Outside the Southern Guardian Prince's manor.
Yang Cheng's expression was calm, his voice thunderous:
"Southern Guardian Prince Wu Zhaoyan received great favor from the Taizu, was enfeoffed with land, honored with glory and wealth, and should have upheld loyalty as a vassal, guarding the royal house."
"Yet he harbored treachery, gathered villains, raised troops in rebellion, coveted sacred treasures—his crimes reach the heavens and cannot be recorded in full even with endless bamboo slips!"
"By Heaven's blessing and the spirit of the dynasty, the royal army strikes, and the traitor submits."
"Wu Zhaoyan betrayed grace, rebelled against his lord, enraging both gods and men. He should be executed according to the law, to answer to the world."
"Those who followed him, the ringleaders will be executed on the spot, those coerced will be punished lightly, and any who abandon darkness for the light will be pardoned."
His words fell like divine judgment.
Clang!
The first weapon dropped to the ground, followed by the second, the third…
The warriors of the Southern Guardian Prince's manor knelt one after another.
A few who still resisted couldn't withstand the overwhelming tide.
Those who refused to kneel were shot dead by the Divine Crossbows.
The most important figure in the manor was undoubtedly Wu Zhaoyan.
By convention, he should have been escorted to Fengtian for Emperor Qian Yuan to personally judge.
But Yang Cheng knew that could not be done.
The aristocratic clans were powerful and deeply tied to the Southern Guardian Prince's household.
If Wu Zhaoyan were brought to Fengtian, countless twists could arise.
In the end, Wu Zhaoyan might not even die.
Yun Jinghuai understood this as well.
Before this operation, they had already discussed how Wu Zhaoyan should be dealt with.
"I refuse to accept this."
Wu Zhaoyan said: "All of this is you and Yun Jinghuai framing me. Once before His Majesty, I will impeach you both for murdering a vassal prince."
Yang Cheng's face remained indifferent.
Puchi!
Without hesitation, he swung his sword at Wu Zhaoyan's neck.
Executing a vassal prince without imperial decree was a burden even Yun Jinghuai could not bear.
So only Yang Cheng could do it himself.
Wu Zhaoyan's head rolled across the ground.
Ding!
[Host actually killed Wu Zhaoyan. This battle power is beyond comprehension.]
[Congratulations to the host for overachieving the mission. Reward upgraded to 30 Marrow-Washing Divine Jades.]
The crowd fell silent.
This was the Southern Guardian Prince, the local emperor of Chanzhou.
Yet such a man was beheaded in public by Yang Cheng.
Many of the prince's followers fainted from fright.
Wu Cangming, heir to the Southern Guardian Prince, felt his legs go soft.
Without someone supporting him, he would have collapsed.
With Wu Zhaoyan dead, his backbone shattered.
The rest no longer needed Yang Cheng's involvement.
Yun Jinghuai's army carried out a grand purge in Chanzhou.
Anyone tied to the Southern Guardian Prince was either killed or arrested.
Cousins like Wu Cangming's were erased silently in the tide.
But Wu Cangming and Wu Zhaoyue were kept alive.
With Wu Zhaoyan dead, the court still needed important captives to be escorted to Fengtian for interrogation.
The heir of the Southern Guardian Prince and the garrison commander of Chanzhou were perfect choices.
They were no Wu Zhaoyan.
Yang Cheng wasn't worried they could stir any storm in Fengtian.
Their strength and influence couldn't compare.
News spread like wildfire in all directions.
At last, people learned the truth: "Chen Cheng" was Yang Cheng, the Crown Prince.
The story of Yang Cheng displaying Perfection-level Pill Dao mastery at the Divine Medicine Valley auction spread with it.
In the eyes of Great Zhou's people, Yang Cheng became even more mysterious and awe-inspiring.
"Greetings, Your Highness Crown Prince."
Elder Qiu and the Divine Medicine Valley group came to pay respects.
Before the meeting at the River-Viewing Tower, Yang Cheng had secretly warned Elder Qiu.
Thus, Elder Qiu's faction stayed away, while mainly the Elder faction members attended—and were all killed in the blast.
Elder Qiu's side remained unharmed.
"To think Young Master was the revered Crown Prince of Great Zhou. You truly kept us in the dark," Elder Qiu said. "But now I understand why your talent is so overwhelming."
"You are the Crown Prince of Great Zhou, blessed with Heaven's mandate. Such talent is only natural."
Yang Cheng then discussed with Elder Qiu the cooperation between Great Zhou and Divine Medicine Valley.
In Fengtian City—
After Zhuang Yi failed to assassinate Yang Cheng and died, the royal clansmen and ministers who supported the Empress and the Crown Prince were furious.
They insisted the Zhuang clan must have been involved and petitioned Emperor Qian Yuan to hold them accountable.
At that moment, Emperor Qian Yuan and the royals once again witnessed the might of the aristocratic clans.
More than half the ministers opposed fiercely.
"Your Majesty, does Great Zhou intend to enforce collective punishment like the previous dynasty?"
Grand Secretariat Head Xu Yan said: "This assassination attempt on the Crown Prince was clearly the personal act of Zhuang Yi. Some with ulterior motives want to expand the matter, dragging in more people."
"This must end here. Anyone who continues to argue should be punished."
Many ministers echoed: "We second this."
When the news reached the harem, Noble Consort Zhuang Wanrong sneered.
"My Zhuang clan has endured over 5,000 years, double the history of Great Zhou itself."
