Afterward, he would sit upon that high and mighty throne, ruling over billions of living beings, his words like imperial edicts, his authority shaking the four seas.

This was Chen Yuan's idea.

He had never been a contented person; he wanted to climb higher and higher, until there was no higher to climb.

However, the time was not yet right!

Even he himself was not confident that he could truly kill Jingtai head-on. As the ruler of a nation, his own destiny was even more extraordinary, with noble purple aura. How could he die so easily?

Jingtai's aura was rising and intensifying with every breath. He stared at Chen Yuan without saying a word.

Chen Yuan's gaze, on the other hand, was as calm as the sea, undisturbed by any waves.

He seemed not to care about Jingtai's anger, nor fear his methods.

"I will give you one last chance, act on my orders!" Jingtai issued his final ultimatum.

Now, he was in a situation where he couldn't back down. If he yielded, the imperial family's dignity would be damaged.

But Chen Yuan could not be killed, at least not publicly at this moment. The impact would be too great.

He couldn't possibly execute a Marquis, who had performed extraordinary service for the court and had a very high reputation, without a valid reason, just because the marriage alliance failed.

However, if Chen Yuan really didn't know what was good for him, then he wouldn't mind imprisoning him until he agreed to pledge complete allegiance to the Sima imperial family.

"Please, Your Majesty, punish me!"

Chen Yuan still gave the same answer.

The civil and military officials in the Golden Luan Hall had their hearts in their throats.

They were afraid that someone would be splattered with blood in the Golden Luan Hall in the next moment.

"Good, good, good!"

Jingtai nodded heavily, flicked his dragon robe sleeves, and shouted in a low voice:

"Guards!"

Chen Yuan concentrated his mind, strands of demonic energy began to appear in the flesh beneath his clothes, and his aura was undergoing subtle but drastic changes.

"Your Majesty, please wait, allow this old minister to speak a word."

Suddenly, just as Jingtai's voice fell and Chen Yuan was also preparing to take the opportunity to try assassinating the emperor, a somewhat rough voice slowly rang out from outside the hall.

Most of the civil and military officials turned their heads to look, feeling that this voice was very familiar.

Then, they saw an old man in black tiger-patterned armor standing outside the Golden Luan Hall. The imperial guards dared not stop him, only watching him.

The person who came was none other than the nominal Grand Marshal of the World's Armies, Li Hongshuang's father, Jiang He's father-in-law, and the current Duke Zhenguo (Duke Who Pacifies the Nation) with a fief of 100,000 households, Li Kuangxiu!

There were not many officials in the court who dared to directly interrupt the emperor's speech. Shenwu Zhenjun (Divine Martial True Lord) Li Kuangxiu was one of them. He had the qualifications and the seniority.

Not to mention his incomparably noble dukedom, comparable to a feudal lord.

His Yangshen cultivation strength alone was enough to make the emperor pay attention.

What's more, he had made great contributions, being one of the top generals since the founding of the dynasty, making great contributions to the Sima family.

He had once held one-third of the court's army for a period of time, wielding immense power.

However, he did not covet such great power at all, and voluntarily disarmed and gave up military power. Although he still had a great influence in the military, it was far less than before.

He was a veteran of several dynasties, worthy of the emperor's careful consideration.

When Jingtai saw Li Kuangxiu come in person, he frowned almost imperceptibly, not understanding why he wanted to interrupt him and speak for Chen Yuan.

There was no connection between them.

"What does Duke Zhenguo have to say?"

Jingtai took a deep breath and asked.

"This old minister advises Your Majesty to temporarily quell your thunderous anger. Marquis Wu'an, Chen Yuan, is an important minister of the court, loyal to the court, and once selflessly saved countless people in Liang Province.

He also has a very high reputation in the world. If Your Majesty is so angry just because of a marriage that has not yet been settled, it is truly unworthy of a wise ruler."

Li Kuangxiu said in a deep voice.

He had the right to lecture Jingtai, although the price paid was very high, but he had always been cautious in his words and deeds, and had not had much contact with Jingtai. Now, he rarely spoke up for Chen Yuan.

This shocked the civil and military officials present, who speculated about the relationship between Chen Yuan and the Li family.

Sima Ke was overjoyed. He didn't expect that Chen Yuan could actually move this Duke Zhenguo. It was truly unbelievable.

Xiao Jing glanced at Chen Yuan deeply.

