"Boom!"
The gate opened and a rider galloped in. Outside the palace gate, Li Jingzhong's heart tightened when he saw the Fifth Prince ride out. Tugging on the corner of his robe, he strode forward and took the reins of the Fifth Prince's horse.
"Your Highness, how was it? Your Highness, how was it, how was it … "
Li Jingzhong raised his head, his body fiercely trembling from nervousness and excitement. This matter was no small matter. One could say that the Fifth Prince's life depended on it.
Similarly, Li Jingzhong's life depended on it as well. In the palace, it was common for a subject to die when the master was humiliated. Thus, one could easily imagine how uneasy Li Jingzhong had been in the last few hours.
"Uncle Jing, don't be nervous. It's fine, it's fine! … "
Li Heng sat on his horse, his face red with excitement, his neck red. He seemed even more excited than Li Jingzhong.
Li Heng still couldn't restrain his excitement when he thought about what had just happened in the palace. His entire life of being low-key, cowering, tolerating, and cowardly had all vanished into thin air in that moment in the palace.
Li Heng knew that the Third Prince was trying to harm him, and he also knew that if he revealed the truth that he knew martial arts, he would likely infuriate the Holy Emperor and be attacked by his imperial brothers. He would then be accused of deceiving the sovereign.
But Li Heng couldn't worry about such things.
After being bullied, plotted against, ignored, and ridiculed in the palace for twenty years, Li Heng's most intense desire suddenly exploded.
Even if he was to be executed tomorrow, he still wanted his father to look at him in the eye with dignity.
Li Heng didn't know how to perform a sword dance, but he did. There was no technique, no technique, and it was different from any other sword dance in the world.
Li Heng's sword dance came from his heart, a bold and unrestrained dance of decades of venting his emotions.
When the sword dance ended, it was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Li Heng was prepared to await the worst judgment, but then he heard the world's most beautiful voice.
After ten-some years, he finally heard the voice of his father from his childhood, a voice filled with affirmation.
Li Heng could still remember the surprised and marvelous expressions on the faces of his imperial brothers when they heard those words.
"Uncle Jing, Wang Chong was right! He was right! Let's go and find Wang Chong! … "
Li Heng was extremely excited.
If it wasn't for Wang Chong's encouragement and his analysis, even if he wanted to perform at that time, he wouldn't have had the courage to do so.
As it turned out, everything was as Wang Chong had predicted.
If he showed even the slightest bit of hesitation or denial during today's audience, then he would really be unable to escape today's calamity.
Wang Chong was right. Only by taking the initiative and fighting for it with all their might would they have any hope of survival. Just as Wang Chong had analyzed, His Majesty was an aggressive army. His life had been forged through all kinds of adversities.
As long as she took the initiative and performed well, she would be able to gain her father's favor.
The moment his imperial father spoke, Li Heng raised his head. His eyes could clearly see the look in Li Heng's eyes. He had never felt his father's feelings as he did now.
Like a bird in a cage, the moment his sword began to dance, Li Heng had broken the shackles in his heart, broken all the apprehensions in his body and heart!
Li Jingzhong did not say anything. He stared blankly at the excited Fifth Prince, who was waving his hands and feet in joy. He was completely stunned.
He had never seen Li Heng like this before. He was dancing around, confident, passionate, and brimming with initiative and enthusiasm.
In all his years of serving Li Heng, Li Jingzhong had never seen him like this.
Li Jingzhong had a faint feeling that the Fifth Prince standing before him seemed to be a little different from the Fifth Prince he had remembered in the past.
But not even he could tell what was different.
"Let's go!"
Li Jingzhong came back to his senses and led Li Heng's horse out.
… …
"Hmph! Bastard! "
Upon returning to the palace, the Third Prince furiously slammed his palm down, crushing the three-inch-thick table of black gold into a ball of paper.
When he thought about what had happened in the palace, the Third Prince's face turned ashen and nasty. He had put in a lot of effort and had calculated everything.
The only thing he hadn't expected was for the Fifth Prince to change from his usual routine and offer a dance.
And even more surprising was that not only had his father not punished him for such a major matter, he had even bestowed upon him a special robe of the imperial clan.
A robe bestowed by the emperor was no trifling matter. Even the slowest person would understand what his father meant.
Starting from now, no one was allowed to do anything to Li Heng. The robe bestowed by the emperor was a protective talisman.
Anyone who dared to do anything to Li Heng would be seeking their own death.
Because doing so was tantamount to challenging the Holy Emperor.
"Investigate for me just what's going on with Fifth Brother? Not even Imperial Father can cure his illness. How in the world did he manage to cultivate all of a sudden? Furthermore, he has already reached Origin Energy Tier 9! "
The Third Prince turned his head, his heart seething with rage.
"Your Highness, it's useless."
In the hall, the black-robed elder with triangular eyes, Ghost Hands, who had once appeared near the spirit vein mountain, sternly said.
