Chapter Seventy: So, it is the Demonic Sect after all.

Killing the Second Prince is not as simple as shouting slogans. Leaving aside the factions supporting him and the influence he commands in court and among the people, even if Li Yan had no one behind him and enemies at every turn, he is still a prince of Zhaoning. No matter how weak or inept a prince may be, he is never some insignificant creature. Even that infamous Fifth Prince—if the Emperor wished to turn him into an elixir, he would still need a plausible pretext. One cannot simply drag the Fifth Prince away and chop him up for stew. If even the Fifth Prince is afforded such caution, how much more so for the Second Prince, who now stands at the heart of the succession struggle.

But time is running out for Pei Xiunian. He cannot afford further deliberation, and at his disposal, there is only the war automata of the Divine Machine Battalion. Yet, once those are deployed, their thunderous operations would shake the earth and echo across several streets in an instant—clearly nothing to do with secrecy or stealth. These colossal automata are, for the most part, not usable.

Pressed for time and burdened with a heavy task, Pei Xiunian thought to exploit the Second Prince’s interests—after all, he and his elder brother share a fondness for opera. But now that a prince has died, the nation is in mourning, and the Emperor himself has decreed seven days without music or dance. This single chance for a fortuitous encounter has vanished.

Pei Xiunian sighed in melancholy. The Empress Dowager, ever perceptive, understood his meaning. This strikingly elegant woman in palace attire spoke calmly: “Do not forget, I still hold command over the Yaoguang Sect.”

Through several exchanges, Pei Xiunian had learned that the Yaoguang Sect’s base lies in Yangzhou, just a province away from the capital. Yet the territory of Great Zhou is larger than he had imagined; Li Yan’s journey from Yangzhou to the capital took considerable time. Furthermore, winter’s heavy snows are approaching, the New Year is near, and a prince has died—officially, the blame is laid at the feet of the Demon Sect.

At such a critical juncture, the capital’s security checks are stricter than ever. For the women of Yaoguang Sect to enter the city would not be easy. In truth, the Fifth Prince’s fate was tragic: in life, he lingered in brothels and pleasure houses, never married nor took concubines; as a prince, he never tasted true novelty. Perhaps this was due to his association with the Demon Sect, born of necessity...

Now, with the Emperor having him turned into a pill, even in death, his remaining value is being squeezed dry to quell the unrest in the martial world, and the opportunity is used to strike at the Demon Sect. Truly pitiful. The blame rests on the Demon Sect, and they must accept it; even if they wished to explain, no one would believe them.

The Demon Sect suddenly sends someone to kill a prince? Though surprising, to the common folk, if the Demon Sect is responsible, it is simply par for the course. Even without motive, it’s not out of the ordinary—after years of subtle influence, the Demon Sect’s actions have become a stereotype.

Pei Xiunian’s thoughts wandered. He glanced at the Empress Dowager, who was leisurely hinting at him to peel fruit. He picked up a pear, peeling it as he asked, astonished: “I never imagined that despite being so weak, the Yaoguang Sect remains woven throughout the land, even penetrating the court?”

The Empress Dowager shook her head, her tone distant: “Though our disciples are spread across the riverlands, the capital is a critical place. To extend our reach into the court under such circumstances is no easy feat. Moreover, my sect is composed entirely of women; for women to enter officialdom, it is hard not to attract attention.”

“What I mean is—after the Fifth Prince’s memorial, Li Yan will return to Yangzhou. Yangzhou is our stronghold. If Xiao Qin returns to Yangzhou, I can send my orders, and our sect’s power can be used to kill a prince. As for the consequences... well, we are the Demon Sect.”

Pei Xiunian nearly spat blood. This isn’t a matter of “well, we are the Demon Sect”! If this is done, it would be a highly malignant event, cementing the Demon Sect’s reputation for killing princes. And to kill princes one after another—especially since the Second Prince is not as inconsequential as the Fifth...

The Fifth Prince was insignificant; his death could be suppressed without causing a stir. But murdering Li Yan would bring unimaginable public outrage. This course would drive all the Demon Sect’s allies into a dead end.

Seeing the shock in Pei Xiunian’s eyes, the Empress Dowager continued: “Rest assured, ours is not a newly founded sect. Acting in silence is not difficult for us. Besides, when the time comes, the world’s attention will be focused on the capital; events in Yangzhou will be overlooked.”

Her alluring phoenix eyes carried a hint of severity: “Now that the Emperor has been confirmed to feed demons and slaughter his sons for alchemy, since we’ve decided to act, why not make it even grander?”

Such words, veiled but bold as “daring to remake the world,” left Pei Xiunian troubled. In the end, the Empress Dowager remained a sorceress with a demon’s heart. Pei Xiunian saluted: “Aunt Meng, consider carefully. Moreover... if there are no Yaoguang Sect members in the capital, how will you strike?”

The Empress Dowager shook her head: “No one in the court does not mean no one in the capital. If the Emperor leaves the Forbidden City, there is an opportunity.”

Meng Qingyuan’s gaze was as gentle as water, her voice refined: “This moment is rare; I cannot let it pass. This is a grand plan, though progress has been slow—you have brought a surprise.”

What does it mean for an opportunity to be rare? The death of a prince ensures the Emperor will visit the imperial tomb—a once-in-a-lifetime chance for him to leave the palace.

But the court’s guardians are not idle. The Yaoguang Sect, however strong, no matter how many experts it boasts, cannot simply walk into the enemy’s stronghold in the heart of the capital as if it were unguarded.

Afterwards, the consequences would be far more than merely being the target of all. And since it is the Demon Sect at work, even with two dubious accusations as evidence, it would be impossible to clear their name.

The Empress Dowager patted Pei Xiunian’s hand, comforting him: “I do not expect to kill the Emperor at this time, but such an event will draw all eyes to the capital. At that moment, attention will shift to Yangzhou; to kill Li Yan will not be difficult.”

Pei Xiunian furrowed his brow. Such a strategy of feint and strike is feasible, but it would cause enormous upheaval. The capital is home to hidden talents; the commotion would be vast... When the time comes, who knows how many will be involved, or what factions will emerge unexpectedly. And most importantly, there is one crucial factor that is difficult to ensure. Pei Xiunian asked: “How can you be so certain the Second Prince will return to Yangzhou before the Emperor visits the imperial tomb?”

Regardless of motive, Li Yan is a prince; such royal occasions are hard for him not to attend. He is not the Seventh Prince, whose duty is to guard the frontier. Unless there is sudden change in northern affairs, even Li Qi wouldn’t be recalled so soon.

The Empress Dowager smiled gently. She stood, her gaze sweeping past the window, as if she could see the entire realm of Zhaoning. This woman, who was like both an elder sister and an aunt, said quietly: “Because... Yanbo Pavilion will soon be reduced to ashes in a raging fire.”

Pei Xiunian’s pupils dilated. So this is the Demon Sect.