He wondered if this was Chen Yuan's reliance?

It didn't seem quite right. His attention had been on Chen Yuan just now, and he could see the anger he was suppressing. If Li Kuangxiu hadn't appeared, he would have probably reached the point where he couldn't bear it anymore and would have taken action.

Li Kuangxiu's arrival was indeed timely!

Compared to the shock of others, Chen Yuan himself came back to his senses. The last time he went to the Shuanghe Temple, he had mentioned to Li Hongshuang that he would not agree to this marriage.

And she should also know something about his character, and probably tried to ask Li Kuangxiu to say a few good words for him.

At the very least, a Duke of the court still had a lot of say.

Much stronger than Chen Yuan.

"Hmm?"

After listening, Jingtai frowned and did not immediately agree, but he did not refute Li Kuangxiu's words either, as if he was thinking about something.

"This old man also thinks so. Your Majesty should temporarily quell your thunderous anger and not make a big fuss over a small matter. The world is unstable today, and enemies surround us on all sides.

If Your Majesty is furious because of a marriage, how will the people of the world view this?"

This was the voice of Duke Weiguo (Duke Who Protects the Nation) Gu Tianqiong.

He also appeared.

As Gu Tianqiong stepped into the Golden Luan Hall, his voice was as loud as a bell.

Deafening.

Gu Tianqiong's gaze fell on Chen Yuan, paused for a moment. He originally didn't want to get involved in this matter, but he couldn't resist the old fellow Li Kuangxiu coming to his door.

Thinking about the things he had promised Chen Yuan before but had not done, which were suppressed by the emperor, and that he had finally become a Heavenly Envoy by relying on his own efforts.

It didn't seem too much to say a word for him now.

He still valued this kid quite a bit. He had outstanding talent and the potential of a True Lord. If he hadn't already grown to this point, he would have had the idea of taking him as a disciple.

It was a pity that his character was too stubborn. He dared to refuse the olive branch thrown by the imperial family. His courage was extraordinary.

The appearance of the two dukes directly reduced the huge pressure on Chen Yuan, but he still concentrated his mind and did not dare to relax in the slightest. Two more True Lord experts had appeared.

If he made a move, the chances would only be even slimmer.

Escaping might still be possible.

But now it seemed that there was no need for that.

Li Kuangxiu and Gu Tianqiong still carried some weight. Unless Jingtai was crazy, he would definitely have scruples. And this, in fact, was more in line with his intentions.

The timing wasn't right.

This was the biggest problem.

Otherwise, Chen Yuan would not have done these things, and would have directly taken action.

Seeing this point, Xiao Jing's thoughts of self-preservation gradually faded away, and he decided to help Chen Yuan again. Immediately, he said in a deep voice: "What the two dukes said is reasonable. Please, Your Majesty, temporarily quell your thunderous anger."

Zhang Yantong and the other three looked at each other, and then said in unison:

"Please, Your Majesty, temporarily quell your thunderous anger!"

"Please, Your Majesty, temporarily quell your thunderous anger!"

"Please, Your Majesty, temporarily quell your thunderous anger!"

With these high-ranking officials taking the lead, those officials who previously felt that the emperor was indeed bullying others also spoke up in agreement:

"Please, Your Majesty, temporarily quell your thunderous anger."

Jingtai took a deep breath and looked around at the scene in the Golden Luan Hall. Most of the officials had already spoken. If he insisted on his own way, the consequences would be difficult to predict.

Unfortunately, the time was not yet right!

Jingtai's eyes flickered.

Three breaths later, he suppressed the anger in his heart, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He laughed loudly:

"Marquis Wu'an is my trusted minister. How could I really be angry? I was just testing Chen Qing's response. Now that I see it, I am very pleased. An official should be so upright. Without a few bones, how can he support the Jiangshan Sheji (the state) of my Great Jin?"

"Good, very good!"

"This minister dares not. I have offended Your Majesty. Please punish me!"

Seeing that Jingtai seemed to have relented, Chen Yuan also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately gave Jingtai a way out. As long as the current predicament passed, he would immediately go to Shu Province to take charge, according to Jingtai's previous instructions.

From then on, the sea would be wide for the fish to leap, and the sky would be high for the birds to fly!

