Chapter 88 - 83: Highlight Moment!

Chapter 88: Chapter 83: Highlight Moment!

"If you dare let Crown Prince Wang Yuanzhen escape today, you will all die!"

A cacophony of noise rang in Zeng Anmin’s ears. The sound of galloping hooves was drawing closer.

He thought, "They’re here!"

Zeng Anmin knew that the time had finally come for his true performance.

Upon hearing the noise, his expression changed drastically. He hastily threw on the Crown Prince’s clothes and rushed toward the door without looking back, leaving the Little Fatty Crown Prince with one final instruction.

"Disguise yourself as a monk and run as far as you can. If you successfully reclaim the throne one day, burn some extra paper money for me!"

With that, he shut the door.

SLAM!

Countless eunuchs and Palace Maids fled toward the rear in a blind panic, forming a rushing river of humanity. Some even threw away the jewelry they had looted in the chaos just to run faster.

Only Zeng Anmin was alone. He walked against the surging crowd, heading straight toward the flames. He knew full well it was a dead end, yet he continued step by step, his face completely devoid of emotion. His expression was serene as he marched nobly toward his death!

The Crown Prince’s Coiling Dragon Robe draped over his body was a little ill-fitting. Yet at this moment, he looked more like the Crown Prince than the real one!

"I am Wang Yuanzhen!" Zeng Anmin bellowed, drawing the attention of the rebel army.

Sure enough, upon spotting the Coiling Dragon Robe, over a dozen cavalrymen swiftly charged toward him. Zeng Anmin suddenly felt the world spin as the lead rider hoisted him up, carrying him away at breakneck speed.

Before long, he was brought before a middle-aged man in golden armor. The man had the burly physique of a bear and an indifferent expression. Instead of a prince, he looked more like a peasant fresh from the fields. Behind him stood an endless army, fully equipped and radiating murderous intent.

"Your Highness, Prince Qing, this is Crown Prince Wang Yuanzhen."

The cavalryman dismounted, threw him to the ground, and bowed respectfully to the middle-aged man.

"Oh?" Hearing this, Prince Qing shifted his gaze to Zeng Anmin on the ground.

Zeng Anmin unhurriedly straightened his clothes and rose to his feet. He met Prince Qing’s eyes without the slightest hint of weakness, his voice icy. "The leader of the rebels, Prince Qing."

"Insolent!" the nearby cavalrymen glared fiercely at him.

"He is not Wang Yuanzhen!" Much to their surprise, Prince Qing’s face instantly darkened upon seeing Zeng Anmin’s features. He spoke with absolute certainty. "You idiots! Wang Yuanzhen is fat! Did you leave your eyes behind when you captured him?!"

"This..." The cavalrymen’s expressions changed in unison.

"Who are you? Where is Wang Yuanzhen?!" Prince Qing stared daggers at Zeng Anmin.

In truth, Zeng Anmin was actually starting to admire his own acting skills. He marveled at how difficult it was to keep a straight face in this situation.

"Heh." He sneered coldly. After smoothing out his robes, he slowly tilted his head up and answered without even sparing Prince Qing a glance. "Are mere rebels worthy of knowing my name?"

"You won’t say?" Prince Qing’s voice was extremely cold. He stepped aside and turned to the group of trembling officials behind him. "Who recognizes him?"

Someone meekly stepped forward to identify him. "Reporting to Prince Qing, he is Zeng Shilin’s only son, Zeng Anmin."

Zeng Anmin immediately glared at the man, grinding his teeth. "You treacherous dog! You backstabbing scum!"

The officials lowered their heads; not a single one dared to meet his eyes.

Amidst the silence, the sound of hoofbeats approached from afar.

CLOP CLOP CLOP.

A lone cavalryman appeared.

THUD.

A figure was unceremoniously dumped onto the ground. It was the Crown Prince, dressed in Zeng Anmin’s clothes.

The two of them stared at each other in silence. The Little Fatty Crown Prince’s hair was chopped into patchy clumps, making him look incredibly comical.

Zeng Anmin was struggling desperately to hold back his laughter. He secretly pinched his own thigh hard, plastering a look of absolute horror across his face. "Your Highness, what happened?!"

"Sigh." The Little Fatty Crown Prince let out a heavy sigh and said no more.

Zeng Anmin’s face turned ashen.

"Heh." Prince Qing strolled leisurely over to Zeng Anmin, staring at him with a fake smile. "Zeng Anmin, I have long heard of your peerless poetic talent. Given the current circumstances, if you can compose a poem within seven steps, I might just consider letting Crown Prince Wang Yuanzhen off the hook. How about it?"

Hearing Prince Qing’s proposition, Zeng Anmin looked toward the Little Fatty Crown Prince, whose innocent eyes met his gaze.

"Hahahaha!" Zeng Anmin subconsciously burst into laughter, only to inwardly curse his slip-up a second later. Fortunately, in that split second, a stroke of inspiration hit him, and he continued to laugh maniacally. As he laughed, he shifted his body, turning his back to Prince Qing.

"Why are you laughing?!" Prince Qing’s face darkened.

Zeng Anmin scoffed coldly. He closed his eyes, still facing the Crown Prince’s direction, and his indifferent voice slowly reached everyone’s ears. "My lord is in the south. How could I face the north in death?"

In an instant, dead silence fell over the crowd.

Outside the Illusion Array.

Aside from his father secretly reaching down to pinch his own thigh in the dark, not a single person could utter a sound.

The Little Fatty Crown Prince’s lips trembled as he watched Zeng Anmin’s unyielding defiance within the Illusion Array. His eyes turned red, and his voice carried a faint choke of emotion. "A minister of unyielding iron! A blessing to our Great Saint Dynasty!"

"A minister of unyielding iron! A blessing to our Great Saint Dynasty indeed!" The Fourth Prince’s face twisted with deepening jealousy. He stared at Zeng Anmin in the Scroll as if looking at a peerless beauty.

He thought, "I want him! I want him!"

SWISH!

As Prince Qing’s blade fell within the Illusion Array, the Scroll hovering in the air abruptly vanished. All the azure light faded away.

In the courtyard.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Zeng Anmin opened his eyes in "bewilderment." Upon spotting Emperor Jianhong, he hurriedly stood up and bowed. "Er... Greetings, Your Majesty..."

"Dispense with the formalities, quickly!" Emperor Jianhong looked at the young man before him, his face brimming with smiles. Clearly, Zeng Anmin’s performance inside the Illusion Array today had struck exactly the right chord with him.

Suddenly, an elderly figure slowly emerged from the ranks of officials and approached Emperor Jianhong. After bowing deeply, he spoke with uncontrollable excitement. "Your Majesty, the Jingzhao Prefecture is currently short an Imperial Censor! Zeng Anmin is exceptionally learned and possesses impeccable moral character. He will certainly be up to the task! I beseech Your Majesty to grant this appointment!"

Hearing his words, everyone in the courtyard looked at Zeng Anmin with eyes green with envy!

"Your Majesty, my Ministry of Rites also has a vacancy! With Zeng Anmin’s talent for the Confucian Dao, it would be a tragedy if he did not join the Ministry of Rites!"

"Do not listen to them, Your Majesty! With such unyielding backbone, Zeng Anmin belongs in the military! Our Brave Guard Corps is still missing a Sacrificial Officer..."