Chapter 259: Sights and Sounds of Capital City Jianye

Chapter 259: Chapter 259: Sights and Sounds of Capital City Jianye

By the time Chu Fan heard about these events, he had already set foot in the Capital City Jianye.

Once again, he was awestruck by a city.

Jianye City, though called a city, was actually a sprawling, open metropolis. It had no city walls, no gatehouses—everything was open.

Only at the very center of Jianye City’s axis stood a Palace City. With its high walls, deep courtyards, red ramparts, and golden tiles, it was incomparably magnificent and solemn.

Chu Fan had no idea how large Jianye City truly was. After all, he was in the Capital City, and he didn’t dare use his Spiritual Power to probe his surroundings. Once he entered the city’s limits, traveling alongside the Imperial Grandson and the Princess, he couldn’t even fly. That was the rule.

Gazing at the endless streams of caravans in their diverse attire and the crowds thronging the incredibly wide streets, Chu Fan was filled with awe.

’A great nation without borders, with all lands coming to pay tribute... This must be what such a glorious sight looks like, right?’

When their party reached a street named Chaotian Street, the Imperial Grandson’s procession was already waiting for them.

After receiving the formal salutations, the Imperial Grandson led Chu Fan and Yan Ying aboard his carriage.

It was a carriage pulled by four Wind Chasing Beasts. The vehicle was like a mobile house, complete with a drawing room, a bedroom, and even a lavatory.

The materials used to build this carriage were all exceedingly expensive. In short, it was incredibly luxurious and grand.

The entire retinue consisted of nearly a thousand people. An old eunuch, holding a duster, directed everything with practiced ease in a high, grating voice.

The ceremonial guard held banners and flags with solemn dignity, while the Guard Team, armed with halberds and spears, looked magnificent from every angle.

Wherever they passed, the common people would stop and bow.

Sitting in the carriage, Chu Fan watched the scene outside through the window. While his heart was filled with wonder, his mind was also pondering the events that had transpired in the Hua Xu Empire over the past month.

’Who killed so many people in Prince Huai’s Mansion?’

’At first, I thought it was the Crown Prince. But on second thought, I dismissed that idea. If the Crown Prince truly wanted to move against Prince Huai’s Mansion, he would have done it openly and legitimately.’

’The Crown Prince’s later handling of Prince Huai seemed more like he was just going with the flow, taking advantage of the situation. It was almost as if he was covering for someone.’

’Who did Prince Huai’s Mansion offend?’

’They offended me, Chu Fan, of course. So who made the move? The answer was obvious.’

Leng Yingxue.

’Only she had the motive. And only a Grandmaster at the Saint Realm like her had the ability to travel thousands of miles in three days, not only killing so many in Prince Huai’s Mansion but also wiping out several Noble Families that were allied with them.’

’You have to understand, Prince Huai was a Prince of the blood. His mansion was sure to have Grandmaster guards at the Void Realm, or even the Mahayana Realm. Yet, Prince Huai’s Mansion collapsed overnight. If the one who struck wasn’t a Saint, who could it have been?’

’As for the civil and military officials who were implicated afterward, that was likely the Crown Prince’s doing, seizing the opportunity. As the Crown Prince, he naturally needs to consolidate power in his own hands.’

’An Emperor’s wrath leaves a thousand miles of floating corpses. It’s really true!’

After roughly piecing together the course of events, Chu Fan was, of course, deeply moved by Leng Yingxue’s actions.

’This woman... she seems aloof and cold, but deep down, she has her own way of thinking.’

’She prefers to do things quietly, without explaining herself to others. She is decisive and ruthless, but at the same time, she has her moments of hesitation and conflict.’

’It might sound contradictory, but that is the real Leng Yingxue.’

’As for the Crown Prince, he already has the makings of an Emperor.’

’He appears capricious, but he actually plans before he acts. His methods seem ruthless, but that’s just one part of his larger scheme.’

’The Emperor isn’t senile, so why would he watch his Crown Prince conduct a bloodbath in the imperial court only to promote his own confidants?’

’It’s because the Emperor is building a Celestial Ladder for him. This is the tacit understanding between father and son.’

’They say attending a ruler is like attending a tiger. Chu Fan couldn’t help but wonder: few people know Yan Ying’s secret. Since he, an outsider unwilling to swear loyalty to the Long Clan, now knew it, would he one day be discarded like a hound after the hunt?’

’There is no kinship in the Imperial Family.’