Jingtai laughed heartily, the killing intent in his eyes dissipated, and said:

"The world is not yet settled, how can there be a home! This sentence is well said. The court is surrounded by the Northern Barbarians, the Southern Demons, the Eastern Yi, and the Western Hu on the outside, and there is the great threat of Xue Province on the inside. It is indeed not the time to relax. However, these problems are too big and cannot be resolved in a short time. Chen Qing cannot always be unmarried and leave an heir for the Chen family.

Hmm… let's do this. Since Chen Qing has great ambitions, then I will give you a chance. One year, I will give you one year to take charge of the Shun Tian Si (Sky Patrol Bureau) of Shu, Xue, and Nan Provinces.

If you want to quell the troubles, I promise you. As long as you can recover one-third of Xue Province for me within one year, kill all the Demonic and Demon people in Shu Province, and kill the Monster race that sneaked into Nan Province in the Ten Thousand Mountains, and stabilize the South for me, then I will never force the marriage.

The opposite is also true. If you can't do it, after the one-year period, if you are still like you are now, then it means that these things are indeed not easy to solve. You should obediently accept my marriage, get married first, and then establish your career, how about that?"

This was Jingtai's bottom line. Today, the two dukes spoke out, the civil and military officials obstructed, and Chen Yuan seemed to never compromise, so he could only retreat, otherwise the impact would be too great.

But tying Chen Yuan, a person like this, completely to the Sima family, was also one of his plans and could not be given up.

Today, things had come to this point. The relationship between them could no longer be close, and Chen Yuan would no longer be as loyal to him as before. Therefore, he had to completely make him change his mind.

The one-year agreement was Jingtai's plan.

This time was too short. Even if Chen Yuan was a genius, it was impossible to recover one-third of the territory of Xue Province and quell the demon troubles that even Nangong Lie was troubled by.

He could only obediently come back to get married and completely surrender from then on.

Moreover, this was not harming him in itself. He didn't say anything about punishment, just an agreement. When he came back, he would also marry the princess to him. How could outsiders not see this as a good thing?

Chen Yuan nodded solemnly:

"Thank you for Your Majesty's kindness. One year later, whether this minister succeeds or fails, I will come to the capital again."

One year was indeed a bit short, but it was enough for his strength to explode again.

Whether he would come at that time or not was not up to Jingtai to decide.

As long as he could get through the current difficulties, wouldn't he be able to do whatever he wanted?

Even if he came, he would not come to marry Princess Pingyang, but to take Jingtai's dog life!

"Good, I will make an oath with you!"

Jingtai nodded, took a few steps forward, and raised his palm.

Chen Yuan also stepped forward and stretched out his hand in the presence of the civil and military officials.

"Pa!"

A crisp sound rang out.

Chen Yuan and Jingtai were about the same height and looked at each other.

Withdrawing his palm, Chen Yuan slowly stepped back.

Jingtai turned around step by step and walked onto the high platform, looking down at the civil and military officials below:

"All officials, retreat from the court!"

"Long live Your Majesty!"

"Long live Your Majesty!"

A tide-like unison sounded, and then quickly receded. In order of their ranks, they left the Golden Luan Hall.

Jingtai watched everyone leave, focusing on Chen Yuan, a faint chill flashed in his eyes.

A courtier who dared to stand against him without backing down today would dare to ride on his head and show off tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, he would dare to enter and leave the imperial palace and harem as if it were nothing, as recorded in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms in history.

Chen Yuan had the potential to be a powerful minister!

If Chen Yuan was still unrepentant after one year, he would no longer hold back and would find a way to impose several crimes on him and devour his flesh and blood for cultivation.

He would let him know that courtiers and kings were different.

He had to revere the king!

With a light snort, Jingtai flicked his sleeves and left.

At the entrance of the Golden Luan Hall, Chen Yuan stepped out of the threshold with one foot, paused for a breath, and looked back at the empty dragon chair with a cold look in his eyes.

He had a hawk-like gaze and wolf-like ambition!

Although they did not completely tear their faces today, it was already close. Jingtai knew his attitude, that he had no reverence for imperial power.

He also knew Jingtai's attitude, that he could only suppress this matter today because he had no guilt, and because the civil and military officials and the two dukes interceded for him.

But he wanted to completely tie him down, and he would never give up so easily.

From now on, he would probably start targeting him.

As long as he did not become the Sima family's dog for one day, Jingtai could not rest assured about him.

