117: Chapter 111: The Crown Prince’s Choice 117: Chapter 111: The Crown Prince’s Choice He was someone often left unmentioned…

Everyone’s brows were deeply furrowed.

Wang Ye, the beloved disciple of Duke Liu Yu and the nearly sole inheritor of his mantle, the last sorcerer in the realm with the power of the Twilight Sorcery, fell into a very awkward situation after the death of Liu Yu.

This man, once considered a twin star alongside Fei Jun, found himself in troubled waters.

Without the backing of Duke Liu, his techniques had become the coveted prize of every major sorcerer family.

Furthermore, these families had reasons to target him because rumors claimed that Wang Ye was no longer human, but had been turned into a puppet by Mister Hua Pi.

This was a very good excuse because no one could prove whether the current Wang Ye was still the same person from before.

To take things further, one could even call him a demon!

No one made a move, solely because they were uncertain of the Emperor’s stance.

After Liu Yu’s death, one of the actions the Emperor took was to confer the title of Duke, previously held by Liu Yu, upon Wang Ye!

It was a sign, a signal that deterred others from acting rashly and also a puzzling matter.

Because everyone knew that it was the Emperor who caused Liu Yu’s death, yet the same person who brought about Liu Yu’s demise was treating Liu Yu’s disciple with such favor.

What secret lay behind all this…?

And now, sending Wang Ye out of the Capital City, could the Emperor really be at ease?

Wang Ye possessed the Twilight Sorcery technique; once beyond control, no one in the world could confidently claim they could contain him.

Moreover, once Wang Ye left the Capital City, who could assure that other sorcerer families wouldn’t make their move?

Nobody knew.

The current situation…

didn’t allow time to consider all these concerns!

A letter sealed by a Grand Sorcerer was swiftly delivered to the Capital City by a professionally trained hunting falcon.

————————————-

“What do you think?”

In the Capital City, within the narrow confines of the Imperial Study, the Emperor looked at the person seated opposite him with a gently smiling face and asked.

Sitting across from the Emperor in the Imperial Study was the Crown Prince, who had been barred from entering the court for quite some time.

After being called back after a month, the Crown Prince was thrilled, yet he did not expect to be confronted with such a critical question upon his first meeting with his father!

The Crown Prince felt…

that this was an exceedingly tricky issue.

The fog over the West Sea had enveloped much of Jiangnan, including the coastal cities.

Although it accounted for just one percent of Great Jin’s territory, it represented at least one fifth of the state’s revenue and fiscal resources.

Moreover, Jiangnan was prominent in culture and education.

At a time when the Imperial Court was in dire need of educated scholars, most of the successful examination candidates came from Jiangnan.

That place…

was of utmost importance!

The fog had sealed off the area for more than seven days; millions of citizens and hundreds of thousands of troops were trapped without a trace.

Now that a way to gather intelligence was finally available, in theory, they should immediately dispatch Wang Ye.

But it had to be Wang Ye!

The Crown Prince was conflicted.

If his father had allowed Liu Yu to die, it must have been for a matter of great urgency.

He was sure that Wang Ye likely knew the secret.

If his father could bear to strike down a figure like Liu Yu, what was Wang Ye in comparison?

The lack of action thus far was surely due to some special reason.

Although unknown to him, he felt that if Wang Ye were sent out, his father would definitely be reluctant.

By throwing this choice at him, what was his father implying?

Did he want him to take the fall?

It shouldn’t be so…

The Crown Prince’s thoughts were in turmoil, and he couldn’t make up his mind.

Seeing this, the Emperor shook his head and said, “You’re still as indecisive as ever.”

“Your Majesty!” The Crown Prince’s eyes suddenly darkened with a flash of anger as he said, “Jiangnan is a crucial source of revenue, of paramount importance to Great Jin.

We cannot talk of abandonment lightly.

Moreover, in front of so many people, Duke of Qin has requested your help.

If Wang Ye is not dispatched, the fault of abandoning our lands will surely be recorded in history, greatly affecting Your Majesty’s prestige!”

“So what is your point?” the Emperor asked impatiently.

“Therefore…” the Crown Prince steeled himself and said, “Your son believes that, under these circumstances, we should still dispatch Wang Ye.

If Your Majesty is afraid that Wang Ye might take the opportunity to escape, you can send experts to follow him…”

“How would they follow?” the Emperor chuckled, “Haven’t you read Duke Qin’s letter carefully?

The Jiangnan mist allows entry but no exit, and Wang Ye is likely the only one in Great Jin who can freely come and go.

Whom do you expect me to send with him?

Will they be able to keep up with him?”

The Crown Prince’s face turned pale as he dryly chuckled, “Your Majesty is right; my oversight was hasty.”

“You’re not hasty; you’re foolish!” the Emperor sighed and shook his head, “You don’t need to test me here.

I’ll be blunt with you.

Before Liu Yu died, he made an agreement with me using a technique.

Should anything befall Wang Ye, the technique will activate, and I would have to ensure his safety!”

The Crown Prince’s understanding dawned; no wonder…

His Majesty ordered Liu Yu’s death but gave Duke Liu’s title to Wang Ye, which kept all sorcerer families from acting recklessly.

Your safety is of course more important than anything else!” The Crown Prince said without hesitation, “Your son will think of a way to reject the request from the Duke of Qin.”

“Have you considered it thoroughly…” the Emperor said with a semblance of a smile, “I’ve given you the decision-making power, and if you refuse Duke Qin’s request, you will be deemed responsible if Jiangnan falls.

