Back inside the carriage, Liu Chuang led the three thousand Northern Plains Iron Cavalry to clear the way as they set off in full force.
Xu Zhaoxing was completely dumbfounded, utterly unable to figure out what Chen Chu and Marshal Fang had talked about to directly gift him three thousand iron cavalry.
But although Xu Zhaoxing was just a young girl of sixteen, having grown up in the imperial city, she was no blank slate.
She understood that Fang Dingzhi’s intention in doing this was to firmly align with someone.
Inevitably, worry filled her heart.
The struggle for the imperial heir in this Tianchen Dynasty was already fierce and unpredictable. Chen Chu, this Ninth Prince unrecognized by the court officials, had never had any chance either, but with the support of Northern Plains Frontier Marshal Fang Dingzhi, everything changed.
The entire Tianchen Dynasty could not ignore the three hundred thousand Northern Plains Iron Cavalry, nor could they ignore a Northern Plains Frontier Marshal at the Fifteenth Grade.
His Majesty’s breakthrough had failed, and according to rumor, he did not have long to live. Every faction in the imperial city was considering whom to align with.
Or alternatively, to support a new emperor.
The Imperial Grandson Chen Fengyi, whose teacher was the Imperial Preceptor, was rumored to be the second-strongest expert in Tianchen, second only to the Dynasty’s Ancestor, and now first in the line of succession. He was also legitimate, and therefore had the greatest chance.
The Second Prince, King Qing Chen Si, commander of one of the imperial city’s seven great armies, the Yellow Dragon Army, with two hundred thousand troops. He had a full set of reverse scales and a fiery temperament, enjoyed extremely high prestige in the military, and had the support of many military generals. He absolutely could not be ignored.
The Third Prince, King Xuan Chen Bai, served as Vice Minister of Revenue. In truth, the Minister of Revenue was already elderly and at the age of retirement; the actual control of the Ministry of Revenue was in King Xuan’s hands. He held the Tianchen Dynasty’s purse strings and was not without a chance.
The Sixth Prince, King Yong Chen Yu, loved poetry, lyrics, and songs, neither joining the military nor managing politics. But he had married well… the Eastern Abyss Frontier Marshal was his father-in-law… so he was not necessarily without ideas about the throne.
Originally, with these few scheming against each other, the imperial city was rarely at peace.
Now with a Ninth Prince Chen Chu suddenly appearing, once His Majesty passed away, one truly feared chaos would engulf the realm!
Xu Zhaoxing sighed inwardly. His Majesty should not have summoned Chen Chu back to the imperial city, and he certainly should not have let Fang Dingzhi’s heart grow cold over the matter of Northern Plains Heir Fang Lingqiu.
“Hey, Chen Chu… ah no, His Highness the Ninth Prince, do you know that some things have happened recently in the imperial city, to the point that the city’s attitude toward the Northern Plains is delicate? If you get too close to Marshal Fang, His Majesty will be extremely displeased.”
Xu Zhaoxing, for once, gave Chen Chu a better expression, even with a hint of ingratiation.
One reason was that Chen Chu had intimidated the three thousand iron cavalry into kneeling with a single wave of his hand. The other reason was that she wanted to persuade Chen Chu to keep his distance from Fang Dingzhi, or at least draw a clear line.
Chen Chu slowly opened his eyes and asked calmly, “Why should I make him happy?”
Xu Zhaoxing was immediately choked speechless.
What an answer… truly something!
Her worry only deepened.
Obviously, this Ninth Prince, who had grown up in the Imperial Mausoleum, was not someone to be trifled with.
Xu Zhaoxing continued, “All the court officials will stand against you!”
Chen Chu sneered. “Even if I didn’t befriend Fang Dingzhi, they wouldn’t treat me well either.”
His mother was the hidden female emperor of the wasteland, the greatest enemy of the Tianchen Dynasty. Who in Tianchen could not hate and despise him?
