Chapter 2385 - 2075: What Does Your Prince Zhen Nan Manor Want to Do?
Guangling City, within a certain courtyard.
Ji Yan sat in front of a stone table, holding the intelligence his subordinates had recently gathered in Guangling County.
The intelligence mentioned that Zhen Nan Prince Manor had already sealed those few Deceit Kings, and this had occurred over a month ago, nearly two months.
Upon seeing this news, Ji Yan’s expression became grim.
Such crucial information, yet he only learned of it now. The key issue is that he is still in Guangling County, and he’s even in Guangling City, the place closest to Zhen Nan Prince Manor.
The ability of Zhen Nan Prince Manor to seal those Deceit Kings was actually advantageous for him too.
If those Deceit Kings continued to harm the Qi Fortune of Dazhou, when he ascended to that position in the future, he would inherit a dire situation.
His current displeasure stemmed from the fact that Yellow Springs Sect hadn’t caught wind of such vital intelligence.
Now it seemed that Yellow Springs Sect wasn’t as formidable as he had imagined.
This Yellow Springs Sect even claimed they would help him gain Dragon Qi; he seriously doubted whether the sect truly possessed such capability, leaving Ji Yan with a feeling of being deceived.
However, having already arrived in Guangling City, there was no turning back; he could only press forward.
Thinking this, Ji Yan prepared to send someone to find Du Wen, wanting to ask exactly how long Du Wen intended to keep him waiting.
Before he could speak, a chilling wind swept by, and the next moment, a black-robed Du Wen appeared before him.
Seeing Du Wen, Ji Yan coldly asked, "You must have also heard about those Deceit Kings being sealed, right?"
Noticing Ji Yan’s somewhat somber look, Du Wen gave an awkward smile, then picked up the teapot from the stone table, poured himself a cup of tea, and asked in return, "The Prince seems a bit displeased. I wonder who has offended the Prince?"
Ji Yan didn’t hide anything and directly asked, "It’s been nearly two months since this happened. Hasn’t your Yellow Springs Sect caught even a hint of it?"
Du Wen didn’t directly answer Ji Yan’s question but instead said, "Zhen Nan Prince Manor sealing those Deceit Kings isn’t beneficial for the Prince?"
"If those Deceit Kings were allowed to wreak havoc longer, Dazhou’s Qi Fortune might be beyond salvation."
"Even if the Prince became Emperor then, your reign would be unstable. Someone eliminated potential threats for you, the Prince should be pleased."
Du Wen could see that Ji Yan seemed distrustful of Yellow Springs Sect, so he continued, "By the way, I came to tell the Prince that our plan is about to commence. I hope the Prince is prepared."
Hearing this, Ji Yan’s expression eased a bit.
Ji Yan seemed to think of something and then asked, "Was the disturbance in Cold River Town instigated by your Yellow Springs Sect?"
Ji Yan heard that the Deceit Suppression Bureau had dispatched numerous people to Cold River Town, and even Fan Yaodong went.
This baiting strategy clearly appeared to be Yellow Springs Sect’s method of leading away the Deceit Suppression Bureau’s Earth Realm fighters.
Du Wen did not deny it and straightforwardly admitted, "Yes, with the Deceit Suppression Bureau’s Earth Realm fighters in Cold River Town, we can now focus on dealing with Zhen Nan Prince Manor."
Ji Yan asked, "There are numerous Earth Realm fighters in Zhen Nan Prince Manor. Are you truly confident, Yellow Springs Sect?"
Even now, Ji Yan couldn’t fully trust Yellow Springs Sect.
After all, Yellow Springs Sect didn’t even know Zhen Nan Prince Manor had sealed the Deceit Kings, reflecting on the faction’s true strength.
Additionally, he worried that when Yellow Springs Sect acted against Prince Zhen Nan, he would also be involved. If the operation failed and his identity was exposed, once the Imperial Court found out, he would have no chance at that position.