She snorted coldly: "If Splendid Radiance Hall thinks they can use this as leverage to destroy my Zhuang clan, they are only daydreaming."
"Consort, though that may be true, after this failed action, Splendid Radiance Hall's power rises while ours declines further," said the head palace maid of Radiant Sunlight Hall.
Hearing this, Noble Consort Zhuang's gaze turned dark.
These 9 years had dealt her heavy blows.
Her son Yang Xiu was still in exile, while she had fallen from Noble Consort to Consort Li.
Over in Splendid Radiance Hall, Yang Cheng had risen from heir apparent to Crown Prince.
The gap between the two sides grew wider and wider.
"What's the rush?"
Consort Zhuang said coldly: "My Zhuang clan has endured for over 5,000 years. What storm haven't we weathered? This little matter is nothing worth mentioning."
"Wait and see. Our Zhuang clan already formed an alliance with the Southern Guardian Prince's manor. That brat Yang Cheng went to Chanzhou—it's no different than stepping into hell. Whether he comes back alive is still a question."
As if to confirm her words, news soon arrived from Chanzhou.
At the meeting between the Crown Prince and the representatives of Divine Medicine Valley, an enormous explosion rocked the River-Viewing Tower.
Its force was enough to threaten even a Martial Sovereign.
The imperial envoys and the Divine Medicine Valley representatives inside all perished.
This news left the Splendid Radiance Hall faction shaken.
At Radiant Sunlight Hall, Consort Zhuang was elated.
But her excitement didn't last long.
Only one hour later, more news arrived.
The Crown Prince Yang Cheng was not dead.
At the time of the meeting, he had not been inside the River-Viewing Tower but in a nearby tavern, thus escaping unharmed.
Even more shocking was the follow-up.
The Crown Prince had uncovered the mastermind of the explosion—the Southern Guardian Prince's manor.
Not only that, Yang Cheng discovered they had hidden the treasure, the Sea-Suppressing Golden Alms Bowl, and even secretly crafted dragon robes and a dragon throne.
When their treachery was exposed, the Southern Guardian Prince raised troops in rebellion.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince was wise and resolute, perceiving everything beforehand and crushing the flames of rebellion with thunderous force.
Even after capturing the Southern Guardian Prince, His Highness had shown leniency, giving him a chance to repent.
But the prince remained obstinate and tried to kill the Crown Prince.
With no choice, Yang Cheng executed him with his own sword.
When this news spread, the whole of Fengtian City boiled over.
It was simply too shocking.
This was undoubtedly the greatest event since the founding of Great Zhou.
The Southern Guardian Prince's manor was one of the four great princely houses of Great Zhou, and its domain was the largest, ruling the greatest population.
Yet that very prince had rebelled—and the Crown Prince himself had put down the rebellion.
The Crown Prince was only 10 years old.
At the age of 10, he led an army and crushed a rebellion of a feudal lord.
This was truly unprecedented.
Because the news was so astonishing, few in Fengtian believed it.
Even Emperor Qian Yuan found it unreal.
Until two days later—
Yun Jinghuai's deputy general arrived in the capital, escorting Wu Cangming, Wu Zhaoyue, and the severed head of Wu Zhaoyan.
When Wu Zhaoyan's head was placed before the court, no one could deny the truth.
The Crown Prince, at only 10 years old, had crushed a princely rebellion and completed the pacification.
At that moment, Yang Cheng's prestige as Crown Prince faintly overshadowed even Emperor Qian Yuan himself.
That same day—
In the harem, Emperor Qian Yuan decreed: "Consort Li has in recent years acted improperly and failed in decorum. By palace law, her title of Consort is stripped. She is demoted to Attendant Zhaoyi and confined to Radiant Sunlight Hall, to await further judgment."
This decree struck Radiant Sunlight Hall like a bolt from the blue.
Consort Li could not even keep her rank, becoming merely Attendant Zhaoyi.
From now on, the Empress need not act against her.
Those concubines who had long disliked Attendant Zhuang would surely not let her go.
Her days in the palace would only grow more difficult.
Meanwhile—
South of Chanzhou, across the vast sea.
Fishing boats drifted as men cast their nets.
"Look over there!"
A fisherman cried out in shock.
Across the waves, a young man walked upon the sea.
Though he strode on water, he walked as if on solid ground.
The sea was filled with countless sea demons.
The fishermen kept close to the coastal waters, never daring to venture far.
But the figure they saw was clearly walking from the deep sea.
Beneath the waves, they could see massive beasts lurking.
Yet not one dared to approach the lone figure above.
On the shore, Fang Muxian stood waiting with several hundred men.
Originally, the Southern Guardian Prince's people should have stood with him.
But with that house destroyed, only Fang Muxian and his Fang clan remained.
Without the Southern Guardian Prince, Fang Muxian saw this as a great opportunity.
With Chanzhou in turmoil, he resolved to use the moment to expand his clan's influence. He summoned the leaders of all major powers.
"Brother Fang, who exactly are we waiting for?"
Lu Zhengyang, patriarch of the Lu clan, frowned.
The Lu clan was among the top five powers in Chanzhou.
"What arrogance," one elder sneered.
"We've been left freezing here for over an hour, yet he hasn't arrived."
Others voiced their dissatisfaction.
"Patience, everyone. I am certain you will not regret this wait," Fang Muxian assured.
"Hehe, I hope so."
"I am curious—who could possibly warrant this? The Valley Master of Divine Medicine Valley?"
They muttered among themselves.
"Look! Out at sea—look quickly!"
Someone suddenly shouted in shock.