’He was an outsider. If he were to obtain some great opportunity in the Hua Xu Secret Realm but then refuse to serve the Long Clan upon his return, would Long Jingyao, with his schemes and methods, let him live?’

’Promises?’

’To those who keep their word, a promise is life itself. But in the eyes of a ruler, no promise weighs more than their empire, more than the power in their hands.’

’An escape route. At this moment, Chu Fan knew he had to figure out an exit strategy for himself—a way to survive and secure his future.’

’He had to enter the Hua Xu Secret Realm. Whether for Yan Ying, for Ye Xiaohan and Wei Mian, or simply for the realm itself—a place of infinite possibilities—he had to go in.’

’The Great Returning Pill appeared on the third layer of the seal. Perhaps it wasn’t meant to save others, but to save myself?’

Thinking of this, Chu Fan gave a self-deprecating smile.

"What are you smiling so foolishly about?" Yan Ying asked.

As Yan Ying spoke, the Imperial Grandson, Long Yinwen, also turned to look at Chu Fan.

Long Yinwen bore a strong resemblance to Yan Ying in her male disguise—they were siblings, after all.

It was just that Long Yinwen seemed a bit more immature.

"It’s nothing. I was just marveling at the prosperity of the Hua Xu Capital."

"If you like it, you could stay here. I can give you a mansion," Yan Ying said immediately.

Chu Fan quickly waved his hands. "No, no, that’s not necessary. You know my personality. I like to roam about and can’t stay in one place for long. Besides, land in the Capital City is worth its weight in gold. How could I let you give me a mansion?"

"Mr. Chu, if you want one, I can ask my father to bestow one upon you. After all, you are accompanying me to the Secret Realm this time, and it will be fraught with danger," Long Yinwen said.

"Really, there’s no need. I come from humble beginnings and am a man of the Jianghu. Living off the land is normal for me. If I lived in a luxurious mansion, I’m afraid I’d grow lazy and lose my heart for seeking the truth of the Dao. That is not what I want."

"Mr. Chu, your words are truly admirable," Long Yinwen said.

As they spoke, they arrived at the Palace City.

The Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace was in the southeastern corner of the Palace City. There was no need to enter through the nine main gates of the Palace City; the Eastern Palace had its own gates.

The Eastern Palace had five gates, and they used the main southern one, Yantai Gate.

After passing through Yantai Gate, the carriage stopped. When they stepped out, they were led by a group of palace maids and eunuchs through Yan’an Gate.

Chu Fan was once again stunned by the magnificent scene before him.

’Is this just the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace? This is fucking several times larger than the Imperial Palace of the Great Xia Kingdom, isn’t it?’

It was impossible for the Crown Prince to greet them personally.

The one who welcomed them was a Chamberlain from the Crown Prince’s Chamberlain’s Office. He appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with a short beard, a refined demeanor, and the look of a Confucian scholar.

"This humble servant, Qi Guangmin, respectfully welcomes His Highness the Grand Prince back to the palace, and welcomes Mr. Chu and Miss Yan."

The Imperial Grandson stepped forward and helped Qi Guangmin up. "Lord Qi, you are too kind. Mr. Chu and Mr. Yan have had a long and dusty journey. First, arrange for baths to be drawn so they can refresh themselves, and prepare a banquet. Before the sixth day of the sixth month, by my father’s decree, these two will be staying in the Eastern Palace. Please instruct the servants to prepare two guest rooms."

"This humble servant obeys," Qi Guangmin replied.

Chu Fan was about to say that all this wasn’t necessary, but he thought better of it and swallowed his words.

’Who knows if we’ll be friends or foes in the future? To not enjoy things when you have the chance... wouldn’t that just be making things hard on myself?’

’I’m here as a guest, but Yan Ying is returning home. Who knows how many times she’s been able to come home all these years? What right do I have to refuse on her behalf?’

Chu Fan and Yan Ying were then separated. Chu Fan was led by two eunuchs to a courtyard. The courtyard was immense, with over a dozen houses featuring whitewashed walls and green-tiled roofs. It was fully furnished with rockeries and pavilions.

However, the servants in this courtyard were all eunuchs; there wasn’t a single palace maid or serving girl in sight.

In one of the side rooms, a large bath had already been prepared.

The pool was about twenty feet square, filled with crystal-clear water. Chu Fan couldn’t help but feel that it was a bit wasteful for just one person to use such a large pool.

Beside the pool were platters of fruit, pastries, and wine.

On the other side, a fresh change of clothes had been laid out.

’So extravagant!’

’This must be why everyone scrambles for power, right?’