Chapter 455
Chapter 455
The King was so furious he didn't know how to vent his anger.
‘Is becoming my, Ning Yuanxian's, son-in-law somehow worse than being a live-in son-in-law for the Jin Clan? Do you enjoy that role so much? To continue being the Jin Clan's live-in son-in-law, you dare refuse my offer to become the royal son-in-law, to refuse to take Ning Yan as your wife?! You wretched boy, there's a limit to how much you can scorn someone's goodwill. In my entire life, no one has ever failed to appreciate my, Ning Yuanxian's, favor. If I weren't so good-natured, you would have been beaten to death by now.’
Seething with an explosive rage, Ning Yuanxian had to take several deep breaths before he could calm down slightly. He sneered and said.
“Since Master Shen has rendered such great service, I cannot simply withhold a reward, can I? Speak, what is it you desire?”
By calling him "Master Shen," Ning Yuanxian was mocking him.
“Your Highness, may I truly ask for anything?”
“If you have something to say, say it quickly. If not, get out of my sight!”
“I wish for Your Highness to bestow the title of Duke upon His Highness Ning Zheng!”
Upon hearing Shen Lang's words, the King's expression changed in an instant. This was not like before, when he had merely feigned anger. His face turned truly grim, and his eyes narrowed. Because Shen Lang had just interfered in his family affairs. As much as he liked Shen Lang, there was a line—a taboo that no one was ever to cross.
Not even Bian Wu would meddle in the King's private matters, nor could Prime Minister Zhu Hongzhu or the Grand Marshal of the Blackwater Terrace, Yan E. They could support a certain prince, but they could never interfere in Ning Yuanxian's personal affairs. Shen Lang's words were tantamount to rebuking the King for being unfair. The King was a petty man who could not tolerate being criticized by anyone. So how could he not be angry upon hearing such a thing now?
‘Shen Lang, you dare to pass your merits on to Ning Zheng? What child's play is this? Are you mocking me?’
After a moment, the King spoke calmly.
“Shen Lang, are you trying to meddle in my family affairs?”
Ning Yuanxian's personality was quite clear. When he appeared enraged, he wasn't truly angry, but when he spoke in a cold tone, he was genuinely furious. The more ordinary his tone, the more astonishingly enraged he was on the inside. Shen Lang also wiped the smile from his face and shook his head.
“Your Highness, may this subject speak the truth?”
“Speak!”
“This subject owes a great debt to the Fifth Prince. In the past, when the Count of Xuanwu's Estate was in crisis, no one stepped forward to help, but the Fifth Prince alone did everything in his power to aid our family. This time as well, it was clearly my concubine who killed the official from the Court of Judicial Review, yet His Highness voluntarily took the blame for the murder to protect my family.”
Hearing Shen Lang's words, a flicker of emotion crossed the King's face. He had never paid any attention to Ning Zheng in his life, so he had never truly tried to understand him. When he disliked someone, he ignored them completely, wishing they would stay out of his sight forever if possible.
“Your Highness, no matter how shameless this subject may be, shouldn't I repay that debt?”
“If you want to repay a debt, use your own things. Don't try to use mine.”
The meaning behind his words was clear.
‘Shen Lang, you have performed an unparalleled service, which is why I intend to reward you. But you want to give that merit and reward to Ning Zheng? That is impossible! Moreover, your action is a sign of extreme disrespect toward me. You may act as you please, trusting in my favor, but you must never disrespect me. If you do, you know what kind of end you will meet.’
Shen Lang nodded.
“This subject understands. In that case, there is truly nothing I desire.”
What a ridiculous thing to happen in this world. Others would dream of receiving Ning Yuanxian's reward, yet Shen Lang showed no interest at all. Ning Yuanxian hadn't finished saying what he intended. In truth, after marrying Princess Ning Yan to Shen Lang, he planned to make Shen Lang a count. Of course, a new count with no fiefdom or private soldiers.
‘Shen Lang, if you don't want to be an official, you don't have to. But if something happens to the state in the future, you must come out and serve.’
This way, he could be bound to Shen Lang by ties of kinship, and it wouldn't interfere with Shen Lang's unrestrained lifestyle, making it a good outcome for both sides. Then, in the future, when Shen Lang and Ning Yan had a child, they would naturally achieve great success, and within a few decades, a new noble family would rise. The King had certainly shown Shen Lang meticulous consideration. And yet, Shen Lang had no interest at all. Because of that, the King's careful consideration had been like casting a flirtatious glance at a blind man, which was what infuriated him the most.
“If there is nothing you desire, then let us set it aside for now. You have performed a great service, so I cannot fail to reward you. I am not such a callous person.”
‘You are a callous person. You just make exceptions for a select few.’
“Your Highness, what I am about to say is extremely audacious. You will likely become so angry you'll want to cut off my head.”
Hearing those words, the King's heart began to pound. If Shen Lang was saying that, then he might truly become angry enough to want to kill someone.
“Bring tea!”
