Chapter 939: Stealing the Throne

Liu Daowen was genuinely nervous.

Chen Guanlou had already left, yet he was still sweating profusely.

That day, he dared not move a muscle, fearing Chen might turn back and kill him—he sat quietly in the temple, burning incense and chanting sutras.

Early the next morning, he hurried down the mountain to seek out people at the Shanzhuang.

“Don’t go out for now. Someone has begun to suspect me, even linking me to you. I’ve already said it—your detachment’s disappearance drew no attention at first because there were too many matters and not enough hands. But once they sort everything out and verify each name, your group will be forced to surface.”

“So we just stay inside the Shanzhuang and never leave?”

“Not forever—this is only temporary. I need to find out what’s happened in Pingjiang Hou’s camp; otherwise, that man wouldn’t have secretly come to the northwest. The people in the capital must also stir. Pingjiang Hou and the capital are one entity—if he’s in trouble, the capital cannot remain peaceful. If we act wisely, we might shift from shadow to light and seize an opportunity. In short, until things become clear, stay cautious.”

“Shouldn’t we inquire about the death of the heir?”

“The Prince has long abandoned the heir, so his death requires no inquiry. Remember this: from now on, your master is only the Young Master.”

Everyone believed that upon the death of the Cheng Prince, all his family—including descendants—were transported to the capital without a single escapee. The roster listed everyone; cross-checking was flawless, impossible to err.

Unknown to all, when the Cheng Prince decided to rebel, he made arrangements—he secretly fathered a child outside. Before his death, every person who knew of it was silenced—including the child’s mother and all her kin.

No one imagined that Liu Daowen, the once-greedy official, cowardly and avaricious, would become the Cheng Prince’s chosen guardian for his orphaned child—and after the Prince’s death, faithfully carried out his orders without a single thought of betrayal.

No one had ever equated a corrupt official with loyalty.

Yet Liu Daowen achieved it.

And the Cheng Prince’s choice was nothing short of audacious.

Chen Guanlou had merely speculated wildly, offhand—how could anyone have guessed his wild guess aligned perfectly with the dead Cheng Prince’s secret, instantly uncovering the truth?

A story too absurd to fabricate—and yet he guessed it right.

No wonder Liu Daowen was terrified, rushing down the mountain to make arrangements in anticipation of possible danger.

Chen Guanlou knew nothing of what had happened in the northwest.

After returning to the capital, he submitted his report, conveyed the Grand Master’s words, collected his payment, and prepared to leave.

The chief steward asked him to delay his departure and arranged a banquet in his honor: “Did the Grand Master truly mention the City Gate Army?”

“The Grand Lady’s poisoning—the Grand Master is certain it was the City Gate Army’s doing. The Embroidered Uniform Guard lacks the ability to poison the Hou Fu unseen. Only the City Gate Army, lying in wait generation after generation, could have done it.”

“Could it be that someone among the Hou Fu’s household servants is a spy from the City Gate Army?” The chief steward’s heart jolted—he immediately decided to launch a sweeping investigation of all household servants.

This was terrifying!

If even one household servant was truly a City Gate Army spy embedded in the Hou Fu, just imagining it sent chills down the spine.

“You must investigate this yourselves. Did you mistreat Dr. Mu? How is the Grand Lady’s condition?”

“Don’t worry—Dr. Mu has returned. The Grand Lady’s health… ah… prepare yourself. She won’t last much longer.”

“Truly no cure?”

“If she were twenty years younger, perhaps there might still be hope. At her age, it’s up to heaven’s will. This morning, the palace sent an imperial physician to examine her—but the heir refused.”

“Is that acceptable?”

“Why not? Who else knows why the Grand Lady fell ill? The one in the palace surely knows. If he pretends ignorance, don’t blame the Hou Fu for refusing to play along.”

Chen Guanlou whispered a warning: “Emperor Jian Shi is stingy. Observe how he treated the Jin Prince and the Cheng Prince—he’s a man who tolerates no one, not even the dead. Beware—he may hold a grudge and make life hard for the Hou Fu.”

“The Grand Lady is already like this—do you think the Hou Fu still fears being sidelined? At this moment, if we merely submit, we’ll appear weak. A measured counterstrike is what will make him rein himself in.”

The chief steward grew angrier with every word.

The Hou Fu had not suffered such humiliation in decades.

During the late Emperor’s reign, there was still a sense of decorum—actions were indirect, like using Jiang Tu as a hired blade.

But Jian Shi? He discarded all pretense—he resorted directly to poisoning. He completely ignored the rules, actively shattering the centuries-old order and norms between sovereign and minister.

Absurd beyond belief!

How could such a man be emperor?

Between sovereign and minister, there are invisible yet real unwritten rules—boundaries that must be upheld!

Only by respecting these boundaries can peace be maintained in court and across the realm.

Whoever breaks the boundary first will inevitably face retribution!

“Are you certain he’ll learn restraint? Since becoming emperor, he’s abandoned his former image of tolerance, humility, and openness to advice—he acts recklessly, arrogant and self-willed. Now I understand why the late Emperor wanted to depose him. The late Emperor must have seen his true nature long ago. Yet fate turned against him—he still ended up stealing the throne.”

Sigh.

The chief steward sighed, as if regretting his past choices.

“Everyone misjudged him. No one anticipated his depth of cunning and calculation—not even the late Emperor, who had dominated the court for fifty years, was outmaneuvered. Ha… what a farce the White Lotus Sect was—it only fooled country bumpkins and foolish women.”

The late Emperor had many flaws, many vices—but he upheld the sovereign-minister boundary; he never stooped to poisoning.

A minister could die standing, kneeling, in the imperial prison, in the heavenly dungeon—but never fear being secretly poisoned to death!

Poisoning implies uncertainty, reeks of conspiracy, leaves one defenseless, filled with dread, each man fearing for his life—sovereign ceases to be sovereign, minister ceases to be minister. It utterly destroys the healthy sovereign-minister ecosystem and shatters societal peace.

Court ministers had countless times wished the late Emperor dead—but none ever considered poisoning as a method.

And yet…

From the late Emperor’s manner of death, court ministers should have been on guard.

But back then, the court was in chaos—no one paid attention to such details.

Now that Jian Shi’s true nature is clear, it’s too late!

Yan Prince is dead. Jin Prince is dead.

Jian Shi’s two greatest enemies are both gone.

Cheng Prince is dead—next comes Chu Prince…

Could Jian Shi truly have heavenly mandate?

Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue.

Whether one has heavenly mandate has nothing to do with character.

It depends solely on strength and luck.

“The coming years will be turbulent. While you serve in the Heavenly Prison, be cautious in all things. The Hou Fu will also descend into chaos!”