Chapter 457
Chapter 457
After Shen Lang left, a glance outside revealed it was already deep into the night. The King had no intention of sleeping, and the sardonic expression on his face had vanished. Ye Jun took away the remaining tea and brought a cup of honey water to help calm the King’s mind. In truth, once it got late, Ye Jun never served the King tea, fearing it would keep him from sleeping. The King took a sip of the honey water; it wasn't sweet, but rather had a faint bitterness. Ning Yuanxian was particularly fond of this slightly bitter type of honey.
“Ye Jun, are all geniuses madmen?”
Grand Eunuch Ye Jun replied.
“They are.”
“Then tell me, am I a genius?”
In that instant, Ye Jun nearly shed not just sweat, but tears.
‘Your Majesty, must you do this? Must you always ask these life-threatening questions? If I say no, I’m disrespecting the monarch. If I say yes, I’m deceiving him.’
Of course, Ye Jun could have said that His Majesty was the one who commanded geniuses, making him their master. But Bian Bi had said that before, so Ye Jun couldn't repeat it.
“You old fool…”
The King called out to Ye Jun in exasperation. He probably knew what Ye Jun was thinking. The King was extremely harsh, but to those he liked, he was certainly generous. To those he disliked, however… it was better not to speak of it. For instance, Ning Zheng was his own son, yet he planned to lock him away in the Court of the Imperial Clan’s prison for life.
“Old man, do you know the story of Kuafu chasing the sun?”
Grand Eunuch Ye Jun nodded.
“This servant knows of it. It is a myth from ancient times about a man named Kuafu who endlessly chased the sun, only to die in the end.”
The King was speechless.
‘Ugh! To describe a story with such profound implications like a lump of dung.’
“The story proves that the sun cannot be chased, nor should it be approached. The masses should stop at merely worshiping the sun. For if one truly chases the sun and draws near, they will become a spirit.”
‘That’s quite the interpretation.’
“Kuafu chasing the sun illustrates that pursuing an unattainable goal will only lead to exhaustion and death. Even if one vanishes like smoke, they will not succeed. Yet now, someone seeks to become Kuafu.”
Ye Jun, of course, knew who that person was. In Ning Yuanxian’s eyes, Shen Lang’s plan to support Ning Zheng’s ascension to the throne was no different from Kuafu chasing the sun.
“The meaning of Kuafu chasing the sun is that the King is like the sun. His subjects should stop at worshiping him and never try to chase or approach the monarch. At a suitable distance, the sun is very warm, but get any closer, and you will vanish like smoke.”
A cold sweat broke out on Ye Jun’s back again. The King was about to pose another difficult question.
“Ye Jun, do you also think I am like the sun? But if I am, why is it that someone has drawn so very close to me yet has not vanished like smoke? For example… a certain scoundrel. But if I am not like the sun, does that mean I am not a true monarch?”
At that moment, Ye Jun shed a tear.
‘Your Majesty, you might as well just kill this servant. This servant simply cannot answer that question.’
***
Shen Lang arrived at the prison of the Court of the Imperial Clan and saw Jin Mucong squatting in front of it. The fatty was no longer as plump as before; he had become quite gaunt. When Jin Mucong saw Shen Lang, he was overjoyed, his voice trembling.
“Brother-in-law.”
To Jin Mucong, his brother-in-law Shen Lang was capable of anything. Now that he was back, everything would naturally be resolved.
“Go home and get some rest. You’ve worked hard.”
Hearing Shen Lang’s words, Jin Mucong felt incredibly ashamed. He felt like a useless idiot who hadn't done anything or been of any help. But for Shen Lang, what mattered most was not whether one was truly helpful, but whether one had the heart to step forward. He didn't mind having pig-headed fools on his side. As long as they had the sincerity to act, that was enough. At that moment, the face of a certain beautiful, big-bottomed princess once again appeared in Shen Lang’s mind.
‘Did you just say pig-headed? You’d better explain yourself!’
Shen Lang saw the Grand Steward of the Imperial Clan, Prince Ning You.
“Greetings, Your Royal Highness.”
Ning You’s expression was sour. He disliked Shen Lang. The last time, he had seen Shen Lang and Princess Ning Yan in the same bed, yet he had to act as if he were blind, insisting at every turn that there was no affair. In truth, the moment he saw Shen Lang, he was filled with regret that he couldn't just strike him dead with a single blow.
“What is it?” the Grand Steward asked coldly.
“I have come on His Majesty the King’s orders to check on His Highness, the Fifth Prince Ning Zheng.”
If the King knew, he would surely want to kill Shen Lang.
‘To dare spout such blatant nonsense the moment you leave the palace. When did I ever say such a thing?’
Ning You asked, “Is that true?”
“If you don’t believe me, Grand Steward, you may go and ask him yourself.”
‘Ask him my foot. It’s not about releasing him, just checking on him. Do I really need to go to His Majesty for such a small matter? It’s so late, His Majesty is probably asleep.’
