Chapter 445 - 444: Game of Thrones

Chapter 445: Chapter 444: Game of Thrones

Fushan Yue didn’t care in the slightest how many enemies he had, but he had learned his lesson from the setback with Hee Lingchuan. He waited several days after sneaking back before going to cause trouble for those people.

"You killed Zhongsun Mou, too?"

"No." Fushan Yue sounded a bit frustrated. "The bastard’s lucky. He was appointed by Lingxu City as an Inspector to conduct an official tour on the Twilight Plateau. If I killed a Lingxu Inspector at a critical time like this, it would cause trouble for Chiyan. Besides, he’s also from a prominent family. The Zongsun Family has some deep roots in Lingxu City."

Hee Lingchuan was slightly surprised. ’So there are people this kid doesn’t dare to kill?’

How ironic. Fushan Yue could even kill his own blood brother, the Monarch’s most beloved youngest son, yet this Zhongsun Mou could live on, safe and sound, just because he held the title of Inspector from Lingxu City?

’At a critical time like this?’ Did that mean that although Fushan Yue had killed his brother, he still hadn’t been officially named Crown Prince?

"The situation is precarious right now. I can’t create more problems for myself over some nobody," Fushan Yue glanced at him. "So I killed four of his attendants and two of his followers in a row, then threw the bodies into his courtyard. The bastard probably won’t be sleeping for a few days, huh?"

On Lingxu City’s turf, there was nothing he could do to Zhongsun Mou himself. But back in Chiyan Kingdom, there was nothing Zhongsun Mou could do to him, either.

The Stone Gate Merchant Team had been given a hard time because of Fushan Yue, so he had to make it up to them.

Hee Lingchuan gave a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. "That’s it?" ’That’s not like the Little Overlord, who insists on Vengeance for every little thing.’

"I just had a clash with him. If he turned up dead right after, everyone would suspect me, wouldn’t they?" Fushan Yue coughed. "Just you wait. There’ll be another chance!"

As for how exactly the situation was "precarious," he refused to elaborate, so Hee Lingchuan had to change the subject. "There are dignitaries and nobles waiting for you all along this road."

"Is that so?" Fushan Yue was nonchalant. "Seems like only the son of the Junior Minister of Justice came to greet me."

He had returned late, so most people hadn’t waited.

"Did you suddenly become so popular because you killed Fushan Ji?"

"Of course," Fushan Yue said lazily. "These people were all backing Fushan Ji before. Now they have to change course quickly, don’t they? Otherwise... they’ll sink soon."

That night, Fushan Yue dragged Hee Lingchuan out for drinks. "I have to return to the palace tomorrow. You have to wish me luck."

"Are you that certain your father the King can’t do anything to you?" Hee Lingchuan couldn’t help but ask, seeing his carefree appearance. "You killed his chosen candidate for Crown Prince."

Fushan Yue laughed heartily. "Is he going to kill his only remaining son, too?"

Hee Lingchuan’s attempt to probe indirectly failed. ’This kid is more cunning than he looks,’ he thought.

He had wanted to ask if the King of Chiyan’s time was running out, forcing him to compromise, but Fushan Yue was tight-lipped.

However, Fushan Yue downed cup after cup of wine, so quickly and urgently that Taozi couldn’t even keep up with pouring.

From this, it was clear he wasn’t as relaxed as he appeared.

Just then, Shi the Second passed by, and Hee Lingchuan called him over for a drink.

Shi the Second had just returned from taking inventory of a batch of goods and was in a good mood. He downed two cups of wine before exhaling. "Fantastic! We actually made it all this way without running into any bandits."

"Didn’t you say the trade routes in Beiga were all peaceful?"

"They are, for the most part, but each kingdom is different. The Chiyan Capital isn’t like Fufeng City, where you can leave your doors unlocked at night, right?" said Shi the Second. "Chiyan’s commerce is a bit weaker than that within Treasure Tree Kingdom. Every time we pass through Chiyan, the merchant team has to be on high alert. Many Demons here have become bandits. The Stone Gate Merchant Team has been hit at least three times."

