Inside the palace, gilded incense burners emitted a sweet fragrance, and brocade gauze curtains swayed gently in the breeze, filtering the candlelight into tiny golden specks.

Consort Shu leaned against the rosewood phoenix-carved couch, her ten red nails digging deeply into the brocade soft pillow.

She wore a crimson palace gown adorned with gold begonia flowers and phoenix tails, yet it couldn't conceal the gloom between her brows.

"Father, I still feel something is amiss! After cooperating with that so-called mountain god, my son went mad!" Consort Shu suddenly clenched the handkerchief in her hand, twisting the orchid embroidered on the corner out of shape. "That so-called mountain god from the desolate mountains must have used some tricks to deliberately target my son!"

The General Who Protects the Nation was still wearing his black iron armor, and the mirror on his breastplate reflected the cold light of the palace lanterns on his chest.

The leather scabbard of the sword at his waist gleamed with a cold, bluish light under the copper lamp, and the gemstones inlaid in the hilt flickered with his movements.

He removed the phoenix-winged helmet adorned with red tassels, revealing the frost-white streaks at his temples, and said in a deep voice, "I have already sent people to secretly investigate Qingzhou, and there is indeed something strange about that desolate mountain. The snow accumulation within ten miles around the mountain god temple is three times thinner than elsewhere."

He took out a bamboo scroll covered with densely written characters: "But the seeds bestowed by this mountain goddess can only be planted in barren mountains. Throughout the history books of previous dynasties, no one has ever mentioned them."

"This mountain goddess is indeed very strange. She only appeared in Qingzhou this year, yet she has gained the faith of tens of thousands of people in a short period of time."

"I suspect that she might be a demon, just like the Grand Preceptor of Yan, who came for the sake of the people's faith!"

Consort Shu suddenly stood up, her hair ornaments swaying violently: "Indeed! My son must have been bewitched by sorcery!"

The General of the State nodded; he thought so too. His grandson's sudden madness was inextricably linked to the so-called mountain god.

Moreover, he did not want to create another Yan State Grand Tutor who had connections to the heavens and even held the power of the state!

However, we had already made an agreement with the mountain god to promote high-yield grain varieties on barren mountains, and we couldn't go back on our word.

Therefore, the imperial court was not very enthusiastic when promoting the grain varieties. Under his deliberate suggestion, the Vice Minister of Revenue casually assigned the task.

Anyway, the imperial court has done all it can. If the promotion is unsuccessful, it's none of their business. After all, it's the people's choice, isn't it?

If the people don't choose this kind of grain, can we force them to?

"Father, this mountain goddess is incredibly powerful. Even if we know she did it all, there's nothing we can do to avenge my son!" Consort Shu cried, tears streaming down her face.

The Grand General shook his head: "Daughter, you are wrong."

"There are so many extraordinary people in this world, and even more powerful demons than the Grand Preceptor of Yan. What is a mere newly appeared mountain god?"

"This mountain goddess is posing as the Grand Preceptor of Yan and cooperating with the Crown Prince. She definitely doesn't want the Grand Preceptor to know about this, so she certainly can't deal with him!"

"So, dealing with the Mountain Goddess and avenging the Crown Prince is very simple! We just need to tell the Imperial Advisor some of the truth, and someone will take action against that so-called Mountain Goddess!"

Imagine, which powerful demon would willingly have its identity replaced by someone else?

That mountain god has already touched the sore spot of the Yan State's Grand Preceptor. How long can he remain arrogant?

"I hope so." Consort Shu thought it was a good idea, but her heart was pounding and she felt it wasn't quite going smoothly.

She turned her head to look behind her.

The prince's cloud-patterned brocade robe was already wrinkled like a withered leaf, and a crooked gold crown could be vaguely seen among his disheveled black hair.

He walked barefoot over the torn memorials scattered on the ground, then suddenly stood before the wooden sword, muttering to himself.

"Father, Father, I have already killed you, why are you still not speaking?"

"Get up quickly and help me with my homework and study!"

"Mother, where is Mother? Haha, Mother is dead too, everyone is dead! Dead, dead..."

Bang!

With a single gesture, the Grand General of the State knocked the Crown Prince unconscious.

"Father!" Consort Shu was a little anxious and almost tripped over the flowing skirt. The gold-threaded floral decoration between her eyebrows seemed to flicker like firelight.

"It's alright. It's not good for him to keep cursing us." The General of the State said with a serious expression.

What is all this nonsense? He's still alive and well!

Where did he die? That's so unlucky! He's always talking nonsense!

"I'll send someone to contact the Grand Preceptor of Yan!" He strolled away.

…

A temple in the desolate mountains.

Yu Luo was sitting by the lake, playing chess with the system.

Suddenly, the jade chess piece stopped, and a glimmer of gold appeared on the pale fingertip.

"The storm is coming," she murmured to herself.