Chapter 374: Are They Even Worthy of Competing for the Throne? (Part 2)

Since they have the capital to compete, let them fight to the death! This time, he will remain an outsider.

Moreover, the entire family of the Champion Marquis died under mysterious circumstances, and the Emperor and Empress in the deep palace would be blown to smithereens under heavy guard.

This dragon throne, you have to climb over mountains of corpses and seas of blood to ascend it, and once seated, it may evaporate into thin air at any moment.

The emperor of the Da Jing Dynasty indeed holds the most perilous job under the heavens. How could anything compare to his current delight?

With Han Lei, he obtained the agency for Drunken Immortal Brew and its accompanying side dishes, watching as the silvery white coins flowed into his pocket like a stream.

Such days, he wouldn’t trade even for being an emperor!

The arguments in the Jinluan Hall continued until noon, but the result was… yet another day without any conclusion.

The throne that caused the brothers to turn on each other in Jinluan Hall remained empty.

Several Vassal Kings angrily glared at each other as they left the Imperial Palace, each returning to their own prince mansion.

But by dusk, the King of Xu State stealthily exited through the back door, draped in a cloak, donning a hood, walking through the streets lit by the first lanterns of the evening, which gradually quieted, and discreetly appeared in the Prime Minister’s residence.

Wei Chengchao leaned on a Zitan Taishi Chair, his fingers caressing a gilt snuff bottle, his gaze piercing through the lattice window, following the figure draped in a black cloak in the courtyard.

“The Prince has arrived!”

The butler barely finished announcing in a low voice when the King of Xu State lifted his hood and strode into the flower hall.

The veins on his forehead bulged with suppressed anger, his gaze was deep, clearly still not over his fury.

He was the eldest son of the late Emperor, but born to Consort Wei. Before Emperor Jing ascended, in the scramble for the throne, the King of Xu State was Emperor Jing’s most formidable opponent.

Even though the Wei Family supported the King of Xu State, Emperor Jing also had the support of the Su Family and the Sun Family.

With two noble families backing Emperor Jing, and being the legitimate heir of the Empress, the King of Xu State ultimately faced defeat.

After Emperor Jing ascended, even though the King of Xu State was bestowed the title of Vassal King, he was banished to the remote Xuzhou, neighboring Canzhou, separated by only a river.

The King of Xu State always harbored a grudge about this. With an opportunity arising again, how could he be willing to let it slip by?

“Uncle!” the King of Xu State addressed Prime Minister Wei as such.

He yanked open his cloak’s fastenings and tossed it to the servant standing by.

“Today, that bastard third brother dared to say in front of all officials that this king lacks the virtue to match the position!”

He grabbed the celadon tea cup on the table and drank it in one gulp, the tea dripping down his beard onto the front of his robe.

“And that sixth brother who knows no better, he too fought fiercely today without assessing whether he possesses the capability.”

Prime Minister Wei gently stroked his beard, signaling the maid to hastily serve tea. The ice chest beside the agarwood screen exuded a faint chill, yet it could not calm the irritability between the King of Xu State’s brows.

“Your Highness, please remain calm.” Prime Minister Wei’s slender fingers tapped lightly on the huanghuali table.

“But, Uncle.” The King of Xu State snorted, sitting down on a chair beside him.

“You saw it today too, that bastard third brother won’t yield an inch, obviously determined to seize the throne. This king cannot swallow this grievance.”

Upon hearing that, Prime Minister Wei’s pupils suddenly contracted.

He thoughtfully said, “Speaking of King Liangzhou’s determination to claim the throne, I recall something.”

“Oh? What is it?” the King of Xu State hurriedly asked.

Sitting beside him, Wei Chengchao also leaned in, ears pricked, eavesdropping.

Prime Minister Wei stood up from the Taishi Chair, recalling: “The night of the Champion Marquis’s explosion, the suspect escaped through the south gate to Liangzhou and was never seen again.”

“Liangzhou?” the King of Xu State mumbled, in confusion, looking at Prime Minister Wei: “Uncle, do you mean to say…”

Prime Minister Wei glanced around, his voice lowered to a whisper.

“Since the same method was used, could the explosions at the Champion Marquis’s residence and in the palace possibly have been orchestrated by King Liangzhou? I suspect King Liangzhou’s aim is to eliminate His Majesty, and then ascend to the throne as the emperor’s sibling.”

Upon hearing this, the King of Xu State flew into a rage. He slammed the teacup in his hand onto the table with a “bang,” sending tea splattering everywhere.

He gritted his teeth and said, “I think there’s an eighty or ninety percent chance of that. Otherwise, why would the suspect flee to Liangzhou? Surely to report back to that bastard third. That scoundrel even dares to frame the Wei Family, and now that I think about it, he’s just trying to kill two birds with one stone, seizing the chance to eradicate this king’s backing. Truly despicable!”

Prime Minister Wei also nodded frequently, a barely perceptible murderous glint flashing through his eyes.

“That day, when the Wei Family was imprisoned, I was in a fog. Only now do I realize the pivotal clue, King Liangzhou, appearing refined and scholarly, turns out to be nothing but a shameless scoundrel.”