Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 600 Yu Zidi Seizes the Imperial Court

The news exploded across the empire like a violent storm.

The Second Prince was dead.

And not only dead, he had died within the Imperial Prison after being detained for the murders of the Eleventh Prince and the Thirteenth Princess, ultimately committing suicide out of guilt and fear of punishment.

The moment the official announcement spread, the entire Imperial Capital erupted into chaos.

Shock!

Disbelief!

Outrage!

The deaths of the Eleventh Prince and Thirteenth Princess had already shaken the empire greatly, but now that the culprit had officially been confirmed, emotions immediately surged to their peak.

Within tea houses, restaurants, markets, and cultivation halls, countless people discussed the matter endlessly.

"That beast actually killed his own younger siblings?"

"To think the Second Prince was truly capable of something so vicious…"

"Hmph! What else do you expect from the Imperial Family?"

Some cursed him furiously.

Others merely sneered coldly.

The Imperial Family's struggle for the throne had never been clean to begin with.

Brothers killing brothers.

Princes scheming against their own blood.

Such things were cruel, yet far from uncommon.

Even so, openly murdering one's own siblings still crossed a line in the eyes of many.

"The Second Prince deserves death!"

"He should have been executed publicly!"

"Committing suicide was letting him off too easily!"

The people of the capital cursed his name endlessly.

Meanwhile, outrage also spread throughout the Imperial Court.

Memorials condemning the Second Prince flooded the palace one after another.

Several renowned scholars even wrote essays criticizing the brutality and corruption hidden beneath imperial succession struggles.

However, among cultivators and older political figures, the reactions were far more complicated.

Because many understood one truth clearly.

This was the Imperial Family.

In a battle for the throne, blood ties often meant very little.

Some merely sighed quietly after hearing the news.

"In the end, the throne devours everyone."

Others were even more indifferent.

"He lost. That is all."

"To fight for the throne without sufficient ability is simply courting death."

And some remained skeptical from beginning to end.

"Who can truly say whether the Second Prince was guilty… or merely framed?"

Many older cultivators had witnessed countless political storms throughout their lives.

To them, truth was often less important than the final outcome.

Still, regardless of what people privately believed, one fact became increasingly undeniable across the empire.

The First Prince's prestige soared dramatically.

From the perspective of the public, Yu Zidi had handled the entire matter almost flawlessly.

He personally investigated the murders.

He uncovered the truth.

And despite the criminal being his own blood brother, he still upheld justice without hesitation.

Such actions earned enormous praise throughout the Imperial Capital.

Countless commoners began speaking of him with admiration.

"The First Prince truly possesses the bearing of a wise ruler."

"He values justice above family ties."

"Perhaps the empire finally has hope for a worthy emperor."

Within only a few short days, support for Yu Zidi surged rapidly throughout the capital.

To ordinary citizens, the outcome already seemed clear.

The First Prince would most likely become the next Emperor.

After all, who else could still contend against him now?

The Imperial Court was already almost entirely under his control.

From military officials to civil ministers, countless important figures had openly begun standing at his side.

Even many former supporters of the Eleventh Prince and Thirteenth Princess gradually shifted toward Yu Zidi after witnessing how decisively he handled the matter.

As for the Second Prince's faction, those deemed useful were spared and absorbed.

Those considered dangerous, disloyal, or insignificant were either executed for assisting the Second Prince or exiled from the capital forever.

At first glance, the First Prince's ascension seemed almost inevitable.

However, such thoughts existed mostly among commoners and ordinary officials.

For the truly powerful factions of the empire, the situation was far from settled.

Because everyone understood one thing clearly.

As long as other competitors still remained, the throne could not truly belong to Yu Zidi.

No matter how thoroughly he controlled the Imperial Court.

After all, in this world, governmental authority may dominate ordinary mortals but among cultivators, true power was everything.

And right now, there were still four remaining competitors whose backing was powerful enough to contend against the First Prince.

Yu Qingya, The Fourth Princess, supported by the Frost Lily Pavilion.

Yu Longxuan, The Seventh Prince backed by the Crimson Thunder Palace.

Yu Wenzhao, The Third Prince, Supported by the Heaven Suppression Pavilion.

And Yu Feiyan, The Ninth Princess.

Though lacking support from a top sect like the other three, she was supported by numerous clans and sects throughout the empire.

Unless those four either submitted, formed agreements, or were eliminated entirely, The First Prince would never truly be able to ascend the throne.

Yu Zidi naturally understood this better than anyone.

In truth, he had already begun preparing long ago.

However, for now, the most important matter was consolidating his authority within the Imperial Court completely.

Although his control was already overwhelming, it would still require time to fully place the entire government beneath his hand.

And once that moment arrived, he would declare himself the new Emperor.

Obviously, although declaring himself the new Emperor even with the official announcement wasn't enough.

It could sway public opinion and in the longer run unless his sibling did anything, he could sit in the Emperor throne.

As for his sibling retaliation, hmph, once they are forced to enter the Capital, he can easily deal with them.

***

"Bastard!"

BOOM!

The Seventh Prince's furious roar exploded throughout the hall as a terrifying burst of lightning aura erupted from his body.