Are you certain of your choice?”

The complexion of the Crown Prince became even paler…

He felt his father was doing this deliberately today, digging a pit for him to fall into.

If he didn’t refuse the Duke of Qin, he would be disregarding the safety of his father, which would be unfilial.

If he refused and Jiangnan fell into trouble, he would have to bear the blame!

Was his father so eager to find a reason to displace him?

“What’s the matter?

Can’t make a choice?” the Emperor laughed.

“Your Majesty…

I…” The Crown Prince clenched his fists tight, stumbling over his words and eliciting a clearly more apparent look of disappointment in the Emperor’s eyes.

“You needn’t put on such a front, I have no other intentions.

I asked you here just to help me ponder over a matter of choice…” the Emperor said.

“If something were to happen to Wang Ye, indeed I would be affected, but Liu Yu’s techniques have been mostly deciphered by my court sorcerers.

There would be some harm to me, yet to say it’s substantial would be an overstatement.

The land of Jiangnan is of great importance, and as you’ve said just now, if I refuse, my prestige will take a significant hit.

Therefore, it’s a matter of weighing pros and cons.” the Emperor continued.

“What is your opinion?”

Bowing his head, the Crown Prince pondered for a long time before finally responding, “Father Emperor, can Liu Yu’s techniques be reversed to heal your injuries?”

“Irreversible!” the Emperor replied directly.

Taking a deep breath, the Crown Prince asked, “Will it endanger your life, Father Emperor?”

“Not to that extent… but it will greatly diminish my Vital Energy,” said the Emperor, his voice tinged with deep meaning.

“Given that…” the Crown Prince stood up and kowtowed, “I beseech you, Father Emperor, dispatch Wang Ye!”

“Oh?” The Emperor’s laughter held a trace of inscrutability as he responded, “Are you certain of this decision?”

“To expose Father Emperor to such risk would be unfilial of me, but the state and its people are paramount.

I can only be that unfilial person.

Any punishment you see fit to impose afterward, Father Emperor, I am willing to bear!”

“Good!” the Emperor exclaimed, clapping his hands in laughter, “At least you show some semblance of a Crown Prince, daring to voice what you truly want.”

Upon hearing these words, the Crown Prince bowed his head even further.

His words were lofty and dignified, but he knew deep down that he couldn’t hide his true intent; if something were to happen to Wang Ye, it was the Emperor who would suffer.

If he didn’t send Wang Ye, he would bear the cost.

As the Crown Prince, he couldn’t shoulder the blame for losing Jiangnan – the disgrace of losing territory would incite the entire Imperial Court to vilify him.

His health had not recovered, and if his reputation were to suffer as well…

Conversely, the Emperor’s injury would not be a bad thing for him, for the shorter the Emperor’s time, the less time there would be to prepare a new Crown Prince.

“Wang Ye, come forth…” the Emperor called.

Startled by the Emperor’s words, the Crown Prince felt taken aback; they had just been discussing Wang Ye, and now Wang Ye was present?

As soon as the Emperor had spoken, a figure clad in black garb, Wang Ye, slowly emerged, bowing respectfully to the Emperor, “Your humble servant greets Your Majesty.”

“You heard what the Crown Prince just said, didn’t you?”

“Your servant did,” Wang Ye replied.

“What do you think?”

“What His Highness the Crown Prince proposes is a wise move!” Wang Ye proclaimed.

“A wise move…” the Emperor chuckled, “Very well, on this trip to Jiangnan, you will accompany the Crown Prince and Hong Lie.”

“Your servant obeys!”

“Your son obeys!” The Crown Prince reacted too, his heart leaping with joy, and he immediately knelt in acknowledgment.

“Crown Prince…”

“I am here!”

“Remember…” the Emperor looked at him with a smile and said, “Today’s choice was yours to make.

As you are now of age, you must take responsibility for your decisions.

Do you understand?”

“I understand, Father Emperor,” the Crown Prince lifted his head, looking directly at his father for the first time that evening.

“Good!” the Emperor applauded with a smile, “Then without delay, leave the palace, fetch Hong Lie, and set out tonight.”

“Yes!”

After both had left the room, a shadowy figure as dark as a specter appeared where they had once stood, silent and eerily identical to the mysterious sorcerer who could come and go from the Imperial Study at will.

“Has Your Majesty indeed decided?”

“It was the Crown Prince’s own decision,” came the Emperor’s cold reply.

The sorcerer nodded, knowing full well what the Crown Prince’s choice signified.

The Emperor had affection for the Empress, and by extension, cared deeply for the last surviving child of hers, thus giving him a chance just then.

If the Crown Prince had chosen not to endanger his father’s health, willing to bear the disgrace of losing territory and giving up Jiangnan, then the bloodline trapped in Jiangnan would also be forsaken.

The Emperor would do everything in his power to cure the Crown Prince and mitigate the effects of this event!

But now, the Crown Prince had chosen to let the Emperor bear the risk in order to protect his own reputation…

so he must prepare to face the upcoming challenger.

“Your divination technique has always been precise; are you sure the child in the Thousand-Faced Fox’s embrace is of an Emperor’s countenance?”

“There is no mistake,” the black-clothed figure assured confidently with a nod, “Mister Tianji orchestrated this, and the child in the Thousand-Faced Fox’s embrace bears the star of a preeminent Emperor.

I cannot possibly be wrong; the child’s fate rivals even that of the King of Qin!”

“Excellent!” the Emperor stood up, gazing toward the heavens with determination, “Then I, too, shall wager on this game!”