She felt that if her heart hadn’t already been set on someone, she might also have been swayed at this moment.

She steadied her heart and averted her gaze from Jiang Ning’s face and eyes.

"Greetings, Marquis!" Shen Mengyun saw Jiang Ning approaching and immediately cupped her hands in salute.

"Miss Shen!" Jiang Ning nodded slightly and asked, "Why have you come to visit, Miss Shen?"

"Marquis, are you free to take a walk?" Shen Mengyun asked.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning gave her a glance and nodded slightly.

"Then let’s take a stroll!"

"Thank you, Marquis!" Shen Mengyun immediately cupped her hands and bowed to Jiang Ning.

The next moment.

The two of them passed through the gates of the National Master Mansion and arrived on the streets outside.

The National Master Mansion was located in a serene area, with few passersby. The weather was harsh today, snow falling steadily, leaving the streets empty.

"Miss Shen, can you state your purpose here?" Jiang Ning said blandly.

"Marquis! What is your opinion of the Eighth Prince?" Shen Yunmeng probed.

Jiang Ning glanced at her, his tone calm: "The Eighth Prince is my friend, and also the Seventeenth Princess’s brother."

"Does the Marquis know that His Majesty is currently only hanging by a thread?" Shen Mengyun paused, then dropped this shocking news.

"I know!" Jiang Ning nodded calmly.

Upon hearing this, Shen Mengyun looked at Jiang Ning in surprise, her eyes filled with astonishment.

She originally thought Jiang Ning would be shocked by this news, yet she didn’t expect Jiang Ning to remain so calm, his tone clearly indicating he had long been aware of the situation.

It seems the Marquis’s channels of information are broader than I imagined!!

I just wonder if it came from one of the princes!

Thoughts flashed through Shen Mengyun’s mind, and after adjusting her state slightly, she spoke again.

"Then does the Marquis know why His Majesty has reached this point, beyond the help of medicine?"

"Tell me," Jiang Ning said.

As they spoke, the two of them walked towards the quieter lakeside.

Above them, snowflakes drifted down; around them was emptiness. The lake ahead was frozen over, covered with a thick layer of snow.

Hearing Jiang Ning’s words, Shen Mengyun immediately spoke.

"Eight hundred years ago, Taizu established the empire, the Martial Saint suppressed the world, and the major Cave Heaven Blessed Lands chose reclusion, going into hibernation. Those Immortals who had once lived long also withdrew from the world, retreating into the Grotto Heaven."

"Now the Martial Saint’s time is nearing its end, his days are numbered, yet no one dares to challenge him."

"The various major Grotto Heavens have joined forces to curse the Holy Emperor."

"Facing the joint efforts of those Immortals, even with the protection of a nation’s fortune, they can still curse the Holy Emperor at some cost."

"Now, with such figures combining forces against him, the Holy Emperor is beyond rescue, unable to hold on much longer."

Upon hearing Shen Mengyun’s words, Jiang Ning immediately understood.

He understood why, despite Emperor Changning having the resources of a country and controlling the Nine States, he remained beyond medical help.

This was because standing against Emperor Changning were ancient figures from the previous era.

Through his contact with the Shangyang Immortal Sect and the Shangyang Inner Scenery, he became increasingly aware of the power of the previous era.

Immortal is merely the starting point above immortality.

Beyond that, countless great ones exist.

From his recent visit to the Shangyang Cave Heaven, he had understood and heard.

Ancestral Light Venerable, who reflects the ancient and present, allowing him to hear the preachings of past great ones, has greatly benefited him.

Like the Nine Nether Tribulation Fire Grand Heavenly Venerable, an unfathomable existence, even the small legacy left behind allowed him to grasp a powerful Divine Skill like the Heart Tribulation Fire.

Even though that era experienced great turmoil and became a speck of history.

But now, standing against Emperor Changning is the vestige of that era.

They are the major Grotto Heavens with a deep and accumulated foundation.

In this regard, he found the strength of the Martial Saint even more incredible.

For that individual, with just his own strength, could suppress the vestige of an era with a single punch.

"What do you want to tell me?" Jiang Ning asked.

Shen Mengyun respectfully said, "Marquis, to say something that could cost my head, it won’t be long before the current Holy Emperor passes! With no successor determined, the intention is clear. The Holy Emperor is breeding intrigue, wanting the princes to fight to the death, thus revealing the most capable and skillful prince as the successor."

