Chapter 76 – Taking Advantage of the Fire

Chapter 76 - Taking Advantage of the Fire

When the news reached the Imperial Study, His Majesty was in a private meeting with Grand Master Xuanhong. The topic had barely been broached when Eunuch She entered with a long face, hesitantly calling out, "Your Majesty..."

Eunuch She, the chief eunuch in attendance, moved around the emperor constantly, and even the princes gave him respect. It was rare to see such a change in his demeanor. The emperor felt that his constipated expression was oddly familiar, as if he had seen it before.

Where had he seen it?

The last time Prince Fengling kicked Prince Nanxun's balls, Eunuch She had worn a similar expression.

Recalling this, the emperor's hand holding the teacup trembled imperceptibly. He wondered if Lu Yan had kicked the eldest again. No, wait, the eldest had already been kicked. Could it be the second son?

The second son wasn't as robust as the eldest. A sudden kick could potentially render him sterile.

#What an ingenious way to vie for the throne#

The emperor's expression changed several times before he finally placed the teacup on the table. "What has happened? Come closer and report."

In other words, if it was something embarrassing, speak softly.

Eunuch She apologized and whispered a few words into the emperor's ear. Grand Master Xuan's hearing couldn't catch the low voice, only snatches of the conversation: "...the imperial physician has been summoned...resting in Qiyuan Hall..."

Upon hearing that the one who got kicked wasn't his own son, the emperor felt a strange sense of relief. In a tone that was neither hot nor cold, he said, "Since Crown Prince Yuxi is an outsider, it's inappropriate for him to stay overnight in the palace. Have someone carry him back to the guesthouse to recuperate...Also, have that bastard come to the palace early tomorrow morning to pay his respects. I still have matters to discuss with Grand Master Xuan, so I don't have the time to deal with him today. You may withdraw."

Eunuch She agreed but then hesitated, asking, "Shouldn't there be some explanation given for Crown Prince Yuxi being kicked without cause?"

Since discovering Lu Yan's remarkable martial arts skills, the emperor's mood had noticeably improved. Without lifting his eyelids, his voice remained calm, yet it sent a chill down one's spine. "Explanation? What explanation? I've ruled over the Immortal Realm for years and have never owed anyone an explanation."

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Eunuch She bowed. "Yes, this servant will take his leave."

Grand Master Xuan watched Eunuch She depart before kneeling before the emperor. "Your Majesty, I must confess that our monarch has been bedridden for quite some time, eagerly awaiting the return of the crown prince to stabilize the court. If the relatives of the empress were to meddle in politics and allow someone with ulterior motives to ascend the throne, it would be detrimental to the Immortal Realm. I humbly beg Your Majesty's grace to allow Crown Prince Wuyou to return home."

The emperor knew this was coming. In the flickering candlelight, his gaze was unreadable. "If I let Crown Prince Wuyou return, what should I do if Wu Yun and Dongli also petition for their hostages to go back? How should I respond?"

Releasing just Gongsun Wuyou wouldn't be a big deal; Tian Shui wasn't much of a threat. What the emperor feared was a chain reaction. When he had demanded the heirs of various countries to be held hostage in the Immortal Realm, it was to serve as a deterrent. If he let them go at the slightest request, wouldn't it make a mockery of the whole affair?

Grand Master Xuan lowered his eyes. "Others would only praise Your Majesty for your benevolence."

The emperor closed his eyes indifferently. "That is meaningless."

Benevolence was merely an embellishment for an emperor. He could afford to be benevolent, but he couldn't be solely benevolent, or he would have been toppled from his position long ago. If Xuanhong wanted to exchange the crown prince for something, he needed to offer something substantial.

Xuanhong clenched his teeth silently before bowing deeply. "This humble minister offers the Tian Shui Sword Technique in exchange. Please show mercy, Your Majesty—!"

On the throne, the emperor finally opened his eyes, a hint of satisfaction flashing across them.

Lu Yan returned to the Wangfu by carriage, with one difference: there was an additional person in the carriage. Zhao Yuzhang had been laughing since they left the palace, tears streaming down his face as he sat opposite, pounding his legs. "Did you see that, Junian! Zhao Yuxi was grinding his teeth in hatred. If he becomes sterile from that kick, I wonder if that old man will still dare to make him the crown prince. Hahahaha!"

