498: Chapter 369_2 498: Chapter 369_2 Liu Xu took sick leave to stay at home, one reason was to avoid the ridicule of others, and another was that I was truly afraid my son might fall victim to others’ malice.
Wanting to stay out of sight for a few days to buffer, now he was heading to the King’s palace, it was time to talk business again.
By doing so, Liu Xu obviously intended to keep a tight grip on his own power.
Having not attended court these past few days, he was still up to date with the court’s news, thanks to his informants.
The King, that spineless man, knowing full well the schemes he had been playing, dared not target him openly.
Of course, Liu Xu understood the King’s mind—he needed Ye Tian, he needed the help of the Guardian God Family, yet he fostered both his and the Saint Elder’s factions, the three families mutually restraining each other.
Only a fool would be unaware of such a political ploy.
Only foolishly loyal people would be loyal to him.
Unfortunately, there are such fools.
The Guardian God Family has been foolish all along, their abilities surpassing both their families, yet they foolishly protect the weak King.
That old thing from the Elders, of course, he knew his intentions, harboring the same ambitions as himself.
The two of them had been suppressed by the Guardian God, previously operating hand in glove, sharing the same mindset, but that old fox was too cunning to collude with others.
This time, however, he had leaned toward the Guardian God Family, and now Liu Xu was the one most worried about it—the two families had become collaborators.
Whether or not they would seize the kingdom, it was disadvantageous for him, a man who wished to climb the ranks.
What Liu Xu hated most was just this; after so many years of hard work, he didn’t want it all to be in vain.
On his way to court, Liu Xu encountered Tang Weiguo’s carriage and ordered his coachman to block the other’s carriage.
Tang Weiguo, in his carriage, was caught off guard when it abruptly stopped, almost hitting his head, but thanks to his power, this Confucian Cultivator sat steadily inside.
“You…” The coachman got a fright, and upon seeing who it was, he halted his initial intention to curse.
Liu Xu by then had already opened the curtains and was peering out from his carriage to where the other’s carriage curtains were drawn.
Tang Weiguo, having seen clear through the curtains who it was, had no desire to open the curtains and face Liu Xu, that old coot.
“Tang Weiguo, scared to come out and face me?
Feeling guilty, are you?
Tsk, tsk, your old face can’t be seen in public anymore!”
Tang Weiguo, hearing such shameless words from Liu Xu inside the carriage, smirked, “Liu Xu, who’s the one without face to be seen?
You’ve been hiding at home these past few days, too ashamed to show your face.
What’s gotten into you as soon as you left home?”
Liu Xu’s beard was about to bristle with anger, his old eyes rolling furiously, “Tang Weiguo, you spout nonsense, you must take responsibility for the words you say.
If you’re so capable, let’s have a one-on-one fight.”
Tang Weiguo snorted through his nose, a tone of disdain in his voice, “As if I’m scared of you.
Who doesn’t know who around here?
You’re acting crazy today, bullying me like this!”
Liu Xu and Tang Weiguo had always clashed in court, time and again facing off in the presence of the monarch.
Only people from the Guardian God Family, from the General down to the Young General, never bothered to quarrel with these men who were like scholars yet not, focusing instead on getting things done.
They had been sparring with words and wits for decades, like two roosters eternally at loggerheads, neither willing to submit to the other.
Their two carriages stopped on the busy main street of the Imperial City, the high and mighty Prime Minister Liu Xu, looking so huffy as if he had gone mad, was mistaken for a rich and pompous man by those who didn’t recognize him.
Their two luxurious carriages had caused a traffic jam, and people from the neighboring shops watched their argument instead of tending to their customers.
Everyone was curious, wondering what the feud was between this wealthy man they never saw and the other man.
The onlookers, who did not recognize the familiar figures, could only listen to their quarreling, hurling insults like ‘shameless’ and ‘mad’ at each other, not fully grasping the situation but hoping to see them actually come to blows.
As time slowly passed, Liu Xu forgot what he was supposed to be doing.
Tang Weiguo wasn’t in a hurry to reach the Imperial Palace either, and the two men continued their exchange.
…
Meanwhile, King Long Hong who was inside the Imperial Palace, only met the civil and military officials during the morning court session.
In the Cultivation World of Ancient Xia Country, civil and military officials were almost the same; they cultivated using their respective methods.
