White-Robed Chief

Lu Yurong fluttered away so soundlessly that the protectors of King An’s Imperial Residence were totally unaware.

While Chu Li’s martial art advanced by leaps and bounds, Lu Yurong had not been idle either. She had been putting her utmost effort in progressing further as she was determined to catch up to Chu Li. Her martial arts was better than before now, such that the protectors of King An’s Imperial Residence were not worth mentioning at all.

In the gazebo, Chu Li contemplated.

He wanted to be clear of what he should do instead of acting on a whim by helping King Ping out of sympathy and regarding everything in the world as easy. Once King Ping became the emperor, their friendly relations in the past might cause disaster to Chu Li instead of helping him.

Although a throne-claiming battle was exciting, it was also extremely dangerous. Chu Li could possibly be killed or even die a graveless death, and the High Duke’s Public House, as well as the Autumn Temple, could get involved.

Since it was so risky, he should not help King Ping as it would not benefit him in any way. As nice as King Ping was, he was still King Ping. Should he fail to influence King Ping in the future, what Chu Li gave would not be proportional to what he would receive.

Later, footsteps were heard as Xiao Qi entered the gazebo gracefully in a white nightgown.

Chu Li looked up and smiled at her.

Xiao Qi’s hair was black and shiny under the moonlight, appearing like black satin that complemented her fair skin and clear eyes very well. “Who was here?”

“Lu Yurong,” Chu Li answered.

Xiao Qi’s eyelids flickered.

Chu Li smiled as he explained, “She was here to interrogate me. It turns out that Consort Ping’s maid is a disciple from the Holy Church of Light, so people have been saying that King Ping’s colluding with the Holy Church of Light. They’re completely sabotaging King Ping now. Lu Yurong suspected that I was the one who spread it.”

“Consort Ping’s maid is actually a disciple from the Holy Church of Light?” Xiao Qi was surprised.

She scanned their surroundings to check if anyone was around, then shook her head and expressed, “That can’t be true? What does the Holy Church of Light want to do?”

She was aware of Chu Li’s other identity as Zhao Dahe.

“An assassination? Or to find out information.” Chu Li further commented, “She’s quite capable to have stayed hidden for so long.”

“You didn’t recognize her?” Xiao Qi asked.

Chu Li shook his head. “Perhaps there wasn’t a problem then… Lu Yurong’s leaving Fairy’s Capital.”

“She’s leaving?” Xiao Qi frowned. “Has the crown prince candidate been decided already?”

Chu Li nodded slowly. “The matter about King Ping will help the Emperor make an immediate decision, it’ll only cause more trouble if it gets delayed any further!”

“That’s…” Xiao Qi sat opposite him, then remarked, “That’s good.”

Chu Li agreed.

Xiao Qi looked at him again, then asked, “What’s bothering you?”

“I’m thinking about the throne-claiming battle.” Chu Li furrowed his brows. “I’m thinking if I should get involved.”

“You want to help King Ping?” Xiao Qi asked.

Chu Li shook his head again. “I want to help Xu An.”

Stunned, Xiao Qi commented, “Xu An’s of a younger generation, I’m afraid there’s no hope for that. There’s hope if you help King Ping instead, but it’s not much better too, it seems like King Jing has already been chosen”

Everyone knew that King Jing was going to be the next emperor.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Chu Li grinned. “If it’s not going to be King Jing or King Ping, and even King Cheng fails, why can’t it be Xu An?”

“That’s too difficult,” Xiao Qi responded. “And it’s too dangerous. The throne-claiming battle is a matter of life or death, are you really going to go against King Jing and King Ping?”

Chu Li replied, “One step at a time. I’ll have to think of a way to do it discreetly, it can’t be on a grand scale.”

“That’s even tougher,” Xiao Qi said.

Chu Li smiled. “Wouldn’t it be boring if it’s easy? Life is only interesting when there are challenges, it’ll be dull if we simply stay in our residence. We still have a long way to go in our lives.”

Xiao Qi reminded, “Going against Lu Yurong will be difficult, she’s too smart.”

Chu Li chuckled. “It’ll be great if I can rope her in since our odds of success will increase if we join hands.”

“It’s actually a piece of cake for you to rope her in.” Xiao Qi smiled faintly.

Chu Li was curious. “How?”

“You should know.” Xiao Qi put on a smile so striking it was as if the snowfall on a winter’s day had cleared.

