audacious. Suddenly the right minister, the military leader, stood up and asked, "Your Highness, the race of the throne is not as simple as taking out the sword and slaying all the way. You need to be more restrained and know when to back off."
Tian Longjian looked at the general and commented, "You are the first sword of the nation, yet you talk such restrain? You preach values to me but not to the prince you favor. General Kang, I have a sense of measure. Otherwise, the moves they made a few years ago, Tian Longjian remembers it. It is better if you all act loyal toward His Majesty and do not meddle in the business of the young ones. Or I shall not respect you all as a senior but slay you like an enemy."
The King asked, "Longjian, are you going to rebel against me?"
Tian Longjian shook his head and said, "If that were my ambition, I would have accumulated forces like my two brothers. I only intend to seek a peaceful life where I can pursue the path of the sword. I will not allow anyone to hinder me."
The King caught on to the meaning of his words and looked at his two ministers. He said, "You are grounded inside the Imperial crypts. Go there and meditate for the next month. You will be given two humble meals and must bathe with cold water. Leave!"
The Fourth Prince was put under house arrest. This was a piece of bad news. How can the minions of the two princes act against him now? They finally understood this outburst and insolence before the King was an act.
The suspicion would go to the two princes if the Fourth Prince were attacked inside the palace. This was not favorable. Tian Longjian smiled in his heart. His father was the King, and he knew what he was asking for.
Earlier, he dropped the hint that the two princes had been accumulating force behind his back, and they could rebel against him. Kings were old tigers. How could they allow young cubs to dare and compete with him? They should obediently wait for their turn and accept what he gives them.
Tian Longjian got what he wanted and left the court with a humbled stance. He did not waste any time and headed straight to the Imperial Crypts. The young man was anything but sad about this outcome. Shi Lang promised to get him the throne and asked him to stay safe.
So, what is better than to expose the two brothers and get the King to ground him inside the palace under great security? The palace was filled with murmurs. The King dismissed the court after his son's outburst and went on to rest in his room.
The people did not know that the King mobilized his secret forces to investigate the matter of force accumulation. The actions were taken in secret, and only the chief eunuch knew what was going on. The King sighed as he gazed out of the window, "I wonder what the future holds. Will my sons manage to live through this struggle?"
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