Imperial Cultivation

“Lost again?” Chu Mingxuan couldn't help but say, “Already lost two battles, is this the third?”

“A military town has been seized.” Chu Zhiyao's expression was grave as he slowly said, “This has completely breached the northern border defenses, a huge problem!”

“Tenth Brother should have been dispatched long ago!” Chu Mingxuan snorted, “Those old fogeys in the court are constantly worrying about this and that, afraid that Tenth Brother will raise an army in rebellion, not even considering why Tenth Brother would do such a thing!”

“Eighteenth Uncle, be careful what you say!” Chu Zhiyuan quickly said.

Chu Mingxuan scoffed, “They're just making excuses, actually just fighting for power, afraid that the power in their hands will be taken away. Who doesn't know who? They just have to use the excuse of considering things for Father Emperor, so high-sounding!”

“If the Northwest border troops are mobilized...” Chu Zhiyuan frowned, “Eighteenth Uncle, why don't we wait a bit longer?”

Chu Mingxuan was puzzled, then his expression slightly changed, understanding Chu Zhiyuan's meaning. His original destination of the Northwest was now changed to the Northern border.

The Northern border now is the most dangerous place.

Chu Zhiyuan said, “If it really doesn't work out, try to find a way to change it, and enter the Supervisory Division.”

It would be somewhat inappropriate for a prince to enter the Zhenwu Division, but entering the Supervisory Division wouldn't be a problem; there would be plenty of places to arrange.

“Can't change it.” Chu Mingxuan said helplessly, “Once a decision is made, it can't be changed.”

“Man proposes, God disposes.” Chu Zhiyuan said, “Otherwise, enter the Ministry of Rites and become my colleague, how about that?”

“Rules are rules, can't be changed.” Chu Mingxuan sighed.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought about changing his mind, but when he mentioned it to the Emperor, he was directly rejected, who said that a son of the Chu family had to finish the road he chose, even if he had to grit his teeth and crawl.

This cut off any possibility of changing.

“Or let Tenth Uncle say something.”

“This…”

“If Tenth Uncle really wants to send troops, Imperial Grandfather has to give him face, right?”

“...Okay, I'll try.” Chu Mingxuan chuckled, “If it's really the Ministry of Rites, I want to be a Vice Minister, your superior.”

“That would be great.” Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Chu Zhiyuan left Mingwu Hall.

He pondered as he walked.

His mind was recalling the situation of his encounter with Chu Qingfeng, recalling the changes in Chu Qingfeng that he had sensed through his extrasensory perception, regarding the mysteries of the Grandmaster.

The Qi of a Grandmaster is spiritual energy, which contains spiritual power on the basis of Gang Qi.

Therefore, as soon as Gang Qi comes into contact with spiritual energy, it will immediately become dazed and affected by it.

The Qingying Sword can calm the mind and spirit, and it can be used to great effect at this time, minimizing the impact of spiritual energy.

Without the Qingying Sword, he would likely have manipulated his Gang Qi to strike at the void, rather than Chu Qingfeng.

And in a battle between Grandmasters and Grandmasters, victory or defeat often comes in an instant; how could one win by striking at the void?

If Chu Qingfeng's Gang Qi were to eliminate the spiritual power, the difference in power would not be as great as imagined, like the difference between rainwater and a waterfall.

The power is different, but there is no qualitative difference.

Then he sighed again.

This was only possible because he had extrasensory perception, the Divine Dragon's Will, and the Qingying Sword; the combination of the three made it possible, otherwise, he would have no power to fight back.

All in all, Grandmasters still have overwhelming power over Grandmasters.

His pace slowed, and he unconsciously arrived outside the Anguo Duke's mansion.

The doorman of the Anguo Duke's mansion immediately rushed in to report as soon as he saw him.

A moment later, Xiao Ruoyu hurried over.

“Why are you here, Your Highness?” he asked in confusion.

Dressed in a blue martial attire, with sweat on his forehead and a flushed face, he was obviously practicing intensely.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, “I came to see my father-in-law; has he returned?”

Xiao Ruoyu looked up at the bright sunshine, “He should be back soon.”

