The Face-Slapping Journey of a Sword Cultivator Male God (QT) Chapter 012: The Rightful Heir's Retaliation in the Story of a Reincarnated Concubine's Son - Part 11

Following the conclusion of the Imperial Civil Service Examination, the hopeful scholars, having expended their energy during the rigorous testing, understandably retreated to their homes to recover while they awaited the outcomes. Conversely, the examiners of the Imperial Civil Service Examination remained sequestered within the confines of the examination hall, diligently grading the papers without respite, day and night.

Until all the papers were assessed and the results declared, these examiners were required to stay within the examination hall. The Imperial Civil Service Examination was more than just a hurdle for the candidates aspiring to succeed as scholars in the imperial provincial examinations - it also posed a substantial challenge to the examiners themselves.

Following the end of the Imperial Civil Service Examination, and during these days leading up to the release of the results, Lady Li carefully avoided broaching this sensitive subject with Lin Xuanzhu. Consequently, all throughout the Luoning Marquis Manor, everyone consciously refrained from mentioning anything connected to the Imperial Civil Service Examination. Were it not for the incessant chatter of System 0617 in his ear, Xuan Yuan might have found his days in the mansion rather agreeable.

"Host, just tell me, what is your origin before binding with 0617? How can you be so powerful? You don't even need a single prop to pull off all these feats!"

Xuan Yuan maintained his stoic expression: "Shut up." 0617 was undeniably loquacious, incessantly hounding Xuan Yuan for several days for answers, resolute in uncovering his mysteries, harboring aspirations of becoming a system with greater sway over its host (such lofty ambitions indeed).

After being rebuked, 0617 felt unjustly treated and made a sulky roundabout in Xuan Yuan's Sea of Consciousness. But in a mere blink, all its grievances evaporated, and it bounced back to its energetic self, prepared to resume its bombardment of Xuan Yuan's ears with relentless chatter.

"Noisy," Xuan Yuan muttered, breathing a sigh of relief as he swiftly removed 0617 from his Sea of Consciousness before it could launch into another verbal onslaught. Then, as if dealing with the soul of 'Lin Yingjie', Xuan Yuan stuffed the ethereal System 0617 into a diminutive paper figurine freshly crafted from a sheet of white paper.

Rising to his feet, Xuan Yuan picked up the paper doll housing 0617 with his delicate fingers and with a swift flick, tossed it into the bookcase. Within, another paper doll observed silently as 0617 was flung in. The paper figure quivered slightly, as if suppressing a bout of laughter.

"Stay here, both of you," Xuan Yuan directed, promptly exiting the study. He left 0617 and 'Lin Yingjie' behind, each embodied within their paper dolls, silently confronting each other.

For the first time, System 0617 existed as more than just frigid, intangible data. A sense of elation swelled within it and then... holding steadfastly to its noble principle of fulfilling the mission, 0617, now with a physical form, launched itself at Lin Yingjie with ferocity. The two paper dolls immediately commenced their miniature brawl.

0617: I'll fight you to the death to complete my mission!

After being mandated by Lady Li to stay at home and rest for three days, Xuan Yuan finally had a breather today. Leaving 0617 behind, Xuan Yuan exited the Luoning Marquis Manor and made a beeline for the Li Mansion.

Inside the study, the elderly Mr. Li, deep in the twilight of his years, stroked his beard and sighed, "I have devoted my entire life to the emperor and the nation. Yet now, in my old age, I find myself plotting against a monarch to whom I've been nothing but faithful. It is indeed a dishonor to our ancestors."

Li Yunde, Lady Li's elder brother and Lin Xuanzhu's maternal uncle, offered some counsel. "Father, our plotting against the crown prince is merely for our survival, not a betrayal against His Majesty." After all, no matter their loyalty to the emperor, it wouldn't make sense to risk the entire Li family, would it?

Furthermore, the crown prince had not yet ascended to the throne, and thus, wasn't the sovereign to whom the Li family had pledged allegiance and devotion. Their loyalty was rightly bound to whoever occupied the Dragon Throne—the imperial seat. However, if someone not on the Dragon Throne, even if they were the crown prince, sought to endanger the Li family, they should not expect them to meekly submit to their own execution.

