The Prince Zhen Nan naturally knows why Emperor Zhou has come to the Zhen Nan Prince Manor. The Emperor, imprisoned deep within the palace, was released by the Empress Dowager today, clearly wanting to use Emperor Zhou to persuade the Zhen Nan Prince Manor to oppose the strange beings.
Emperor Zhou smiled and replied, "The Prince Zhen Nan should have guessed as much."
Saying this, Emperor Zhou glanced at everyone in the hall, then addressed Lu Chen, "You must be Lu Chen?"
Lu Chen bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Emperor Zhou praised, "I have long heard the Heir of Prince Zhen Nan is extraordinarily handsome, like a Banished Immortal. Seeing him today, indeed, he is exceptional."
After praising Lu Chen, Emperor Zhouās gaze returned to the Prince Zhen Nan. As he was about to say something, a servant from the Princeās Mansion entered the hall with freshly brewed tea.
The Prince Zhen Nan raised his hand to indicate the servant should leave the teapot and exit the hall. After placing the teapot, the servant turned and left.
Once the servant had left and closed the door to the dim hall, only the three of them remained.
The Prince Zhen Nan held the teapot and poured Emperor Zhou a cup of tea, then said, "Your Majesty, can you now tell me what this is about?"
Emperor Zhou asked, "Prince Zhen Nan, donāt tell me you are unaware of the situation with the Deceit Suppression Bureau?"
The Prince Zhen Nan replied, "I have only just learned about it myself. Is Your Majesty visiting the Princeās Manor today because of the Deceit Suppression Bureau?"
Seeing the Prince Zhen Nan still pretending not to understand, Emperor Zhou bluntly stated, "Now, those five Earth Realm Strange beings are unaccounted for. If left unchecked, once they regain their strength, it could be a crisis of life and death for Dazhou."
"Back then, it was thanks to the First Generation Prince Zhen Nan that we could seal those five Earth Realm Strange beings. Surely, the First Generation Prince Zhen Nan left some methods to deal with these beings in the Princeās Manor."
"This time, I have come to ask the Princeās Manor to help locate those five Earth Realm Strange beings and seal them once again."
As Emperor Zhou finished speaking, the Prince Zhen Nan did not immediately respond but leisurely poured himself tea and slowly took a sip.
Despite his irritation at the Prince Zhen Nanās nonchalance, Emperor Zhou did not show it on his face.
After a while, the Prince Zhen Nan put down the teacup, his expression calm as he said, "Your Majesty, letās speak candidly. You must know how the royal family has treated the Princeās Manor all these years."
Seeing the Prince Zhen Nan willing to speak openly, Emperor Zhou candidly said, "The Prince Zhen Nan should also know my current situation, that woman has been controlling the court for years, and the last thing she wants is to see us harmonious in our service to the empire, thus she has oppressed the Princeās Manor everywhere. But none of this has to do with me."
"If I were ruling directly, it would never have happened. Without the First Generation Prince Zhen Nan, Dazhou wouldnāt have been established. Iām not someone who forgets kindness."
Upon hearing Emperor Zhouās words, the Prince Zhen Nan smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, your words arenāt very convincing. Since the death of my Grand Ancestor, every Emperor in Dazhou has employed various means to oppress the Princeās Manor."
"During my reign, the Princeās Manor even lost its land and was left only with this small manor."
"Would Your Majesty, after ruling directly, truly trust the Princeās Manor and not continue the oppression like your ancestors, or even seek to destroy the Princeās Manor?"
Faced with such a sharp question from the Prince Zhen Nan, Emperor Zhou understood that if he couldnāt answer satisfactorily, the Prince Zhen Nan might very well refuse to help Dazhou combat the strange beings.
Emperor Zhou knew his assurances wouldnāt hold weight; on one hand, the court is controlled by the Empress Dowager, and he is but a puppet emperor, his words powerless. On the other, his ancestors were indeed wary of the Princeās Manor, desiring its destruction over generations, actions he couldnāt deny.
At this point, Emperor Zhou said, "I understand the Prince Zhen Nan harbors resentment towards the royal family. Regardless of what assurance I make, itās difficult for you to trust us. But to reassure the Princeās Manor, I can help the Prince Zhen Nan reclaim his land, and also allow him to oversee the Deceit Suppression Bureau."
"If the Princeās Manor can seal those Earth Realm Strange beings once more, it will remind everyone that the Princeās Manor possesses the strength to oppose these creatures. Without it, facing Earth Realm Strange beings in the future would mean that the royal family must confront them directly. Henceforth, no power in Dazhou would dare entertain undue thoughts towards the Princeās Manor."
To be honest, Emperor Zhou initially agreed with his ancestorsā approach. Were he to rule directly, his first act would be to oppress the Princeās Manor, seeking its destruction.
However, learning of the Earth Realm Strange beingsā escape changed his thinking, realizing the Princeās Manorās significance. Destroying the Princeās Manor would leave the royal family to face such threats alone, and the noble families are unreliable in their support.
Moreover, the Princeās Manor is experienced in dealing with strange beings. Perhaps the current Prince Zhen Nan is capable of using the Abnormal Skill like the First Generation Prince Zhen Nan, enhancing the Princeās importance in Dazhou.
In other words, while the royal family can suppress the Princeās Manor, destroying it isnāt wise, at least not until a method to eliminate Earth Realm Strange beings is found.
Now Emperor Zhou finally understands why the Grand Ancestor Emperorās ancient teachings insisted that future Emperors must not destroy the Princeās Manor. It may be why every Emperor has suppressed but never attacked the Princeās Manor.
The truth is, Emperor Zhou is now somewhat suspicious whether the escape of the five Earth Realm Strange beings was related to the Princeās Manor.
The timing was too coincidental; just as the Empress Dowager and other Royal Family Members were contemplating the destruction of the Princeās Manor, those five Earth Realm Strange beings broke free, highlighting the Princeās Manorās significance.
Upon hearing Emperor Zhouās proposition, the Prince Zhen Nan fell into contemplation. If the Princeās Manor were to control the Deceit Suppression Bureau, it would mean the safety of the Capital city is in the Princeās Manorās hands. Thus, if the royal family wanted to act against the Princeās Manor, it would first have to weigh the strength of those five Earth Realm Strange beings.
Furthermore, the Deceit Suppression Bureau not only houses the five Earth Realm Strange beings but other strange beings and numerous curses. If they were released, the whole Capital city would be bathed in blood.
This means the royal family is handing a significant leverage to the Princeās Manor.
In this way, even if the Prince Zhen Nan were to die, no one at court would dare dream of destroying the Princeās Manor, for fear it might lead to mutual destruction, releasing all the strange beings and curses held by the Deceit Suppression Bureau.