C15 The will of the Emperor

"Your Highness flatters me. In this vast Imperial Capital, there are many who surpass me in strength!" Chen Dutian said with a smile, modestly gesturing with his hand.

Chen Dutian paid little mind to those from noble families, but he was well aware that the Imperial Capital was home to at least a few hundred experts in the Astral Wandering Realm. Moreover, the elder of the Yan family, who oversaw the city, was a formidable practitioner of the Skyflight Realm.

Until he reached the Skyflight Realm himself, Chen Dutian was cautious not to reveal his full capabilities.

"In previous years, the Crown Prince has always stolen the show at the Harvest Festival. But this year, with Mr. Chen's assistance, I, Yan Beichen, have nothing to fear!" Yan Beichen exclaimed, lifting his wine glass for a hearty swig, his face alight with anticipation.

The following morning, Chen Dutian donned the ornate garments Yan Beichen had arranged for him. After a quick breakfast, the two left the Sunlit Palace.

Officials and other dignitaries had arrived for the Harvest Festival, some on horseback, others by sedan, gathering at the gates of the Imperial City. Chen Dutian and Yan Beichen strolled through the city before reaching the gates.

A line of ceremonial officers stood with a list, calling out the names of attendees. Hundreds crowded the entrance, including several recognizable individuals.

Over two hundred Imperial Guards in golden armor, swords at their sides, kept the peace. Each person called had to proceed for a thorough search, a precaution against hidden weapons and potential insurrection.

Chen Dutian's eyes quickly found Pang Yuan in the crowd. The man was hard to miss, his corpulent frame straining the seams of his attire.

"Pang Yuan!" It took some time, but finally, a ceremonial officer called out his name.

The crowd parted at the Imperial City gates, making way for the imposing figure of Pang Yuan to approach the officer.

Pang Yuan, known for lacking a Power Node, was a fact well-known throughout the Imperial Capital. He wouldn't have bothered to attend if not for the imperial decree from Yan Chen.

Two guards stepped up to Pang Yuan, giving him a once-over before proceeding with the search.

Pang Yuan approached with a bow, "Your Highness, I am at your service!"

After a thorough search, Pang Yuan, with his sturdy legs, came huffing and puffing before Chen Dutian and the rest, bowing deeply to Yan Beichen.

"Please, rise. Mr. Chen has spoken highly of you recently. How is the health of the Minister of Finance?"

Yan Beichen, with a smile, supported Pang Yuan's arm and inquired with genuine politeness.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My father is in good health!" Pang Yuan was pleasantly surprised by Yan Beichen's unexpected warmth and responded with a touch of astonishment.

"No need to stand on ceremony. The Harvest Festival won't start until noon. Let me take you to the Sunlit Palace to relax for a bit!" Chen Dutian said cheerfully, clapping Pang Yuan on the shoulder, who seemed to have put on a noticeable amount of weight since their last meeting.

"I have some business to attend to with the Emperor, so I must excuse myself."

Watching Yan Beichen walk off with his attendants toward the Crystal Palace, Pang Yuan leaned in close to Chen Dutian and whispered, "Yan Beichen seems quite favorable towards you, brother. How have you been faring in the Imperial Capital these days?"

"This isn't the place for such discussions. Follow me." Chen Dutian glanced around; several Imperial Guards in golden armor were watching them closely. He softly spoke to Pang Yuan and led him away from the entrance of the Imperial City.

Once inside Yan Beichen's Sunlit Palace, Chen Dutian ushered Pang Yuan into his room, and they both sat down with easy smiles. Pang Yuan was the first to speak, "I haven't had the chance to congratulate you yet, brother. Kudos on your appointment as a reading partner! Now you're a regular in the Imperial City. Should you ever reach great heights, don't forget to give me a hand!"

Chen Dutian rolled his eyes in mock irritation and gave Pang Yuan's chair a playful kick, his expression turning bitter, "Reading partner... it's just a fancy term for being a hostage within these city walls."

A realization dawned on Pang Yuan, thinking about the recent news of the Lord Protector, Chen Dou, returning to the capital, he grasped Chen Dutian's implication.

"They say Yan Beichen harbors no ambitions for the throne. Brother, isn't it beneath your talents to be shadowing him?"

Almost all the civil officials were now aligned with Yan Nantian. Yan Beichen, though a prince, was not in the Emperor's favor and lacked any influence at court. Yan Chen appointed Chen Dutian as Yan Beichen's reading partner, both as a pretext to confine him within the Imperial Capital and as leverage against the soon-to-return Lord Protector, Chen Dou.

Furthermore, he warned all civil and military officials to maintain a distance from the Lord Protector. Once the Crown Prince took the throne, any close associates of Yan Beichen would be eliminated, inevitably entangling the Chen family in the purge.

"You're underestimating Yan Beichen! Born into the royal family, one must possess the ambition of an emperor to control one's destiny. If the Crown Prince claims the dragon throne, do you really think he'll tolerate Yan Beichen?" Chen Dutian said with a smirk. He had recognized Yan Beichen's aspirations to rival the Crown Prince from their first meeting.

Yan Beichen, lacking both influence and Yan Chen's approval, had to feign mediocrity to avoid trouble.

Pang Yuan's eyes widened at Chen Dutian's words. He whispered, "Brother, are you suggesting... Yan Beichen plans to leverage the Lord Protector's power to vie for the throne?"

"Exactly! The Emperor harbors suspicions towards the Chen family, and neither the Crown Prince nor Wang Xuanyang will tolerate my father. Rather than conspire with the Red Banner Army, it's better to back someone who can safeguard the Chen family and place him on the throne," Chen Dutian said, his lips curling into a sly grin.

In his past life, Chen Dutian had encountered many extraordinary talents. Without the power to dominate, the only way to protect his family within the Phethia Dynasty was to have the one seated on the dragon throne heed his command.

Pang Yuan looked at Chen Dutian, astonished. After a moment, he licked his lips, rubbed his hands together, and murmured, "My father always said not to get involved in the princes' succession struggle. Until the Crown Prince is crowned, the outcome remains uncertain. How confident are you in your gamble on Yan Beichen?"

Chen Dutian flashed a self-assured smile, rose to his feet, and strolled to the window with his hands clasped behind him. He spoke with a calm certainty, "A sure bet! The day my father returns is the day Yan Beichen will take his place on the throne!"

Pang Yuan sprang to his feet, his face etched with astonishment, and joined Chen Dutian at the window. He exclaimed in disbelief, "This... Isn't this happening too quickly? Nearly all the civil officials are loyal to the Crown Prince. The Lord Protector may command the five hundred thousand strong Red Banner Army, but let's not forget about the Jademanes within the Phethia Dynasty!"

With a dismissive wave of his hand and a confident grin, Chen Dutian reassured him, "The Jademanes won't make a move against the Chen family."