After being exiled for eighteen years, the prince returned to the capital as a veritable immortal.

East Palace.

The sixth prince sat cross-legged on the couch, closing his eyes to cultivate.

A burst of white energy shot out from his mouth, and a blue-and-white porcelain vase shattered instantly.

Then, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Your Highness, Prince Ling."

The Imperial Censor Xu Jie, who had been waiting to the side, finally spoke, saying:

"I have received news that the Second Prince has taken over the Mahayana Sect and the date of his uprising is not far off."

"Oh." The Sixth Prince stood up and made a gesture to conclude his practice.

Then, he picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

They didn't seem interested in Xu Jie's news.

Xu Jie looked anxious and said:

"Your Highness, the Empress died unjustly."

"In the prime of his youth, he was cruelly murdered by the combined forces of the Imperial Grandson and the Martial Emperor!"

"Crack!"

The teacup in the sixth prince's hand was crushed into pieces.

The scalding hot tea, tea leaves, and shards of blue and white porcelain coalesced into a ball in his palm.

"Oh!"

The tea ball suddenly exploded and flew out of the window.

"Grandson Si, avenge your parents."

The sixth prince's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "I will avenge my mother's death as well!"

Xu Jie smiled with satisfaction and lowered his head, saying:

“The Prince of Ling has emerged from his despair and is working hard to improve himself. The Empress in heaven must be pleased.”

"However, the Crown Prince Si is incredibly talented and has already reached the level of a half-step immortal. I fear... I am no match for him."

"Hmph." Xu Jie said disdainfully, "As long as Your Highness can ascend the throne and break the seal on the dragon vein, the powerful support of the Underworld Clan will come naturally."

"The Underworld Clan?" The Sixth Prince shook his head. "The Underworld Clan's ancestor has already been killed by the Grandson of the Imperial Guard. What powerful allies do they have left?"

"Tch, the Netherworld Ancestor isn't exactly a strong ally."

Xu Jie said proudly, "Beneath the dragon vein lies the Netherworld Emperor, and that is your greatest asset, Prince Ling."

"The Underworld Emperor, a terrestrial deity?"

The Sixth Prince asked in surprise, "He wasn't killed by Emperor Ji?"

"Hmph!" Xu Jie sneered, "The Zhou royal family has only been deceiving the world. The Underworld Emperor has always been sealed under the West Kunlun Mountains."

"..."

The sixth prince's expression shifted between light and dark as he weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

After a while.

He shook his head: "If he releases a terrestrial deity, won't the world be completely under his control?"

At that point, he might not even be able to keep his status as a prince.

Forget about ascending the throne and becoming emperor.

"Prince Ling, you're confused."

Xu Jie was extremely anxious: "The Underworld Emperor pursues the path to immortality and is not interested in worldly affairs of the imperial court."

"Once it is accomplished, you, Prince Ling, will rule the dynasty, and the Underworld Emperor will rule the cultivation world."

"The world is now in the hands of my Netherworld Clan!"

……

A moment of silence.

"Boom!" The sandalwood table in front of him was smashed to pieces.

The sixth prince, enraged, said:

"I, the King, will seize the throne and kill the Crown Prince Si!"

Xu Jie glanced at the sixth prince, who was brimming with fighting spirit, lowered his head and smiled coldly, with an expression that showed he had everything under control.

The death of Empress Yu Gou led the sixth prince to overcome his alcoholism.

The desire for revenge can be ignited with the slightest provocation.

To incite infighting within the royal family, one must give the other side enough confidence.

He continued:

"Your Highness's diligent efforts are a source of joy for Her Majesty the Empress!"

As he said this, he waved his hand.

Eight warriors dressed in white robes appeared like ghosts.

Everyone was wearing a white skull mask.

Xu Jie led the way, and the group knelt down, saying in unison:

"The Eight Divisions of the Underworld pay their respects to their master!"

The Sixth Prince glanced at everyone with satisfaction and asked:

"What unusual activities have the Second Prince and the Mahayana Sect made?"

"Their plan is to take advantage of the martial arts examination to force the Empress to abdicate," Xu Jie said.

“It’s too conspicuous for a large number of martial artists to enter the city on ordinary days.”

The Sixth Prince nodded and said, "The martial arts examination is indeed a good opportunity."

After a moment's thought, he gave the order:

"You all go and prepare too. Once they and Emperor Wu are locked in a life-or-death struggle, we'll wipe them out in one fell swoop."

"Here!"

……

The next day.

Golden Throne Hall.

"My esteemed ministers, the position of Prime Minister has been vacant for several days. Who do you all think is most suitable to take on this role?"

The Empress's voice echoed in the main hall.

The ministers all lowered their heads, wishing they could disappear into the ground.

Everyone felt regret in their hearts.

Why didn't I ask for leave today?

Being the prime minister was already the most dangerous job in the imperial court.