“Go on, go!”
The Grand Steward waved his hand, gesturing for him to proceed.
***
The prison of the Court of the Imperial Clan was worse than imagined, even more dreadful than the Supreme Court’s prison. Because no one had been truly imprisoned here for over a decade, it had fallen into disrepair. The entire prison reeked of damp mold, and mouse droppings were scattered all over the floor. This was a real dungeon, not some comfortable solitary cell, nor a cell that could hold several people. It was a gloomy, dark prison. The expression on Ning Zheng’s face as he sat inside could be summed up in one phrase.
‘There is no greater sorrow than a despairing heart.’
There was no way his royal father didn't know the truth about the murder Ning Zheng was accused of; he had to know it was the Crown Prince’s plot. But his father showed no intention of handling the case justly. He didn't want Ning Zheng to come out and tarnish his image, so he would rather keep him locked in prison for life. Sometimes, Ning Zheng even thought it might be better to just die. After all, neither of his parents liked him; in fact, they couldn't detest him more.
But he quickly shook off the thought. As long as there was even one person in the world who cared about him, he shouldn't die. The people who cared for Ning Zheng were few, but it was certainly more than just one.
During his confinement, even the guards of the Court of the Imperial Clan’s prison treated him poorly. It was extremely rare for a son of the King to receive such treatment.
Suddenly, he heard familiar footsteps. Ning Zheng opened his eyes and saw Shen Lang standing before him. Ning Zheng smiled at him.
“Shen Lang, you’re back?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’m back!”
“Now that you’re here, I can rest easy. Please look after my family for me. I will likely never leave this place for the rest of my life.”
“Your Highness, do not worry. I will find a way to get you out. But I have something to formally tell you, so please prepare yourself.”
“Is it more bad news? But don’t worry. I can handle anything now.”
“Your Highness, the war for the throne has officially begun. From this moment on, I will support you in eliminating the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, and I will place you on the seat of the Crown Prince!”
When the King heard Shen Lang declare his intention to join the struggle for the throne, he felt a mix of surprise and indignation, sensing that the inevitable had finally arrived. But when the Fifth Prince Ning Zheng heard Shen Lang’s words, he was so utterly stunned that his mind went blank. For a long time, he could only stare, unable to react.
Ning Yuanxian had already told Shen Lang in no uncertain terms that he would not give his throne to Ning Zheng, even if the State of Yue were on the brink of collapse tomorrow. In Ning Yuanxian’s view, even for someone like Shen Lang, helping Ning Zheng ascend to the position of Crown Prince was a task more difficult than reaching the heavens.
Ning Zheng, too, felt that Shen Lang’s declaration was a fantasy. He had never once entertained the delusion of becoming the Crown Prince. All he had ever wanted was to protect the people by his side and live with the dignity of a royal family member. But now, trapped in prison by the Crown Prince’s scheme, he couldn't even protect himself, let alone his family. He knew all too well that he could not live with the dignity of a royal.
A full quarter of an hour passed before the Fifth Prince Ning Zheng managed to regain some composure, his gaze returning to a state of calm. Shen Lang was inwardly pleased and relieved. When Ning Zheng heard about the struggle for the throne, his eyes hadn't widened with ambition; instead, his mind had gone blank, his gaze filled with fear. Shen Lang said to him.
“Your Highness, we have already been pushed to a dead end. Whether the Crown Prince ascends to the supreme position or the Third Prince takes the throne, neither will spare me or the Jin Clan. To protect myself, I must either bring down the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, or prepare for rebellion.”
Ning Zheng nodded.
“And Your Highness, have you not also been pushed to a dead end?”
Ning Zheng looked around.
‘That’s right. Shen Lang isn’t at a dead end yet. If he wanted to, he could live comfortably for decades. His Majesty is so fond of him that, at least while his father is on the throne, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince wouldn’t dare touch him.’
But he himself might never leave this prison for the rest of his life. Not because he had committed any crime, but because his very birth was a crime. His royal father had finally found a reason to lock him away forever in a place where the sun doesn't shine, and he would likely wish for him to never come out again. From his perspective alone, he was already at a dead end, so what was there to fear?
But he was born a prince of the State of Yue. He couldn't just think of himself; he had to think for the country. Even if he were happy and at peace, if the nation were to fall, he would willingly give up his own happiness.
“Shen Lang, do you think I am fit to be a monarch?”
Ning Zheng expressed a deep sense of doubt. The gap between him and the Crown Prince’s position was a world away, but he felt he had to consider this question first.
“The very fact that you ask that question proves that you are fit to be a monarch.”
Shen Lang’s words made a great deal of sense. What is the most necessary emotion for one who seeks to inherit the throne? Not excitement, but fear. A person who feels fear is conscious of the responsibility they bear, while an excited person is conscious of the power they will soon hold. Becoming a monarch naturally comes with power, but the attitude of shouldering responsibility is far more important.