Seeing Ming Yan lower her head, Ming Zhaoshu said in a low voice, "Liu Province was originally one of the main continents that suppressed the rebellion of the Reverent Kingdom's twelve continents. This deputy had once spoken to the previous emperor and had a very good relationship with the previous crown prince, Ming Hao. Now that I have ascended to the throne, he was afraid that I would punish him later, so he purposely exposed his crime of embezzling military funds. He wasn't really asking for punishment, but rather wanted to give me something to use against him so that I could execute him at any time. There's nothing to worry about when it comes to someone who can be executed at any time.
"That's also why the amount isn't large. Otherwise, even I wouldn't be able to protect him if the amount was too large. Do you understand?"
Ming Yan suddenly looked up at Ming Zhaoshu, her eyes red. "Father, I don't understand why you're forcing me to learn all this. I don't want to deal with government affairs, and I don't want to come into contact with these things. Why must you force me?"
Ming Zhaoshu clenched his fists, his eyes filled with unwillingness.
"You're still young, and you have the ability to give birth to another son for him to succeed the throne. I don't want to participate in government affairs, so please let me go. I … I want to go to the Great Yu Empire," Ming Yan pleaded softly, her tears dripping onto the ground.
She had had enough over the past few days, and she had experienced a level of pressure that she had never experienced before. The situation just now happened every day, and she really didn't know how to deal with it, nor did she want to know. Her thoughts were pure, and she only wanted to go to the Great Yu Empire to see that person. The past few days of suppression had made her miss that person very much, and she missed his embrace.
Ming Zhaoshu didn't say anything, as no one could understand his unwillingness. If possible, he also wanted his daughter to live a carefree life. He also wanted to enjoy the fruits of his victory. He had endured for so many years, not even daring to have a son, just for this day, but now things had turned out this way.
"You can leave for now," Ming Zhaoshu said in a low voice.
Ming Yan stood up, bowed to Ming Zhaoshu, and then left the study.
Not long after, Tang Si's voice rang out, "Your Majesty, Envoy En Ya from the Great Yu Empire requests an audience."
Ming Zhaoshu's eyes lit up. "Invite her in."
In the guest hall of the Reverent King's residence, En Ya saw Ming Zhaoshu and slowly bowed. "En Ya greets King Shenwu."
Ming Zhaoshu smiled. "Miss En Ya, please have a seat."
En Ya took out Lu Yin's letter and handed it to Ming Zhaoshu, along with a cosmic ring. "His Highness, please take a look."
Ming Zhaoshu eagerly opened the letter.
En Ya kept looking at Ming Zhaoshu and felt that it was a little strange. This person gave her the feeling that he was very weak, which shouldn't be the case. It was rumored that Ming Zhaoshu was an innate genius who had comprehended a forcefield. As a Cruiser, he had been able to contend against the Hunter Ming Zhaotian. After patiently waiting for so many years, he had succeeded in one fell swoop, so he should be in high spirits. However, at this moment, Ming Zhaoshu gave off the feeling that he had aged.
His Highness had repeatedly instructed him to observe Ming Zhaoshu. Could it be that there was something wrong with Ming Zhaoshu's body?
Ming Zhaoshu put down the letter and glanced at his cosmic ring expectantly. He then looked at En Ya and said, "The Royal Regent has already listed what he wants to say in the letter. Miss En Ya, I will have someone take you away to rest. If there's anything else, we can discuss it tomorrow. How about it?"
En Ya nodded and stood up. "If that's the case, I'll seek an audience with His Majesty tomorrow."
Ming Zhaoshu impatiently asked Tang Si to take En Ya away. He then returned to his private room, took out the billowing star from his cosmic ring, and held it tightly. "It really does have a mind of its own. It can actually escape." He then swallowed the billowing star.
A normal billowing star had been able to completely heal Undying Yushan's injuries. Thus, from his perspective, a billowing star that had been upgraded to the point where it could avoid danger should have been able to cure Ming Zhaoshu's poison. However, it had still failed in the end.
Ming Zhaoshu looked at himself in the mirror. After recovering his original appearance, he had not dared to look at his old face. Now, after absorbing the billowing star, although he looked younger, he was still old. Furthermore, he could feel that his life force was still flowing away. The billowing star could only replenish a portion of his life force, but it was not enough to detoxify him.
Who had poisoned him?
Why had such a tyrannical poison been used on him?
Ming Zhaoshu roared in grief and indignation. He took out other natural treasures and swallowed them all. His appearance recovered slightly, but he could not stop his life force from flowing away.
There was a loud boom as Ming Zhaoshu's rage shattered the ground, causing all of Shanhai City to shake. Tang Si and the others were so frightened that they hurriedly rushed into the private room.
"I'm fine. I'm just cultivating," Ming Zhaoshu said in a low voice. Only then did Tang Si and the others feel reassured and leave.
Ming Zhaoshu was very intelligent, but it was precisely because of this intelligence that he could see many things clearly. For example, Lu Yin. He was certain that Lu Yin wanted to cure him, and as long as he existed, Ming Yan would be able to go to the Great Yu Empire with peace of mind. The Shenwu Empire was a stable corner of the Great Eastern Alliance. Under such circumstances, Lu Yin could not cure Ming Zhaoshu's poison.
Even with Lu Yin's current status and ability in the Outerverse, he could not cure Ming Zhaoshu's poison. This meant that Ming Zhaoshu was done for unless the person who had poisoned him appeared.
However, Ming Zhaoshu had no clue who the culprit was. He guessed that it might be the Neohuman Alliance, and he even considered agreeing to any conditions as long as the Neohuman Alliance was willing to cure him. However, no one from the Neohuman Alliance had appeared yet.
