At those words, the entire hall went abruptly silent.
"Your Majesty... is this truly so?"
A look of surprise flashed in First Prince Li Xuan's eyes, and the other princes and consorts all turned toward the Empress in unison.
"Your Highness, it is true. The news will probably spread through the capital before long."
The elderly eunuch said this, and the Empress gave a quiet nod.
Seeing this, everyone exchanged glances, and the delight that rose visibly on each face was impossible to miss.
"Good that he is gone. Now we can go back to our own residences."
Fourth Prince Li Zi said cheerfully to the Sixth Prince Li An beside him.
Li An also appeared extremely pleased, and nodded, "With the Eighth younger brother gone, it feels like a mountain has been lifted from one's shoulders. The relief is immediate."
That seemingly offhand question instantly brought the cheerful mood in the room crashing down into silence.
First Prince Li Xuan and Fifth Prince Li Qing exchanged a glance, and both showed unusual expressions.
The last time Li Musheng had departed Shangyang City without a sound, the entire capital had paid him essentially no attention.
And yet he had gone ahead without anyone noticing and led the Tianjin Guards to destroy Falling God Peak, one of the four great martial sects, sending a shockwave through the entire martial world.
Now he had suddenly left the capital again, and it was hard not to wonder whether this time too he had some other purpose in mind.
Whether this would once again produce some development that shook everyone to their core.
At that, the Empress fell into a thoughtful expression, apparently having considered the same thing.
But very quickly she shook her head slowly and said, "Last time, the Tianjin Guards had actually been showing signs of movement long before. It was simply that no one could have guessed they would move against Falling God Peak."
"This time, as far as I know, there has been no sign of movement from any faction in the capital, and so this Eighth Prince's departure is most likely not connected to any particular action."
At those words, the assembled figures in the hall felt a measure of relief.
No signs of movement and no planned action were the best possible news as far as they were concerned. Otherwise, given Li Musheng's soaring reputation at this moment, if he were to render another great service, the four princes in the room might truly have no day of their own to look forward to ever again.
At that, Fourth Prince Li Zi let out a cold snort, "Father has still not come out of seclusion, and he is leaving in such a hurry. He is probably afraid of Father's punishment and running away before that happens."
At those words, Li Xuan and Li Qing both looked at Li Zi, then shook their heads, "The Eighth's martial cultivation is terrifying, and his conduct is without any restraint. He does not seem in any way like someone who would voluntarily flee to avoid a situation."
As he said this, Li Xuan frowned deeply, "Right now none of us know his true purpose. To be safe, it would be best to have someone follow and track him, and maintain constant awareness of his whereabouts."
At those words, the Empress gave a slight nod, and then glanced at the reporting eunuch.
The eunuch, seeing this, immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty the Empress need not worry. Your servant has already had people follow the Eighth Prince out of the city, and they will send regular messages reporting his position."
The Empress gave a nod, "This matter is of great importance. Remember to send additional people."
She then considered briefly and said, "Also, do not forget to monitor the movements of every faction throughout the capital. With the Eighth Prince gone, some parties may well begin to stir, especially given the current situation with the Three-Sect Alliance in the martial world and the four surrounding nations watching from every side."
At those words, the eunuch's expression became serious, and he acknowledged the order and withdrew.
At that, the Empress swept her gaze over the assembled princes and said, "There is also no need for any of you to rush and leave the palace. Wait until it is confirmed that the Eighth Prince has truly left the capital before going."
Li Zi and Li An exchanged a look but raised no objection, both bowing their agreement.
Li Xuan and Li Qing said nothing. Li Musheng's departure from the capital was clearly unexpected to them, but for them it was undeniably good news.
Beyond being free from the pressure of Li Musheng's presence, they could also continue developing their own factions, growing their power while this window of time remained open.
...
Li Musheng's sudden departure stirred Shangyang City like a stone dropped into still water, sending ripples in every direction.
Beyond speculating about the purpose of his trip, the various factions gradually began to shift their attention back to the matter of the Three-Sect Alliance in the martial world.
