Chapter 358

"Old Wei?!" Prince Zhong's tone clearly disapproved.

One should not be so courteous to a villain like Yu Zhaoan.

"Your Highness must not act rashly. Chancellor Yu is a pillar of the state; his intentions cannot be hastily judged."

As soon as Wei Wubing spoke, Prince Zhong had no strength to resist—only pinching his nose, he sat down.

The servants in the Prince's mansion trembled in fear; under the steward's orders, they hurriedly brought tea and snacks. Earlier, no tea had been served because the Prince and Chancellor Yu had argued, and the Prince had made it clear he did not welcome Yu. As servants, they must at least have basic awareness.

I ran into the eunuch Wei and got unlucky.

Worse!

After this, the entire household will surely be punished by Eunuch Wei—no one will escape.

They could only hope Eunuch Wei would go easy on them; they still wanted to live.

"Chancellor Yu's impeachment of Your Highness during the small court assembly was truly shocking. At first, I couldn't understand it. But after hearing Chancellor Yu's explanation, I now grasp the deeper meaning behind his actions." Wei Wubing's voice was flat, yet strangely soothing, making one unconsciously lower their guard.

"Old Wei, Chancellor Yu is plainly speaking nonsense." Prince Zhong protested—how could Old Wei be swayed by Yu Zhaoan? He must stop this.

"Your Highness, you are too impulsive." The moment Wei Wubing spoke, Prince Zhong's expression shifted from fury to calmness—as if the earlier rage had never occurred.

"Old Wei is right. I was indeed too hasty." Prince Zhong accepted the reprimand humbly.

Yu Zhaoan, secretly observing, sensed something odd. This Eunuch Wei's cultivation art was strange—it could manipulate one's emotions.

He sat upright, "Thank you, Eunuch Wei, for understanding my sincere intentions. My impeachment of Prince Zhong was not to harm him, but to protect him—this is absolutely true."

Wei Wubing stared at him, his gaze deep and tinged with warmth, making one naturally lower their guard.

Yu Zhaoan mentally shook his head, forcing himself to stay alert, silently reciting the texts he had learned since childhood. Texts gave him wisdom, texts kept him clear-headed, texts helped him avoid falling into others' traps.

"Are you certain the Emperor has decided to kill Prince Zhong? I was unaware of this."

Yu Zhaoan immediately grew solemn: "It's only a matter of time. Prince Chu's banner declares two things: purging the Emperor's corrupt advisors, and restoring order and legitimacy. What is legitimacy? Prince Zhong is legitimacy. Who, then, is the corrupt advisor being purged?"

"The world says the Emperor is old and foolish, and the realm grows ever more corrupt. The crisis came too fast—he hasn't had time to think it through. But when he regains his senses, Prince Zhong will be in grave danger. I impeached Prince Zhong ahead of time, appearing malicious, but in truth I am securing his path to survival. Yet Prince Zhong holds deep prejudice against me and refuses to trust me."

"I do not believe my father is so cruel. Chancellor Yu, do not sow discord between father and son." Prince Zhong's face twisted in pain.

Yu Zhaoan ignored Prince Zhong. In his view, Prince Zhong, as a deposed Crown Prince, was absurdly naive—brainwashed by others.

Wei Wubing fell silent for a moment. "The Emperor is old, his thoughts increasingly erratic, always changing his mind. But for decades, he has always been a man who values face. Prince Chu's rebellion is a slap across the Emperor's face. If the rebellion is swiftly crushed, all is well. But if it drags on, someone must take responsibility. Prince Zhong, Chancellor Yu's intentions toward you are not entirely malicious."

"Do you believe him? Do you also think my father wants me dead?" Prince Zhong looked shattered, his face filled with despair, murmuring: "A father demands his son's death—the son must die. A sovereign demands his minister's death—the minister must die! If my father truly cannot tolerate me, I can only die to prove my loyalty."

With that, he gave a bitter, hollow laugh.

Yu Zhaoan raised an eyebrow, deeply displeased—even contemptuous. He probed, "Won't you try to change your situation? Are you just going to accept this? I've laid the groundwork for you—all you need to do is follow the plan: impeach me, then go to court and accuse me. If your conscience troubles you, give me ten thousand taels to confirm I took a bribe."

Prince Zhong shook his head. "If Chancellor Yu truly seeks to help me, how could I accuse you and bring you dishonor? No, no!"

Yu Zhaoan rolled his eyes skyward in disgust. "Your Highness, this isn't how the game is played. I don't know who taught you, but they turned you into this. From now on, I hope you'll listen to others—don't be stubborn. As a ruler, you need wisdom, you need strategy—not passive submission."

"Why help me? I'm no longer Crown Prince—I have no value."

"You say you have no value. But in Prince Chu's eyes, you are priceless. If you step forward, how many would rally behind you?"

Prince Zhong's lips moved, but he remained silent.

Wei Wubing added, "The Crown Prince is pure of heart."

"Purity of heart is not a virtue in a dynasty's heir," Yu Zhaoan countered. The moment he spoke, he tensed—sweat broke out on his brow—and he hurriedly added, "That's not what I meant—I meant to say…"

"I understand what you meant. But you haven't answered Prince Zhong's question: why help him? You and Prince Jin are fellow disciples."

Yu Zhaoan cleared his throat, composed. "Like other ministers, I uphold legitimacy. But unlike them, my methods are more aggressive—and more far-reaching."

"Excellent!" Wei Wubing nodded, offering no doubt.

Prince Zhong did not believe him. "I never knew Chancellor Yu still remembered his original purpose. I misjudged you before."

Yu Zhaoan smirked smugly. "If Your Highness feels guilty, why not compensate me with money? Then, whether I impeach you or you accuse me, there's a clear reason."

"No, no, no—this is a gift, not a bribe!" Prince Zhong immediately ordered his servants to bring silver and present it to Yu Zhaoan.

"But if Your Highness refuses to impeach me, all my efforts will be wasted. The Emperor may even suspect the two of us are colluding—that you've been secretly cultivating ties with court ministers, plotting great ambitions. Your Highness, that is a path to disaster! You must follow the original plan—it benefits us all."

"I cannot possibly…"

"Your Highness—do you want to live, or cling to your so-called principles? Do you wish to frame me and send me back to prison?" Yu Zhaoan cut him off sharply—how stubborn and outdated!

He once suspected Prince Zhong was acting—performing for Eunuch Wei beside him. But the performance was too real, too convincing—he couldn't tell truth from pretense.

If it was acting, then Prince Zhong still had value.

If it wasn't acting—if his mind was truly this feeble—the plan must change.