Chapter 287 - 234: Temporary Regent, Father Jiang’s Invitation (Part 2)

Chapter 287: Chapter 234: Temporary Regent, Father Jiang’s Invitation (Part 2)

"Lord Xu, please go in. His Highness, Prince Jing, is waiting for you inside."

Xu Kai nodded and walked into Sanhe Hall.

Although the Earth Fire Dragon had been hastily lit, the room was still somewhat cold and gloomy.

Yan Jun sat on a chair, his face, which usually presented a hard and cold front, now showing a trace of weariness.

"This humble subordinate greets Your Highness!" Xu Kai was about to kneel and bow, but Yan Jun stopped him.

"Lord Xu, you are a pillar of our nation. Why bother with such formalities? Quick, a seat for him!"

A young eunuch quickly brought over a soft stool.

Xu Kai didn’t stand on ceremony. After expressing his thanks, he sat down.

However, Yan Jun didn’t get straight to the point. Instead, he chuckled and started making small talk with Xu Kai.

Yan Jun went through a list of questions, asking things like how many years Xu Kai had been in office and if his parents were still in good health.

Xu Kai neither hid anything nor acted obsequiously. He simply answered whatever Yan Jun asked honestly.

Finally, having run out of questions, Yan Jun’s tone shifted. He said gravely, "Zishan, that Wu Liangchen is staying in your residence. I imagine your relationship with him is quite good."

Zishan was Xu Kai’s courtesy name. By using it, Yan Jun was indicating a sense of closeness.

Xu Kai sneered inwardly. ’So, Yan Jun is finally getting to the real topic,’ he thought.

In fact, from the moment the old eunuch had stopped him, Xu Kai knew what this Prince Jing wanted.

If Wu Liangchen’s battle where he slew Gu Yi had announced his Grandmaster Realm strength, then this recent battle had profoundly shaken the upper echelons of power.

After all, that was the Guardian Grandmaster, a supreme figure in the eyes of many, yet he had still failed to gain any advantage against Wu Liangchen.

This was enough to prove that his strength far exceeded anyone’s previous imagination.

And this was precisely what Yan Jun feared most.

He might possess nearly limitless power and influence, but against a master like Wu Liangchen, he would only get one chance.

Since he couldn’t be beaten, making a gesture of goodwill became the only option.

Yan Jun was a competent politician; he certainly wouldn’t feel embarrassed about his abrupt switch from arrogance to deference.

But even though he understood all this perfectly, Xu Kai showed none of it on his face.

"How should I put it... our relationship isn’t good, but it isn’t bad either. After all, a being of his realm would never deign to notice someone like me," Xu Kai said, mixing truth with falsehood.

Yan Jun had no reason to doubt this, as it was a perfectly logical assumption.

If Xu Kai had claimed to have a great relationship with Wu Liangchen, he would have found it hard to believe.

"You’ve worked hard. Let’s do this: after the dust settles, I will promote you to Minister of the Ministry of Justice. But for now, you must inform me immediately of any unusual movements from Wu Liangchen’s side."

"This official understands!"

"Also, you’ve been in contact with Wu Liangchen for so long. Have you discovered any hobbies of his?"

"Your Highness refers to... what aspects?"

"Beautiful women, for example?"

Yan Jun knew that for someone at Wu Liangchen’s level, worldly wealth was meaningless, and power had become an illusion.

However, at his age, he was full of youthful vigor. What young man didn’t like beautiful, gentle maidens?

Xu Kai pretended to think for a moment, then shook his head. "I really haven’t noticed him having any particular fondness for beautiful women. After all, you know what happened with Miss Chen Sujin."

"It’s no exaggeration to say that if he had just beckoned, that Chen Sujin would have stripped naked and thrown herself at him. But he didn’t do anything of the sort."

"Is that so..." Yan Jun said, somewhat disappointed, then rubbed his temples with a pained expression.

He wasn’t afraid of a man having desires. As long as someone had a desire, it meant there was a weakness to be exploited.

What gave him the biggest headache was a "freak" like Wu Liangchen, who wasn’t greedy for money, wasn’t lustful, and had no interest in power.

"Still, take a few beautiful maids back with you. If Wu Liangchen doesn’t want them, you can keep them for yourself." Yan Jun decided to take the gamble anyway.

