Mingdu, Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace, the back garden.
A wheelchair was slowly moving on the wide, green stone-slab path of the back garden. Plants of all shapes and sizes were scattered in various parts of the garden. Every design was unique and ingenious. The small waterfall in the rockery, the cluster of flowers forming the imperial family's pattern, as well as the one after another of a tall tree, had made the entire back garden of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family feel like a beautiful forest.
"How is my Father Emperor's side?" Xu Tianran, who was sitting in the wheelchair, had his two eyes closed. A thin blanket was covering his legs. His entire person was exuding a faint sense of leisure.
The one pushing his wheelchair was precisely Gou Luanshi.
Today, Gou Luanshi was wearing a fitted long robe, which set off his neatly combed long hair, noble and elegant. Compared to before, the current him had a bit more of a noble temperament. What would from time to time flash in his pupils was a sinister and feminine light that made one's hair stand on end.
"His Majesty's body is probably on the verge of not being able to hold on. The imperial physician said that in these few recent days, His Majesty has often been in a coma, having lost consciousness," Gou Luanshi reported truthfully.
Xu Tianran's two eyes were still closed, as if the old man in Gou Luanshi's mouth, who was in his declining years, simply had no relationship with him at all.
"My Father Emperor has been diligent and conscientious his whole life, not seeking merit, but seeking no fault. How many great opportunities he has missed! In the future of history, he can only be a mediocre emperor. What is the military's reaction?"
Gou Luanshi said, "The military is very calm. Ever since we have taken control of the Mingdu garrison, the original voices of opposition in the military have disappeared. At least two-fifths of the empire's army is directly in our hands. The other two-fifths are in a wait-and-see attitude or are only loyal to the emperor. Once you have ascended the throne, I believe they will immediately come over. As for the final one-fifth, they are mostly some of the powerful generals on the border. Some of them have been bribed by the other princes. Some are your past mortal enemies."
A smile appeared on the corner of Xu Tianran's mouth. His smile was very good-looking. But it was unknown why, but when Gou Luanshi had seen this one smile, his heart was on the contrary as cold as if it had fallen into an ice cave. Because he was very clear that every time Xu Tianran had revealed this kind of an expression was the time he had decided to go on a great slaughter.
"No hurry. After I have ascended to the imperial throne, if my foolish younger brothers are to fight to the death, then you will go on a trip for me," Xu Tianran said with a smile.
Gou Luanshi's body trembled slightly, but he still nodded and said, "Yes."
Xu Tianran turned his head back, glanced at him, and said, "Luanshi, between you and me, don't be so formal. After I have ascended to the imperial throne, the first thing is to establish you as the Grand Imperial Steward, to let you truly hold great power in the court. For you to always be so formal, you are on the contrary missing a bit of the air of a powerful minister."
Gou Luanshi smiled indifferently and said, "Your Highness, you know. Luanshi follows you and does not seek any title or status. Luanshi only has two wishes. One is to always be by your side; the other is to get rid of the Demon King, Huo Yuhao."
Xu Tianran nodded without a trace and said, "These two wishes of yours will in the future both be realized. These few years, you and your family have fully supported me and have secretly eliminated dissenters for me. These merits will, with my ascension to the imperial throne, become the capital for you to hold great power in the court. At that time, you will have enough power to do what you want to do, including to have the Holy Spirit Cult proactively hand over the prodigy, Huo Yuhao."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Gou Luanshi hurriedly knelt by the side of Xu Tianran's wheelchair.
Xu Tianran lifted his prosthetic limb to steady himself and said, "I've told you before, there's no need for such formalities between us. Back then, if it hadn't been for your support—and that of the family behind you—I would have lost my position as Crown Prince long ago. Among the subordinates at my side, some may indeed be stronger than you. But the only one who truly gives me peace of mind is you."
Gou Luanshi's pupils were full of gratitude. It was just that Xu Tianran had not discovered that in the depths of his eyes, there was on the contrary a coldness and a viciousness.
Hehe, can I really be so casual in front of you? You clearly know that my only wish is actually to kill Huo Yuhao. Yet you, for the sake of the Holy Spirit Cult, this assistance, have always avoided my request.
Gou Luanshi was too familiar with Xu Tianran's character. This His Highness the Crown Prince did indeed have great talent and a grand strategy. His life's goal was only one, and that was to unify the entire Douluo Continent. And he had wisdom, could endure, and his means were ruthless. Although he was physically disabled, he almost possessed all the prerequisites for success.
However, ever since he had lost both his hands and legs, his entire temperament had grown increasingly twisted. The hostile aura he occasionally exuded was such that even Gou Luanshi did not dare approach him lightly. He was not merely formidable—at times, Gou Luanshi even felt he was a pervert, a supremely intelligent pervert.
For him to want to take revenge on Huo Yuhao, he needed the support of such a pervert. But he did not want to follow in the footsteps of that minister. Therefore, when he was in front of Xu Tianran, no matter when, he had always been very careful, diligent, and had buried the true thoughts in his heart very well.
"The tournament over there should be almost prepared, right? How are Hall Master Hongchen and the companions of Huo Yuhao whom he had received?" Xu Tianran continued to ask. When he was not at war, Gou Luanshi had almost become his most important intelligence officer. There was one point that Xu Tianran had not exaggerated. He was indeed quite trustful of Gou Luanshi.
Gou Luanshi nodded and said, "Everything is proceeding according to the original plan. It's just that Huo Yuhao's companions claim that they are all free agents. A few years ago, they had one after another left the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Their whereabouts are unknown to this day."
Xu Tianran said indifferently, "A good bird chooses a tree to perch on. I hope the choice of the Illustrious Virtue Hall will be a little smarter. As for Huo Yuhao's companions, it is really a pity. How are the people from Shrek Academy preparing? They had lost the previous tournament."
"And, if I remember correctly, this time, the ones representing Shrek Academy to participate in the tournament are mostly not the people who had won the runner-up in the previous tournament. If that is the case, then their chances of winning the championship are almost zero! For Shrek Academy to have moved to my Sun Moon Empire, it always has to hold up some of the scene."
Gou Luanshi's gaze slightly fluctuated. Among the younger generation on the continent, as long as Huo Yuhao did not come out, with the configuration of the God-King's daughter, plus the current him, it was basically impossible to lose the tournament.
Xu Tianran said, "Still find a way to have Shrek Academy win the championship. At that time, you will help them win. This face still has to be given to the Dragon God Douluo. I would also very much like to see what kind of a wonderful spark will be produced when the people of Shrek Academy are added with our people. By the way, is there still no news from Mr. Zhongli's side?"
"At present, there is still none. These few days, there has been no news at all from his side. I will go and find out the reason right now," Gou Luanshi stood up and hurriedly walked outwards.
Xu Tianran closed his two eyes again, still with a smiling and leisurely appearance. His entire person was as if he had slightly fallen asleep. In this back garden with birds singing and flowers fragrant, this sense of quiet comfort was fascinating.
The Holy Spirit Cult, Shrek, both the righteous and the evil paths are in my hands. My foolish younger brothers, what do you have to fight me with?