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Qian Renxue chuckled. "Your plan is truly insidious. No matter how you look at it, this will be an internal conflict within the Star Luo Imperial Family. The war will cause massive casualties and strip the Dai family of their foundation for ruling."
"Following your plan, we won't suffer any losses, nor will we become the target of everyone's resentment."
The key question was, when would the Star Luo Imperial Family descend into chaos?
Neither of them could control this—they could only wait for the right moment.
"But what about the political system afterward? If we continue with the imperial system and let the Tian Dou Empire take over the entire continent, wouldn't we have to support Xue Qinghe's rise to power?"
Ning Tianchen had some ideas about this in his mind but hadn't reached a conclusion yet.
"The political system needs to be discussed carefully—it must satisfy all parties involved."
Given their status, they could certainly decide on the political system themselves.
But later, when they ascended to the divine realm, the changes in the political system would affect the interests of various factions. These people would inevitably rise up and cause trouble.
Unifying the continent wasn't just for temporary peace—it was for long-term stability. If this couldn't be sustained, and the continent descended into war again, wouldn't the soldiers' sacrifices be in vain?
There were still many details to discuss. Ning Tianchen's visit this time was mainly to unify the opinions of the Spirit Hall. Afterward, he would reach a consensus with Ning Fengzhi and Tian Ruyang, and then this matter could be settled.
For a long time afterward, Ning Tianchen focused on exploring his newfound strength and brainstorming ways to turn the Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda spirit into a divine artifact.
…
Six months later, Tang San concluded his god trial at sea and returned to the Douluo Continent.
He had already obtained the Sea God's super-divine artifact, which had been transformed by the Rakshasa God into a Rakshasa divine artifact.
The Rakshasa God's reputation in the divine realm was poor, making it difficult to gather materials for divine artifacts.
Since Tang San now had a new divine artifact, the Rakshasa Devil Scythe wasn't handed over to him.
In the imperial palace.
Dai Mubai and Dai Weisi's competition for the position of Crown Prince had reached a fever pitch, while Emperor Dai Tianfeng and Empress Zhu Caiyun's health continued to deteriorate.
In just half a year, they seemed to have aged more than twenty years.
The poison used by Zhu Zhuyun came from the medicinal division of the Tianjian Sect, secretly purchased through intermediaries.
Of course, her intentions hadn't escaped the notice of the higher-ups in the Tianjian Sect—it was all carried out with Ning Tianchen's tacit approval.
Yang Wudi, with the help of the Aromatic Silk Beauty, had no qualms about refining poisons. He successfully crafted the ancestral Nine-Colored Heaven Poison, which Zhu Zhuyun purchased at a high price.
The Nine-Colored Heaven Poison was a complex toxin that had never appeared on the continent before.
Even if Dai Tianfeng knew he had been poisoned, he had no way of tracing its origin.
To avoid destabilizing the empire's governance, he temporarily handed over state affairs to Dai Mubai and Dai Weisi, retreating with Zhu Caiyun to the summer palace to recover, temporarily stepping away from politics.
The summer palace was heavily guarded. To avoid exposing the identity of the poisoner, neither Zhu Zhuyun nor Dai Weisi dared attempt another poisoning.
At the summer palace, Dai Tianfeng's condition gradually improved, and he began to speculate who might have poisoned him.
Since ancient times, there has been no father-son affection in imperial families.
If he were to die, given Dai Weisi's influence in court, seizing the throne wouldn't be difficult. However, Dai Mubai had the support of Title Douluo, giving him a chance to claim the throne as well.
With both sons as potential suspects, Dai Tianfeng couldn't act rashly—he could only observe and wait.
Meanwhile, Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun also changed their strategy.
They only needed to shift the suspicion of poisoning entirely onto Dai Mubai. Once Dai Tianfeng became enraged, he would surely move against Dai Mubai.
With his rival eliminated, the throne would naturally fall into Dai Weisi's hands.
…
For Dai Mubai, the enemy was hidden while he was exposed—there was no way to defend against everything.
His handling of state affairs was abysmal, and with Dai Weisi's camp fanning the flames, his supporters gradually lost confidence.
Tang Xiao was already overwhelmed dealing with matters in the Tang Sect.
Ning Tianchen had already revealed future plans to the top three sects. Everyone was no fool—they were quickly grabbing market share in the Star Luo Empire.
Once the continent was unified, those who acted first would gain the upper hand and secure greater benefits.
In contrast, the Tang Sect's market competitiveness was no match for the top three sects.
Tang Xiao had considered leveraging Dai Mubai's influence in court to push the top three sects out of the Star Luo Empire's market.
But doing so would undoubtedly drive the top three sects straight into Dai Weisi's arms.
With the support of the top three sects, Dai Weisi would become the most powerful Crown Prince in the empire's history.
At that point, even Dai Tianfeng would have to consider his influence and reconsider the succession.
Not offending the top three sects while maintaining the Tang Sect's influence—was this something an ordinary person could achieve?
