Chapter 152: Schemes and Blades

Chapter 152: Conspiracy and the Blade

The one who spoke was none other than the Fourth Prince, Xiao Lingchuan.

Before his words even faded, the Third Prince, Xiao Xiuzhan, immediately objected: "Father, absolutely not! Second Brother is now trapped in danger, clearly a scheme set up by the Nanyue people. The Nanyue have always been cunning and treacherous. Fourth Brother carries half Nanyue blood in his veins. Who can guarantee he isn't working with the enemy, using this chance to help Nanyue invade Daye?"

Hearing this, Xiao Lingchuan curled his lips in a mocking smile: "Third Brother makes a good point. In that case, why don't you lead the troops to rescue Second Brother from his predicament?"

"You..." Xiao Xiuzhan's face went pale, his voice a little shaky. "Those Nanyue Cats are deadly. Are you trying to send me to my death, Fourth Brother?"

Seeing how scared he was, Xiao Lingchuan's mockery deepened: "What's the matter, Third Brother? Are you afraid? I thought with your pure Daye blood, you'd be brave and fearless, unafraid of the Nanyue Cat's poison!"

"You..." Xiao Xiuzhan's face turned red and pale with shame, torn between shame and anger.

"Enough!" The emperor cut them off, his face as dark as ink. "I trust the Fourth Prince! Though his birth mother is Nanyue, he is a Daye prince, raised by my side since he was a child, and once risked his life to save mine. I believe he would never side with foreign enemies to harm the people of Daye!"

"Thank you, Father!" Xiao Lingchuan clasped his hands and replied loudly.

"Fourth Prince, do you have a plan for those poisonous Nanyue Cats?" The emperor's gaze was sharp.

"Your Majesty, I know Daye has long avoided a direct fight with Nanyue, first, to spare the people the horrors of war, and second, because we fear Nanyue's poisons. To this end, I've gone all out, traveling across Daye to see famous doctors, and eventually made friends with a Divine Physician named Sun. He can whip up antidotes in no time. I plan to bring him along, and he'll help me fight off the Nanyue poison cats!" said Xiao Lingchuan.

Upon hearing this, the emperor looked relieved: "The Fourth Prince is indeed far-sighted. I am deeply gratified! In that case, I'm giving you command of fifty thousand troops. Go quickly to back up the Second Prince! Don't let me down!"

"Rest assured, Father. I won't let you down. I swear to wipe out every last Nanyue poison cat and bring peace and prosperity to Daye's people!"

"When you come back victorious, I'll reward you well!"

"Thank you, Father!" Xiao Lingchuan bowed again, his tone resolute.

Hearing this, the court officials secretly sighed with relief. Finally, someone had stepped up to handle this crisis.

Chancellor Jiang stepped forward, hands clasped: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. The Fourth Prince is far-sighted, a true pillar of Daye!"

Other officials chimed in, and the court soon buzzed with praise and high hopes for Xiao Lingchuan.

Back at the Lingge Palace, Xiao Xiuzhan was furious.

Seeing this, Jiang Yaozhen approached gracefully, gently placing her hand on his shoulder, and asked softly: "What has angered Your Highness? Is it something unpleasant at court?"

Xiao Xiuzhan snorted coldly: "I just learned that the match between the Su family daughter and the Fifth Brother was arranged by that Nanyue bastard Xiao Lingchuan! I haven't even settled accounts with him yet, and today he volunteered at court to lead troops to support Second Brother, and Father actually agreed, promising him a heavy reward upon his return! That Nanyue mongrel—why does he deserve such honor? What's more infuriating is that your father and those upright officials all praised him for his foresight! At this rate, his reputation will soon overshadow mine!"

Jiang Yaozhen chuckled softly, her tone gentle but laced with sharpness: "Why should Your Highness worry about this? I have heard that the Nanyue Cats are extremely ferocious, their poison fatal, and those bitten are beyond cure. Since the Fourth Prince wants to play the hero, let him go to his death."

"You don't understand," Xiao Xiuzhan said with reluctance. "He has a Divine Physician surnamed Sun by his side, who is said to be able to quickly concoct antidotes. He plans to take this physician with him. Judging by his demeanor, he seems confident in wiping out the Nanyue poison cats!"

"Divine Physician Sun?" Jiang Yaozhen's heart tightened. So that's why her attempts to poison Xiao Lingchuan had all failed—he had such a protector.

A sinister smile curled at the corner of her lips as she whispered: "Your Highness, what's so difficult about that? Just kill the Divine Physician Sun. Then the Fourth Prince will be caught in a dilemma, forced to go to the southern border alone to face the Nanyue poison cats. If both he and the Second Prince fall to the cats' claws, won't Your Highness be rid of two major threats?"

"Right! Zhen's plan is brilliant!" Xiao Xiuzhan pulled Jiang Yaozhen into his arms, seating her on his lap, and playfully tapped her nose, laughing. "You're so clever, Zhen. You've enlightened me! Tell me, if this succeeds, how should I reward you?"

Jiang Yaozhen feigned shyness, leaning against his chest, and said softly: "Your Highness is my husband. It is my duty to offer advice. If Your Highness truly wishes to reward me, when you ascend to the highest throne, grant me the position of empress, how about that?"

"Ha ha, good! Well said, Zhen!" Xiao Xiuzhan laughed heartily, his face full of pride, as if the throne were already within his grasp.

In a private room at the Laifu Restaurant, Jiang Yaozhen and Concubine Jiang were whispering conspiratorially.

A flicker of ruthlessness flashed in Jiang Yaozhen's eyes: "The Fourth Prince has decided to personally lead the troops to the southern border to exterminate the Nanyue Cats. The Third Prince will eliminate the Divine Physician Sun before he sets out. Mother, this is the perfect opportunity to get rid of the Fourth Prince. It's up to you!"

Concubine Jiang gestured: "Don't worry. I am no longer under his control. I can go all out and take his life!"

Jiang Yaozhen's smile deepened: "Mother, your plan to lure the snake out of its hole is truly brilliant. The Fourth Prince thinks he is successfully baiting the enemy, little knowing that a bigger trap awaits him! He probably never dreamed that far more than the Nanyue poison cats await him. This time, he won't return to the capital alive!"

Concubine Jiang patted her shoulder and gestured: "Once Nanyue successfully devours Daye, they will become our allies. By then, the entire Daye realm will be in our hands!"

Jiang Yaozhen's eyes sparkled: "Mother, I too look forward to that day!"

Xiao Xiuzhan made a special trip to the arena.

Not long ago, he had sent a man of immense strength there, both to use his power to earn money and to hone his killing instinct.

Now, after countless life-and-death battles, that man had surely been forged into a sharp and terrifying blade.

Inside the dim iron cage, Hao Li was gnawing on a piece of bloody raw meat. The stench was overpowering, but he was oblivious, eating with relish.

To tame this naturally powerful man, the arena had fed him a slow-acting poison, requiring regular doses of antidote; otherwise, his body would feel as if ants were gnawing at his bones, with unbearable itching and excruciating pain.

Hao Li had tried to escape several times but was always forced back by the poison's effects.

Xiao Xiuzhan approached, looking down at him, and said in a deep voice: "Kill someone for me, and I'll give you the complete antidote to free you from this poison's torment. How about it?"

A ripple finally stirred on Hao Li's wooden face.

He looked up, his gaze sharp as a blade, staring straight at Xiao Xiuzhan: "Who?"

A sinister smile curled at the corner of Xiao Xiuzhan's lips as he enunciated each word: "The Fourth Prince, Xiao Lingchuan!"