Great Li Martial God

Hearing this question, Fu Qiwen shook his head lightly and said ambiguously, "I believe this matter may be that the dossier records were mistaken, or it could be that my investigation was in error."

Saying this, he paused and continued, "However, before I came to see Your Majesty, Eunuch Sun Changyu who manages Aurora Pavilion affairs did tell me about something."

Then Fu Qiwen concealed nothing, recounting what Sun Changyu had told him about encountering five Martial Dao Grand Master level experts on the road, and subsequently those five experts being instantly killed.

After listening to his words, Emperor Yuanwu's originally calm and waveless emotions actually had a trace of fluctuation. He said pensively, "One slash with power approaching the Heaven-Human realm killing two swordsmen, silently using finger force across space to instantly kill three Martial Dao Grand Masters..."

Emperor Yuanwu spoke softly, but he didn't have any other evaluation of this matter.

"I believe His Highness may not be as simple as he appears on the surface."

Fu Qiwen recalled briefly for a moment and said, "When His Highness faced me, whether in his conduct or speech, he showed not the slightest constraint or restraint. On the contrary, whether toward other people in the Tianjin Guards or toward me, his words were quite casual. I even faintly had a feeling..."

Saying this, Fu Qiwen's originally expressionless face paused slightly. His deeply wrinkled forehead furrowed slightly, as if weighing his words.

Seeing this, the figure behind the bamboo curtain seemed to have gained some interest and proactively asked, "Tell me, what kind of feeling? That it could make my beloved minister struggle so much."

Hearing this, Fu Qiwen was silent for a while but still spoke, "I'm not certain, but I feel that His Highness seems to somewhat... look down on me. From beginning to end, he never took me seriously at all." As soon as these words came out, the figure behind the bamboo curtain was clearly stunned for a moment. After a while, he spoke indifferently, "He's actually this arrogant and regards no one?"

Fu Qiwen thought about it but shook his head, "It's not exactly that His Highness is arrogant and domineering. I've never had this feeling with anyone before. His Highness's manner toward people is not abnormal. It's just that he seems to have an instinct in his bones to disdain everything."

As soon as these words came out, the great hall fell silent for a moment.

The figure behind the bamboo curtain pondered in silence. Fu Qiwen seemed to feel his words were too heavy and immediately cupped his hands, "Your Majesty actually need not mind. This may just be an illusion on my part. His Highness has been confined to a small city for so many years. He may have had some fortuitous encounters, but perhaps his experience is still shallow. He hasn't witnessed a broader world, so having this situation is within reason."

Hearing this, Emperor Yuanwu nodded slightly, seeming to have some recognition of Fu Qiwen's explanation.

His gaze looked at the jade box in the old eunuch's hands not far away. His eyes were restrained as he said, "Originally I only thought he was an apprentice at a small martial arts school. I planned to let him be an idle prince and bestow upon him endless glory and riches, which could be considered compensation for his twenty years of solitary hardship."

"But from the situation you describe, Qiwen, he probably won't easily be content with this."

Saying this, his gaze looked through the bamboo curtain at Fu Qiwen, "What do you think I should do with him?"

Fu Qiwen's eyes flickered for a moment, then he shook his head lightly, "I dare not speak rashly."

Hearing this, Emperor Yuanwu didn't press further. His gaze turned to look at three bright yellow scrolls placed on the small table before him.

After thinking, his gaze stopped on the middle scroll. The old eunuch who had been waiting at the side saw this and immediately walked over to pick it up.

"Hand this to Qiwen. Regarding the matter of the Eighth Prince, I entrust full responsibility to Qiwen."

Emperor Yuanwu's gaze watched the old eunuch hand the scroll to Fu Qiwen. He said slowly, "I need to be in seclusion for a period of time recently and have no leisure to handle this matter. What's written here are all the arrangements I've temporarily listed for the Eighth Prince. I hope Qiwen will pay close attention."

At this moment, Fu Qiwen held the scroll in his hand. His expression was clearly somewhat surprised as he asked, "Why does Your Majesty speak of the Eighth Prince?"

The figure behind the bamboo curtain seemed to have anticipated his question and calmly explained, "The truth about the switched princes hasn't been conclusively determined. My feelings with Zhi'er over these many years cannot be judged solely by blood relations."

"Moreover, twenty years ago Zhi'er was still just an infant. The matter of the switched princes has nothing to do with him. Over these years, Zhi'er has established many merits for court affairs. If I were to blame him for this matter, it would make me appear ungrateful and unfeeling."

"So I still need to consider this matter further. I can only temporarily impose on Consort Jing's son."

Hearing this, Fu Qiwen looked thoughtful. His expression showed no further abnormality. He nodded and bowed in salute, "Your Majesty is benevolent and kind-hearted. Having such considerations is proper. It is I whose thinking was incomplete."

Emperor Yuanwu looked at him through the bamboo curtain and said, "Qiwen, you are the person I trust most. Between us, there's no need to be so distant."

"I am honored by Your Majesty's favor, but sovereign and subject are distinct. I dare not overstep."

Fu Qiwen bowed lightly. Then, thinking, he asked, "I wonder if Your Majesty has any other instructions regarding the Eighth Prince?"

Emperor Yuanwu pondered for a moment and said, "According to what you just said, I'm afraid we need to first temper his character. If you have any difficult matters at hand, you can give them to him to try."

"First observe his performance. Other matters can wait until after I emerge from seclusion."

...

Tianjin Guards headquarters.

Li Musheng drank the tea that Suppression Commissioner Yu Jin had brewed, leaning sideways in the grand tutor chair.

He temporarily didn't delve into the Life and Death Talisman martial art, but instead was thinking about how he could use this identity to serve him and search for that martial Dao Transcendent Realm after becoming a prince.

He had previously tried to search for some news about martial Dao transcendence through people and events in the jianghu.

However, topics about the martial Dao Heaven-Human realm were extremely high-end topics. Almost no one mixing in the jianghu discussed them, let alone martial Dao transcendence.

After all, many people couldn't even reach the Innate Realm. Even some Innate martial warriors were single-mindedly thinking about becoming Master or Grand Master level martial arts experts, discussing only problems at that level.

As for those Master and Grand Master level experts, they absolutely wouldn't be bored enough to chat aimlessly everywhere in the jianghu.

Moreover, at their level, Heaven-Human was like a natural chasm. Many people struggled for decades unable to cross over. They had even less mind to think about those illusory things above Heaven-Human.

Therefore, martial Dao transcendence was actually very likely a problem only Li Musheng himself was thinking about.

He even sometimes felt that this concept might just be something he himself had imagined.

That so-called martial Dao transcendence from a thousand years ago very possibly wasn't the same as what he was thinking.

"No matter what, this matter still needs more attempts. Now having the identity of a prince, it's much more convenient."

Li Musheng showed a thoughtful expression. Of course, if being this prince had too much troublesome business, he would definitely slip away.