Chapter Twenty-Six: By Any Means Necessary

Chapter 26: No Means Untaken

In early summer, April.

After the imperial examination, new scholars assumed their official posts, and the scandal of exam cheating gradually subsided. The most pressing matter on the court was now the establishment of an empress. Unfortunately, Zhu Yunxuan's ambiguous attitude towards the issue left everyone in suspense, and without a reigning Empress Dowager to take charge, the other consorts had no say. Despite the anxiety of others, there was little they could do.

The young emperor, now twenty-one, lacked even a personal maid in his Rainfall Palace, let alone a queen or concubines. This inevitably led to speculation, regardless of whether it was due to the late emperor's neglect or not. Now that he was the ruler, having no one by his side was unacceptable, especially considering the importance of ensuring a successor for the stability of the kingdom!

Regardless of the intentions of the officials, many were vying for the position of Crown Prince. Who wouldn't wish for their daughter to bear the next emperor, securing benefits for their family? After several unsuccessful attempts to gauge Zhu Yunxuan's intentions, they collectively turned to Zeng Hui, asking him to discreetly probe the emperor's thoughts.

Zeng Hui, too, shared this desire. Although he had no ulterior motives, he cared more than anyone about the continuation of Zhu Yunxuan's lineage. He would not rest easy until a successor was established.

"I merely wish to prevent anyone from exploiting the opportunity of establishing an empress for their own gain," Zhu Yunxuan said, shaking his head. Establishing an empress was no trivial matter. With the Yan family's fall, many opportunists would seize the chance to stir trouble. He couldn't simply choose based on his preferences; he could ill afford another upheaval.

Zeng Hui advised, "Your Majesty, this is also an opportunity for you. The imperial court and harem have always been intertwined. Once you wed their daughters and bear princes with them, they will naturally support and stand by you."

"I am aware," Zhu Yunxuan sighed. He once despised using the harem for political leverage, but he had ultimately followed in his father's footsteps.

Since that day, Liang Zhen hadn't come to visit him. Zhu Yunxuan enjoyed an unprecedented peace during these two months. Perhaps Liang Zhen had truly given up. Regardless, Zhu Yunxuan was relieved. "Let the Office of Internal Affairs prepare for the selection process."

At this moment, Liang Zhen was attending a banquet at the Grand Prince's Mansion. He usually avoided such events, and even if someone as prominent as the Grand Prince personally extended an invitation, he might still decline. This was his first time joining the city's aristocrats in their gatherings.

The Grand Prince warmly led him to the seat of honor, not at all bothered by the difference in their generations.

"Rarely do we have the privilege of Prince Zhao's presence today. We must drink to our hearts' content! Not until we're all drunk shall we part!"

The Grand Prince's boisterous voice echoed, with others chiming in with flattering remarks. Liang Zhen swirled his wine cup gently and replied with a faint smile, "Nephew appreciates your highness's favor, and I'll certainly accompany you in this toast."

He raised his head and drained the cup in one go. The crowd cheered and applauded, further heating up the atmosphere.

Amidst the revelry of clinking cups and resounding melodies at the banquet, Liang Zhen sipped his wine, his gaze leisurely sweeping across the guests before pausing momentarily on the young men from the Marquis of Anle's residence. A faint smile played on his lips, tinged with disdain.

He had heard rumors that the Marquis of Anle had aligned themselves with the prominent Prince Xian, resulting in frequent interactions. Coincidentally, he received an invitation from the prince and decided to investigate. To his surprise, he spotted members of the Liang family here, albeit the younger generation. However, the former Prince Xian's estate was not a status the now-declining Marquis of Anle could aspire to.

From the moment Liang Zhen entered, those men had been restless, revealing their guilt. Liang Zhen ignored them completely, as if they didn't exist.

These incompetent rats of the Liang family were nearly penniless, yet still scrambling for power and wealth. It seemed they truly had grown tired of life.

Liang Zhen knew the Marquis of Anle's situation better than anyone. The family was a mere facade, hollow inside, and had been declining for a long time. They believed their alliance with Liang Zhen, now the Empress Cenzhi, and the Ninth Prince would lead to prosperity. However, with the Empress's death and Liang Zhen's intense hatred towards them, they gained nothing. Now, their expenses exceeded their income, and their manors produced less each year. Liang Zhen's covert sabotage caused their shops to lose money. If this continued, they wouldn't even be able to afford their servants' monthly wages. While outsiders perceived them as thriving due to Liang Zhen's influence, who would know the true hardship they endured?

Liang Zhen had intended to torment them slowly. Now, with the Marquis of Anle's residence embroiled daily in disputes over mere coins, he observed the chaos from the sidelines. As for his nominal mother, he had found an excuse to force his "father" to send her to a rural manor, confining her in a Buddhist shrine where she was made to copy scriptures day and night, even if she went blind or crippled.

He had never been a benevolent person. Whoever bullied him would receive retribution. He dared to pressure even the emperor; how could he spare a thought for a mere Marquis of Anle's estate?