Sitting opposite, Shang Junian didn't quite understand Zhao Yuzhang's elation. "Is him getting kicked really worth being this happy?"

Wiping away his tears, Zhao Yuzhang's face was sore from smiling. "It's worth it! Absolutely worth it! I just can't stand his devious ways!"

After a pause, he looked at Lu Yan, who was closing his eyes to rest. Half in awe and half in admiration, he said, "Prince Fengling, I never realized how good your martial arts were. Others pretend to be weak to protect themselves, but the emperor dotes on you. Why did you act like such a scoundrel?"

He was clearly overthinking it, assuming that Lu Yan had kept a low profile to conceal his true self, given the treacherous nature of the palace.

Hearing this, Lu Yan opened his eyes. The dim light in the carriage fell upon his handsome face, but it didn't make him seem gloomy. With a smile in his eyes, he asked curiously, "How do you know I was pretending to be a scoundrel and not actually one?"

Zhao Yuzhang gave him a peculiar look. "Although your actions defy convention, they follow a certain logic. Swordsmanship is difficult to master. You must have endured a lot of hardship to achieve your current level of skill. Which scoundrel could reach your level of martial arts?"

After a pause, he added, "Regardless, just for kicking Zhao Yuxi, I, Zhao Yuzhang, acknowledge your prowess!"

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. After the incident in Wan Nian Hall, Zhao Yuzhang found himself looking more favorably upon Lu Yan.

As they arrived at the Fengling Wangfu, Lu Yan nimbly jumped off the carriage. Coincidentally, he saw Gongsun Wuyou and Liu Que Dan disembarking from another carriage. For some reason, Gongsun Wuyou's eyes were red, as if he had been wiping away tears.

"Ho, why are you crying?"

If it weren't winter, Lu Yan would have carried a folding fan, waving it about to appear more like a rascal. He approached Gongsun Wuyou and deliberately asked with a smile, "Could it be that you're feeling sorry for your knocked-out cousin?"

Talent always commanded respect. Gongsun Wuyou, with red-rimmed eyes, looked at Lu Yan, his attitude markedly better than before. He answered every question. "During the banquet, I overheard people chatting about my father's grave illness and that he hasn't shown any signs of improvement. I felt homesick, so I cried."

Lu Yan understood. "I see, because of that. I'm not sure how to console you."

Gongsun Wuyou wiped away his tears. "Grand Master Xuan said he would find a way to exchange me back. I wonder if the emperor will agree."

Lu Yan thought it was uncertain. This matter wouldn't be easy to resolve. Even if the emperor agreed publicly, no one knew what he might do secretly:

"It's possible."

That was all Lu Yan could say.

Liu Que Dan stood nearby, suddenly raising his eyes to look at Lu Yan. This kind of attention was rare. After all, he had never truly regarded the person before him, only harboring disdain and contempt. He asked abruptly, "Would Your Highness be willing to sound out the emperor's thoughts?"

Shang Junian was about to say something when he suddenly stepped forward, blocking Liu Que Dan's view. His icy, world-weary fox-like eyes stared at Liu Que Dan. His deep eyes seemed to hide a needle, easily piercing through his thoughts. In a deep voice, he questioned, "Peering into the mind of an emperor is a grave offense. Are you unaware of this?"

They had once relied on each other while living in the hostage residence, but now, for the sake of Lu Yan, their relationship seemed on the verge of breaking.

Liu Que Dan tugged at the corner of his mouth. "To us, it might be a grave offense, but perhaps not to him?"

Lu Yan was so favored that even they were envious. They felt that the emperor didn't resemble an emperor but rather an ordinary father who wanted to give his son the best, regardless of the consequences. Even when Lu Yan burned the *Immortal Ascension Scripture* in front of the throne, the emperor hadn't punished him in the slightest.

Liu Que Dan was confident that if Lu Yan asked, nothing would happen.

Shang Junian countered, "An emperor's thoughts are unpredictable. Why should he risk everything based on your words?"

In a sense, Shang Junian and Liu Que Dan were alike, both cold and detached. But they were also different. If one had to describe it, Liu Que Dan was like a basin of water with ice cubes, cold but transparent. Shang Junian's basin contained bloodied water, crimson red from top to bottom.

Dongli had only two princes, and Tian Shui had only Gongsun Wuyou as a single heir. Wu Yun, however, had a total of sixteen princes, making the competition and the bloody struggle unimaginable.

