The reason why Emperor Xue Ye thought this way was mainly because of the abnormally promoted high-ranking officials and generals. Each of them was not only dutiful and responsible but also rarely involved in corruption or embezzlement. They were truly worthy officials and generals of the Empire.
Originally, this should have been a good thing. But the problem was it was too good.
The plan of Spirit Hall to usurp the throne naturally wasn't just about Qian Renxue replacing Xue Qinghe and ascending the Heaven Dou throne.
One could say that Qian Renxue's infiltration plan was merely the surface. The deeper aspect was that Spirit Hall had been secretly "adding sand" into the Heaven Dou Empire for many years.
With the Empire's crown prince coordinating from the inside, as long as the officials and generals they planted were excellent enough, promotions would come easily, wouldn't they?
Silently replacing Heaven Dou Empire's high-ranking officials and generals with their own people once Qian Renxue ascended the throne, she could completely control the imperial court, local authorities, and military with the cooperation of these planted agents.
Once the plan was fully completed, even if Qian Renxue's identity were to be exposed in the future, it wouldn't cause much of a stir. At the very least, internal stability within the Heaven Dou Empire would be guaranteed.
After all, when all the high-ranking officials and generals were their own people, the Heaven Dou Empire would already have taken on the form of Spirit Hall, even if it was still called Heaven Dou in name.
And to better assist Qian Renxue in completing the usurpation plan, the agents planted by Spirit Hall in the Heaven Dou Empire were all carefully cultivated elites. There simply wasn't a single waste or mediocre one among them.
As for why they were upright and honest?
What a Joke. You're here as an undercover agent, not to enjoy life!
Even if no one in the Heaven Dou Empire was watching you, your old employer Spirit Hall would be constantly keeping an eye on you. Not doing your job well? Then don't do it all just disappear from the world.
Of course, the most important factor was that these agents were absolutely loyal to Spirit Hall.
After all, the foremost prerequisite to qualify for this secret plan was loyalty.
A combination of these factors resulted in these agents planted by Spirit Hall becoming outstanding officials and generals of the Heaven Dou Empire.
But as a qualified emperor, how could Emperor Xue Ye not know the temperament of most of his own Empire's officials and generals?
In such a vast empire as the Heaven Dou Empire, there certainly were officials who didn't take bribes or exploit their positions, and generals who didn't embezzle military funds or sell supplies. But there absolutely couldn't be this many.
You might believe in the strength of an ancient empire, but you should never believe that corruption is rare within one.
As the saying goes, "If something seems too abnormal, there must be something wrong." Though there was no direct evidence, just based on this point, Emperor Xue Ye had reason to suspect that these abnormally promoted, upright, and honest high-ranking officials and generals were most likely not his own people.
Did Crown Prince Xue Qinghe have such great charm that they all couldn't help but become upright and incorruptible?
Such a fairytale is best left to the imagination. He, the Emperor, didn't even have such capability and face let alone this young man Xue Qinghe.
If nothing unexpected happened, these people were very likely agents planted by some other force into the Heaven Dou Empire, intent on subverting its rule!
And his good son, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, had played the role of inside collaborator in all of this.
The only thing was, Emperor Xue Ye still couldn't figure out why would Xue Qinghe do this? Did he not understand that even if he succeeded in rebellion with the help of outsiders, the Heaven Dou Empire would no longer be his Heaven Dou Empire?
From beginning to end, Emperor Xue Ye never realized that his good son Xue Qinghe had been swapped out more than ten years ago!
"Star Luo Empire? Spirit Hall? Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
Emperor Xue Ye silently speculated on which power might be colluding with Xue Qinghe.
In the entire continent, only those three factions were capable of such a grand scheme.
The first two were enemies, and the latter an ally.
After thinking it over, Emperor Xue Ye eliminated the suspicion of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Ning Fengzhi was a smart man, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was a wealthy and powerful family. For them, it wasn't about profit, but about the strength needed to protect that profit.
Once your wealth far exceeds your strength, it will eventually become a curse.
And by helping Xue Qinghe rebel, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would not gain any improvement in strength at most, they'd just get a bigger slice of the pie.
After a moment of contemplation, Emperor Xue Ye retrieved pen and paper and wrote a secret letter, instructing the hidden Shadow Guards to deliver it secretly to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
His good son Xue Qinghe was about to make his move. Since he had already poisoned him, he would definitely follow up with a major action. Regardless of whether the collaborating force was Spirit Hall or the Star Luo Empire, it was absolutely necessary to pull in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan as an ally to resolve this crisis together.
Although Ning Fengzhi and his good son Xue Qinghe were master and disciple, and technically part of the same interest group, when it came to matters of great importance, Ning Fengzhi would definitely set aside their master-disciple relationship.
Because Ning Fengzhi could afford to lose his disciple Xue Qinghe, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan could not afford to lose the Heaven Dou Empire as an ally
Of course, if Ning Fengzhi truly lost his mind and the master and disciple really colluded in treason, then Emperor Xue Ye could only accept it.
He might even help Xue Qinghe clear his name before dying, to prevent tarnishing the royal family's reputation once word spread.
After all, being defeated by one's own son wasn't too shameful.
Two days later, in the morning, the news of Emperor Xue Ye's critical condition spread from the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Eastern Palace, inside the main hall.
Upon receiving the news, Qian Renxue immediately took out a token engraved with the angel emblem from her soul tool and handed it to "Overlord Flower," instructing, "Notify the four elders outside the palace to proceed with the plan."
"Yes, Young Mistress!"
Receiving Qian Renxue's Saint Lady Token, "Overlord Flower" bowed in response.
"By the way, Young Mistress, about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—"
"Overlord Flower" asked hesitantly.
Since this rebellion was bound to stir up major trouble, a bloody battle inside the palace was inevitable.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan wasn't far from Heaven Dou City. Even if they weren't aware beforehand, they would surely send people to investigate once things broke out.
And the clan's strength wasn't weak. If not guarded against, they would likely become a variable.
"No matter. One-third of the royal guest cultivators are our people, the Third Corps stationed outside the city is already under control, and the three thousand soul masters sent by Grandpa have long since secretly infiltrated Heaven Dou City. With the four elders as our trump card, it's a planned move against an unprepared target success is assured.
Once we strike swiftly and take the palace, making it a fait accompli, given the relationship between Teacher and me, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan won't just not oppose us they'll support me instead.
Besides, to outsiders unaware of the truth, this operation appears as nothing more than my forced hand to maintain imperial stability."
Qian Renxue waved her hand with great confidence.
Emperor Xue Ye was critically ill. The imperial heir Xue Qinghe sealed off the palace with troops to avoid losing the throne what was wrong with that?
That was simply human nature, and a move to ensure a smooth ascension to the throne without chaos during succession. Who would suspect the Crown Prince of treason?
For additional chapters
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Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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