However, these people proved more cunning than he had anticipated. In his brief neglect, they had managed to curry favor with the renowned King Xian. Of course, it wasn't surprising. No matter how much he despised the Marquis of Anle's family, outsiders perceived him as being tied to their fate. Had he not kept a watchful eye, who knew what dirty deeds they might have committed under his name.

As the wine flowed, the revelers on the banquet grew increasingly uninhibited, embracing beauties and handsome youths while indulging in merriment.

Amidst the drinking, a timid young man approached Liang Zhen, lowering his gaze as he whispered, "This servant will serve Your Highness with wine."

Intentionally or not, the youth leaned closer to Liang Zhen. The already tipsy Liang Zhen became more irascible, raising his hand to brush the youth away. But when he recognized the face, he froze momentarily, then forcefully gripped the youth's chin, forcing him to look up.

The young man's complexion was fair, his eyes rimmed with red, as if on the verge of tears like a startled rabbit. Liang Zhen narrowed his eyes, studying him intently. His grip tightened, eliciting a cry of pain from the youth. Yet, Liang Zhen's expression showed no hint of compassion as he coldly asked, "Who sent you here?"

The youth bore a striking resemblance to Zhu Yunxuan, so much so that Liang Zhen's mind had been momentarily confused by his intoxication. Upon closer inspection, he realized the difference was glaring – similar appearance, but vastly different essence. The resemblance was merely superficial, worlds apart.

Regardless, someone had deliberately arranged for this person to resemble Zhu Yunxuan and appear before him. Seeing the youth tremble, unable to speak, Liang Zhen's demeanor turned colder. He lifted his gaze to King Xian, who was enjoying wine with a beauty clad in sheer silk.

Noticing Liang Zhen's stare, King Xian also looked over, his gaze lingering between Liang Zhen and the young man. With a mischievous smile, he leaned in and whispered, "Is this young lad to your liking, Prince Zhao? He's especially prepared for you by this king."

Liang Zhen returned the gaze without revealing his emotions, coolly replying, "Prince Xian has put in much thought."

"Good, good, as long as you like it. Take him away, he's a gift for you." Prince Xian laughed heartily, patting his shoulder with evident satisfaction.

While the banquet was still ongoing, Liang Zhen took his leave first.

Exiting Prince Xian's mansion, the young man followed and stood awkwardly by the carriage, his eyes reddened with anticipation for Liang Zhen's response. However, Liang Zhen ignored him and called over one of his trusted subordinates, instructing, "Investigate his background and find a place to send him off."

Upon hearing this, the young man panicked, "Your Highness, please have mercy. I have no means to survive if I'm separated from you!"

Liang Zhen instructed his servants with an aloof air, and their carriage slowly departed from the Splendid Prince's Mansion. He closed his eyes, inwardly making a vicious note to settle the score with that unyielding old man someday.

Xian Wang's gift of this person was a clear attempt to intimidate and entice, revealing his knowledge of the secret relationship between Liang Zhen and the emperor, using it as leverage to manipulate him into serving his own interests. Liang Zhen couldn't help but sneer. This old fox had kept his peace for decades, but now that Zhu Yunxuan had ascended the throne, he was harboring ambitions. Did he not realize his own limitations? How dare he covet what belonged to Zhu Yunxuan?

Moreover, with his despicable and foolish tactics, he is truly hopeless, a man beyond redemption, and utterly imprudent.

Within two days, Liang Zhen's men had uncovered the truth. It turned out that the young lad was an apprentice in a theater troupe in the northern part of the city. More than a month ago, while performing on stage, he caught the eye of the fourth master from the Liang family, who then purchased him. Since then, the youth had appeared in the mansion of Prince Xian.

The Liang family!

Liang Zhen inwardly cursed himself. It seemed he had been too lenient, allowing that family to live too comfortably, to the point they had spare money to indulge in opera and even purchase puppets to spite him.

The only way the Liang family could have found out about his involvement with Zhu Yunxuan was through a traitor within his own household. That day, more than ten people were quietly dealt with in Prince Zhao's Estate, and every level of the hierarchy was thoroughly shaken up. Yet, Liang Zhen's lingering resentment remained unresolved.

"Your humble servant has acted according to your instructions, sending the individual to serve as an unremarked laborer at an outer estate, ensuring no special treatment was afforded. Furthermore, he claims that when the Marquis House presented him to the Xian Wang, they had administered a fertility potion."

"Fertility potion?" Liang Zhen's brows knitted tightly together upon hearing this, his eyes darkening even further. What were these people from the Liang family thinking? Did they truly believe that by presenting him with an actor who bore some resemblance to Zhu Yunxuan, they could bind him to them? Or was it simply a ploy to disgust him?

"Yes, it's a fertility potion."

Liang Zhen paused, his gaze shifting to the window as he gazed at the slowly setting sun. After a long silence, he whispered softly, "If you were in your enemy's shoes, would you do the very things you despise the most?"

His subordinate, confused, pondered seriously before responding, "If it serves the purpose, then yes, I would."

A hint of a smile finally graced Liang Zhen's lips, his eyes illuminated by the residual glow of the sunset with an eerie radiance. "You're right. The end justifies the means."

After all, he had never been a good person, and he had no intention of pretending to be one in the future.