Chapter 365: Celestial Capital, An Interest Group-Style Royal Family and Its Ministers

The ghost tide from Lanlou Mansion soon began to spread. With their numbers exploding, the ghosts became a massive catastrophe.

The Ziyue Dynasty responded at once, but their forces were not swift enough.

By the time the main army arrived, the tide had already gained overwhelming momentum and annihilated an entire state.

Fortunately, the Ziyue Dynasty was well-versed in dealing with ghost tides. Using a strategy of containment followed by gradual eradication, they successfully trapped the tide within Dust Rock State.

As for the former Lanlou and Shengshi Mansions, they were, of course, completely wiped out.

Not everyone perished, however. With the exception of Lanlou Mansion, the Exorcism Bureaus in the other prefectures had organized retreats, allowing many to survive.

The outbreak in Lanlou Mansion was so sudden that there was no time to evacuate.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it would take the Ziyue Dynasty at least ten to twenty years to resolve the ghost tide in Dust Rock State.

Afterward, an official announcement regarding the ghost tide was issued. The stated cause was that Ghost People had disguised themselves as law-abiding citizens, infiltrated the Exorcism Bureau, and lain dormant as members of the Sealing Hall before seizing their chance to strike.

In truth, everything had already been submerged by the ghost tide, so what did the real story matter?

Thus, all the blame was placed on the Ghost People.

"Well, they stumbled into the right answer. It really was the Ghost People," Qi Suian remarked casually.

They had now reached the outskirts of the Celestial Capital.

Ever since Yan Jingxing learned that an entire state had been devoured by the ghost tide, a dark cloud had hung over his face.

He grew even more silent and withdrawn, his thoughts a mystery.

This brush with death had changed Yan Jingxing considerably.

’He’s already given up on life,’ Qi Suian thought. ’He’s just hanging on by a thread. The moment the time is right, he’ll definitely try to end it all.’

Qi Suian, however, had no intention of stopping him. Theirs was a simple relationship of mutual exploitation.

Yan Jingxing was using Qi Suian to get an audience with Emperor Ziyue, and Qi Suian was using him as a tool.

Having him along had certainly reduced their troubles on the road.

Seeing that neither of the others was speaking, Qi Suian added, as if to himself, "If you don’t know where the Ghost People came from, I suppose that explanation works just fine."

"That’s enough," Nangong Yuan said, shooting Qi Suian a fierce glare. She knew Yan Jingxing couldn’t handle any more provocation, yet Qi Suian had to say it.

"We’re already at the Celestial Capital. What’s next?" Qi Suian asked, glancing at the city-entry inspection checkpoint nearby.

As the capital of the Ziyue Dynasty, the Celestial Capital was naturally a prosperous and bustling place.

The flow of people in and out was endless, and even they had to wait in line.

"An audience with the Emperor," Nangong Yuan said, her reply a mere four words.

"That’s not what I’m asking. You’re the Grand Commander of Celestial Capital, aren’t you? Don’t you have any special privileges?" Qi Suian said, exasperated. "Do we really have to wait in this line?"

"Are you in a hurry to see the Emperor?" Nangong Yuan asked, not quite understanding.

"No, I’m not in a hurry." ’Why would I be?’ Qi Suian thought. "I just don’t like wasting time on trivialities."

For an outlaw like Qi Suian, standing in line was an insult to his very being.

If the will of the world hadn’t had a little chat with him and made it clear that he couldn’t just run wild, he’d never be behaving this tamely.

"This is not a trivial matter. This is order," Nangong Yuan countered, disagreeing with Qi Suian’s perspective.

Hearing the word "order," Qi Suian couldn’t help but recall his deal with the will of the world. It had used that exact same word.

He didn’t have much of an opinion on order. After all, Qi Suian had spent his time in apocalypses; he was mostly familiar with what things looked like *after* order had collapsed.

Once the three of them had passed smoothly into the Celestial Capital, Nangong Yuan reverted to her true appearance and led Qi Suian toward the Imperial Palace.

They hadn’t gotten far before someone blocked their path.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince," Nangong Yuan said, offering a salute.

Qi Suian, however, simply sized him up. "What’s the story with this Crown Prince? I thought everyone here just popped into existence. Surely the Royal Family and the Crown Prince weren’t just picked up off the street, were they?"

Yan Jingxing glanced at the Crown Prince before giving a cold nod. "That’s right. Both the Royal Family and the Crown Prince appeared out of thin air. They were simply chosen."

The Crown Prince’s gaze swept over Qi Suian and Yan Jingxing, dismissing them entirely as he turned his attention back to Nangong Yuan.

"Commander Nangong, was your mission a success?" the Crown Prince inquired.

He had no desire to speak with a pair of nobodies; he was more interested in the Longevity Dew and the Emperor’s plans.

"So, what you’re saying is, neither the Royal Family nor this Crown Prince are actually related to the reigning Emperor Ziyue, right?" Qi Suian pressed on.

’At first, when I heard ’Royal Family,’ I thought they were an actual family. Now it seems they’re more like an interest group, a corporation.’

"Yes. If one dies, they can be replaced," Yan Jingxing said, his face devoid of expression.

The Crown Prince’s expression flickered as he was interrupted again, but he quickly composed himself.

Plenty of people showed him disrespect, but few were ever this blunt about it.

