Chapter 1572: The Crime of Plotting Rebellion! (1/2)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Li Heng was not wearing the dragon robe of a Prince, but the indigo robes of a eunuch. If one didn't look carefully, one really might mistake him for Li Jingzhong.

But upon close inspection, one would still note that deep concern and unease in Li Heng's eyes.

”Your Highness, why are you here? And…”

Wang Chong froze as he glanced at the eunuch robes Li Heng was wearing. Just what in the world had happened in the Imperial Palace?

The son of a dragon had put on the robes of a fish, putting on a disguise to meet him in this secretive underground room. The situation was clearly grim.

And even more strangely, despite the Fifth Prince's honored status, he did not have a single companion.

”Uncle Jing is outside drawing attention for me. Too many people in the capital are watching him right now,” Li Heng sternly said.

Wang Chong's eyebrow instinctively rose. Li Jingzhong had been serving Li Heng for a very long time now. What did Li Heng mean by 'outside drawing attention'? Were so many people watching Li Jingzhong now?

Wang Chong was befuddled.

”Wang Chong, you must think of a way to help me,” Li Heng anxiously said.

”Your Highness, don't panic. I will definitely help you, but you first have to tell me what happened,” Wang Chong sternly said, getting more confused by the second.

Fifth Prince Li Heng was not the sort of person who couldn't keep his composure, or else he wouldn't have been able to emerge unscathed from that court session in front of the Sage Emperor. Even though he had the advice from Wang Chong, he still needed to possess his own extraordinary personality and ability.

But Li Heng gave off a different feeling now.

”Wang Chong, First Imperial Brother dominates the Imperial Court. Now that he's serving as the regent for Imperial Father, his authority reaches the heavens and even a single step forward is difficult for me within the palace.”

Li Heng took in a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

Buzz!

Wang Chong instantly grimaced. He knew that Li Heng wouldn't come to find him unless he was in deep trouble, but he had never imagined that he had already been forced into this stage.

The First Prince and the Fifth Prince had not just been fighting for one or two days, but the First Prince was always cautious, composed, and extremely restrained. Thus, even after so many years of forming his own faction and ordering shameful deeds, the First Prince had never left behind a clue. His status as the heir apparent was as sturdy as Mount Tai.

Even Wang Chong felt a tinge of admiration.

The First Prince had cultivated the principle of looking out for his own hide to the apex, and what the Fifth Prince described was a complete mismatch for his customary cautious style.

”Your Highness has been gone for more than a month, so there are some things that you don't know. The Confucian Sect and Li Junxian have taken over the Imperial Court while First Imperial Brother has taken complete control over the Imperial Palace. In this time, First Imperial Brother has closed ranks and begun to pressure me. In the span of a month, First Imperial Brother found excuses to transfer my advisors to the frontier, and anyone who defied him was imprisoned for the crime of disrespect.

”And some of my important advisors were intercepted and killed on their way to the border. The First Prince said that they were killed by bandits, but the roads to the west were cleared of bandits by Your Highness long ago, and they had many powerful experts guarding them, quite a few at the Imperial Martial realm. When did the bandits of the frontier become so formidable that they could even kill Imperial Martial realm guards?

”Does First Imperial Brother really think I'm a three-year-old child? He's gone too far!”

The Fifth Prince was so enraged that his lips were trembling.

”What?!”

Wang Chong trembled in shock.

”How could this have happened?!”

Wang Chong's mind was reeling from the Fifth Prince's words. He had never imagined that such a thing could happen.

Seeing the Fifth Prince's enraged and grief-stricken appearance, Wang Chong suddenly understood why Li Heng had appeared alone and without any companions.

Li Heng had been an underdog almost his entire life. On his first meeting with Wang Chong, he had even been compelled to hide in Deflecting Blade Manor.

But from his place of absolute submission and disregard, he had slowly begun to gather his own crew. All of this had come with great difficulty for the Fifth Prince, so he had cherished them deeply.

But with these acts, the First Prince had dealt him a mortal blow.

”…That's not all. First Imperial Brother has become completely unrestrained. In the span of one month, there have been five attempts on my life within the Imperial Palace. Without Uncle Jing's vigilance and instinct, I might not have been able to see Your Highness.”