Chapter 645

For access to a complete chapter, you can subscribe to my /caleredhair

The deep blue sky held lazy white clouds drifting by.

Ge Yiren looked up at the sky and asked, “Then, in your opinion, what should be done now?”

“As the saying goes, a person cannot hang himself on one tree. Now that Prince Zhao is at the zenith of his power in Chang’an, we can only temporarily bow our heads. However, someone should also deliver a message for us to Qingzhou, lest Prince Qi thinks we are dead set on following Prince Zhao.” Yu Zhiyong pondered, “After all, our current status relies on the support of our respective families, lest we drag down our families.”

Ni Kuang nodded repeatedly, deeply agreeing.

Ge Yiren was somewhat enlightened. It turned out that the two were instigating him to secretly contact Fei Ji. After all, his relationship with Fei Ji had always been good when Fei Ji was in Chang’an.

Ge Yiren was somewhat swayed, but having been in officialdom for many years, he naturally understood that misfortune comes from unguarded speech. No matter what, Chang’an was under Prince Zhao’s rule, and rashly agreeing might invite disaster. After all, no one in Chang’an’s official circles could be trusted now.

He said blandly, “The two of you are worrying too much. For thousands of years, no matter who sits on the throne, powerful families remain powerful families. Successive imperial families have always been busy trying to win them over; how could they then vent their anger on us? Moreover, from the news coming from Wei, aren’t the powerful families under Prince Wei doing just fine?”

Yu Zhiyong and Ni Kuang were startled upon hearing this. The two wanted to say more, but Ge Yiren had already left.

Seeing this, the two immediately exchanged glances. Ni Kuang said, “What on earth does this Ge Yiren mean?”

“Who cares what he means? In any case, if he doesn’t do it, we will. Although what he said makes sense, who doesn’t want a place in the court of the future?” Yu Zhiyong said with his hands behind his back.

Ni Kuang nodded, “Brother Yu is right. If he doesn’t participate, we will secretly contact Qingzhou. If Prince Qi’s army attacks in the future, and we assist from the inside, won’t we also be meritorious officials?”

“Exactly, and that means one less person to contend with us for credit.”

After saying that, the two resumed their nonchalant expressions.

…

Lin’an.

The news of the three princes’ allied forces’ defeat also spread here at an extremely fast pace.

Before the great battle, everyone in the Great Yu Empire cast their gaze towards Yunzhou City. Now that the outcome of the battle was decided, some rejoiced while others grieved.

“They actually lost, and so completely. I truly overestimated Prince Yan and the others,” the King of Chu said, looking towards Qingzhou, lost in thought.

Xiao Ming’s enthronement was originally a world-shaking event, and now that the allied forces of the three princes were defeated at the time of his enthronement, this would surely make Xiao Ming’s prestige unparalleled for a time.

“Imperial Uncle, it’s not that Prince Yan, Prince Zhao, and Prince Liang are incompetent; it’s that Xiao Ming’s army is too formidable. From the Battle of Cangzhou onwards, Xiao Ming has won battle after battle. This is enough to prove something,” the Third Prince said blandly.

The King of Chu fell silent. Xiao Ming’s enthronement was clearly a slap in the face to Prince Zhao and himself. After all, in the Great Yu Empire, only Prince Zhao and he had claimed the title of king.

However, although he was angry, he was helpless. Now was not the time to openly break ties with Xiao Ming, and with the defeat of the three princes’ allied forces, he dared not harbor any extravagant thoughts about the territories south of the Yangtze River.

After thinking for a moment, he finally sighed. Now, his only option was to continue cooperating with the French to consolidate his military strength.

And to avoid Xiao Ming’s attack, he could only try to temporarily paralyze Xiao Ming. Thinking of this, he looked at the Third Prince Xiao Zhen and said in a strange tone, “Zhen’er, Imperial Uncle has wronged you. For the safety of the Li family, I can only rely on you.”

The Third Prince’s face instantly turned ashen, then he suddenly laughed hysterically, “Imperial Father was right! You can’t rely on your own brothers, and you certainly can’t rely on outsiders! I truly deserve this!”

There was not a trace of guilt on the King of Chu’s face. He said, “Don’t blame Imperial Uncle for being ruthless. For the sake of Chu, for the sake of the Li clan, I have no choice but to do this.”

After a pause, he shouted, “Men! The Third Prince has falsely issued an imperial edict, a grave crime! Immediately detain him and send him to Qingzhou to await His Imperial Majesty’s disposition.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” The palace guards responded and stood behind the Third Prince. One of them grabbed the Third Prince’s arm.

Li Chu Yuan was also in the main hall. He asked, “Imperial Father, are we to pledge allegiance to Xiao Ming?”

“What if we pledge allegiance? It’s merely a nominal title. What’s important is that after pledging allegiance, Xiao Ming will have no reason to use military force against our Chu. In this way, we can bide our time, secretly develop, and wait for the opportune moment.”

Although Li Chu Yuan was somewhat unwilling, it had to be said that this was the best method currently. Xiao Ming, having defeated the allied forces of the three princes, now commanded immense prestige throughout the realm, making anyone hesitate to challenge him.

The Third Prince, hearing this, glared resentfully. He said, “You wait! One day Xiao Ming will slice you into a thousand pieces!”

“You’d better worry about yourself,” Li Chu Yuan sneered. “I wonder how Xiao Ming will deal with an imperial prince who has usurped the throne? Hahahaha…”

The King of Chu frowned. “Chu Yuan, do not be rude. Xiao Zhen is an imperial prince, no matter what. Even if Xiao Ming wants to kill him, that is an imperial family affair. This time, to show my sincerity, you will personally go as an envoy to Qingzhou. You will live in Qingzhou for a period.”

“Imperial Father!” Li Chu Yuan was greatly alarmed. “Why must I live in Qingzhou?”

The Third Prince looked gleeful and said, “Don’t you understand? Of course, it’s as a hostage. Only then will Xiao Ming feel at ease.”

Li Chu Yuan had actually thought of this, but he found it hard to believe.

The King of Chu sighed deeply. He held Li Chu Yuan’s forehead and said, “My eldest son, it’s not that Imperial Father is heartless. If Xiao Ming unifies the north, he will inevitably move south to attack Chu.”

“Prince Yan and the other two are no match for Xiao Ming. How can Chu alone contend with Xiao Ming? The only way now is to pledge allegiance and send a hostage!”

Li Chu Yuan was a thousand times unwilling in his heart, but what could he do now? The King of Chu had already decided. Could he defy it?

“Yes, Imperial Father,” Li Chu Yuan said, his eyes red and full of grievance.

The King of Chu also felt a little remorseful. After all, this was his own son. So he said, “When you return from Qingzhou, the position of King of Chu will be yours. No matter what Imperial Father does now, it is all for your future.”

“I understand Imperial Father’s painstaking efforts. Going to Qingzhou will first put Xiao Ming at ease, and second, it will allow me to relay news from Qingzhou at any time. This time, I will certainly not fail Imperial Father’s expectations.” Li Chu Yuan gritted his teeth.

The Third Prince sneered repeatedly, then burst into loud sobs. Recalling past glories and seeing his current predicament, he now deeply regretted sacrificing the Great Yu Empire’s future for the throne.

But now, whatever he thought, it was too late. He would be escorted before Xiao Ming, and his younger brother, the King of Shu, would surely be defeated by Prince Zhao due to the loss of Chu’s support. After all, to the King of Chu, he needed Prince Zhao to openly deal with Xiao Ming.