Through the outsiders, Ming Zhaoshu understood the goals of this organization and how vicious they were. He also understood the universe's attitude towards this organization. No matter which path he took, he would not have a good ending.
Ming Zhaoshu stayed in the secret room for two whole days, and he did not even attend the meeting with En Ya. On the third day, he called Ming Yan over from his study.
"You've always wanted to know why Father forced you. Today, Father will tell you." Ming Zhaoshu then returned to his original appearance. His aged white hair fell, and the person in front of Ming Yan was not the wise and mighty father that she remembered. Instead, he was a dying old man.
Ming Yan's pupils shrank, and her face turned pale as she covered her mouth. She stared at the scene in front of her in disbelief.
Ming Zhaoshu bitterly said, "Father has been poisoned. No one can cure this poison, and I don't have much time left. Now, do you know why Father wants you to handle government affairs?
It's because you want to inherit the Shenwu Empire. "
Ming Yan shook her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. She slowly walked over to Ming Zhaoshu's side. "Father, why did this happen?
Who poisoned you? "
Ming Zhaoshu closed his eyes. "Success or failure is determined by the heavens. Life is not in the hands of others. Yan 'er, Father does not have much time left. The Shenwu Empire cannot fall into the hands of outsiders. You are the true successor."
"I don't want to inherit the empire! I want you to live well, Father!" Ming Yan shouted.
Ming Zhaoshu sighed. "Silly child. No one wants to die if they can."
…
En Ya once again visited the Reverent King's Residence to seek an audience with Ming Zhaoshu, but Tang Si's answer disappointed her. "His Majesty is handling government affairs. Miss En Ya, you can go back and rest while you wait for his summons."
En Ya frowned, and her tone turned cold. "His Majesty seems to dislike the Great Yu Empire. Is he trying to break his promise?"
Tang Si hurriedly replied, "Miss En Ya, you're overthinking things. His Majesty's health is poor, and there are too many government affairs to handle. Even the princess is helping His Majesty in his study. He really doesn't have the time."
"Even Princess Ming Yan is there?" En Ya was shocked.
…
In the courtyard of the Reverent King's Residence, Ming Yan supported Ming Zhaoshu as they walked around. Ming Zhaoshu shook his head. "Yan 'er, Father is fine. Let go."
Ming Yan was sad. "I'm sorry, Father. I've always disappointed you."
Ming Zhaoshu looked at the five sealing planets in the sky. "The universe is vast and boundless. Yan 'er, do you want to go out?"
Ming Yan shook her head. "I don't want to. I just want to accompany you."
Ming Zhaoshu muttered, "You don't want to go out, but someone else wants to come in."
Ming Yan's body trembled, and she looked up at the five sealing planets with a complicated expression.
"People from the outside world have always coveted Shenwu Continent. Even if we have the five sealing planets, it doesn't mean that we're safe. Shenwu Continent needs to unite in order to resist these foreign enemies, and the Shenwu Empire cannot fall into chaos. Internally, we need stability. Externally, we need support, and this support is the Great Yu Empire, which is Lu Yin."
"Lu Yin likes you, and you like him as well. I won't stop the two of you from being together, but you have to remember that you can't completely rely on others. If I'm here, I can support you, but if I'm not, you have to support yourself. Even if you want to marry Lu Yin, you can't marry him as a princess. You have to marry him as King Shenwu of the Shenwu Empire."
Ming Yan looked at Ming Zhaoshu, her eyes filled with confusion about the future. "King Shenwu?"
Ming Zhaoshu patted her head and said, "You have to inherit the empire. Don't think that you can have him just because he likes you. That's not realistic. The universe is too big, and his future is immeasurable. There will be many women by his side, and each of them will have their own background and abilities. If you're just a pretty face, you'll eventually be replaced, whether it's for yourself or for the empire. You have to inherit the position of King Shenwu.
You have to inherit the throne. "Ming Yan's gaze was complicated, and her thoughts were in chaos.
"I can't give you much time. Before that, I'll do my best to help you resolve the problems, but you'll still have to rely on yourself for the future. I can't accompany you," Ming Zhaoshu said in a low voice.
Ming Yan's fingers clutched Ming Zhaoshu's sleeves, and she lowered her head as her body trembled.
In the Great Yu Empire, the imperial court meeting had ended, and only Liuying Zishan remained behind.
"Your Highness, Darkstar Gorge's Duke Jadestone wishes to speak with you," Liuying Zishan said respectfully.
"Duke Jadestone?
Is he the one who betrayed Darkstar Gorge and caused it to suffer such heavy losses? Even Puyu's parents died? "Lu Yin asked.
Liuying Zishan replied, "That's him. The empire wants to pull Adonis Weave into the Great Eastern Alliance, and Darkstar Gorge is Adonis Weave's strongest power. This person is the key to opening Darkstar Gorge."
"What does he want to talk to me about?" Lu Yin was curious.
Liuying Zishan replied, "He says that he has information that he wants to use in exchange for his freedom."
"Freedom?
He doesn't want to help us convince Darkstar Gorge? "Lu Yin was dissatisfied.
Liuying Zishan did not answer.
En Ya had drawn up the Great Eastern Alliance's treaty and had used Mafioso Planet's secrets to coerce the various powers into helping her. She had only been the one who had drawn up the treaty, and the ones who had actually carried it out were the Thirteen Imperial Squadrons. For example, the Fifth Imperial Squadron had been responsible for dealing with the Six-Fingered Tribe in Lars Weave, while the Thirteenth Imperial Squadron had been responsible for dealing with Adonis Weave.
"Alright, let's talk," Lu Yin said casually.