Chapter 419: One Game Ends and Another Game Begins! (1/2)
Chapter 419: One Game Ends and Another Game Begins!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Boom!
The great gate opened and a horse galloped out. Outside the palace, Li Jingzhong felt nervous as he saw the Fifth Prince ride out. Pulling at his sleeves, he quickly walked up and took the reins of the Fifth Prince's horse.
”Your Highness, how was it? Your Highness, how was it, how was it…”
Li Jingzhong raised his head, his body practically shuddering from the anxiety running through him. The importance of this matter was not to be underestimated. It could be said to decide the Fifth Prince's fate.
And similarly, Li Jingzhong's fate would also be decided. 'The disgrace of the master is the death of the servant' was a principle known throughout the palace. Thus, one could easily imagine Li Jingzhong's worries as the hours passed.
”Uncle Jing, don't be nervous. It's fine, it's fine…!”
Li Heng sat on the back of his horse, his face flushed with excitement, and even his neck was red. He seemed even more agitated than Li Jingzhong.
The thoughts of what had just happened in the palace still running through his mind, Li Heng couldn't suppress his excitement. His lifetime of inconspicuousness, of cowering, of enduring, of timidity, had vanished into a puff of smoke within that hall.
Li Heng had known that the Third Prince was trying to set him up, and he had also known that once he exposed his martial arts, he might anger the Sage Emperor and be targeted by his brothers and be charged with the crime of deceiving the sovereign.
But Li Heng hadn't been able to care about that much.
After living a substanceless life of bullying, scheming, disregard, and jeering for twenty years, Li Heng finally felt the most intense longing in his heart explode.
Even if he was executed tomorrow, he wanted his imperial father to have a good look at him.
Li Heng didn't know how to do a sword dance, but he still went up and did one. There was no order or technique, nor was it like any other sword dance of this world.
Li Heng's sword dance came from the heart, a bold and unrestrained dance venting the emotions of two decades.
When the sword dance stopped, one could hear a pin drop.
Li Heng waited to receive the worst judgment, but what he heard was the most heavenly tune in the world.
After ten-some years, he finally heard that voice of his father's from his childhood, a voice filled with certainty toward him.
Li Heng could still remember the surprised looks on the faces of his brothers when they heard those words, their marvelous expressions.
”Uncle Jing, Wang Chong was right! He really was right! Come on, let's quickly find Wang Chong…!”
Li Heng's mind was buzzing with excitement.
If not for Wang Chong's encouragement and analysis, even if he gave a performance, he would not have done it with as much courage.
The facts had proved that everything was within Wang Chong's expectations.
If he had even slightly hesitated in today's audience or even rejected the offer, he really might not have escaped disaster.
Wang Chong had been right. As long as he was extremely proactive and did his best, he still had some hope of survival. His Majesty was proactive, and his life had been one forged through all sorts of predicaments.
As long as one was extremely proactive in displaying their abilities, they would be able to receive his imperial father's true favor.
When his imperial father opened his mouth, Li Heng had raised his head and seen clearly what was in those eyes. For the first time in his life, he had felt what his imperial father was feeling.
Li Heng had been like a bird in a cage, but when the sword dance began, he had cut off the chains on his heart, cut away all the worries that plagued his mind and body!
Li Jingzhong said nothing. He looked in a daze at the elated Fifth Prince, his entire body dumbstruck.
He had never seen this sort of Li Heng, this dancing, confident, enthusiastic, infectiously proactive Li Heng.
Even with all his years of service, he had never seen Li Heng like this.
Li Jingzhong had a vague feeling that the Fifth Prince standing before him was no longer very similar to the one he had served.
But as for where the difference lay? Not even he could tell.
”Let's go!”
Li Jingzhong came back to his senses and began to lead Li Heng's horse out.
……
”Hmph! Bastard!”
Upon returning to his palace hall, the Third Prince slapped his palm down in rage, crushing a three-inch-thick ebony table into pieces.
The Third Prince's complexion went ghastly pale as he thought about what had happened in the palace. He had gone through great efforts, taking everything into account, when he had made his plan.
The only thing he had not expected was that the Fifth Prince would suddenly change his attitude and take the initiative to perform the dance.
And to his complete surprise, his imperial father had not found fault. On the contrary, he had even awarded Li Heng a special embroidered robe meant for children of the imperial clan who dwelled within the palace.
An embroidered robe gifted by the Emperor was no trifling matter. Even the slowest of them understood what their imperial father meant.
Starting from now, no one was permitted to scheme against Li Heng. The embroidered robe served as a protective talisman.
Anyone who dared to move against Li Heng would be seeking their death.
Because that would be challenging the Sage Emperor.
”Investigate for me what's going on with Fifth Brother! Not even Imperial Father was able to cure his illness. How was he suddenly able to cultivate and even reach as high as Origin Energy Tier 9!”
The Third Prince turned his head, his mind fuming with rage.