After all, while Li Musheng had been in the capital, though everyone feared him in their hearts for his terrifying martial strength and utterly unrestrained conduct, with him now gone and a supreme expert surpassing even a Kill-Saint absent from the capital, a certain feeling of unease began to creep back in.
While everyone knew that Shangyang City, as the Great Li capital, was certainly not without powerful figures, a person with Li Musheng's kind of reputation still had an enormous influence on the mood of things with every development.
...
In an underground chamber in a certain residence in Shangyang City.
Champion Marquis Huo Xian found Li Ruan'an after receiving the news. Li Musheng had not told them in advance he was leaving.
By the time they received word, it had already spread throughout Shangyang City.
"It seems my own younger brother has no intention of acknowledging me as his Elder Sister, and no intention of acknowledging you as his maternal uncle."
In the light of the candles, Li Ruan'an's expression showed nothing readable, and she only looked at the letter in her hand, lost in whatever she was thinking.
At those words, Huo Xian shook his head slowly, "There is no helping it. Though we share blood with him, twenty years of separation have left no real bond of feeling between us."
Li Ruan'an raised her eyes and glanced at him, "Great-Uncle can take it in stride. But I had originally planned to tell him the truth about Mother's death and let him deal with Li Zhi. That option is now closed."
As she said this, a look of gravity settled over Li Ruan'an's face, "Li Zhi and I have already made our break. And Li Zhi is a person of exceptional talent and extraordinary cunning, with a deep relationship with the Soul Chaser Hall assassination organization. If he is given time to grow, he will one day become a formidable threat to my younger brother."
"A person like this must be cut down before he takes root, or he will become a serious problem in the future."
At those words, Huo Xian furrowed his brow and looked at Li Ruan'an, "Your Highness, after your move against Li Zhi in the prison yesterday, it appears he did not expose you at all. I still have a feeling that what he said might have been true, and that your Mother's death truly had nothing to do with him."
As he said this, Huo Xian let out a quiet sigh, "As for Your Highness wanting to clear the way for my nephew by eliminating the threat that Li Zhi represents, I will not stop you."
"But under the current circumstances, you clearly cannot move against Li Zhi while he is locked in the prison, and with a Soul Chaser Hall expert protecting him, you cannot kill him either."
"I would suggest that for now, rather than pursuing that, you redirect your focus toward finding the true killer behind your Mother's death. As for the matter of Li Zhi, it can wait until my nephew returns to the capital, and let him decide for himself whether to kill Li Zhi or not."
At those words, Li Ruan'an's eyes narrowed slightly, and she looked at Huo Xian for a long moment.
Then, after a moment of silence, she finally spoke slowly, "What Great-Uncle says is not without reason. At the moment I truly have no way to kill Li Zhi."
"As for Great-Uncle's doubts about Mother's death, we can naturally continue investigating."
"If this truly was not Li Zhi's doing, then we must find the real culprit and avenge Mother. We absolutely cannot let them go free."
Huo Xian gave a slow nod, "It is good that Your Highness can see it this way. Some things need not be forced."
Li Ruan'an said nothing, then a subtle movement crossed her eyes, and she suddenly said, "My younger brother left the capital without any warning beforehand. I have no idea what he is doing."
Huo Xian shook his head, "That is likely something no one in the entire capital knows. But given his martial strength, we have no need to worry about him."
As he said this, a look of gravity came over Huo Xian's face, "What we truly need to worry about is the current situation under heaven. It is just unclear when His Majesty will emerge from seclusion and take charge of the great affairs of all Great Li."
Li Ruan'an said nothing, her expression unreadable, "To speak honestly, no one can ever guess what my Father the emperor is thinking."
...
Third Prince Li Zhu's residence.
After the defection of so many of his followers and former disciples, Right Minister Ji Song had aged visibly.
Though he had still not given up on vengeance, having lost so many of his officials' support, he was now undeniably alone and without backing.
In Ji Song's eyes, the thin thread of hope for revenge that had barely risen was now looking extremely remote.
"I am the Great Li Minister, and I have given my whole life in service to Great Li for decades. His Majesty will not ignore my petition."
Ji Song stared at the memorial on his desk, which ran to over ten thousand characters, murmuring to himself as a fit of violent coughing seized him.