Shang Junnian had seen too many princes rise and fall in favor; he wouldn't let Lu Yan take risks easily, especially since the latter had just offended Crown Prince Yuxi. This matter could be big or small, depending on whether the emperor wished to pursue it. How could they court disaster at this time?

The temperature in Liu Que's eyes cooled slightly. "You're really thinking for him."

A lazy voice echoed:

"He's my person. If not for me, then who else should I think for?"

Lu Yan seemed oblivious to the tense atmosphere. He stretched out his long arm and pulled Shang Junnian into his embrace, holding him as they walked towards the mansion. Liu Que could faintly hear his soft whispers fading away: "Why must Your Excellency the Chancellor look so cold? Whatever you say goes; I won't defy you..."

Zhao Yuzhang stood rooted to the spot, glancing at Shang Junnian's retreating back and then at Liu Que's cold expression. After a moment of internal struggle, he decided to stick with his good friend and hurriedly ran after them:

"Hey! Why are you walking so fast? Wait for me!"

Liu Que remained where he was, silent as the cold wind stirred his green robes, chilling him to the bone.

Gongsun Wuyou timidly tugged at his sleeve. "Que, are you alright?"

Liu Que seemed lost in thought before suddenly frowning and asking, "Don't you find King Fengling strangely familiar, like someone else?"

The other's lazy smile just now reminded him of someone, but the answer was too absurd for him to believe.

Gongsun Wuyou was puzzled. "He is who he is. Who else could he resemble? I've never seen anyone as handsome as him."

Liu Que came back to his senses. "Forget it. Perhaps I'm overthinking. Let's go back inside."

It was a sensitive period with envoys from various countries paying their respects. They were followed by several guards, who were on high alert. Even speaking to their own country's envoys at the banquet was forbidden. Escaping the confines of Xianling seemed harder than scaling the heavens.

That night, three beats of the wooden gong echoed through the streets, which had emptied after the bright lights had been extinguished. The quietness that followed the festivities was eerie. Only the inn where the envoys stayed was heavily guarded, surrounded by experts.

Dressed in black nightclothes, Lu Yan lay concealed on a nearby rooftop. He pulled down his mask and frowned. "The inn is heavily guarded, and I can't use my Golden Crow Guards without alerting Father. It won't be easy to rescue Zhao Yuxi."

Shang Junnian lay beside him, staring intently at the window on the second floor where the light still shone. His sharp eyes narrowed. "The people from Tianji Palace have already prepared secretly and can draw most of the forces. It will take about an incense stick for the city patrol to arrive. We must finish within that time."

"I have a question—"

A weak voice suddenly sounded in the darkness. Another figure lay on the roof. Zhao Yuzhang had been dragged into this mess without understanding the situation. "What are you doing to rescue Zhao Yuxi?"

Of course, it was to interrogate him about the Heart Technique of the Goddess Sword.

In the darkness, Lu Yan glanced at him, thinking that if it weren't for Zhao Yuzhang's former status as the crown prince of Wu Yun, he wouldn't have brought him along. He asked too many questions. "I don't like him and want to teach him a lesson. Do you want to help?"

Zhao Yuzhang's eyes lit up. "Help! Of course, I will!"

He lacked energy for anything else, but when it came to dealing with Zhao Yuxi, he instantly became spirited.

Because there were too many envoys from different countries, they were staying separately. Dong Li resided in the west of the city, Tian Shui in the south, and Wu Yun in the north, each keeping to themselves.

The guards outside the inn had changed shifts. From a distance, they spotted a group approaching. Leading them was an eunuch, followed by a carriage. They stepped forward to block their path. "Who are you?"

Seeing the eunuch, they worried he might be from the palace, so they spoke politely.

Eunuch He dismounted his horse, chin raised in arrogance. "I am from the Fengling王府, and His Highness knows that Crown Prince Yuxi is staying here. He has prepared some gifts."

The guard was particularly vigilant, accepting the gift but not allowing them entry. "It's late, and His Highness has already retired. It would be inconvenient for him to see guests. Please convey our thanks to King Fengling on behalf of His Highness."

These soldiers were carefully selected, and with a crown prince residing inside, they were exceptionally cautious.

Eunuch He smiled, flicking his whisk meaningfully. "I won't enter, but there are two old friends who wish to catch up with Crown Prince Yuxi. Could you do us a favor?"

