Li Fang's smoothly orchestrated play, the subtle satisfaction of Su Lihua's growing trust, was abruptly shattered. Just as he was about to engage the Abbess, his mind prepared for another diplomatic exchange, a jarring, urgent chime echoed in the spacious confines of his skull.
It wasn't the gentle 'Ding!' he had become accustomed to. This was a sharp, almost violent CLANG! that reverberated through his very being, pulling him from the serene temple atmosphere with the force of a tidal wave.
The soft scent of incense, the distant chanting, the placid face of the Abbess – all of it faded into a blurry background as the new notification flared, stark and terrifying, across his mental vision.
[Destiny System Notification – URGENT!]
WARNING! IMMEDIATE THREAT DETECTED!
The Emperor intends to dispose of you.
URGENT MISSION: Overthrow the Empire and Reign Supreme!
Time Limit: 7 Days (Failure to initiate within this timeframe will result in terminal deactivation.)
Rewards for Successful Completion:
* [Golden Core Cultivation]
* [World Gate]
* [World Merger]
Failure Consequence: Permanent erasure from existence.
The serene expression Li Fang had carefully cultivated vanished, replaced by a flicker of raw, primal shock.
His internal calm, a byproduct of the system's previous integration, fractured under the weight of the revelation.
The Emperor. His own father. Intended to dispose of him? The words hammered at him, stripping away the illusion of security his Crown Prince title had offered.
Overthrow the Empire? Reign supreme? This wasn't merely surviving as a villain; this was becoming the ultimate villain, the ultimate power. The stakes had escalated from a strategic game of chess to a brutal war for survival, with his very existence on the line.
His hand, still lightly resting on Su Lihua's arm, instinctively tightened, his knuckles blanching.
The subtle possessiveness transformed into an almost desperate grip. Su Lihua, sensing the sudden, rigid tension in his frame, glanced up at him, her brow furrowed with mild concern. His face, usually a mask of princely composure or calculated charm, was momentarily drained of color.
The Abbess, her ancient eyes still fixed on them, seemed to notice something too. Her serene expression remained, but a faint, almost imperceptible tilt of her head indicated a heightened awareness.
Her gaze, which had only moments ago been on Su Lihua, now rested solely on Li Fang, a deep, penetrating look that suggested she perceived far more than he wished.
Li Fang forced himself to breathe, to regain control. The sheer audacity of the mission, the impossible scope, threatened to overwhelm him.
Yet, beneath the initial panic, a cold, hard resolve began to crystallize. He was Li Fang, the Crown Prince.
He was also the transmigrator who had already defied destiny. He had a system, martial arts, god-level poetry, and two hundred million taels.
And now, he had a new, terrifying, yet ultimately empowering, objective. If the Emperor wanted him gone, then the Emperor had just sealed his own fate.
"Your Royal Highness?" Su Lihua's soft voice brought him back, her gentle touch a reminder of his current surroundings. "Are you well? You seem... troubled."
Li Fang managed to force a thin, princely smile, though his eyes remained distant, filled with a calculation that was far removed from the previous tenderness. He carefully loosened his grip on her arm, though the raw energy thrumming beneath his skin was barely contained.
"Forgive me, Lady Su," he said, his voice a fraction deeper, a subtle tremor underlying its forced calmness. "A sudden... premonition. A fleeting concern for affairs of state. Nothing that requires your gentle spirit to fret over."
He turned back to the Abbess, his eyes now sharper, the depth of his gaze unfathomable. The polite imperial nod he offered earlier was replaced by a more direct, almost challenging stare.
"Abbess," Li Fang began, his voice gaining a new edge of subtle authority, a nascent steel that hadn't been present moments before. "It seems the tranquility of this temple, while profound, has also gifted me with a sudden clarity regarding matters beyond its walls."
He paused, a dangerous glint entering his eyes. "Indeed, it has revealed a path that must be walked, not merely for my own sake, but for the very future of the Hong Dynasty."
He straightened, a subtle shift in his posture betraying a newfound, unwavering determination. The Crown Prince who had been seeking to charmingly manipulate his fiancée had just received a death sentence and an impossible mandate.
The game was no longer about survival within the story's confines; it was about overturning the entire chessboard.
"Lady Su," Li Fang continued, turning back to her, his gaze intense. "My apologies, but there are urgent matters that require my immediate attention back at the Imperial Palace.
My heart is at ease knowing you are safe here. Please, remain and seek the solace you deserve. I shall dispatch guards to ensure your continued protection and return."
He didn't wait for her reply, though her eyes were wide with surprise at his sudden urgency. His gaze swept over the Abbess one last time, a silent promise or a veiled threat, it was impossible to tell.
"Eunuch Li!" he called, his voice booming through the quiet temple, startling the acolyte and causing the distant chanting to falter momentarily. "Prepare my carriage at once! Return to the Imperial Palace!"
Li Fang turned and, with a new, almost predatory grace that bordered on terrifying, strode out of the prayer hall, leaving Su Lihua and the perceptive Abbess in his wake, a swirling vortex of newly revealed destiny trailing behind him.