Even within Beiga, there were differences between kingdoms.

Fushan Yue said, displeased, "I’m still here, and you’re already bad-mouthing Chiyan?"

He was the future Monarch of Chiyan; of course he didn’t want his kingdom to be outdone by other Demon Kingdoms.

Hee Lingchuan glanced at him. "Seriously, you don’t think something’s off?"

"What’s off?"

"Just as Shi the Second said, we actually didn’t run into any bandits on our way here."

Fushan Yue snapped, "Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?" ’Surprised we didn’t get robbed? Is public order in Chiyan really that bad usually?’

"How long has it been since the Emperor’s Liquid descended?" Hee Lingchuan reminded him. "New Demons are rising up in the wilds, recklessly Barging into humans—that’s what’s normal. Didn’t you have trouble here the last time the Emperor’s Liquid appeared?"

Treasure Tree Kingdom had expended so much effort just to ensure the roads in the wilds were clear—

—and they hadn’t even fully succeeded. The official Guard Team was utterly defeated on Wind Demon Mountain. That Wind Demon was the one Fushan Yue had fed a bit of Emperor’s Liquid to, which then absorbed the Meridian Divine Wind from the Piaomiao Sect ruins.

So after the Emperor’s Liquid, the unexpected was everywhere. How could Chiyan Kingdom be an exception?

"We did, and quite a few." Hearing him say that, Fushan Yue also felt something was wrong. "You’re right. I heard that since the Emperor’s Liquid this time, the Capital City has only received a dozen or so reports of Wild Demons harming people."

’He pays attention to those kinds of reports? Not as careless as he seems on the surface.’

The next day, Fushan Yue entered the palace early in the morning.

Lil Qingge took a moment from her busy schedule to tell Hee Lingchuan, "Tonight, the outcome of our bet will be decided."

As it turned out, Fushan Yue returned in less than two double-hours, his spirits soaring.

Shi the Second said joyfully, "It seems Young Master Fushan passed the test."

"You could say that!" Fushan Yue finally couldn’t hold it in and burst into unrestrained, hearty laughter. The dozing sparrows on the eaves were startled into flight.

"What did His Majesty the King say?"

"I didn’t see him." Fushan Yue scratched his head. "He issued an order forbidding me from entering the palace, telling the gate Guards to drive me away on sight."

Shi the Second’s smile froze on his face. "Huh?" ’Then what’s he so happy about?’

Hee Lingchuan casually commented from the side, "The King of Chiyan is still angry, but he only drove Fushan Yue away. This shows he doesn’t intend to put his son to death. Otherwise, he would have summoned him into the palace to be captured and executed on the spot." When it came to the convoluted dynamics between father and son, no one knew better than him.

Fushan Yue couldn’t stop smiling. "Yes, yes, you get me."

Hee Lingchuan glanced at him. ’I get your old man, is what it is.’

Of course, Hee Lingchuan wasn’t the only one who understood the King of Chiyan’s thoughts.

After returning to the Capital City, Fushan Yue naturally moved back into his own mansion with Little Taozi, surrounded by a throng of guards.

After Fushan Yue passed through this Ghost Gate, visitors began to call on him that very evening.

This was only the beginning. More and more came after, all dignitaries and wealthy gentry from various regions. Even many high-ranking officials of the Chiyan Royal Court sent people to deliver gifts under various pretexts.

They called it "paying a visit," but it was actually a pledge of allegiance.

Shi the Second even reminded Hee Lingchuan, "They are all human."

"Huh?" He didn’t understand.

"All the ones trying to build a connection with Young Master Fushan are from the Human Race," Shi the Second always observed things from a different angle. "Have you seen a single Demon? I haven’t."

"There are few Demons to begin with," Hee Lingchuan mused. "But you’re right, that does seem to be the case."