’These two are either completely reckless, or they have powerful backing.’

Seeing as they had returned with Nangong Yuan, he assumed it was the latter and chose to act as if he hadn’t heard them.

"It was successful. Is there anything else, Your Highness? I must report to the Emperor." Nangong Yuan was inwardly puzzled as to why he had suddenly sought her out.

They had interacted before, of course.

He had tried to win her over to his side, but she had refused.

’Theoretically, his next move should have been to wait for me to die and then recruit my successor, or to remove me himself once he took the throne.’

It was unlikely they would have any further dealings otherwise.

Her authority was heavily constrained by various factions. She was useful as a weapon, but she lacked the qualifications to be a key player in a power struggle.

"Nothing else, of course. However, since you are going to see the Emperor, why don’t I entertain these two on your behalf?" The Crown Prince said, looking at Qi Suian and Yan Jingxing.

He wasn’t so petty as to seek revenge; rather, he was thinking of recruiting them.

The reason was simple: anyone personally escorted by the Grand Commander of the Celestial Capital was by no means ordinary.

If they could be recruited, he had to act fast.

As for their offense against him? To put it bluntly, countless people had offended him. It was just a war of words.

’If I can’t even tolerate a little thing like this, how can I ever hope to rule the world?’

"There is no need. This is a matter of Imperial decree. Your Highness, do not inquire further," Nangong Yuan refused coolly.

Qi Suian was a survivor and Yan Jingxing a witness to the truth of the ghost tide. They were entangled in too much; the best course of action was to deliver them directly to Emperor Ziyue.

"I see. They have been summoned by the Emperor himself. I was presumptuous. Please, don’t take offense," the Crown Prince said, apologizing immediately and stepping aside to clear a path.

This turn of events was rather unexpected, even for Qi Suian.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is quite the character. So adaptable. If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to stomach that," Qi Suian couldn’t help but comment admiringly.

Most people know how to be firm, but few know when to yield.

Especially for someone in his high position, with only one person ranked above him, to be openly ridiculed by two nobodies and still tolerate it was no simple feat.

The Crown Prince overheard Qi Suian’s words but merely smiled. "Thank you for the compliment."

With that, he departed.

"The Crown Prince was handpicked by the Emperor. You really don’t know how to hold your tongue."

"But from the looks of it, the Crown Prince seems to have taken an interest in you. He’ll probably try to recruit you."

"Feel free to refuse him. The Crown Prince isn’t so petty as to hold a grudge over something like that," Nangong Yuan advised Qi Suian.

As for Yan Jingxing, there was no need to say anything. He likely didn’t have a future to worry about, and even if an offer were made, he would refuse it himself.

"I know. I’m a die-hard supporter of the Emperor, after all," Qi Suian said dismissively. ’The Ziyue Dynasty’s power structure isn’t bound by blood ties. It’s much more transactional.’

’But that makes the transfer of power much more efficient. It’s a collective built on mutual interest; as long as the benefits keep flowing, everyone is the best of friends.’

’Even if Emperor Ziyue were to die right now, the Crown Prince and his faction could swiftly take over the entire power structure of the Ziyue Dynasty and establish control.’

Cold and efficient. Those two words described it perfectly.

’So this Crown Prince isn’t an heir chosen by Emperor Ziyue, but a political rival with exceptional skill and ability.’

’This rival simply lacks the power to seize the throne at present. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be the Crown Prince; he’d be the Emperor.’

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"Those two... what was your assessment?" the Crown Prince asked calmly.

"One of them is very likely Yan Jingxing, the head of the Shengshi Mansion Exorcism Bureau mentioned in our reports."

"As for the one in iron armor... my eyes cannot penetrate his secrets," the advisor at his side replied.

"For even you to be unable to discern anything about him... it seems he is a great talent indeed." A hint of surprise entered the Crown Prince’s voice.

This particular advisor’s ghostly power was concentrated in his eyes, making him an expert at reading people. There were few he could not see through.

The only others he couldn’t read were the current Emperor, the Crown Prince himself, and the most important ministers of the court—the pillars of the Ziyue Dynasty.

"Find a way to recruit this person as soon as possible. No price is too high." The Crown Prince had many subordinates, but not a single one who this advisor couldn’t see through.

He would only have such people after the Emperor’s death, when he inherited his predecessor’s core followers.

"Your Highness, I’m afraid that will not be easy," the advisor said frankly. "This man’s origins are a complete mystery. We have not a single shred of intelligence on him. Even if we wished to recruit him, we wouldn’t know where to begin."

"Furthermore, since the Emperor has summoned him, he is bound to be given an important position. With the Eastern Palace’s current resources, we cannot compete with the Emperor."

This was the plain truth. Compared to the Emperor, the Crown Prince held no advantages.

What the Emperor had, the Crown Prince lacked. And what the Crown Prince had, the Emperor possessed in measures countless times greater.

"Make contact first. Even if we fail, we must leave a good impression. He may be of help to me in the future."

"We mustn’t stop eating for fear of choking," the Crown Prince said, indicating his intent to build goodwill first. ’You can’t just do nothing and expect to get everything you want in one go.’

’The man is a person, not an object to be manipulated at will.’

Make an enemy if recruitment fails? He wasn’t so foolish. Instead, he would continue his attempts, building goodwill and laying the groundwork for his control over the court after his future ascension.