If not for Fang Lingqiu’s manhood being ruined and the imperial city’s actions chilling people’s hearts, Fang Dingzhi might not have bothered with him either.
“His Majesty summoned the Ninth Prince back to the capital, showing that His Majesty still regards you as a son and intends to give you, the Ninth Prince, a status. As long as the Ninth Prince follows His Majesty’s wishes, you will never lack wealth and glory.”
“I admit that the Ninth Prince possesses a profound realm at such a young age, but your realm may not rank highly within the dynasty.”
“I think becoming a leisurely prince who doesn’t meddle in affairs is the wisest choice for you, the Ninth Prince.”
Chen Chu smiled dismissively.
From Xu Zhaoxing’s first sentence, Chen Chu knew what she wanted to persuade him about.
“That’s what you think, not what I think.” Chen Chu closed his eyes again and said lazily, “A little girl like you shouldn’t worry about state affairs and the world’s problems.”
Xu Zhaoxing retorted indignantly, “I’m not little!”
Chen Chu cracked one eye open, specifically stared at her, and said from his heart, “It’s indeed not small, and there’s still room for development.”
Instantly, Xu Zhaoxing’s cheeks flushed red, and she quickly wrapped her arms around her chest to keep Chen Chu from taking advantage.
“You, you lecher!”
“Heh.”
Chen Chu couldn’t be bothered to argue.
Obviously, Xu Zhaoxing’s persuasion was utterly futile.
She naturally wouldn’t understand Chen Chu. If he only wanted the position of a leisurely prince, he wouldn’t be going to the imperial city at all.
This era of the Tianchen Dynasty, which had dominated the world for eight hundred years, could not be without him.
At that moment, the procession left the Northern Plains and officially stepped onto the soil of Chen Territory, directly under the control of the imperial family. Countless gazes from the shadows withdrew one after another, returning to report to their masters.
The Ninth Prince returning to the imperial city was no small matter, naturally drawing the attention of all factions.
And the news that Chen Chu was traveling with the three thousand iron cavalry gifted by Fang Dingzhi would stir up a storm in the imperial city.
It could be said that from this moment, after twenty years, the name of Tianchen’s Ninth Prince, Chen Chu, once again appeared in the ears of everyone in the imperial city.
But the difference was that he was no longer the one-year-old child whose life hung on Emperor Wuzhao’s whim.
He was Chen Chu. The one and only Chen Chu in the world.
…
Imperial City, Grandson Manor.
Towers and pavilions, carved beams and painted rafters.
Chen Fengyi, dressed in splendid brocade, stood frowning by the lake, looking at the man in a moon-white robe standing across from him. “Master, I feel that this Ninth Uncle of mine is trouble. Why don’t you get rid of him?”
The man was named Zhuge Changsheng, the Imperial Preceptor of the Tianchen Dynasty, second only to the emperor in status, and also the teacher of the Imperial Grandson Chen Fengyi.
He stared at Chen Fengyi with displeasure. “If I take action, His Majesty will definitely know. Your absurd behavior at the Heavenly Palace already enraged His Majesty. If you add this matter, do you still want your position as Imperial Grandson?”
Hearing this, Chen Fengyi quickly waved his hand. “Then forget it. But I still can’t figure it out. I was hiding my identity at the Heavenly Palace, and I wasn’t holding back when fighting with Fang Lingqiu. How did his…’weight’ happen to hit my sword perfectly? I was planning to go see Grandfather Emperor in a few days to propose marriage and welcome Xu Zhaoyue into my household. Marrying Xu Zhaoyue would finally let me get the Flying Flower Army in my hands, giving me the strength to contend with Second Uncle in terms of military force!”
“And now, it’s delayed again.”
He was full of frustration.
Zhuge Changsheng’s expression was flat. “Since you know what you should be doing, why did you go to the Heavenly Palace at such a critical moment? From your tone, is it your master’s fault for not stopping you?”
