Chapter 346 - Clamoring Alliance (1/2)

Following his father's ”orders”, Zhao Chang begrudgingly made his way out of the palace. It was not that he had given up on Prince Yi's campaign, it was just that he could not push his father too far. Otherwise, that old man might really disown him if pushed too much. After all, the old man had already put on a show of marrying a second young wife last year to give him a ”good” son, and probably a new daughter now that Zhao Lan was also proving to be a ”disappointment” as he called them.

Since his father refused to be useful, Zhao Chang had to think of another avenue but he was honestly not very good at thinking. Usually, whenever he had things to think about, he just went to Prince Yi and got a solution. Prince Yi always patiently listened to him and gave him candid advice and would even often advocated for his stupid father who did not understand how to appreciate people.

Zhao Chang wearily sighed.

{... It would have been good if Shan were here, he would know what to do...}

Thinking of that, made him sigh again. He had considered trying to find his way into the palace prison to talk to Prince Yi so they could work out something together. But, unfortunately, Zhao Chang had no contacts in the palace, that was another aspect that Prince Yi handled for him.

As Zhao Chang lamented, finally incompetence, he glanced up and his hope was reignited. He would have never thought of this himself, but obviously, the heavens smiled on him and delivered the answer to him. He jogged forward as he called out to the group way ahead of him on the path, ”Hey, wait, wait...I said stop! Yong!”

Lei Yong raised an eyebrow at his name and stopped, turning back with a raised eyebrow, as his group made way for this unlikely halting presence. Zhao Chang stopped and put his hands on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath. It had just been a short run but it was grueling enough for him.

{...I really need to get in better shape...}

”I need your help.” Zhao Chang finally said, straightening up.

Lei Yong raised a questioning eyebrow, ”I wasn't aware there was anything that I could possibly help you with...”

”It's important...” Zhao Chang said, knitting his brows as he glanced at the men with Lei Yong and added, ”...in private.” As he grabbed and pulled Lei Yong, who irritatedly followed along to the side. This ”important” matter of his was definitely not hard to guess.

Zhao Chang awkwardly smiled and said, ”We should not allow the enmity between our fathers to affect us... You know you and I once used to be great friends. I don't even remember how we grew apart.” He finished with a lamenting sigh.

Lei Yong inwardly scoffed in disbelief, he remembered. It was when Zhao Chang began following the Crown prince like a puppy being rude and looking down on Jun Kai. Jun Kai never bothered to respond to any of the taunts and rude behavior of his brothers and their cohorts, which was even more infuriating to Lei Yong. How Zhao Chang later switched his object of attachment to Prince Yi was another mystery in itself.

Lei Yong sighed and then flatly said, ”I am not going to plead on his behalf -”

”Oh, no, no, no. That's not what I'm asking at all.” Zhao Chang quickly said, waving his hands with a smile.

”Then what do you want? I'm very busy.” Lei Yong said, already tired of this conversation.

”Take me to the prison -”

”No.” Lei Yong flatly responded, cutting him off and promptly turning to return to his men. Zhao Chang panicked and grabbed his arm, ”I am not saying you should help me help him escape. I just want to talk to him, you can even come along -”

”I just told you I'm busy -”

”I'm also very busy!” Zhao Chang irritatedly exclaimed, causing Lei Yong to cast him another dubious look. They both knew that despite his father's efforts, he had trouble holding onto any job position, he was renowned as a loafer going and coming as he pleases with no responsibilities.

Zhao Chang cleared his throat and amended his approach, ”One minute and I'll owe you a great deal, no, he'll owe you a great deal!” He added, realizing that just his credit did not have enough weight.

Lei Yong sighed, ”Look, you should go home and forget about him before you get yourself and your fami -”

”Family! Yes!” Zhao Chang suddenly exclaimed, causing Lei Yong to frown in irritation. It seemed Zhao Chang was finally running mad, but Zhao Chang proved he was thinking clearer than ever when he narrowed his eyes at Lei Yong and said, ”In fact, you do owe him.”

”What?” Lei Yong asked with a frown, shrugging his arm free and starting to move back to the group but Zhao Chang was relentless and fell into step beside him, talking quickly, ”Didn't he save your sister from a snake or something?! Even if she is married, she is still your sister. Her debts are yours too. You should pay for your debts!”

When Lei Yong just frowned and quickened his pace, Zhao Chang pushed even further, pleadingly, ”Just one, one minute, it won't kill you. That Emperor too will understand, isn't she his latest most prized possession? If not for my Shan, she could have broken a hip or worse, her head! Then where would we be? Not to mention, he almost died from that unknown illness and was bedridden for a month because of saving YOUR sister, and yet you can't sacrifice one minute, just one for him to see a familiar face in all this confusion. One minute, you can even count the seconds!... Just one. One. Yong, don't be like this, I know you're good at heart. You don't owe debts. One minute, one...”

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