Chapter 492: No turning back (1/2)
Chapter 492: No turning back
Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations
Winner takes all.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping had placed all his bets on the Crown Prince. As such, he would never let someone who could harm the Crown Prince live.
”I must calm the Crown Prince's heart. Wan Chong... please don't blame me for being vicious!” Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping's eyes glowed icily as he looked at the closed doors.
As the leader of the officials...
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping knew what the Crown Prince and the Emperor thought. As such, he needed someone to take the rap.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong didn't speak. He didn't care much for a Minister. As long as he could remain in power, he wouldn't mind replacing the Minister repeatedly.
There was only one person who could threaten his hold on the throne. That was Fang Zhengzhi.
No!
Fang Zhengzhi had to die!
He had taken too many risks and hid in the shadows for way too long. He had worked so hard to get to his current position and he was not going to let it fall apart.
...
Early morning the next day.
The morning court session...
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong proposed that the Emperor hold a banquet for the elders at the Ten Mile Lake.
The officials concurred.
Emperor Lin Mubai praised the Crown Prince for coming up with such a brilliant proposal and put him in charge of forming the attendance list.
King Duan was silent.
After the session, the officials congratulated Crown Prince Lin Tianrong and offered up names to be included in the attendance list.
King Duan remained silent.
Nightfall...
King Duan's residence was still lit up.
However, it was much less festive and boisterous as compared to the Crown Prince's residence. A lot had changed over the past year.
King Duan sat behind the desk. He wore baggy pajamas and held a letter in his hand. However, this letter was intact. There were few creases on the paper.
There were two other people in this spacious study.
One was an aged man in a black and white robe whilst the other was Mr. Hua sporting the academic robes.
”Your Highness, did you call us over because of the Crown Prince's proposal?” Mr. Hua asked when after King Duan put down the letter.
”Mm, but we have also received news from the Northern Region.” King Duan nodded as he lit the sandalwood.
”Chi Hou wrote to us?” Mr. Hua took a whiff, then looked at the letter on the table.
”Yes, Chi Hou told us that Yan Qianli has left Western Liang and is heading to the capital with them. Fang Zhengzhi is also with them. Chi Hou wanted to meet with Yan Qianli but didn't have the chance.” King Duan summarized the letter.
”They didn't meet? That can only mean that Yan Qianli feels that the time isn't right.” Mr. Hua guessed.
”You are right, but we must get Yan Qianli on our side. Chi Hou wants me to welcome Yan Qianli outside the city, well before the Crown Prince can get to him. However, I never expected that the Crown Prince would come up with such a great plan. He will now have the first crack at Yan Qianli.”
”Your Highness, your analysis is correct. Even if you receive Yan Qianli, the Emperor will still give overall control of this to the Crown Prince. After all, Yan Qianli is the VIP here. No matter how hard you try, you will not be able to get close to him at this banquet.”
”Mr. Hua is correct. That is why I have disturbed you two this late at night. I hope that I can pick your brains.”
”We have already lost the initiative here. It is virtually impossible to go against the Crown Prince in the courts now. All we can do is back off.”
”Back off?! I have already backed off for the past year! I can't back off anymore! All six ministers are loyal to the Crown Prince! More than half of the courts are loyal to him! And then there's the army! They used to be loyal to me, but now at least 30% are loyal to him! How much more can I pull back?”
”You have no other choice right now.” Mr. Hua shook his head.
”The fight for the throne is a matter of life or death. Once I stepped forward, there is no way I can pull out. Please... help me!”
”Your Highness... why are you in such a hurry? We still have a chance to make a comeback!” Mr. Hua added.
”Please enlighten me!”
”Old Wen, what do you think?” Mr. Hua sighed when he saw King Duan's expression and turned to Mr.Wen.
”Take a step back and all will be clear.” Was the reply.
”What do you mean by take a step back?” Mr. Hua was surprised that Mr. Wen would agree with him.
”Somethings become clearer when we take a step back.”
King Duan's eyes glittered when he heard this. He knew that there was more to this statement, so we waited patiently.
”Please elaborate.” Mr. Hua added.
”The banquet is just a cover. The Crown Prince does have some intelligent advisors. However, if you think about it, the Left Prime Minister is smarter than that. Why would he do something that is so time consuming but will yield such little results?”
”What do you mean?” King Duan queried.
”It is very important to have Yan Qianli align himself with us. However, Yan Qianli is a smart man. He spent the past two decades guarding Western Liang in order to avoid being embroiled in this fight. He will not choose until the last moment! It is virtually impossible to get him on your side in one try.”
”What you're saying is I should do nothing?”
”That's not what I meant.”
”That's not what you meant?”
”Yes, if you really took a step back, you would see something else.”