Without the support of the Martial Saint, the Northern Kingdom was like a rootless duckweed floating on the water. The duckweed could disappear at any time when a wave attacks.
Li Huanjun had always placed the greatest importance on the empire of the Northern Kingdom. Thus, when he stared into Princess Zhaoyang’s eyes for three breaths, he took a deep breath and quickly made his decision.
“Everyone has seen it, this is the Martial Artist Paragon’s intention. We will announce to the world that Princess Zhaoyang is the Crown Princess!”
Li Huanjun’s words were like a sudden clap of thunder. The Fourth Prince, who had been thrown to the ground, was stunned. He shouted at his father in disbelief, “Father, you can’t. There has never been a Crown Princess in the Northern Kingdom. Zhaoyang is a woman. Why…”
The originally weak Fourth Prince now had the courage to ask this question. Unfortunately, under Hu Jiujiu’s harsh cough, Li Huanjun’s face darkened and immediately ordered people to detain the Fourth Prince, the original Crown Prince.
In the royal court, there were some ministers who wanted to object, but they realized that they could not straighten their bodies from kneeling on the ground. Moreover, the Martial Artist Paragon was right in front of them and even His Majesty had spoken.
Who would dare to provoke this misfortune? Didn’t they see that the Crown Prince had been taken away?
A minister stood up to congratulate Princess Zhaoyang because anyone could see that the Martial Saint of the Northern Kingdom was standing behind the Princess. She was a powerful supporter of the princess.
Li Huanjun understood this as well.
After everyone left, he talked to Princess Zhaoyang alone and asked about Hu Jiujiu’s background. At first, Li Huanjun thought that Zhaoyang would cover up a little and might not even tell him the truth.
But unexpectedly, Zhaoyang suddenly laughed mockingly.
“Father, I wonder if you still remember the former Crown Prince, Li Yuanqing, whom you crippled a few years ago, the one you claim to be an unfilial son. But my brother is actually the master of this Paragon. If not for him, why would the Paragon come to my side and listen to my orders?”
There was a hint of mockery and pity on Zhaoyang’s face.
It’s a pity that her father racked his brains and schemed. He did everything he could to find a backer for the Northern Kingdom so that the Martial Saint could protect them.
However, he had chosen to demote Li Yuanqing, the former crown prince of the Northern Kingdom, the one who could bring prosperity and safety to the Northern Kingdom, to a barren land. He did not have the slightest bit of affection for his son. He hated him to the core.
She had begged so many times and even used her own marriage in exchange for her elder brother’s return to the Imperial Palace. But what had her father done?
Zhaoyang felt that she should stand up. Only by standing up would she be able to rely on her big brother and protect her one day.
“Impossible, this, how is this possible? His meridians were clearly crippled, how could he have a Martial Artist Paragon as his servant? Zhaoyang, are you crazy? You’re talking nonsense. If you don’t want to tell us the origin of the Martial Artist Paragon, it’s fine. As long as you can get her to help when the Northern Kingdom is in trouble…”
Li Huanjun did not believe Princess Zhaoyang at all. He thought Princess Zhaoyang was lying to him. How could this be possible? How could his son have a Martial Saint realm servant? How powerful was Li Yuanqing then? How was this possible?
“In this world, other than my big brother, who else would be so good to me by leaving a Martial Artist Paragon behind to protect me? I think even Father wouldn’t be able to do it. Whether it’s real or fake, time will slowly prove everything. Father, you’re wrong…”
Suddenly, Zhaoyang burst out laughing. She was laughing so hard that she was almost tearing up. She used to be so obedient and respectful to her father. She always thought that he treated her very well. But what did he do to her?
Only her brother had always been silently caring for her. In order for her to get what she wanted, he even sent her a Martial Saint servant. She would never be able to repay such a huge favor in her lifetime.
Amidst the laughter, Zhaoyang left the palace and returned to her princess residence.
Meanwhile, Li Huanjun, who was in the imperial palace, became absent-minded. He sat alone quietly for a very long time. The words that Zhaoyang had given him shocked him to the core, but why was he so flustered? Did he think that she was telling the truth?
How could his eldest son, the former crown prince Li Yuanqing, be so powerful? Could it be some fortuitous encounter?
Or was it because of the princess of the Myriad City Kingdom he had once asked him to marry? Why didn’t he agree?
At that time, he should have known something. Or perhaps, he was already different from others?
Li Huanjun could not eat or sleep in peace. Whether it was in court, walking, or even eating, he could not stop thinking regretfully. Was Li Yuanqing really as powerful as Zhaoyang said? Would he bear a grudge and be angry with him for treating him like that?
Would he one day leave the Northern Kingdom in the lurch? Or would he attack his younger brothers? Was he the one who caused the death of the Third Prince?
After much consideration, and with Li Huanjun’s increasing regret and suspicion in his heart, he actually fell ill and was seriously ill. This made everyone in the Northern Kingdom very surprised.
After all, Li Huanjun was also an eighth-grade martial artist. It was inconceivable that he would fall sick. However, this was exactly what happened. At this time, Zhaoyang was assisting with the matters of the royal court.
Although there were many objections and her title as the Crown Princess had yet to be announced, with a Martial Saint Paragon like Hu Jiujiu standing behind her, the matter of choosing the prince consort had already been halted.
Furthermore, the Fourth Prince was crippled, so only Zhaoyang would be able to handle it.
Half a year later, Li Huanjun had become so thin that he looked like a completely different person. Then, he suddenly wanted to go to the Wilderness. This was extremely rare in the history of the Northern Kingdom. This time, he wanted to go to the Wilderness Valley to take a look at Li Yuanqing, the former crown prince that he hated.
Upon hearing this news, Li Yuanqing was silently cultivating the peak of the second level of the Clear Sky Sword Art. At this moment, he was already a peak ninth-grade martial artist and was considering breaking through to Martial Saint.
Li Yuanqing’s Manipulation Art had already reached the peak of level five and could reach level six at any time.
Li Huanjun’s men were all in the Wilderness garrison camp. When the garrison general heard that His Majesty wanted to see Li Yuanqing, he immediately asked Wang Shun and the rest to summon Li Yuanqing to meet His Majesty.
He even had a vague guess in his heart that His Majesty might recall the former Crown Prince and that the former Crown Prince might be reinstated.
But to everyone’s surprise, Wang Shun brought a piece of shocking news.
The former Crown Prince, Li Yuanqing, did not come according to the summons. He replied to Wang Shun directly. “It’s just fate that brought us together. Our fate is over, so it’s best to not meet…”
Wang Shun, who was kneeling on the ground, felt a lingering fear in his heart. He really mustered up the courage to say such words, even risking the consequences of being punished by His Majesty.