At that moment, a figure drifted in without a sound and became visible before the study desk, letting out a quiet sigh.
Ji Song's expression changed at once, and he looked up sharply to find that Master Youshan, whom he had not seen for many days, had appeared before him.
"Master Youshan..."
Ji Song immediately got to his feet, and Master Youshan raised a hand and said, "Master Ji, no need to be agitated. Mind your health."
As he said this, Youshan casually sent a current of true qi flowing into Ji Song's gaunt and wasted body, giving him a small measure of renewed energy, and restoring some color to his face.
Ji Song felt the goodwill in Youshan's gesture, and whatever he had been about to say did not leave his mouth. He simply closed his eyes gently, let his aging body settle back into the chair, and said, "This old one has heard something of Master Youshan's situation. It was this old one who dragged you into this and cost you the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Master's position."
At those words, Master Youshan, in his blue scholar's robe, shook his head, "What is destined to come, let it come. What is not destined, let it go."
"In truth, I have long since stopped caring about such external titles, and never minded the Pavilion Master's seat."
As he said this, Youshan looked at Ji Song, "The one thing that weighs on my conscience is that I failed to keep my promise to Master Ji and could not fulfill what he entrusted to me. It is I who have let him down."
Ji Song, seated in his chair, said nothing. His clouded eyes opened slowly, and he reached up to straighten the disheveled white hair at his temple, "This is not your fault. No one could have anticipated that an unknown and unremarkable Eighth Prince would possess such terrifying martial cultivation. No one facing him could have done anything about it."
As he said this, Ji Song picked up the memorial on the desk and continued checking and writing its contents, "That Master Youshan found time to come and visit this old one is already more than enough."
"It seems Master Ji has still not abandoned his plans for revenge."
Youshan shook his head gently, looked at the memorial in Ji Song's hand, and said, "From what I know of that Great Li emperor, he will not move against that Eighth Prince. Everything Master Ji is doing will come to nothing."
Ji Song's eyes remained on the memorial in his hand, "Whether it accomplishes anything or not, this old one will not stop."
As he said this, he suddenly paused and raised his eyes to look at Youshan, "Moreover, this old one has kept the emperor's company for several decades. I fear, Master Youshan, that you may not understand His Majesty better than I do."
At those words, Youshan's brow creased, but before he could speak, Ji Song coughed several times and continued, "Some things need only a seed planted. Even if this old one dies, the seed will continue to grow, and in time will flower and bear fruit."
And at that very moment, a drifting voice suddenly rang through the entire study, "Master Ji speaks wisely."
At those words, Youshan's expression changed sharply, and he immediately looked in every direction around the room. Then his figure shifted, and in an instant he was on the roof of the study.
But no matter how he swept his gaze across every side, he could not see whoever had spoken just now.
"With your level of cultivation, you will not find me."
At that, the voice sounded again in Youshan's ear.
Youshan's eyes sharpened. The voice seemed to come from every direction at once.
Even as he poured all his martial true qi into his searching, trying to trace the sound to its source, it was as though some indefinable martial will enveloped everything and suppressed his efforts entirely, rendering them useless.
In that moment, Youshan realized with certainty that this person's martial cultivation had to be far beyond his own.
"Who is there?"
Youshan clasped his hands in a respectful bow and asked toward the open air before him.
At those words, the person's voice came again, "You need not know my identity. If you are still willing to help Master Ji repay his debt, then come inside the study and let us speak."
Youshan's expression went through several changes. He looked downward for a moment, then shifted his figure and returned to the study where Ji Song was.
Ji Song himself remained relatively composed. He had dealt with the speaker before.
At that moment, the drifting voice sounded again, "That Eighth Prince has now left the capital and his whereabouts are unknown. This gives us more time to deal with him."
"As long as Master Ji does not give up, there remains a chance."
At those words, both Youshan and Ji Song went still, clearly only just learning of Li Musheng's departure from the capital.
"Why would the Eighth Prince leave the capital?"
Youshan raised his head with a furrowed brow and asked.
"No one knows why he left," the drifting voice answered, then paused, "But we must ensure that by the time he returns to the capital, we are ready to bring him down."