Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain

Chapter 83: Windswept clouds

The imperial palace remained undisturbed in its serenity as the skilled men of the Qing Yi Tower methodically emptied the treasure pavilion of its precious contents with the assistance of the suppressive Sky Reaching realm aura of the ‘Steel Flowering Trees’.

Due to the tyrannical control that Murong Lin had over the entire imperial palace, few people dared to resist.

And just like that, a day passed.

On the second day, Murong Jiao of the Murong clan returned. He swiftly visited the clan’s residence, restoring order to the chaos that had engulfed them.

Shortly after, the Willow Sword Saint also made his appearance. While some had spotted him at the city’s entrance, his exact whereabouts remained shrouded in mystery.

By this time, the great ancestor of the Wang clan had now learned of the identity of the mastermind, it was Murong Lin. He had conspired with the two first layer Sky Reaching realm experts under his command to execute this elaborate scheme.

In a fit of rage, he publicly declared: Murong Lin is a heinous sinner who must be brought down by the united crusade of all influential forces!

After all, Murong Lin’s devious schemes led them to destroy Duke Sheng’s manor and subsequently annihilated the Xue clan himself, thereby shattering the alliance between the four great clans.

Upon discovering that the individuals beside Murong Lin were merely two elderly men at the first layer of the Sky Reaching realm, the Wang clan’s great ancestor wasted no time in deciding to confront them.

And so, he sought out Murong Jiao.

Murong Jiao, on the other hand, was utterly dumbfounded.

As the supreme elder of the Murong clan, it was only natural for him to feel profound sorrow over Murong Dao’s demise.

In the wake of Murong Dao’s death, a new crisis emerged with the South Village King’s rebellion and mutinies erupting across the thirty-two counties. Murong Jiao had no other option but to leave in order to quell these uprisings and restore order.

However, in his absence, a shocking turn of events unfolded – his entire estate was stolen.

Though sharing the surname “Murong”, who could possibly know whether or not Murong Lin’s heart was aligned with the Murong clan’s?

The grand scheme orchestrated by Murong Lin, resulting in the death of his brothers and the imprisonment of his own father, left no doubt about his sinister intentions towards the Murong clan.

They had no intentions of becoming the next Xue clan.

Being ill-adept at management, Murong Jiao focused his efforts on dealing with the traitors within the few clans first before reaching out to the Wang clan to forge a much-needed alliance.

Indeed, the current crisis transcended the conflicts between the Murong clan and the four great clans; it was now a dire internal conflict within the Murong clan, centring around the treacherous deeds of Murong Lin.

Moreover, the imprisonment of Murong Tong in the confinement room by Murong Lin was nothing short of an outrageous act.

Murong Jiao firmly believed that he must rescue Murong Tong from his captivity.

Despite harbouring a deep grudge against the four great clans and even the Murong clan, Sheng Yi opted to bide his time. He observed their alliance’s formation from the sidelines, poised to make a decisive move when the opportune moment arose.

With only the Willow Sword Saint remaining by his side, he knew he had just one chance to act.

One chance to kill Murong Lin.

On the other side, within the residence of the eldest prince, Murong Ding.

Murong Ding was sent flying by a single attack from Murong Lin, leaving him with grave injuries.

Thanks to the valiant efforts of his underling, Lu Shao Hua, Murong Ding managed to escape from the chaotic imperial palace and was brought back to his residence.

With the entire capital under the surveillance of the Qing Yi Tower, Murong Ding wasn’t surprised to find a member of the tower stationed outside his residence, keeping a close watch on him.

The peculiar thing was that the person monitoring him didn’t intervene to stop people within his palace from entering or leaving, and surprisingly, they seemed uninterested in the officials who came to discuss resistance matters with him.

Murong Ding perceived this as an act of deliberate humiliation orchestrated by Murong Lin to mock him.

That was right!

This was Murong Lin mocking him.

Murong Ding was consumed with intense hatred and bitterness as he laid on his bed, his complexion deathly pale.

Lu Shao Hua rushed towards him, “Your Highness, our people outside have reported that the rebelling counties have been fully suppressed, and the imperial court’s guards are en route back to the capital.

Apart from the military forces still engaged in the south against the South Village King, nearly a hundred thousand people, all loyal to Murong Tong, are now able to return to the capital.

Upon their return, Murong Lin will face an imminent siege by the loyalists!”

Lu Shao Hua was visibly agitated as he handed over a letter.

The people they had outside, or rather, the ‘White Mountain Bandits,’ were not exceptionally powerful, but their information-gathering skills were quite commendable.