Seeing that Ji Yan still had concerns, Du Wen then said, "Tomorrow the Sect Hierarch of Yellow Springs Sect will arrive in Guangling City. By then, the Prince will understand why we are so confident this plan will succeed."
Ji Yan said, "Very well, I’ll be watching expectantly."
...
Escorted by Lu Yu from the Deceit Suppression Bureau, Bai Qingqing, along with Lu Chen’s child and Ji Yunmeng, successfully arrived in Guangling City.
Lu Chen was playing happily with Zhou Youyou when he heard Bai Qingqing and the others had arrived. He immediately got up and dressed, leaving Zhou Youyou’s room to greet them at the entrance of Zhen Nan Prince Manor.
Just as Lu Chen reached the entrance, a convoy of carriages approached from the distant street.
Soon the carriages stopped before Zhen Nan Prince Manor, and Bai Qingqing, dressed in white, alighted with the child.
Lu Chen hurriedly went up to assist Bai Qingqing, then took the child from her arms.
With a smile, Lu Chen said to Bai Qingqing, "My dear, you must be tired."
As he spoke, Lu Chen looked down at the child in his arms.
At this moment, Lu Rou laid in Lu Chen’s arms, giggling merrily.
Lu Chen gently rocked Lu Rou, then asked, "Did Rourou miss daddy?"
Lu Rou lifted her chubby hand, still giggling, as Lu Chen playfully poked her chubby little hand.
While Lu Chen was playing with his daughter, the curtain of a nearby carriage lifted, and a jade hand extended before Ji Yunmeng stepped out.
Lu Chen looked up at her and then said, "The Princess has endured much as well."
Mentioning this, Lu Chen glanced at the convoy on the street, continuing, "This isn’t a suitable place to talk, let’s continue inside."
With that, he headed inside the Prince’s Mansion with Lu Rou in his arms.
They soon arrived at a courtyard prepared for the two women.
Inside, while teasing Lu Rou, Lu Chen asked Ji Yunmeng and the others, "Did you encounter any danger on the way?"
Ji Yunmeng replied expressionlessly, "No one in the Capital City knows we left, so there was naturally no danger."
Lu Chen looked at Ji Yunmeng and said, "The Princess has surprised me; I didn’t think you would come to Guangling City."
Ji Yunmeng didn’t respond to this but instead asked, "What does your Zhen Nan Prince Manor intend to do?"
It’s not just the Deceit Suppression Bureau’s headquarters moving to Zhen Nan Prince’s territory, now all Zhen Nan Prince Manor’s people have come to Guangling City. It looked like rebellion.
Ji Yunmeng couldn’t help but suspect that Prince Zhen Nan planned to seize power through military force.
If that were the case, her dealings with Lu Chen might become void.
If Prince Zhen Nan intended to overthrow Dazhou’s rule by force, how could he support someone with Dazhou royal blood to become Emperor?
It would certainly be Lu Chen who would take that position.
Upon receiving Lu Chen’s letter, Ji Yunmeng hesitated, unsure whether she should go to Guangling City.
If Zhen Nan Prince Manor truly intended rebellion, her position would be very awkward.
But ultimately, she chose to trust Lu Chen, believing Lu Chen’s ambition for power wasn’t an act, that he wasn’t someone who craved authority.
During the journey, she had also heard rumors of Zhen Nan Prince Manor sealing the Deceit Kings, which further affirmed Ji Yunmeng’s belief that Zhen Nan Prince Manor, for now, had no rebellious intent; his actions might be to prevent the Royal Family from discarding him after being used against the Deceit Kings.
In such distant lands, with the Deceit Suppression Bureau’s people aligning with Zhen Nan Prince Manor, it would cost Dazhou dearly to wipe out Zhen Nan Prince Manor, a price Dazhou couldn’t bear.
Bai Qingqing, hearing the dialogue between Lu Chen and Ji Yunmeng, felt the ensuing conversation wasn’t for her ears, so she approached Lu Chen and said, "Young master, Rourou should sleep. I’ll take her to bed."