Chapter 359: Survival Comes First

Prince Zhong showed a look of difficulty and glanced at Wei Wubing.

"Old Wei, my heart is in turmoil."

"Your Highness need not be troubled; simply follow what Chancellor Yu has advised." Wei Wubing's voice carried a magical quality, calming Prince Zhong's agitated emotions and restoring his composure.

"I'll follow Old Wei's advice. But this will surely wrong Chancellor Yu."

Yu Zhaoan waved his hand dismissively. "Your Highness need not be so formal; as a chancellor, I have the stomach to command a fleet—capable of bearing praise and enduring hardship. But Your Highness, do not waver!"

Prince Zhong felt slightly embarrassed by his words. "Chancellor Yu, rest assured—I will do exactly as you say and never renege."

"Excellent! State affairs are pressing; the Embroidered Uniform Guard may already be frantic. I shall take my leave now. Your Highness, stay here—I know the way out."

Yu Zhaoan moved like a wind: arriving like a storm, departing like a capricious autumn breeze.

The moment he left, the hall fell silent.

Prince Zhong stood by the window, his back to Wei Wubing. "Old Wei, can I trust him?"

"Whether Chancellor Yu is trustworthy doesn't matter. What matters is that the advice he gave you is effective."

"Why is he helping me?"

Prince Zhong turned around, his face filled with doubt. "I don't believe his words. Without reason, he first impeached me, then came to show goodwill—his actions are far too erratic."

"But what he said is indeed reasonable. The Emperor will eventually be troubled by Prince Chu's rebellion and turn against Your Highness." Wei Wubing's expression was indifferent, as if he had no intention of acting as Prince Zhong's strategist.

Prince Zhong could only smile bitterly. "If Father truly wishes to take my life, what should I do?"

Wei Wubing's half-closed eyes snapped open. "Your Highness, rest easy. As long as I am here, no one will take your life."

"But he is my father."

"Even the Emperor is not exempt."

"If the imperial edict is issued..."

"So what? I promised the Empress Dowager I would protect you. I keep my word."

Prince Zhong's face showed sorrow, yet his thoughts churned: Why only protect my safety? Why not do more? When the coup deposed the Crown Prince, if you had stepped forward, Father might have rescinded his order. Why did you stand by and watch me be stripped of my title without lifting a hand? How cruel!

What use is safety to a deposed Crown Prince?

He wanted the title of Crown Prince. He wanted power. With those, safety would come naturally.

"Thank you, Old Wei! With you here, I can sleep peacefully even at night."

Wei Wubing offered another reassurance. "Your Highness, relax. As long as I am here, no one can harm you."

"I know!"

Prince Zhong still stood by the window, feeling the hot wind. He didn't know when Wei Wubing had left—the man always appeared and vanished without trace, suddenly there, suddenly gone, like a immortal from a tale.

He had once asked whether a Grand Master could be called an immortal.

Wei Wubing told him: a Grand Master wasn't even fit to carry the sandals of a true immortal. A Grand Master lived three hundred years—barely longer than an ordinary man.

Prince Zhong inwardly gasped.

Three hundred years was still too short.

If Father had three hundred years, just imagining it sent chills down his spine.

Has there ever been a Crown Prince who lived three hundred years?

Fortunately, fortunately, Heaven is fair. The Song family's empire, the imperial clan—even with martial veins and talent—were bound by their innate limits; the highest recorded cultivation ever achieved was only Ninth Rank.

Yet inside the palace, several eunuchs had reached Grand Master status, becoming the Empire's most potent weapons against rogue sects.

"Your Highness, shall you rest?"

The eunuch Li Eunuch approached.

Li Eunuch was Prince Zhong's most trusted confidant, having served him since childhood.

CRASH!

The window frame shattered!

Prince Zhong looked down at the wood splinters in his hand, sneering. "Yu Zhaoan has audacity enough to treat me like a monkey. Everyone sees me as a fallen phoenix worse than a chicken—everyone thinks they can trample me."

"Your Highness, calm down—your hand is injured."

"This injury means nothing. Compared to the humiliations I've endured these past six months, this is nothing. Tell me—what is Yu Zhaoan's true goal?"

"Your humble servant is too dull to guess Chancellor Yu's intentions. Should Your Highness proceed with the plan to impeach him?"

"Of course I will impeach him—not just impeach him, but storm the palace with a formal accusation." Prince Zhong chuckled lowly, as if recalling something amusing. "This is the path he laid out for me—I must play this drama well, and not waste Chancellor Yu's 'goodwill'!"

He emphasized the word "goodwill" with heavy irony. Clearly, Prince Zhong did not believe Yu Zhaoan had any genuine goodwill toward him.

"It's a pity Old Wei won't stand up for me—he only promises to protect my safety. He won't do anything else."

Prince Zhong's tone brimmed with dissatisfaction and resentment.

Li Eunuch glanced around cautiously and whispered, "Your Highness, watch your words. Wei Eunuch is everywhere."

"What's to fear? He promised Mother—it's not in his nature to break his word."

Prince Zhong snorted, kicked over the footstool, and filled with gloom.

"I made one mistake. This time, I won't err again. Bring me ink and brush—I shall submit my impeachment against this traitor Yu Zhaoan right now."

While Prince Zhong busied himself, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was not idle.

Xiao Jinming personally entered the palace to petition the Emperor and was summoned immediately.

"... our servant is incompetent. I only overheard Prince Zhong arguing with Chancellor Yu, calling him a shameless scoundrel. Chancellor Yu seemed unmoved by Prince Zhong's outburst. Then Wei Eunuch appeared—I dared not listen further and fled before he could act. I failed Your Majesty's mission—I deserve death!"

Xiao Jinming knelt humbly in the center of the Taiji Palace's main hall, head bowed.

The old Emperor dropped the fly whisk he held, rose, and Qiu Defu hurried forward to support him.

"You say Wei Wubing went to Prince Zhong's mansion?"

"Yes. Just as Prince Zhong was driving out Chancellor Yu, Wei Eunuch suddenly appeared. My cultivation is too low—I had to leave."

"Not your fault. He's a Grand Master!" The old Emperor chuckled, but his laugh was sly and chilling.

Xiao Jinming didn't dare lift his head. The Emperor was capricious; as the Emperor's dog, one word from him could kill Xiao Jinming—no need for the Grand Secretariat, no need for the Three Judicial Departments, no need for formal execution. Kill him, and he was gone.

"Old Three is fortunate. Wei Wubing keeps his word—he'll die protecting Old Three, even if it means turning against me. That old bastard."

Saying "old bastard," the Emperor's voice held hatred, loathing, and reluctant dependence.

Qiu Defu kept his head bowed, saying nothing. He glanced at the still-kneeling Xiao Jinming and waved him off—leave quickly, or you'll become cannon fodder.

Xiao Jinming understood the hint, filled with gratitude. Without waiting for the Emperor's permission, he slipped quietly out of the hall.

CRASH!

No sooner had he stepped outside than a thunderous crash echoed from within—the Emperor had overturned another object.

Xiao Jinming dared not speculate further. He fled the scene as fast as he could—survival was paramount.