"I’m curious, which prince’s side are you on?" Jiang Ning suddenly asked.

"Marquis, I am with the Eighth Prince!" Shen Mengyun replied respectfully.

She knew that the man before her, though much younger than her, possessed terrifying strength.

She knew her Martial Arts Talent was insignificant compared to Jiang Ning.

Time after time, through hundreds of years, no one’s Talent could compare to the man before her.

So she understood that if she could align Jiang Ning to her cause, it would greatly help the one she cared about.

Perhaps Taizu and that companion’s legendary peace could be realized again, bringing more than eight hundred years of peace to the Thirty-Six Prefectures of Nine States.

"Ji Minghao?" Jiang Ning couldn’t help but look sideways at Shen Mengyun.

"Yes, Marquis!" Shen Mengyun’s demeanor was respectful.

"In that case, would General Shen be the Eighth Prince’s support? Hidden quite deeply!" Jiang Ning said.

"Marquis, you’ve misunderstood!" Shen Mengyun shook her head, "I am with the Eighth Prince, but my father is not!"

"Your father is not?" Jiang Ning said.

"From a rational standpoint, supporting the Eighth Prince is a very wrong decision from my father’s perspective! Among the current princes, the Eighth Prince is the weakest! His mother passed away early, leaving him with no support from the maternal side!" Shen Mengyun explained.

She continued, "The other princes, on the maternal side, have some backing, either from noble families or by being descendants of generals and ministers. So the Eighth Prince is on the fringes among the princes, with little chance of inheriting the throne."

"However..." Shen Mengyun looked up at Jiang Ning, "I hope the Marquis can help the Eighth Prince, to help him ascend the throne."

"Give me a reason," Jiang Ning said.

"Because of the Seventeenth Princess!" Shen Mengyun replied, "I know the Marquis values deep emotions and righteousness, the Seventeenth Princess is unwaveringly devoted to the Marquis, how could he stand by and watch as her only full brother meets death."

Jiang Ning said, "I will consider it!"

After saying this, Jiang Ning turned and left.

"Marquis, if you are willing to help the Eighth Prince, I will do everything in my power to persuade my father to stand by the Eighth Prince’s side. Should the Eighth Prince ascend, the Marquis’s merits would avoid many troubles!" Shen Mengyun said.

At this moment, Jiang Ning gradually drifted toward the direction of the National Master Mansion.

...

Along the way, Jiang Ning couldn’t help but recall the words Shen Mengyun had just spoken.

The struggle among the princes, though not of high importance to him now, compared to the dangers he might face in the future, the succession of the Imperial Family was a trifling matter.

As Ji Mingya, as Xiao Wuque, and as the Martial Saint himself had said, in the future, unless he reaches the level of power like Xiao Wuque, he won’t be able to stay away from those kinds of crises.

Even with the Martial Saint’s passing and the collapse of the status quo, the dangers he would face would only grow.

In front of such crises, the princes’ struggle for succession was but a small matter.

But he couldn’t help but think of Ji Mingyue.

From the time spent together, he could feel the Eighth Prince Ji Minghao’s kindness toward his sister Ji Mingyue.

The batch of supplies Ji Minghao gifted him before was all because of Ji Mingyue.

And Ji Mingyue’s familial connections, according to his observations, only had two people.

One was the current Holy Emperor, Emperor Changning.

The other was the Eighth Prince, Ji Minghao.

Ji Mingyue has done much for him, how can he remain indifferent?

After pondering for a long time, he shook his head and no longer dwelled on the matter, but his heart had already made a decision.

Then he climbed the steps and crossed over the threshold of the National Master Mansion.

"Marquis, has the guest left?" Qinghe stood in the snow and asked.

In this brief moment, a thin layer of snow had already fallen on top of her hat.

"She has left, you can close the door now." He said.

"Yes, Marquis!" Qinghe responded, slowly closing the gate of the National Master Mansion behind Jiang Ning.

Returning to his courtyard.

Jiang Ning once again entered a state of training.

An aura of faint light immediately emanated around him.

[Spirit Platform Enlightened True Self Technique Experience Value +9]

[Spirit Platform Enlightened True Self Technique Experience Value +10] 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

[Spirit Platform Enlightened True Self Technique Experience Value +9]

[...]