Li Weimin slowly stood up, his entire being refreshed and vigorous, with none of his former frailty remaining.
“As expected of an Immortal Essence Pill — truly miraculous!”
He smiled, his gaze sweeping past Margaret before landing on Dustin. He nodded lightly.
“Rhys, my worthy nephew, I must thank all of you.”
He knew very well that without Dustin’s intervention, this pill would never have been retrieved.
“There’s no need for courtesy, Your Majesty. Seeing you safe and well, I have fulfilled my promise.”
Dustin said calmly, “This journey to Penglai was extremely perilous. Princess Margaret endured countless hardships in search of the medicine and nearly lost her life. Since Your Majesty has recovered, you should clearly recognize her devotion and achievements.”
How could a man like Li Weimin fail to understand the meaning behind Dustin’s words?
His gaze toward Margaret softened with warmth and pride.
This daughter of his was not only talented in both literature and martial arts — she possessed unparalleled devotion and courage. She had braved distant, deadly lands to retrieve an immortal pill to extend his life.
Compared to her, his three sons… truly couldn’t measure up.
He had held concerns before, but seeing Dustin so openly support his daughter, those concerns vanished completely.
Now, it was time to make a decision — one that defied ancestral traditions.
…
Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, at the white jade steps.
Li Wenxing, Li Guanglong, and Li Juntang stood beneath the corridor, expressions shifting unpredictably.
The emperor’s strong and steady voice coming from within, along with the lingering immortal fragrance and vitality from the pill, clearly told them:
Their father had truly recovered.
And in better condition than before.
The three brothers looked conflicted, uncertain whether to feel joy or dread.
Their father’s recovery was, for the country and for the family, a blessing of the highest order.
But this tremendous merit now rested solely — and undeniably — with Margaret.
“Ten years… Father will have at least ten more years…”
Li Wenxing stared at the closed doors, his voice low and tinged with undetectable bitterness.
This meant their contest for the heir’s seat — originally near its conclusion — would now stretch on unpredictably.
And Margaret, with this colossal achievement, had become their strongest competitor.
Li Guanglong snorted coldly, clenching his fists.
“Hmph! Pure luck. A stroke of fortune and the help of a powerful master! Without Dustin, how could she get the pill?”
Li Juntang’s eyes flickered with unreadable depth. His soft features revealed no emotion as he lowered his voice.
“Second Brother, you are mistaken. Luck is also a form of strength. Now that our dear sister has returned with such merit, and has Dustin — a landbound-immortal-level powerhouse — supporting her, her momentum is set. If we continue fighting separately, we may lose everything.”
He didn’t finish his words, but the meaning was obvious.
The air grew heavy.
All three were intelligent. They understood perfectly.
Alone, none of them could suppress the now-rising Margaret, especially with her formidable backing.
After a long silence, Li Wenxing finally spoke, his voice carrying a trace of steely resolve.
“Third Brother speaks the truth. Margaret is no longer an easy opponent. If we wish to stand a chance, we must unite, at least temporarily.”
“Unite?” Li Guanglong frowned deeply. “And after uniting? What then?”
Li Juntang’s eyes gleamed subtly as he continued:
“First, we join forces to remove Margaret from this game. With the three of us together, we can gradually weaken her influence in court and in public, pick apart her mistakes, and marginalize her. It won’t be difficult.”
He paused, sweeping his gaze over his older brothers, his voice enticing:
“As for afterward… once the situation stabilizes, we compete again — fairly. That’s better than watching that seat slip further away from us.”
Li Wenxing pondered briefly before nodding heavily.
“Agreed. For now, we must stabilize the situation. We cannot let Margaret seize further advantage from this achievement.”
Li Guanglong, though unwilling, also knew this was the only path.
“Fine! We’ll do it your way. First — deal with Margaret!”
Three hands met briefly in the shadows outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation — silent, swift, and full of unspoken betrayal — before withdrawing.
Thus, deep in the heart of power, a secret alliance was formed, aimed at their own sister, steeped in conspiracy and calculation.
Inside the hall was warmth and joy between father and daughter.
Outside it were schemes, jealousy, and dark undercurrents. - Marinien
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