Chapter 39: The Turmoil Begins, It's Ti to Leave
After reaching the Legendary Mortal Rank, both beasts gained the invaluable ability to shrink their size at will. Coupled with their rapid mastery of the Thousand Shadows Transformation technique, they could now directly change their appearance to better blend in.
Sotis they would transform into two ordinary-looking little birds, perching inconspicuously on Xu Ning's shoulders, and accompany him on his outings around the city without raising any suspicion.
Simultaneously, upon reaching the Legendary Mortal Rank, their martial arts aptitude improved once again. Their cultivation speed reached an incredibly terrifying level, far surpassing normal limits.
In just half a year of dedicated practice, the four core cultivation techniques they were learning had all reached the fifth level. Only one more major breakthrough was needed for them to achieve the Innate Realm themselves.
As for the lantern, Xu Ning would light a small bonfire in the courtyard at night when he had nothing else to do. He would feed the lantern with the fire's energy, slowly upgrading it.
After such a long period of patient, nightly upgrading, the lantern had now reached the highest grade of the Mortal Rank. Its abilities were greatly enhanced compared to before.
If Xu Ning were to unleash its full power now, the lantern could illuminate the entire courtyard as brightly as if it were dayti.
But the lantern's abilities extended far beyond re illumination. Its fla had beco exceptionally special and powerful. In the lantern's own words, its fla could now easily burn through solid tal. In a critical mont, Xu Ning could use this fla as a weapon in battle.
However, Xu Ning's first thought upon hearing this wasn't about combat. Such a powerful, concentrated fla would be perfect for slting iron!
Upgrading the axe and other weapons required lting down large quantities of pig iron to forge heavier components. This new fla would alleviate Xu Ning's biggest practical worry—how to process the tal discreetly.
Besides its existing abilities, the lantern also had the practical issue of energy consumption. Currently, it consud very little energy to maintain its fla. According to the lantern's own calculations, one full refueling with bonfire energy would now last for ten full years. It was incredibly efficient.
However, the lantern's upcoming upgrade to the Legendary Mortal rank presented Xu Ning with another headache.
To reach Legendary, it required being fed a top-grade mortal-level fla.
Xu Ning's original plan was simple. He would burn a long-lasting, controlled fla in the courtyard, upgrade that fla itself to top-grade mortal-level, and then feed it to the lantern in one go.
However, he worried about attracting too much unwanted attention with a constantly burning, magically enhanced fla at night. Also, Xu Ning could sense the undercurrents of political turmoil brewing within the Great Xuan court. He needed to be prepared for sudden changes and possibly fleeing at any mont.
He even asked the thatched hut if he could keep a fire burning safely inside the hut for an extended period.
The hut's answer was yes, technically, but the fla would instantly extinguish the mont he shrank the hut to store it. That defeated the purpose.
This practical limitation troubled Xu Ning. It forced him to temporarily abandon his plans to upgrade the lantern, deciding to wait for a better, more stable opportunity.
That day, Xu Ning suddenly received a secret edict from the late Xuan Emperor's chamberlain, summoning him to the palace for a private audience.
Xu Ning was quite surprised and more than a little nervous.
In the six months since he had taken office, he hadn't seen the Xuan Emperor even once. With his lowly sixth-rank official position, he wasn't even qualified to be in the Emperor's presence under normal circumstances.
Why was he suddenly summoned today? And why a secret summons, which implied a private, unofficial eting?
As for whether it was a trap, Xu Ning quickly dismissed the thought. It was impossible. His current status and influence were too insignificant to warrant the Emperor scheming against him personally.
After tidying himself up and calming his nerves, Xu Ning followed the silent ssenger through the palace's winding corridors.
After a long and circuitous journey through restricted areas, they finally arrived at the Xuan Emperor's private bedchamber.
"Your Majesty, Xu Ning, a Compiler at the Hanlin Academy, has arrived as summoned," the eunuch announced softly from the doorway.
"Let him in," a weak but clear voice commanded from within the chamber.
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Xu Ning, led by the eunuch, entered the dimly lit room.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!" Xu Ning imdiately knelt and perford the full prostration upon entering.
Emperor Xuan, propped up on his sickbed, raised a thin hand and waved it weakly. "No need for formalities. Rise. Co, sit beside . I wish to speak with you."
Xu Ning quickly rose and walked cautiously to the side of Emperor Xuan's bed. "Your Majesty, this humble subject is honored."
Emperor Xuan studied him for a long mont, then spoke. "Minister Xu. You achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations, a talent unseen for a thousand years. Don't you feel that I've wasted your potential by leaving you as a re Compiler at the Hanlin Academy for six months?"
Xu Ning replied carefully, "This humble subject does not feel that way at all. The Academy is a great honor."
In truth, Xu Ning had no such thoughts at all. He wished he could remain a simple Compiler at the Hanlin Academy forever, buried in books!
If he were given a higher, more visible position, he wouldn't have nearly as much free ti to study and cultivate. This was perfect.
Emperor Xuan smiled faintly, a knowing look in his tired eyes. "For the past six months, I've been observing you discreetly. You've been very steady in your actions. I noticed that even several high-ranking officials wanted to marry their daughters to you, to tie you to their families, but you turned them all down. Why?"