Two men disembarked from the carriage: one was Zhao Yuzhang, and the other was Shang Junnian. The guards, all former military personnel, recognized them immediately. Seeing them, they were startled and knelt in unison:

"This subordinate greets Your Highness, the Crown Prince, and Your Excellency, the Chancellor!"

Zhao Yuzhang stood with his hands behind his back, exuding the demeanor of a crown prince. "Rise. My visit at this hour is out of necessity. I miss my homeland and wish to catch up with my elder brother. Otherwise, we may not know when we'll meet again."

Shang Junnian nodded slightly, clearly acquainted with the gatekeeper. "General Jin, how have you been?"

"The title of General is too much for this subordinate. I am unworthy of such praise from Your Excellency."

Seeing them, General Jin relaxed his guard. "Crown Prince Yuxi... His Highness suffered some injuries in the palace today and is resting in his room. Allow me to inform him."

As he turned to head upstairs, a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder. Shang Junnian stopped him from announcing their presence. "No need. I'll go up with you to save the trouble of going back and forth."

Even though Shang Junnian had become a hostage in Xianling, his influence lingered. General Jin had served under him and couldn't muster any resistance. He could only watch helplessly as they ascended the stairs, quickly following behind when he regained his senses.

At that moment, Zhao Yuxi was resting in bed. Lu Yan's kick had been severe, and although he had taken painkillers prescribed by the imperial physician, he was still drenched in cold sweat, unable to move easily. He silently vowed to make Lu Yan suffer a thousand deaths.

Shang Junnian, led by General Jin, walked to the guest room where Zhao Yuxi was resting. Instead of the expected announcement, they pushed the door open and entered as if entering an empty room.

General Jin hesitated, but Zhao Yuzhang pressed his shoulder, lowering his voice. "I have something to discuss with my elder brother. General, please wait downstairs. Military matters are not suitable for your ears."

With that, he closed the door.

Lying in bed, Zhao Yuxi heard the sound of the door opening and closing, assuming it was a servant coming to attend to him. He slightly propped himself up. "Bring another bowl of pain-relieving medicine..."

Before he could finish, he saw the two familiar figures lurking in the shadows, and his words froze.

Shang Junnian lifted his robe and sat down beside the bed calmly, as if meeting an old friend. "Crown Prince Yuxi, it's been years. Do you still recognize this old acquaintance?"

Zhao Yuxi's eyes widened in terror, clearly not expecting Shang Junnian to be allowed in. He opened his mouth to call for help, but in the next second, a cold dagger appeared at his throat, its tip piercing the skin with undeniable malice.

Zhao Yuxi was shocked, becoming mute instantly.

Shang Junnian stared at him expressionlessly. After a moment, a chilling smile slowly formed on his lips, inexplicably sinister. His deep voice coiled around Zhao Yuxi's neck like a venomous snake, suffocating him. "The prince may have forgotten me, but I haven't forgotten you. The 'care' you showed me back in Wu Yun is something I'll never forget."

After coughing twice, Zhao Yuxi managed to speak. Recalling how he had humiliated Shang Junnian in the past, he was overwhelmed with anxiety. "What do you want?"

Shang Junnian merely smiled. He wasn't one to laugh often, making his smile even more chilling. "I ask, you answer. Understand?"

The blade was already at his throat, so Zhao Yuxi could only nod.

Shang Junnian: "Did the Emperor order you to eliminate me when you came this time?"

Zhao Yuxi hesitated for a moment before saying, "Yes, Father was afraid that you would leak the secrets of Wuyun and ordered me to kill you before returning home."

It was as expected, there wasn't much to be sad about. Shang Junnian asked again, "Did he tell you to exchange Yu Zhan back?"

Zhao Yuxi: "No, Father didn't mention him at all."

Zhao Yuzhan, unsure if he felt a chill in his heart, turned around in the shadows and faced away from them.

Shang Junnian calmly asked, "Did he tell you to ally with the other two countries to probe the reality of Xianling?"

Zhao Yuzhan's forehead was drenched in cold sweat as he replied, "No."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone suddenly covered his mouth, and a sharp dagger was brutally plunged into his right leg, causing him excruciating pain as blood spurted out: "Mmph!!!!!!"