At the King's command, Grand Eunuch Lü Zhun stepped forward and brewed tea for the King. The King took a sip first, calming his startled heart. He needed to prepare himself mentally so as not to be flustered by any sudden remarks. Grand Eunuch Lü Zhun gestured, and everyone withdrew. Even Lü Zhun left, leaving only Shen Lang and the King alone in the palace.
“You're courting death, so I won't stop you. Speak. Didn't you say yourself that if you said it, I would become angry enough to want to kill someone? Don't blame me if I really do kill you.”
And the King raised his teacup and took another sip. He had originally intended to keep holding the cup after drinking, but he had no choice but to set it down. It wouldn't do to be so shocked by Shen Lang's words that he accidentally shattered it.
“Your Highness has said at every turn that this subject has performed an unparalleled service, but I do not believe I have rendered any such merit. Because I simply went to take revenge. Did I not tell you before that I would kill the entire Su Clan?”
“Mm.”
“Everyone says that I mostly spout nonsense and that not even the punctuation in my sentences can be trusted, but this subject has never spoken a single false word to my father-in-law, Jin Zhuo.”
“Mm.”
“Therefore, not a single word of what I am about to say to Your Highness is false either.”
“Mm.”
The King narrowed his eyes slightly. Shen Lang's words had put him at ease.
‘But why do I feel at ease hearing that? Do you think I care about your words? Are you suggesting I am on the same level as Jin Zhuo?’
“I was originally living a leisurely and pleasant life in Xuanwu City and had no desire to come to the capital in the first place. But to give my father-in-law the title of Marquis of Xuanwu and to help the Jin Clan acquire Raging Tide City, I had no choice but to come. I also had to come for revenge. Su Nan was my enemy, but now he is dead. And the next target I want to kill is the Xue Clan!”
‘How damnably direct you are. Do you say this knowing that the Xue Clan are my most loyal confidants? Do you know how many secret tasks Count Wu'an, Xue Che, has performed for me? Do you know that I entrust almost all intelligence gathering and covert operations, both within and outside the State of Yue, to Xue Che? Do you know how powerful the Xue Clan is? The Su Clan's strength was visible on the surface, but the Xue Clan's strength is hidden beneath the water like the tip of an iceberg. They are far more powerful than you can imagine, Shen Lang.’
“Your Highness treats me well and is also taking good care of your health, so perhaps you could remain on the throne for another twenty years, no?”
Hearing that, Ning Yuanxian was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out.
‘You damn brat, maybe I should just kill you right now. I am in my fifties, and you're telling me I'll rule for another twenty years? What in the world does that mean? Are you cursing me to live only until then? Since I, Ning Yuanxian, take good care of my health, even if I don't live to a hundred, isn't it normal to live to eighty or ninety? Patience, patience! I can't stoop to the level of a young whelp.’
“Your Highness is several decades older than I am. After Your Highness passes away, the Crown Prince will ascend the throne. Will he leave me alone then? Or if the Third Prince ascends the throne, will he leave me alone? Of course, I can simply go far away, but will they spare the Jin Clan? Surely, Your Highness does not wish for our Jin Clan to secretly develop its power, prepare for war, and be forced to rebel due to the new king's pressure? Isn't that inciting the Jin Clan to treason? But as I have said before, rebellion is too much effort. I have no desire for such schemes, and my father-in-law wants it even less.”
The King's eyes narrowed once more. Shen Lang's words were exposing the truth. Of course, the King could issue an edict before he died, ordering the Crown Prince and the Third Prince to treat Shen Lang and the Jin Clan well, but would that be possible? An edict wouldn't change their hearts; it would only harden them. When a man dies, it's like a lamp going out. When a new king ascends the throne, would he care about the former king's wishes?
Take Ning Yuanxian himself as an example. He had fond feelings for the previous king, but after ascending the throne, he overturned many of the former king's decrees. The former king had said there were certain people who must never be killed, but he had killed most of them. Therefore, whether the Crown Prince or the Third Prince took the throne, neither would spare Shen Lang and the Jin Clan. Not to mention, the Crown Prince was still determined to have Jin Mulan.
The Third Prince himself held no grudge against Shen Lang, but the Xue Clan had a feud with the Jin Clan that would not end until one of them was dead. Of course, the King knew in his heart that the Xue Clan had wronged the Jin Clan. The grudge between them was entirely the Xue Clan's fault. Over a hundred years ago, what a great debt the Xue Clan owed the Jin Clan. If not for the Count of Jinzhou, the Xue Clan would have been wiped out already. But would the King care which of the two clans was in the right?
“Your Highness, what must I and the Jin Clan do to protect ourselves?”
‘What must you do? Obviously, you must depose the Crown Prince and the Third Prince.’
“So I will depose the Third Prince and the Crown Prince.”
At that moment, the King's body trembled.
‘You... you actually said it out loud.’
“And I will place the Fifth Prince, Ning Zheng, on the throne of the Crown Prince.”