Lu Chuan was taken aback upon hearing this. "Da Bao, what's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you to tell my mother I'm studying and not to disturb me? Why couldn't you stop me?!"

Upon hearing this, Da Bao immediately looked aggrieved and said, "Your Highness, you're really asking for it! How many times have you used this trick? The Princess Consort already knows it all. How could I possibly stop you? Your Highness, please come back quickly!"

After saying that,

Lu Chuan had no choice but to obediently flip back over, with Da Bao supporting him from below. Just as he landed, a graceful and beautiful woman slowly approached, dressed in magnificent clothes. She was none other than Lu Tianlong's wife, Lu Chuan's mother, Tantai Bingxin.

"Mother!" Lu Chuan called out weakly.

Tantai Bingxin looked at Lu Chuan with a forced smile and said, "My son, where are you going?!"

Immediately, Lu Chuan's body tensed slightly. "Mother, I'm not going anywhere. I just want to test how sturdy this wall is to prevent anyone from cutting corners and lining their own pockets."

Oh!

Is that an acceptable excuse?

Whether this wall is sturdy or not, others may not know, but how could the young master not know? After all, he checks it every few days, so it couldn't be more solid.

"Go back to your room and read your books. If your mother finds out you're going to Xixiang Pavilion again, you won't get any more pocket money!" Tantai Bingxin said slowly.

Upon hearing this,

Lu Chuan's expression turned bitter. "Mother, I'll go back to my studies right away!"

At this moment, Lu Chuan's heart was truly bleeding. Ah Qing, Wan Hua, Xiao Bai... and so on, I'm so sorry, but for the sake of my allowance, I can only endure it for a while.

After Lu Chuan slunk back to his room, Tantai Bingxin couldn't help but shake her head slightly. Her son was exceptionally talented but disliked cultivation and reading. How could he possibly inherit this vast royal mansion in the future?

The old emperor's health is deteriorating rapidly, and he probably won't last many more years. Given his suspicious nature, it won't be long before he takes action against them. Otherwise, how can the old emperor pass away peacefully?

...

In a flash,

More than a month,

On this day, Lu Tianlong, who had been serving in the army, returned to the Prince's Mansion. He did not disturb many people and quietly returned to the mansion.

inside the house,

Lu Tianlong said in a deep voice, "The old emperor has already begun to amass a large army outside the southern border. Even the most elite troops are beginning to gather in the southern border. I'm afraid that he will be able to amass an army of 500,000 in a short time. The old emperor's life is not long, and he is in a hurry to take action."

Based on speculation, the old emperor will appear in Nanyu City within three days at most. He will come to fight me and use that method of mutual destruction.

After saying that,

Tantai Bingxin said with some worry, "Husband, although the old emperor's life is not long, he is still a peak Martial Saint, and has even touched the bottleneck of the Great Emperor. Moreover, the royal family has a secret treasure that can allow the old emperor to maintain his peak strength for a short period of time. At that time, I'm afraid... it will be a bit troublesome!"

Lu Tianlong snorted coldly, "Even if he returns to his peak, I am not afraid. He does not have the strength to perish together with me. The old emperor has come at the right time. It is time to avenge the grudge he plotted against you back then. When the old emperor is killed, it will be the time for my Southern Frontier to cleanse the court of corrupt officials."

Seeing her husband's confidence, Tantai Bingxin felt a little relieved. Since her husband said so, he must have the strength to back it up and not be afraid of the old emperor.

"My lord, what are the reactions of the other kings of different surnames?" Tantai Bingxin asked again.

Lu Tianlong said indifferently, "They are naturally just watching from the sidelines, waiting for me and the royal family to be mutually weakened so that they can reap the benefits."

snort!

"That's a good plan. After so many years of preparation, as soon as the old emperor dies, I can take control of the capital as quickly as possible. By the time they realize what's happening, they'll have no chance!"

Tantai Bingxin nodded slightly. After so many years of preparation, as long as the old emperor died, everything would be foolproof.

...

Two days later,

At the summit of Qunyu Mountain outside Nanyu City, Lu Tianlong arrived gracefully. There was already a man on the summit with a full head of black white hair, who looked like he was middle-aged, but in reality he was very old. He was the current emperor of the world. He was in this state because he was using the secret treasure of the imperial palace to force out his full potential and have a three-day period of renewed vigor. During these three days, he would be at his peak. After the three days, he would naturally turn to ashes.

When Lu Tianlong arrived, the old emperor did not rush to take action, but gently called out, "Tianlong, when you were enfeoffed as the Prince of Jingnan, you and I were here, drinking and laughing all night. So many years have passed, but I still remember it clearly. Thinking about it, those days were the best and most memorable!"

You should have been one of my most trusted advisors, a pillar of the court. I should have placed my complete trust in you, but alas…”

The old emperor did not say what he was going to say next, but Lu Tianlong continued, "It's a pity that I have a son, so I have a successor. And for so many years, you have used me to suppress the other kings of different surnames, making my power so terrifying that it is enough to overthrow the dynasty. So... whether I have any intention of rebelling or not, I must die!"

"Alas! It really didn't have to come to this!" the old emperor sighed.

"You're old! You're senile!" Lu Tianlong said indifferently. "If you hadn't made those underhanded moves back then, I wouldn't have had the heart to rebel. Being an emperor... there's nothing good about it. Nothing beats the joy of my southern border."

Upon hearing this,

The old emperor gave a bitter smile. "Perhaps... I really am getting senile. If I had known earlier that Lu Chuan was such a spoiled brat, I would never have done it. Unfortunately, I am not a god and cannot see the secrets of heaven. Even the Taoists in Baiyujing cannot necessarily deduce it."

After speaking, Lu Tianlong did not reply, and the old emperor also fell silent.

Back when the old emperor was still the crown prince, Lu Tianlong was a staunch supporter of the crown prince. When the late emperor passed away and the Prince of Han, the Prince of Qi, the Prince of Qin, and the Prince of Jin rebelled, if it weren't for Lu Tianlong, there would be no old emperor today.

As a result, Lu Tianlong rose through the ranks step by step, eventually becoming the powerful king of the Southern Frontier, commanding an elite army of 600,000.

Sometimes when I think back, I always feel that the days of the past were better. It was just an ordinary day, but it became the day I miss the most. Unfortunately... everything can never be the same again.

"Tianlong, in these past ten years or so, I wonder what level your cultivation has reached. I am now at my peak. Can you possibly defeat me?" the old emperor asked.

Lu Tianlong replied, "Of course we can win!"

The old emperor burst into laughter, "Lu Tianlong, Lu Tianlong, all these years, you really haven't changed at all!"

He paused for a moment.

The old emperor continued, "An emperor has no friends, nor should he. An emperor only has the country and its people. This is the idea I have been taught since I was a child. But I have to admit that you are half a friend of mine. If I had lived longer than you, none of this would have happened."

I do not wish for this, but the fate of the nation is paramount. If I lose this battle today, you will undoubtedly become the new emperor. Once you sit on that throne and have been on it for a while, you will realize that my choice was not wrong.

Enough with the nonsense! Let's fight!