A chair beside him shattered instantly into splinters after being kicked across the room.

Cracks spread along the floor beneath his feet.

The surrounding servants immediately lowered their heads in fear, not daring to make a sound.

Yu Longxuan's face was extremely ugly.

Things had gone from bad to worse for him recently.

First, the failure to force the Xue Clan into submission, then his humiliating defeat against Nie Fengzhuo.

Not long afterward, the Third Prince openly attacked him though he survived and even injured them.

And now, The First Prince had suddenly gained overwhelming momentum after eliminating the Second Prince from the struggle entirely.

Everything happened too quickly.

Within only a few short days, the balance within the Imperial Court had shifted completely.

The more Yu Longxuan thought about it, the colder his heart became.

At this rate, The First Prince might soon begin turning his attention toward the remaining princes and princesses including him.

Although he still possessed the support of the Crimson Thunder Palace, Yu Longxuan knew clearly that it was not enough.

Originally, he had planned to rapidly expand his influence among the major clans.

But everything had been ruined.

Because of the Neutral Alliance.

Ever since the Bai Clan joined it, things made it difficult for him to move against those clans.

Many factions Yu Longxuan once intended to force into submission had already entered the Neutral Alliance.

And once they joined, touching them meant risking the Bai Clan's wrath directly.

Thinking about this only made Yu Longxuan even more furious.

BOOM!

Another chair was sent flying across the hall.

"Bai Zihan!"

Yu Longxuan gritted his teeth so hard that faint cracking sounds could almost be heard.

"If not for him…"

His expression twisted with rage.

"If not for that bastard, I would have already stormed the Xue Clan with the Grand Elders and forced them into submission long ago!"

The atmosphere inside the hall became extremely oppressive.

Several elders from the Crimson Thunder Palace exchanged uneasy glances before one of them finally stepped forward.

"Your Highness, calm yourself."

"Yes," another elder added solemnly. "This is not the time to lose composure."

However, Yu Longxuan immediately turned toward them with bloodshot eyes.

"Calm down?"

His voice rose sharply.

"How am I supposed to calm down?!"

Lightning flickered violently around his body.

"With death already nearing my doorstep…"

"With the First Prince controlling the court…"

"With enemies surrounding me from every direction…"

"You tell me to calm down?!"

The elders fell silent instantly.

Because none of them could deny his words.

The current situation was indeed becoming increasingly dangerous.

Yu Longxuan's chest rose and fell violently as rage and pressure continued building inside him.

Once Yu Zidi stabilized the Imperial Court completely, the next targets would inevitably be the remaining competitors.

If he continued sitting still now, he would eventually be devoured as well.

Gradually, the fury within Yu Longxuan's eyes slowly transformed into cold determination.

Then he suddenly spoke.

"We move immediately."

The Crimson Thunder Palace elders frowned slightly.

"Your Highness?"

Yu Longxuan's eyes turned icy.

"We will make the Fei Clan submit."

The expressions of the Crimson Thunder Palace elders changed slightly.

The Fei Clan!

A First-Rate Clan that had only recently joined the Neutral Alliance.

In truth, Yu Longxuan had already been eyeing them for quite some time.

The Fei Clan possessed considerable influence, numerous industries, and several powerful experts.

If he could force them beneath his command, his strength would immediately increase greatly.

Originally, he had intended to act against them long ago.

But having failed to make Xue Clan submit and then Third Prince attacks, delayed them.

Moreover, the Bai Clan's involvement with the Neutral Alliance had forced him to suppress those thoughts temporarily.

After all, offending the Bai Clan directly was not something he wished to do unless absolutely necessary.

However, Yu Longxuan no longer had the luxury of waiting.

If he continued doing nothing while Yu Zidi consolidated power within the Imperial Court, then sooner or later, death would inevitably come for him as well.

Compared to that outcome—

Taking risks now was the only choice left.

One elder frowned deeply.

"Your Highness… the Fei Clan is already part of the Neutral Alliance."

"I know!"

Yu Longxuan's expression remained cold.

Another elder hesitated briefly before speaking carefully.

"If we forcefully move against them now, the Bai Clan may intervene."

At those words, Yu Longxuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

For several moments, the hall remained silent.

Then—

"Hmph!"

A cold sneer escaped his lips.

"The Bai Clan may be powerful, but do they truly intend to protect every single clan within that alliance?"

His gaze became increasingly sharp.

"The Xue Clan is different. They are one of the leaders of the Neutral Alliance. Naturally, Bai Zihan would intervene personally for them."

"But the Fei Clan?"

Yu Longxuan's tone became colder and colder.

"They are merely one newly joined First-Rate Clan among many. I refuse to believe Bai Zihan would truly choose to openly offend me and the Crimson Thunder Palace over such a clan."

The elders exchanged glances silently.

Although his reasoning carried risks, it was not entirely without logic.

Would they truly escalate matters completely for the sake of the Fei Clan?

Even they could not say for certain.

Moreover, they really can't stay and do nothing while Yu Longxuan's enemy continues to seize more power.

"Hmph! I want to see whether Bai Zihan would truly dare offend me and the Crimson Thunder Palace over such a clan!"