Chapter 170: The Empty Palace Path

Chapter 170: The Empty Palace Path

They were familiar with Prince Wu, and only after the intense battle did they realize the situation, let alone Ye Jiangbai, who knew nothing about the prince.

Rushing into the palace and occupying various government offices, Ye Jiangbai was aware of their overwhelming force, but he considered it a good thing. With too many tasks at hand, he didn't delve deeper and simply instructed Lin Mao to investigate.

However, before Lin Mao could find out anything, a person stood before him.

"Lord Duke, I hope you're doing well," Prince Wu said with his usual simple-minded smile.

Ye Jiangbai's heart skipped a beat. He glanced around, ensuring that the guards outside were still standing guard. Squinting slightly, he rose and replied with a smile, "Why has Your Highness come?"

"I heard Lord Duke expelled Nian'er, so I came to see for myself," Prince Wu said, strolling back and forth with his hands behind his back and his round belly protruding. "Lord Duke is impressive. None of my nephews can match you. Even the cleverest, Qi, was defeated."

"Your Highness is too kind," Ye Jiangbai responded. "It was just luck."

He couldn't figure out how Prince Wu had entered the premises or what his intentions were. All he could do was exchange polite words. But as the pleasantries continued, Prince Wu suddenly stopped smiling. Staring at Ye Jiangbai intently, he asked, "Does Lord Duke also know that it was mere luck?"

Ye Jiangbai raised an eyebrow.

Seating himself behind the imperial writing desk, Prince Wu flipped through the military reports on his table and grunted. "If not for my troops' assistance, Funing's forces would have been decimated in the two major battles prior to the city's fall. Do you really think that a mere few tens of thousands of inexperienced soldiers could capture the capital of Great Zhou?"

With a slight twitch of his eyelids, Ye Jiangbai chuckled. "I wondered who it was. So it was His Highness secretly lending a hand. In that case, I'll thank His Highness on behalf of the Crown Prince."

"Family is family, what's there to thank?" Prince Wu patted his belly and narrowed his eyes at Ye Jiangbai. "Funing is also a filial child. He agreed from the start to let me sit on the throne for a while, to soothe my thirteen-year-old resentment of being imprisoned in the palace, before passing it on to him. That's why I'm exerting myself to help."

Ye Jiangbai's expression changed slightly as he straightened his sleeves and stood up, now understanding the purpose of this prince's visit.

The Seventh Prince had already left the capital, and Zhao Funing claimed to be ill. At present, he, an outsider, held the reins of power. This old fox had secretly helped to seize the throne and then planned to use his contributions to snatch the country.

He had guarded against all the princes, but never imagined that there was still a prince lurking around.

With a faint smile, Ye Jiangbai said, "Since it's something that the prince has agreed to, I'll discuss it with His Highness and see how to proceed. I'll take my leave first."

"Stop," Prince Wu's expression darkened as he looked at Ye Jiangbai. "You've come all this way, so Duke Guo shouldn't make me come here for nothing."

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards standing outside suddenly entered in unison, their spears pointed directly at Ye Jiangbai.

Ye Jiangbai never expected that these guards were actually under Prince Wu's command. It seemed that Prince Wu had been secretly preparing for a long time, no wonder none of the guards at the entrance had stopped him when he entered.

"Your esteemed name as the Duke of State, I've long heard of it," Prince Wu said. "It's not easy for us to have this face-to-face conversation. How can the Duke leave just like that?"

This polite speech was entirely out of place in the current situation; it would have been more straightforward to say: "I want the throne, and if you don't agree, you won't be leaving this palace today!"

How direct, how candid, how shameless.

Ye Jiangbai turned around and smiled amiably at Prince Wu. "Your Highness believes that capturing me will make your wishes come true?"

"That's naturally so," Prince Wu chuckled. "Others may not know, but how could I not? In this palace, what matter doesn't require the Duke's approval? Even the Crown Prince, who we nominally support, hasn't uttered a single word..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the guards blocking the door, holding spears, let out two miserable screams. They were kicked from outside and fell to the ground.

Prince Wu's expression changed drastically.

Without turning his head, Ye Jiangbai said calmly, "His Highness is unable to speak, not unwilling to. If His Highness truly speaks, I will certainly heed your command. However... there's no need for Your Highness to storm the imperial study today."

Lin Mao entered and bowed to him. "Duke."

"There are still cabinet affairs to attend to. If Your Highness has matters to discuss, let's arrange for dinner later," Ye Jiangbai said with a smile. "People are always within the palace walls, they can't escape. Why is Your Highness in such a hurry?"

With a sidelong glance, Ye Jiangbai noticed another group of guards approaching. Prince Wu cursed under his breath, his face returning to its simple, amiable smile as he bowed and said, "Then I'll leave the arrangements for the evening banquet in your capable hands, Guardian."

"Not at all," Ye Jiangbai replied with a similar gesture, then led his people away from the imperial study.

"Master!" Lin Mao seethed once they were out of earshot. "Where did this Prince Wu come from? He dared to lay a hand on you!"

"He didn't just appear out of nowhere; we've simply been careless," Ye Jiangbai replied coldly. "Prince Wu commands a formidable military force. With our recent entry into the palace, his influence has spread. If conflict were to erupt, we might not hold the upper hand."

Upon hearing this, Lin Mao's expression turned grave, his anger intensifying. "We fought hard for this kingdom. Why should he reap the rewards? He hasn't done much, yet he's already plotting to claim credit and even seize the throne..."

"Enough," Ye Jiangbai said. "The situation is still unstable, and pursuing these matters now will only provoke further chaos. Our immediate concern should be to properly organize our military forces and keep them under tight control."

"Indeed."

The distant sky was shrouded in gloom, denying any glimpse of sunlight. Ye Jiangbai walked along the stone-paved palace avenue, feeling no joy whatsoever in his heart.

Suddenly, he had forgotten the initial reason for his desire for the throne. Amidst the raging fires of war, the joy derived from standing at the pinnacle was far less than he had anticipated.

What seems to be missing?

"Marquis! Marquis!"

In a daze, he seemed to hear someone calling his name repeatedly. The sound was crisp, and his heart couldn't help but race wildly in response.

Stopping in his tracks, he turned around abruptly.

Lin Mao and the others were three steps behind him, startled by his sudden movement. They hurriedly asked, "Your Highness?"

Frowning, he glanced at them and then at the empty palace road behind. Ye Jiangbai chuckled, reaching out to massage his temples. "I haven't had proper rest lately."

He was even hallucinating.

"Should we postpone the evening banquet then?"

"No need," Ye Jiangbai replied, pursing his lips. "We cannot afford to offend Prince Wu. He's upset today, so we must address his anger to prevent future conflicts from escalating."

Looking at his slightly pale lips, Lin Mao sighed silently before bowing again and acknowledging, "Yes, Your Highness."

No one could survive easily. Everyone was fighting with all their might for their own survival and desires. Ye Jiangbai believed that he was no exception.

Yet, how eerily empty this palace corridor seems.