Chapter 1448: Three Princes Meet in Secret

Capital Star of the Kelake Imperium.

Deep within the Imperial City, the palace of the Fourth Prince, Keweinuosi.

Keweinuosi sat at the desk in his study with several documents spread out before him, but his gaze did not rest on the documents; instead, he stared at the night view outside the window.

The door was knocked on gently.

"Come in."

The door pushed open, and the First Prince, Kelake, walked in.

He was wearing dark casual clothes, his right leg was still wrapped in bandages, and he leaned on a crutch, walking with a limp.

There was a scar on his face, left behind by an "accidental" fall from a cliff.

"Big Brother, your leg still hasn't healed?"

Keweinuosi stood up and helped him sit down.

Kelake sat down and leaned his crutch against the edge of the table.

"It won't heal. The doctor said I'll have to use a crutch from now on. That bastard Kesi, I'll kill him sooner or later."

Keweinuosi did not speak.

He walked back to his own seat and sat down.

Soon, the Second Prince, Kesuosi, pushed the door open and entered, wearing a deep red robe with a weary expression.

He closed the door and sat down next to Kelake.

"Everyone is here."

Keweinuosi looked at him.

"Second Brother, your house arrest has been lifted?"

Kesuosi gave a bitter smile.

"It's lifted. Father said there was no solid evidence for the corruption charges and let me out, but my position has been stripped; I'm just an idler now."

Kelake sneered.

"No solid evidence? Even if there were proof of your innocence, it would have been suppressed by Kesi. That bastard, whatever he says in front of Father now is taken as truth."

Kesuosi looked at Kelake.

"Big Brother, your leg, was it really an accident?"

Kelake's fists tightened.

"I suspect Kesi is behind it, but Father doesn't believe it; he says it was an accident. Kesi even chimed in on the side, saying 'Big Brother is a lucky man who will be protected by heaven.' Hypocrite!"

Seeing his two elder brothers vent the anger in their hearts, Keweinuosi spoke up.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, what do you want to do?"

Kelake said.

"Join forces. The three of us join forces to topple Kesi. He is the favorite in front of Father right now, but if the three of us unite, our influence in the imperial court is still stronger."

Kesuosi said.

"Right, I can't fight him alone, but with Big Brother and you, the three of us together—no matter how capable he is, he won't be able to hold out. His power comes from Father; as long as Father loses trust in him, he's finished."

Keweinuosi turned around and looked at them.

"How do we make him lose Father's trust?"

Kelake said.

"Find his leverage; it's impossible for him to have none. Corruption, bribery, forming cliques for private interests—there must be one. We'll send people to investigate."

Kesuosi said.

"He is very cautious in his work; we won't find anything."

Kelake said.

"Then we'll manufacture the leverage and frame him."

Keweinuosi shook his head.

"Framing him is too dangerous. If Father finds out, all three of us are finished."

Kelake looked at him.

"Then what good idea do you have?"

Keweinuosi spoke.

"Father's health is getting worse and worse; he won't last long. As soon as Father dies, the throne will be ours. No matter how capable Kesi is, without Father's backing, what is he?"

Kesuosi said.

"Wait for Father to die? How long would that take? A year? Two years? Ten years? Kesi is in front of Father every day; he could convince Father to name him Crown Prince at any moment. By then, even if Father dies, the throne will be his."

Keweinuosi said.

"No, Father will not name a Crown Prince. Father will not confirm a successor until the moment he dies."

Kelake said.

"But he favors Kesi. Right now, all major affairs in the court are handed to Kesi to handle. Our positions have been stripped, we've been placed under house arrest, and we've been marginalized. If we wait any longer, we'll have absolutely no chance left."

Keweinuosi fell into Silence.

Kelake stood up, leaned on his crutch, and walked to the window.

"Keweinuosi, you have always remained neutral and not participated in the struggle. But think about it: once Kesi takes power, will he let you go? He won't; he will kill us all. Even if you stay neutral, he won't spare you. Do you think you can stay out of it?"

Keweinuosi's expression changed.

Kesuosi also stood up.

"Big Brother is right; Kesi is not a kind soul. He used to be a playboy, but he changed after returning from the Xiuluo Holy Star. He became gloomy and ruthless. He isn't moving against us now only because Father is still here. Once Father is gone, the first people he will kill are us."

Keweinuosi looked toward his two elder brothers.

"What do you want to do?"

Kelake said.

"Strike first to gain the advantage. We will assemble our forces and launch a coup while Father is still here. We will control the Imperial Palace, arrest Kesi, and force Father to abdicate."

Kesuosi said.

"Right, we still have the fleet in our hands, and generals loyal to us. As long as we act quickly, Kesi won't have time to react."

Keweinuosi shook his head.

"No, the guards of the Imperial City are all Kesi's men. Our fleet is at the border and cannot be recalled. The coup would be suppressed before it even began."

Kelake looked at him.

"Then what do you suggest?"

Keweinuosi shook his head slightly.

"Let me think. You two go back first, don't act rashly, and wait for my news. As long as we work together, we will definitely be able to topple Kesi."

Kelake and Kesuosi exchanged a glance and nodded.

"Fine, we will wait for your news."

After the two princes left, only Keweinuosi remained in the room.

He stood before the window, looking at the night outside, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

Two idiots; if Kesi were so easily toppled by a coup, his status wouldn't have become so high.

The next morning, in the Imperial City of the Keloke Imperium, at the palace of the First Prince, Kelake.

Kelake sat in his study with a military map spread out before him; his Adjutant stood to the side.

"Your Highness, our fleet is assembling at the border; it will take three days."

The Adjutant said.

Kelake nodded.

"Tell them to increase their speed. In three days, I want to see the fleet in Capital Planet Orbit."

The Adjutant hesitated.

"Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor will find out. A fleet mobilization of this scale cannot be hidden."

Kelake looked at him.

"Just say it is a routine rotation; Father will not suspect anything."

The Adjutant nodded and turned to leave.

Kelake leaned back in his chair, looking out the window.

Kesi, just wait; your good days are numbered.

The palace of the Second Prince, Kesuosi.

Kesuosi sat in his study with a list spread out before him.

On it were the names of court ministers; some were circled, others were crossed out.

His strategist stood to the side.

"Your Highness, there are thirty-seven ministers in the court who support us, twenty-three who support Kesi, and forty who are neutral."

The strategist said.

Kesuosi looked at the list.

"Of those forty who are neutral, how many can we pull over?"

The strategist said.

"At least twenty. They are just watching; they will follow whoever wins."

Kesuosi nodded.

"Good, go contact them. Tell them that if they follow me, I will not treat them poorly."

The strategist nodded and turned to leave.

The palace of the Fourth Prince, Keweinuosi. Keweinuosi sat in his study with several intelligence reports spread out before him.

He finished reading them and set them aside. The Adjutant stood to the side.

"Your Highness, the First Prince and the Second Prince are both mobilizing troops; they may be about to make a move."

The Adjutant said.

Keweinuosi nodded.

"I know."

The Adjutant said.

"Your Highness, what should we do? Who should we help?"

Keweinuosi said.

"I knew long ago they wouldn't listen to me. We will wait for them to both suffer losses, then we will strike."

The Adjutant said.

"Your Highness is wise."

The corners of Keweinuosi's mouth curled up slightly.

Kesi, Kelake, Kesuosi, keep fighting.

The one who wins in the end will be me!