The young gentleman in blue slowly descended the steps.
He looked so frail and delicate.
But those who knew him well were aware that their master was by no means as simple as he appeared on the surface.
After playing the role of a meek lamb for so many years, the Crown Prince must have been tired of it.
Now that he intended to go to Qingyun Country, he would surely resolve the state affairs of Cangwu Country and those unnecessary troubles in advance.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you not put the King of Cheng in your eyes?"
"It seems that the steps of the Crown Prince's Mansion have become even higher recently. That's why the Crown Prince has such an arrogant attitude. If the King of Cheng knew about this, he might send the Crown Prince to the extremely cold region to temper your character."
The guard beside Gu Zhiruo placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Crown Prince, you weren't like this in the past. You've been stalling for quite a while today. You'd better hand over what our King of Cheng wants quickly so that we can go back and report. Then you can also sleep well in the future."
"How dare you! You nameless nobodies, how can you talk to the Crown Prince like this!"
"Don't you forget that this world will eventually belong to our Crown Prince. By then, all of you will be guilty of beheading."
Hearing this, those people burst into laughter.
They were so arrogant for a reason.
All the people in Cangwu Country knew this.
Gu Zhiruo, the Crown Prince of Cangwu Country, had a feminine face. He was cowardly and never dared to conflict with the King of Cheng. Whenever something happened, he always followed the King of Cheng's lead.
The person who held real power now was Gu Liang. Gu Zhiruo was just a nominal Crown Prince. Otherwise, why wasn't the Crown Prince living in the Eastern Palace of Cangwu Country?
"I think it's you who won't live long."
The guard was extremely angry and retorted, "Over the years, our master has always strived for peace and never had any conflicts with the King of Cheng's Mansion. But how did your master act? Every time, he always found various reasons to search for good things in the Crown Prince's Mansion. Now, how many things in our Crown Prince's Mansion can be put on the table?"
"Moreover, our butler in the mansion is already over eighty years old. When we were selecting servants back then, if it weren't for the interference of your King of Cheng's Mansion, how could the military strength in our mansion be so weak? Those who know would say this is the Crown Prince's Mansion. But those who don't know, seeing the old and weak people in our mansion, might think this is a shelter. An old man in his eighties with no spiritual power or mental strength, how could he go to your well - equipped King of Cheng's Mansion and steal things back?"
Several soldiers from the King of Cheng's Mansion said, "Sir Li, you don't need to tell us these words. Our Highness said that it was your Crown Prince's Mansion that stole the things, so it was your Crown Prince's Mansion. Whether you admit it or not, we're determined to take this thing today."
Gu Zhiruo slowly stretched out his hand, stopping the guard who still wanted to retort.
"Crown Prince!"
"Guard Li, don't reason with beasts. Have you forgotten this saying?"
The people beside him were overjoyed.
Judging from the Crown Prince's appearance, he wasn't going to endure it anymore?
"Crown Prince, we're the King of Cheng's people! How can you speak rudely to us?"
Gu Zhiruo gently flicked his sleeve.
He calmly waved his hand, and a servant brought a chair.
He sat down, then picked up a cup of tea and slowly sipped it.
"You're so fearless because there are more people coming than just you. Brother Emperor, since you've come, why hide?"
As soon as Gu Zhiruo finished speaking.
A series of laughter came from the high wall of the Crown Prince's Mansion.
"I didn't know that the Crown Prince has such good hearing."
"Brother Emperor, you're overpraising me."
"Since the Crown Prince is so smart, you must know why I'm here?"
Gu Zhiruo took a sip of tea.
He smiled faintly and said, "Because you're stupid."
These four simple words made Gu Liang's blood rush to his head, and he almost lost control.
The man in the yellow robe said with a gloomy face, "What did you say?"
"If you weren't stupid, how could you be so easily deceived?"
Deceived?
Gu Liang tightened his grip on the sword in his hand, and a sense of uneasiness welled up in his heart.
"You must have listened to the words of the strategist Xu Chang'an. He said that I was secretly recruiting troops and wanted to rise up against you. With Brother Emperor's character, upon hearing such words, you would surely send someone to find out the truth. So, these soldiers tonight dared to speak so rudely, just to anger me, right?"
Gu Liang said, "I didn't expect that even though you've been staying in the Crown Prince's Mansion for a long time, you could still get this information."
The young gentleman in blue slowly smiled.
"Actually, Brother Emperor, there are many things you don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"That strategist, Xu Chang'an, was sent by me. Naturally, the words he said to you were also instructed by me."
"You're just bluffing me. Xu Chang'an is well - known throughout Cangwu Country. How could he listen to a person without real power like you?"
Gu Zhiruo nodded to the people beside him, and they took out the contract between Xu Chang'an and Gu Zhiruo as a retainer. There was also Xu Chang'an's signature on it.
This kind of thing couldn't be faked.
Seeing this, Gu Liang was naturally furious.
"You colluded with Xu Chang'an to deceive this king?"
But Gu Zhiruo shook his head again.
"Brother Emperor, you're wrong again. Every word Xu Chang'an said was true. I was indeed recruiting troops, and I did want to do harm to you, the King of Cheng."
Gu Liang took a step back.
Outside, there were many elite guards from the King of Cheng's Mansion lying in ambush. As long as he stepped out and gave an order, this Crown Prince's Mansion would be shot full of holes immediately.
"Brother Emperor, do you think you can still escape?"
Gu Zhiruo was as calm as ever, but at this moment, Gu Liang also realized how terrifying Gu Zhiruo was.
The calmer he was, the more confident he was.
"Do you think this bunch of old and weak people in the yard can trap me? It's a joke."
"I have to thank Brother Emperor for this."
Gu Zhiruo gently clapped his hands, and an old man with white hair appeared behind Gu Liang. This man was the butler of the Crown Prince's Mansion.
But now, he was different from before. His hunched back was gone, and there was no longer a flattering smile on his face.
Gu Liang looked back, and the old man struck out with his palm, blocking his way back.
With such palm strength, he was by no means an ordinary old man!
"Let me introduce him to you. He is the Seven - Realm Spiritual Pharmacist from Changbai Mountain - the Half - Moon Master Turns Residual."
Changbai Mountain?
The Half - Moon Master Turns Residual?
How could Gu Zhiruo, an empty - shell Crown Prince, invite a spiritual pharmacist of this level?
"I was an old acquaintance of the Empress Ye Ling. Gu Zhiruo, the son of the Gu family, was sent to Cangwu Country by the old man at Ye Ling's request back then."
How could he not help the child raised by Ye Ling?