Chu Li burst out laughing. “Haha, you’ll be jealous!”

“It’s not jealousy.” Xiao Qi pursed her lips together. “I’m certain she has feelings for you.”

“You’re taking it the wrong way,” Chu Li responded.

Xiao Qi expressed, “You don’t have to explain. I know that you treat each other with respect, have similar minds, and are confidants.”

Chu Li reached his hand out to pull her onto his lap. He took a moment to enjoy the incredible softness of her bottom cheeks, as well as the delicate fragrance of her body. “How can I have such thoughts when you’re around!”

Xiao Qi uttered, “Men and women have different natures, you can be fond of two people at the same time.”

Chu Li switched the topic as he asked with a smile, “Does the High Duke’s Public House have an ancestral rule that states that one must not participate in a throne-claiming battle?”

Xiao Qi answered, “There’s no need for the High Duke’s Public House to get involved, it’s a hard but thankless job. Regardless of who becomes the next emperor, the High Duke’s Public House remains as it is. While the emperor’s a variable, the High Duke’s Public House’s a constant!”

Chu Li then said, “That’s great, I’ve decided to make Xu An the emperor.”

“It’ll be difficult,” Xiao Qi stressed again.

“It all depends on our effort,” Chu Li explained, “It’s better than helping another person with no benefits for myself in return. Nevertheless, this mustn’t be rushed, we’ll have to wait until Xu An’s a few years older.”

“The emperor’s throne waits for no one,” Xiao Qi reminded.

Chu Li grinned. “We just have to create confusion and inform King Ping about it now.”

“King Ping wants to claim the throne too, why would he agree!” Xiao Qi furrowed her brows.

Chu Li commented, “I know what King Ping’s thinking, he doesn’t intend to become the emperor, he only wants revenge!”

“He won’t pin his hope on you,” Xiao Qi said.

Chu Li smiled. “I’ll try to convince him otherwise.”

…

The next morning, Chu Li left King An’s Imperial Residence and headed to King Ping’s Imperial Residence.

After the protector at King Ping’s Imperial Residence passed the message, Chu Li entered the residence and was personally welcomed by King Ping. The two of them went to the lake in the backyard.

Chu Li noticed that King Ping seemed calm, unaffected by the rumors.

They settled down in the gazebo over the lake. Once the maid who served them tea left, King Ping asked, “You’re here to comfort me, aren’t you?”

Chu Li shook his head. “That’s irrelevant. If everything goes well, the emperor will appoint King Jing as the crown prince within two days.”

King Ping nodded as he looked at the glistening lake.

Chu Li added, “Your Highness, I’d like to let Xu An join the throne-claiming battle.”

King Ping turned to look at him, clearly dumbfounded.

Chu Li continued, “I don’t want to be under anyone’s control anymore and I no longer want to be restrained by the emperor.”

“You’re not going to help me claim the throne?” King Ping asked.

Chu Li sighed. “The odds of your success are too small, Your Highness.”

Previously, he could not make sense of why the Emperor was not going to pass the throne to King Ping. He thought that it was merely because of the Emperor’s personal preference. Now, he slowly began to understand the Emperor’s helplessness.

“Xu An has an even slimmer chance, doesn’t he?” King Ping was confused.

Feeling betrayed, King Ping was rather annoyed as Chu Li was supposed to help him claim the throne.

Chu Li exhaled. “Although Xu An’s still young, he has a higher chance of succeeding the throne. If the Emperor really wanted you to inherit the throne, he wouldn’t have insisted for so many years to appoint King Jing as the crown prince. In terms of contribution to Ji Dynasty, King Jing did way less than you, and in terms of the relationship between a father and a son, the Emperor’s more fond of you too.”

King Ping nodded with a frown.

Chu Li added, “You know the Emperor’s concerns.”

“Uh…” King Ping smiled bitterly as he shook his head.

“It’s different for Xu An.” Chu Li smiled. “Xu An’s a Buddhist from Titanium Temple, he’s good-natured and quick-witted. He won’t conflict with Fu Dynasty’s existence and it’ll be the best for Ji Dynasty if he governs by doing nothing that goes against nature.”

King Ping stated his concern, “But Xu An’s a generation younger, he has no advantage against Sixth Younger Brother.”

Chu Li mentioned, “If Xu An has your support, Your Highness, he’ll come out ahead of King Jing.”

“Me…?” King Ping frowned then kept quiet.