"The First Prince has already investigated, but he didn't find any clues at all. The Fifth Prince has been very low-key in the training camp. Moreover, the Fifth Prince's illness … not even His Majesty can do anything about it. This isn't something a normal person can do. There's definitely something we don't know about! "
The Third Prince said nothing, a hint of apprehension in his eyes. This was one of the reasons he hadn't sent anyone to assassinate Li Heng.
If Li Heng really did have some formidable expert protecting him, someone who could change Li Heng's fate and completely alter his constitution, then this was not someone the Third Prince could deal with. If things went wrong, this person might even leave behind some clues that would be disadvantageous to him.
He had taken such a big detour to plot against Li Heng in front of his imperial father precisely because of this apprehension.
Even though he had still failed in the end.
"Damn it!"
The Third Prince clenched his teeth and clenched his fists.
"No matter who he is, I have to find him. I'd like to see just who is helping him. Ghost Hands, take your men and leave. Old Fifth has just been rewarded by imperial father and is at the height of his success. Once he leaves the Imperial Palace, he will definitely go find that person. Take your men and carefully reward them. "
"Bastard thing! Even if he's an immortal from the heavens, if he dares to interfere in the Struggle for Crown Prince, I will have him fall to the ground! "
"Yes, your subordinate will immediately take his men!"
Ghost Hands lowered his head, gathered his men, and left with them.
… …
Meanwhile, in the palaces of the other princes, the Second Prince, the Fourth Prince, the Sixth Prince, the Seventh Prince … all the princes were also paying attention to this matter.
Old Wu, who had always been a coward and appeared to be a coward, suddenly became so proactive and showed off his abilities, which surprised everyone.
Even more shocking was the Holy Emperor's attitude. The matter of Old Fifth had actually been so lightly brushed aside.
Not only had the Holy Emperor not rebuked him, he had even gifted him a robe. He hadn't even asked about the cause of the matter.
"This Old Fifth, I truly underestimated him. I didn't think that he would hide himself so deeply. "
"If he had been obedient and didn't have any improper thoughts, it wouldn't have mattered. But since he has such ambitions, he can't be tolerated. "
"There's only one imperial throne. Since he wants to sit on it, there's no need to talk about brotherly affection."
"While he's still weak, we have to find a way to get rid of him no matter what. Otherwise, if he's allowed to sit on the throne, what will happen? "
"There are already enough brothers in the palace fighting over the throne. There can't be any more!"
… …
Not even Li Heng could have imagined that his sword dance had simultaneously aroused the hostility and killing intent of the other princes.
If their hostility toward Li Heng had been limited to thoughts before, now, after this banquet, these thoughts could be transformed into action.
There was no familial affection in the imperial household. If this was the case between father and son, then what about brothers?
Not even a Saint could resolve a problem, so how could a robe solve it? It was just that everything had to be done in even greater secrecy!
… …
Flapflap!
As the darkness deepened, a black crow flapped its wings and flew through the sky, ultimately landing in a corner in the northwest corner.
"It's here!"
The Eagle raised a hand and caught the crow.
"It seems that the Fifth Prince's side is safe."
Wang Chong held his hands behind him as he gazed at the crow in the Eagle's hand and breathed a sigh of relief. Right now, he was most worried about the Fifth Prince.
He had been waiting here this entire time for news of the Fifth Prince.
"Young Master is correct. Li Jingzhong's message says that the Fifth Prince has managed to escape unscathed, and he even obtained an official robe bestowed upon him by the Holy Emperor. The Fifth Prince says that he wishes to see you, but Li Jingzhong says that he has already stopped you from seeing him. "
The Eagle finished reading the letter on the crow's leg and nodded.
"This fellow … is rather useful."
Wang Chong nodded. As he listened to The Eagle read the contents of the letter, a strange look flashed across his eyes.
Li Jingzhong, the future treacherous official, reacted quickly in this aspect. He knew that this was not the time for them to meet, so he had taken the initiative to stop the Fifth Prince.
It was worth sparing his life back then.
"I hope that he can continue to be like this! … … "
Wang Chong thought to himself.
Li Jingzhong was gradually displaying his true potential. As the future treacherous official, he had almost complete control over the entire imperial court. Li Jingzhong's perception of politics and his ability to sense danger were unquestionable.
With him by the Fifth Prince's side, the Fifth Prince would be much safer, and he would also be a great help. At least, that was the case for now!
"Let's go, we should set off. We still have a very important mission ahead of us. This is just the beginning … … "
Wang Chong raised his head, his gaze piercing through the buildings toward the Imperial Palace.
Only he understood that although Li Heng had successfully escaped this calamity, it was not the end. It was merely the beginning of an even more magnificent and dangerous chess game.
Once one entered this chess game, one could not withdraw. Until the very end, it could not be considered resolved. Big Uncle, himself, the entire Wang Clan, The King of Song, King Qi, the First Prince, the Second Prince … all the princes and princesses, no matter who they were, could not withdraw until the very end.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
