Ch72: Three Great Clans

Han Tingxuan had anticipated that it would not be close from the entrance of the palace to the Golden Palace, but he did not expect it to be so far!

They had walked for forty minutes!

Han Tingxuan finally understood why the officials needed to get up very early to attend the morning meeting.

Because they could only walk for this long-distance on feet. Although there were too many people today and they were well-dressed for the ceremony and there were rituals along the way, they didn't walk so fast, but they weren't too slow.

Forty minutes! Forty minutes!

Han Tingxuan was speechless.

Han Tingxuan did not know that some of the 'experienced' elite officials were allowed to take sedan chairs to get into the palace. However, the sedan chair needed to be checked again and again and only allowed to be carried five hundred meters away from Golden Hall.

There was also a special tunnel. The main road he took was the longest.

To let the officials know Prince Chen and his husband, they had to take the main road.

On this day, almost every official attended the ceremony.

The line was even a thousand meters outside the Golden Palace.

Some officials with less important jobs didn't need to come to the morning court at all. They were only allowed to come to attend the monthly meeting. And today, all those who had official positions were here!

It was a sign that Prince Chen was important to the Emperor.

Finally, they arrived at the Golden Hall. Han Tingxuan was one step behind Mo Yanzhi. This was a royal rule they had learned. Then, the two of them walked towards the Golden Palace step by step.

Tian Yuexi sat on the throne that symbolized the most honorable person in the Heaven Empire. Mo Yanzhi and Han Tingxuan did not raise their heads but looked down, which was also a rule.

In the hall, the two of them stood there and the chief she-man maid shouted, "Blessed by the Heaven, as emperor's decree says…"

It was too long for Han Tingxuan to remember. He only heard "Blessed by the Heaven, as emperor's decree says…", which was a typical opening in most ancient TV dramas.

As he was thinking of this, the chief she-man maid had already finished reading the emperor's decree.

Then, Han Tingxuan knelt, kowtowed, accepted the decree and thanked the emperor, as he was told.

Han Tingxuan did not like the feeling because he had kowtowed much more today than he did in his lifetimes combined.

Then, there was a huge amount of rewards from Tian Yuexi. The most important one was that Mo Yanzhi was officially titled the Prince Chen, and the chief of the Ministry of Army. The current Minister of Ministry of Army was was already quite old, and it was time for him to retire.

As noble as a prince, Mo Yanzhi would not "take over" a position from someone else. He was given this position which was superior to the Minister.

However, it depended on how Mo Yanzhi managed it to make this position important or not.

He was the honorable prince, but he did not earn the title on his own. Who knows how many people would listen to him?

As for Han Tingxuan, as the prince’s husband, co-worked with Li Su, the Left Premier.

In other words, he deprived half the right of the Left Premier.

It was possible that Mo Yanzhi might not be important in his position. But it was basically a fact that Han Tingxuan was standing in Li Su’s way.

Everyone felt different about what had happened on the ceremony. And most of them showed it.

On the other hand, Tian Yushu, who should be the angriest, always put on a slight smile.

It was Tian Yushu's signature facial expression!

His facial expression was the same whether he was angry or not.

Outsiders couldn't tell his emotions at all.

People who knew him well could occasionally distinguish from his eyes. But they had to tell whether the emotions were fake or real.

If Tian Yushu was not powerful, how could he make Tian Yuexi suffer again and again? Even he was about to die.

Li Su looked terrible. However, he wouldn't say anything on this ceremony. Since a kid wants to deprive his power, he dared him!

It was true that he was the prince’s husband. So what? Many of the imperial family died for overwhelming glory.

After noon was a sacrifice ritual, which they were supposed to pay respect to the late ancestors.

The host of this ceremony was a second-class official, the Head Priest Dongfang Hui who was the younger brother of Dongfang Ye.

Dongfang Ye was the first son of Master Dongfang’s first lawfully wife, but not the first son of the family. Two older brothers were born by Master Dongfang’s concubines, and both of them were he-men. The two concubines also gave birth to two she-men. Dongfang Ye, the right Premier, was the third child in the family, and Dongfang Hui was the youngest one. The fourth and fifth children were she-men.

However, the fourth and fifth children were not as talented as Dongfang Hui. As a second-class Head Priest, Dongfang Hui was almost as important as Dongfang Ye.

Han Tingxuan was thinking about the Dongfang family.. Because the goal that Tian Yuexi gave him was to make the Dongfang family listen to him within two months! Dongfang family had to take a side.

Dongfang family had always been taking the side of the Emperor. it meant that they were neutral before someone became the Emperor.

Ever since Tian Yuexi became the emperor, Dongfang family had been standing on his side on the surface. The former Right Premier took his side, so did Dongfang Ye, the current Right Premier.

But Tian Yuexi also said that the entire Dongfang family was cunning. Only Dongfang Hui was straightforward. Unfortunately, Dongfang Hui listened to Dongfang Ye who was completely cunning!

Dongfang Ye became the Right Premier four years ago. On the surface, the Dongfang family was on the emperor's side. Over the years, Tian Yuexi had planted a lot of spies into Dongfang family. But Dongfang family posed no disagreement against it. They pretended not to know.

However, if something big happened, the Dongfang family could completely get away from any blame!

If Tian Yuexi was always the Emperor, it was true that the Dongafang family would stand on his side! However, the problem was that Tian Yuexi knew that he couldn't be the Emperor for long, while the Dongfang family now protected him, not his son Tian Zhuoyou!

Tian Yuexi had no doubt that if he died and the next emperor were Tian Yushu, the Dongfang family would stand on Tian Yushu's side!