"The crown prince is short-sighted and stubborn, inept and oppressive. His ascension to the throne would spell disaster for Great Wei. While we act in self-defense, selecting a wise monarch in the process would also be a positive outcome," Xuan Yuan said, setting his teacup down and speaking at a measured pace.

The other maternal uncles of Lin Xuanzhu in the study also voiced their views, ultimately swaying Mr. Li to make a decision. The sharp blade they had been painstakingly crafting and honing for half a year was at last poised to target the crown prince.

The crown prince's current position was both secure and tenuous—it had aspects of stability, but was genuinely fragile in others.

The crown prince's appointment was due to his status as the legitimate son of the queen, the rightful heir. From this perspective, both the orthodox faction and the Royalists supporting the emperor would naturally align with the crown prince.

However, it was unfortunate that Mr. Li, a prominent figure within the orthodox faction and one of the most steadfast elders among the Royalists, had changed his allegiance. Though initially expected to support the crown prince's legitimacy, he had now shifted his stance.

The crown prince's standing wasn't as rock-solid as it appeared, because he had three capable, adult brothers. These princes, unlike the mediocre crown prince, were outstanding individuals. Moreover, the crown prince's mother, Empress Yuan, had passed away several years prior, her family's power had waned and they were unable to provide any assistance. As a result, the crown prince had a limited number of allies to rely upon.

This was precisely why, in the original course of events, Lin Yingjie swiftly rose to become the crown prince's trusted advisor and strategist. The crown prince truly didn't have a plethora of competent individuals he could lean on.

The crown prince, mediocre by nature and appointed at a young age, was stubborn, arrogant, and inept. Plotting against him wasn't a considerable challenge. His secure hold on the position of crown prince was mainly due to the orthodox faction's previous efforts to uphold tradition and their defense of the crown prince.

But now, the orthodox faction was contemplating abandoning the crown prince. The very shield once used to safeguard him was on the verge of becoming a sword poised against him.

After discussing various strategies to tackle the crown prince issue, Xuan Yuan—who had originally visited under the guise of seeking guidance on the imperial civil service examination—politely declined the dinner invitation from Lin Xuanzhu's maternal uncles and readied himself to return to Luoning Marquis Manor.

Because Xuan Yuan had informed Lady Li of his departure this time, he didn't set off alone. Concerned that his health hadn't entirely rebounded, Lady Li arranged for a carriage to take him to the Li Mansion.

The carriage gently swayed as it exited the avenue housing the Li Mansion, traversed the bustling East Main Street—the commercial hub of the Great Wei Dynasty's capital—and made its way towards the Luoning Marquis Manor.

As Xuan Yuan sat quietly in the carriage, it abruptly halted, causing the small tables within to slide forward marginally.

"What's going on?" Xuan Yuan opened his eyes, his brows faintly creased, and inquired in a steady tone.

The book boy positioned at the front of the carriage responded with care, "Young Master, Princess Chaoyang's imperial carriage is passing through, and all nearby carriages have been instructed to stop." His voice carried a trace of fear and alarm, suggesting the situation might be more complicated than he let on.

Princess Chaoyang? Xuan Yuan's eyebrow lifted subtly. That was indeed a name he recognized.

Lifting the carriage curtain for a look outside, Xuan Yuan saw the usually bustling East Main Street now in disarray. The street vendors' stalls were toppled, with trendy silk flowers, rouge, and face powder strewn about the ground.

With a loud crack, Princess Chaoyang's whip struck the ground. The princess, outfitted in a vibrant red skirt and sporting a high bun adorned with a lavish hairpin, stood in a domineering fashion on East Main Street. All the pedestrians were left with no choice but to scatter.

Princess Chaoyang's attractive face held an imperious expression. She aimed her whip at a beautiful, willowy woman and sneered, "You blocked my path. I'll ruin your face!"

The woman at whom Princess Chaoyang was pointing was indeed strikingly beautiful, but she was dressed in modest clothes, evidently not hailing from a noble family. She was already quaking with fear, her face a mask of terror. It was evident that Princess Chaoyang was not merely bluffing—she was truly as ruthless as her words conveyed.

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