“This… I wouldn’t dare! I just… ah, Master, what do you think we should do now? Grandfather Emperor… he wouldn’t depose me over this, would he?”
“He won’t depose you, at least not now. Although you made a grave mistake in this matter, the royal family’s face must still be upheld. The concern is that your marriage might be in jeopardy.”
Chen Fengyi was stunned. “How could that be? My marriage to Xu Zhaoyue was personally arranged by my early-dead father…”
“When your father was alive, he was only the Crown Prince, not the Son of Heaven. The fact that you became the Imperial Grandson was already His Majesty’s love for him extending to you. But your actions over these years have proven time and again that you are not the caliber of a king.”
“The seven great armies personally commanded by the court are all the foundation of the dynasty, not permitting the slightest misstep. The person the Young Commander of the Flying Flower Army marries must be someone worthy of entrustment. With Your Highness’s conduct, do you think His Majesty would still dare to marry Xu Zhaoyue to you?”
“As for Chen Chu, I cannot make a move against him openly, but I have prepared some measures. He may not even make it into the imperial city.”
King Yong’s Residence.
With a face like jade and exceptional bearing, King Yong Chen Yu paced in the main hall. In the seat of honor sat a beautiful woman in a thin gauze robe, her allure vaguely visible.
“My lady, what do you think?”
Chen Yu came to the noblewoman’s side.
The noblewoman was named Bai Qianqian, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Eastern Abyss Frontier Marshal, and now the Princess Consort of Yong. She looked at her extremely good-looking but utterly mediocre and useless husband, King Yong, and felt anger rising in her heart.
She said bluntly, “Are you a pig-brained idiot? Up to now, Father Emperor hasn’t revealed a single word, which shows he intends to protect Chen Fengyi. The position of Imperial Grandson won’t be abolished. Even if His Majesty wants to depose Chen Fengyi, there are still King Qing and King Xuan ahead of you. It’s not your turn to be the Crown Prince!”
“No, no, my lady, I know that. I’m talking about Chen Chu…” Chen Yu quickly defended himself. “The spies have sent word: Chen Chu has already gained Fang Dingzhi’s support, and Fang even gave him three thousand iron cavalry to bolster his presence. When he comes to the imperial city, he’ll probably set his sights on that position too!”
Bai Qianqian said without hesitation, “Isn’t that perfect? Let them fight until their heads bleed. We’ll conserve our strength and bide our time, waiting for the right moment.”
Chen Yu nodded thoughtfully and asked, “So do I continue as before, playing the zither and composing music, doing nothing?”
Bai Qianqian rolled her eyes. That was all you were good for.
But she shook her head. “No, there is one thing we can do.”
Chen Yu quickly asked, “What?”
Bai Qianqian said decisively, “Ask Father Emperor to grant a marriage!”
Chen Yu was puzzled. “Whose marriage?”
Bai Qianqian was exasperated. “The eldest granddaughter of Old Marshal Xu’s residence, the Young Commander of the Flying Flower Army, Xu Zhaoyue, of course! Whoever marries her is effectively marrying two hundred thousand Flying Flower Army troops! Originally we had no chance, but who asked Chen Fengyi to mess up and cause this disaster?”
Chen Yu slapped his forehead in sudden realization. “Understood! My lady wants me to ask for Xu Zhaoyue’s hand, thereby gaining the Flying Flower Army’s support! My lady is all-encompassing, your husband admires…”
Smack!
Bai Qianqian slapped Chen Yu’s head to the side and scolded, “You’re dreaming! Could the Young Commander of the Flying Flower Army possibly marry you as a concubine?”
Chen Yu sobered up a bit. “That’s unlikely. Then…”
Bai Qianqian got to the point. “Seek a marriage for our Yu’er!”
“Yu’er? Isn’t Yu’er too young… a bit…”
“He’ll grow up.”
Chen Yu said weakly, “But our Yu’er is only, only eight years old. Would Father Emperor agree?”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way!”