For a brief moment, Murong Ding felt a surge of excitement, only to be quickly replaced by anxiety. Coughing, he voiced his concerns, “Is Murong Lin unaware that the thousands under his command are no match for the imperial guards of the court?

Once Murong Jiao gives his commands and the hundred thousand imperial guards launch their attack, Murong Lin won’t be able to survive.

All of this, only led to a short-lived hold on the imperial throne!”

Murong Diao was afraid.

Initially, he had confidence in the spy he had planted within Murong Lin’s residence, thinking it would grant him knowledge of all his actions and allow him to control Murong Lin.

However, he never expected Murong Lin to brutally destroy the Blood Spirits he had exposed and then ruthlessly annihilate Duke Sheng’s residence and the Xue clan.

Adding to his predicament, he found himself unable to contact that spy any longer.

In hindsight, Murong Ding couldn’t shake the feeling that Murong Lin had been fully aware of all his schemes from the beginning and had deliberately toyed with him.

Then, he watched as Murong Lin mercilessly annihilated an entire clan and forcefully seized control of the imperial palace, imprisoning their own father, the emperor.

Recalling the brutal attack that Murong Lin had launched against him, he was overwhelmed with a sense of horror and dread.

Murong Ding found himself questioning the true nature of Murong Lin’s character. What kind of person was he exactly?

He laid in his bed as he slowly deliberated.

“Your Highness, seize this golden opportunity! Remember when Concubine Xue contacted us before? Now is the time for decisive action, and by doing so, we can attain our share of glory.

Once the influential forces have jointly destroyed Murong Lin, you will undoubtedly emerge as the sole and worthy candidate for the emperor’s throne!”

Lu Hai Miao continued to speak excitedly.

Murong Ding’s heart stirred with resolve, and he clenched his teeth while giving firm instructions, “Shao Hua, immediately reach out to the supreme elder Murong Jiao and Concubine Xue at the imperial palace. Inform them that I wholeheartedly offer my assistance in this endeavour.”

“Yes!” Lu Shao Hua immediately excused himself to execute his commands.

As the eldest prince, Murong Ding had steadily amassed considerable power over the past few years. Apart from holding control over the infamous ‘White Mountain Bandits’, he also commanded a formidable suicide squad at his disposal.

The capital became turbulent.

After extensive discussions of countermeasures and goals, the eldest prince, concubine Xue, the Murong clan, and the Wang clan forged a temporary alliance. United in purpose, they eagerly awaited the opportune moment to launch their decisive strike.

On the other hand, Sheng Yi’s faction remained vigilant and prepared, anticipating their own strategic move.

Within Yan, the gazes of the various influential powers were fixed upon them.

Swiftly resolving the mutiny within their ranks, the sect leader of the Mo Shan sect embarked on a hurried journey towards the capital. Accompanying him was the esteemed sect leader of the Hundred Flower sect, Song Qing Lan.

Aside from the safety concerns, in the event that Murong Lin was truly overthrown, then didn’t that mean that Murong Ran also had an opportunity to fight for the throne?

After all, Murong Tong was definitely ineligible to retain his imperial title anymore.

While Murong Ran was still young, he still had him, an uncle in the Sky Reaching realm! And furthermore, he also had the three great sects’ alliance behind him!

Perhaps the Mo Shan sect and the alliance of the three great sects could use this opportunity to support Murong Ran to the throne. By then, the future of the three great sects would become limitless!

On the other hand, the Du clan and the Liu clan had also sent their men to support the Wang clan, but their great ancestors didn’t come.

Not because of anything else, but their fear of death.

Murong Lin, that insignificant little thing, had even plotted the annihilation of the Xue clan, perhaps he still possessed the potential to bring about the downfall of one of their clans in his dying struggle.

They weren’t willing to come.

Upon receiving the news of the capital’s events, the South Village King couldn’t conceal the elation that washed over him and promptly marshalled his army to launch a relentless assault on the north.

And with the ‘Veteran General’ Wen Tian Luo’s cunning tactics, he secured yet another great victory.

Then, within a single day of receiving the news of Wen Tian Luo’s demise, the southern army plunged into disarray.

Wen Tian Luo swiftly vanished after gravely injuring the Calculative General, Qian Biao.

Consequently, the delicate balance that was tenuously maintained in the southern region was suddenly shattered, leaving the South Village King with an opening to march his army unimpeded into the northern territories.

The dire situation in Yan had not escaped the attention of the neighbouring country, Chu, as information about the unfolding events had been discreetly conveyed by spies strategically placed within Yan’s borders.

In Chu, where a young emperor ruled with firm authority.

Translator’s note

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