Chapter 72: Chapter 67: Lead the Way, or Die Empress Li was exasperated and seething with uncontrollable rage. Naturally, Phoenix Perch Palace was once again thrown into chaos. The ’Hidden Guard’ she had summoned was a secret force under her control, a group of elite Death Warriors carefully selected and trained for her by the Qingyang Li Family. This force was loyal only to her and the Li Family behind her. They specialized in doing her dirty work, tasks that couldn’t see the light of day. In truth, ever since Li Chang’an had outsmarted her last year, Empress Li had known that he was not as simple as he appeared. Therefore, she had been secretly monitoring Li Chang’an all along. She had even issued a secret order: if an opportunity arose, they were to kill Li Chang’an directly to eliminate any future trouble. But Li Chang’an was far more patient than she had imagined. The moment he entered the Library Pavilion, he was like a bird vanishing into a deep forest, staying inside without ever coming out. The Hidden Guard had no way to act, so they had been waiting until now. Now, upon suddenly hearing that Li Chang’an had somehow connected with the Elder Grandmaster guarding the Library Pavilion and even received a Waist Token worth a fortune, she was stunned. But as Empress Li processed her astonishment, she found that she wasn’t as surprised as she thought she would be! After all, that boy knew how to use his advantages to deceive those around him when he was just over a year old. It was only natural for him to have become even more of a demon now that he was a few years older. Staring at the spilled tea and porcelain shards scattered before her, Empress Li ground her teeth. "If that beast Lou Qixiang hadn’t betrayed me, I would have slaughtered this damn little bastard back then! How could he have lived to see this day?" The Qingyang Li Family was the First Jianghu Sect, second only to the Four Super First-class Sects. To stabilize the realm, the increasingly weak Dayan Imperial Family had chosen to win over the Li Family by offering them the position of Empress. As long as Empress Li’s actions weren’t too excessive, the Imperial Family would often turn a blind eye. And Empress Li had always managed this balance well. She eliminated her rivals without crossing the Imperial Family’s bottom line. This was the fundamental reason why she could act so arrogantly in the Imperial Palace, daring to directly move against Consorts favored by the Emperor, yet never facing any serious repercussions. Many Consorts, even knowing full well that Empress Li was targeting them, dared not speak out due to her overwhelming power and could only resign themselves to their misfortune. But there was a world of difference between before a Prince was born and after. The Imperial Family could turn a blind eye to the poisoning of pregnant Consorts for the sake of the realm’s stability. But for a Prince to be mysteriously assassinated after birth—such an act would absolutely cross the Dayan Imperial Family’s bottom line! This time, Empress Li was ready to go all out. For her own son to secure the throne, she had to eliminate every single stumbling block that dared to stand in his way. She would do so without hesitation, even if it meant paying a certain price. And clearly, the present Li Chang’an made her feel uneasy and threatened. ’He’s achieved so much at only three years old. If he gets any older, won’t he overturn the heavens?’ She had to strangle him in the cradle before his wings were fully fledged! After receiving the order, the Hidden Guard member nodded and prepared to leave. But just then, the personal maid beside Empress Li suddenly spoke up. "Empress, your actions will not only infuriate the Imperial Family, but you will also very likely anger that Elder Grandmaster who guards the Library Pavilion..." She paused, waiting for Empress Li to think things through before continuing, "Besides, that boy is still in the Library Pavilion right now. The Hidden Guard can’t possibly rush into the Library Pavilion and force him to ’drown,’ can they?!" Upon hearing this, Empress Li, who had been burning with rage, saw her expression instantly turn ugly. She, too, had been blinded by anger. It had nearly caused her to do something irrational and foolish. After a long moment of contemplation, her expression wavering, she finally sobered up considerably. She reached out to stop the departing Hidden Guard and said, "Wait!" After stopping the Hidden Guard, Empress Li looked up at her personal maid, then closed her eyes. "Do you have a better idea? If not, then today, even if it means making an enemy of a Grandmaster, I will find a way to eliminate that bastard boy!" This maid before her was no ordinary person. She was a personal maid sent by the Li Family to prevent the Empress from making mistakes. Of course, that was the official explanation. In reality, this personal maid truly represented the Will of the Li Family, while the Empress herself was merely a useful tool. Born into a wealthy and powerful family, she had enjoyed a life of luxury since childhood. But there’s no such thing as a free lunch. One day, the debt must be repaid. The woman didn’t reply immediately. She narrowed her eyes in thought for a long while before speaking. "In a few days, it will be the triennial Clan Grand Competition. Since that boy has received a Token from the Grandmaster, he can no longer stay out of it as he did in the past!" "We can first use our hidden agents to spread rumors and kill with a borrowed knife. After all, in this vast Imperial Palace, everyone wants to be Emperor. There are plenty of people who are more anxious than we are..." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮 At this, her eyes narrowed further, finally revealing a hint of killing intent. She spoke coldly, "As long as someone else makes a move, regardless of whether they succeed, we just need to send the Hidden Guard to blend in and ’lend a small hand.’ Then, even if that boy really dies, the Grandmaster won’t necessarily be able to trace it back to you, Your Highness!" ... ...0... While Li Chang’an was still reading in the Library Pavilion, the rumors about him outside were growing wilder. It got to the point where even Li Chang’an, who paid no mind to the outside world and focused only on his books, was passively made aware of the gossip circulating outside. The reason was simple: in the few days after the rumors spread, countless groups of people came in and out of the Scripture Pavilion. They launched a personal bombardment against Li Chang’an. Schemers not only leaked the old man’s praise for him as the ’Child of Destiny,’ but they also fanned the flames of conflict both openly and secretly. They were practically announcing to everyone that this bastard son of a mere Palace Maid wanted to climb to the position of Crown Prince and one day inherit the throne. Although any discerning person could see that this was a case of "praising someone to death," the problem was that such a tactic was an open conspiracy, and there was no defense against an open conspiracy. As long as Li Chang’an was a Prince with the right to inherit the throne, he would inevitably be treated with hostility by all factions! ... One day, while Li Chang’an was reading upstairs, a loud commotion suddenly erupted from downstairs. Annoyed, Li Chang’an frowned and set down his book. He looked toward the main entrance of the Scripture Pavilion and saw a young man of about fifteen or sixteen in a Python Robe, flanked by a large group of servants, looking around. The old man said cheerfully, "Waist Token!" The young man in the Python Robe took a Waist Token from his waist and presented it respectfully. "Elder Grandmaster, I am here under imperial decree to summon the Twelfth Brother to the rear hall’s martial arts field for the Clan Grand Competition!" The old man grew even more cheerful upon hearing this. He took the Waist Token without even glancing at it and looked up at Li Chang’an on the second floor. He chuckled, "Quite the special treatment you’re getting. Your father sends the Fifth Prince himself to run the errand. He’s really giving you a lot of face!" Being so openly mocked, the smile on the young man in the Python Robe’s face froze for a moment. But even if he had a thousand or ten thousand times the courage, he wouldn’t dare be sarcastic in front of the old man. He could only grit his teeth and turn his glare to Li Chang’an upstairs. Viciously, he said, "Elder Grandmaster, you misunderstand. It’s just that my Twelfth Brother’s reputation has spread throughout the Imperial Palace before he has even left the pavilion. My curiosity was piqued, so I volunteered to deliver Father’s imperial decree. I just wanted to come and ’see for myself’ this young genius of our Dayan Dynasty!" Li Chang’an glanced at the old man, who was enjoying the show and not afraid to stir up trouble, then at the Fifth Prince, who was being used as a pawn without even realizing it. He couldn’t help but sigh as he stood up. "I really don’t understand it sometimes. Isn’t it good enough for you all to just live your lives peacefully? Why must you insist on provoking me?" As he spoke, he leaped down from the upper floor, landing steadily at the entrance of the Library Pavilion. With his hands clasped behind his back, Li Chang’an glanced at the Fifth Prince, whose expression was shifting indeterminately. He spoke flatly, "Weren’t you ordered to invite me to the Sect Grand Competition? Lead the way. It has indeed been a long time since I’ve stretched my muscles. Today, I’ll play along with you all!" Although he was only three years old, his body was tall and slender, and he had sharp brows and star-like eyes. Coupled with years of burying himself in books and ancient texts, he didn’t look like a tender youth at the moment, but rather like the transcendent Exiled Immortal described in the tales of Jianghu storytellers. This aura clearly took the Fifth Prince by surprise. When he finally came to his senses and realized Li Chang’an was actually treating him like a doorman to lead the way, the Fifth Prince’s face darkened completely. He said coldly, "As expected of a bastard born from a Palace Maid. Your upbringing seems a little lacking. Didn’t your mother teach you how to respect your elder brother?!" Li Chang’an smiled at his words. It was a beautiful smile, like a ray of warm sun in the dead of winter, yet the words that came from his mouth were exceptionally cold. "What’s with all the nonsense? Lead the way, or die. Choose one." No terrifying aura erupted from his body. Nor was his tone deliberately imposing. But the inherent indifference in his words—the attitude of a superior looking down on an ant—weighed on the Fifth Prince so heavily that even his spirit trembled uncontrollably. He had been sent as a representative by the other Princes and Princesses. He had volunteered for this task with the aim of putting this ’unruly’ younger brother, Li Chang’an, in his place. But now, not only had he failed to do so, he had been frightened by Li Chang’an instead. His face was pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead, but he still wanted to stand his ground and say something to save face, even in defeat. For some reason, however, every pore in his body was screaming a warning at him, as if his head would part from his shoulders the moment he dared to utter another word. ’What kind of joke is this?’ ’This is the Dayan Imperial Palace!’ ’Other than the Emperor, who would dare to behead a Prince in broad daylight?’ ’Not to mention, the one who said it is just a child who hasn’t even fully grown his hair yet.’ Any normal person who heard this would probably just laugh their head off and treat it as idle gossip. But even though the Fifth Prince knew all this, he didn’t dare to take the risk. He could only follow his body’s instinct, trembling as he turned his head and stammered, "Th-th-th... this way!" ...