If Jingtai did not die for one day, he would not rest assured either!

Some people work hard for equality for all.

Some people work hard to become the people above the people.

Some people work hard so that there is no one above the people.

And he worked hard to make himself the only person above the people!

The look in his eyes became more and more firm and icy cold. He stepped out of the threshold of the Golden Luan Hall without hesitation.

Outside the hall, there were fewer civil and military officials who had left. Most of them walked very slowly and kept looking at him, their eyes filled with complex expressions.

He had confronted the emperor head-on in the Golden Luan Hall without giving in.

It was really stupid, but it was also really tough!

Many people didn't believe it before. They thought that Chen Yuan was only indifferent and uncompromising when facing people who were lower in strength and rank than him. But now, having personally witnessed the scene between Chen Yuan and Jingtai at that time.

They believed it!

They admired him, incomparably admired him.

Even the most upright censors had never dared to confront the emperor like this. Even when facing the royal women, he was dismissive, as if he looked down on them.

After taking a deep look at Chen Yuan and seeing his gaze swept over, those officials quickly withdrew their gazes and turned to leave.

The two dukes stood with their hands behind their backs, looking ahead, as if waiting for someone to come.

Chen Yuan knew without thinking that they were waiting for him. Immediately, he stepped forward and cupped his hands and said:

"Thank you for the help of the Grand General and the Zhenjun (True Lord). Chen will remember it in his heart."

Li Kuangxiu turned his head and looked at Chen Yuan. He had heard about this rising star who had become famous in the past two years, but he had basically not had any contact with him because they did not belong to the same sequence.

He himself did not want to have too much contact with him, so as not to arouse the emperor's suspicion.

But his uneasy daughter begged him to help, and he couldn't bear it, so he could only agree.

Back then, because of that person, they almost completely broke up as father and daughter, and he only returned to the Marshal's Mansion once a year during his mother's memorial service. This time, she had asked him for the first time in many years, and it was impossible for him to stand by.

He only suspected that the relationship between this kid and Hongshuang might not be that simple.

He had heard that Chen Yuan was very close to Jiang He. Perhaps they had gotten back together again.

These thoughts flashed through his mind. Li Kuangxiu said lightly:

"It's a good thing to be young and vigorous, but it's not advisable to be too rigid. Overly rigid things are easily broken. You were originally favored by His Majesty, but now you have taken away this favor yourself. In the future… take care of yourself."

After saying that, he did not say any more and turned to fly away into the sky.

"Zhenjun (True Lord), farewell."

Chen Yuan nodded without saying much.

The other party had helped him by saying a word. No matter whose sake it was for, he had at least helped him. He had to remember it.

"I wanted you to serve as Heavenly Envoy before, but His Majesty rejected it. I thought you would come to me, but you successfully became one yourself. Not bad, I didn't misjudge you.

Now that His Majesty is still angry, you must not offend him again. Becoming the Sima family's son-in-law is a good thing for you. Think about it carefully.

Come back to get married after one year."

Gu Tianqiong said softly.

"Thank you for the advice, Duke Gu. This humble officer understands."

"Well, you are a smart person. I won't say much more. Take care of yourself."

Gu Tianqiong shook his head. He was no longer a member of Shun Tian Si (Sky Patrol Bureau). It was useless to say more. These things still had to be thought through by Chen Yuan himself.

With the help of the Sima imperial family, one could go further in martial arts.

Li Kuangxiu was like this, Gu Tianqiong was like this, Chen Yuan… was also like this.

"Yes."

"I'm leaving, I'm leaving."

Gu Tianqiong took a few steps and disappeared into the void.

After they left, Grand General Xiao Jing walked over:

"Taking charge of Shu, Nan, and Xue Provinces has great power, but even greater responsibility. These provinces have been unstable recently. You must be careful and act cautiously.

Be cautious in everything, and take your life as the most important thing.

One year is too short, but it is also very long for you. Practice hard. If you reach the Yangshen realm after you come back, today's situation will not happen again."

Chen Yuan naturally understood this principle.

Might makes right!

Whoever has the bigger fist, whoever has the harder fist, can decide everything.

If he had Yangshen cultivation, how dare Jingtai force him so much?

If he had the cultivation of the sixth realm, Jingtai could only kneel down in front of him and beg for forgiveness.

"Thank you, Grand General, for your advice."

Chen Yuan smiled slightly relieved.