It made sense that Tang Xiao was devoting all his energy to the Tang Sect.
If the Tang Sect faltered, it would be like a fire breaking out in the backyard, and Dai Mubai's situation would only worsen.
For now, the battlefield within the palace could only be resolved by Dai Mubai and his allies.
Yu Xiaogang had offered advice, but his main focus remained on the Tang Sect, and his lack of understanding of the palace situation meant his suggestions were overly cautious and unsuitable for the current circumstances.
At this moment, Dai Mubai finally realized the benefits of being well-read.
Having been marginalized by Dai Weisi since childhood, he had long been left behind in matters of governance and winning people over.
Tang San had warned him before—if he didn't know how to handle things, it was best to do nothing.
But his inaction, in the eyes of his supporters, looked like an escape from reality.
Many of his supporters had already begun secretly flirting with Dai Weisi's camp, ready to jump ship at any moment.
"Tianheng, Tianxin, you two have experience managing sects. What should I do next?" Dai Mubai furrowed his brow, his anxiety palpable.
From childhood to adulthood, this was the first time he had felt such immense pressure.
If it weren't for his companions by his side, he might have fled the palace again, just as he had done ten years ago.
Yu Tianxin and Yu Tianheng's competition for the position of Young Sect Master hadn't produced a clear winner. Their sect's teachings were conservative, and they lacked experience in handling situations like this.
Moreover, within the sect, due to familial ties, their supporters wouldn't abandon them.
Typically, with their parents' backing, they didn't need to maintain these relationships themselves.
Yu Tianxin shrugged, indicating he was powerless to help.
Yu Tianheng, however, thought of an idea. "Mubai, our core supporters can't be lost—we must stabilize them. As for state affairs, perhaps we can consult these nobles."
Tai Long sighed bitterly. "Tianheng, even I think what you're suggesting is unreliable."
Tang Xiao was busy running around for the sect and definitely couldn't help them with state affairs.
Besides, traveling between the Tang Sect and the palace took ten days by carriage.
By the time any directives reached them, their relevance would have long passed. Moreover, leaking state secrets and being caught would only make their situation even more precarious.
Many of Dai Mubai's supporters had defected from Dai Weisi's camp, and their loyalty was still questionable.
Seeking their opinions on governance matters, if Dai Weisi manipulated things behind the scenes, wouldn't they be even more vulnerable?
With Dai Weisi's cunning, setting traps within official decrees would go unnoticed by them.
When the truth came out, they might even be ridiculed by the entire world.
Furthermore, the news of Dai Tianfeng's poisoning was no longer a secret in the palace. If Dai Weisi framed Dai Mubai, implicating him in the poisoning, there would be no need to compete for the position of Crown Prince anymore.
Dai Mubai scratched his head in frustration. "This doesn't work, that doesn't work—can we just sit here and do nothing?"
As he spoke, the door suddenly opened, and Tang San stood in the doorway. "Mubai, are you really letting this minor setback defeat you?"
"Xiao San (Tang San, Young Master San), you've finally arrived!"
Seeing their pillar of support, Dai Mubai and the others relaxed with a smile.
The four of them eagerly stepped forward and invited Tang San to take the seat of honor.
After obtaining the Rakshasa God trial, Tang San's aura underwent a fundamental change. The four couldn't help but inquire about his recent cultivation progress.
With the divine trial as a foundation, Tang San didn't conceal past events.
However, when it came to Bo Saixi, he didn't reveal the full truth.
"Unfortunately, when I returned to the Sea God Island, Elder Bo Saixi had already passed away due to the massive loss of soul power—her life reached its end. Otherwise, we would have gained another powerful ally."
Dai Mubai patted his shoulder gently. "Xiao San, no one expected anything to happen to the Sea God. Since you've obtained a new divine trial, our future still depends on you."
"Xiao San, help me analyze the situation and see how we can break through this predicament."
Tang San asked, "Why didn't you consult Governor Waltz?"
Waltz was a high-ranking official in the region, though his rank was much lower than those in the imperial capital.
Surrounded by earls and higher-ranking nobles who were all key figures in the court, Dai Mubai naturally distanced himself from Waltz.
Tang San furrowed his brows. "You've lost your base of support!"
Waltz had administrative experience in the governor's office and was far more experienced in handling state affairs than Dai Mubai.
But who would've known that Dai Mubai, focused only on immediate gains, abandoned his initial supporters?
While reparations could be made, after doing so, the other party would inevitably harbor resentment and couldn't be brought back into the inner circle.
"First, tell me about the situation within the palace. It's not too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost. Every detail must be explained thoroughly so I can quickly devise a countermeasure."
Dai Mubai didn't dare hesitate and, together with Yu Tianheng and others, provided a detailed account of the situation in the imperial city.
As they spoke, Tang San's expression remained calm like water.