Just like King Long Hong, who is also a cultivator, the cultivation technique passed down from his ancestors has weakened with each generation.
His own generation is slightly better, as he has already reached the Golden Core stage.
Over the past twenty years, he has been preoccupied with state affairs and has not made any progress in his cultivation.
Moreover, the numerous beauties in his harem have completely drained his body.
Long Hong has a bit of dark circles under his eyes, which are not due to staying up late.
There is also a hint of swelling on his face; others may think he works hard into the night.
However, that is not the case.
Besides spending time with the beauties of the harem, Long Hong also cultivates, yet his body seems to have developed a problem, something akin to premature aging.
Long Hong has been seeking treatment from the Imperial Physician for minor ailments, treating the symptoms but not the root cause.
Gazing upon his vast country, he fears he will not be sitting on his throne in two hundred years with his health like this.
Those around him are eagerly watching, and his sons are disappointments.
Long Hong worries that someone will seize the king’s position and that the millennium-old lineage will be destroyed in his hands.
Recently, he heard that within the Cultivation World, there is something called the Supreme Elixir, and like the Elixir of Time, it might improve his physical condition.
Considering the state treasury is not that affluent, Long Hong has spent the treasury’s money over the years on finding beauties and searching for elixirs.
His children also spend a lot of money, and even though he is the king, the treasury’s finances are not for his family to use at will.
To purchase the Supreme Elixir, Long Hong summoned Tang Weiguo and Ye Tian to come see him.
Liu Xu was automatically ignored by Long Hong due to his constant troubles and taking sick leave, opting to neglect him.
Long Hong noticed that the Guardian God Family, the Ye Family, and the Elders have become a united front in the court, and the previous balance among the three powers seems tilted to one side, posing a threat to his throne.
Whenever Ye Tian attends court, he is accompanied by either the old general or generals, and their high-level cultivation exudes a stern threat.
Ye Tian, young as he is, is even more formidable than these middle-aged men, and Long Hong can no longer discern his level of cultivation.
Lately, the Princess Long Feifeng has been constantly seeking him out, always mentioning her desire to marry Ye Tian and requesting his blessing for their union.
No matter what, Long Hong does not want his daughter to marry Ye Tian, although a marriage alliance between the two families might better protect his own country.
He does not wish for the Consort Prince to seize the country.
Ye Tian is too powerful and difficult to control.
On the other hand, among the three candidates, Tang Feiyang, a young man of sound character, may not be as capable as Ye Tian, but is much better than Liu Tao.
Thus, he suggested to Princess Long Feifeng to choose Consort Prince Tang Feiyang, only to find that the Princess would not agree.
“Father, I want only Ye Tian.”
Princess Long Feifeng once saw beautiful women by Ye Tian’s side, of commoner status, yet they were his fellow disciples with a strong friendship.
Standing together, they presented a picture of a handsome man and a beautiful woman; previously, the Princess considered the prospects from three families, but now, seeing Liu Tao’s worthless state, Ye Tian became her ideal suitor.
She was determined to marry none but him, and in her heart, stubbornly wondered why she, a princess, would be inferior to a commoner.
“Princess, Ye Tian is too powerful.
I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle him,” said Long Hong.
“Isn’t Father still there?” Long Feifeng sweetly coaxed the king, hugging his arm and shaking it.
As Long Hong’s daughter shook him, he felt somewhat dizzy, but he did not relent and give his consent.
“Ye Tian is too powerful and is a formidable member of his family.
They are one of the Ten Great Clans; if they have ambitions for the throne, Father and your brothers won’t be able to withstand them.”
Upon hearing her father’s words, Princess Long Feifeng was moved.
If she became queen:
“Hehe, whether Ye Tian becomes king or not, he will still be your son-in-law.
The son-in-law can carry half the sky, and Father can’t just hand over the throne to my brothers.
Why not pass it to me instead?”
Long Hong retorted sharply, “What nonsense are you spouting?
How could a dynasty of a million years be handed over so easily?
You, a daughter, should not concern yourself with so much.
Just marry Tang Feiyang as I say, his father is a Cabinet Grand Scholar and a suitable match for you, the princess.”
Princess Long Feifeng refused to compromise, stating that Tang Feiyang would barely suffice as a consort, and that if she were to marry, the man must be as formidable as Ye Tian.
Long Hong lost his temper and confined the princess to her room to prevent her from causing trouble everywhere.