After the morning court, the Anguo Duke would return to the mansion for a meal, and then take a walk to the Ministry of Rites to digest it. He would either return at noon or go to a restaurant with his colleagues. The same was true in the evening.

The most certain meal he would have at the mansion was this breakfast.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, “Then let's have breakfast together.”

“Father will definitely be happy,” Xiao Ruoyu said, “Eldest Sister is in the back garden; let's go in quickly.”

Compared to his own son, Father preferred to spend time with the Crown Prince.

Xiao Ruoyu led Chu Zhiyuan to the back garden, where he found Xiao Ruoling sitting in a small pavilion beside a strangely shaped rockery.

On the stone table in the pavilion was a red clay stove with white steam gurgling out.

She sat motionless beside the stone table, wearing a light purple palace dress, her hands forming a hand seal, with a detached and otherworldly appearance, like a celestial maiden who does not eat the food of the mortal world.

Xiao Ruoyu raised his voice and said, “Sister, Your Highness is here.”

Xiao Ruoling opened her bright eyes, her deep and dreamy gaze looked over, and she smiled sweetly, her radiance dazzling.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and cupped his fists.

Xiao Ruoling smiled sweetly and said, “Come in.”

Two little maids were leaning against the red pillars of the pavilion, smiling and staring at Chu Zhiyuan.

Seeing Chu Zhiyuan looking over, they crisply curtsied and saluted: “Greetings, Son-in-law.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded, then floated into the pavilion and sat opposite Xiao Ruoling.

Xiao Ruoyu said, “Sister, you guys talk; I'll go practice. I'm almost there, and if I delay any longer, I won't have time to eat.”

Jian Ruoling waved her jade hand.

Just as the two were about to speak, a little maid ran over and said that the Duke had returned from the morning court.

So a group of people hurried to the front.

While eating, Chu Zhiyuan talked to Xiao Youping about the affairs of the court.

“This time can be considered a major defeat.” Xiao Youping's expression was heavy, and he sighed: “Losing a town has completely opened up the gap in the defense line, the impact is too bad!”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, “Will there be punishment?”

“Town-Pacifying General Li Haoyuan is to be arrested and brought back to the capital!” Xiao Youping said in a deep voice, “Prince Ying is to take command of the Northern border!”

Chu Zhiyuan said: “So Tenth Uncle is finally going to the Northern border.”

“If it weren't for the court's delay like this, this third major defeat might not have happened.” Xiao Youping snorted: “These people in the court are all sinners!”

Chu Zhiyuan asked: “Didn't Imperial Grandfather punish them?”

“He scolded them severely.” Xiao Youping snorted: “He threw a fit, he was really angered.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: “Li Haoyuan is good at defense; there shouldn't have been this major defeat, right?”

Actually, this was the Emperor's fault, but it was shifted to the ministers.

“It is said that internal spies caused chaos.” Xiao Youping sighed: “There was a problem with Li Haoyuan's concubine; internal and external collusion… This time, his crime is unavoidable!”

His face was gloomy, and he said coldly: “Neglecting the defense of the inner residence caused the Great Jing to lose at least a thousand iron cavalry!”

Chu Zhiyuan's expression was solemn: “More than a thousand people?”

“At least a thousand.” Xiao Youping said: “With the dead and wounded, plus those who were captured, it is definitely no less than a thousand. These generals outside are good at downplaying things, reporting a hundred, but according to what the Emperor knows, it is at least a thousand!”

Chu Zhiyuan's face was heavy.

More than a thousand cavalrymen might not sound like much at first, but you must know that these cavalrymen are not ordinary cavalrymen; they are all veterans who have undergone rigorous training and battlefield experience.

Losing one is painful, but losing a thousand at once…

The elite cavalry of a town is only two thousand in total; losing a thousand almost means losing combat power and being forced to withdraw from the battlefield.

That's why this town was seized.

“This time, the Zhenwu Division will be dispatched, and also the Ministry of Rites,” Xiao Youping looked at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan was startled and couldn't help but ask: “It won't have anything to do with me, right?”

Xiao Youping slowly said: “You will represent the Ministry of Rites and go to the Northern border to announce the decree.”

Chu Zhiyuan was dumbfounded.