C11 He Was in Danger

Chen Dutian felt a bit reassured sensing the Fifth Heaven level of Spirit Convergence in the Bloodshadow Guard. After all, as the son of Lord Protector Chen Dou, how could he be anything but exceptional? In this vast Imperial Capital, reaching the Fifth Heaven was enough to stand out among his peers. The Bloodshadow Guard nodded slightly and said, “At your command, Your Grace. I’ll take my leave now.”

Chen Dutian waved his hand dismissively, and the guard, who had been kneeling before him, vanished. After sitting for a moment, Chen Dutian left the small courtyard. As he was having breakfast with Zhao Danna, Yuan Liu suddenly rushed in, looking a bit uneasy.

“What happened? Take your time and tell me,” Chen Dutian said calmly, glancing at Yuan Liu as he sat at the table.

Yuan Liu was a formidable Astral Wandering expert, so whatever had him looking so serious must be significant.

“Did you get into trouble again?” Zhao Danna asked, glancing at Chen Dutian with a slight frown. Although Chen Dutian had changed his ways, he used to be one of the most notorious troublemakers in the Imperial Capital, frequently causing disturbances. As the wife of the Lord Protector, Zhao Danna often had to clean up after her son’s messes.

With the Lord Protector away and tensions running high in the capital, Zhao Danna worried that Chen Dutian might have gotten into trouble again.

"Madam, don't worry. It's Minister Lee Yu here to deliver a decree!" Yuan Liu bowed and reported.

Yesterday, right in front of the Crimson Moon's entrance, Chen Dutian had killed Lee Huai'en with a single sword strike. The news had spread throughout the entire capital.

After seeing his son's body, Minister Lee Yu hadn't come to the House of Protector, which puzzled Yuan Liu. This morning, Lee Yu accompanied Wang Xuanyang to the palace to meet with His Majesty, Yan Chen. Now, he's here to deliver a decree, and Yuan Liu feared the king might be planning to act against the House of Protector.

Chen Dutian, however, seemed unfazed. He slowly stood up and said loudly, "Let's go receive the decree!"

"I'll go with you!" Zhao Danna quickly stood up as well. As the Lady of the House, with Chen Dou away from the capital, she had to manage everything.

Chen Dutian smiled and nodded, accompanying his mother along with Yuan Liu and several maidservants, they walked slowly to the front hall.

Lee Yu was sitting with a grim expression in the main seat of the hall, flanked by eight guards in golden armor, holding swords. He clutched the decree in his hand, while the household staff of the House of Protector knelt in submission.

The large hall was silent, the air seemingly frozen.

Lee Yu's eyes blazed with fury. Upon seeing Chen Dutian and his entourage, he shot to his feet, his anger palpable, teeth clenched, and his mind consumed with hatred. Lee Huai'en was Lee Yu's most cherished son. From a young age, he had been a companion to the crown prince and a favored student of Wang Xuanyang. With the crown prince's ascension, Lee Huai'en was destined to become a key figure in the nation. Lee Yu had pinned all his family's hopes on him.

But yesterday at the Crimson Moon, Lee Huai'en had merely exchanged a few heated words with Chen Dutian and was killed in the street for it. Now, Lee Yu was consumed with the desire to annihilate everyone in the House of Protector to avenge his son.

"The Lord Protector's Heir, Chen Dutian, is summoned by the Emperor to the Crystal Palace for a meeting!" Lee Yu declared in a deep voice after Zhao Danna and Chen Dutian knelt before him.

A meeting at the Crystal Palace? Could Yan Chen really be planning to move against my family? The thought flickered through Chen Dutian's mind, causing his brow to arch slightly. Rising slowly, he smirked and said, "Minister Lee, I'm afraid you'll have to inform His Majesty that I'm feeling under the weather today and won't be able to make it to the Crystal Palace."

Chen Dutian's father was not in the capital. Yesterday, Yan Chen had executed the newly appointed Antler Marquis and Lee Huai'en. Today, Yan Chen specifically sent Lee Yu to deliver a decree. Chen Dutian was worried that Yan Chen might really be losing patience and wanted to use this opportunity to target the Chen family.

Although the Red Banner Army was still around, they were over a hundred miles from the capital, too far to be of immediate help.

Pretending to be ill and staying home was the only excuse Chen Dutian could think of. Until he reached the Skyflight level of power, he wasn't confident enough to openly defy the Yan family.

Upon hearing Chen Dutian's excuse, Lee Yu angrily slammed the table beside him and pointed at Chen Dutian, demanding loudly, "Chen Dutian, are you planning to defy the decree?"

The emperor had summoned him and issued an imperial decree, yet Chen Dutian dared to refuse. It was as if he was blatantly disregarding the Yan family.

Moreover, everyone in the capital knew that Chen Dutian had been taught by the Divine and had already unlocked his Power Node. He didn't show any signs of illness, so how could Lee Yu believe his nonsense?

As soon as Lee Yu finished speaking, the eight guards in golden armor standing behind him stepped forward in unison, their eyes coldly fixed on Chen Dutian, ready to act at the slightest provocation.

Zhao Danna frowned slightly, tugged on Chen Dutian's arm, and whispered, "The emperor has summoned you. How can you refuse?"

Chen Dutian felt trapped. His mother didn’t realize how many eyes in the capital were watching the House of Protector. Now that he was summoned to the Crystal Palace, he feared he might not return.

“Chen Dutian, if you defy the order, I can call the Imperial Guards at any moment!” Lee Yu threatened coldly.

The hundred thousand Imperial Guards were loyal to the Yan family. While they might not match the strength of the Red Banner Army, they could level the House of Protector in no time.

Chen Dutian glanced deeply at his mother and sighed, “Alright, Mother, don’t worry. I’ll go.”

Seeing Chen Dutian relent, a sly, victorious smile flickered across Lee Yu’s face as he handed over the decree and left with eight armored guards.

“Sir, are you really going to the Crystal Palace? Let me accompany you!” Yuan Liu, worried about any potential danger, stepped forward with determination.

Chen Dutian didn’t respond directly. Instead, he instructed the maids to escort his mother back to her room. Then, turning around, he exuded a powerful aura that made everyone in the hall, including Yuan Liu, instinctively step back.

“What an incredible presence. The young master truly is a remarkable leader,” Yuan Liu thought to himself, quickly bowing.

"I'll go to the Crystal Palace alone. Yuan Liu, gather the Bloodshadow Guard to ensure the safety of the estate. Also, send someone trustworthy with my token to the Red Banner Army's base. If anyone makes a move against the House of Protector in three days, order the Red Banner Army to storm the capital!"

Chen Dutian was exceptionally calm, but his eyes glinted with a sharp intensity. He casually removed his jade pendant and handed it to the already shocked Yuan Liu.