Shi the Second pondered, "If Young Master Fushan takes the throne soon, it will be the first change of leadership in Chiyan Kingdom in over a century. That’s a huge deal!"

"What’s the huge deal?" ’Isn’t it just changing the Monarch...?’

"Even in Human Kingdoms, it’s not easy for a succession to go peacefully. We’ve seen it many times."

A change in leadership is often accompanied by external threats and internal troubles—either foreign enemies attack or Internal Affairs become unstable. Hee Lingchuan immediately thought of Xiji Kingdom. The Old Monarch died, and the entire kingdom was gone soon after.

"Let alone a Demon Kingdom where the ruler only changes once every one or two hundred years?" Shi the Second sighed. "This trade route might have to be changed again. It’s going to be rough, rough going!

Hee Lingchuan asked, surprised, "Does Chiyan Kingdom have external enemies eyeing it covetously?" For instance, Xiji Kingdom’s external enemy was Panlong City.

"I haven’t heard of any."

"If there are no external enemies and the Old Monarch doesn’t have a third son, what’s there to be chaotic about?"

"A new Monarch brings a new court." Lil Qingge returned from outside, unfastening her cloak. "The changing of ministers in a Demon Kingdom is different from other nations. It’s very turbulent."

She deliberately glanced outside twice. Seeing no one else on the second floor, she then said softly, "You both know this, right? The Internal Affairs of these Demon Kingdoms are basically all managed by human Ministers."

Hee Lingchuan and Shi the Second both nodded. The ability of most Demons to govern and implement policies was a world apart from that of humans; this was beyond doubt. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the rise of Human Kingdoms and the retreat of the Demon Race since the Middle Ages.

Never mind Lingxu City; to properly manage any Vassal Demon Kingdom, a Demon King had almost no choice but to select human Ministers to serve them.

This had nothing to do with personal preference.

Ruling a great state is like cooking a small fish; one must use only the talented. If a Monarch was biased and stubborn in their appointments, the history of the Northern Demon Kingdom over the past several centuries offered cautionary tales.

"A Demon Kingdom is also different from a Human Kingdom. A Human Monarch’s lifespan is short, with a change every few decades, so the court ministers must also be replaced," Lil Qingge said. "But a Demon Kingdom is different. A Demon King has a long life and can sit on the throne for over a hundred, or even several hundred, years. They usually don’t pay much attention to court politics, so the human Ministers who assist them seize great power. In a dozen years, they develop into Noble Families, and after a century, they become deeply entrenched. When a new monarch finally takes the throne, what they face are these old ministers from noble families."

At this point, Hee Lingchuan understood. It was indeed a situation unique to Demon Kingdoms.

Lil Qingge then asked, "After Fushan Yue takes the throne, how do you think he will replace his court ministers?"

A new ruler for a new court; an Emperor, upon ascending, replaces officials with his own trusted confidants.

"With his temperament?" Hee Lingchuan thought for a moment. "I’m afraid there will be a bloodbath."

"Of course, and it will be done in the name of rectifying the court and purging the administration," Lil Qingge said with a smile. "Not only will he have a just cause, but the common people will also enthusiastically support him. This way, the new monarch solidifies his position, earns a good reputation, and fills the National Treasury. Mmm, these noble families are all as rich as kingdoms, you know."

Hearing this, Shi the Second chimed in, "I’ve heard that these Demon Kings don’t even bat an eye when killing their human Ministers. Shanyu Kingdom used to have a powerful minister named Mao Qijun who, at the height of his power, controlled half the Royal Court. Then someone went to the King of Shanyu and filed a complaint. The Demon King had been drinking with Mao Qijun just the day before, but the next day he had him killed and his entire clan exterminated."

"That’s only natural. The Primordial Power and the army are both controlled by the Monarch. Human Ministers are merely working for the Demon Race; they must never grow arrogant about their accomplishments."