Arc 1: Kumoshima 30
1069 Words
CHAPTER 30
“Reporting to your Highness. The Great Lang sent an envoy.”
Chunan glanced at the Second Prince as the latter looked up to the messenger. It has been an hour since the attack earlier. Everything was proceeding according to the plan.
Prince Yoshimura did not show any emotion. “Send them in.”
The guard turned to leave. The Second Prince glanced at Chunan and nodded.
Chunan got it right away. He wore his mask and moved to a shadowed corner of the room.
In those five years, Chunan trained as a guard for the Saikyuu family. His previous abilities learned while he was still in Great Lang were now enhanced by ten fold.
He stood in complete silence as he watched the guard lead two figures inside the tent.
The first person was Ging, the person they met at the cave before. The other person seemed familiar but Chunan could not remember who it was. He frowned.
“It was good to see Your Majesty. I am the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qian Jing.” He did not introduce Ging.
One of the soldiers served tea. Qian Jing smiled as he saw the good quality tea served in front of him. “It seems like the Second Prince was waiting for me,'' he smiled. This talk would be very easy.
Upon seeing that fake smile, Chunan remembered this person. Qian Jing was originally a low official from the Ministry of Finance* Why was he posing as an Assistant Minister now? Chunan gritted his teeth.
The Second Prince did not answer his question, “What can we do for Minister Qian.” The Prince gave a warm smile. Chunan suppressed a cough and silently prayed for the Minister’s soul.
“I will get straight to the point. The King would like to offer an agreement that the Second Prince could not decline.” Qian Jing smiled and signaled Ging to hand over the chest they brought.
It contains a scroll and an exquisite Jade calligraphy brush. It looked majestic only if it was not used in this kind of transaction.
“An agreement that I could not resist. I’m curious what kind of agreement is this that I could not resist.”
Qian Jing felt a sudden jolt of fear. But he disregarded it, “I’m sure the Second Prince will like all conditions.
Prince Yoshimura signalled for Chunan to come to his side. Wearing a mask, he stood beside the Prince and saluted, “Your Highness.”
“Read this for me and tell me what you think about it.”
Chunan gave it a quick scan. Even the first clause made him frown. He drew his sword, “Are you looking down on the Second Prince?!”
“W—What are you saying?! Y—Your Highness, I don’t know what this person was talking about.” Qian Jing quickly dropped on his knees.
Ging did not even move on his place as he looked down on Qian Jing.
“Asking for Jinryu mountain in exchange of cooperation, the new King of Great Lang is willing to cooperate and help in taking the throne? Do you think the Second Prince is a fool?’’ Not even mentioning the other thing written on the scroll, only these were enough to make people vomit blood.
Qian Jing could not understand what happened. He looked into it before and he think it was a good deal. Why are these people giving these reactions?
Prince Yoshimura smiled his brightest smile. “I think the people who sent you over were not even concerned about your life.” His voice was magnetic and charismatic, making people drawn into listening to his every word, as if enslaving one’s soul. “This agreement also asked us to surrender the two Princes? But the Crown Prince was also in our custody. Is this scroll an empty promise?”
Qian Jing rushed to explain, “Your Highness, the new King and the Crown Prince were two different people. There was no need to mind this business.”
Prince Yoshimura gestured for everyone to calm down. Chunan sheathed his sword.
“Minister Qian said there’s no need for me to be concerned over this matter. But how can I not? Your new King allied with the Left Minister already and still wanted to ally with me. Your King deliberately using us to retaliate against each other? How bold.”
Qian Jing’s face paled but he did not back down. “Your Highness, it was just a rumor. Please think of this agreement first,” he begged. He was told that if the Second Prince did not agree to join hands, he should not expect any promotion. This title was not officially his yet. Other than that, his family would be implicated, too, upon his return. He could not let this happen.
An idea flashed in his mind. If I could not come back alive, then at least.
He suddenly jumped towards the Second Prince, a dagger in his hand. But before he could even stretch his hand, someone dragged his feet, causing his face to hit at the edge of the table.
“Short-sighted person. Your wife already told you the truth but you insisted on believing them because they will appoint you in a position. The Prime Minister even lied to the King. Do you really think that he could not lie to you?”
Qian Jing could not lift his face to look at the person but he knew who it was very well, “You, Ging! You traitor! Wait till I cut your neck as an offering!”
“I’m not a traitor. I’m serving the real monarchs of our country. Get a grip.”
Chunan turned to Yoshimura, “Your Highness, may I speak?”
Yoshimura nodded. Chunan removed his mask and turned to Qian Jing. Shock was an understatement when the latter saw the Second Prince’s guard. Guard? It was the First Prince, Zhuangjin!. “Y—Your Highness!”
“Go to your King and tell him this, ‘Don’t look down to this neighbor Kingdom. At least show some sincerity in alliance and not giving an item dugged out of the imperial grave.”
He was about to turn around when he added, “Nevermind, you won’t be able to leave this place alive anyway.”
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