After half an hour, he said gravely, "Behind the scenes, you don't even know how many accusations Dai Weisi has pinned on you! The poisoning wasn't done by you—it was definitely orchestrated by Dai Weisi."
As part of Dai Mubai's camp, if Dai Tianfeng suspected Dai Mubai, he naturally wouldn't allow him to investigate the type of poison used.
Tracing the poison would undoubtedly be the simplest investigative route.
With this path blocked, tracing efforts couldn't proceed. Their only option was to avoid further suspicion from Dai Tianfeng.
"There are still two months until your competition with Dai Weisi. If we can hold out until the competition proceeds normally, we'll win this battle. But Dai Weisi is also aware of this, so he will only retaliate more fiercely in the coming days."
At present, Tang San had only completed the fourth trial of his god trials, with five more trials remaining. He couldn't stay by Dai Mubai's side indefinitely like a caretaker.
This was what troubled him.
Dai Mubai was completely outmatched by Dai Weisi—if Tang San left, Dai Mubai would eventually fail.
But if he stayed and failed the divine trial, he'd be the one to suffer.
"Mubai, bring me the memorials first. Today, we must provide a satisfactory response to reassure your supporters."
Dai Mubai didn't dare hesitate and quickly spread the various memorials across the table.
Although Tang San had no experience governing a nation, his rich life experiences allowed him to handle many things appropriately.
For matters he couldn't resolve, he temporarily set them aside.
After all, Dai Tianfeng had merely entrusted them to manage state affairs—he hadn't ordered that solutions be provided for every matter.
Avoiding overburdening themselves was the right approach!
…
"Xiao San, there's been a flood outbreak in Nong City. Shouldn't we quickly allocate grain to provide relief?" Dai Mubai looked at the memorial and asked.
Tang San didn't respond directly but countered, "In Star Luo City, has Dai Weisi mobilized any grain?"
Dai Mubai shook his head—not that there was "none," but that he didn't know.
Tang San said impatiently, "Then go and find out quickly!"
"Xiao San, let us brothers go," Yu Tianxin and the others volunteered.
Properly handling a natural disaster would undoubtedly earn great prestige among the common people. With Dai Weisi's political acumen, he naturally understood this.
But Tang San believed that Dai Weisi certainly hadn't made a move yet.
Dai Mubai didn't understand. "Why hasn't Dai Weisi acted?"
Glancing at the location, Tang San smiled. "Nong City is the stronghold of Marquis Gothic—it's no wonder he hasn't moved!"
(T/N: The Marquis' name '哥特' is literally 'Gothic' in Chinese lol)
Marquis Gothic was one of his supporters, so naturally, Dai Weisi wouldn't help someone aligned with his opponent.
Tang San took a deep breath. "Mubai, you still need to grow wiser."
If Dai Weisi cleaned up Marquis Gothic's stronghold, he would gain the latter's support. Why wouldn't he act, instead leaving the "opportunity" for Dai Mubai?
Nong City was located in the south, where crops could be harvested three times a year. Moreover, it was a plains region—how could it lack food?
Now, with the harvest season just over and a flood outbreak in Nong City, the local officials claimed there was no grain for disaster relief. There was definitely something fishy going on.
Hearing his analysis, Dai Mubai's eyes widened. "Xiao San, you actually figured all this out?"
Tang San sighed helplessly. "To handle state affairs, you must consider the local environment and adapt accordingly. If you're unclear about the conditions of these cities, study the maps more!"
Dai Mubai awkwardly scratched his head and then asked, "So what should we do?"
Resolving the flood crisis in Nong City would stabilize Marquis Gothic's confidence and, in turn, secure more supporters.
Tang San set the memorial aside, pondered for a moment, and then said, "This matter can only be discussed further in tomorrow's court session."
"If there's corruption at the local level, a special envoy must be dispatched to oversee disaster relief. The selection of the envoy must be debated in court. Moreover, since this is Marquis Gothic's territory, there will certainly be those in court who will use this opportunity to impeach him."
"The first thing you need to do is shift the blame and ensure the opponent doesn't attack your supporters. Finally, you must order Marquis Gothic..."
Court politics amounted to just these kinds of matters—easy to talk about but difficult to execute.
Tang San, without noble title or official position, couldn't enter the court sessions. He could only explain the details to Dai Mubai, leaving him to face the civil and military officials alone.
If he performed well, he could reverse the previous decline. Conversely, the situation would become extremely unfavorable!
Finally, Tang San added, "Marquis Gothic is your man—you have an inherent advantage in handling this matter. Be sure to take responsibility for it."
Dai Mubai listened attentively.
The matter concerned the succession of the Crown Prince, so he dared not be careless.
With the temporary resolution of state affairs, Tang San still had to clean up after Dai Mubai.
In the end, Tang San was the one running around, while Dai Mubai reaped the glory in public.
After obtaining the Rakshasa God trial, his personality had become more extreme. This incident planted the seeds of resentment toward Dai Mubai in his heart.
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