Xu Ning's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Had the emperor been observing him all along? Had he discovered his secrets?
As for the latter part of the sentence about marriage proposals, Xu Ning barely registered it. He had indeed turned down many such offers, but his mind was now racing with worry about what else the Emperor might have observed.
However, what Emperor Xuan said next startled Xu Ning even more and banished all other thoughts.
"Who do you think," Emperor Xuan asked quietly, his eyes suddenly sharp, "is the most suitable among my sons to inherit my throne?"
Xu Ning's blood ran cold. This was the most dangerous question imaginable. He hurriedly replied, his voice filled with panic, "Your Majesty, this is Your Majesty's empire. Matters of succession are entirely up to Your Majesty's sacred decision. Even if I had a thousand lives, I would not dare to speak recklessly on such a matter!"
Emperor Xuan pressed, his gaze unwavering. "What if I insist you give your honest opinion?"
Xu Ning knelt again, pressing his forehead to the floor. "Even if you were to sentence to death for refusing, I would have no complaints. I cannot answer such a question."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuan suddenly turned to look at Xu Ning directly, his eyes filled with an icy coldness that chilled the room. "Are these your heartfelt words, Minister Xu? Or are they just clever flattery to avoid commitnt?"
Xu Ning answered without hesitation, his voice steady despite his fear. "They are my heartfelt words, Your Majesty. I have no faction, no ambition. I only wish to serve the throne, whoever sits upon it."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuan's icy expression suddenly softened. He regained his composure and waved his hand dismissively. "You may leave now. We are done."
After leaving the palace and walking a safe distance away, Xu Ning finally breathed a huge sigh of relief. His back was drenched in cold sweat.
No wonder they say serving a ruler is like living with a tiger. In just this short audience, the pressure that Emperor Xuan had brought to bear on Xu Ning was unprecedented. It had been difficult to breathe.
However, as he walked ho, Xu Ning could roughly guess Emperor Xuan's possible intentions. Perhaps the old Emperor had deliberately neglected him, keeping him in a low position, so that when the new emperor ascended the throne, he could promote Xu Ning. This would make Xu Ning instantly grateful and devoted to the new ruler.
Of course, this was just speculation. Xu Ning couldn't possibly know the other party's true thoughts, and he himself doubted whether he was worth such elaborate political maneuvering.
Perhaps I should just run away now, he thought. Staying in the Hanlin Academy is starting to feel too dangerous.
Xu Ning surmised that there must be grandmaster-level experts hidden sowhere in the palace. Otherwise, why wouldn't ng Yangming have targeted the palace itself for revenge?
After all, ng Yangming's enemies had already implicated important ministers of Da Xuan. It wouldn't be hard to deduce that the Da Xuan court itself was behind the poisoning.
ng Yangming's hasty departure from the capital, despite his power, proved one thing: there was soone or sothing in the palace that even he, a Grandmaster, feared.
On the way back to his residence, Xu Ning was constantly agonizing over the issue of when and how to escape.
He even spent the entire night wide awake in his room, pondering the problem.
However, the very next day, before he could make a decision, shocking news suddenly arrived from the palace. Emperor Xuan had passed away during the night.
This news was not good for Xu Ning. It ant the delicate balance was broken, and turmoil was certain. It ant he almost certainly had to leave.
Forget it, he finally decided. I'll stay for now and see what happens. But I'll be ready to leave at a mont's notice.
According to the late Emperor's will, which was read publicly, the throne of Da Xuan was to be inherited by the eldest prince, Xia Qing.
Subsequently, the entire capital city descended into turmoil and unrest. The peace shattered.
Those who knew the inside story could even feel the very ground of the capital city shaking with the political upheaval.
In the following days, several princes who had co to the capital for the funeral were murdered one after another in brutal attacks.
The new Emperor, Xia Qing, ordered a thorough investigation. The entire capital city was placed under martial law and sealed off completely. No one was allowed to leave the city without a relevant imperial edict and special permission.
Following this, several high-ranking ministers were suddenly found to have problems—evidence of treason, corruption, or conspiracy. They were all arrested and held accountable.
This was the bloody storm brought about by a change of regi. Innocent and guilty alike were swept up.
Xu Ning lived in constant fear during this tumultuous period, staying inside his residence as much as possible, avoiding all contact.
Fortunately, because he hadn't joined any faction or made any powerful friends, he ultimately escaped the purge unscathed. He was too insignificant to bother with.
After the initial chaos subsided, the new Emperor issued several controversial political decrees that shocked the kingdom.
First, increase taxes across the board to replenish the depleted national treasury, which had been drained by the succession crisis.
Second, formally summon the Fifth Prince, Xia Yun, back to the capital from Nanling—likely to confine or eliminate him. Simultaneously, imdiately dispatch envoys to the Cangming Empire's border to negotiate a humiliating peace.
Listening to these decrees being announced in the city, Xu Ning couldn't help but shake his head sadly.
It seems, he thought, it's definitely ti to leave. This new Emperor is making all the wrong moves. Da Xuan's days are numbered, and anyone associated with it will be in danger.
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