Lin Feng's declaration of "not establishing an heir, but only the strongest will be chosen" was like a depth charge dropped into a calm lake, stirring up a huge wave in the upper echelons of the empire.

The harem, at the center of the storm, has become an arena where there is no visible smoke of gunpowder, yet it is more dangerous than any battlefield.

The infighting among the concubines escalated from petty jealousy to a full-blown political struggle concerning the honor and disgrace of their families and their very survival.

Behind each prince, a force quickly gathered.

After the initial panic, Imperial Noble Consort Su Qinghe quickly regained her composure.

She used her status as the "mother of the eldest son" to unite a group of civil servants who were more traditional in their thinking and valued seniority.

Under the guise of "upholding orthodoxy and stabilizing the foundation of the nation," they packaged the eldest prince, Lin Tianyou, as the most legitimate heir.

Tianxuan Palace had practically become a miniature imperial court. Every day, officials from various departments would come under the guise of "paying respects to the Imperial Noble Consort" to report on government affairs and offer advice.

“Your Majesty, His Majesty’s actions, while seemingly fair, have in fact sown the seeds of a great danger for the empire. The struggle between the princes will inevitably lead to turmoil in the court. As veteran ministers of the empire, we have a duty to set things right and advise His Majesty to rescind his decree,” an elderly minister with white hair said with deep sorrow.

Su Qinghe sat upright in the main seat, her expression calm. She was no longer the concubine who needed others to remind her.

“We both remember Lord Wang’s loyalty,” she said slowly. “But His Majesty’s will is unshakeable. What we need to do now is not to offer advice, but to win this game within His Majesty’s rules.”

Her gaze fell on Lin Tianyou, who was copying a star map. At four years old, Lin Tianyou already displayed a composure and intelligence far beyond his years, and his brows carried a hint of authority similar to Lin Feng's.

"Tianyou is His Majesty's first son, the first perfect continuation of His Majesty's divine bloodline. His talent is unmatched by any other prince. What we need to do is to showcase his talent to His Majesty to the fullest extent. Civil governance is the foundation of the empire's long-term stability. A monarch who only knows how to fight and kill is nothing but a fool's courage."

Su Qinghe's words were met with nods of agreement from the civil officials present.

They quickly devised an outrageously detailed training plan for the eldest prince, encompassing everything from imperial history and political maneuvering to interstellar diplomacy and economic development. Their aim was to mold Lin Tianyou into a perfect "sage ruler."

Murong Yan's Chengwu Hall, however, presented a completely different scene.

"drink!"

The Second Prince, Lin Tianwu, let out a childish growl and slashed the neck of a robot target with his specially made alloy training knife.

Sparks flew as a deep gash appeared on the neck of the robot, which was capable of withstanding conventional rifle bullets.

"Excellent! Your Highness, Second Prince, your strength has increased again!" The one-armed general beside him said with admiration in his eyes.

A satisfied smile appeared on Murong Yan's face.

"Wisdom? Strategy?" She sneered at the several generals in black uniforms who had come to visit her. "In the face of absolute power, those things are worthless! Did Your Majesty conquer the country by debating with the enemy?"

"Your Majesty is right! The glory of the empire is inscribed on our swords!" a young major general exclaimed fervently. "We, the military, only recognize the strongest warriors! His Highness the Second Prince is the future God of War of the empire!"

"That's right! As long as Your Highness can pilot the Empire's strongest mechs and wield the sharpest battle blades, we, the millions of soldiers of the Empire, are willing to follow him and plant the Empire's flag in every corner of this planet!"

Murong Yan's camp was simple and pure—it was the military force of the entire empire.

They firmly believed that might makes right. The "lessons" they arranged for the Second Prince, Lin Tianwu, were also filled with the smell of blood and fire.

Every day, Lin Tianwu undergoes more than ten hours of high-intensity physical and combat training. He will also enter virtual reality battlefields to command troops and conduct simulated warfare.

Murong Yan has even asked Lin Feng to let her personally go to the border to fight bandits and see real bloodshed once Tianwu is a bit older.

Besides these two popular factions, the other concubines also used their own methods to form cliques and factions.

A concubine from an extremely wealthy family used money to pave the way for her son, recruiting all sorts of extraordinary people and talents.

The concubine, who came from the Academy of Sciences, attempted to improve her son's intelligence and physical abilities through genetic optimization.

The newly appointed three foreign imperial concubines have also become targets for various parties to court.

Inside the Pansy Palace, Camilla, the Black Gold Demoness, lay languidly on a lounge chair by the pool, looking at a report in her hand with a mocking smile on her lips.

"Imperial Consort Xihuang wants to win me over, promising that if I support the Crown Prince, I can get involved in the Imperial Family's tribute trade. Consort Murong has also sent people, saying that if I stand on her side, she can get the Murong family's fleet to escort my 'maritime trade route'," Camilla said to Elena and Sophia beside her.

The Blue-Blooded Noble Consort Elena, elegantly sipping her red tea, said calmly upon hearing this, "A bunch of foolish women. Have they forgotten whose people we are? Our honor and disgrace depend solely on His Majesty's whim. Choosing sides too early will only make us pawns to be sacrificed."

“Elena is right.” Sophia, the Crimson Lotus Dancer, was practicing a graceful dance. Her voice was ethereal and moving: “We are like flowers on a cliff, beautiful in appearance but without any foundation. Any slight disturbance could shatter us to pieces. Now, silence is the best choice.”

“Silence?” Camilla laughed, a laugh brimming with wildness and allure. “My dear, silence is only temporary. We have no son now, so we have no leverage to fight. But are you truly content to spend your lives as His Majesty’s playthings, watching the children born to those women decide our future?”

She sat up, her feet gently dangling in the water, her eyes sharpening: "Since His Majesty has said that all sons have a chance, then conversely, as long as we can give birth to a son, we'll have a ticket to the competition. What we need to do now is not to choose sides, but to do everything we can to conceive a dragon's child! Only with our own son can we truly fight for ourselves in this palace!"

A strange glint flashed in Elena's and Sophia's eyes simultaneously. Yes, how could they have forgotten the most crucial point? They needed to have their own son!

This competition was far more primal and direct than they had imagined.