Chapter 272 - 65: Breakthrough in Cultivation, the Former Crown Prince_3

After a soft snort.

He spoke straight to Ye Liuyun.

"Since you know my identity, why have you not knelt to acknowledge your guilt?"

"..."

Ye Liuyun did not reply, he merely stared in Yan Jiang’s direction for a moment, then curled his lips and broke into a laugh.

This is rather amusing.

Targeting me, is it?

"Acknowledge guilt? Why should I acknowledge guilt? What wrong have I done?"

The people of the imperial court, faced with such a spectacle, mostly looked on coldly, each wearing the expression of one untouched by the matter.

"You show open disrespect to me, your prince; you offend your superior. Do you not know your fault?"

Seeing not a trace of repentance in Ye Liuyun.

Yan Jiang’s voice turned to a rebuke.

"Prince An has misspoken."

Looking at Yan Jiang’s demeanor, Ye Liuyun’s smile deepened, and he calmly explained.

"I am the Southern Governor of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which was founded by His Majesty himself. The Late Emperor once declared that the Embroidered Uniform Guard need only obey the Emperor, and no others may meddle in its affairs!"

Of course.

Though the Embroidered Uniform Guard now stands battered and riddled with decay, it does not diminish its former glory.

And indeed, these words were spoken by the Late Emperor himself.

Though in their hearts none truly heed it anymore, no one dares openly to contravene the orders of the late sovereign.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard owes respect only to His Majesty. Prince An, you say I have offended my superior—but are you suggesting you are Emperor now? Or is it that you harbor disloyalty to the throne?"

"..."

My word.

With but a few lines, a prince has been painted a rebel by your hand.

Fortunate it is that many present have experienced Ye Liuyun’s sharp tongue before and are quite used to it.

"You—!"

This was, however, Yan Jiang’s first time encountering Ye Liuyun’s sort.

He raised his hand, trembling as he pointed at Ye Liuyun, for a time unable to utter a single word.

Upon the Dragon Throne sat Yan Shuzhu.

He had been a touch concerned for Ye Liuyun, but upon seeing Yan Jiang rendered speechless by fury, he could not suppress a stifled laugh or two.

"Enough!"

At last.

It was Prime Minister Fu Zhengqing who stepped forth to break off this clash.

"This is the imperial court—how dare you make such commotion!"

So you do remember the court is no place for such exchanges. Ye Liuyun said nothing further, but Yan Jiang on Prince An’s end, at last exhaled a cloud of sullenness, regaining composure.

How obedient.

This conduct drew Ye Liuyun’s gaze to rest a little longer on both Fu Zhengqing and Yan Jiang of Prince An.

...

After morning court adjourned,

Ye Liuyun had his answer from Lei Zheng.

"It is only natural. Fu Zhengqing once served as Prince An’s teacher; indeed, it was in no small part due to the Prime Minister’s aid that Yan Jiang became a prince."

This explained, too,

Why Yan Jiang was so compliant toward Fu Zhengqing.

With the backing of a Grandmaster, there is no mystery in it.

A pity, that it was Yan Shuzhu who ascended the imperial throne in the end; the crown prince’s title in Yan Jiang’s hands became but an empty shell.

He could hardly serve as crown prince under Yan Shuzhu, after all.

Thus did Yan Jiang take up a princely title instead.

"However, I have heard that ever since Prince An received his title, he has had little contact with Fu Zhengqing. Who would have thought their bond endures!"

Who says that merely because all seems quiet on the surface, it truly is beneath as well?

What goes on in the shadows—who can tell?

Upon hearing this, Ye Liuyun only laughed it off.

He hadn’t expected to bring yet another prince into the mix, but so be it—no harm done. If even Prince Jin Yan Ze could be tricked into making a fool of himself, how much trouble could this Yan Jiang possibly cause?

Lei Zheng, noticing the change on Ye Liuyun’s face,

could not help but inquire, piqued by curiosity.

"Tell me—how do you plan to track down those men? I searched high and low for days, found not a single trace. Peculiar—what, can they soar through the clouds and vanish into earth?"

The Imperial City is not so vast as it seems, nor so tiny as to be trivial.

If one truly wished to find someone, surely not so many days would pass without the faintest clue.

"What is there to rush about finding people?"

There is no deadline set for this case, after all.

Thus Ye Liuyun was in no hurry at all.

"The proper way is to skim a little profit before finding anyone!"

"You can line your pockets even with a case like this?"

Lei Zheng’s face was alight with delight.

Plainly, he had found it impossible to imagine how profit might be wrung from the arrest of fugitives.

"Just you wait and see. Want to loan me some men? Don’t complain when the spoils are divided and you’re left out!"

Ye Liuyun’s generosity was famous in the Embroidered Uniform Guard; of any wealth uncovered, half was always divvied up among his subordinates. Many wished to work under him, but lacked the chance.

Lei Zheng mused a moment, then nodded in the end.

"Very well; I’ll let my men know—whatever you require, command them directly."

No one is one to miss out when money is to be made.

Even Lei Zheng himself, it would seem, did not wish to be left behind; whatever the sum, something is better than nothing.

"No problem!"

With Lei Zheng’s agreement, Ye Liuyun’s smile appeared all the more ’genuine.’

This case not ripe for fattening pockets?

No!

To Ye Liuyun’s mind, such cases were the best for skimming a little extra.

...

That very afternoon.

Within Prime Minister Fu Zhengqing’s mansion, everyone thought that Yan Jiang had cut ties with the Prime Minister since accepting his title.

But in truth, that was mere appearance.

Behind closed doors, Prince An visited Fu Zhengqing’s residence often enough.

The Prime Minister’s household was so tight-lipped, no word of this ever leaked.

"Teacher!"

In the courtyard, Yan Jiang saw Fu Zhengqing sitting at a stone table, engrossed in a game of chess with himself.

Naturally, he seated himself opposite, waiting in silence.

Fu Zhengqing said nothing.

Only after finishing the round did he finally look up, slowly.

...