A few days ago, Prime Minister Qu and his entire family were wiped out, making him the fifteenth prime minister to be executed during the reign of Emperor Wu.

Apart from two prime ministers who were imprisoned for their crimes, all thirteen other prime ministers were executed.

The twelfth term, nine generations of his family were exterminated.

With such a bloody precedent, who would dare to be the head of all officials?

Several high-ranking officials of the third rank or above were even more insecure.

They feared that the Empress's finger might touch their heads.

Of all the officials in the hall, only a few princes and the Imperial Censor dared to stand up straight and catch their breath.

after all.

As one of the Three Dukes, the Imperial Censor's responsibility was to supervise the Chancellor and the Grand Marshal.

Emperor Wu would not appoint the Imperial Censor as Prime Minister.

The main hall was quiet; one could hear the falling leaves.

Emperor Wu frowned and pointed at the Imperial Censor Xu Jie:

"Minister Xu, do you have anyone to recommend?"

The Empress's gaze drifted, intentionally or unintentionally, toward the back row.

Xu Jie understood immediately; the Emperor already had someone in mind.

He turned his head to look at the back row.

The last few naturally held lower official positions.

These include Feng Ji, the Director of the Court of Justice, and Zhang Anshi, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, among others.

These people were able to stand in the main hall solely because their business was related to the court assembly.

Xu Jie glanced at the group of people, pondering to himself.

These two individuals had close ties with the Grandson of the Emperor.

Could it be that they are going to be promoted?

Their official positions were indeed too low; it was practically impossible for them to be promoted to prime minister.

However, under the rule of Empress Wu, nothing is impossible.

A few years ago, a minor official guarding the imperial tombs was exonerated simply for speaking a few words in defense of the crown prince.

Emperor Wu then appointed him as prime minister.

Xu Jie recommended:

"Your Majesty, I believe that Lord Feng Ji, who has served as an official with integrity throughout his life, is a model for all officials..."

Feng Ji swayed and was about to fall to the ground.

What a deep grudge! They actually recommended him to be prime minister.

Could it be that they are going to eliminate the faction of the Grandson Si?

Minister Zhang Anshi helped Feng Jicai up, preventing him from falling.

The Emperor's face darkened.

Xu Jie immediately realized that he had recommended the wrong person and quickly corrected himself:

"Minister Zhang, your literary talent is truly remarkable..."

I?

Zhang Anshi was supporting Feng Ji and feeling worried for him when he unexpectedly found himself being criticized.

Instantly, blood rushed to the head, and the world spun around.

Feng Ji regained his senses and reached out to support him.

Fortunately, the Martial Emperor frowned slightly and said:

"How can one become prime minister without being granted a title of nobility?"

"..." Xu Jie was completely stumped.

According to the regulations of the imperial court, one cannot be appointed as prime minister without holding the title of marquis.

However, before Emperor Wu, there were already five prime ministers who were appointed without being granted the title of marquis.

He was not granted a title of nobility!

Xu Jie's eyes lit up.

Finally grasping the key point, he glanced back at the few people in the back row and said:

"Zhou She, the Marquis of Tao, is capable of shouldering the important responsibility of Prime Minister."

Zhou She stood in the back row, grinning and watching the two old men support each other.

Suddenly, it was as if a bolt from the blue had struck.

wrong.

He was convinced that he must have misheard.

He dared to say that if the Empress Wu made him prime minister...

His surname is not Zhou.

Not only him, but his ancestors for eight generations did not have the surname Zhou.

because.

He was originally a descendant of the Overlord Emperor, and his original surname was Xiang.

After killing the Overlord Emperor, Emperor Ji feigned a pardon for all of the Overlord Emperor's descendants.

He also bestowed titles and official ranks upon the various branches of the Overlord Emperor.

and.

and.

Moreover, to show the emperor's boundless grace, the descendants of the Overlord Emperor were also granted the surname Zhou.

The Xiang family genealogy of the Overlord Emperor thus became extinct, becoming its last work.

In other words, Zhou She should be called Xiang She.

The Heavenly Emperor bestowed upon him the imperial surname, which he described to others as an immense favor.

For the descendants of the Overlord Emperor, it was a blatant humiliation.

I will destroy your ancestors and the honor of your clan.

Moreover, you have to be grateful to your enemy.

The title of Marquis of Tao was inherited by Zhou She from his ancestors.

The Great Qian Dynasty kept the descendants of the Overlord Emperor as mere mascots.

They were always given low-ranking official positions and were never given important responsibilities.

and so.

Zhou She believed that the person recommended by the Imperial Censor was definitely not him.

Until the Martial Emperor nodded and said:

“Very well, then Marquis Tao shall serve as Prime Minister.”

"thump!"

Zhou She knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, and said with great emotion:

"Your Majesty, I am utterly incompetent and lack virtue; I beg Your Majesty to select another capable and virtuous minister!"