The Golden Core, the World Gate, the World Merger... these weren't just rewards. They were the tools for his ascension.
The Emperor had made his move. Now it was Li Fang's turn. And he would not hold back.
Eunuch Li appeared with astonishing speed, his movements so silent he might have truly been a shadow, flanked by a retinue of guards who seemed to materialize from the very air.
The grand carriage, lacquered in imperial red and gold, was already pulling up, its horses snorting softly.
Li Fang, his mind still reeling from the System's chilling pronouncement, stepped swiftly towards it.
His composure, meticulously rebuilt, was thin, stretched taut over a core of frantic calculation.
As Eunuch Li bowed, Li Fang's voice, though outwardly calm, held an undercurrent of urgency that only the System could perceive.
"System," he demanded, his voice a low, urgent murmur within the privacy of his mind. "Why does the Emperor intend to dispose of me? I need details. Identify the cause."
A beat of silence, then the System's ethereal chime resonated once more, this time with a more analytical tone.
[Destiny System Analysis Initiated.]
[Analyzing Imperial Court Data & Character Biographies... Processing...]
[Analysis Complete.]
[Primary Cause of Imperial Intent to Dispose of Host (Crown Prince Li Fang):]
* 1. Threat to Succession Stability: The original Li Fang's character, as depicted in the novel, was marked by arrogance, a lack of genuine administrative talent, and a tendency towards extravagant, reckless behavior. While he is the legitimate Crown Prince, the Emperor has grown increasingly disillusioned, fearing that Li Fang's reign would bring instability, weakness, or even ruin to the Hong Dynasty. There are subtle whispers and machinations from other factions (including potentially ambitious imperial relatives or powerful ministers) who have subtly influenced the Emperor's perception of Li Fang's "unsuitability."
* 2. Rise of a Favored Alternative (Long Min's Implicit Threat): The protagonist, Long Min, though a commoner, is destined to exhibit extraordinary talent, charisma, and loyalty to the common people. Even at this early stage, his nascent reputation and burgeoning influence, particularly after the "heroic" act that just occurred (regardless of your successful subversion of it), has begun to reach the Imperial ear. While not yet explicitly named as an alternative, the Emperor implicitly sees Long Min as embodying the virtuous qualities Li Fang lacks, creating a subconscious (or perhaps conscious) desire to find a more "worthy" successor. Your continued association with Long Min, even as an antagonist, inadvertently highlights his existence to the Imperial Court.
* 3. Imperial Paranoia & Control: Emperors, especially in dynasties of this nature, are inherently prone to paranoia regarding their power and succession. Any perceived weakness or potential rival, even within their own progeny, can be seen as a threat. The Emperor wishes to solidify his control and ensure a perfectly amenable, easily manipulable successor, or perhaps remove any perceived obstacle to his long-term vision for the dynasty, even if that obstacle is his own son. The original Li Fang's distant and formal relationship with his father, devoid of genuine filial warmth, made him an easier target for such suspicions.
* 4. Unforeseen Variables (Host's Transmigration): While the System has integrated your memories and skills, your very presence as a transmigrator introduces an unpredictable element.
The Emperor's intent may be a predetermined plot point from the original novel, but your actions, your sudden change in demeanor, your intelligence, and your acquisition of System-granted powers are actively diverging from the original narrative. This divergence is implicitly escalating the original plotline faster, forcing the "villain's disposal" earlier than anticipated as the System seeks to course-correct or empower you for a grander challenge.
Li Fang absorbed the information, a cold, strategic glint entering his eyes. Threat to stability. A favored alternative. Imperial paranoia. And the ultimate wild card: himself.
The original Li Fang was a useful idiot for the plot; the new Li Fang was a dangerous variable. The Emperor hadn't just decided to dispose of a useless prince; he had decided to dispose of a potentially devastating threat he didn't even fully understand yet.
"So, it's not just about me being a 'bad' prince," Li Fang mused internally, a sardonic twist to his lips. "It's about his perception of weakness, and my unwitting potential to be a strong rival, even if I wasn't trying to be. And Long Min is already making waves, even if I tried to discredit him."
The implications were profound. He couldn't simply "fix" his image. The Emperor's decision, especially with a 7-day timer, meant it was a pre-emptive strike. He couldn't reason his way out of it. He couldn't charm his way out of it. He had to act. And quickly.
"We move," Li Fang commanded aloud, his voice crisp and decisive, as he stepped into the waiting carriage. "Return to the Imperial Palace. And Eunuch Li... ensure no one intercepts us. I have... delicate matters to attend to."
Eunuch Li, sensing the shift in his Highness, bowed deeper, his voice respectful but efficient. "As Your Royal Highness commands. The fastest route will be taken, and the palace guards will be alerted for your immediate entry."
As the carriage jolted forward, pulling away from the Jade Lotus Temple, Li Fang leaned back against the plush cushions. His eyes were open, but he wasn't seeing the passing landscape.
He was seeing a chessboard, and a new game had just been declared.
A bloody game. And he, the destined villain, was now playing for the ultimate prize: the throne itself.