Chapter 539: Getting Rid of the Crown Prince (1/2)
Chapter 539: Getting Rid of the Crown Prince
Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations
”Yes, Your Highness, I really am Su Qing!” Su Qing nodded certainly. Then, he dropped to his knees and exclaimed: ”Your Highness, please save me!”
”Save you?” Lin Xinjue's eyes flashed a gleam at the kneeling Su Qing. Now he was sure the person in front of him was the real Su Qing.
But if he was real…
Why would he appear in Yan Capital?
Furthermore, he coincidentally arrived in Yan Capital at this point in time? This seemed highly improbable.
Mister Hua furrowed his brows when he saw the kneeling Su Qing. He stared at Su Qing's face in hopes of reading something beyond his words.
But no sign of falseness was shown in Su Qing's urgent expression.
Mister Hua could not fully understand the situation, but he felt a strong urge that Su Qing's arrival in Yan Capital was unlikely to be a coincidence.
”Your Highness, Chi Hou wishes to meet you!” At this moment, a voice emerged from outside the study.
”Chi Hou?” Lin Xinjue froze briefly. He glanced at Su Qing, and hesitated a moment before asking: ”Is it alright?”
”It's alright, the Lord works for Your Highness too.” Su Qing nodded.
”Okay, please invite the Lord in!”
”Yes!”
…
Ping Yang's residence.
Fang Zhengzhi lifted his teacup and sipped lightly from it, his lips curled into a smile. He looked at the bewildered Ping Yang and shook his head helplessly.
Some things might seem very complicated at first sight, but upon viewing them from another perspective, they could not be simpler.
”Do you really want to know why Su Qing arrived in the capital?” Fang Zhengzhi asked.
”Yes… but wait, you wish to fool me again, right?” Ping Yang nodded, but she instantly saw Fang Zhengzhi's playful smile.
”So, do you want to hear it?” Fang Zhengzhi asked nonchalantly.
”Yes!” Ping Yang bit her lip and eventually responded.
”100,000 pieces of silver.”
”Sure!”
”Okay, first imagine you are Su Qing. If you have heard that I am still alive, what would you think?” Fang Zhengzhi asked after he heard Ping Yang's agreement.
”About killing you, of course!” Ping Yang answered without hesitation.
”How would you kill me?” Fang Zhengzhi asked again.
”It would be ideal to convict you of some crime and openly kill you, but if that can't be done, then I would assassinate you.” Ping Yang answered after some thought.
”That's right. Now, do you think Su Qing would remain in the Northern Lands if he wants to kill me?” Fang Zhengzhi nodded and continued questioning her.
”You are saying… Su Qing actually left the Northern Lands a long time ago?!” Ping Yang's eyes lit up brilliantly.
”Yes, Su Qing is very clever. Since he wants to kill me, naturally, he couldn't just wait for things to happen at the Northern Lands, because there is a complete difference between controlling things from here and from the Northern Lands.” Fang Zhengzhi said confidently.
”Therefore, Su Qing has always been in Yan Capital?”
”Previously I wasn't sure, but now I am certain that Su Qing arrived in Yan Capital with me.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
”But doesn't he fear the punishment of leaving his post?”
”Do you think Su Qing has not done anything for the past year in the Northern Lands? With Chi Hou's departure from the Northern Lands, it's not difficult for Su Qing to do something under the table.”
”Hmm, that makes sense. But… why did he choose to reveal himself now?” Ping Yang nodded but queried once again.
”Because he knows that the crown prince wants to kill him.” Fang Zhengzhi replied.
”Third Brother wants to kill Su Qing? Hmm, that's true. But what does this have to do with Su Qing revealing himself now?”
”If Su Qing hadn't revealed himself, there could only be two outcomes. First, the crown prince sends someone to the Northern Lands to kill him. Second, the crown prince allows him to enter the capital, and ambushes him on his way here! So, Su Qing doesn't have a choice.” Fang Zhengzhi smiled slightly.
There had never been a retreat in a contest of the throne. Especially with Lin Tianrong's position as the crown prince, why would he risk himself for a mere official?
To the crown prince, all the officials were his tools. Regardless of their rank, no official could defy such an order.
”You mean Su Qing wishes to strike first and gain the upper hand? But how do you know that he is now at Sixth Brother's residence?” Ping Yang seemed to understand better, though she still had doubts.
”Because in his mind, the only one who could protect him was King Duan!”
”So, he would definitely visit Sixth Brother's residence first, right?”
”Yes.”