Was it a summons after being crowned a duke?
Although he didn't know what his father's intention was.
But Xiao Cheng Xuan had his own methods.
“Your Grace has taken the trouble to come with the imperial decree. Do you know why His Majesty summoned this prince to the palace?”
While speaking, Xiao Cheng Xuan subtly waved his hand. A guard brought over a stack of silver notes and Xiao Cheng Xuan handed them to Li Gong Gong.
Li Gong Gong, however, laughed obsequiously, his face almost wrinkled up with delight.
While feigning refusal, he discreetly tucked the silver notes into his sleeve.
“Duke Wu is being polite. His Majesty's benevolence, this old servant dares not make any rash conjectures!”
“However, earlier this old servant inadvertently overheard a servant saying that the head of the Gu family, Gu Luo Li, died suddenly a few days ago!”
Hearing this.
A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Cheng Xuan's eyes.
Gu Luo Li was dead!
That meant the martial arts conflict between the two dominating families in Southwest Road, the Gu and Yan families, had begun according to the original plotline.
In that case.
Xiao Cheng Xuan had a rough idea why his father summoned him.
Afterwards.
Xiao Cheng Xuan rode in the grand carriage of the Duke's Mansion, accompanied by Li Gong Gong, toward the Imperial Study Room.
........
Tianqi City, Imperial Study Room:
A figure clad in a dragon robe sat within the Imperial Study Room, which was filled with the scent of sandalwood and the aura of books.
This Emperor of the Northern Li Dynasty, nearing his sixties, lacked the imposing aura of an emperor. Instead, he exuded an air of scholarly grace, giving off a sense of tranquility.
Opposite Emperor Tai An.
Sat a man with a white whisk in hand, his hair and beard turning white, giving off an aura of a celestial being!
He was the Northern Li's national preceptor, the Chief of the Imperial Observatory, Qi Tian Chen!
Emperor Tai An and Qi Tian Chen had a chessboard laid out in front of them, engaged in a game.
“Emperor Chang, Duke Qing, Prince Jing Yu, Duke Langya, Duke Wu! The five princes I have crowned, I wonder, which one do you think is the best candidate to be heir?”
When the Northern Li Dynasty was founded, two successive princes died under suspicious circumstances.
Since then, the current emperor stopped appointing a crown prince, instead writing the name of the heir on a scroll during the annual rites, using the dragon seal.
Thus, as Emperor Tai An placed a piece, he asked such a question.
Even the highly esteemed national preceptor was slightly startled in his heart, proceeding with caution.
“All the princes are sons of a phoenix, extraordinary talents, with the welfare of the nation at heart. However, the heir is appointed by His Majesty. This minister believes, whoever His Majesty deems suitable, is suitable!”
Qi Tian Chen placed his piece, his words carefully crafted, leaving no loopholes.
Involving the royal heir, he didn’t dare to make any rash statements.
“You old fox, your words are still as airtight as ever. Say it boldly, I'll pardon your presumptuousness!”
Emperor Tai An said with a smile.
Hearing this, Qi Tian Chen knew.
He wouldn't be able to fool the emperor without revealing some truth.
“Your Majesty, this minister dares to speak. Your Majesty once said, five-tenths of the nation's success is due to the scholar from the Academy.”
“However, that individual's cultivation level is already greatly hindering royal authority. If Your Majesty wishes to break this deadlock for the royal family, then one with the most outstanding martial arts among the descendants should be prioritized. This minister's foolish opinion, please forgive me!”
Hearing this, Emperor Tai An remained silent, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light, but he placed another piece.
The piece was a dragon trap, leading to Qi Tian Chen's chess pieces falling into a desperate situation, collapsing instantly.
Outside.
Xiao Cheng Xuan had arrived outside the Imperial Study Room.
He looked at the two pillars by the entrance of the Imperial Study Room, upon which was inscribed a couplet:
“Talk and laugh, the wind and clouds surge. Gaze upon, the world is pacified!”
The imposing and majestic characters in dragon and phoenix script gave off an air of domineering power.
But Xiao Cheng Xuan dismissed it with disdain.
He knew this couplet was a gift from Mr. Li of the Academy to his father.
But it seemed Mr. Li now scoffed at this couplet.
Soon, Xiao Cheng Xuan entered the Imperial Study Room.
“This son greets Father, greets National Preceptor!”
Xiao Cheng Xuan bowed slightly and raised his hand to greet Emperor Tai An, nodding to Qi Tian Chen.
At this moment, Qi Tian Chen's eyes, seemingly clouded yet brimming with wisdom, glowed as they focused on Xiao Cheng Xuan.
Xiao Cheng Xuan felt a spiritual force probing him, slightly furrowing his brows, he unconsciously used his mental force to completely isolate himself.
“Tsk tsk… a young prodigy, a natural martial arts talent, at the Realm of Unfettered Heaven, this minister greets Duke Wu!”
Qi Tian Chen stood up, smiling at Xiao Cheng Xuan.
He couldn't probe the young duke's cultivation. This duke's martial arts must have already reached the Realm of Unfettered Heaven.
But how could Qi Tian Chen know.
Xiao Cheng Xuan's mental force had already reached the level of a 7th-rank disciple, which, when compared, was equivalent to a semi-step into the Divine Realm. How could he possibly probe him!
Then, Qi Tian Chen subtly nodded at Emperor Tai An.
“Xuan'er, I summoned you to the palace today, because of one thing.”
“Southwest Road is a prosperous land, yet it's not under the control of the royal family, it's governed separately.”
“Now that the head of the Gu family, Gu Luo Li, has died, chaos is about to erupt. I need you to go to Southwest Road. No matter what methods you use, bring Southwest Road under the control of the royal family!”
Hearing this, Xiao Cheng Xuan calmly clasped his hands and said, “This son will naturally relieve Father of his worries!”
“Go, don't let me down in your title of Duke Wu.”
Emperor Tai An waved his hand, and Xiao Cheng Xuan left.
Looking at the departing figure of his tenth son, Emperor Tai An stood up and paced in the Imperial Study Room:
“Have the Soul Hall spread the news of the tenth prince's coronation as Duke Wu as quickly as possible.”
“Also, I feel that Duke Wu is a bit lonely, the Duke's Mansion needs someone to manage it, it's time for a marriage!”