Jiang Li traveled as the wind, returning to the Imperial City without alerting anyone.

As he passed the palace gates, cries caught his attention.

"Princess, if you do not see us today, we will kneel here and not rise."

The officials knelt down in unison, their formation strikingly neat.

"With the Emperor absent from the throne, the officials are getting rather audacious," Jiang Li observed, feeling a mix of emotions.

In the eight hundred years of Great Zhou, this form of kneeling protest was a rarity. The Emperor's love is public, seemingly emotional yet devoid of humanity; even when choosing an Empress or concubine, it's a duty, not affection.

Even if deeply attached to the Imperial Concubine before ascending, the emotions turn fake after ascending, only acting as if it's real.

To threaten the Emperor this way is simply courting danger.

But now, with the Emperor absent, and the Princess accused of colluding with the Great Venerable, the officials are ready to take chances.

Playing the kneeling game today, tomorrow they may force the palace gates open, who knows what they might do the day after, one dares not imagine.

Jiang Li remembered the faces of the kneeling officials, then silently returned to the North Gate, passing through the Vermilion Bird Altar.

At this moment, the Great Sun Light within the Divine Farmer's Cauldron was growing more radiant. If it weren't for the seven Divine Generals at the Vermilion Bird Altar simultaneously emitting Divine Light to block it, the evening sky might return to daylight.

Jiang Li arrived before the Divine Farmer's Cauldron, feeling quite satisfied, looking at it with expectant eyes.

Beside him, the Primordial Lord Rain Master was still absorbed in the Yuan Qi Ball, and upon seeing Jiang Li return, remarked, "Ling Guang sent someone over, asking you to visit Nanli Palace."

"It should be about the ruckus outside the palace gates."

Jiang Li nodded, saying, "Lord, go to Nanli Palace later and inquire whether she intends to continue holding power."

"Do you have a solution for this?"

Understanding the implied meaning, the Primordial Lord Rain Master realized Jiang Li had a plan but wondered what his inquiry meant.

"Do you think Ling Guang can continue to hold power over the nation?"

Feng Manlou married the Princess for over twenty years, who knows what he's done leveraging his status. Among the shouting officials, and those in the Yin Law Department, they can only speculate, putting the blame on the Great Venerable.

In such a scenario, not being detained is entirely due to the Princess's status and strength.

If it were another princess, she might have been in the Heavenly Prison by now.

The transfer of power from the Princess seems inevitable.

"There's always a way; it depends on the cost and whether the Princess is willing," Jiang Li replied ambiguously.

If the Princess is unwilling, everything is moot. No matter the solution, if the Princess is unwilling to continue, or can't focus her mind or time on it, it's all a waste.

Feng Manlou's exposure provides a reason for others to attack him and affects the Princess's decision-making, achieving two aims.

'It's just a bit too ruthless,' Jiang Li added in his heart.

If this plan was devised by the Great Venerable, he's certainly heartless.

It might truly be like the Princess worries; Feng Manlou is the Great Venerable, the Great Venerable isn't Feng Manlou. A forty-year-old Feng Manlou is Feng Manlou, a two-hundred-year-old Feng Manlou is the Great Venerable.

Rain Master nodded lightly, saying, "You should personally discuss this with her, it might be better."

"I can't spare the time."

Jiang Li looked to the Divine Farmer's Cauldron, saying, "Already an hour past, if it's to be completed on time, much effort is needed now."

As he spoke, Jiang Li's Primordial Qi emerged, gradually manifesting the Innate Eight Sceneries.

"What are you refining?" Rain Master also looked at the Divine Farmer's Cauldron.

Initially, she thought Jiang Li would destroy Manjusri's Wisdom Sword, then considered it might be combining the Golden Crow Dao Fruit and the legendary Golden Crow Relic, now it seemed Jiang Li intended to craft a Magic Artifact.

For someone from the Jiang family known for herbalism, to use the Divine Farmer's Cauldron for crafting an artifact was truly unusual.

Considering the current situation, this item seems significant, enough to bind Jiang Li's time.

"Refining something to resolve troubles," Jiang Li spoke softly, "Nature creates myriad things to nurture humanity, yet people resent the heavens' unkindness. What I want to refine is something to resolve resentment."

Resolve resentment?

Whose resentment?

This sentence seemingly irrelevant to the situation yet made the Primordial Lord Rain Master's golden eyes shrink. After a long silence, she softly said, "I see."

After speaking, she turned her figure and flew toward Nanli Palace.

······

······

The Primordial Lord Rain Master didn't bring back any response from the Princess, nor did the Princess come to see Jiang Li because he couldn't spare the time.

She seemed hesitant about whether to continue holding power.

Thus, time passed to the next day.

The next day, as dawn broke and the palace gates opened, officials who waited outside overnight flowed in.

Even though some knelt outside all night, they remained vigorous, showcasing the abundant Martial Virtue of Great Zhou officials.

As they entered the gates, figures in court attire appeared in the distance, likely another group of officials.

Among them were the Princess's and Jiang Sikong's supporters, as well as those from the Neutral Faction and fence-sitters. They were already near the Imperial City yesterday, just not waiting with those just entering the gates.

The officials arrived at the Imperial City at nearly the same time, entering the gates and heading forward.

The palace buildings suffered significant damage from yesterday's battle, including Ziwei Hall, rebuilt less than two years ago. This hall serves as the assembly venue, ruined by the battle against the Emperor, then further damaged yesterday.

Seeing this, the Second Prince faction officials at the forefront brightened their eyes, spotting an opportunity.

But before they could voice opinions, vast Yuan Qi morphed into a light curtain, advancing from afar.

The ruined buildings rose from the ground, plants seemed to time travel back to root themselves again, palaces reestablished with grandeur. Everything returned to its former state, pre-battle.

In the end, Ziwei Hall also restored, standing majestically, facing the palace gates, displaying the solemnity and dignity of Great Zhou's sacred grounds.

"This······"

The officials at the forefront paused, astonished, "Cosmic Light Divine Ability?"

Could the Great Venerable have returned?

Faced with him, should they proceed or not, confront or avoid?

"It's not Cosmic Light Divine Ability."

A gloomy voice emerged from behind, as Yin Qi enveloped a figure clothed in the King's Robe approaching.

"Not the Great Venerable, it's Jiang Sikong."

King You's gaze met Jiang Li's from afar, in front of Ziwei Hall.

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