In fact, from a certain point of view, Dongfang family was the head of the three largest clans in terms of power. The other two familes were the Nangong family who was neutral, and the Sun family who was completely on Tian Yushu's side!

Now, the Emperor was able to manage the situation steadily because of the Dongfang family's support on the surface, and because of the neutral Nangong family's integrity.

But if the Dongfang family had a second thought, then it would be a big trouble!

Over the years, Tian Yuexi had many spies to watch Dongfang family. He knew very well that his spies would be rooted out in a very short time if the Dongfang family wanted to.

Therefore, if they could confirm the Dongfang family to stay on his side or at least make sure they could support the crown prince, there would be a bigger chance that he could fight against Tian Yushu.

It was a bad choice to assassinate Tian Yushu.

As soon as Tian Yushu died, the two-year-old prince succeeded the throne. Then, who would run the national affairs? Someone outside the Tian family?

No!

The crown prince would become a puppet! The country would be controlled by Dongfang family, Sun family, and Nangong family.

Other officials, including some of the current elites or neutral ones, would be forced to take sides.

Then, what would this world become?

It would be chaotic!

Therefore, even though Tian Yuexi wanted Tian Yushu to die, he knew that he could not die at this time!

However, with Mo Yanzhi and Han Tingxuan, it would be different!

Mo Yanzhi was a member of the Tian family. If Mo Yanzhi was the Regent, he could support the crown prince until he was grown up. Then, the Imperial Empire would be stable and not chaotic at all.

Originally, Tian Yuexi was determined to make the worse choice. If his brother refused to come back, he had to kill Tian Yushu no matter how. Because Tian Yushu would be a big harm to his brother.

However, his younger brother had returned. Yanzhi, from now on, was Tian Yueqi, the Prince Chen of the Imperial Empire!

It was also because of this that Han Tingxuan would find a way to pull the Dongfang family to their side.

Of course, Tian Yuexi knew that this was difficult. Dongfang family had existed for over a hundred years and they only listened to the Emperor as always.

He had been an emperor for so many years, but he had not been able to make them take his side.

Han Tingxuan had to complete the task in two months, which was incredibly hard. Tian Yuexi just told him to try his best.

As for what achievement he could get, who knows.

This world was not governed by the three clans. The imperial family was not weak!

However, the infight within the imperial clan would cause death. Unlike the three families, even if there were infights, they developed in a better way.

As for the royal family, there were not many members of the royal family left.

Some even stood on Tian Yushu's side. After all, when Tian Yuexi was enthroned, he was too young!

Over the years, under the leadership of Tian Yushu, the members of the imperial family played a decisive role in the Heavenly Empire, and they relied more on Tian Yushu.

It had only been a few months since Tian Yuexi controlled the real power. He was already capable enough to develop his power to this extent!

If he could live longer, he could undoubtedly become a powerful emperor! It was a pity that he could not live long.

Han Tingxuan's eyes fell on the host of the ceremony, Dongfang Hui.

Dongfang Hui had the same quality as Mo Yanzhi, cold but sexy. It was said that he was very prudent, basically opposite to his big brother, Dongfang Ye.

However, they were very close brothers.

Kneel!

Kneel!

Under the guidance of others, they walked forward and knelt non-stop.

When Han Tingxuan had the feeling to collapse, the ceremony was finally over.

Then, it was the worship of the ancestors.

Damn it! He was kneeling again!

In short, this was a sad process of kneeling!

When Han Tingxuan felt dizzy and worn out, every ritual was over.

It was said that they only needed to wait for the dinner with officials.

Han Tingxuan and Mo Yanzhi were brought to the Blessing Hall to rest.

When they got into the hall, Han Tingxuan couldn't wait to chase everyone out. Then he dragged Mo Yanzhi to the bed!

It was not that he wanted to do something indescribable, but he was tired!

Mo Yanzhi was amused by Han Tingxuan’s action. He laughed. "Hubby, are you so tired?"

Han Tingxuan rolled his eyes. “Of course I am.”

He could not be more tired.

Fortunately, he and Mo Yanzhi already had a wedding before. When Tian Yuexi proposed to have a big wedding earlier, Han Tingxuan even said that he should consider it.

Now he didn’t think he should consider it at all! He might be exhausted by the big wedding.

"Haha," Mo Yanzhi smiled and said, "Hubby, let me massage you, okay?"

Han Tingxuan blinked. "Aren't you tired?"

Although he wanted his male wife to give him a massage, he did not want Mo Yanzhi to get too tired.

"I'm fine," Mo Yanzhi smiled. "Did you forget that I am a martial arts practitioner? I am not tired." It was just that he did not enjoy the ceremony.

Han Tingxuan fell silent.

He practiced martial arts every day! Since he felt tired, did it mean that he was not a real martial arts practitioner at all, right?

This is a sad discovery!

"Alright, please go ahead," Han Tingxuan finally accepted.

Therefore, Mo Yanzhi gave Han Tingxuan a nice massage.

Mo Yanzhi was good at massaging. Han Tingxuan felt much more comfortable now!

It was really good!

Then, Han Tingxuan was so tired that he dozed off.

Han Tingxuan felt so comfortable because every time Mo Yanzhi massaged with his internal force. The internal force eased the fatigue!

Han Tingxuan, of course, did not notice it because he knew nothing about internal force.

It was very difficult for Mo Yanzhi.

Han Tingxuan's internal force was not powerful or none. Therefore, Mo Yanzhi had to put an appropriate amount of internal force into Han Tingxuan’s body, or else it would be harmful to Han TIngxuan’s wellbeing.

Mo Yanzhi did not mind getting tired from easing Han Tingxuan’s fatigue. Han Tingxuan fell asleep comfortably.