C11 Crisis

The Blood Shadow Guard sensed Chen Dutian's formidable Spirit Convergence fifth-level strength and felt somewhat reassured. After all, could the son of Lord Protector Chen Dou be anything less than exceptional?

In the grand Imperial Capital, possessing the fifth level of Spirit Convergence was enough to command respect among one's peers. The Blood Shadow Guard gave a slight nod and said, "I will heed the young master's orders. I shall take my leave now."

Chen Dutian gave a dismissive wave of his hand, and the Blood Shadow Guard, who had been half-kneeling before him, vanished from sight.

After a brief pause, Chen Dutian rose and exited the courtyard. He was having breakfast with Zhao Danna when Yuan Liu hurried in, his expression somewhat uneasy.

"What's the matter? Take your time and explain," Chen Dutian said calmly, glancing at Yuan Liu as he sat by the table.

Yuan Liu was an Astral Wandering expert, and his grave demeanor indicated that something significant must have transpired.

"Tian, have you gotten into trouble again?" Zhao Danna asked, her brow furrowing slightly as she looked at Chen Dutian.

Though Chen Dutian had reformed, he had once been the Imperial Capital's most notorious scion, frequently stirring up trouble. As the Lord Protector's wife, Zhao Danna had often had to smooth things over for her son.

Now, with the Lord Protector away from the mansion and the Imperial Capital roiling with undercurrents, Zhao Danna feared her son might have found new trouble.

"Madam, there's no need for concern. The Minister of Personnel, Lord Li You, has arrived with a decree," Yuan Liu reported, bowing.

The previous day, Chen Dutian had slain Li Huaien at the entrance to the Crimson Moon, and the incident had quickly become the talk of the capital.

Despite discovering his son's body, Minister Li You hadn't approached the Lord Protector's Mansion with demands for retribution. Yuan Liu was puzzled, especially after Li You, accompanied by Wang Xuanyang, had visited Emperor Yan Chen at the palace earlier that day and was now at the Lord Protector's Mansion delivering an imperial edict. Yuan Liu feared the Emperor might be preparing to act against them.

Chen Dutian appeared unconcerned, standing up slowly and declaring, "Let us go and accept the imperial edict."

"Tian, let me accompany you," Zhao Danna said, rising quickly. As the Lord Protector's wife, she was responsible for managing the mansion's affairs in Chen Dou's absence.

Chen Dutian nodded with a smile and, accompanied by his mother, escorted Yuan Liu and several maidservants to the front hall.

Li You sat in the main seat of the hall, his expression dark and stormy. Flanked by eight golden-armored guards wielding swords and clutching imperial edicts, the servants of the Lord Protector's Mansion knelt en masse. The vast hall was eerily quiet, the air thick with tension.

Fury blazed in Li You's eyes. Upon seeing Chen Dutian and his entourage, he rose swiftly, his aura of murderous intent unfurling. His teeth were gritted, and his heart seethed with hatred.

Li Huaien, Li You's most cherished son, had been the Crown Prince's study companion since childhood and a prized pupil of Wang Xuanyang. With Crown Prince Yan Nantian's ascension to the throne imminent, Li Huaien was poised to become a prominent statesman. Li You had pinned all his familial hopes on him.

Yet, after a mere confrontation with Chen Dutian at the Crimson Moon, Li Huaien was executed in the street. Now, Li You was consumed with a desire for vengeance, longing to decimate the Lord Protector's Mansion in retribution for his son.

"The Lord Protector's heir, Chen Dutian, is hereby summoned by imperial decree. His Majesty commands your presence at the Crystal Palace for a council," Li You announced gravely after Chen Dutian and Zhao Dan'na knelt.

A council at the Crystal Palace? Was Yan Chen truly contemplating a strike against the Chen family?

The thought flickered through Chen Dutian's mind, prompting a sly lift of his brow. He rose slowly, his expression a mix of amusement and disdain. "My apologies, Sir Li, but please relay to His Majesty that I, Chen Dutian, am under the weather with a chill and am indisposed. Regrettably, I won't be able to attend the Crystal Palace today."

With his father absent from the capital and having slain the newly minted Marquis of Deer Cauldron and Li Huaien just the day before, Chen Dutian had reason to suspect that Yan Chen, having dispatched Li You with the decree, might indeed be plotting against the Chen family.

Despite the presence of the half-million-strong Red Banner Army, they were still over a hundred miles from the Imperial Capital, which did little to quench the immediate thirst for security.

Feigning illness to stay at home was the only excuse Chen Dutian could come up with. Without having reached the Skyflight realm, he lacked the confidence to openly defy the powerful Yan Family.

Yet, upon hearing Chen Dutian's words, Li You slammed his hand down on the table in anger, pointed at him, and demanded loudly, "Chen Dutian, are you intending to defy the Emperor's command?"

Chen Dutian's audacity to refuse an audience with the Emperor, especially after an imperial edict had been issued, was tantamount to outright disrespect for the Yan Family.

Moreover, it was common knowledge in the capital that Chen Dutian had been enlightened by a divine being and had opened his Martial Gate. He showed no signs of discomfort, so how could Li You possibly believe his excuses?

After Li You finished speaking, the eight golden-armored guards with sabers stepped forward, their cold gazes fixed on Chen Dutian, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.

Zhao Danna's brow furrowed slightly as she gently tugged at Chen Dutian's arm and whispered, "Tian, the Emperor has summoned you. How can you possibly refuse?"

Chen Dutian was in a difficult position. He knew all too well how many eyes were watching the Lord Protector's Mansion in the capital. A visit to the Crystal Palace might mean he would never return.

"If you persist in defying the imperial edict, Chen Dutian, I can deploy the Imperial Army at a moment's notice!" Li You threatened coldly.

Although the 100,000-strong Imperial Army was not as formidable as the Lord Protector's Red Banner Army, they could still raze the Lord Protector's Mansion to the ground in no time.

Chen Dutian looked at his mother deeply and sighed, "Very well, Mother, rest assured, I shall go."

Seeing Chen Dutian relent, a cold, triumphant smirk crossed Li You's face. He handed the imperial edict to Chen Dutian and exited with the eight golden-armored guards.

"Master Chen, are you truly set on going to the Crystal Palace? Allow me to accompany you!" Yuan Liu, concerned for Chen Dutian's safety, stepped forward resolutely.

Chen Dutian did not respond immediately. He directed a few maids to escort his mother back to her quarters before turning to face the room, his presence emanating a formidable aura. Those in the main hall were visibly shaken, and even Yuan Liu couldn't help but retreat a step in awe.

"Such a commanding presence! The Young Master truly is a dragon among men," Yuan Liu marveled inwardly, promptly bowing in respect.

"I'll head to the Crystal Palace alone. Yuan Liu, mobilize the Blood Shadow Guards to ensure the mansion's security. Additionally, find a reliable person to take my token to the Red Banner Army's quarters. If there's any threat to the Lord Protector's Mansion within three days, command the Red Banner Army to storm the imperial city!"

Chen Dutian's demeanor remained composed, yet his eyes glinted with an intense sharpness. He nonchalantly removed his jade pendant and handed it to the visibly shaken Yuan Liu.