Night fell over the Imperial Palace.
Li Chang, who was staying there temporarily, dismissed the palace maids.
He then practicedly opened his door, took out a pair of embroidered women's shoes from his spatial ring, and placed them at the entrance.
This signaled that there was already a woman in his room, deterring other young women from barging in to harass him.
Men in the inner palace were in a vulnerable position, and this was the only way he could protect his own safety.
Sitting cross-legged in the room, he brought out the Ancestral Spirit Tablet, entered the Ancestral Space, and sought an audience with the Old Ancestor.
"Old Ancestor, our Li Clan is now feared and guarded against by the world, just as Min Tiange once was."
Li Chang spoke with a grave expression:
"Official titles can no longer guarantee our safety.
The Imperial Dynasty is in turmoil. Crown Prince Fei Heng has lost his life, and it is unknown who the next Crown Prince will be.
The various factions are growing restless once again."
"The news this child sent back today was obtained from the Empress.
The Empress wishes to win over our Li Clan. Her ambition to become the Female Emperor is known to all under the heavens.
However, the dynasty's dignitaries will never consent to a woman claiming the imperial throne, let alone the Fourth Prince, who had previously ceased hostilities.
I fear the flames of war will be ignited once more."
"The current situation makes it appear as though our Li Clan has merely encountered minor troubles, but in reality, it is extremely critical."
"The probing from the major factions has already begun; it is only a matter of time before they make a move against our Li Clan."
Hearing this, Li Wei gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.
When it came to intelligence within the family, Li Chang certainly wasn't at the top of the list.
However, when it came to understanding the grand trends of the Imperial Dynasty and its powerful figures, no one could match him.
Over the years, drinking tea with old foxes like Min Youguo and Wu Neng in the Imperial Capital had taught him quite a few tricks.
[Your descendant Li Chang, having struggled to find his footing in the Imperial Capital for many years, gradually broke free from his predicament after the Empress took control of the court administration.
By actively participating in the royal court, he has acquired the Trait: Politician.]
[Harboring grand ambitions to govern the nation and bring peace to the world, he devises strategies within a command center that determine outcomes a thousand miles away.
Wisdom is increased by 50%, and he has become increasingly indifferent to the life and death of others.]
Over the years, Li Chang's routine had consisted of wandering the inner palace, attending court assemblies, debating politics, and drinking tea with the Imperial Preceptor, Min Youguo.
In truth, many within the family had served as officials.
Li Dalong and Li Yunbing were even Prefecture Lords, yet neither could truly be called a politician.
Seeing Li Chang's new trait now, Li Wei wasn't sure whether to consider it a blessing or a curse.
Furthermore, Li Chang had also acquired an official title.
[Your descendant Li Chang, by edict of the Empress, has been appointed as the Imperial Musician, required to arrive whenever summoned by her.
Holding an official rank of the Fourth Grade, he has received the Spiritual power empowerment of the peak Foundation Establishment realm, and obtained Supreme-Grade Spirit Artifacts and Dharma Treasures...]
Such an official rank was something the family could easily bestow upon themselves. As for what the Empress's true intentions were, that remained unknown.
Li Wei shifted his focus back to the safety of the family.
What the family needed most right now was time.
Kuanghua was waiting for her breakthrough.
The family had acquired a massive foundation from Shadowfell Prefecture, along with Yaotie's Heavenly Fire Great Dao.
Most importantly, they needed to steadily gather resources so Yaoqing could refine pills for the clansmen, ensuring they reached at least the peak of the Void Refining realm.
Furthermore... there was still Min Tiange's blood moon looming over Shadowfell Prefecture.
Li Wei looked toward Li Chang and asked, "Chang'an, in your opinion, what should be our next move?"
"Chang'an has a plan," he replied, his voice perfectly calm.
Li Wei's mind instantly flashed back to the times when Li Yaowen used to offer her "strategies" to the family. His face darkened immediately.
"Your plan wouldn't happen to involve our Li Clan luring the Wu Tribe across the border, killing Dongfang Liancheng to pave the way for Fourth Prince, and staging a full-scale rebellion alongside the Eternal Immortal Sect, would it?"
"Then, when the entire world descends into chaos, we could harvest the corpses of the fallen to nourish the Heaven-Piercing Coffin, feed Dabao, and easily forge our Dao paths."
"..."
Li Chang froze in stunned silence.
A look of sheer horror washed over his face.
"Old Ancestor, such a method is an absolute sin! It causes nine feet of harm to others just for an inch of personal gain. We absolutely cannot do that!"
.......
Time passed in a hurry.
A morning court assembly was held in the Heavenly Palace.
Crown Prince Fei Heng had been absent for over fifty years. Seated upon the Golden Throne was an elegant woman in a golden feathered gown.
Her figure was slender yet possessed a full, mature allure. With heavy, exquisite makeup, she radiated a majestic authority that made every official in the court lower their heads in submission.
The Empress, Wenren Xianyi.
Musicians were present in the hall.
Behind a beaded curtain tucked in the right corner of the court, Li Chang sat quietly, playing the zither.
Li Wei stood beside Li Chang, staring intently at Empress Wenren Xianyi.
It had to be said, Wenren Xianyi was truly a capable woman.
Tens of thousands of years ago, she had been sent into the palace by the Wenren Clan.
At that time, she was not yet the Empress, merely an ordinary concubine within the palace walls.
Li Yaoqing had also seen the palace concubines before. In her words, these concubines were all raised to be dutiful and conventional by the major Immortal Clans.
They were merely offered up to show loyalty to the Human Emperor, and no one cared whether they lived or died.
Wenren Xianyi was different.
This woman forcefully carved out a path of cultivation from within the depths of the palace, later becoming a disciple of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, and step-by-step ascended to her current status.
Now that the Human Emperor was near death, Wenren Xianyi had continuously tested the waters.
The Imperial Dynasty had endured over a decade of bloody turmoil until she finally dared to step out from the deep palace and onto the Golden Throne to control the court administration.
At the very least, no one dared to oppose her now. There were likely many untold stories hidden behind this rise to power.
During the court assembly, officials came forward one by one to report.
The matters discussed were nothing more than the suffering of the commoners demanding grain amidst the war, Immortal Clans and sects causing trouble in these chaotic times, and demons appearing in the mortal realm.
Then, an old man stepped out from the ranks of officials and proclaimed loudly, "Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress, this subject has an urgent matter to present!"
"Here it comes."
Li Wei focused his attention.
This man was Perfected Qiuyue of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
At the Void Refining realm, he held a crucial position in the Imperial Capital: the Military Inspectorate.
This was the same department that had emerged from the Imperial Capital to supervise the imperial immortal soldiers during the war against the Wu Tribe in the Azure Cloud Region years ago.
According to their intelligence, this old scoundrel was also one of the conspirators plotting against the Li Clan.
"Speak." Wenren Xianyi's posture was languid.
She slightly raised her phoenix-like brows, casting an almost imperceptible glance toward Li Chang behind the curtain.
"This subject wishes to report on the matters of the Western Border. I present the ten deadly sins of the Southern Border's guardians, the Li Clan!"