Hearing this, Xu Kai cursed his luck internally.

He knew without even thinking that Wu Liangchen would certainly refuse them. But he himself couldn’t possibly enjoy these beauties—after all, he had a "strong and robust" wife at home, watching him like a hawk.

But he didn’t dare say any of this to Yan Jun, so he could only reluctantly agree before leaving Sanhe Hall.

As soon as he stepped outside, he saw the old eunuch already waiting. The moment the eunuch saw him, a wide, fawning smile spread across his face as he hurried over.

"Congratulations, Lord Xu! I’ve already had those stunning beauties sent to your residence."

Xu Kai felt as if a stampede of ten thousand "grass-mud horses" was rampaging through his mind, but he couldn’t say a word and could only manage a stiff nod.

"I appreciate the trouble."

"Lord Xu, you’re too kind. When you rise to great heights in the future, this one might even have to come to you for favors," the old eunuch said with a grin.

After sending the old eunuch away, Xu Kai walked out of the palace with a heavy heart. Just as he exited the Inner Palace City, a figure suddenly jumped out and blocked his path.

"Lord Xu, you’re finally out! I’ve been waiting for you for quite some time!" The speaker was none other than He Chang’an.

Startled, Xu Kai frowned deeply and said coldly, "What are you waiting for me for?"

"Heh heh, don’t be so cold. We were classmates, after all, and now we both serve under His Highness Prince Jing. We should be closer," He Chang’an said, his face plastered with a grin.

But Xu Kai knew He Chang’an’s character well. He was certain the man had an ulterior motive, so he remained blunt and dismissive.

"Sorry, I have nothing to say to you."

With that, he started to walk away.

But He Chang’an persisted. "Lord Xu, don’t be in such a hurry! I know you have a deep prejudice against me, but I had no choice back then. Besides, after today, you’re bound to become the object of admiration for all the powerful figures at court."

"And what does that have to do with you?" Xu Kai glanced at He Chang’an and said coldly.

"Nothing at all, of course. I’m just here to remind you that while borrowing Master Wu’s power feels great now, paying it back later will be quite painful," He Chang’an said meaningfully.

Xu Kai snorted derisively through his nose and walked away.

He Chang’an watched him leave, the smile on his face slowly turning cold.

Meanwhile, in the great mansions and Prince’s Mansions across the Imperial Capital, the powerful figures who had witnessed today’s battle were urgently discussing their strategies.

The level of importance they attached to Wu Liangchen had been raised yet again.

But they all knew that trying to curry favor with this young man was an extremely difficult task.

Therefore, they had to settle for the next best thing: turning their attention to the people around Wu Liangchen.

Wu Liangchen, who had become the absolute center of discussion among the higher-ups of Great Yan, was unaware of all this, nor did he care.

He had already returned to the Xu family residence and was now lying back in a chair, resting with his eyes closed.

His battle with Dong Zhenlei today had been of great benefit to him.

It was the first true hard-fought battle since his promotion to Grandmaster.

Dong Zhenlei’s strength was far greater than Gu Yi’s. After all, in his later years, Gu Yi had lost the heart of a Martial Artist. Mired in arrogance and debauchery, his strength was only a fraction of what it once was.

But Dong Zhenlei was clearly a man who trained diligently every single day. The astonishing power of his palm techniques and the sheer ferocity of his strength had even put a bit of pressure on Wu Liangchen.

That’s right.

Just a bit.

This was because Wu Liangchen discovered his supply of Qi and Blood was exceptionally long-lasting. Even after skirmishing with Dong Zhenlei for so long, he had barely expended any of it.

Therefore, as long as the fight continued in this manner, victory would inevitably be his.

Of course, this was all based on the premise that it was a one-on-one duel.

If that Yan Hao had also entered the fray, Wu Liangchen would have had no choice but to temporarily retreat.

Just then, a series of footsteps approached, followed by the sound of someone stopping at the door, panting. Then, a low voice spoke.

"Master Wu, are you in there?"

"Yes. The door isn’t locked, come in," Wu Liangchen replied faintly, without even opening his eyes.

He already knew who it was.

Then, Xu Kai’s brother-in-law, Jiang Feng, opened the door and walked in.

"Master Wu, my family’s old master wishes to see you!" Jiang Feng said respectfully, standing before Wu Liangchen.