Chapter 455 Caught Eavesdropping

"I've already trained an army of two hundred thousand men, all stationed at the southern border, waiting for orders. If things really go south, as long as you, Your Highness, give the word, I'll have them help you force the emperor to step down."

"When that day comes, the Dongchen Kingdom will still be yours."

Upon hearing this, Luo Jingshen felt a surge of joy, and he said quickly, "Fourth Imperial Uncle, do you really have two hundred thousand troops under your command?"

Prince Nanxiao arched an eyebrow and took a sip of wine.

"Naturally. What else do you think I've been up to all these years outside the palace?"

Hearing this, Luo Jingshen felt a bit more confident.

After all, he still had fifty thousand Longyue Army troops and twenty thousand private soldiers from the Golden Spear Camp.

Combined, that was no small force—enough to go up against the hundred thousand troops in the capital!

Seeing Luo Jingshen relax, Prince Nanxiao continued, "So, rest assured, Your Highness. You're not without backup—you've got me and two hundred thousand troops."

"My men will also keep a close eye on what's happening in the palace. If any emergency comes up, I'll send troops to back you up right away."

"All you need to do is keep playing the part of Crown Prince. Once the time is right, we can take the whole Dongchen Kingdom in one go."

Luo Jingshen gave a slight nod. "With those words from Fourth Imperial Uncle, I'm reassured!"

"It's getting late, so I won't disturb your rest any longer. Farewell!"

Luo Jingshen stood up and was about to leave when Prince Nanxiao called out, "Your Highness, wait a moment."

"Is there anything else, Fourth Imperial Uncle?" Luo Jingshen looked at him with confusion.

Prince Nanxiao pulled a stack of banknotes out of his robes and said, "I heard from Consort Li that you've been strapped for cash lately. Here's two hundred thousand taels in banknotes—take it for now."

"In the past, I treated you poorly, but from now on, I'll do everything I can to make it up to you."

With that, he looked at Luo Jingshen with a gentle gaze.

"Shen'er, you're my only son. I don't seek your forgiveness, only that you don't hold a grudge against me."

"Everything I do is for your own good. As long as you sit on that throne, I'll die without regrets."

Luo Jingshen hesitated a moment before reaching out to take the banknotes. He opened his mouth slightly. "Thank you, Fourth Imperial Uncle..."

Beyond that, he couldn't say a single word.

Prince Nanxiao sighed. "Alas, you still won't call me father."

"Very well, it's been many years since we last met. You may take your leave, Your Highness."

Luo Jingshen's expression was complicated as he clasped his hands toward Prince Nanxiao. "Yes, I shall take my leave."

After leaving the inn, Luo Jingshen's face instantly turned cold. He looked at the stack of banknotes in his hand and curled his lips into a sneer.

How could he possibly forgive Consort Li and Prince Nanxiao that easily?

The trouble these two had caused him had to come at a price.

If he forgave them too easily, wouldn't he lose the chance to squeeze more out of them later?

Luo Jingshen leaned back in his carriage and sneered, "You two—only by living in constant guilt will you offer me the best things to make up for it."

Meanwhile, Prince Nanxiao in the inn was thinking the same thing.

After Luo Jingshen left, Jifeng jumped in through the window and asked, confused, "Your Highness, didn't you prepare a million taels for the Crown Prince? Why did you only give him two hundred thousand?"

Prince Nanxiao glanced at him and said coolly, "If you were the Crown Prince, and I—your father you hadn't seen in years—gave you a million taels the first time we met, would you forgive me?"

Jifeng thought for a moment, then replied, "If it were me, I would not forgive Your Highness. Not only have we, father and son, not seen each other in years, but there's hardly any bond between us."

"Besides, as Crown Prince, second only to the emperor, I wouldn't need to rely on anyone to keep the throne."

"You giving me money would only make me feel like you were trying to buy me off, insulting my dignity."

Prince Nanxiao said softly, "Yeah, if even you get this, how could the Crown Prince not?"

"He's always been proud and arrogant. This time, he's really strapped for cash. In the past, he wouldn't have even looked twice at two hundred thousand taels."

"Plainly put, he has no filial love for me at all—he just wants to use my guilt for his own gain."

"If that's the case, what's the difference between giving him two hundred thousand or a million?"

Jifeng suddenly got Prince Nanxiao's reasoning and gave him a thumbs up.

"You think far ahead, Your Highness. After this, the Crown Prince should side with you!"

Prince Nanxiao let out a cold laugh. "That's not so sure. He probably thinks he can hold the throne even without my help."

"If I guess correctly, within the next three days, he should make some move."

With that, Prince Nanxiao ordered, "Jifeng, send someone to keep an eye on the Eastern Palace. If the Crown Prince does take action, lend a hand when necessary."

"But if his people are not in mortal danger, then return—do not expose yourselves unless absolutely necessary."

Prince Nanxiao knew that only by appearing at Luo Jingshen's moment of greatest need could he quickly earn his trust.

Jifeng immediately replied, "Yes, I will arrange it at once."

By the time Luo Jingshen returned to the Eastern Palace, it was already late at night. He immediately summoned his personal bodyguard, Linchuan, to the study to secretly discuss the matter.

As the two talked in the room, Luo Jingshen's voice carried a hint of suppressed anger.

"He wants me to wait for the right moment, but I can wait no longer. I will send someone now to eliminate those two thorns in my side—Ji Yuntang and Luo Junhe."

"As long as they live, I cannot rest easy."

Linchuan asked, "Your Highness, do you have a plan?"

Luo Jingshen narrowed his eyes and said in a grim tone, "Tomorrow night, take some men disguised as wandering assassins and storm directly into Prince Ye's residence. Leave no survivors."

"I want not only the Prince Ye residence burned to the ground, but also the heads of Ji Yuntang and Luo Junhe delivered to me."

Linchuan acknowledged, "Yes, I obey."

As was his habit, he opened the window to leave—only to find himself staring directly into the eyes of Hua Feixue.

Linchuan reacted in an instant, drawing the blade at his waist and pressing it against her neck.

He demanded coldly, "Speak—what are you skulking around here for?"

Hua Feixue's lips twitched. Who would have thought that she, unable to sleep at night, had simply come to eavesdrop on Luo Jingshen's conversation—and gotten caught?

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