Shang Junnian's pale cheeks were splattered with blood, making him appear even more ghostly and sinister. He stared at Zhao Yuxi's miserable state and said in a heavy voice, word by word, "If you don't tell the truth, I will cut off your hands. Do I need to remind you what fate awaits a useless prince in Wuyun?"

Zhao Yuxi's pupils constricted, clearly remembering something terrible. Under Shang Junnian's gaze, his whole body trembled, drenched in cold sweat. This madman had been away from Wuyun for so long, yet it seemed nothing could escape his eyes: "Y-yes... Father said Xianling is showing signs of decline and ordered me to probe its reality. If it's true, I'm supposed to rebel together with Tianshui, but they haven't agreed yet."

Shang Junnian: "I'll ask you one last thing. How did you become the Crown Prince?"

Zhao Yuxi shivered and said, "After Yuzhan left the country, the seventh and ninth princes fought over the position of heir, killing and injuring each other. Now, Wuyun has only me as an adult prince left. Then there's the twelfth and thirteenth princes, but they're just children. So, Father made me the heir."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuzhan was startled and rushed forward. "You're too cruel! Don't think I don't know; you must have been the one who crippled them!"

Zhao Yuxi, covering his wound, gave a pale, bitter laugh. "Zhao Yuzhan, stop pretending to be a saint. Didn't you cripple the former Crown Prince, Yutuo?"

The candles in the room burned out, and the light gradually dimmed. Zhao Yuxi saw Shang Junnian suddenly look at him with a dark expression, smiling ambiguously. "He crippled him?"

A strange fragrance filled his nostrils, and his eyelids suddenly became heavy. Zhao Yuxi tried his best to open his eyes but couldn't muster the strength. Before losing consciousness, the only thing he heard was Shang Junnian's low, drifting voice: "You guessed wrong..."

"Snap."

A soft sound, and the candle went out.

That night, a group of mysterious black-clad assassins suddenly attacked the inn under cover of darkness. Though their numbers were few, their movements were ghostly, and each was equipped with lethal hidden weapons. Inside were needles, several fired simultaneously like a rainstorm, causing countless casualties.

When the city patrol arrived in a hurry, the Crown Prince of Wuyun, Zhao Yuxi, had already been kidnapped. Along with him, Zhao Yuzhan and Shang Junnian, who had come to visit, were also missing.

Only an old eunuch sat in front of the inn, pounding his chest and wailing as if his father had died: "Oh, Lord Wang, it's terrible, they're gone! What are we going to do? How can I explain this to His Highness Fengling? These damned assassins, why didn't they rob someone else? They took His Highness' beauties!"

Wang Sima recognized Eunuch He and quickly dismounted, rushing over. "What did you say? His Highness' beauties were taken?!"

Eunuch He slapped his thighs repeatedly, never having cried so hard in his life. "Didn't they take them? Both are gone! Both! Those damned assassins, why didn't they take me instead?!"

Wang Sima: "..."

The disappearance of three major figures overnight caused a huge uproar in the capital. When the news reached the palace, the Emperor dispatched the Imperial Guard to search the entire city. Even if they had to turn Xianling upside down, they would find the people. Unbeknownst to them, the people they were looking for were currently locked in the dungeon of Fengling Palace.

"As long as Crown Prince Yuxi can accurately recite the Heart Technique of the Goddess Sword, we will naturally return you unharmed."

Zhao Yuxi was bound to a chair by shackles, facing a wooden table with a single candle burning at the corner. The surroundings were dark and black, with a group of black-clad men wearing ghost-faced fangs masks standing around. Behind the masks were pairs of hollow, pitch-black eyes that sent chills down his spine.

He didn't know why these people had kidnapped him or why they wanted the Goddess Sword technique, but the pain in his body constantly reminded Zhao Yuxi that his life was in their hands.

Zhao Yuxi had already endured a round of torture. He picked up the brush pen tremblingly, thinking that if the Heart Technique of the Goddess Sword leaked out, his father would surely guess the reason and kill him. But if he didn't write it, his own life might end here. It was better to bluff through it since these people hadn't seen the real technique.

Zhao Yuxi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, writing while making things up. Finally, he filled a thick stack of paper and said fearfully, "I... I've finished writing. When will you let me go?"

One of the black-clad men stepped forward and snatched the technique, but without even looking at it, he placed a new sheet of paper in front of him and coldly ordered:

"Write another identical copy."

Zhao Yuxi: "..."