Chapter 1564: The Regent Prince Dotes on Me Too Much, What Should I Do? 33

Mu Zhongzheng gave Yu Huayao several more hand signals, which the latter understood and nodded to, then acted coquettishly, asking the Emperor to accompany him downstairs to rest.

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not, Your Majesty!" The old minister who had just scorned Jin Chen and Xie Zhiwei as too indecent could no longer sit still, looking at Jin Chen as if gazing upon an utter scoundrel.

"The prince is still fighting the warriors; how can you just leave like that!" The leading old minister stroked his graying beard, anguished: "You should at least wait for the prince to win… ah!"

Jin Chen: "……"

Thank you, I'm really moved.

These few old men knew none of the sides' plans, and had never been followers of Xie Zhiwei or Mu Zhongzheng; they simply served the royal family wholeheartedly.

Jin Chen decided to take back his insult that they were a bunch of useless old men, but the plan still had to continue.

He pretended to be too drunk to hear, put his arm around Yu Huayao and staggered out; after leaving the Night Banquet Hall, Yu Huayao was clearly following the person leading the way ahead.

Jin Chen left the hall, and Mu Zhongzheng instantly turned his gaze to the person on the fighting platform.

Xie Zhiwei's face turned pale, his gloomy killing intent growing ever stronger; even the veteran generals felt ashamed, yet he no longer had his earlier ease and was instead forced to spit out a mouthful of blood!

Mu Zhongzheng watched this scene, unable to tell whether his heart was filled with complex feelings or joy at the plan's imminent success.

Last night, the emperor Jin Chen himself admitted that Xie Zhiwei was most important to him; yet today, the supposedly invincible number one under heaven fell into disarray simply because Jin Chen left his seat.

Tonight Xie Zhiwei must die no matter what, but tomorrow when Jin Chen awakens, how will he face his master's sole heir?

Mu Zhongzheng stared for a long time, then unexpectedly locked eyes with the grim-faced Xie Zhiwei, slightly flustered he averted his gaze, signaling those warriors to act now.

"Brother Mu, the antidote." Xian Ming Gongzi handed over the porcelain bottle, saying, "To avoid arousing the Emperor's suspicion, the two cups you offered him earlier were laced with soporific drug."

"Thank you." Mu Zhongzheng took the bottle and drank the antidote in one gulp.

In the blink of an eye, Han Zhou brought another cup of tea for Mu Zhongzheng to rinse his mouth, and Mu Zhongzheng harbored no further suspicion.

"Come, let's go outside and see." Mu Zhongzheng watched Xie Zhiwei grow increasingly unable to resist, already having made up his mind, he paid no heed to the startled cries of the ignorant officials inside, finally feeling the delight of approaching the center of power from this scene.

Mu Zhongzheng strode away with a group of followers, his subordinates laughing loudly, mocking those who hadn't picked a side as fools who would never gain favor from the new emperor.

These words caused everyone present to startle.

Fortunately, a few elderly ministers were escorted out by the guards to rest, otherwise they would have been frightened to death on the spot.

Han Zhou walked last; as he left the Night Banquet Hall, he glanced back at Xie Zhiwei being held down and beaten by the warriors, his doubts lessening considerably, hoping everything was merely his wild speculation.

Traveling Palace Corridor.

Without any attendants following, Jin Chen, half-abducted and half-drunk, wandered unconscious with his favorite attendant to a place even palace maids and eunuchs rarely visited, the surroundings growing ever quieter.

Mu Zhongzheng's party quickly took a shortcut from the other side to meet up with them.

Yu Huayao: "Your Highness, the Emperor should be waking up soon."

His tone hinted at urging, but Mu Zhongzheng didn't notice, he said in a low voice: "Take Jin Chen to the Prince's Manor; be sure to bind him tightly so he cannot escape."

Just then, a few ragged breaths came from a dark corner; Mu Zhongzheng warily drew his sword, and the guards behind him immediately pursued.

"It's me……."

Xian Ming stumbled over, half his body drenched in blood, his complexion deathly pale.

Almost instantly, Han Zhou reacted, drawing his sword and charging at Xian Ming behind Mu Zhongzheng.

"You're a fake?!" Han Zhou's suspicion was confirmed, his heart sinking into the abyss.

Today's plan probably isn't that simple.

"No… I'm not, Brother Mu, how does this person look exactly like me?"

The Xian Ming behind Mu Zhongzheng anxiously grabbed his hand, "Brother Mu, I'm terrified."

"Damn……" Xian Ming, consciousness fuzzy, cursed lowly; he had clung to life to escape and deliver news to Mu Zhongzheng: "Hurry… leave this place, His Majesty has already arranged everything."

Mu Zhongzheng had still been observing which was the real Xian Ming; hearing this, he startled, "What did you say?"

"He says, I have long secretly arranged everything."

Jin Chen's voice, completely sober, came from behind Mu Zhongzheng; he stiffened all over and turned blankly.

Yu Huayao stood a few steps before Jin Chen, not supporting him at all; Jin Chen had not been drunk, let alone drugged.

The fake Xian Ming held by Han Zhou, a true Jianghu performer, nimbly dodged that sword with his skills; the deeply hidden Dark Dragon Army surged from the dark corner, close combat erupting with killing intent laid bare!

Jin Chen stood in the midst of the chaos; to his side were Han Zhou and a few of Mu Zhongzheng's personal guards fighting the Dark Dragon Army, while a few paces ahead stood Mu Zhongzheng, intent on killing Xie Zhiwei to seize the throne.

"How unfortunate, this isn't the best moment." Jin Chen slowly wiped his hand, lowered it after confirming there was no trace of Yu Huayao's scent, then smiled at Mu Zhongzheng: "I merely didn't expect this Xian Ming Gongzi to be so tenacious, gravely injured yet still running to report to you."

Hearing this, Mu Zhongzheng and Han Zhou both looked toward the Xian Ming seized by the Dark Dragon Army; his already frail frame was covered in blood, on the brink of death.

"Release him!" Mu Zhongzheng shouted sternly, "When exactly did you seize Xian Ming?"

"The day he planned to come find you." Jin Chen kept his light, indifferent smile, as if that could hide his disappointment toward Mu Zhongzheng: "Cousin, so many are loyal to you—why can't you learn loyalty?"

"What good is loyalty?" Mu Zhongzheng, disregarding decorum, roared angrily: "You're unfit to be emperor; by the late emperor's edict I should have succeeded! It was Xie Zhiwei who stole what was mine!"

"It's because you're too naïve and foolish to believe that villain Xie Zhiwei's lies— a sovereign and his minister cavorting, decadent and oblivious to heaven— is that your way of being emperor?"

Jin Chen: "……" Damn, that was foul!

Mu Zhongzheng gritted his teeth in secret, ultimately unwilling to relinquish his last hope, he drew his sword and charged at Jin Chen.

This last time, if he loses to this young emperor, then so be it!

After a few exchanges, Mu Zhongzheng was suppressed to the point he could not unleash his ultimate technique, his inner shock greater than before!

"You… you are absolutely not trash!"

Jin Chen: "…Thanks for the praise?"

A buzzing sound rang out; Mu Zhongzheng's sword was knocked from his hand by Jin Chen's sheer force, he fell backward spitting blood, feeling as if his five viscera and six bowels were about to shift.