"Fight, struggle. The struggle of the imperial sons, without struggle, how would there be a good show? Why should I, back in the day, have had to toil bitterly, almost losing my life to succeed, while you all hope to ascend so easily?"
"I don’t care. As long as I am alive, none of you should think of winning so easily."
Emperor Longchang murmured to himself, seemingly very excited and proud of his own sches. After all, he was already old, possessing the freedom to do as he pleased.
Old Yao, who was serving by his side, lowered his head, dripping with cold sweat. The heart of the emperor was indeed hard to comprehend.
...
Amidst the chaos in the Upper Capital City,
Ping’an Town remained like a utopia, untouched by worldly matters.
The children ate when they should, studied when they needed to, and got disciplined when they had to. They lived happily and grew up blissfully.
In the familiar small courtyard, flowers were in full bloom, filled with spiritual rhy, like a grotto heaven blessed land.
In the pavilion of the small courtyard, Wang Shouzhe was playing chess with the elegant Jiang Yusong.
The result was self-evident. Wang Shouzhe was utterly defeated in the chess ga. Three gas, and he lost every one of them.
Wang Shouzhe imdiately smiled and abandoned the ga, saying, "Mr. Yusong, being so poor in the ways of officialdom, no wonder you were demoted by your superiors to a place like the Jiaolong Gang, where bandits gather."
His words seed like casual small talk.
Jiang Yusong’s expression froze, an unnatural glint flashed across his eyes, and he smiled, "What does Patriarch Shouzhe an by this? I, Jiang, don’t quite understand."
"As they say, a hero aging, a beauty turning gray, are all regrets in the world." Wang Shouzhe calmly smiled while pouring tea for Jiang Yusong, "However, none of these compare to the desolation of the three-thousand-year empire’s downfall. The great emperor, who holds supre power, can dictate the life and death of countless noble families with a word, enjoying endless glory in his lifeti. Yet in his old age, nearing death, though he knows the transfer of power is inevitable, he cannot help but beco more sensitive, suspicious, and capricious. It’s unavoidable to develop a desire for control, hoping to keep all changes within grasp. These are human nature, quite understandable."
"Brother Long has a special status, being watched by Your Majesty since childhood, yet he is a self-willed overseas dragon, a demon king of chaos. By placing one or more secret agents by his side, Your Majesty can keep his actions in check and also assist him in handling matters, providing support in secret to prevent any plots against him. This is quite reasonable."
A drop of cold sweat slid down Jiang Yusong’s temple.
His fingertips began to tremble uncontrollably, and his heart was overshadowed by an indescribable shock and fear.
This Wang Shouzhe had such audacity, such audacity indeed! Not only did he speculate the emperor’s intentions presumptuously, but he also dared to speak them out loud so brazenly!
Moreover, he really couldn’t understand why he had been exposed. Could it be that Wang Shouzhe could see through people’s hearts?
"You’re surely wondering, how I, Jiang Yusong, with such a perfectly arranged identity, without any flaws, could be suspected? Haha, in fact, it’s very simple. Among those dozen or so generals by Brother Long’s side, I’ve thoroughly investigated each one over the past decades."
"Except for you, everyone else’s identity is sowhat vague and inexplicable, with many having backgrounds that don’t hold up to scrutiny. It’s human nature, isn’t it? No matter how the Jiaolong Gang dresses itself up and registers with the governnt office, it’s still a water bandit organization. Which person with a clear background and infinite prospects would join a notorious water bandit organization for no reason?"
Jiang Yusong felt a chill in his heart and argued, "Patriarch Shouzhe misunderstands, the Boss once saved , and I’m here to repay the favor."
"Yes, that’s a very plausible reason. However, if I were Emperor Longchang, wanting to restrain and monitor the Demon King of Chaos Long Wuji, I would surely choose soone smart, capable of assessing the situation, and wise enough to offer advice and influence Long Wuji. Wouldn’t I?"
"I’m not looking down on the high-ranking mbers of the Jiaolong Gang, but compared to Mr. Yusong, the brains of the other dozen or so... aren’t as sharp as Brother Long’s... how could they undertake the responsibility of restraint?"
"Patriarch Shouzhe, all this is re speculation. How can you convict Yusong?" Jiang Yusong’s face turned slightly pale.
"Mr. Yusong, aren’t you underestimating the Wang Family? Since I already suspect you, yet you try to send ssages out while being on our Wang Family’s territory... and still planning to send them to Gui Long City..." Wang Shouzhe shook his head in resignation, "Do you think our Wang Family’s decades of efforts were in vain?"
"Ah!" Jiang Yusong suddenly beca despondent, his face ashen as he said, "Patriarch Shouzhe, I am working for Your Majesty, please, have rcy."
"Rest assured, rest assured, since you’re one of His Majesty’s, why would I trouble you?" Wang Shouzhe said with a smile, "I should thank Mr. Yusong for helping relay ssages to His Majesty."
Jiang Yusong’s body shook, looking at Wang Shouzhe in disbelief: "Did the Patriarch deliberately say those things for to hear, to send back the ssage? Impossible, impossible. Even if the Patriarch suspected , on that day, it wasn’t certain I would be with the Boss. The Boss himself decided on a whim to have accompany him!"
"On a whim?" Wang Shouzhe smiled faintly, "Do you think my performance by the Anjiang, ’you go up, I go down,’ was just for show? It was to keep Brother Long uneasy, wondering if Shouzhe might secretly plot against him."
Jiang Yusong was stunned for a long while before looking at Wang Shouzhe in shock: "I see, I see. The Boss was unsure at the ti, and among those close to him, I was the most attentive and cautious. Bringing along just in case was most natural and reasonable."
"So discreetly, you were placed into the situation. The eting at the Broken Dragon Gorge is so important, you’d naturally report the truth to your superiors... taking this opportunity, Patriarch Shouzhe could slander Prince Kang before His Majesty from thousands of miles away, and expose as an inside man. Truly brilliant calculation, Patriarch Shouzhe! This two-birds-one-stone strategy is truly exquisite, I must admit. But, what if the Patriarch had calculated wrong?"
"Calculated wrong?" Wang Shouzhe said with an indifferent expression, "Even if it’s wrong, so what? The main target is to deal with Brother Long. As for the rest, it’s just sweeping the grass and catching the rabbit—incidentally."
Sweeping the grass and catching the rabbit?
Jiang Yusong felt both terrified and incredulous.
Patriarch Shouzhe actually dared to compare His Majesty to a rabbit... such audacity, such audacity indeed~
Not good!
Today, I, Jiang Yusong...
am dood.
...
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