paranoianovel Chapter 256: Civil Strife In Shenmeng, Split Of Dynasty
Chapter 256: Civil Strife In Shenmeng, Split Of Dynasty
Inside the Great Hall, everyone stared in disbelief at the severed head on the ground.
"Is this... the person from the Southern King's faction?"
"How is this possible? Why would the Southern King target his own nephew? It doesn't make sense!"
"Could it be that the Southern King really wants to rebel?"
The courtiers trembled in their hearts. Is the world about to become chaotic?
Lie Huan clenched his fist tightly, and the head floating in front of him suddenly exploded like a watermelon, but the flesh and blood were all kept outside by the fluctuating Spirit Power.
"Southern King... Lie Mang!" Lie Huan's teeth gnashed as he looked at Duan Ming and coldly asked, "Duan Ming, what do you think?"
Duan Ming lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the Southern King, who opened up new territories for our Dream God Dynasty and defended the southern border, has always been loyal to our dynasty. It is absolutely impossible for him to do such a thing!"
Lie Huan angrily said, "Impossible? Then what is going on? Could this head be fake?!"
Duan Ming remained silent, cupping his hands.
The ministers looked at each other with flickering eyes.
Duan Ming was right. The Southern King was indeed loyal to the Dream God Dynasty. If it weren't for him, the dynasty wouldn't have achieved its current prosperity.
But...
The Southern King had always been ambitious, wanting to annex other dynasties and turn the Dream God Dynasty into a supreme dynasty. However, his ambitions had always been rejected and restricted by Lie Huan. It was likely that he had harbored resentment for a long time.
The Southern King's loyalty was to the Dream God Dynasty. As for who would sit on the throne, he didn't really care.
"Do you know why these people were chasing Xiang'er and Yan'er, even though they knew they were my children? Even if Lie Mang is stupid, he wouldn't do such a thing!" Lie Huan took a deep breath and asked.
Duan Ming replied, "Your Majesty, I have already investigated. It was because the Crown Princess and the Second Prince accidentally obtained a Rank Seven Spirit Medicine and wanted to present it to Your Majesty as a birthday gift. But someone discovered it, which led to the subsequent events."
Rank Seven Spirit Medicine... as a birthday gift!
Lie Huan's pupils suddenly contracted, as if he had thought of something. He stared at Duan Ming and said, "What about the investigation into the Third Prince that I asked you to do earlier?"
Duan Ming narrowed his eyes slightly and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, the Third Prince has shown no abnormalities."
He knew that Lie Huan had become suspicious, and no matter what he said, it wouldn't change anything.
"No abnormalities..."
Lie Huan sneered and shouted, "Someone, immediately bring the Third Prince here!"
Someone immediately flew out of the hall.
The courtiers were shocked once again.
Why does it involve the Third Prince again?
Soon, the person returned and reported, "Your Majesty, the Third Prince is not in the residence. According to the people in the residence, he left in a panic several hours ago."
Upon hearing this, the courtiers were taken aback.
Could it really be related to the Third Prince?
Duan Ming, who was standing still, suddenly showed a slight change in expression. He took out a communication talisman and listened for a moment before cupping his hands and saying, "Your Majesty, I have received a report from my subordinates. They said they saw the Prince meeting with a group of mysterious people and then leaving with them."
Upon hearing this news, Lie Huan's figure shook again. He seemed to have aged tens of thousands of years in an instant, his face filled with sadness and anger. "It's really him! It's really him! To have such a tragic incident of kin killing kin... My third son, you have disappointed me... Pfft!"
Lie Huan tilted his head and spat out a mouthful of blood. In his anger and urgency, even his Spirit Power couldn't suppress it.
"Your Majesty!"
The courtiers were shocked and rushed forward to check on him.
Lie Huan waved his sleeve to push everyone away, his expression filled with killing intent and fierceness. He said in a grim voice, "Spread my decree, order the King of Zhen Nan to immediately hand over Lie Yao and Yan'er. If they don't comply, the Shenmeng Dynasty will no longer need the King of Zhen Nan!"
...
Inside the residence of the King of Zhen Nan.
Lie Mang, with his hands behind his back, stood in the courtyard. Behind him stood a stooped old man, his steward and absolute confidant, Qiu Rang, the second-ranked Self Union Venerable of the King of Zhen Nan's residence.
"How much longer until Lie Yao arrives?" Lie Mang asked casually.
Qiu Rang replied, "He's already on his way and should be here soon."
Lie Mang's eyes gleamed as he said, "This accidental killing of Lie Xiang is an opportunity. Lie Huan will definitely be furious. I heard that Duan Ming has already brought the head to the Great Hall, confirming that it was my doing. But he's not a fool. I won't randomly target my own nephew. He will surely guess that Lie Yao came to me for help. In this way, the father and son have reached an irreconcilable point. If Lie Yao doesn't escape, he will surely meet a dead end. Now, I am his only way out!"
Just as he finished speaking, several streaks of light descended from the sky, and a few people in gray robes landed. The person in the middle removed their hood, revealing a young face.
It was the third prince, Lie Yao.
"Uncle, you've really put your nephew in a difficult situation this time!" Lie Yao's face was extremely grim.
With this one mistake from the King of Zhen Nan, he was pushed into an irreparable situation in the Myriad Tribulations.
He knew that his father would definitely suspect him. Even if he didn't admit it, it wouldn't matter. The second prince was dead, and his father might use soul-searching secret techniques. By then, there would be no way out for him except death.
So, as soon as he learned of Lie Xiang's death, he immediately sought the protection of the King of Zhen Nan.
Now, only he could protect himself.
Lie Mang patted Lie Yao's shoulder and sighed, "Yao'er, rest assured. This matter started because of me, so naturally I won't abandon you. Xiang'er was killed by my hand, and it has nothing to do with you. Once your father's anger subsides, everything will be fine."
"I hope so..." Lie Yao forced a bitter smile.
Qiu Rang suddenly flipped his hand and took out a transmission talisman. After listening, his expression changed slightly. "My lord, His Majesty has issued an edict, ordering us to immediately hand over the Third Prince."
Lie Yao's face instantly turned pale, and he looked to Lie Mang for help.
At this moment, his heart was filled with fear and anger.
He didn't kill the person, so why was his father fixated on him?
Lie Mang slowly turned his head, sneering, "It seems that Lie Huan is truly furious this time and has lost some rationality. Tell him, how would I know where the Third Prince is? If his own son doesn't know how to take care of himself, what does it have to do with me?"
Qiu Rang hesitated and said, "His Majesty is truly angry this time. If we don't hand over the person, he might take action against us. After all, that severed head is solid evidence."
Lie Mang squinted his eyes and looked at Lie Yao, then suddenly said, "Yao'er, your father has gone mad. He even wants to harm his own brothers and flesh and blood. I don't think he's suitable to continue holding the throne. I've always thought that you are a rare talent, with great ambition and strategic vision. If I'm willing to support you to ascend the throne, what do you think?"
Lie Yao's whole body trembled, looking at Lie Mang with disbelief. His eyes slowly widened, filled with hesitation, fear, but more than anything, wild joy.
Since birth, his father had always favored the second prince, Lie Xiang. Perhaps it was because his character was purer, which made his ambitious self somewhat distant. His father had even shown multiple times that he wanted to pass the crown prince position to Lie Xiang, which had long made him resentful.
In his eyes, Lie Huan, who was content with the status quo, was simply unworthy of being the emperor. If he became the emperor of the Shenmeng Dynasty, he would surely expand the territory and establish a broader foundation!
Now, Lie Mang's words made his heart beat faster.
"Uncle... Are you serious?"